Plushness

Why do salesmen do this? Why do they just walk in to your office thinking you will meet with them just because they’re there?!

Have they heard of calling for an appointment?

Does that strategy work with other people/clients?

Its Saturday, my stocks are down, i’m still drowsy from yesterday’s sun AND a computer salesman wants to meet me, and I overheard him tell the receptionist (while I was trying hard to ignore him while acting like I’m not me) that if she’s busy, I can meet her superior! HA!

Yes, I have been one since the age of 9!

Can you imagine the responsibility of being an aunt at such an age? This means that I am their youngest aunt, who they (my nephews & nieces- God bless them!) can tell everything too!

• When my eldest nephew was 3, his parents thought I was old enough to baby sit. I put him in a suitcase, for fun. He still remembers it 

• When my eldest niece was 5, I had a sheesha in front of her (it was cool back then). She asked me ‘3ammity shino hatha?’ (Auntie what’s this?), I told her ‘its cocktail’ LOL, and made her promise not to tell. Of course she told!

• When another nephew reached puberty, he fell in love. He came to tell me about how he wooed his love into speaking to him (he sang her Elton John’s ‘What am I gonna do to make you love me’). Yes cute, but WHAT DO I SAY OR DO IN SUCH SITUATIONS?

• When my younger niece was 3, I took her to Fudruckers (yes that was in at the time too), and this is what happened:

Baby staring at the table of young marines next to us (handsome blokes)

• Baby: Khalti Sheba sheftai 3eyoona (Aunti Sheba, did you see his eyes?)
• Me (Shocked at her observation, yes he had gorgeous blue eyes with thick long lashes, I ignored her in disbelief).
• Baby: Repeating her words thinking I haven’t heard her, only this time louder ‘AUNTI SHEBA DID YOU SEE HIS EYES?’
• Me: Yes I did (almost fainting from embarrassment, and shock).
• Baby (a few minutes later): Laish ma i7acheeni? (Why doesn’t he speak to me)
• Me (PANICKING OMG OMG, wondering if this is normal, and what do I do? I ignored her).
• Baby (Repeating herself, and yes even louder!!): Auntie Sheba WHY DOESN’T HE SPEAK TO ME?
• Me (politely to the marine, who by now has noticed her cuteness): She’s complaining why aren’t you speaking to her!
• Marine turns around and feeds baby (who hates food, and especially hates ketchup) ALL her food with ketchup.

Shes 9 years older, and I think that set a precedent. We went to the movies, and she was not shy telling me who she thought was cute.

NOW PLEASE TELL ME THAT’S NORMAL with preteens these days! PLEASE PLEASE! SHALL I TELL HER MOM?

Little secrets (accumulated after observing happy and non- happily married people):

• If she’s happy, you’re happy.

• Emotional satisfaction makes forever love.

• A friend who knows a lot about children, told me that one way you can tell when a child is emotionally deprived is when they hug you for no reason (you being a stranger) and they have no separation anxiety (from being separated from their parents). SECRET: Women are the same.

• It takes a good man to make a good woman.

• It takes a loving man to make a happy home.

• It takes a dedicated husband and father to make a happy/healthy family.

• Respect Respect & Respect.

• Be kind, even when you’re fighting. Some scars last forever.

• Do NOT keep score of what you give, be generous and make sure you WANT to give what you have given.

• Passion.

• Have fun together.

• Have a life together.

• Have a life independent of each other.

• Talk.

Like the tide he flows
with the moon
Like nature, I adapt
accepting his changes

Angry he came, and
with an embrace I welcomed his thunder

Perhaps a storm will bring peace that I long for,
bees that hum at a flower,
A duet of butterflies that flutter,
A sighting of love in its spectrum of color

Hot:

Skirts
Black hair
Meso Therapy
Under-dressing
Women’s rights meetings
Marriage
Younger Guys/ older women
Jewelry Shopping
Sweet guys

Not:

Palms
Tanning
Relationships
Over-dressing
Global, Ahlia, GIC
Snobs
Younger women/ older guys
Clothes Shopping
Playboys (so 80's)

Sometimes we say the stupidest and most hurtful things to cover up our fears. We become persistent or insistent on an issue (right or wrong) as if it was a life or death situation, and we do not feel how stupid we sound. Of course later, when you have calmed down and your vision is clear, you understand your own motives. You were insisting on something that is layers & layers deeper than the original argument.

Example:

He: I don't think that is good value for money.
Me: I've always wanted that, its beautiful, and it’s the best buy.
He: You're wasting your money.
Me: It’s an investment.
He: You can buy the same thing from Asia for 1/10 of the price.
Me: Yes, but i would HAVE to go to Asia.
He: It’s identical to the one you bought last year.
Me: Yes, but this one has a nicer shape.
Etc...

(Okay, this is a bad example, but you get the drift). Sometimes people argue about something that is really NOT what the argument is about.

‘He’ is worried that she am 'not careful' in her spending and is worried how he would maintain her sporadic spending.

‘Me’ is worried that he wants to control me, and that he is cheap.

So are such arguments euphemisms of the larger picture? Are we shy to say what really is our fear? Most likely, yes. He is worried that he sounds cheap and controlling, and she fears that she would give in to him, and it would set a precedent where by he will be able to exercise control on all matters.

Why do we use this disguise to our true feelings? Are we afraid to lose ourselves? Do we fear that once the real issues are on the table it would mean that the relationship and its issues are more real than we think?

She walked in to the funeral with her aunt, and at once I recognized her. She was Sarah, the wife of my ex. We acted civil, I stood up as she came to greet me, and then resumed reading my Quran.

Twenty minutes later, assuming Sarah had left after paying her respect, I changed my place so that I can read in peace and there she was, sitting in front of me. I tried to be as composed as possible, thoughts of the events of that summer very persistently interrupting my concentration. ‘Have they mended their relationship? No it had gone far beyond what is fixable. I hope their children are okay. How sorry is she? He loves her. She loves him. He sought after me only because of my strong resemblance to Sarah’s innocence, before he found her in her boyfriend’s bedroom. He told her about me to spite her. I cried when I knew that the story of his friend was his’. Yes, he lied to me about being married with children, but the misery was theirs’. He told her that he has fallen in love with me, and that he wanted to marry me. She had to know that I had no knowledge of his marital status, nor did I or would I ever consider his proposal. No, he was not a stranger, but our families have lost touch over the years, and it did not occur to me that he had gotten married. She called me, in pain, a long time after I had found that he was married and gladly I had left him even before that. She was trying to blame me for his emotional betrayal. Sure she knew he had been around since she has become his wife, perhaps that is what drove her to being in that bedroom in that apartment. But she still tried to blame me, because she could not let go of him. She had let go of her parents to be with him. He had made her life miserable as newly wed teenagers, and that misery became the only thing she knew and she was holding on. He tried to hurt her, but couldn’t. He loved her, or else he would have done away with her. She knew that and who wouldn’t hold on to the only love they knew. Is she remorseful? How is her relationship with her parents now? How can she look her father in the eye? Has she learned from this? I have.’

The thoughts almost caused static in my mind, like a bad mobile connection. I finished reading and quickly disappeared to the kitchen.

Chai Virgins

Wasma, if you're a chai virgin (& how a friend of mine can be a chai virgin is BEYOND me, but i will blame it on your geographical distance from our house and from India) then you must try our chai & chai haleeb.

People drive for miles for them.

Bess, ya, i never tasted chai i liked in Jeddah. It may be the water. So i would suggest you make it out of bottled water. Makes a HUGE difference.

Moreover, for plain 'estekana' or ‘Sulaimani’ tea, i like 'Qualitea' with Spanish saffron or mint leaves freshly picked from your garden (none of that hairy mint leaf you find at the supermarkets). Flavoured and speciality teas come at a later stage of maturity, but you may like Vanilla tea.

For chai haleeb (tea with milk), freshly ground cardamom is a must, and the stronger the tea the better. My favorites are Tetley, or chai alwezza (ceylon tea with the Swan logo).

Key is in making sure the chai is strong BEFORE you add the milk, then boil with milk (Carnation, or Bonny- Saudi name for Nestle's evaporated milk). Perfect for dunking biscuits (or if you're a chicken nugget (CN) or a 'non-dairy creamer' (same as a CN but in Saudi), you can call them 'cookies').

If you prefer fresh milk, then boil with tea & cardamom from the start on low heat.

Why?

Chocolates, rahash, chai Haleeb with honey.

Down with Atkins!

When did adultry become a social norm in Kuwait?! I am disgusted!

Its another Saturday and here I am after a very short weekend (Note: i work a 6 day week) :((

Boss is out of town, so i will try to motivate myself enough to at least finish off my day's correspondence & take a long lunch break :)

I NEED CHOCOLATE!

Any pointers on how to get your job done efficiently?

What does it mean when someone tells you, you are free?

I personally would take HUGE offence, especially when the person calling you is not more conservative, nor more pious than you.

I’ve been recently called that because I like going to parties (doesn’t matter where and what kind), & I swim in a bikini (the fact that I wear a skirt over it at all times doesn’t count).

I have been called ‘free’ once before by a very ‘sheltered’ cousin, and I took it lightly and with no offence, because yes, to her I am liberal.

But this person partys, drinks, is not pious, and has sexual relationships. But he has a penis, so does that allow him judge people?

I did not want to lose my temper, because I found the situation alarming and didn’t want raise a stink without stating my point, I told him ‘I pray and obey my teachings as much as I can, I don’t do the ‘kaba2er’ (big sins), and I like to go to parties where I can have fun (i.e. not sleazy parties), and when I’m having a good relationship with the gym and the scale, I like to wear a bikini (with a cute little beach skirt because I am shy to show what the skirt covers).

I find explaining this embarrassing, and insulting, but that’s what I did.

I thought this term was obsolete.

Yes, they've already become Retro & hip! And it seems as if it was only yesterday that you had a internet girl/boyfriend!

So what is the ettiquette?

Do they work?

Are they emotionally satisfying?

Give us your thoughts.

(You can do this anonymously too, but we're nosy) ;)

we= me

lol

Little boys love their mothers. Perhaps they have a link that is not understandable and unattainable by his sisters. He looks up to her, and he looks for someone who resembles her. Of course, because of plenty of hormones, he gets involved with girl(s) that may or may not resemble his mother, but she (his first) becomes his surrogate mother. Every experience he has after that is based on that. And every girl/woman after the first has to deal with that ghost of a woman.

So whats the solution? To be the first woman in his life.

First impression I got of Eguy was that he's really sweet and really well dressed!
He looked kinda tall, he was wearing beige cargo pants and a white shirt, the first button opened to reveal a white tshirt underneath, most yummy.

He was really nice and attentive.. he got me chocolates.. which scored major brownie points, however it was dark, and I dislike dark chocolates.. we disagreed on that, apparently he loves dark chocolate and well, I don't. But nevertheless, the idea of chocolates was very romantic..:) The lil devil was trying to woo me.. ;)

We talked about a lot of stuff, it was very easy talking to him.. He made it very comfortable and I felt like I could talk about anything and everything with him. Which was very sweet. I can't really judge from one date but he sounded and seemed genuine.

After dinner we had a walk on the beach, my heels in hand and not thrown somewhere just in case someone decides to nick 'em ! Afterall, "not without my heels" :) We had a little fun, innocent and clean. After that we decided to go our seperate ways back home.. :)

It was a very nice, sweet, romantic date.. It made me feel like I wanted to be true, in real life.. That would've been really cute:) Maybe when Eguy comes back from Canada, AND if he's interested.. :)

By the way, this was all done on msn.. yes, we had our "date" on msn.. and my impression of him (written above) is all true.. he really is sweet and nice. And Sheba, don't post this if he doesn't feel the same way about me ! Then I'd just sound like a loser! :)

Thanks for the awesome date.. Whether we'd (Eguy and I) do a repeat is yet to be decided, but we haven't ruled anything out yet :)

Meeting was difficult because of conflicting time zones, where I would wake up when NWMH went to sleep, but we made it.


It was good meeting her albeit somewhat awkward, I felt like someone was watching :p Our date was a bit of a cliché but it's all good, I brought chocolate of course and we had the same order of food. She barely had any makeup on but boy o boy, she doesn't need any makeup. We needed to name her for the conversation's sake, so it was either Tania, Maria, Jessica, or Noor. We went with Noor. She tried blackmailing me for a couple of minutes and threatened to smack me with her heels if I touched them but I don't mind

It was weird, a lot like cybersex but without the sex, where our conversation involved "what are you wearing" and "what are you drinking."

She's very interesting, and by all means I have no regrets about doing this. Time flew by fast, we had plenty to discuss and undivided attention was something I gave and felt like I was receiving. We talked about people, work, and life in general. I really enjoyed the walk on the beach, the weather was flawless, it was a full moon, and the water was calm.

I really liked her attitude. In a plethora of qualities, I really liked how she's not willing to 'settle' for anything and wants things 'just right.' She's not picky, she just knows exactly what she wants. She's very spontaneous, and told me how she felt and what she thought just as she thought it

I really enjoyed the time we spent together, and for the record, sure I would do it again..Thanks Sheba

"a bit of Rgagness is like Wasabi, it spices the relationship but too much of it makes you gag" Wasma

What is Rgag?
Regaag 1. Traditional Kuwaiti bread, can be eaten plain or with an infusion of sugar, egg, and saffron. 2. Is a condition in which a male/female involuntarily goes back to his/her cultural/religious roots when it comes to controversial issues (i.e. attire, social functions and such.)
They often communicate with their mother tongue and in their local accent, stressing on prehistoric jargon to emphasize their genuine ancestry and decent. They unintentionally speak English (although some try their hardest when others do it intentionally for reasons mentioned above) in their local accent as well.
They are shwayya raj3eyeeen, ya3ni no bikini (Sheba). damhom khafeef and they enjoy male bonding in dewaneyat and consider it cool mathalan, they think that chicken nuggets are malaqa o damhom thgeel (their nemesis.)

The rgag male attracts:
1. Chicken nugget girls because they want to change them (chicken nugget impulse), WHY: Because they flaunt their manhood, they are assertive in girl-getting, they fall in love fast, and they don't usually befriend potential relationship threats (i.e. female friends.)

2-Rgaag Girls (chicken nugget girls neminses) WHY: Because they want them to be *their Gift Bitches*, sexual compatibility ;), and easy communication (Quote Sheba.)

Prefers:
Rgaag girls: easy access, less hassle, easy communication

On holiday (i.e. vacation):
An arab destination is a must for winter or summer holidays (Beirut, Cairo, Manama) London or Paris (during Khaleeji seasons), and the occasional Manchester United game.

NOTICE: Rgaag by all means does NOT refer to Hailag, HOWEVER, Hailag people MAY have Rgaag qualities.

P.S.: Thanks to Crappy_Nappy for the term that is now widely used in both Saudi and Kuwait.

-Wasma

Wasma
'since when do you post quotes?'
Sheba
'i don't but i liked them and maku shegel. Malaqa?'
Wasma
'Eh shway. But thats what blogging is about!'


See what a good friend she is ;)

Friends don't let friends
take home ugly men.
Women's restroom
Starboard, Dewey Beach, DE



Beauty is only a light switch away..
Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC


If life is a waste of time,
and time is a waste of life,
then let's all get wasted together
and have the time of our lives.
Armand's Pizza, Washington , DC

Remember, it's not,
"How high are you?"
it's
"Hi, how are you?"
Rest stop off Route 81, West Virginia

Fighting for peace is like
screwing for virginity.
The Bayou, Baton Rouge, LO

No matter how good she looks,
some other guy is sick and tired
of putting up with her shit.
Men's Room
Linda's Bar and Grill, Chapel Hill, NC


At the feast of ego
everyone leaves hungry.
Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, Tucson, AZ

It's hard to make a comeback
when you haven't been anywhere.
Written in the dust
on the back of a bus,
Wickenburg, AZ

Make love, not war.
-Hell, do both
GET MARRIED!
Women's restroom
The Filling Station, Bozeman, MT

If voting could really change things,
it would be illegal.
Revolution Books
New York, New York.

If pro is opposite of con,
then what is the opposite of progress?
Congress!
Men's restroom
House of Representatives, Washington, DC

Express Lane:
Five beers or less.
Sign over one of the urinals
Ed Debevic's, Phoenix, AZ

You're too good for him.
Sign over mirror in Women's restroom
Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills,CA.

No wonder you always go home alone..
Sign over mirror in Men's restroom,
Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills,CA

A Woman's Rule of Thumb:
If it has tires or testicles,
you're going to have trouble with it.
Women's restroom
Dick's Last Resort, Dallas, TX

Charles & Chamilla are getting married and I'm pissed off.

I don't want to see them live happily ever after while Princess Diana is in the grave.

My aunt has a Sri Lankan maid called Kamila, she wants to change her name!

And here is Edjamacated Guy’s Profile

Q. What you like & dislike?

A. I like clear water and white-sand beaches. I like to learn new things if they don't include functions, formulas, and proofs. I like a good debate every now and then and I like to win. I like Badedas gelee and Creed cologne. I like to loaf and to wear loafers. I like to read
magazines. I like boats and old Ferraris. I like the desert and
caramel on my dessert, and dark chocolate. I like antiques and some art. I like maps and good coffee. I like photography. I don't like Layaleena magazine. I don't mind the smell of good quality cigar smoke, but I absolutely despise the smell of cigarette smoke in humidity (you'll only know it when you smell it.)

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I go fishing, camping, hiking, scuba diving, swimming, and I enjoy
going to the beach regardless of the weather.

Q. Your music & film preferences?

A. I enjoy espionage and war movies, especially things with submarines
and boats in them. A good comedy never does any harm, nor does the
occasional drama. None of that new thriller/horror crap like
Whitenoise or The Grudge...

My music interest is really broad but it excludes country, most pop,
and skater-type music. It all depends on my mood. Even folk music can
be good at the right time.

Q. What are you most passionate about?

A. I would have to say that it's nature and Kuwait. (two things that don't mix)

Q. What is your pet peeve?

A. I don't like liars, and I despise those who lie and do a bad job at it. I am disgusted by people that don't stand by their word.
Tasteless people aggravate me.

Q. What do you look for in a girl?

A. I don't enjoy talking to people with too much emotional baggage for
starters. Some girls get too attached too quickly, none of that. I
would really appreciate someone that's down to earth but has some
sense of where she is and where she would like to be. She has to have
or plan to get an education (not an edjamacation). Looks are a big
bonus, but nothing that needs to be covered by layers of makeup.

Ok here is Not_Without_My_Heels (NWMH) replies to a short interview. I tried to leave the answers as they were sent to me, so that readers can get a feel of the person behind them:

Q. What you like & dislike?

A. Spontaneity. I like the feel of melted chocolate. I like rainbows on a gloomy day. I love the feel of butterflies in my tummy. I enjoy spring weather. I am amazed by the limitless blue sky be it devoid or clad with clouds. I like sweet-smelling scents. I love the Kuwaiti sea in June. I love moments in life that are unrepeatable. I like to learn new things, read new books and experience a little bit of magic that life provides.

I dislike hypocrites. Hate rainy days, to me it's like the world is crying. I dislike sadness. I'm not too keen on contradictions, they confuse me. Not having control frightens me.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. Surround myself with good friends and good food!

Q. Your music & film preferences?

A. Music: I love music that move me and makes me move involuntarily.
Film: Movies to me are a form of escapism, therefore happy endings are essential.

Q. What are you most passionate about?

A. Everything that makes the world an easier place to live in. Basic human rights.

Q. What is your pet peeve?

A. When someone gossips about EVERYTHING/ALL THE TIME. It drives me nuts. I just "shut off".
That and when people make sounds when they eat, REAL loud sounds, I don't know why.

Q. What do you look for in a guy?

A. Someone genuine and honest. A person who isn't full of himself and isn't threatened by a strong woman. A man who isn't afraid to be a man. A sense of humor is definitely a must and so is intellect. Someone who is willing to admit when he's mistaken. A kind soul who will respect me and appreciate me. Oh and he has to have friends, I don't want him around me ALL the time. He also has to take care of himself, hey it's only fair if he expects the same from me! Afterall we do have to look good together ;)
A definite NO is stubbornness. ish7adni wa7ed rassa yabes!

Dating couple will give us the outcome of their date on Sunday. I regret delay in this, but due to a time zone difference, they have asked for a few days to come back to us.

Meanwhile, I have prepared a profile of the two, which will be posted tonight. And I must say, what parallels there are!

Many cute potential couples here, but i think i am most curious about Edjamacated Guy and Not_Without_My_Heels. So, i nominate them to be the cutest potential couple on the virtual date.

Here is the date:

Venue: Hilton Mangaf, Kuwait (its a beach resort)
Weather: 26 C
Time: 8:00 pm
Place: Dinner outdoors

EG & NWMH must be very descriptive on their first date. Details we need to imagine this are: what are you wearing (clothes/perfume/cologne)? What was your first impression when you saw each other? What did you talk about? What was your verdict of each other?

Rules: You can consult with each other before posting us about your virtual date, or you can do it independently.

Good Luck!

(Sheba, very excited)

Ok, i've been in a very naughty mood (no not that kinda naughty, you kinky minds!) and i've been wanting to get into trouble. SO here's the plan (oh & this is a first time list only, we'll play this game with other names later and depending on the results of this one).

Rules are simple, you must match One blogger to One Bloggerina and here they are:

Purgatory72
Crappy_Nappy
Mosan
Zaydoun
Misguided
Bu Jaij
Mad M
The Don
Edjamacated Guy


Gigi
W (Wasma)
Shurouq
Not Without My Heels
Shosho
Flamingoliya
MsBakerq8
Georythm
Sheba

Note: Phase 2, we'll choose the cutest virtual couple and send them off on a virtual date. They must come back and tell us how that went.

Awaiting your responses, EAGERLY ;)

He was handsome but arrogant. Wasma had met him while waiting for her friend to finish her shift at the bank. She automatically discarded him in the ‘trash bin’, even though he greeted her with a big smile as he introduced himself. She translated his confidence to ‘I know I’m hot, and I know I can charm you’. She introduced herself, coldly, replying in words unsaid ‘You are not all that, you’re height is average, I know what you’re thinking, and it takes a lot more to impress me’.

Two months later, she bumped into a familiar face in a training workshop, not knowing where to place it. The face was handsome, and from his attire (he was slightly underdressed) the man seemed ‘down to earth’, clad in a plain t-shirt and khakis.

They started their session, and the instructor put them into their groups. Of course fate, as always, was teasing her- how and why, she cannot understand, but it was almost expected that she ends up with the attractive, familiar-looking, stranger – who then turns out to be a self-centered jerk. And there it clicked! She remembered him. He was the arrogant guy from the bank.

Other than 'the guy', the group she was put in consisted of one lady in her sixties, one lady in her mid forties, two ‘ladies’ in their late twenties. One of the younger girls seemed definitely out of place. Why her employer would pay for her advancement was beyond anyone’s grasp. The girl was filing her nails while on the phone during the first part of the lecture. This however rendered Mr. I know I’m Handsome the only male in the group. Of course he was used to this, and probably thrived on the attention. She hated him. She hated the fact that he was overly confident, but could not ignore him.

Once, twice, and three times, she looks up to find him looking at her, although neither of them were talking. He was not staring, just looking. As if trying to remember and finally he seemed to place her. His eyes were kind looking, to her surprise and although she was determined to keep him in the trash bin she had designated for him, he was etching out of it.

Ms. File My Nail (FMN) was paying him more attention than was imaginable. She was very attractive, and fun looking. He seemed uncomfortable at her inconspicuous attention, which brought him to Wasma’s immediate attention. This man has some humility. Their group session was given two hours to work on the assignment. By the end of the first hour, the Ms. FMN had actually put her hand’s on Mr. Handsome’s legs.

Wasma, surprising herself, got furious, and it showed on her face. She was actually jealous. Mr. Handsome on the other hand was genuinely trying to dissuade Ms. FMN from any unprovoked public display of affection, not because he was embarrassed but because he preferred discretion in the company of other potential women—Wasma.

By the end of the second hour, Ms. FMN had rubbed her breasts on Mr. Handsome, as if to reach for a paper on the other side of him. By that time, although he was still looking at Wasma with hopeful eyes, his body language welcomed the uninvited advances of the persistent girl.

In a way, this made Wasma happy, that her first judgement was correct. He fits only in the recycle bin, and she had enjoyed seeing him tormented by having to choose between two completely different girls. She knew however, that this will not be the end of Mr. Handsome.



P.S. too sleepy to proof read

Many of us curse time. Many dread time. But if we learn how to befriend it, i think time is always on our side.

In high school we would want to be with the older/cooler kids on the weekends, at that time, it was Movenpick (cafe/restaurant) on Wednesdays. Mum would allow us to go, but not as often as we'd like. (Us= my cousins/friends & I). The weekend rules would be set by the mother who we'd be visiting, and for some reason, and although mum had the strictest rules, our house was the preferred weekend destination.

I asked a lot of questions as a youngster and being the fourth and last child, my mother did not always have the energy to answer my nagging questions. However, when she did answer, she almost always made sense, not necessarily on that day or year, but sometime in life. Her reason for us not being allowed to hang out at the Movenpick at that age was 'where would you go when you're in University-- Kilshay ib wakta 7ilo (translation: everything in the correct timing is more beautiful)'

I totally agree. This rule, i believe works for everything: experiences, relationships, travel, etc.

Now of course because this is Sheba in the Plushness domain (which is becoming less and less anonymous, but we've already established that that shouldn't change my 'boldness'), my next analogy of my mother's lesson will be applied to affairs of the heart. How many times has a relationship which_could_have_been get shot down because of bad timing? Either the courtship was too short, or one of the people involved was not ready for the next step or for the commitment or something?

So, when timing is disregarded, is the damage reversible? And how?