Today's Prayers

Normally I would finish my Friday morning clinic at around 1, and ended having to rush to the mosque. I prefer to walk since the parking was atrocious and driving in and out of the parking lot was a nightmare. Sometimes, I was lucky to get a lift from colleagues who were on the way back.

Last week, the walk was tinged with haze, and by the time I reached the hospital for lunch and afternoon rounds, my eyes were red.

Today I was lucky since my clinic finished just after noon, and I was able to get my stuff into the car, changed into a sandal and started walking. I reached the mosque - located just under a kilometer away - after about 15 minutes, and went for a quick lunch at the stalls there.

It was a Ramly burger this week, with some really nice juice. The haze was also not too bad and the weather was overcast. A nice afternoon for a walk.

The ramp going up to the ladies' section. It's opened to males today as it was Friday.The main hallBut the reason for the entry was not about the walk, but for the renovation that had been taking place at my local mosque in the last year. Before Ramadan, about half of the section was closed and most of the Jemaah had to pray under a shed in the middle of the sun. That was trying!

If I was early, I tend to get a space inside the main hall, airconditioned and sleep-inducing. Now, the renovations were almost complete, and the outer halls are now very confortable to stay at. And the ladies section had a ramp going upstairs for the disabled. Since I was early, it would be in the main hall this week .....

A Hot One

The commute to the mosque this afternoon was especially hard with the bright sunshine. Good thing that I finished my last patient just after noon and had the time to have lunch.

I couldn't resist the glass of air kelapa as soon as I reached the mosque. As expected, the queue was longer than normal.

Time to switch off and listen to what the khatib has to say. Not another political sermon I hope as I am expecting something about the coming Valentine's Day. Wait and listen!