Half and Half – Through the Stone and Wood

A panorama from the waterside of Gamla, Stockholm.

Gamla Panorama, Stockholm

Gamla Panorama, Stockholm

If you’re struggling to pinpoint what inspired the title look here. Although with the trees and buildings, sky and water perhaps I have my fractions a little wrong.

And you can see more half and half inspiration here.

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Faith and Continuity

Suleimani Aqeeq Ring

Suleimani Aqeeq Ring

In Islam we differentiate between Muslims (those who submit to the will of Allah) and Momins (those who believe). Believers have attained a higher state of faith than those who submit. One of the five signs of a believer is that they wear a ring on their right hand, typically a carnelian, and this is mine.

My maternal grandmother bought this in Iraq as a gift for my father, her son-in-law. My brother inherited our father’s utterly gorgeous Omega watch, and I got the ring. That’s pretty much all he had, and as all my grandparents were poor as church mice the gift is probably as much as my grandmother could afford.

I also inherited my father’s mannerisms, but alas not his elegant fingers; the ring has been widened twice since I have owned it.

This is my symbol, of the things I believe, who I am and where I came from.

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More symbols here