marco secchi

Arbaeen (Arbayeen) means “forty” in Arabic, or Chehlum, as it is known by Urdu-speaking Muslims, is a Shia religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura (Aashura/Ashurah), the commemoration of the martyrdom by beheading of Imam Husayn Ibn Ali (as), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) which falls on the 20th day of the second month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar called as Safar. Imam Husayn Ibn Ali (as) and 72 supporters died in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE). Forty days is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures.

The picture gallery is here

Number forty is mystic in Theosophy. According to the Islamic culture if someone practices a good deed constantly during forty days, it would be his inseparable attribute and lead to descending of Allah’s blessing. In some religions forty days and forty nights praying has been special position.

The 40th [Arbaeen (Arbayeen) or Chehlum] marks an important turning point in the movement of Karbala (Kerbala). This day, which is no less important to the day of Ashura (Aashura/Ashurah) is important for many reasons – the prime being that the Ahlul Bayt reached the land of Karbala on this day and performed the visitation to Sayyid ash-Shuhada al-Husayn (as) and the loyal family and friends who gave their life for the cause of Islam.

Tony did not have the courage to show his face to less than 5 photographers and cameramen when in a maxi security operation was rushed out of his London fortress still in early morning pitch black .
Tony did not have the courage either to face a small number of protesters going in/out of the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre where a small but angry crowd turned up early to express their feelings as Tony Blair slunk in/out through the back door for his appearance at the Chilcot Enquiry.
I am not sure why but I can smell a Rat!

Few days ago I decided to do a small photographic feature on Burns Night in London. In my search of Scottish life in London I came a across a Kilt maker!
John is a great kilt maker with roots in one of my favourite parts of Scotland has been doing this job for many years and not only knows everything about it but is also passionate and love his job. Obviously he only uses the best Tartan from top mills.

After few minutes in his work shop I felt as  I have known John for most of my life. Despite me being in a hurry I think I have spent a good two hours chatting away about a wide range or subjects from Congestion Charge to the traditional London, from crooks to Lord Cadogan…from Dunkeld to Killin.

If you need a kilt and you are in London this is for sure the place to go!

Had a wonderful lunch today at the Mehfil in Southall. I simply love this place! I’ve been several times and the quality of service and food offered always exceed my expectations. I used to stay at the hotel often before moving back to London and is a great place to stay, ultra clean and very comfortable and by train is just 12 minutes away from Paddington.
At the Restaurant the food is really fresh with great flavours and service is very attentive, no matter if you go for a vegetarian or meat dish they are just divine!

The Market is situated in London’s upmarket Notting Hill. Along the winding roads, a row of neat pastel establishments greet you on arrival. This street wears a distinctive ‘European look’ as opposed to the big city rush London generally displays.

One of the antique shops at Portobello Market on January 16, 2010 in London, England. Portobello traders fear for the Market’s future after Lipka’s Antiques Arcade, where more than 150 traders had their stalls, was redeveloped to accommodate to the large High street chain store AllSaints. The picture gallery is here.

An interesting article

Google Inc. posted a stunning blog on Tuesday, announcing cyber attacks and censorship were forcing the Internet giant to consider shutting down its website and offices in China.
Thousands of blogspots, search results and websites, including Google’s video-sharing site YouTube, remain inaccessible in China as the communist leadership tries to prevent social discontent against its rule from spreading through online data and opinions.
Facebook and Twitter are still blocked since ethnic riots erupted in northwest Xinjiang last July.

When Google launched in China in 2006, the company agreed to limit content under Chinese censorship rules, but could not effectively compete with China’s top search engine Baidu that will gain most from its exit.

Cold weather this afternoon and few sign of snow and chilly wind, but that hasn’t stopped about 20 hardy types from taking part in No Trousers On The Underground 2010.

The annual “No Pants Tube Ride” was launched in New York City nine years ago by flash mob group ImprovEverywhere, and has become an annual fixture since. Cities with underground metro systems as far afield as Berlin, Adelaide and Mexico City have since joined in, with each global city holding its No Pants (or No Trousers) event on the same day each year. This is the first time the stunt has appeared in London.

The key to a successful No Pants ride, say organisers, is to behave as though nothing out of the ordinary is happening – keep a straight face, act as you normally would on the tube, and pay no attention to other trouserless tube passengers. The aim is to be as nonchalant as possible and appear as if you had simply forgotten to wear trousers.

The Christmas season isn’t over yet, at least not for everybody — if you’re a member of an Orthodox church, the 25th of December was just another cold winter day in fact  Orthodox Christians around the world are today celebrating their Christmas, with a key service in Moscow. Here is an image of the Nativity Service held  in London.

The number of Orthodox Christians around the world is estimated to be about 300 million, with huge followings in central and eastern Europe. It is the second largest Christian church behind Roman Catholicism.

3 Labour MPs want to invoke Parliamentary Privilege to stop prosecutions from #MPexpenses http://bit.ly/5XlkZh

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To all the women out there….. display obedience and work up your skills as the perfect maid to your man, obvious key to your eternal happiness…

This guy should write a comedy book!  He must be reading a copy of the Quran different from mine