Day three overwhelmed by the help and assistance from friends, colleagues and advice from muslims, observing Ramadam.

Day three, best one yet. If yesterday was tough, today was one of fulfillment in my sponsored fast for victims of the floods in Pakistan.

Thought I made a major mistake when I pulled out the Crunchy Nut cornflakes rather than porridge in the dark. I don't know about you but Crunchy Nut Cornflakes beat the hell out of boring porridge. However, after standing in the dark, enjoying my crunchy nuts, banana, two glasses of water and a glass of orange juice trying to eat with my eyes closed and pretending to be asleep I could not rest again due to the sugar rush. I thought the day would be a nightmare without the slow releasing energy of the porridge.This concern for the day turned out to be the opposite. I attended the Foster Panel this morning and did not have one Bourbon biscuit or tea, no problems whatsoever. Normally I would have had four or five but today I was use to fasting by now and did not worry about others eating food in front of me.

I had a really good day at work as I have earned the respect of my colleagues for going three days fasting without food or water. Sponsored money is rolling in and the media have been in contact with me about my sponsored fast. My aim is to reach the £1.000 mark, not sure if I will get there but it is worth the pain to assist the poor children and families hit hard by the floods, for them the nightmare does not end after four or thirty days but could become permanent, starvation, homelessness and painful death from famine and disease.

I have received some food tonight from my neighbours who are Pakistani muslims. They were impressed but worried for my health. I have received several inspirational e-mails from the great local activist, socialist and good friend and comrade of mine, Christine Borgars. She has told me a story about families getting together to open their fast. Christine described how families get together in multi generations to open their fast and eat together. it was a good example of an upside
of ramadan - everyone eating together after a long fast and the feeling
that they fasted together and now they are eating together. This sort of normal family evening makes it easier to understand the concept of "one ummah" the brother/sister hood of muslims all around the world, dong the same things at the same time (relative to sunrise) all round the world. the dozen or so muslims opening
their fast at 7.56 this evening were doing so at the same time as probably
5000 other muslims in Reading and maybe 1 million muslims in the UK.
powerful stuff. the more organised iftars held in a mosque or a hall or
similar have a lot of the same shared feeling. I opened my fast tonight at exactly 7.56pm eating a sandwich whilst listening to Andy Burnham, that was quirky.

I am looking forward to eating tomorrow at 3.40am, probably porridge. Will be trying to get some of the money in to hit my target. Hopefully tomorrow will be as good as today. We shall see.