Purpletigron

I had my second Urdu lesson last evening. It was still very hot, and Mrs Khan and I spent a few minutes quietly sharing our shock at the events of the past week. Then we moved on to a very enjoyable lesson - I now have a textbook, and she was pleased at the 'Teach Yourself Urdu' book which I'd found in Oxford Oxfam Bookshop. She taught me to say a few basic questions, and then we laughed together as I tried to answer them. She explained how she speaks English as a second language with a strong Urdu accent, whereas her daughter speaks Urdu with a strong English accent ... then she tried to teach me to say 'Urdu' with an Urdu accent instead of an East Anglian one! She also complimented me again on my (different) shalwar qameez.

As we parted, we soberly considered the past week once more, and shared good wishes for the week to come.

In other news, Mater is quite poorly again.

We knew that attacks on London would come. We grieve with the bereaved.

And the battle is rejoined. Many will be shocked into re-considering life this morning: I deeply value freedom, justice and tolerance, how can I turn that into effective action?

I will speak out when I hear the bombing of London used as a pretext to attack freedom, justice or tolerance. I will continue to support No2ID (as I write, the Pledge has been signed by 9175 people), work for global justice (such as the Year of Microcredit 2005 and Make Poverty History (which includes Muslim organisations)) and ethical retailers.

I will work this autumn in a school with 50% Muslim pupils. I will have my second Urdu lesson on Sunday, from a devout Muslim woman who is a leader in the local Muslim community.

I will continue to train in aikido.

When I go out today, I will wear a shalwar qameez and dopatta.