My research assistants for book 8 are…
top technical advisers: left to right Sangeeta,Mujgana, Hadia, Mahfuza and Amritha
It might still be the Christmas holidays and I do still have half a turkey breast and way too much cranberry sauce left in the fridge but I’m back at my desk writing today. I’m finishing book 8 of Girls FC (please note I’m only using the word ‘finishing’ just in case my editor reads this). Anyway moving quickly on…
Meet the team who are helping me. Book 8 is Tabinda’s story. Tabinda’s Dad, Mr Shah, sponsors the team. He and Tabinda’s Mum run Sweet Peas Garden Centre. Tabinda is a Muslim name; the boxer Amir Khan’s sister is a Tabinda. In my head my Tabinda was always going to be a Muslim girl but also in my head (and therefore from the beginning of the series) she wears her hair in long plaits. It wasn’t until I gave a talk at the YLG conference and showed the audience my team postcards that one of the librarians pointed out that it was nice to see a little Sikh girl on the team! Turns out plaits are traditionally worn by Sikh girls whereas some Muslim girls cover their heads in a headscarf or hijab. Though wearing the hijab is optional, the plait took my character to another culture and religion altogether. So much for my great research skills!
I took my dilemma to Forest Fields Primary School in Nottingham and met a group of girls who all play football. Together we came up with a simple solution. Tabinda is now half-Sikh, half-Muslim. Sorted.
I learned so much from these girls in one lunchtime. In many respects they are typical British 9 and 10 year old girls. Their favourite things include spaghetti, pizza, chocolate brownies, Sponge Bob and Harry Potter. They play on their Wiis and fall out with their brothers and sisters. Amritha supports Manchester United and wants to be a professional footballer when she grows up. Mahfuza is a big fan of Jacqueline Wilson, Sangeeta and Mujgana love wearing jeans and t shirts. But there are differences too. Mujgana, whose family originates from Afghanistan, loves a dish called mantoo. Mantoo are like meatballs in a ravioli casing topped with a yogurt sauce. On special occasions, the girls will wear a salwar kameez. They also told me about mehndi. Mehndi comes in a tube and is used to paint patterns and images on skin. It starts off green then forms a crust as it dries that reveals a type of temporary tattoo underneath. Available from the Medinah superstore in Hyson Green for only £1 a tube. Apparently mendhi parties are all the rage. I’m still trying to work out how to fashion a mendhi party into Book 8 when the story is about Tabina’s fear of heading but if I don’t manage it this time, I will somewhere along the line.
I’d like to give a quick mention to Hadia (nickname Saj). Saj has been giving me extra help by emailing me when I think of something I need to know. Thanks, Saj. You’re a star!
mendhi