You have to learn to be extra patient during Ramadan but we do not live in a patient world.

Whilst Ramadan is something many of us may actually look forward too – for others it can be quite a troublesome period.

Going without food is difficult for some human beings and the whole ethos of Ramadan seems to have been lost on them.

The first week is the most difficult as people get used to going without food and water. As temperatures rise so do the emotions of those who simply find that first week a little too difficult to handle.

Last year, I was at the other end of several Ramadan rage incidents. The first happened when I was picking my child up from school.

A man did not take too lightly to me making him wait a few seconds longer and let rip. A tirade of abuse full of expletives followed. The problem was he was a smoker and later blamed the abuse due to going cold turkey.

Yes, he apologised the next day but for people watching this must have been one hell of show. If you are fasting yourself then you can’t really reply in the manner you would wish.

I did see this once though at another junction where two men, both suffering in those first few days decided that Ramadan or no Ramadan they were going to let out their frustrations.

Road rage incidents in parts of the Middle East increase at this time of year. In some cases those fasting are in a hurry to get home and will end-up speeding. Other times you can become irate almost instantly. It is understandable I guess with the high temperatures and searing sun.

I personally don’t like driving anywhere in Asian areas anytime after 7pm as you find some people have become almost zombified.

Smokers are to be avoided at all cost really. I find that smokers take out their urges on the nearest person and even friends can turn against you.

In the home most couples will argue over the most trivial of things between the hours of 6pm and 9pm. A friend of mine was thrown out of the house by his wife after he brought home the wrong tinned tomato.

Yes, he had brought home chopped and she wanted the other kind. His wife of twenty years threw him out of the door and he spent the evening at the mosque.

But if you think about it, women actually do take the full brunt of these anger management incidents.

I would go as far as to say it is the unseen abuse.

They have to put up with the short tempers of their fathers, brothers and sons in the lead up to Iftari (fast-breaking) time. They must ensure that the Iftari meal is served up whilst at the same time having to deal endless requests for the perfect dish.

Women, especially mothers will be other end of abuse if they already lived with someone who had temper problems. The period can become especially troublesome I’m afraid.

Yet, at a supermarket Ramadan Rage reaches new levels with shoppers hurrying to get their hands on the latest offers.

Mid-afternoon to late evening you are likely to come across a whole bunch of headscarf wearing women who seem to have forgotten that there should be a level of etiquette to everything – even shopping.

Already this weekend I have seen people panicking as if this is the final day on the planet. Simple manners have gone straight out of the window.

What can you honestly say to a woman with a headscarf on who wants the offer more than you do?

Are we really so intent on bagging these offers at any cost? It seems so.