I give these links to useful islamic sites..

but why don't I read them myself??! I am generally more inclined as regards my kids education as 'learning through living' and this seems to apply to myself, but I must try to make more effort to read(and remember!!) about things even if they're not relevant at that particular point so I'm not in a fluster when something happens.

This follows on from the last post about being confused of the ruling re vomiting and fasting. Now today I was confused about whether I'd eaten past Fajr or not. I knew I was allowed to eat what was left in my hand but was not sure if it went over the time of the athan as we did not have it on. Worry worry, have I spoilt another fast?

So here's something I cut and paste from Islam q and a

Ignorance of the ruling, such as if a person vomits deliberately but he is not aware that vomiting breaks the fast. In this case he does not have to make up the fast because he is ignorant. The evidence that the one who is ignorant of the ruling does not break his fast is the report that is proven in al-Saheehayn from the hadeeth of ‘Adiyy ibn Haatim (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said that he put two ropes – one black and one white – beneath his pillow. These were ropes of the type used to hobble camels. He started looking at them, and when he could distinguish between the white rope and the black one, he stopped eating and drinking. The next day he went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and told him about that. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Your pillow must be very wide, if the white thread and the black thread are beneath your pillow. Rather that is the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the day” But the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not tell him to make that day up, because he had been unaware of the meaning of the verse. (This is where I have to enhance my memory, as this was on UmmRashid's blog)

Ignorance of the time. For example, if a person thinks that dawn has not yet broken, then he finds out that it had broken. He does not have to make up that day. Similarly if a person breaks the fast at the end of the day thinking that the sun has set, then he finds out that it had not set, he does not have to make up that day either. The evidence for that is the report narrated by al-Bukhaari from Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: We broke our fast on a cloudy day at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then the sun came out. The point here is that if the fast was invalidated, it would have been obligatory to make it up, and if it had been obligatory to make it up, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have commanded them to do that. If he had ordered them to make it up, this would have reached us because it is part of preserving sharee’ah. As there is no report that says that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told them to do that, and as he did not tell them to do that, it is known that the fast was not invalidated, so it does not have to be made up in this case. But as soon as a person realizes what the situation is, he must stop eating and drinking, so that even if there is a morsel in his mouth, he has to spit it out. End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (19/116).

,and from Bilal Philips website:

When the athaan of Fajr is sounded, this signals the beginning of the fast and one should not
begin to eat anything at this point. If one has in his hand food or drink when the athaan is called, he should finish eating what he wants from it before putting it down. Aboo Hurayrah reported that Allaahs Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ;If one of you hears the athaan and a vessel remains in his hand, he should not put it down until he has had what he desires from it.”[11

It sounds like rule rules rules, for Ramadhan, but I spose in wanting to obey our Creator and worrying of disobedience this is part of the more'spiritual' side of Ramadhan, gaining taqwa? Doing everything for His Sake and not worrying what others may think (I was asked at work years ago why I don't just sneak a Snickers bar?!)
These ahadith are also showing the flexibility of the rules, and compassion Allahahs for us. (Could Swedish bureacracy take heed of the former ?). I must not forget we have to have the combination of Love fear and hope for Allah(swt), that He will inshaAllah pass over our mistakes, as we all will make them at some point.