As humans, we’re natural-born story-tellers; let’s share those stories — In the summer of 2018 I undertook a cycle journey that took me almost to the four corners of London. I would later embark on a longer two-wheel-powered trip that took me to farther places, but the one in the summer of 2018 was the one that stuck in my…

Practical, no-nonsense, and achievable tips — Inspiration for a writer is key to developing new ideas. Also key is keeping our perspiration to a minimum. Joking aside, when I write I seek spiritual and mental stimulation from a variety of sources such as: fiction and nonfiction, the natural world, and interactions with other people. One of…

The column for those who like to swing more than one way… foodwise — What’s the best way to comfort oneself at the end of a long autumn walk and bicycle ride? With a flavour-packed dish of spinach, tomato, and chickpea curry as per the recipe of one of my favourite food writers, Meera Sodha. With quickly-slumping temperatures in London this last fortnight, a…

Make every second, minute, and hour of the day count — For many years my get-up time has been 6am. At the crack of dawn, I’m out of bed and on the floor, ready to start my workout. After that, it’s showertime, breakfast and (these days) a cycle commute. This routine has been the same for more than two decades, but…

The column for those who like to swing more than one way… foodwise —

Why market-driven, genre-defined books fail to capture the essence of literature — I recently went through an enjoyable, short period of re-visiting favourite books and reading new ones. Amongst the former were Women, Race, and Class, by Angela Davis, and Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozie. The latter included Zadie Smith’s latest novel, The Fraud, and Americanah, also by Ngozie. So far so…

Nando’s: comfort eating at its best — Even before I unfolded my Brompton outside my house and set off on my cycle journey West End-bound, I knew where I was going to have my dinner: Euston’s Nando’s. My actual destination was The Place, one of the two meccas for dance lovers in London (the other one is…

Mental block-proof ideas to unlock our creative potential — Writing can be a lonely enterprise. There you are, sitting in front of your PC, laptop, or similar device, wrecking your brains, trying to figure out what to present to the world. No wonder some writers go mad. But not all is grim, nor are we all Bedlam-bound. There are…

A penny for one’s thoughts, anyone? — Most of my chance encounters with London’s rich history and culture happen at street level. A not-very-well-known cul-de-sac, a hidden square, an otherwise unremarkable building. They all carry the marks of time, but I’m usually on pavement or road territory, looking up at a plaque or sign. Not this time…