We live in an age when we have access to all the entertainment we could ever need. It can be a little overwhelming. At the start of the year I realised that I was drifting away from the music I actually owned and committing more of my time to streaming through Apple Music and Spotify. [...]
Throwing myself into it.
This month I have really got into performing improvised comedy. It's been seven years since I was first tricked into taking a class and then suckered into taking part in a show. Now, for some reason, I'm taking to it. I can't help but think taking part in a 24-hour show at the start of [...]
Life, uh, finds a way
There are many phrases I would use to describe myself as a child. Chief amongst them would be scaredy cat. I went through a phase of waking up in the night and going from room to room, checking on my siblings and my parents to make sure they were still breathing. I was scared of [...]
An Open Letter to Tim Rop (Bellhop)
Dear Tim, I am sorry we had to part so soon. I would like to thank you for occupying my body for a day. It was really something. I just wanted to take the time to talk about what you went through and how awesome it was for me to be a part of Southend's [...]
Adventure
I try to be a good influence. I try not to let on, especially to the children in my life (godchildren, niece, nephew, cousins), that I am a terrible role model. Imagine my surprise when last weekend I was presented with my godson Toby's first story, which is to be published in a collection. He [...]
Goa
Having refused to pay 300 rupees extra for an air conditioned cab, I sat sweating in the passenger seat with one elbow hooked on the open window to try and spread some breeze around my body. The road was dusty and wild. There were children leaving school, walking along the side-lines and staring as this [...]
#18 – Take a train ride across India
Ten years ago I was hungover. Not much has changed. On this particular occasion I woke up on a sofa in the basement of my friend’s student digs in Cambridge. Stale smoke sat up in the air along with any plans I had for the day. Ben, the aforementioned friend, wandered into the room and [...]
Rishikesh
I woke up early and bagged up anything in my hotel room that wasn't chained down. I didn't know what the rest of my accommodation would be like so took two toothbrushes, body lotion, conditioner, shampoo, a shower cap, a comb and so many bars of soap that it looked like I was smuggling bullion. [...]
Delhi to Agra
I landed at around 10am, still dressed in the Canadian tuxedo I had worn to work the day before. I had one bag with me, hanging off one shoulder, full of what my friends call "Bastard shirts" - hideously glorious short sleeved Hawaiian-style tops. I also had toothpaste and some cotton buds so I was [...]
What have you done?
This week I have seen a number of posts from people celebrating their personal wins for the year so far. I know I have made similar highlight-type posts in time gone by about my personal achievements for a given period. Due to personal circumstances, it hit me this time around that it's ok if you [...]
