If 42 is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything, what can be said about 42.2? That is the number of kilometres I will be running on the 2nd of October for the Virtual London Marathon (same day, same distance, same pain, except I choose my route) in aid of Refuge. It has been […]
Category: Writing
The Silence of Words
I started 2021 full of purpose. I had dubbed it The Rise of the Artist because I was so sure I had found my voice and it was ready to be heard. I thought I would keep on writing. I thought once the pen met the paper or my fingers met the keyboard, I would not […]
Hugs: The Countdown begins…
With the roadmap to summer 2021 shared with the general UK public, overseas trips and hotel bookings went through the roof. Unofficial countdowns and a myriad of social invites materisalising here and there, alongside the first showing of yet another confined spring. Going on walks to my local park, I am greeted by tiny furry […]
MMXX – The Gone Off The Rails Year
If life were a busy train station, and you were stood still on the platform, unable to move – not an inch, not a centimetre – thoughts of personal failures come flooding back in. “Why didn’t I leave sooner?”, “Why didn’t I say this or that?”, “Why didn’t I…?” “Why did I..?” Why, oh why […]
September’s Unburdenings
As I step outside for my early morning run, there is a certain chillness about. The air is now crispy and misty, and it can only mean one thing: September is here so summer must leave. Colours are changing, nights are drawing in and your body is feeling tired. One day at a time and […]
Writing in Progress
When lockdown was announced in March, my usual rituals came to a halt. No dancing, no gym, no social gatherings…It was just me, members of my household (also includes the cat) and access to the internet. As I was browsing through my feed in social media, one post caught my attention. The team behind a […]
Identity – Chapter 2 (Movement)
While I was dreaming the follow-up to my chapter on identity, I kept looking for inspirational quotes by great dancers. They all made sense to me because I feel I say more dancing than I do when I speak. As I researched more and more, the initial idea of identity through movement via culture and […]
Identity – Chapter 1
If what you do you makes you who you are, what happens when there’s a lockdown? Social restrictions have meant we cannot fully commit to those activities, hobbies that are part of our identities. I still run, I still exercise. On the other end of the scale, I haven’t danced since early March so I […]
Marching for change
One of the strongest memories of my childhood was that of watching Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom once released from the prison that hid him from the world for decades. Even as a child I understood what his steps meant, not only for a whole country, but also for those who fought (and still […]
Slow: Work in Progress
When you look up the definition of “slow”, you come up with a number of synonyms: unhurried, leisurely, measured, moderate, deliberate, steady, easy, relaxed; but also sluggish, time-consuming, procrastinating, obtuse, dull, slow-moving, quiet. Reflect on that last one: quiet. Breathe it in like a fine wine or a morning-awakening coffee: quiet. How difficult it is […]
Unembraced: Conscious awakening to a new normal
It is still a very clear memory even after 18 years. It was my last day of holiday with my parents. We were on our way back home after an enjoyable day sightseeing, and our last stop was Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) in Cascais, near Lisbon. The radio was on and kept us company […]
Tango: the healing touch
With a thin string of sweat beads nesting on your brow, a few drops freely cascade down the right side of your face. You gently cool down with a hand held fan, either your own or that from your partner who has carefully pocketed it. Your skin reacts to the breeze instantly. And then a […]
Under the Wasp Nest 