There is the Christmas tree shining into the grey lane. Home is warm and carpeted, with bedside lamps turned on, as always. When I was a child the gentle slump of the car in the drive would always be a bit of a bother. “We’re home.” I’d be half asleep in the backseat, sighing inContinue reading “Coming home”
Category Archives: Life
Thinking about bus stops (and omelettes)
I’m not convinced that a recipe for an omelette should be preluded by a musing on bus stops and illustrated with photos of an autumnal UCL campus, but I’m doing it anyway. It’s odd to think about all of the bus stops I’ve stood at during my life. The first one of my adolescence wasn’tContinue reading “Thinking about bus stops (and omelettes)”
Meet Me in a Dream
“Stay hard, stay hungry, stay alive If you can And meet me in a dream of this hard land” Meet me, Springsteen sings, in a dream of the true America: as rough, as tough, as hard as any other land. In song after song of toil and tears; wartime death and young loss; dreams forgottenContinue reading “Meet Me in a Dream”
Tales From the Italian Kitchen
The woman behind the counter was wearing a loose cotton dress. Her skin was the colour of aged tan leather, but was softened by her smile. She scooped balls of creamy mozzarella di bufula into a bag. This oozing cheese was the work of those weathered hands and it was the best to be foundContinue reading “Tales From the Italian Kitchen”
Joy.
Between my sister and I, there has come about a pretty strict idea on how to do Christmas right. It’s the small things that can drag down my festive cheer, like when people refuse Christmas pudding on the big day (put your taste buds aside and take one for the team, you bunch of Scrooges!)Continue reading “Joy.”
A Sea For All Seasons
As a child, the seaside was everything I could ever long for and more. The seafront would change wherever we went, whether it be the arcades of Great Yarmouth’s promenade or the prim tea shops of Southwold, however, those white horses galloping towards the shore would always remain the same. Maybe if I’d ventured downContinue reading “A Sea For All Seasons”
Maybe, if I dream hard enough…
…it might just happen. If I want something this much, then surely I can beat all of the impossibilities through willpower alone. Simply by flinging my heart head-first at a far-off, near-on never going to happen prospect, perhaps I can somehow get my whole being to follow, and eventually I’ll make it. This glorious dreamContinue reading “Maybe, if I dream hard enough…”
How to do Christmas.
First take food, of course. Quality street by the handful, a platter of cheese that will stink out your fridge for the entirety of the festive period; all of the waist-increasing foods that scream out Christmas. Take bracing walks, across the fields, through the town and past the river that define your childhood. Then, whenContinue reading “How to do Christmas.”
No Shade, No Shine, No Butterflies, No Bees…
…no fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds…November. But Mr Thomas Hood, dear poet, may I also remind you that whilst lacking in very many areas, November does boast quite a lot to be happy about: Fireworks, toffee apples, golden leaves, crisp mornings, the first frost, knitted scarves, hot soup and many other joys thatContinue reading “No Shade, No Shine, No Butterflies, No Bees…”
Fennel a la qrecque
Sharp right off Euston Road onto Gower Street, feet scrambling on the pavement, trying desperately to avoid the oncoming traffic of people. Late, always late. Through the iron gates. The stone temple of the UCL Octagon building stands opposite, almost two hundred years of study etched into its skin. I head towards it, bag swayingContinue reading “Fennel a la qrecque”
To The Table 