My writing has transformed me. It has also transformed my understanding of others. Here I remind myself that if I have arrived at a positive opinion of some, it is not through our actual interactions, but as a result of my engagement with them in writing. Through the medium of fiction, I have come to …
Yes, of course we support the nation and its people resisting invasion and brutal occupation. Yes, of course we support those who have been wronged, forced from their homes. Yes, of course we support their right to fight back against aggression and tyranny. We will always support that right. Just note that if we were …
Spring is the best time for finding faith, for this is when we see the hibernating winter plants return to life right before our eyes, synthesizing cursive leaves from nothing but air, water and sunlight. If that doesn’t stir your soul, nothing will.
So pervasive is the negative narrative concerning our faith that whenever people meet a Muslim who seems very decent and honourable, they retort, “Well, they’re clearly not practising their religion properly!” So it is that apparently drug dealers, petty criminals, fraudsters and brigands have it all right, but those who have spent a lifetime studying, …
I am a believer. A practising Muslim. Observant of all core obligations, shunning every prohibition. But after a quarter of a century both walking this path and just growing as a human being, I no longer find the naive apologetics of our proselytisers very convincing. Recently, I have been attending a course with our son …
So years of tinkering have finally born fruit. After hours spent trying and failing to set up the prerequisites for a CMS based on the Django web framework locally on my Mac, I finally had a lightbulb moment. That was after toying with Docker as a potential workaround. “Sod this,” I thought in the end, …
In the aftermath of the massive earthquakes in Turkey, conspiracy theories are running wild once more. The most notable of them that the tremors were caused by what they claim is a US weapon system known as HAARP, an atmospheric research project based in Alaska. My take? “How convenient!” How convenient that we can now …
The United Kingdom is a sinking ship. Perhaps it can be righted with a new captain, but I doubt it. Our hostile environment policy has been so successful that not only do people not want to come here anymore, but those born and bred here are jumping overboard, to pursue better lives elsewhere. Healthcare professionals …
It’s easy to hate. Take the hard path. Be more than your base desires. Have the courage to be the best version of yourself. Rise above petty hatreds and the burning ego. Discover your true calling. You’ll thank yourself.
“Is it your injection making you like this?” “What, assertive? Most probably. Yes, it’s most likely countering my innate passivity…” “I meant defensive and short-tempered.” We wander on in silence.
Generations, families, nations rise and fall, come and go, ebb and flow. My grandfather, a working class lad, left school at fourteen. By the time he retired, he had served an illustrious career as company director and solicitor. His efforts sparked the upwards trajectory of our family, witnessed in the success of his sons and …
Five minutes from home, we walk along the valley. I always say, “It’s like being in the countryside.” To which my beloved naturally laughs, “We are in the countryside, you fool!” Which of course is true. Though we life in town, we’re on the very edge of it. Open countryside is always in easy reach …
Our house isn’t much to look at. It’s a bit small and lacks any real character. But for its situation and view, we’re immensely grateful. We have a very private garden at the back, with ample space for the kids to kick about on, and us to relax in. And a garden at the front, …
I’m really bad at small talk. I have had my parents visiting for a couple of days. Though we have been on a few long walks, I haven’t had much to say. I mostly just recycle conversations. I have little to contribute. Half the time, my words get tangled and come out in the wrong …
