This job has taken me four hours so far, and I’m only half way there. It is quite solid, if a little wonky — that’s my trademark. Naturally, a professional would have completed this in about half an hour. But then they’d have proper tools, not to mention talent. Time to refuel — family ate …
Down our allotment twenty years ago. It’s good to recall the road once travelled. That was our garden in those days, an escape from our tiny flat a fifteen-minute walk away. It puts the present in better perspective.
So much for a quick job replacing the top rail on the balustrade while the family were out. It’s all completely rotten. The whole lot will need renewing. As they say: no rest for the wicked.
Nobody will ever understand what an achievement this complete and utter bodge is for me. A new post, only slightly wonky. And a new fence cobbled together from two broken panels. It’s true that it makes last week’s job look quite professional by comparison. But the fact I was able to do something at all …
The perfect day to start on those long neglected garden jobs.
Every year, the same mistake. Not wanting to be rude to the well-meaning family friend who dispatches a meal for us to break our fast, I tuck in. I should know better by now. Deep-fried something-or-other infused with chilly seeds and assorted leaves. Some spicy dumpling salad thing. Piles of pakoras. Spicy rice. Some kind …
Food for the soul. All the world in one building, spilling out of the doors. Beautiful khutbah too. Cambridge Central Mosque, good Jummah. So glad to have made the journey. First return to the city in over twenty years. Beautiful architecture. Wonderful atmosphere. The people of this locality are very fortunate. Of course, my beloved …
The time to test the skills you learnt on 5-minute crafts is not on Mother’s Day, while making your mum breakfast in bed. Never mind, you know dad will clean up the mess.
My wife and I have never owned a flagship smartphone — not new, anyway. We’ve always had budget handsets, costing just a few pounds a months. The closest I’ve come is a Galaxy S8, just as the S20 was hitting the shelves. A fine phone, regardless. But when my beloved started looking for a new …
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.
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 lad was right. As he headed out of the door for a weekend away, he laughed, “Dad doesn’t eat anything when he’s on his own.” I told him that this time would be different, pointing out that his mum had left me food in the fridge. I won’t starve, I insisted. But he was …
