Everything London

Sometimes, just sometimes magic happens. By absolute chance I came across this free exhibition on the walkway in an area thats been pedestrianised, by Kings College London and Somerset House. It really spoke to me because it is quite literally what I've been thinking about for some time now, and I love stories, fantasy and fiction too, the idea of creating other worlds and other realms, it's magical. The Quiet Enchanting. And it was. Quietly there on the wall, almost, out-of-the-way, not shouting out, not in the bustle of walkways or near the road; you might miss it if you didn't look up. Enchanting with the images, the stark questions on the walls with imagery to suit something from dreams. I just submitted a story to Hodder & Stoughton yesterday, fantasy fiction about the world we live in and people's intentions based on my observations when I worked at the UK Department for International Development, now defunct, and got rid of by the current UK government. S...

"Rub ma belly"   Autumn. The leaves are falling. Its grey and raining. We're a long time past March's lockdown and yet coronavirus is still here and we still need to keep our distance. But we have a silver lining! A pick me up proven uplift opens on the 31st October, in the shape of nine cats roaming, ready for petting and belly rubs at the new Java Whiskers cat café at 105, Great Portland Street, in London! You book your time slot, 1-2 hours per person over 10 years of age, arrive 15 minutes early and kick off your shoes! Order some sandwiches, salads and pastries, with vegan options and gluten-free option and then enjoy the kitties as they come a paw-ing. There are rules though to protect the cats, while there are toys to lure in a feline friend, you aren't allowed to force them, pick them up or 'force hold' them, and the cats are free to retreat to downstairs if they decide they're done with human company for a while, so these cat kings and queens ...

Yes, this is still London. Pic Credit Hina Pandya 2016©️ When I had a rather hectic time at work my friend suggested I take a hike. Literally. Now, I love hiking, so it wasn't hard to say yes. But I couldn't really travel far to the hills of the Brecon Beacons in Wales or to the beautiful Ben Nevis in Scotland. I live in London, a city, buildings not greenery... or so I thought. I was wrong . Apparently the London Loop which has long been in existence is signposted and has trails you'd never know existed. Secret alcoves with nesting birds, Pic credit Hina Pandya 2016 ©️ Straight off the tube we hiked 10 miles through trails of trees, besides waterways of the Grand Union canal, down across field of cows, through corn fields- yes I said corn fields, across deep forest where we were quiet enough- and slow enough- it was uphill to see wild deer, and all in London. The instructions to find the paths can sometimes be very obscure like "find a...