India

It’s time to show you a little bit of what I’m involved in. Are you ready? My voluntary work is for an Indian NGO (non-governmental organisation) in Goa called Bethesda Life Centre, founded and run by Martin and Beena Philip. This charity has been taking in abandoned children for 17 Read more

Fishermen always put themselves at risk. The seas and oceans of this planet are affected by oft-unpredictable weather patterns and a big, round rock in the sky. Sometimes they go away for a day, sometimes months. Sometimes they can land that big catch straight away, sometimes the waters offer them Read more

It’s Monday and I’ve spent the entire day cleaning the apartment. After a wash I relax and watch one of my favourite movies on my black and white TV. It’s Tuesday and the electricity has gone off 6 times. At night. It’s Wednesday. I’m on the bus, off to work. Read more

My naivety was the only thing supressing my laughter. ‘Surely he can’t be doing what I think he’s doing?’ It all started with the question “how old are you”. It’s an honest question, but still a question best played with children, most of whom have no distinction between 20, 30 Read more

It’s 10am. I’m drinking coffee with my head swirling. The sun begins its defrost cycle, the neighbours white and ginger cat has been let out and begins its morning prowl, and I really begin to miss my mum. Yes, that wonderful wench has gone back to soggy Blighty to begin Read more

Shania Twain has a way with words. Everyone knew that the second she boyishly uttered “let’s go girls”, and face it, you thought “YES SHANIA!” (even though you were burley Bob from Barnsley). When she sang “You’re Still The One” she opened the song with the lyrics “looks like we Read more

Well, I live in India! As I write, the air is alive with incense, colour, red dust and honking horns – ecstatically engaging all your senses. Cows, stray dogs and pedestrians have as much right of way as scooters and buses on the road. Apparently I’m staying in the posh Read more