It's been a week since we completed our Shine Night full marathon walk in London to raise crucial funds for Cancer Research UK, which happens every year. This friendly event offers a 10k, half, and full marathon, encouraging participants to take it easy and just finish, although many of us set personal goals for completion. Last year, I completed the half marathon with friends in approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, I was contemplating whether to join this year or not. But when one of my friends from Maidenhead showed interest in the marathon, she convinced me to register. Initially, she discussed signing up for the 10k walk with a few of her friends, but I felt that wouldn't be challenging enough, so I persuaded herself and her team to go for the half marathon. We signed up, but a week before the event, my friend had to withdraw due to medical reasons. That’s when I checked with my previous walking partner, Pooja, who had also registered for the half marathon. It felt like f

I had read the hard copy of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho back in 2020, but despite its high ratings, I didn't enjoy it much. The philosophical nature of the book didn't resonate with me. However, recently, I started contemplating the similarities between Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" and Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist," especially in their themes of love, taking a journey in pursuit of the dream and the use of natural elements. Since I couldn't clearly recall "The Alchemist," I decided to revisit it through the audiobook. This time, I found it more enjoyable, particularly with a good narrator. As it is a short book, I finished listening through it within a week or two. In Summary: "The Alchemist" follows the journey of Santiago, a shepherd who dreams of finding a hidden treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. Driven by this dream, he sets off with his flock of sheep. Along the way, he meets the King of Salem, who introdu

The Rise of the Ultra Runners - by Adharanand Finn When I first heard the name Adharanand, I imagined an ultra-running icon of Indian descent. However, after some quick research, I found that he is actually of Irish origin, born to Irish parents. His family moved to a South London ashram, where they were deeply influenced by Indian spirituality. This unique upbringing shaped much of Finn's perspective on life and endurance. In this book, Finn takes readers on a journey through his experiences in ultra running, competing in some of the toughest ultra-marathons around the world. From the searing deserts of Oman to the challenging, rugged terrain of Mont-Blanc, Finn's journey is not just about physical endurance but also mental and emotional resilience. What stands out throughout his grueling races is the unwavering support he receives from his family, especially his children. He admits that there were many moments when he felt like quitting, particularly during 24-hour track runs

In 2023, I spent working remotely, a consequence of the lingering effects of the COVID lockdown. In the pre-COVID era, when my daily routine involved commuting to work, I consistently allocated at least an hour or two for reading. However, the absence of a daily commute to the office has noticeably reduced the time I spend on books. Until July 2023, I hadn't ventured into a single book. However, during a school holiday visit to India, I was taken aback by my niece's great collection of books which wasn't the case a year earlier. Her shelf boasted an impressive array of authors and diverse genres. Browsing through her collection prompted me to select and delve into a book, marking the beginning of my literary journey in 2023. A Place Called Home by Preethi Shenoy This was my first book from the several books that this author wrote. An effortless read, perfect to pick up when the mind requires no logic but simply seeking a relaxing treat. I might have used a couple of weeks t

  It's been a year since we indulged in any leisurely holidays for 2023, except for a school holiday break in India from the end of July to the end of August. Throughout the year, our focus was on planning a relocation in preparation for the boys' start of secondary school. Relocating is a challenging endeavor that takes a toll on the family, but I'll save that topic for another blog post. While most of our friends had already booked holidays to Egypt for the Christmas break back in June itself, we hesitated due to the uncertainty of our relocation plans, which were not finalized until September. Once we knew the relocation would happen by a certain date, the Israel and Gaza war erupted, causing us to postpone booking the holiday to join our friends. Additionally, our holiday plans in December were further delayed as Arjun had a medical issue, and we were awaiting consultation from specialists. By the time we received a consultation and decided on the next steps for Arjun&#

It's been far too long since we took a leisurely family stroll together. With the Easter holidays upon us and a desire for local adventure, we opted to embark on a lengthy trek from Maidenhead to Windsor. Though we had previously tackled this same journey about 18 months ago, we decided to switch up the route this time and include the iconic Bray Lake. Our journey began around 10:30 AM, departing from home and heading toward Windsor by way of Bray Lake.    Along the road, we delighted in the sights of biker rallies and vintage car shows. Upon arriving at Bray Lake, we were mesmerized by the bungee jumping water sports taking place. After our visit, we joined the Thames Walk, a familiar path for us, leading us to the entrance of Windsor. Once there, we treated ourselves to refreshing ice cream to cool down under the sun's first warm rays of spring. And when our bellies began to rumble, we sat down for a delicious lunch at Wagamama, as previously planned. After our satisfying lun

This Easter, we found ourselves in a quandary - to travel or not to travel, that was the question. Our hearts yearned to visit our homeland of India, but the timing was a conundrum. Should we venture there in April, or wait until August? After much contemplation and debate, we ultimately settled on July/August, when our boys would be enjoying their summer holidays, allowing us more time to revel in the company of our loved ones. However, we couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that July/August was not the ideal season for visiting India, with the monsoons in full swing. As a result, we found ourselves without any pre-booked Easter holidays and instead opted for day trips and local activities. It was on Easter Sunday that we stumbled upon an unforgettable experience at Pennibridge Farm, spending two hours getting up close and personal with the charming alpacas. After bidding farewell to our new furry friends, we turned to Google in search of afternoon activities. Our options were

I've been wanting to write a travel blog about our trip to Malta for some time now. However, my laziness has been holding me back until today when I finally stopped procrastinating and started jotting it down. Malta was our first trip to Europe with the twin boys. After their great success in the 11-plus exams, we decided to take a well-deserved break and utilize the holiday period of December. We booked Malta as one of our friends had also planned the same location which made our holiday search easier. Here are some facts about Malta and why it's a popular holiday destination: Malta is a small island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily, Italy, covering an area of 316 square km. Malta has a population of 515,000 people (in 2020). The island nation is in the top 10 of the most densely populated countries in the world. Malta has a rich and diverse history, with influences from the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and British. As a result, the country has a unique