Alas, the end of 2023 is in sight — I have this weird idiosyncrasy of needing to know what period of the year I’m in every week — and sometimes, what number day— hence I can tell you we're coming to the end of week 35 and there‘s 123 days left in this year. You know what that means…

Whether or not you think you have a right to — I know it can be a matter of age or self-confidence sometimes but I never cease to be amazed at the way some people don’t ask for what they need. I took a train journey the other day. The carriage was full and there were very few seats available. As…

But sadly, it’s part of life — We are now at the halfway mark of 2023. Where does time go to? It’s a cliché I know, but it really does fly. The last couple of months have been a real rollercoaster. I celebrated another birthday and lost yet another friend. …

A favourite childhood meal is now my signature dish — When I was a little girl growing up in Nigeria, it was not uncommon for our neighbours to gift us a leg of goat each Ramadan. They always had a few goats — 4 or 5 I seem to remember — roaming about their compound and once or twice a…

Man defends his inalienable right to kiss any woman he damn well pleases — “What the hell is going on in the world? This is feminism gone mad,” claimed the head of the Spanish football association after calls were made for his resignation. His crime? He planted a smacker full on the lips of a member of the winning team of the 2023 FIFA…

Marla’s attachment to her AI assistant had become an addiction — It was a lovely summer afternoon when Marla embarked on her housesitting adventure, accompanied by her trusty sidekick, Alexa. As she walked through the door of the sprawling country cottage, her first order of business was clear: Alexa needed to settle into her new temporary home. With careful precision, Marla…

How an inability to wait destroyed a lifetime dream — Daphne’s heart raced with anticipation as she entered Frederique’s. The warm ambience embraced her, its soft lighting and rich décor adding to the sense of excitement coursing through her. The clacking of her heels on the polished floor masked the butterflies fluttering within her. As she manoeuvred her way through…

Then I read about a disabled nine-year-old who was raped in her own home — There is nothing like a shock to the system to put things into perspective. I was having a bit of an internal moan about the fact that I had to sort out photo attributions for a story I’d written. …

When lies catch up with us — It seemed so easy at first, so possible. She came from the other side of town — born in a small village her new husband had never visited, nor was ever likely to. …