Shab-e Yalda at our place, light, poetry, and far too many nuts

A civilised way of dealing with December We are very bad at darkness in the UK. We rush to fill it, brighten it, drown it out, decorate it, or pretend it’s not there at all. We string lights over it,…

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How to celebrate Nowruz: Persian customs, haft sin and kids’ activities

Last night we celebrated Nowruz (Persian New Year) with friends, food, and a slightly-too-late bedtime. Their beautiful new house glowed, candles flickered, and the conversation turned into a history lesson about family traditions which made us think: “Wait, why do…

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Everybody dance: don’t sweat, sparkle with Zumba for 2024

As we step into the New Year, I find myself reflecting on a transformative 2023, one filled with a newfound passion for Zumba! It all began on a chilly night after the Covid-19 era, inside a dimly lit marquee that…

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