The God of Small Things by Arundati Roy.

Beach.

Taking out books from the public library.

It’s not so much about a highlight for me, as it is about a body of work. I dropped out of university because my family couldn’t afford keeping me there. I vowed that I would be successful regardless. Hard work and the real hustle has got me here. I have also been very lucky though. The two together are a brilliant combination. 

Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful. 

My departed Ouma Bessie, whom I grew up with. She would stare at you in silence and you knew she was upset, but you never knew what it was that you did! 

Ignorance and intolerance. 

I’m a part-time jazz singer. Not much of a secret though.    

My friend Leslie in Philly.

Hey sister girl! (she hates it when I speak in Ebonics).

My belated Ouma Bessie.

Bullies of any kind.

Two thick slices of my Ouma Bessie’s home baked bread fresh out of the oven, with butter, peanut butter and homemade apricot jam. And a cup of milky tea. Who cares about carbs then?

I snapped and throttled a bully. 

Job at Uni: Night time admin at a Storage Land in Ottery, you would hear gunshots from the nearby gang fights going on in the dead of the night. Some real dodgy characters would come to visit their storage lockers in the middle of the night.   

Stupid people. 

 “Good things happen to those who hustle” – Anais Nin.

Poverty eradication. 

Affordable housing.  

Pretending to be an adult.