I always thought I’d be writing books, not designing them.

My first reaction on seeing the announcement was, “Nee vok.”

I have no idea why I was channeling an Afrikaans man at something-past-eleven this morning.

I was so chuffed at making the short-list, that I sketched out no scenarios beyond having my design right up there alongside the freakishly talented (they might be mutants) Fatima Cassim, Yusuf Dajee and Shubnum Khan.

I’m still a bit shell-shocked at the judges’ decision, though I am grateful for this crack at building my design profile.

An ileum-deep thank you goes out to those who included my design in their nominations and to my great friends; whose faith in me is unwavering even when I’m not much of a believer.

For a long time, things have been kind of cluttering up around here; fiction fried up with food, poetry jamming along with n00b executions and bits of carby-blogging in between.

While the idea of having all my stuff in one place seemed sensible at the time, it now feels like chyme; chewed up and sludgey.

So, I’m going back to the old formula:

Food here,

Fiction here,

Poetry here,

while blogging of the old Electric Spaghetti variety will continue right here.

Following on in this spirit of simplification, I’ve decided to take down the Books&Bikya page. It really hasn’t gained as much momentum as I’d have liked (partly due to me not finding enough time to grow the community).

Perhaps the project will see some future resurrection but until then, I do thank you for your support.

I’m certain you will all stay committed to upcycling and de-cluttering.

For Ramadaan and beyond.

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