🌈1403 – Saturday, 25 Apr 2026, 19:31

London

Sit with me for a moment while I drink some coconut milk and read Surah Yaseen. I’ll be back shortly.

19:47 – eating a carrot, sitting at this very beautiful desk in Knightsbridge, feeling very connected to everything.

Mera wo ghar kya karta hoon abhi

Uska khulla hall hai, beech mein sofa hai Left mein desk hai, uske baad poora aaina hai

Mera wo ghar mein kaun hoga abhi

Main hoon usmein, apne khayalon ke saath Mere maa-baap bhi hain ghar mein mere saath aaj

Mera wo ghar kahaan hai jo masjid ke qareeb hai

Jo har sahulat ke qareeb hai Jahan mere didi bhaiya ke liye bhi ghar hai Hum sab ke liye jagah hai

Peeche chai bana ke piyen saath Peeche tehelne jaayen saath Khulla, bada, izzat wala

Wo mera ghar kahaan hai?

20:13 – already, my mind wandered off while writing the verse above.

I’ve only got another 10 minutes to be with you. How was your day? It’s been a beautiful day here in London.

The sun was out most of the day. I woke up early, around 07:40 – it was still a little grey and cloudy, so I went back to bed. The next time I checked the time, it was 08:20 AM. I read two ayahs of Surah Kahf in bed, did my affirmations, and checked the living room camera at my parents’ place – they were all at the lunch table. My niece was visiting, so she was there too. Dad and her were eating, and Mum was sitting nearby.

I saw everything was okay and went back to bed, then got up properly around 08:40. Thinking back now, I didn’t do my usual push-ups from the bed today. I’m only realising that now. I usually do them, so something must have been going on in my mind. Hello mind, I’m watching you. Why did you forget our daily task? I command you to remember tomorrow – and remind me tonight before I sleep to do one set.

Around 09:30, I had a call from Mum – just checking if I was up. I said yes, told her I’d seen them earlier on the camera, and that I was about to make tea. She stayed on the call while I made it. We spoke for about 30 minutes, just catching up.

At the moment, I’m staying in a flat between Marylebone and Edgware Road. I only moved here last week, but I don’t think the area suits me, so I told her about my plan to move to Russell Square next Friday. She wants me to settle somewhere properly. She also mentioned my brother hadn’t called yet, and Dad had gone out to see my sister’s new build – the fourth slab ceiling was being done today. Then we said our goodbyes.

By then, it was beautifully sunny outside, and it was only around 11 AM. I got changed – had my milk tea earlier, then made a creatine drink, had it, put on shorts and a T-shirt, and headed out for a run. Run, boy, run.

From home, I turned right onto Marylebone Road, went straight to Edgware Road station, turned left towards Marble Arch, and ran into Hyde Park from the Bayswater side. Passed Lancaster Gate on my right, kept going, then turned left towards Kensington Palace Gardens. It was so beautiful outside – lots of people out, many in shorts and T-shirts, probably the first warm day in weeks.

I ran along the gardens. There was some kind of Iranian rally happening – lots of police around. I turned towards the Royal Albert Hall, walked a little, and stretched by the gates – pulling my arms, loosening up. That was along Kensington Road, with the Kensington Gardens on my right.

Then I ran further, re-entered the park via Prince of Wales Gate, ran up towards the Hyde Park end, turned around, went along Park Lane, then back down Edgware Road and onto Marylebone Road.

It took about an hour in total. A beautiful, beautiful run – and I’m already a little tanned.

By around 12:30, I got home, had lunch – rice and two cans of tuna warmed up – then took it out again and sat in a local park near my place to eat. There were a few guys there already, having a small gathering.

After lunch, I didn’t feel like going home, so I walked around Edgware Road and the Marylebone area until about 3 PM. I bumped into a couple of friends, had a quick catch-up, then headed home.

Later in the afternoon, I took a long nap. Now I’m out again, but still managed to take some time to put my thoughts together.

Nothing fancy today – just a routine day on this planet. Not many interactions, just a couple of mates and some time with family. A simple day, a simple life. I had my headphones on most of the day and finished a finance audiobook while walking around.

3 things I felt grateful for today:

• Very, very grateful for the long run I did today, after weeks!

• Grateful for a long catch-up with Mum this morning.

• Grateful that it’s only 21:22 – I’ll head out again and get something to eat.

What would it take for me – and for you – to wake up tomorrow 10 times bigger, stronger, happier, healthier, leaner, more muscular… to wake up early, have a good workout, everything to be okay with family, friends, and everyone around us… and then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, mentally yet a productive day tomorrow?

Sign up for the monthly letter below.

Good night, good luck!

Ash Khaleem