The City I Met in Storybooks

Beyond Words

I have loved London for much longer than I have known it. 

Not since my first visit in 2022, but since the 1980s, when I first encountered the city in storybooks. There was something about its bridges, cobblestone streets and its old-world charm that captured my imagination. Tower Bridge, especially, has always fascinated me. 

To go from reading about it in books as a little girl to actually being here, working in this part of the world, feels like one of those pinch-me, is-this-really-my-life? moments.  

This year's visit came with its own collection of stories. 

A little bit of history, a lot of celebration 

SimpleXConnect was the hero of this trip. Hosting our client’s annual event at the prestigious House of Commons was special in itself. Add to that an evening of conversations and a pub-hopping celebration, and you have a memory that will keep bringing a smile to my face. 

But sometimes, it isn’t the grand venues or the important occasions that stay with you. It is the people. 

The kindness of Pinky Lilani 

Meeting the honourable Pinky Lilani left a lasting impression on me. 

Pinky, the force behind the Women of the Future Awards and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, has spent years creating platforms for women to be recognised, encouraged and supported. Her work also champions something we could all do with a little more of – kindness.  

When she made me a cheese toast and gave me practically everything she could find in her non-operational kitchen, I was reminded that warmth doesn’t need a grand gesture. Sometimes, it comes served on a plate, with a generous helping of affection. 

Every time I meet her, I come away with a lesson in kindness and genuine human connection. We spoke about how much the world needs these qualities, especially when so many of our interactions are beginning to feel transactional. 

And then there is Shernaz 

No matter how busy she is, she always makes time to meet. Her enthusiasm, her generosity in helping me find my feet, and the little nuggets of wisdom she shares about navigating the UK market are gifts I truly value. 

What a storyteller, what a personality, and what a lovely human being! Meeting her feels like home. And when you are away from home, that is a rather special feeling. 

My little attempts at living local 

And then there was London beyond the meetings and events. 

Hopping on the Tube. Trusting Google Maps to take me to far-off places. Getting lost, finding my way back, and occasionally wandering, and feeling good about it. 

Running to catch a train. Coffee on the go. Learning to make small talk about the weather like a proper local. 

And walking. Oh, the walking! 

In India, I barely walk for a minute without feeling the need to find a car. Here, I find myself walking miles without thinking twice. There is something liberating about having a city unfold at your feet, one street, one little café, one unexpected turn at a time. 

Until next time, London  

I return home, as I do almost every year, with a familiar thought: I would love to spend more time here. 

There is something about the rhythm of life here that appeals to me. Breathing a little easier, walking a little more, eating just enough, finding joy in the everyday. Life seems to leave a little more room for work, conversations, quiet moments and the possibility of doing more. 

Perhaps it is the change of scene. Perhaps it is the novelty of being somewhere that still feels a little magical.  

I don’t know if I will ever tire of London. There are still streets to roam in, places to discover, coffee shops to try, and work waiting to happen. 

For now, I carry home another handful of memories, a renewed appetite for life and the same old dream of spending a little more time here. 

Some cities are places you visit. Some become part of your story long before you arrive. 

London has been both for me.