Wrapped in Words: A Childhood That Led to Writing
Reading has always been a quiet kind of magic in my life. Long before I understood its importance, books were already part of my childhood. My parents had a simple but thoughtful tradition — birthdays and special occasions often came wrapped not just in ribbons and paper, but in words and pictures. While some children unwrapped toys or gadgets, we often unwrapped books. Looking back, I realise just how deliberate and precious that was. The earliest gifts I remember were comics — Beano and Dandy . Their cheeky characters, mischief, and slapstick humour filled our days with laughter. Each week’s issue was something to look forward to, and I would pore over the pages again and again until the corners curled and the colours faded. At Christmas and year’s end, the excitement was always doubled because of the annuals. Thick, colourful, and sturdy, they felt like treasure chests brimming with puzzles, stories, and illustrations. To me, those annuals were more than pres...