Things in the Fraser-Whiteman household have been somewhat unconducive to getting my creative things done of late, having moved into a cottage in Andalusia which needs to be knocked down and rebuilt, being heavily pregnant again (due in late April – watch this news page) and of course having a toddler causing general havoc. Nonetheless, there are numerous pots on the boil, including music collaborations, The Orbit Review (which is still rumbling around, though the website isn’t up and running yet), stories, poems, my novel and the ever-ready articles lurking in a drawer awaiting a suitable magazine. Below are a few things which have actually come out of the realms of imagination and planning and found form in the tangible world.

May 2010 – My article ‘Unravelling Disorder’, about artist Lateefa Spiker, to be published in emel magazine.

March 09 – Publication in Islamica Magazine of my short story ‘The Richest Place on Earth’, set in Tanzania, illustrated beautifully by Hanna Whiteman (click here to go to her website, where you can see images of her artwork).

Oct. 08 – Launched call for submissions for pilot issue of The Orbit Review, a creative arts e-zine for the Muslim West. For more information about how to submit pieces of writing or artwork for consideration, please email me.

Sept. 08 – Appeared in BBC documentary The Funny Thing About Ramadan with comedienne Ayesha Hazarika, directed by Irshad Ashraf. Included reading out part of my novel The Chameleons.

May 4th 08 – Birth of Orson Shamsudeen Fraser at home, weighing 8lb 9 1/2 oz.

March 3rd 08 – Playing music with James Van Minnen at the photography exhibition ‘Life, Redefined’ by Namvula Rennie, about the orphans of HIV/AIDS in Zambia, presented by the Royal African Society. This took place at the Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury, once the first orphanage in Britain.

Sept. 07 – Playing music at private event in Portugal featuring Arthur Brown.

July 18th 07 – Gig with James Van Minnen and Nobuko Miyazaki at Raison d’Etre’s LadySoul night at The Pigalle club, 215 Piccadilly.

June 23rd 07 – Gig at South End Green Festival, Hampstead Heath. First time Nobuko, James and I played together as the Medina Tenour Trio.

June 13th 07 – Gig at The Pelican, Westbourne Park, for Raison d’Etre’s Open Mic night.

April 27th 07 – Played at a charity concert in Baraka cafe, Órgiva, Andalusia, to raise money for Afghans4 Tomorrow, a charity which helps mothers and infants; Afghanistan has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. We raised over 850 euros for kits for newborns (blankets, medicines etc.) – much more than we had hoped to raise. A huge thankyou to all who contributed by playing music or listening and showing their support.

April 07 – Interview with social activist Baroness Rabbi Julia Neuberger published in Emel for regular feature ’Table Talk’.

March 07 – Launched Presence EP on MySpace.

March 12th 07 – Gig with Nobuko at Raison d’Être’s LadySoul night at Punk, Soho.

March 9th 07 – Gig with Nobuko at SOAS, Russell Square.

March 07 – Interview with stone-carver/traditional craftsman Adam Williamson published in Emel magazine.

Feb 14th 07 – Gig with Nobuko at The Pelican, Westbourne Grove (Raison d’Être Open Mic night).