I’m very excited to be bringing you this book review right now for several reasons. The first of which is that Milan and I are old friends. His brother and I were in the same class at school. Since we spent so much time together I also got to know his younger brother, Milan.

The second of which is that this is Milan’s first book and I’m very honoured to be the first to review it. Lastly I’m excited because now that I’ve read it I strongly believe it’s going to make an impact in this world.

The story is about a young man named Jayesh (my brothers name which he was also very excited about) who encounters a young boy at very turbulent time in Earth’s future history. This encounter changes the way that Jay thinks and sets him on a path of spreading a powerful message of hope to the world. There is a twist to the story…

This book is The Alchemist meets Ghostbusters II! (Eh? I hear you ask!) You’ll have to read it to find out. As I mentioned this is Milan’s first book and he has truly not disappointed. To get to the published stage is an incredible feat in itself. I asked Milan about the process:

“As with everything, The Emissary began with a single thought, not about a novel or writing but of an idea. What would happen if you met someone extremely divine (not giving too much away there!) in the middle of a busy highway?

It sounded strange at the time but held exciting premise. For days, the idea remained at the forefront of my mind. And then it happened…I could no longer hold back. As soon as I put pen to paper, I managed to churn out the first few chapters in just a matter of hours.

After which the flow could not be controlled. Every waking hour was filled with ideas and inspiration. I had to keep a notebook with me at all times to record my thoughts.

Within two months, the raw draft of a main plot was ready. The protagonist now had a location, back story, friends and a name, Jayesh Shatri! My decision to set the story in an unstated future time meant that I could play around with the location details of New Mumbai and let my imagination run wild.

To give an international feel I added some characters who were unknowingly part of the story namely Julie, the Rajasthani father, his daughter Shanti, President Ibaku, Frank Bishop, Marianne and the enigmatic Yaar.

Being inspired by the famous Krishna-Arjun dialogue from The Bhagwad Gita (Hindu Holy Book) I decided to create an etheral-style conversation between Yaar and Jayesh in the middle of India’s busiest highway.

This became the focal point of the book. A unifying moment that would tie up all the loose ends and explain the confusing plot line prior to their meeting. Along with Jayesh, his friend Manisha plays a pivotal role in explaining the vivid prologue of a time lost in the waves of time and the emergence of our civilisation.

Once proof-read and edited, I was able to muster up interest within a month. Some publishing houses were not interested, others were busy but it so happened that two houses were very interested in the unique plot line.

Being my first book, I wanted a big part in the overall look of the final product. I, therefore, took it upon myself to register a domain name and create a website (www.the-emissarybook.com). I also designed and created the front/back covers.

Once approved, the book was ready for the printers and I received the first copy within 3 months of starting the full process. As I was fully involved in the design of my book, the satisfaction of seeing it in print was overwhelming.

It all began with a single thought and now The Emissary is finally ready for release. Even though I have created a career from a hobby, writing still gives me tremendous joy and satisfaction, so much so that my second book, Flicker is nearing completion.”

- Milan Bakrania

I would like to say that The Emissary will keep you gripped from beginning to end. It will open your heart to the subtle reference of where humankind is at and what we need to do to shift where our planet is at. It’s a beautiful simplistic story coupled with great wisdom that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

P.S. If you would like to review the book you can get Milan’s contact details by clicking here. It can also be pre-ordered from Amazon.

P.P.S. The book is due to be released on June the 7th.

Here are two wonderful stories I wanted to share with you all. One is about where I was helped and the other is about where I stopped to help someone else in need.

1. All Alone

There I was, ready to leave the house to go and see my friend in Northampton. It was around midnight. I grabbed my phone, keys wallet and jumped in the car. Since I had an 80 mile journey ahead of me I decided it would be wise to check my oil before I hit the motorway. I stopped at the gas station and gave my car the once over; all seemed well.

I was starting my journey when suddenly I realised that I’d left the oil cap off the engine. Doh! I pulled over on the main road, opened the bonnet and was thrilled to see the oil cap was still where I’d left it. I closed the bonnet and was about to jump in the car when I heard a ‘click’ as I pulled the handle. All the car doors locked! (Uh oh!)

I had a problem with the central locking and sometimes when I pulled the handle the car locked on it’s own.

Just to put things into context. I had just locked myself out of my car; the engine was still running; it was was zero degrees; I had left my jacket, wallet and phone in the car; all I was wearing was a thin jumper and I was in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. (Oh crap!)

What would you have done?

My first reaction was to look up at the sky! I quizzed Gods sense of humour, and then I exploded with laughter at the irony! In times of absolute despair, sometimes, all you can do is just laugh. I didn’t have many options. I decided to try and find a rock to break into my car or, wait for the first passer by, to see if they would assist. If they didn’t help me I would use to rock to smash a window so I could get into my car.

I was very lucky! The very first car I flagged down was a family. The father got out and asked me what happened? I explained but I’m not sure he believed me. (Who would?) However, he did take pity on my and allowed me to use his phone. I thankfully got through to my brother who hesitantly agreed, to drop off my spare keys, because I’d disturbed him while he was watching Frasier.

After I returned the phone to the kind stranger he kindly offered me his coat. Me being the typical bloke, refused, saying ‘I’ll be fine’ while my teeth were chattering. Because of my extra blubber I can take the cold but that was just being plain stupid. He insisted though and I’m so glad he did. I guessed he must have a son or two. (I was right)

I got the gentleman’s address and a few days later I dropped off his coat and left some flowers for his family to say thank you.

Moral – It doesn’t take much to be a charitable human being and make sure you show your gratitude when it’s shown to you.

2 Fight Night

My friend Neil and I were out and about late one evening in his car. He was driving and spotted a young man who appeared to be getting harassed by two drunken yobs.

We pulled up next to the guy and asked if he was okay. He was clearly distressed so we got out of the car so he could walk away without the two yobs following him.

Unfortunately for us the two drunkards turned on us and decided they wanted to make us their new target. We were prepared to fight but walked away to avoid that scenario.

We got back into the car and the one of the guys punched Neil though the open window. Neil jumped out, wrestled him to the ground and laid him out flat. The other ran away. I was ready to jump in but my ninja friend had already kicked ass!

We got back in the car ready to drive off when one of the men threw a beer can through the one windows. The glass went all over me! Up until that point I was totally calm and relaxed but I went from being the WWF panda to being the Kung Fu Panda in about 0.2 seconds. I leapt out of the car and walked towards the two men and screamed my head off at them.

I must have looked like some kind of raging bull with steam coming out of my nostrils because as soon as they saw my face they ran like the road runner leaving a trail of dust! (Meep meep!)

Not many people get to see my angry side and I think it was too much for those two louts. They ran off into the distance never to be seen again. I felt that Neils actions and my final bull charge made those think twice from then onwards before doing the same thing again.

Moral – If you see someone in trouble, stop to help or, if you feel vulnerable, call for help. Go with your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.

Got any personal stories you’d like to share where you helped others or others helped you? Feel free to leave them in the comments. If you like this story you might also like to read about the lap dancer who changed my life.

Ever since my good friend shot to fame as one of the best wedding photographers around, I’ve be dabbling with my photography skills, to try and capture the perfect shot. I love my iPhone as it’s got endless gadgets and gizmo’s on there including the great camera. The tools you can get like Pano for the iPhone add the endless experimentation you can do. Here are some of the best shots I’ve captured without any tweaking.

1. That is one cool kitty - Top Cat

2. Death Valley - That road just went on forever!

3. The New York New York in Las Vegas

4. My 'Super' racquet

5. Ummm just random stuff

6. Spider-Claus caught in the act

7. Gorgeous mountains behind our cabin at June Lake

8. The Parisian Hotel in Vegas

9. Hoover.....Damn!

If you want to get yourself out there you really need a strategy and a game plan to increase your profile. It doesn’t happen automatically although sometimes you can get lucky. Take a proactive approach and do things that get you noticed. When I did some stand up comedy last week I wanted to make sure I used up all my business cards so I spread them about the place.

Just yesterday I was in the audience for Question Time on BBC1. I made a comment on the show and I was wearing a purple jumper which everyone now remembers me for! (For which I have also now earned the nickname Cadbury boy!) There are literally bazillions of ways you can increase your profile but here’s my list to get you started!

Use Radio

1. Take part in a phone-in
2. Get yourself interviewed
3. Dedicate songs to people
4. Do shout outs
5. Participate in a radio show debate
6. Do a radio training course and become a presenter
7. If you’re a presenter, interview some celebs or entrepreneurs
8. Learn to D.J. and mix (Try iPhone Babyscratch)

Use T.V.

9. Go to the audience of a T.V. show (I was on Question Time yesterday)
10. Be an extra in a movie (I’m an extra in It’s A Wonderful Afterlife coming out next week)
11. Participate in T.V. street interviews
12. Apply for reality T.V. shows
13. Go on topical shows and get heard
14. Do Some Modelling
15. Enter a quiz show

Get Published

16. Write a book
17. Write an e-book
18. Ask to write for a magazine column
19. Start a blog
20. Guest post for big blogs
21. Comment on other blogs

Re-Invent Yourself

22. Learn how to stand out
23. Dress well and try new trends
24. Change your hairstyle
25. Learn other languages
26. Learn new words (Subscribe to dictionary.com word of the day)
27. Get cool hobbies (knitting does not count, try badminton instead)
28. Join Clubs
29. Volunteer at charities
30. Work with children
31. Work with disabled children

Spread The Word

32. Create a funny viral video
33. Stumble (stumble yours but more importantly stumble others)
34. Tweet (get tweeted and tweet others)
35. Facebook (put a poll up or random question on your status)
36. Flattr (it’s new so try it)
37. Link your profiles
38. Create a fan page
39. Get some funky business cards (you should see my new ones)

Random Suggestions

40. Do some stand-up comedy
41. Act in a play
42. Host an event
43. Watch movies and skim the news (it gives you plenty to talk about)
44. Busk
45. Set up a stall at a fair
46. Make up a new word
47. Start a new movement
48. Donate
49. Give your stuff away
50. Play pranks on people (In cafes when paying for my drink I give the cashier my £1,000,000 note and ask ‘do you have change?’)
51. Talk to random strangers
52. Sit in a cafe and say hello to people
53. Enter competitions
54. Review products
55. Specialise
56. Karaoke
57. Pimp your ride (each to their own)
58. Send out a mass text message
59. Play poker
60. Host a soiree at your place
61. Gatecrash parties
62. Turn up at the wrong wedding
63. Start a petition
64. Be unusual
65. Call the newspapers and tell them about a story
66. Learn magic tricks (everyone loves a magic trick)
67. Run for a charity
68. Clean up your neighbourhood
69. Run for president

One very last tip to leave you on. Did you notice the fact that I used 69? Why everyone knows the number 69 and for that reason alone I knew that it would increase my profile. Be bold.

Don’t let the weather influence your mood; otherwise even a breeze is likely to knock you over.

walking the same route for 20 years and and still seeing something new everyday. It’s not like you need to look for something new, you just keep your eyes open!

Our path in life is uncertain
And often the road is unsteady
With each step you bring your fair share of burden
In an effort to reach this new life, waiting and ready

Do not be beset by doubt or fear
For this journey your on is essential
Proud angels in heaven will shed a tear
As they see you reach your potential

From the boy you were to the man you become
New light, no hope, shines through your heart
A dramatic change has now begun
This new you, and new life is about to start

But dear Amit, never loose faith in what you can do
You’re a warrior in mind, heart and soul
Remember there are always angels to guide you
That will show you true meaning and make you feel whole

There’s a chance that I am here for you
To carry you through this changing state
I will offer my kindness, my wisdom and truth
Because maybe I am here due to fate

Don’t look to far for the friends here to guide you
Because there are reasons we are surrounding you now
We are here to help you succeed in what you want to do
All you need to do is ask, and we will say when and how

I prayed that god would help me find my way,
A way through the darkness,
Through the suffering and the pain,
God showed me sweet kindness
Of how to get through the day
A way to make the day start happier again

I asked of miracles to keep a smile on my face
To keep me in god’s graces
And to always keep me in a brighter place
God picked out an angel to keep me from harm
Someone who’s tender, accepting and fair
The one to create balance, when my life isn’t calm
So trusting, so protective, attentive with care

So whenever I fear what this world has to offer
I never have to look too far away
I simply call you, because there is no other
Who god has sent to me, to get me through my day.

Back when I was at college this poem was one of my favourites. Whenever things were not going so well I turned to the poem as it was always a huge source of inspiration, and after reading it I always felt uplifted.

If you’ve never come across it before, you’re in for a real treat.

I found it again and posted it up.

My friend Sunny put this article up over at Pickled Politics and I thought I would share it here. It’s very interesting and so when you have the time pop over and have a read!

These days, just about everyone has Satellite Navigation in their cars! You either get them with your new car or you can buy a Sat Nav portable unit for about £200. I first got mine about 18 months ago and I personally think it is a wonder of modern technology! It works most of the time but on the odd occasion, if there’s been a new road built, or there is a military base near by, it will tend to stop working unannouced and usually just when I am about 5 mins away from my destination and without a map!

The great thing about Sat Nav is that it will find you a new route automatically. On some days there may be an accident that causes a tail-back, or there may be road works, in any case, all you do is take an alternate route to the one shown on the screen of your Sat Nav and then it will automatically calculate a new route for you.

It has some excellent features and is so simple to use; all you do is select which city or town you want to visit, then type in the road name, the then house number or building and voila! You’re good to go! You also have the option to add specific land marks to the on screen map such as camp sites, petrol stations, hotels etc. You are guided by a voice, (which some of my friends say is sexy which I’m still undecided on! ), that tells you which direction to go in next or which exit to take etc.

In the same way, the Universe is our very own Sat Nav device. It does not judge where you want to go. We are forever empowered to choose our destination; we choose exactly where it is that we want to go! We type in our destination with our thoughts and the Godliverse then proceeds in caculating the best route.

Along the route we have to listen carefully to the instructions given by the sexy Sat Nav voice of the Universe. Any major distractions may end up causing us to go onto a different route but so long as the destination is clear the Universal Sat Nav will find an alternate way. We also have the choice of choosing an alternate route. If you do not like the route that that Universe has chosen for you, you can still begin a new route and the Universe will happily respond with a new route in accordance to your desire.

You will pass various signs along the way, the signs are not always well lit but if you’re observant enough, you will know which signs to look out for that best guide you to you destination, just in case the Universal Sat Nav signal is low. This can happen when the sky is covered with heavy clouds or if the receivers signal gets blocked by tunnels. Just remember there is always light at the end of a tunnel!

There you have it! Whether you have Sat Nav in your car or not; you have your very own personal Universal Sat Nav that leads the way to your chosen destination. All you have to do is switch on the receiver and program in your destination!

oh speak the silent whispers, through your amazing touch,
feed me every moment, with your fruit of ecstasy,
my most beautiful dreams, are paled by your eyes,
send me your tears, moisten my cheek for i cannot,

let me carry you across this river, be safe in my arms,
i only fly, when you are on the tip of my tongue,
inhale your sweet scent, and filled am i with all glory,
kiss your soft lips, lightning strikes me twice,

feel your whole body next to mine, hell freezes over,
a simple gaze at me, you pierce my innermost being,
you hold me till dawn, sunrise pales and shy’s away,
in sharing your secrets, songs don’t mean a thing.

i guess what i’m trying to say is,
you are my breath,
you are my motion,
you are my heaven.

I take one journey, hop onto the next

Never knowing what destination awaits me

Stir of anxiousness inside my belly, excitement, fear, worry

Drowning my senses

Echo’s whisper inside my mind, swaying me from side to side

Never brings me peace, but keeps my sleep restless

Keeping me small as I run out of time

Flowing so passionate for love to give you

Never being selfish to the feelings I feel

Being your shoulder, your strength, your shelter

Never showing you that this bleeding shoulder needs to heal

Hold you, so natural, so calm and so soothing

Breaking down barriers that were once carved in stone

Do I know who I am, how to get there, to become

When I look in your eyes, I know I am home

Pray that someday you will feel that love to

I long to be with you and I long for your touch

Until that one moment I will hold you so dear

Even if this young and naive heart of mine feels crushed.

In the summertime,
we make plentiful sweet love,
we go to the park,
play games and roll down hills,
the sun keeps us energetic,
long days, always time to do something,
the clear nights bring out the stars,
we gaze for at them till dawn!

For every season,
there is a unique sensation,
each period is different,
and special in it’s own right,
every season i love you,
winter, spring summer or fall,
i am with you through it all,
my love.

Those silent words that people whisper.
in a room filled with strangers
I scan the room with spy like eyes.
and notice all the silent words.

Those silent words that never reach peoples lips.
They listen with interest
but wish they could run away.
and notice all those silent words

Those silent words that never materialise.
a hidden yawn disguised as breath
the heaving chest is the give away.
and notice all those silent words.

Those silent words that mean something else.
“excuse me, i need to visit the powder room”
translation – “my chance to escape”
and notice all those silent words.

Those silent words that end up in an email.
They said “so and so” to me.
a chance to laugh and forget it ever happened
and notice all those silent words.

Those silent words that mean so much.
the eyes that have so much to say,
but never get a word in
and notice all those silent words.