Articles written by Irfan Shah

What is Helium

About me - Irfan Shah

In the past I have taught English in Spain, roadied for bands, worked in offices and warehouses and been an interface designer.

I taught English for the past seven years and I like cats!

That's more or less me. However, as a brief introduction to my writing:

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Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Wonderful: 1 of 71
Thomas Little thing, you are new on earthHave stilled the night and made us holyWe have become silent, shuffling satellitesIn thrall to the gravity of wonder You are a thousand stormsAnd the calm between themWe sing to the stormOur singing a laying of trapsOur spoils, the soft pulsatingArcs of nostril, the barely perceptible... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Readers share favorite quotes: 2 of 36
A famous quotation is not so much an expression of an eternal truth as a demonstration of one person's eloquence. At least that's what I say...usually in a loud voice at cocktail parties. But when somebody says something beautifully that you believe to be true - or discover that belief the moment you hear the quotation - or... More..
Food & Drink > Sauce, Spread & Dip Recipes Recipes: Sauces, spreads and dips: 10 of 32
Garlic Jelly Sauce Garlic Jelly Sauce is one of my first and favourite creations. It has a pleasing gelatinous texture and if you experiment with the ingredients you can achieve an interesting balance of flavours; a herb-flecked sweetness that is just enough to induce a sense of indulgence without being sickly or overpowering... More..
Food & Drink > Beef, Pork & Meat Recipes Recipes: Shepherd's pie: 8 of 24
Shepherd's Pie Shepherd's Pie is a luscious and hearty meal. It is the best kind of 'peasant' food, having evolved from a recipe designed to use up roasted meats cooked together under a crust of mashed potato. It's simple food made from staples that were affordable for most people (Wikipedia dates the first usage of recipe... More..
Education > Reading & Writing Skills Creating opportunities for children to explore creative writing: 5 of 13
Next time you ask your students to do a piece of creative writing, sit down and do it with them you might be surprised. Surprised at how little time you have; at how difficult it is to get that first sentence; and at how precious you become with your work, reluctant to put anything to paper that is less than what you imagined... More..
Food & Drink > Poultry Recipes Recipes: Creamed chicken: 7 of 18
Chicken Yiaourti - Creamed chicken Greek-style! Creamy yet light, bejewelled with chopped cherry tomatoes and spiked with pepper this recipe is something my partner Tracie and I concocted after eating out at a Greek restaurant. And because we put this together ourselves, cooking blind and fumbling towards the taste we were ... More..
Food & Drink > Pasta, Grain & Rice Recipes Recipes: Spaghetti bolognese: 2 of 5
My own, very particular, Spaghetti Bolognese This recipe has heft. Usually this is a bad thing to say about food, implying heaviness or stodginess, but I mean it as a compliment. This is good, hearty fare with a wide enough range of flavours and ingredients to make it a delicious take on a classic recipe. It's not a subtle d... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: I'm sorry: 21 of 50
An ApologyI'm sorryNo ifs or butsNo small printNo use by dateNo duck and feintTo make spaceFor my jab-jab-jab.No more playing gamesWith your head(No more Twister, no more Jenga)No lie andNo smokescreenNo Trojan Horse(Well, maybe butIt's not soldiers I'm smuggling)No more red ragsJust a pillowcase for aWhite flagNo more fighti... More..
Entertainment > Movies (Other) The history of the motion picture: 3 of 7
Louis Le Prince - Forgotten Inventor of the Motion Picture The originator of the motion picture wasn't Thomas Edison, it wasn't Auguste or Louis Lumire, it was a Frenchman who lived and worked in England named Louis Le Prince and the story of his invention is more mysterious and infinitely sadder than you might have imagined.... More..