My work has been featured in the Telegraph, Londonist and rated as Highly Commended in the Bradt/Independent Travel Writing Competition 2014. I write for online magazines LO:PA and Alturus, and welcome other collaborations. Please contact me on robyn dot jankel at gmail dot com.
I struggle with filing, stubbornness, and a lack of enthusiasm for fruit. My love of colour permeates all I do, from home-made jewellery to lime-green bathroom, via an overly beflowered bicycle basket. The basket purveyor herself, Grazel the Bicycle, is a much-photographed fixture outside my place of work (a film and television agency in Soho) to the extent that she recently took to social media (@thatflowerybike on both Twitter and Instagram).
If you prefer the musings of a human being then you can follow the owner instead (Twitter / Instagram).
This blog moves between feminism, cycling, travel and my life in London, although the latter is more heavily documented on Yelp. According to the ratings, I’m significantly funnier than I am cool, which helpfully sums up my life.
I lived in China for a year at age 18, and have since travelled extensively with friends, my partner, and solo. Recent destinations include Sarajevo, Helsinki, and a somewhat truncated trip to Vietnam during which we got caught in Super-Typhoon Haiyan.
My boyfriend got me into cycling 18 months ago, since which time I’ve gone from riding Boris bikes to buying my own bicycle, and promoting “normal” cycling to all and sundry, particularly women who are tentatively interested but too afraid to set wheel to road. I believe we need to achieve a critical mass of cyclists to instigate change in London’s transport infrastructure and will happily lead the charge with my anti-Lycra, anti-roadster, anti-red-light-jumping style.
Obey the rules, be nice, look fabulous, and arrive quicker than the Tube. That’s my motto.
I take fancy dress extremely seriously, bloody love a bit of upcycling, and have a list on my phone entitled “future karaoke songs”. My bowling is notoriously awful; my baking slightly less so. I take blurry photographs and have never once been described as “shy and retiring”. My father wishes I were more sophisticated. I probably ought to swear less, but beyond that, I’m perfectly happy careering through life with all the grace of a teenage hippo.
Proud instigator of the fledgling #BakedLiterature Instagram tag. It’s going to go viral. Watch this space.
Bells & Whistles 
Hello newest Spikey! I know, a bit corny, eh, but that’s the term that has come to stick for those folk who are part of the clan known to be followers of Uncle Spike 🙂
Thank you… I really appreciate that as I for one, know how many interesting and entertaining blogs are out there.
My aim is to deliver an eclectic offering of posts, from my ‘point n shoot’ attempts at basic photography, to the sharing of my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day to day happenings here on the farm. Oh, plus a few observations on life as I see it, thrown in for good measure.
My promise to you is not to be overbearing, just a couple of posts a day, maybe 3 at weekends if I have something special to share. But if you are at a loose end one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too. I have added plenty of categories to help in said digging process.
Thanks again and hope you have a great day…
UNCLE SPIKE
I thoroughly enjoyed your come back regarding “The Rant Chics” article.
Kallie Provencher’s article in the Huffington Post-really came across as your “typical hater” jealousy infested or bullyish no room for variety and no freedom of choice type of jargon. I personally have broken a few of her don’t wear this list-bogus age discrimination on her part which she should keep to herself. Perhaps she can go to a country where they stone women for not being covered from head to toe. The hypocrisy in her article is rancid-even if her logic was based on a religious belief that should be ones personal choice between themselves and their god.
Thanks for your comment, Jazzythoughts. I totally agree. It’s incredibly sad that some people feel the need to prescribe to others how they should behave, let alone how they should dress. It’s also one thing suggesting people dress modestly for religious beliefs (and as you say, that’s a personal choice – and shouldn’t be directed towards others) but this is mostly because “men won’t like it” which is just gobsmackingly backward!
I will be 30 this December and can categorically say that I will be ignoring all of her “advice” 🙂