It's the latest in my regular series of 5 minute interviews with local folks. I love finding out about the people that help make this such a vibrant, creative and friendly place to live.
Today it's time to meet Ahrani Logan. Read on and find out why Tweet Ups, artisan coffee and local ecosystems help make up Ahrani's Chiswick life.
Name: Ahrani Logan
Business: Co-Founder Peapodicity
How long have you been in Chiswick?
I have lived in Chiswick for the last eight years.
Favourite place to unwind in Chiswick?
I used to hang out at Sam’s Brasserie but nowFoxlow has won my heart with their unique and delicious cocktails!
I also like The Crown & Anchorpub which has been a very successful venue for theChiswick Tweet Up which I organize.
The Tweet Up is a chance for the local Twitter community to have a Face-to-Face social and I have made some lifelong friends here.
It’s usually the last Friday of the month. But check through my Twitter timelinefor more details.
I have been approached by other venues in Chiswick to host and so we might be mixing it up in the future!
What's your top local tip?
Check out TAMP coffee on Devonshire Road. It’s got the best pastries and artisan coffee on this end of the High Road.
The owner Dorian is very friendly. And it’s a cool place to hang out for coffee with a friend or to do some work.
And what's your Chiswick hidden gem?
The Gunnersbury Triangle is probably the most hidden of them all.
A friend introduced it to me and we took the kids who enjoyed looking at the plant life and local ecosystem. It’s like going for a walk in the country but without actually leaving Chiswick.
You feel transported to a different location immediately. The magic of a forest trail I guess!
Vacation or staycation?
Having a child is costly. There are lots of great (and free) things to do in London.
But if money were no object, I would choose vacation. Somewhere culturally interesting or somewhere warm and calm. Although given I have a 7 year old, I should probably say Disneyland or DisneyWorld!
If you weren't in Chiswick where would you be?
If we are talking UK, it would be London and I would go for somewhere like Holland Park, or Hampstead.
But if it’s out of the UK, I would head Stateside.
Chicago has a vibe and an energy about it that is very similar to London and has amazing culture and bars. But I have always had a soft spot for New York too.
I would love to be in sunny California one day.
Tell us what about your typical day:
I recently set up a business with my other half. As I get older I realize the key to productivity is having some structure or routine.
I get up early. I might tweet. I might do some exercise. I will have a cold shower to wake me up properly. Then coffee and breakfast.
I do like reading articles I discover on Twitter.
I have got much better at skimming through large quantities of material very quickly. And if it doesn’t catch my attention in 20 seconds, I am off to the next thing.
I will then sit at my desk and work in batches. Always having a goal and aiming to complete at least five tasks in one day.
You have to have a lot of discipline working from home. Some days the tasks are bigger, some days smaller, but I always aim to move forward, even if it’s inch by inch.
Of course this is all broken up with the usual run of the mill household chores.
I studied neuroscience so I know the brain needs regular breaks to stay focused. So I will usually break up activities into 40 minute chunks.
Although it has been known for me to become so engrossed I might be found working into the early hours.
I used to have the rule of not opening my e-mails until later in the day, but more recently I have been relying on sending out emails to push things forward. So that’s a bit of a change at the moment. But I still try not to let the inbox run my day!
My day can end anytime from 3pm on some days to 6pm or 9pm on others. It really does depend on who and what is in front of me. And I will work late when I need to because I know I might be taking the weekend off, for example.
Mother? Business? What hats do you wear?
I wear both hats of Mother and Co-founder ofPeapodicity.
Peapodicity is a tech creative startup with a passion for STEM and STEAM. (Science, Technology, Engineering, (Arts), Mathematics).
We recently won a Nationwide competition run by University College London (UCL) called the Rosalind Franklin appathon.
The challenge was to come up with an app to empower women in STEMM (the extra M stands for medicine). We pitched an education app for children aged 7+ to engage them in critical thinking, and problem solving and increase their knowledge base about female STEMM role models.
We are currently developing the app and it will be launched later this year in the App store.
I am also a STEM Ambassador for STEMNET, a charity that encourages school-children to become engaged in STEM subjects. I am speaking with them about integrating the app into their STEM Clubs in the future which is very exciting all around!
I am a Mentor for the School of Biological Sciences at University of Leeds, where I did my degree. And I am also a Mentor for Kings College, London, where I did my postgrad.
Being a mother has inspired a lot of the work that I do now. My daughter inspires me no end, and I hope that my work will inspire her and other children both now and into the future.
What's on your bedside table?
I love to read. I find I am reading a lot more non-fiction and I like to read books that make me think or inspire me. I have just started reading “Sprint” by Jake Knapp. It’s about agile development, which is what you need for a tech startup.
My “dip into” books at the moment are “How We Learn” by Benedict Carey which appeals to my fascination with the brain.
I also love my Calvin & Hobbes books! I need humour!
Books that empower women will also always find a place with me.
Is there a book in your bag?
I tend to grab “easier” reads for my bag.
But at the moment the only book I have is my notebook as I like to use any travel time now to think or let my mind wander. Sometimes I will need to scribble something down.
Is your glass half full or half empty?
My glass is Definitely Half Full. I would Like to say it’s Totally Full on some days!
I believe in a Positive Mindset. Life throws its challenges in various ways but you can’t let those moments define you.
Secret talent:
Hmmm… I am HUET-qualified, although I probably need a refresher. It stands for Helicopter Underwater Escape Training.
I had to do it when I was filming offshore for a Discovery Channel engineering series about building an underwater pipeline.
Technically it means if a helicopter ditches in the North Sea or similar, I Should be able to escape! I wouldn’t like to test that though!
I can also do, according to my 7 year old, a good impression of a lullaby-singing Minion!
Chiswick Mum 