Highs and Lows

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015 Leave a comment

Describe a time when you quickly switched from feeling at the top of the world to sinking all the way down (or vice versa). Did you learn anything about yourself in the process?

Thank you for suggesting this prompt, rollingblogger!

I went through an experience like this during the past week. Being pressured to reach a deadline, non-stop go, loving the work, just about to build something of substance, and then told to down tools (#politics). Excuse me? I’m busy. Running a test. It’s NB. I continued. Because passion. Until instructed, “Immediately, STOP”. I stopped.

Being super-busy one minute, nothing to do the next, and it does my head in. From being on a pressure-driven outcome-focused high, to then having it snatched away sends me on a free-fall to the lowest valley.

Yay for blogs and writing!

“Mountaintops and Valleys.”

That’s so Funny!

September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 14 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “These Horns Were Made for Tooting.”

I have a sense of humor. It is not often on display, because I take myself and my world way too seriously most of the time. Like yesterday, I had an awful day. I mini-snapped. I just cut someone off and walked away. I totally lost my humor. I don’t snap often. But it happened. Yesterday. I took a few deep breaths, composed myself and went back to deal with it. But I do have a sense of humor. And some others are able to tap into it. I know they are tapping into it when I burst out laughing and can’t stop. Ha ha, that’s so funny! When I laugh, apparently it is infectious. According to my BFF. I dated a polish guy at university. He could really make me laugh. Like roll on the floor laughing. Especially when we watched Home Alone 2, there was a part that was really funny. The boy standing on top of the building pelting the two men on the ground with snowballs or something. My friend kept on replaying the scene, and the more he did, the funnier it seemed. Oh my word, I killed myself laughing.
🙂

Here’s some funny (South African humor) Can anyone translate what they are actually saying please?

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No Cliffhanger

September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 14 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “No Cliffhangers.”

Once upon a time a little boy turned five, and celebrated his birthday at a local park. The park was surrounded by bush, with a dam in the middle, and lots of different sections to walk to. It was a huge park. The little boy’s younger sister, being all of two and a bit, decided to wander off on her own. All the grownup people were focused on each other, and did not even realise the little child had embarked on her own adventure. Until it was time to sing happy birthday, and she was not there. She had seemingly vanished into thin air. Everyone searched high and low, here and there, trying desperately to find the little girl. When it became evident that the child was not close by, the mother started to reach a state of near shock and terror, “find my little girl” she wanted to scream out loud. To anyone who would hear. She felt tempted to throw herself on the ground and start wailing, but knew that this would not aid any search efforts. No, she had to remain calm.
Eventually, on the other side of the park, the little girl was discovered holding the hand of a helpful stranger. She was quickly reunited with her mother who was by this time beside herself.
Everyone sang happy birthday, big brother cut the cake of his rocket ship, and without prompting handed the first slice to his sister.
And all was well with the world.

Diving Board

September 14, 2015 5 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Fun Platform.”

The schools I attended in South Africa all had swimming pools. At my primary school we would have training between 7 and 7:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and school would start at 7:45.
(In Sydney schools start at 8:55, it seemed so late when my son started!) On Friday afternoons we would compete against other schools, it was heaps of fun. And it could all be done indepedently, walk to school for training, walk back home after competition. But it seems only a few of the private schools here have the facility of a swimming pool. So the children have to be driven to a pool for swimming training, while the parents sit and wait. I would definitely make it compulsory for every school to have a swimming pool, and allow for weekly swimming training!

Wake Up!

September 13, 2015 5 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Daily Ritual.”

Every morning I start my day with a cup of tea. I am spoilt at home, my husband makes the tea for me. Of which I am very appreciative and always say thank you 🙂
My favorite mug is right there in the photo, taken two seconds ago.
My dad started the tradition when I was a child. Except everyone else had coffee, but for some reason I was the tea recipient. In those days I used to have added sugar, but quit the sugar in 2000.
I’ve always bought a coffee when I arrive at work. There is a coffee shop as we enter our building. For one whole week and a day, I have stopped this bad habit. And I’ve survived!
My tea is getting cold, have a lovely day xx

Dear Diary

September 12, 2015September 12, 2015 11 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Handwritten.”

A personal diary can only be written by hand. I’ve kept a diary since I was thirteen. Though admittedly I hardly write in them now. I’ve kept most of them but one. I destroyed my ‘first kiss’ diary because it was way too personal and I never wanted anyone else to read it.
Apart from that most of my writing is on one of my two laptops (I have my own Mac, and a work laptop), and my iPhone. I did a year of typing at school so can fortunately touch-type, one of the more practical skills I learnt at school.
My handwriting is a scribble, I think only I can read it! I used to have a very neat handwriting but typing has really left it’s mark on my ability to write neatly. Which may come in handy if anyone stumbles across my diaries, they may not be able to decipher my words. Ha!

Central Perk

September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 6 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Worlds Colliding.”

I love reading autobiographies. My two favorites are Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and Peter Godwin’s Mukiwa. Both books were about their childhoods and growing up, one in Ireland and one in Rhodesia that is now known as Zimbabwe. And coincidentally, both of them relocated to New York after publishing their books. So that makes sense, I could have them meet up for a coffee or drink, and discuss their great fortunes at hitting the autobiography jackpot. Entirely possible and they wouldn’t have to travel far to do so. Except sadly Frank McCourt had since passed away, so perhaps we would need a time machine.

Retrospectively Funny

September 10, 2015September 10, 2015 16 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Retrospectively Funny.”

Being serenaded on arrival at the airport

I forgot about a fresh apple in my bag as we went through customs on our Castaway Island holiday. So after receiving a customs fine, and not having enough cash on hand to pay it, I quickly went to the nearest atm in sight to withdraw money. But, being in a panic at being stopped at customs I completely forgot my pin. Total mind blank. And after the first failed attempt I was too nervous to do another one in case my pin got blocked. My husband had already withdrawn his daily limit.
It was agreed that I could pay the fine when I returned to the airport which would be in 8 days time. However, the fine clearly stated it needed to be paid in 7 days failing which you would have to appear in the magistrates court at a set time.
At the airport the following Saturday we went to pay the fine. At the security office I noticed there was an envelope with my name on it. Why was there an envelope with my name on it? We paid and went to go through passport control. Only to find out my passport was blocked. Do not allow to leave the country. My heart started racing. We were ushered into an office and told to wait. From the window I could see the airplane and there wasn’t much time before it started to board. No-one seemed to want to make a decision on my passport, and being a Saturday made it worse with decision-makers not being at work etc. I was entertaining visions of missing my flight, and being held back to appear in a magistrates office, and being alone in a foreign country etc, my mind raced ahead and my heart was beating so fast I felt like I was going to have a heart-attack there and then. Please let me go! After what felt like an eternity an official came into the room, interviewed a very nervous me, eventually stamped my passport, and said I could go! Still in time for the flight home.

Castaway Island

September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 5 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Young and the Rested.”

A few years ago we vacationed on Castaway Island in Fiji. For anyone who has seen the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, Castaway Island is in the same group of islands as to where the movie was shot (day trips are also offered to that specific island). Spending a few days on Castaway Island was like spending a few days in a tropical island heaven. No cars, all food prepared, water, snorkeling, sun, sand. And not forgetting the very friendly Pacific Islanders. Bula!

http://castawayfiji.com