Melancholy

Where I will be from next week Tuesday to Fridays

Where I will be from next week Tuesday to Fridays

It is sunny in Sydney today. We do not live right near the coastline, but on days like these I wish we did. I have a craving to pop onto the beach sand and go for a walk, hearing the sound of the ocean waves. But the craving does not extend to going for a forty minute drive to do so. I am feeling sadness wash over me, reminiscent of this time of year. April always has it’s own feel about it. It is my birthday month, and the month I lost my mother. Today is my niece’s birthday in South Africa, she will be ten today.

I took a sabbatical from work to spend time with my children, to enjoy my blog, and to finish my book. My book is finished. The first publisher let me down, so I am now publishing with another company. They do not seem to be in any rush to get it out the door it seems. But my part is done. I would have loved to have had a hard copy on my first day back at work, it seems that day is still a few weeks away. Even so, I love reading the pages on my iPhone, it makes me happy. I have learnt a lot in the past few months – inDesign skills, stock images, visual design. A whole new set of skills. My children’s book has been written, the illustrations and design of which are both work-in-progress.

I feel sad to leave the routine that I have created behind. Also, not sure what work I will be doing, apparently there is work waiting for me. I do not know what is in store, it always changes. This time next week I will be back in the office, and my blogging frequency will most likely decrease. Have started an online poetry course with the University of Iowa. I may share some of my posts here (Teddy Bear Haiku (I) from yesterday was the first), and look forward to learning “official” poetry skills. My blog lay dormant from Jan 2014 to Sept 2014, I really wanted to write and there was a desire to do so, but I didn’t know what to write about. Starting the Daily Prompts in September last year really helped to inspire me. Thankful for all the help and encouragement from the readers at WordPress, and especially those who have read from the beginning, helping and encouraging at each step ❤

My daughter is playing with the neighbours outside. I can hear their voices. My son is at a friend. It is his last year of "primary" school, next year he changes schools. My children are slipping out my fingers. The radio is playing, and the songs are making me somewhat melancholic. From next week I have a new beginning. A new beginning in a renovated office (my old desk is gone!). As an aside, I stood outside the building pictured above on a February day in 2007, wishing that some day I could work there. (I worked for the same company in South Africa). Not knowing how to make it happen. And it all fell into place. My time there is not yet complete, going back for another session!

The end of this precious time of my life, and a new beginning.

Thank you for reading 🙂

❤

Creation

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A creation is born
With every word that is written
For every song composed
For each scene painted
A miracle occurs

Share Your World—Week 14

What type of music relaxes you the most or do you prefer silence?I love singing to music on the radio. But cannot sing. So pity my husband, it hurts his ears!

Show us a two of your favorites photographs? Explain why they are your favorite. If you are not a photographer, think of a two favorite scenes in your life and tell us about them.

This is my favourite photo that I have taken. I love how the flower is bursting out of its pod.

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I found this photo the other day repacking cupboards. It was my mother playing with her baby (me). It seemed such a tender moment.

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What is your favorite tradition? (family tradition, church tradition, whatever)
We have a lunch on Easter Day and on Christmas or Boxing Day with friends of mine from South Africa. I have known them since 1993. They are like our “Sydney” family, and our children are like cousins I guess.

If you could go back and talk to yourself at age 18 what advice would you give yourself? Or if you are younger than 25 what words of wisdom would you like to tell yourself at age 50?
Relax, it will all be fine 🙂

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week I watched “12 Years a Slave”. It really stayed with me. I don’t know if I’m grateful for watching it, but am glad I did. I am looking forward to Pilates on Thursday, and being on holiday. My time at home is nearly running out.

Thank you for reading 🙂

Share Your World – 2015 Week #14

Writing

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “It’s a Text, Text, Text, Text World.”

I write without filter
In person being reserved
Saying few words
But if one would like to
Break through my barriers
Don’t talk to me, but write
It is the key to unlock me

Sweet Marigold

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The petals and blossoms of the world are all very lonely. Until they are greeted with a ray of sunshine to brighten their long days. Into their lives a little child passes their way. And as she does so, their spirits start to rise. Their colours brighten, and they stand tall and strong on their stalks. Their lives will forever be touched by a young child. A child just like you. A child who loves every bright flower, and butterflies and bees. A child who is the heroine of her own story. A little girl by the name of Sweet Marigold.

Share Your World

What was your favorite subject in school?
Mathematics

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away” (George Carlin). When have you had such a moment?
When I woke up on my wedding day and my first thought was, it’s my wedding day! So far I’ve only had one. Wedding Day that is.


What’s your choice: jigsaw, crossword, or numeric puzzles?

Jigsaw


If you found an obviously abandoned car with $50,000 in the back seat, what would you do?

Assume drug dealing and disappear fast.
Without the cash!


Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I got refunded for an aborted publishing attempt, and the money is back in the bank. I am now on Plan D.

Also managed to finish a book on South Africa’s top serial killer sleuth.

Looking forward to Pilates on Thursday.

Thank you for reading!

Here is the book I read (first one this year). Piet Byleveld is famous in South Africa for the many crimes he has solved:

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Share Your World – 2015 Week #13

Self-publishing

Hi,

Has anyone self-published, and willing to share stories with me? Have you used Xlibris / Author Solutions / Lulu etc. Interested to hear about others experiences. Either email or comment below please! Would love to hear your feedback.

Thank you!

Share Your World – Week 12

When was the last time you sat on a park or garden bench for more than ten minutes?

Last week my friend and I sat on this bench and had coffee. It is in the park right outside my house. There is a corner shop and bakery right next to it.

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Would you ever be interested in observing a surgery or do you turn away when the nurse brings out the needle?

Easy answer, turn away, I could never be a doctor. I ran out the house and far away when I heard my sister started choking on a fruit pip when I was 12. She eventually passed out, and my mother yanked her up, dislodging the pip.

Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?

Sydney city

If you had an unlimited shopping spree at only one store, which one would you choose? Why?
Probably Apple store for iPhone6 and gadgets

What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

For some reason this feels really difficult to answer this week, because I suddenly started feeling sad. I’m grateful for my family, and looking forward to finishing a book I am reading. South Africa’s top Serial Killer Sleuth Piet Byleveldt. It is not light reading, but I am strangely enjoying it *best book I’ve read in ages*

Thank you for reading!

Share Your World – 2015 Week #12

Theme From Mahogany

We used to sing this in my last year of school. I didn’t know where I was going to. It resonated so deeply with me. I was eighteen and would think to myself, I would like to be married and have children one day. And my favorite subject is math. What can one do with that?

I used to write abstract writings in my journal (but not poetry, I had No Idea why Sylvia Plath would write what she wrote, and had no desire to analyse it). I still have those writings of mine. But apart from that, I had no idea where I was going to.

I still love this song. I cannot hear it and not be taken back to my school hall and being eighteen 🙂

Story of my Life

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

My son wrote about his mother at school. I only saw this yesterday. I have blue eyes, medium length hair, and like to wear dresses (I usually wear dresses or skirts only, hardly ever pants). And as any readers of my blog will guess, you got it, my favorite color is orange. And I help him in some way every day. (According to him, bless!)

Apart from that, I have written my own autobiography. Well, it is based loosely on my life, and experiences I have gone through.

It can be found here:

Passion Through Poetry