Writing about Writing... (Part 1)...

... Sounds strange, probably is, though some of the greatest writers have done just that: Ernest Hemingway and Stephen King, to name just two. Not that I would equate my ramblings to their class nor expertise.

No, this post came about following an exceptional piece of writing that was sent me last night by a dear friend. What she sent me was a link to this FB article, with a message attached that said "Did you write this?"

I was a bit taken aback, because I hadn't written anything "meaningful"  for a while, nor did I think anything I had written might have left any sort of impression on her. Afterward, I wondered whether it had been sent (1) in jest, (2) to see what my reaction might be, or (3) to send me an insight into where she is relationship-wise.

Naturally, I followed the link. And what I found was something I could only hope to write one day, something quite profound, exquisite, a piece of writing that spoke volumes, not only for how it was written, but how it spoke to both of us. We both found passages that immediately grabbed our attentions, jumped at us on that personal level.

The passage she was moved by was "Until it showed up and rearranged your emotional furniture". Very emotional, thought-provoking, inwardly-searching, inwardly-questioning sentence, I thought. I get it.

The piece that grabbed me though, was "Just two fucking weirdos saying, 'Fuck it. Let's do this.'"

So right about now you're probably thinking "Typical". But no, read the article and you might see why. If not, let me explain my thinking.

The article is about taking risk. Or rather, taking a risk at love.

Many of us, in our daily lives, are pretty risk averse, preferring to take "the easy way out", or around a situation or emotion that challenges us, makes us afraid or uncomfortable. Or we think long and hard about whatever it is before acting one way or another, maybe overthinking something simple. And why not? Taking a risk can be scary.

Feeling love is very different though. It's fucking scary. There is no "can be scary" this time. It just is.

The article rightly questions why we might prefer to "cry into your cereal...again" as opposed to taking that risk on someone, grabbing that chance to love someone, or better, to be loved by someone.

Would you want to take that risk or perhaps be left, alone, thinking "What if?"

Why did I pick the passage I did that stuck in my mind? Because, eventually, when we decide that this is the person for us, that's exactly what we do. We say "Fuck it. Let's do this".



Look after yourselves out there, folks....be kind to each other...

It's about time...

...I published an update on what's happening in my life. As if anyone was interested... 😁

Since my last update, quite a bit has happened, most of it good. Very good, in fact, but some of it I won't go into much detail about because it is personal and private to not just myself.

As a start, I'm in quite a good headspace at the moment.

I am working out hard, averaging over 200km a week either on a bike or running/walking. And, for the first time in a long time, I am seriously enjoying my fitness to the extent that if I don't get out on the road or trail for a bit of exercise every day, I start to feel like I've let myself down.

I've gone through some minor inconveniences with cycling computers, but the latest unit I received just last week is the absolute Dog's Bits. It's a Magene C606 unit, and does all and more than my previous computers used to do. To top it all, it is touch screen and could not be any simpler to use. Just as well for me, I hear you say.

I went through a "bit of a hiccup" with my "Sedgie Bestie" (as she calls me) a couple of weeks ago, but I am glad to say we have sorted that out, and I believe we are stronger now than we were back then. Nuff sed.

The Nephewmonster is still pushing my buttons now and then, but I'm still in that "no more" frame of mind when it comes to him and his indiscipline. I won't stand for it and I think he is coming round to my way of thinking too. His last few indiscretions (homework and detention at school) have landed him with "detention" at home too. I "reset" the slate a couple of weeks ago regarding his discipline record at home and laid down a new law. His first serious transgression was going to get him grounded for one week. The next would get him two weeks. The next, four, and so on, doubling the detention period, until he gets his act completely under control. At the moment, he is on a fourth consecutive week of grounding. By rights, he should still have another two weeks to go, but I only gave him a "half sentence" for the last indiscretion. The boy needs to learn to take responsibility for his actions/inactions and there is only two ways I can instil the discipline in him: ground him, and take away his tech (TV, tablet, etc). The positive side of his grounding that I can see is that he is finally getting totally bored with being at home all the time, while his mates are outside playing, riding bikes, fishing, and so on. We'll see what happens when the current period of grounding comes to an end next Tuesday, whether he sticks to being disciplined or whether another sentence is imposed before the lifting. There's a lot of time between now and next Tuesday, so anything can happen, and probably will, based on current trends.

The Monster has also been picked for the school rugby team lately, playing at No 3, Tighthead prop. As much weight as he has lost recently has also still left him a sizeable lad, and his enthusiasm for the game has helped him get picked. I went to watch their game at school last week, but it turned into a bit of an embarrassment for him, getting subb'ed at half time and the team losing quite horribly at 46 to 5. As I said to him at half time, they lost because they were all missing their tackles and the opposition were just running through them like a training routine. Anyway, it is good experience for him and he enjoys it.

On a sweeter note, I've started broadening my cookery horizons. Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not bake. In fact, I'm not a big dessert eater either. However, a couple of weeks ago, for a change, I found a recipe for a Cobbler Dessert. It's the simplest of things to make, but it is delicious and has been a hit on the three occasions I have made it. The Brazilian's know the dessert as a "Cuppa, Cuppa, Cuppa", as it is literally a cup of milk, a cup of self-raising flour and a cup of sugar. Those are combined to make a batter of sorts. A half cup of butter is melted in a 9x9 baking dish in the oven at 180degC, then the batter is poured over the melted butter. On top of that, a can of preserved fruit is spooned around the dish, after the juice has been drained from the can. Don't get rid of the juice though, as it can be added to the bowls of served dessert later, with ice cream or custard. The dessert is baked in the oven at 180degC for 40mins or until it browns lightly on top. You can easily get six decent helpings out of a single dessert. Yum!

If you follow my FB page (some of you who end up here pick up the link from that page), you will also see that I have been on some very interesting, sometimes challenging, walks/hikes lately.

Two weeks ago, myself and my Bestie walked the Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail in Wilderness, a lovely, mostly shaded and boardwalk'ed walk up to a waterfall. In summer, it would even be possible to have a swim at the top, but now in the autumn/winter months that just isn't a possibility as the water is freezing according to a couple of kids who had taken the plunge.

Yesterday, my Bestie and I hiked the Robberg Nature Reserve just outside Plettenberg Bay. What an awesome hike: some rough paths, some sandy, with lots of ups and downs on either rocky pathways or boarded staircases. The scenery was breath-taking, with the ocean playing her part crashing huge waves onto rocks on the open ocean side of the peninsula. There were also colonies of Cape Fur Seals and Kelp Gulls to be seen on the route. We also happened to catch sight of a small whale cruising the shallows, shadowed by a school of seals. The whale looked like a Humpback and, as it is their migratory season currently, I will assume I was correct. In total, I measured we'd walked about 10km on the hike, even though the SANParks boards show only 8km or thereabouts. Definitely on the list of places to be revisited at some point.

I really should get back into my woodwork projects at some point. For the most part, I have the time. Sometimes I am just too tired from a lack of sleep the night before, or from the exercise routine I completed that morning. Partly though, it is also pure laziness....Doh! I want to replace my steel patio furniture, which is past its sell-by date with regards to rust, with a set of wooden Adirondack chairs and a bench or two. I have plans for them, also have two chairs already which I will use as my stencils, but also have all the tools and knowledge to be able to make these units. I just have to get my arse into gear....

Lastly, and bestly......Today is my kid sister's 60th birthday!! It's strange to think that all us surviving kids in the family are now in our 60s. No doubt it is stranger for Mum to have such old kids. I don't think any parent ever thinks of their kids as being of a pensionable age. Still.....to my Sistuuuurrrrrrr..... I truly hope you have a fantastic day with friends and family. I'm sorry we couldn't be there, or you here, but we will toast your birthday and good health later this afternoon. Maybe even a couple of times. Still love you more than my bikes, and I've said that a few times so it must be true. XOXOXOXOX



Look after yourselves out there, folks...be kind to each other...