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 |   The simplicity of my day to day. |
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This is where I write my thoughts, feelings and my daily trials, tribulations and happy things
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| PROMPT March 20th Share a time when your mouth hung open in shock/awe/surprise/wonder etc. What was it that made you feel that way. I found this question hard to answer, trawling through memories to come up with something. Then I remembered the one time I was truly awe inspired. It took place on my birthday. The day was cloudy, the sun had yet to make even a glow in the sky as my husband and I drove in the darkness to a large shed on an industrial estate. This was not an auspicious start to something I’d been looking forward to for as long as I could remember. We stood in the freezing cold waiting for others to arrive. After receiving our safety instructions we were taken in a truck to a large, wet, grassy field. In the semi darkness we could make out the shape of the hot air balloon we would soon be flying in. The basket into which we tentatively climbed seemed small and fragile. The pilot placed us according to weight and size so we were fairly distributed and we set off. The ground dropped away, we were airborne. There was no sense of the breeze, just a silence interspersed by the sound of the jet of hot air which was keeping the balloon inflated. The clouds above us were oppressive, a few drops of rain fell as we flew higher until we were enveloped in the clouds. It was like being in a very thick fog. The ground was no longer visible. Still we rose, until..... This was the jaw dropping moment. We broke through the clouds, suddenly we were n bright blue sky, the sun shone, as if welcoming us. The clouds sat level with the bottom of the wicker basket and just for a moment I felt as if I could step out and walk upon them. It was as if we were in heaven. After a few minutes we began our descent, back down to the dreary cloudy day. But my heart and mind was still up there in that moment of pure joy. |
| We’ve all been affected by this virus. It’s inevitable and it’s unavoidable. Each of our family members is affected in different ways. My granddaughter’s husband has lost his job as a high school rowers coach. All competitions have been cancelled and there’s doubt about the Olympic Games going ahead this year. He has been working with training the Australian team, My daughter is a child health district manager. The health department are seconding child health nurses into hospitals and onto manning the telephone information lines, leaving a huge shortage of staff. My husband and I have had to cancel our holiday to the UK and Singapore in May leaving us thousands of dollars out of pocket. Everyone I know is either working from home or has lost work. The shop shelves are bare from panicking people stockpiling, old people are missing out of everyday items and people are behaving badly. Shops are refusing to accept cash money, asking for card transactions only, they are scared of handling money, afraid that it may be contaminated. I’m sure each and everyone of WdC members are affected in similar ways and I hope it soon begins to teach us all to pull together instead of being selfish. |
PROMPT March 18th Does your communication style tend to be straightforward or subtle? Are you more likely to speak your mind or beat around the bush? Have you ever gotten into trouble because of your communication style? My communication changed dramatically the older I became. Confrontation was something I avoided at all costs until middle age. Then I became more confident but still often kept my opinions to myself even if not agreeing with someone. I’ve reached the point of straight talking now and it only took a lifetime of practice! Written communication has worked better for me. I’m able to take my time and edit if needed before sending a letter. |
| PROMPT March 17th Is success a result of luck, or hard work? Neither? Both? Oh my, that’s something to ponder on. I’ve often heard the saying: “the harder I work the luckier I become,” and thought it true. Working hard though is not a certainty of success. My father worked hard from being 14 years old and never had much money. I can’t remember him having time off for sickness or for long holidays. Of course he worked in a family business and it’s been an observation of mine that such people are more conscientious, that, or they have no choice. Some people can’t deal with luck, they might win the lottery but don’t seem happy until they’ve spent it all and are back to the status quo. I think many successful people would have been so, no matter what. They have a drive and a feeling of entitlement others don’t. |
| I can’t imagine anything I’d rather NOT do, but thanks for the opportunity.😬 I loved watching Deal or No Deal when it used to be on a few years ago. I suppose it was the anticipation of finding out what was in the chosen case. It could have been a dollar or 200,000 dollars. You just never knew how much until you’ve closed the deal. I like watching quiz shows and trying to answer the questions but the idea of actually being on TV under scrutiny and pressure sounds really stressful. If I actually did win lots of money on this hypothetical show I’d probably share it with my family. Or even in these uncertain times stash it away for the Armageddon! |
| I find listening to a talk back radio programme de stresses me, or a podcast of a conversation between two interesting people. The sound of people talking calms me down much more than music will. I like to cook and listen, those two things together has a calming effect, plus I end up with meals that I can freeze for later! Going for a walk with the dog always makes me feel better too. I have found though I no longer get as stressed or worked up about things as used to. Maybe I have learned worrying makes no difference to the outcome. The way I used to deal with a problem was by writing down my thoughts, using a pen and paper not keyboard. I’d write the pros and cons of a situation, or if I was angry at someone I write them a letter. Rarely did I find the need to actually give it to them. It just made me feel better. |
| Nostalgia is a lovely word, it sums up a time in the past which gives a feeling of warmth, safety and place one would like to return to. I can’t think of a specific event which gives me that feeling, but I can remember a time when just being at home with my family around me, especially my Mum, evoked those feelings that everything is alright in the world and I’m safe. Once you reach adulthood that feeling never seems to be there. Even when you’re surrounded by your own children and partner there is always the undercurrent of responsibility and wariness. I hope though that my children received that same feeling of ‘home is where Mum is’ that I did. |
| Ahh money, now there’s a great topic. I was having a conversation with my daughter last night about money. Our government, in an attempt to stimulate the economy after the terrible effects of this virus, and to a lesser extent the terrible fires we have experienced this year, has given certain groups of people $750 each. They are hoping by giving it to the people who are on government benefits and pensioners they will spend it and not save it. Thereby they hope to keep businesses going in these hard economic times. We, my husband and I will get this money as we are on an age pension. A lot of people have not taken this news well and feel aggrieved they weren’t included. Money seems to bring the worst out in people. Now then, what shall I buy with my windfall? I’ve always been good with money, I always have worried if I didn’t have enough for a rainy day. There have been lots of those in my life. It seems as if we may make a big financial loss though this year as we had a big holiday planned in the UK and Singapore in May. No refund available for our $3000 holiday in Singapore and I’m still not sure about airfare cancellation policy if we decide to not go because of the virus threat. We are in the vulnerable age bracket and the medication I take makes me immunosuppressed. I’m thinking we just take it on the chin and not go even if we do lose out. |
| The sounds that I love are so numerous it may take a while to name them all. I love the sound of rain on our tin roof when falling asleep and the sounds of the native birds that surround our Australian bush home at dawn. I love the sound of children’s laughter and the sound of waves crashing on the shore. I love to listen to my husband’s breathing change as he falls asleep. The sound of far off thunder gradually increasing until it is overhead, is full of the promise of rain. Hearing my dog make yelps of excitement as she catches rabbits in her dreams makes me smile. My hearing is precious to me and I pray I shall never lose it. |
| I consider myself a very Impatient person. I actually come from a nation of patient people as the English are renowned for being great at queueing. They’ll patiently wait in line, whether it be for tickets or food or, well anything really. So I don’t know why I’m so impatient. If I have to queue then I’d rather go without. I hate window shopping too. If we need to purchase a household item, say a new sofa, then my husband will window shop, research and wait for a bargain. I on the other hand like to decide and make the purchase without too much fuss. I do appreciate that rushing into things is not always wise and my husband may have prevented some expensive mistakes, but it’s just not me. |
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So sorry you're dealing with all this. 
