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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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"Blog City Prompt Forum"  Prompt: Reading “I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” Montesquieu How does reading affect you? I used to be an avid reader. When I was a little girl my mother would take me into a book store and buy me a book whenever we went to the city. My greatest childhood memories are all wrapped up in my books and the joy I received from them. I would sneak away and hide to read, I’d read under the covers at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. I even walked into a lamppost once so engrossed was I in a book. Each Saturday morning Dad would take me to the library. It was old, dark and musty smelling but I loved it. Everything about it, the hushed atmosphere and the shelves of books I could choose from. The library was under the chapel and was like an Aladdin’s cave to me. I read all of Charles Dickens’ books. These weren’t the dumbed down versions either. When I pick up one of Dickens’ novels now, I realise how much more simple we need our writing to be. The language used in those books are certainly not used today. I wonder at the reader I was at such a young age. I read the Heidi books, and Little Women, of course. How I cried when Beth died. |
Prompt: Use these words in your blog: perceive, anniversary, pattern, information, pier, change, and raw. Yesterday at my writing group we were discussing a members’ story. The question raised was if she was meaning to call the place a ship was moored, a pier or a jetty. I don’t think after a robust chat she was convinced to change it. It was my fifth year anniversary of joining the writing group. It’s an all women’s group, there are usually about ten of us. After previously being part of a mixed group, I perceived the women to be more respectful, willing to listen. I’d noticed a pattern of behaviour amongst the men. It was as if they considered themselves to be superior and were unwilling to help and mentor a raw talent. The writing centre is for many different writing groups. There are groups for children, teens, romance writers, a mixed gender group, which is held in the evening, the women’s group and I think there may even be one for the historians amongst us. If anyone is interested, for your information, the centre is named after an author called Katherine Suzanna Pritchard. We call it the KSP Writers Centre. People come from all over Australia and even overseas to reside there in the cottages in the garden.  |
| The Hollywood Walk of Fame’s history goes back to 1953, when E.M. Stuart, volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, proposed building the Walk as a means to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.” The construction began on February 8th. Have you ever visited the Walk of Fame? Is there a specific star you would like to see if the opportunity arose? Do you think being famous is a good thing or not? Living where I do so far away from the USA, I’ve never visited the walk of fame. Of course, like everyone who’s breathing, I am completely aware of it. I must confess I’m not a fan of fame. I appreciate the art, and the craft of acting and singing, in fact all of the arts; painting, writing, and poetry. Yet it seems to me, the only people who get invited to place their hands into wet cement are the people who make the most noise. I prefer actors who will play in a regional theatres, on stage, purely for the love of their craft. I can’t stand the artificiality of Hollywood. Let’s face it, unless you can wear a dress/gown which leaves nothing to the imagination, then a female will find it more than difficult to crack the Hollywood scene. I’m unsure of the equivalent for males. There are some actors/film stars who are average in height and stature but for the most part, the artificially whitened teeth, high cheekbones and six pack, are the minimum of requirements. I’ve always said that fame would be my worst nightmare. Can you imagine how awful it would be when each time one steps outside, a barrage of flashing lights and cameras are there to greet? As I said: it would be an absolute nightmare. |
| Day 2006: February 7, 2024 Prompt: What is your favorite color? Why?
I’ve always loved blue, ever since I first learned my colours. It’s such a calming colour, soothing. Unlike the firey colours, the colours of heat, such as red and orange. I even love the sound of the word; blue. It sounds as if someone is cooing to me, like a pigeon sounds. My grandad used to keep and race pigeons and I would sit with him and wait for a bird return to the coop. And I would listen to the birds in the coop cooing softly as if the were saying ‘be still.’ I had a favourite blue dress when I was sixteen, I still remember that particular blue, like a field full of cornflowers or bluebells. My mother collected Wedgwood pottery and that colour blue is beautiful against the white. Blue is for a boy, or so it is said. My girls I dressed in blue, no pink in my vicinity.😂 So there are my reasons. Memories. |
Prompt: Feeling valued "The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." William James What makes you feel appreciated? Can you describe a time when someone made you feel valued? I’m sure everyone wants to be appreciated and yet sadly that’s not the case. Often people don’t discover, until it’s too late, how much that person did for them or for others. I’m blessed to have family who appreciate me. I’m sure when my kids were young, even as teenagers and young adults, things I did for them went unnoticed and were certainly unappreciated. Yet now they always tell me they appreciate me because they know I’m always here if they need anything. I’m unable to give much these days, but they know I’m always available to listen to their problems. The most I’ve felt appreciated lately was when my grandson said he wanted me to go to his university graduation. He didn’t even ask his girlfriend because there were only two tickets allocated to each student. I asked him why he wanted me and his mother to be there. His reply was “because you’re the only two people who have ever given a s***!” Sorry about the language but that’s what he said. I was so taken aback but I knew he really meant it and it made me feel appreciated. |
“Groundhog found fog. New snows and blue toes. Fine and dandy for Valentine candy. Snow spittin'; if you're not mitten-smitten, you'll be frostbitten! By jing-y feels spring-y." ― The Old Farmer's Almanac Try your hand at a rhyming poem about February. Have fun! February the last month of summer Down here in the antipodes A summer, that really a bummer Today is over forty degrees February, a month full of lovin’ When flowers and chocolate are given It’s a month that does my head in And this is the rhymin’ I’m submittin’ |
Prompt: Were you disappointed or happy with the month of January 2024? Well as it’s summer here in Western Australia I generally despise January. It’s super hot(44 degrees centigrade today) It’s school vacation also. So therefore the shopping centres are filled with kids running amok. I love kids but they get away with things my children didn’t. Although I did see a young dad the other day, he was shopping for groceries with four children aging from 6 to 11 who were so polite and sweet and I told them they were a lovely family. They were still being kids but they were not obnoxious as so many are. I sound like a grumpy old woman but I’m really not. Just hot! The climate has cause havoc to all over Australia. There have been horrendous floods, our son in Far North Queensland has suffered terrible stock losses on his cattle station. So roll on Autumn, (March). Praying for better weather. |
| 2024 Prompt: “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” – Nelson Mandela Use this quote to inspire your blog entry. Snow's BCOF Signature [#1971580] Prosperous Snow, Blogger of the Week LeaderProsperous Snow, I love the quote and the opportunity to use it as a prompt. As a much younger person I was incredibly shy and self conscious. I never did anything which I thought would draw attention my way. Even as a very young bride, I really knew nothing of life except how to look after someone as I’d done that most of my life. My mother always seemed to be sick with something or other and when I was sixteen she almost died from a coronary thrombosis. As the only girl I was expected to do all the household stuff and cooking for the family. So when I left home to marry at twenty one having only one man to care for was easy. John was a very lucky man😂 and still is! When we left England with a three year old in tow to come to Australia, leaving everything familiar behind I grew in confidence. I was twenty eight then. I’d say that was when I knew I had to be brave. Two more children later I became the person I am today. Independent, kind, loyal, but assertive. I try to be honest in my dealings with people and only tell white lies, usually to avoid hurting others feelings, But I’ll fight tooth and nail for the ones I love. And yes, I actually used to dance like no ones watching but my dancing days are gone. Although I still behave like a kid, sometimes and never lost my sense of humour, the thing that makes me, well, me. |
| Day 3398: January 30, 2024 Prompt: Use these words in your blog entry: buckwheat, stockings, effacement, lurker, precipitation, feather, and litter.  This is my first entry for Blogging Circle of Friends and as I look at the prompt I realise I am faced with quite a task. It would be a case of self-effacement to say this is not possible but as I’m I’m always up for a challenge so here goes. I’ll start with litterOne of my most disliked things in the world. Each day my husband and I take our best friend, Lucy the Weimaraner, for her walks and each and every time we pick up food and drink containers. Having a McDonalds across the park from us doesn’t help of course. Why can’t people take their rubbish home or put it in the bin? On the same walks I often find a treasure. A beautiful red and black feather from our native Carnaby Cockatoos. These fantastic birds are endangered because of the way we treat the earth. We chop down their habitat, pollute the rivers and litter our environment. The weather here in Western Australia is forecast to be extra hot this week with temperatures up to 44 degrees centigrade. There’ll be no precipitationand the wearing of stockings will not be encouraged. Oh, look, there’s Lucy being a lurker her head is around my door watching me. She’s probably wondering why she isn’t included in the chocolate biscuits I’m having with my coffee. Although I know she’s not supposed to eat what we eat, but she looks so hungry 😂 This morning she had just a tiny piece of my buckwheat pancakes with a touch of maple syrup. Anyway it’s been nice to join the circle of friends and I hope everyone has a great day. |
| Names "It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame." Henry David Thoreau, Walking Why do you think we are given names at birth? Do you know what your name means and do you live up to it? What about the people you know and their relationships to their names? I was having this discussion earlier today with my granddaughter about baby names. It’s such a responsibility isn’t it? Bestowing a name that child will either love or hate for the rest of its life. I live in Australia and Australians are renowned for shortening names. My granddaughter’s little girl is named Evelyn. She gets called Evie, Eve, Mini, and even her real name, sometimes. There is a new little one on the way. She is going to be named, Ava, because no one can shorten that. What we’re likely to do is lengthen it and call her Avocado! My name, Susan, is boring. I’m usually called Sue unless I’m in trouble. Then it’s Susan. I was nearly a Penny, which I would have hated so it was the best of two evils, I suppose. I’m pleased with the names I called my children and they all like their names. Sarah, Benjamin and Emma. It wasn’t until it was pointed out to me they are all biblical names, I noticed. I’m not religious, but years of bible stories at school must have instilled the names into me. As for second names. None of us have one. Not my husband nor myself and the children. I wish someone could explain the concept of a second Christian name and the purpose. Some even have every relative’s name that ever existed given to them. Surely it’s to appease everyone whose name wasn’t used to call the new child. |
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Though I hear there are amazing waterfalls in Australia. 
