I don’t have a favourite birthday cake but I am rather partial to banana cake with chocolate icing especially when baked by my granddaughter.
Day 29: What is something you learned recently?
As a procrastinator, I am very skilled at avoidance – and it is only just 2 February.
Day 30: What would you title the chapters of your autobiography?Why write an autobiography!
Life’s for Living. Every. Single. Day. Each chapter of my life has many, varied stories to tell:
The Early Years – oh to be that young again and know what I know now!
The Midlife crisis – was it really such a crisis?
The Life Review – hey, it ain’t over till it is over, Rover!
Life’s for Living. Every. Single. Day.
Day 31: Where is the best place to watch the sunset near you?
On the beach which is but a short stroll across my front lawn! Or sometimes even out my kitchen window. Cooking the evening meal is often delayed as I grab my camera.
And the sun has now set on Bloganuary. It has been enlightening.
Without doubt my favorite author is Diana Gabaldon. Her Outlander books have been a huge part of my reading since 1992 when I first read Crosstitch, and they still entertain me. Whether it’s the tv adaptations, the compendiums, the novellas, or the audiobooks, I love them all.
It is difficult to describe the genre. There are so many covered in her books.
Diana herself has described it thus:
Day 22: What was your dream job as a child?
Photographer. Getting my first camera as a ten year old ensured I was instantly hooked.
My first real job entailed hand- coloring aerial photos. That was such fun. Alas, that skill set was made redundant with the advent of colour photography.
Another favorite photographic job was creating large aerial photo mosaics of rural properties. Also superseded by modern technology in mapping.
Learning to develop and print my own photos was immensely satisfying to me. A camera upgrade from a point and shoot to a Pentax SlR required a steep learning curve. I loved it all.
The move from film to digital cameras brought yet more learning challenges and much enjoyment.
Over my teaching career, I used cameras to record and illustrate children’s learning stories, to document teaching practice, and to plan and improve early childhood learning environments.
Whilst not employed as a ‘photographer’ I managed to include my passion into my work career.
Now in retirement I have even more time to pursue my photographic passion. And I do.
Day 23: What’s a lie you tell yourself?
One day I’ll get fit!
Day 24: How do you show love?
Kindness, caring, compassion and passion. Shouldn’t everyone?
Day 25: What is a song or poem that speaks to you and why?
Not one but two songs speak to me. ABBA’s new album Voyage instantly appealed to me.
DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA
A while ago, I heard the sound of children's laughter
Now it's quiet, so I guess they left the park
This wooden bench is gettin' harder by the hour
The sun is goin' down, it's gettin’ dark
I realise I'm cold, the rain begins to pour
As I watch the windows on the second floor
The lights are on, it's time to go (ooh
It's time at last, to let him know
I believe it would be fair to say
"You look bewildered"
And you wonder why I'm here today
And so you should, I would
When I left I felt, I've had enough
But, in the shape and form I appear now
I have learned to cope, and love and hope is why I am here now
And now you see another me, I've been reloaded, yeah
I'm fired up, don't shut me down
I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded
I'm fired up, I'm hot, don't shut me down
I'm not the one you knew
I'm now, and then combined
And I'm askin' you to have an open mind
(And I won't be the same)
I'm not the same this time around (ooh)
I'm fired up, don't shut me down
Will you leave me standin' in the hall?
Or let me enter?
The apartment hasn't changed at all
I've got to say, "I'm glad"
Once these rooms were witness to our love
My tantrums and increasing frustration
But I go from mad, to not so bad
In my transformation
And now you see another me, I've been reloaded, yeah
I'm fired up, don't shut me down
(Don't shut me down)
I'm like a dream, within a dream, that's been decoded
I'm fired up, I'm hot, don't shut me down
I am not the one you knew (I'm not the one you knew)
I'm now, and then combined
And I'm askin' you to have an open mind
(Now, I'll not be the same)
I'm not the same this time around (ooh)
I'm fired up, don't shut me down
You ask me not to leave
Well, here I am again
And I love you still and so I won't pretend
I have learnt to cope, and love and hope is why I am here now
AND;
I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU - ABBA
I still have faith in you
I see it now
Through all these years that faith lives on, somehow
There was a union
Of heart and mind
The likes of which are rare and oh so hard to find
Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share
I still have faith in you
And I will say
I never really thought I'd feel this way
But I remind myself of who we are
How inconceivable it is to reach this far
Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share
We do have it in us
New spirit has arrived
The joy and the sorrow
We have a story
And it survived
And we need one another
Like fighters in a ring
We're in this together
Passion and courage
Is everything
I still have faith in you
It stands above
the crazy things we did
It all comes down to love
Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share
Do I have it in me?
We do have it in us
New spirit has arrived
The joy and the sorrow
We have a story
And it survived
And we know that we need one another
Like fighters in a ring
We're in this together
Passion and courage
Is everything
(I still have faith in you)
And we still have it in us
We've only just arrived
(Do I have it in me?)
We stand on a summit
Humble and grateful
To have survived
I still have faith in you
It stands above
the crazy things we did
It all comes down to love
Do I have it in me?
Yes, I do have it in me to survive, especially if I am not shut down! These powerful lyrics speak to me.
I play these constantly whilst creating my art, it is relaxing and affirming.
Day 26: What language do you wish you could speak?
Te Reo Maori- it is one of the three official languages of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Alongside English and the NZ sign language.
I do understand more Te Reo Maori than I speak and love listening to waiata/songs.
Day 27: What are the pros and cons of procrastination?
Pros:
“Giving you more time to think, allowing you to gather and process more relevant information before making a decision. It helps conserve your energy when procrastination leads you to postpone a task that ends up being canceled.”
Bonus point!
Cons:
“Over-thinkers are some of the best procrastinators out there. Why? Because they let their thoughts eat up their momentum. While brainstorming and preparing yourself mentally for work is a good idea, overthinking takes what could be a proactive thought and turns it into a worried, impenetrable wall of inaction.”
Yes that’s me too!
But wait, there’s more – if I can only just get around to it. Well maybe ‘a round tuit’ is just what I need.
LightWriteLife 