Tag: writing

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Hobbies

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

There are many hobbies available for pursuit. If I had more time, I’d indulge in more than I do now.

But, currently, my favourites are gardening, writing, and cross stitch.

With the glorious weather of a Southern spring, the garden is taking up much of my attention.  This morning, I did two hours of wedding and still have loads more to pull out.

Earlier in the year, when we had record-breaking floods, mostly, I was indoors, reading and writing.

And if it’s not suitable to be outside, I like to do hand stitching projects. As a result, I have many half finished projects to complete. So, this is also on my current Task List.

But the hobby I really wish I had time for is playing music. Already, I know some piano, but would love to learn the Recorder.

What hobbies are on your wish list?

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What do you wish you could do more every day?

The cursor blinked at me. I blinked back.

What would I like to do each day, more than anything? What would I like more of?

To find time to write. That cursor on the screen beckons me to lay down words and structure them into some kind of sense.

Instead, there’s work to pay my bills, and chores. And people. These take up time. One cannot schedule unexpected visitors. I love them dearly, though.

Gardening, cooking, sewing. These are necessary tasks. But they are not writing.

So when I get time for lunch, today at work, I will write. Because that will be my chance.

Just start, for those of you who crave time to follow your passion. Ten Minutes, thirty minutes. Just start.

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Novel project

Bear with me a while. My aim is still to publish regularly on Liz’s Everest.

But now, and until the end of October, my focus is on writing a book.

So far, I’ve started the first chapter. The opening scene can be found in a story I wrote in May 2020. It’s called Yellow Rose and can be found in the Archive.

The Archive can be found at the bottom of the Welcome and Archives page, accessible from the menu.

The name may change. At this point I am unsure. But stories tend to suggest their own titles… so I’ll allow the novel to tell me what it’d like to be called.

Thank you for continuing to support my work.

Liz

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Water

Now, you may be wondering why I’ve titled this post, simply Water.

A few years ago, I read a book called “The Colour of Water.” James McBride is the author.

Much of the book has been forgotten, not due to the author’s lack of talent, but more because of the progress of time.

The bit that stands out for me the most, is the bit where James asks his Mum,
“What is the colour of Spirit?”

Her answer is “The colour of water.”

I’ve never heard such a beautiful way of putting it.

Spirit runs through the Earth like water. It rushes through both the Natural World and through Human Made Constructions.

Today, Spirit felt much like water. I was reflecting on time, and how it rushes out of one’s hands as soon as one realises that it is passing.

There are a couple of activities that make time stand still for me, that provide a temporary respite from fast moving time.

These are jogging, writing and spending time with dear friends and family.

Jogging ties me to the premeval task of staying alive. Our ancestors stayed alive and moved from place to place by running or jogging.

Being a Writer ties me to my childhood. I loved all things creative, as a child. I curtailed my drawing so I could better write. Writing is always my first love… always has been…always will be.

And then there’s time spent with my loved ones. Once a week, I make the dusty drive to my Mentor and Best Friend’s house. We savour cups of coffee together, sometimes enjoy meals of Fish and Chips, and always enjoy our conversations. I find her wise, entertaining and clever… and being a fellow Writer, we mercilessly tease each other with word play.

So, may Spirit, regardless of the form that it takes, be with you, and may we continue to build this life together.

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Fractured Faith writing challenge

A receipt for a banana, rice and a coffee.

Tonight. It was tonight. Tonight when i had the in laws over for dinner.

What to cook?

My sister was a fussy eater and they were really her in laws, not mine. Her little villa was too small to host the larger family we were meeting with. So i had invited everyone to my place.

And with a baby on the way, she had left me to do all the planning and catering.

My sister hated fruit, but i really thought the best desserts all used fruit in them. How to compromise?

These thoughts were running through my head as i stood in the large supermarket, staring at the endless shelves, trying to dream something up.

Suddenly i had it!

I had the compromise!

With more confidence than i felt, i strode to the aisle containing rice, and grabbed a bag. Then i marched to the fresh produce part of the store and picked up a solitary banana.

I’d make rice pudding and put a single banana into the recipe to keep both of us happy.

After paying for it, i stood outside the supermarket for a little bit.

My brother in law, my sister’s husband, rang to say he’d be late in picking me up.

I wandered back into the store.

I needed a coffee!