A to Z Challenge: Day 13 - M

Memories of Moments by Andrea Vermaak

I have a small magnetic white board on the side of my fridge. When I first moved into my own place, I wrote, 

“The small, seemingly meaningless moments make the most extraordinary memories.” 

This quote (my own) is still there on that tiny white board because it’s so true in my life.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting many people and travelling a bit, but it’s not visiting Edinburgh Castle or London Tower, or meeting Just Jinger or The Parlotones that stand out in my mind as some of my fondest memories, nor could I say that they lie hidden in my heart as something sacred.

Edinburgh Royal Mile - photo by Andrea

Some of my fondest memories are those from my university days when we’d sit on the grass outside of the Humanities building. We’d “invent” coding for a virus that would ruin students’ assignments when they printed them from a Word document and laugh at our own ridiculousness. We’d come up with theories about why there were so many random mounds on campus. We’d almost believe that there really were invisible trees that we keep on walking into, which would explain any previously inexplicable headaches.

I will never forget how utterly happy I felt on the way back from an all-day rock show with my friends. The stadium’s catering plan fell short, so we were all parched, starving and exhausted. But I was lying in the backseat of a best friend’s mini on our way to Uncle Fouzi’s in Hatfield for a midnight feast and I couldn’t have been happier. I could lie and say that I was happy because the day was rather epic despite adequate sustenance, but honestly, I was happy because I was with two of my great friends, whom I love dearly, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else in the world at that moment.

One memory I hold very closely to my heart is indeed one of when I was on a working-holiday in Edinburgh, but it almost definitely is not what you’d expect. A small group of us who were temporarily staying in a backpackers’ hostel decided to go out one evening. It was close to sunset. I can’t for the life of me remember where we were going, but I remember that we decided to walk down one of the many narrow closes that run off of The Royal Mile. Once we reached the end of the close, we suddenly stopped. No one said anything. We just stood side by side and watched as the last rays of the sun touched the buildings of New Town far below us. No photograph could ever capture the golden colours and quiet reverence of that moment. You could only feel it. You had to be there.

Photo by Andrea

You cannot possibly recreate any of these moments without losing something fundamental in the very fabric of their existence. They may seem frivolous and worthy of forgetting to most, but they seem to cling to my heart and mind. That is why the quote on the Winnie the Pooh magnet on my very same fridge rings true to me regarding the seemingly insignificant moments: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

A to Z Challenge: Day 12 - L

Lemons and Lemonade by Carmen Botman

While I’ve been handed many lemons during my lifetime (who hasn’t?) there are a few big ones that have stood out.

I’ve always considered myself to be a writer – and this was my ultimate goal. I was utterly convinced that I would be a full-time writer one day, living in a remote cottage somewhere in the world, producing novel after novel. I completed my first manuscript a week before my eighteenth birthday. I was on my way to achieving my dream.

Big lemon number one was when I was told by my parents that I should consider studying something tangible – that is, something more tangible than writing. I ended up studying Occupational Therapy – a profession chosen purely by chance. While I still wrote some during my studies and after, this ‘lemon’ had provided me with a fair amount of job satisfaction and had afforded me the opportunity to live, work and travel abroad. I suppose you could say that I had made my lemonade.

In the years that followed I continued working as an OT and achieved some of the societal goals that are generally placed upon us. In 2010 I received the second big lemon, when my husband and I had to make an abrupt cross-country move for an indefinite period of time. My husband was furthering his studies and we ended up seeing very little of each other for about four years. But in that time, I met a fantastic group of writers who took me under their wings and during that period I was able to complete my first full-length novel and had my first short stories published. I had made some more lemonade and was once again on my way to fulfilling my dream – or so I thought. Just as my husband completed his studies, lemons rained down on us from all directions and we went through a rough patch with little time (or energy) for anything else but survival.

Then I became a mother – under immense lemon-like conditions. And three years after the first, we had another. Suffice it to say that my days had become intensely busy and blurry and exhausting. I suppose one could say that these were lemons being thrown in my way of becoming a writer. Well, if they (my kids) were (the lemons), then I had managed to make the most delicious lemon meringue from it! But every so often the yearning to write – to create – returns. Sometimes so intensely that it takes my breath away.

My point is this: Life will constantly hand you lemons. But we’re able to turn them into something much more meaningful. We don’t have to settle for the hand that we’re dealt. And yes, we may have to adapt the way we plan to reach our goals, but we don’t have to throw up our hands and cry ‘Woe is me.’ And we never have to give up on our dreams. On the contrary. Lemons are opportunities in disguise. We all have the ability to change things in our lives for the better. It might change overnight, or it might take years. But if you’re happy on your journey, does it really matter how you achieve your goals? If I had refused all those lemons, imagine all the opportunities I would have missed out on. No, I am not producing novel after novel, but I am happy with what I am still able to create after the kitchen has been cleaned and my boys are sound asleep. And being happy with and in yourself is all that really matters – isn’t it?

Find out more about Carmen on her website

A to Z Challenge: Day 11 - K

Kayelle Allen's A STOLEN HEART (a book feature)

After rescuing a half-alien / half-human child who's running for his life, warrior-turned-entrepreneur Luc Saint-Cyr stumbles onto a conspiracy at the highest levels of the powerful Thieves' Guild. Complicating matters, Luc's immortal ex might be involved.

Now Luc must deal with his ex, find a home for the child, squelch the flames of conspiracy and eradicate its perpetrators. As if that's not enough, an unseen enemy is undoing every good thing Luc accomplishes.

But when it comes time to give up the child to a family who can care for him, how will Luc bear to part with the adorable little boy who has stolen his heart...

Excerpt 

All this friendliness stank of a trap.

Luc Saint-Cyr paced the length of the Negotiator's observation deck and back. No short distance. The view of Kelthia's black seas from space filled one transparent wall. From here, Miraj City glowed like a million lampyris birds trapped in a net, subject to the whim of their masters.

His luxurious top-of-the-line private transport entertained twenty passengers in comfort for a month and navigated hyperspace without nav-crystals. But when the ship reached his king's monstrous bird of prey, Le Persequor would ingest Luc's vessel like a hawk gulping a flitting gnat.

Once Luc boarded, he'd be no more free than a lampyris, with his net the grace of his king.

He played the man's holovid again.

"Will you meet with me?" Pietas's calm tenor voice offered no overt danger. No concrete menace. No definable threat.

His king was smiling, but that meant nothing. Pietas smiled when commanding his panther to devour an enemy too.

Since receiving the message two days ago, Luc had replayed it at least thirty times. Dread choked him, each time.

No, this was too simple. Too short. Too cordial. Too... not Pietas.

Luc had verified the origin and veracity of the message, but still refused to believe it. Even he, the closest Pietas had to a true friend, received commands, not requests.

"I'm only one jump away from Kelthia. Uurah will let you know when we reach orbit. I hope you won't leave the planet before I get there."

Since when did Pietas say he hoped you wouldn't do anything? He flat out told you.

"Talk to you soon." Pietas reached down, off camera. From the motion, he had to be petting the panther. His smile pierced the holocam. "Can't wait to see you, Cyken." The scene went black.

A tap skipped the vid back to its final image. Luc zoomed in on his king's face. No wrinkles around the eyes, no lines around the noble mouth. Pietas had been reborn and the age difference showed. Makeup and poorly lit images hid plenty, but only an immortal with a planet-sized ego would think he could shave off that many years and the mortal public wouldn't notice. Why would he risk revealing their biggest secret?

Immortal blood brought mortals back from the dead.

They'd soon learned never to reveal what they were. The brazen entitlement of mortals to commandeer an immortal's blood for their own use put his people at risk. Had for millennia.

Luc looped back to the final sentence. "Can't wait to see you, Cyken."

As an Ultra, Luc had lived thousands of years among mortals, and had used hundreds of different names over his many lifespans. His Sempervian name never changed. Not to his king. To his king, Cyken was a family name. Family was everything.

But the disquieting way Pietas had crooned that last sentence layered implications Luc preferred not to consider. The man never missed an opportunity to flirt, no matter how many years they'd been apart. What issue did Pietas have with the word no?

And now this baffling holovid. In over thirty-four hundred years since their exile from Sempervia, when had the king come to him instead of summoning?

Luc powered off the vid. "That would be never."

A Stolen Heart, sci fi from Kayelle Allen

Want to know when this book is available? Like to have a free read before it's out? Join one of Kayelle's reader groups. You'll also get free starter books right away. https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups/

Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She is the author of multiple books, novellas, and short stories. She's also a US Navy veteran and has been married so long she's tenured.

The Creative Life during #LockdownSA (with 20 days still to go)

The Challenge: 2020

I am sure you will agree that 2020 has not lived up to the expectations that we have set for ourselves on 1 January. But has it been that bad? Of course, for the people who were infected by the Covid-19 virus, it has not been fun at all.

For those families who have lost someone they loved to the infection, it is heartbreaking.

And for the politicians and world leaders trying to figure out how to keep their countries' economies stable (at least) and fight the impact of the socio-economic issues (still not yet determined) it is a nightmare.

But for those of us everyday citizens trying to make a living to keep ourselves afloat in this time of crises, how bad has it been, really? Did you have to tighten your belt because you are self-employed like I am?

Being basically a level headed and fairly optimistic kind of person, I have not done too badly I think. I did have some work to do, which I will be able to invoice soon, and thanks to two of my writers' group friends, have been kept busy artistically as well. Like me they are artists and I have challenged them to a few creative projects during #LockdownSA. It helps to keep busy, but more than that it helped us all to keep our drawing skills sharp.

The one thing that I often forget - despite putting it on my to-journal list - is a gratitude journal or art journal entry. Last week I made it one of our creative projects and to me, it was something to remind of all the things that I am grateful for. Especially now as we are entering an extended lockdown of an additional 2 weeks (until 30 April).

Do I look forward to going back to work? Of course, I am. Being self-employed as a test and certification engineer does not mean that I work from home 24/7. I need facilities to do my work that I simply cannot accommodate, nor afford, to have at home. I am fortunate though that my work environment away from home is with a small company where any physical interaction with other people can be easily managed - mostly because we do most of our work as individuals, not teams. I am still training a newer member of the team, but he is not that green anymore that close distancing is required all the time.

If you are in isolation, self-imposed or otherwise, I trust that the need to be so will soon be over so that we all can start working together to recover from this situation. Recovery will take time, and teamwork on so many levels that I simply cannot even comprehend the difficulties associated with such a strategy.

Right now all I can hope (and pray) for is that the leaders of my country, and those of your countries, will set aside their political agendas and work together with their people to move forward from this. And perhaps even have a good and hard think on dealing with such a pandemic in future. Because it will come again, the question is: how soon and how bad will it be the next time?

On a more joyful note - here are links to the A-toZ Challenge posts on the Broomstick so far, with a hint of some of the posts to come. Enjoy! 💜

ART by Melissa a guest post about performance art
BFF by Linzé
COVID-19 by Linzé
DINNER by Linzé EDINBURGH station by Linzé FUN art by Linzé
GREEN by Linzé
HOLISTIC health by Vanessa a guest post and art journal
INKTOBER52 by Linzé
JOY by Linzé

Looking forward this week ...
Tomorrow: K by Kayelle a book release
Tuesday: L by Carmen a guest post
Wednesday: M by Andrea a guest post
Thursday: N by Charlene a guest post

Until tomorrow!
💜 Linzé

A to Z Challenge: Day 10 - J

JOY by Linzé

What makes you happy? The one thing that always makes me happy is rain. I love the sounds, and smells. Especially after the rain has gone and the world seems extra clean and green like being washed from all the dust and pollution of our modern world.

Rain drops on frangipani leaves and flowers
 - drawn by Linzé (ink on Moleskine)

A to Z Challenge: Day 9 - I

Inktober52 - a 52 week challenge for sketchers and artists alike

The challenge runs on Instagram and if you follow the #Inktober52 you will see the amazing things people are drawing for the same prompt.

For me this has been a terrific experience to practice my ink drawing skills every week. I have managed to keep up with the challenge - get the prompt on Thursday, and post to my Instagram before the next Thursday. Sometimes it was tough, but I am committed to do this challenge for the whole 52 weeks.

Until tomorrow!
💜 Linzé

💟 PS: Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving comments. I am still having difficulties replying but will keep on working to try and figure out how to fix it.

A to Z Challenge: Day 8 - H

Holistic Health and Covid-19 by Vanessa Wright

Thanks to Linze Brandon, who allows me to place my ramblings on her blog.

The world has changed. We are living in uncertain times while we watch the number of infections rise daily. I look around me and people are afraid of human touch, they jump at the sound of someone sneezing or coughing. It is now, more than ever before, extremely important to be aware of changes in mental health and overall well-being. Our current lockdown and self-isolation prompted me to make an art journal entry.

My anxiety has been through the roof lately as I battle to make sense of a changing environment and the adaptation of a new way of living. Art has been a welcome relief amidst the turmoil.

I wanted to address a holistic way of approaching the subject of mental health. I am bipolar and need to keep an even keel as much as possible. Please look out for the following signs during isolation:

1. Extreme fear and worry about your own health. Fear of leaving the security of your home to do essential shopping.
2. Changes in your sleeping patterns. Sleeping too much or too little. 
3. Changes in your eating habits; again, too much or too little.
4. Difficulty concentrating, feeling as if you are moving through fog.
5. Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.

If you find that a number of the above things have been going awry, here is what works for me:

1. Get up. Make your bed, brush your hair and teeth, shower, put on clothing which doesnot involve yoga pants, your favourite bath robe or boxers.
2. Create a routine for yourself. This will instil a sense of normalcy and productivity. If needs be, make an A3 chart. Now you have broken up your day. Try to change your environment while doing the tasks you have set out for yourself.
3. Eat healthily; fresh fruit and veggies, hearty soups.
4. Meditate and do some form of exercise.
5. Stay connected with friends and family via cell phone- WhatsApp, Facebook, Zoom, etc.
6. Do not spend too much time on social media, limit your intake of bad news and updates.
7. Help others as much as isolation allows you to. I shop for my elderly neighbours and bake a cake or two.
8. Be grateful for what you have, it is much more than some people who are going through the same isolation as you are. Start each day by thinking of 3 things you are grateful for.
9. Take your medication regularly. Now is not the time to purge yourself of your anti-depressants.
10. Any form of creativity goes a long way in alleviating anxiety.

The Art Journal Piece:

Materials

Art journal or old book.

Gesso, HB pencil, kneaded eraser for those inevitable mistakes. Acrylic paint in the colours of your choice. Words which I cut out of an old magazine. Glue, paint brushes and a Sharpie for the outlining.

I use an old book as an art journal. I glued three pages together and treated it with gesso. Next, I drew my abstract figures with my HB pencil. I used complimentary, bright colours for my artwork.

Vanessa's Holistic health art journal entry

After painting the figures, I outlined them with the Sharpie and stuck the words on with glue. As you can see, they represent gratitude, meditation, activity, reading or studying and contemplation. The two figures at the very edges are black which represent the effect the virus and isolation has on us.

Stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Vanessa