Health Check

I have been fortunate to have led a fairly healthy life. One where Dr’s visits have been for pregnancy, basic symptoms of easily treatable ailments, as well as the regular periodic medical that we ladies put ourselves through. My last visit was sixteen months ago and did give me cause for concern, but proved to be nothing to worry about.

Today I was in the consulting room once more and realized that aging has its pitfalls, especially when a GP tells you that for your age you have left it a long time between visits. Is it just a revenue raising exercise I think to myself, as my blood pressure is taken and a biannual check of bloods is arranged. It’s a good job my blood pressure reading had been done, because by now I was imagining my visit to the vampire, better known as the Phlebotomists. No one else in the family suffers as I do when it comes to needles. They think it quite funny that I can literally pass out which adds to my humiliation, so often it is done in stealth mode and no one knows until it is over.

It all seems so silly when I consider the tragedy of world events and the trauma that hits many families. Yet to me, the fear is real. Give me a snake or spider any day.

No one in my family knows that my tummy is having a nervous twinge or two, that I will be fasting from midnight tonight and I will bravely face my fears in just over seventeen hours.  Only you, my blogging friends are privy to this information, and I know you are not going to embarrass me.

On a positive note, I was Bulk Billed through our Medicare system, which made it a free visit. And I can already smell the coffee that I will be rewarding myself with after the event, before heading off to writers group for another exciting morning.

Poetry, the short story and writers group.

This week I had the amazing job of leading our creative writing group, focusing on an image for a competition that is coming up later in the year. Work-shopping ideas and focusing on different points of view, brought about a great deal of discussion and debate, while our creative minds wrote some thought-provoking pieces. These will hopefully move us forward in the preparation of entries.

Poking my toes into the sea of competitions has stretched my writing boundaries. While I may not have won anything as yet, I always read the winning entries and have found their style and structure educational.

Poetry is slowly becoming a form of expression that I love. It grips me emotionally, tugs at my heart strings and brings out what is deep within. These short, sharp lines, have the ability to create a visual impact, making me feel as though I am painting a canvas with words. Sometimes I need to adjust the tone, paint over a section, revise my spelling, double and triple check grammar.

Then I must teach myself to stand back and say, ‘I did that’

(c) Sandie’s Snippete 2013

Granny and the School Project

This week I made the two-hour drive south of Perth, spent the night at one of my daughters homes and had the privilege of being thirteen year old Amy’s slave for the day. Amy managed to break her arm on the first day of the school holidays and has had everyone running around after her ever since. With three adult children, it has been years since I helped with a school project and I have to say, I think I have missed those special times.

It did help that the homework was based around a book, Theodore Taylor‘s – ‘The Cay’. I’d not read it and was thrilled to hear my grand-daughter describe in detail, the events that took place. Questions about the characters were asked and answered with enthusiasm. Then I opened random pages, pulling out the weird and wonderful questions, that only grand-parents seem to be able to ask. In the end Amy turned to YouTube and found a clip that we could watch together, before we created a board-game that could tell the story.

Drawing is one of Amy’s many talents, so I’m sure my best efforts will look like Amy’s left-handed attempt. Cutting silhouette shapes of islands, boats, palm trees, bombs as well as 100 discs as stepping-stones to land on, seemed to take forever. Then there was designing and creating four mini rafts out of pop-sticks and paper, to use as counters.

We brainstormed ideas, laughed as the paper and glue-stick became entangled and finally stood back with admiration at our shared efforts.

It was a very special time and made me realise, that in many ways I am busier now than I ever was when I had three young children and a full-time job.

Each of us have limited opportunities to influence the next generation of youngsters and I think I need to find a bit more time to do these kinds of things, before it is too late. Although with thirteen Grandies, ranging from five to nineteen it is going to be a challenge.

(c) Sandie’s Snippets 2012

Social Media. Telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Finally hit the beginning of a new week and turned up at my desk . It’s a bit late in the day (1.30pm), as an impromptu catch up with a writerly friend this morning, had us deliberating over the pro’s and cons of Social Media yet again.

One of the links on my personal Facebook page has been on my mind during the last couple of weeks. It spoke of us ‘Instantgramming Our Perfect Lives’, a look at living our lives through social media and all the implications it has for many of us. The very fact that I am writing this blog implies that I have embraced the social media platform, yet as I read all of your blog posts, reading some of the well voiced feedback, I realize I am not alone in doubting the benefits of the ‘Social Media Bandwagon’.

Are some of us living in the fantasy world of a self-created platform, where we portray only what we want people to see and believe. The nice, hard-working side, where a blogger tells the most creative and inspiring stories, without telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

My friend can spend up to five working hours a day, responding to emails and actively commenting and updating on her Social Media sites. So much so, that any real writing time is consumed and placed on the back burner.

We parted, resolving to do something about this time thief and so I have just deactivated some of the sites I have participated in. Allowing a weighty relief to wash over me.

I’m not saying Social Media is bad, as I believe it has tremendous benefits. However for me it has had me sitting at my desk, wondering what to Tweet, pondering over a book review or replying to various comments.  I have felt paralyzed in my creativity, feeling compelled to come up with the goods or become overwhelmed with a sense of guilt that I call myself a writer and am unable to write.

This Blog, is now the only avenue of Social Media that I will be participating in as Sandie’s Snippets. I have also reduced some of my personal links, believing this will restore a much more balanced lifestyle. I don’t want to go to bed feeling as though I’ve raced through another unproductive day, then stay awake wondering how to best schedule tomorrows activities.

More power to me and less focus on the ‘Social Media Time Thief’ I’m thinking.

Only time will tell.

© Sandie’s Snippets, 2013.

My New Writing Home

After weeks of building and renovating I have finally moved into my new work area. Tuesday it was clean, tidy and everything had a special spot to live. Wednesday I left some papers spread across the desk in my rush for writers group and was surrounded by; an empty mug, various sheets of paper that needed filing, my writing journal, a piece of homework that had been typed up, two used tissues, a dumped bag and a pair of sunnies that I’d lost the previous evening. All in all, I think I am now moved in and eager to get back to work. The kind that doesn’t involve laying bricks, painting or shifting furniture.

One of the more fun aspects of the move, was a space to create and hang an old door covered in a collection of Bric-a-Brac that has been hidden away and stored for many years; A horseshoe that was once fixed to the wall of  Pete’s Grandfathers farm in the UK. A door knocker given to us by an elderly aunt before we emigrated. Some family brass, inherited and previously neglected. A bunch of rusty old keys, which I can’t resist collecting. A paper mache bug of unknown identity, created by a grandchild, as well as a novelty Emergency Exit sign, requested by my hubby.

This vast space is amazing. Being surrounded by all our books is comforting and pictures already fixed to the walls is inspiring.

Now what was I going to write?

Blogging Derailment

WARNING

Holidays may cause you to experienced a blogging derailment.

It is no secret, that after returning from a wonderful holiday, it has been hard to discipline my writing life and keep up with my Blog. Even reading the stories and tales of the people I follow, has had to be squeezed into a time slot that has often been unattainable. So I am sitting at my desk, staring at the computer screen and wondering where this post may take me.

Yesterday it was going to be all about ‘Winning Wednesdays’. A reflection on how all my writerly friends, at the writers group I belong to, are so encouraging and supportive. A local poetry competition had us all putting pen to paper and fingers to the keyboard in order to make a submission before last Fridays deadline. We wrote, shared and helped edit each others work, before meeting the closing date (wow – seven of us submited a total of thirteen entries). Even before the winning entries are announce I believe we are all winners as there is no competitiveness amongst ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we win a prize or not, participation is the goal and we have been cheering each other on, seeing this as a victory for our productive little group.

On Monday, it was going to be ‘Birthday Cake and Candles’. Sharing with you all, the wonderful story of celebrating the 18th birthday of our grand-daughter. She was the first-born grandchild, holding a special place in my heart. Seeing her grow into a beautiful young woman has been a privilege and I am proud of her on so many levels. Finding the perfect gift needed several shopping expeditions, even though I knew it would have to be jewellery.

Last week it was going to be  ’A Renovation Review’. An update on the renovations taking place, turning our under croft garage into a study, library, office. Is it only me who arrives home from a holiday relaxed and rested with an idea that suddenly turns into demolishing property and building walls? It has been a long job, which has taken four times longer than expected and the cost is still escalating, as I’d like some new curtains, a big rug, two large comfy armchairs, not to mention some other unnecessary miscellaneous stationary items, that are of course a must have. I confess to being a secret stationary addict.

So today post, is a brief summary of what I have been doing in recent weeks. Something always has to give when it comes to fitting in another project and on this occasion, I’m sorry to say, it has been my Blog.

Catch you all again soon – Promise.

(c) Sandie’s Snippets 2013

Renovations

Settling back to life as I know it, after an extended holiday, has been a challenge. Not helped by a major renovation, turning our double garage into a new office, study, lounge area. As always, when it comes to renovations, my role tends to be one of  ‘Trades Assistant’, running around, fetching, finding, holding innate objects and fuelling the man in my life, with copious cups of coffee and meal time snacks.

I’m not grumbling. The new area is taking shape and after bricking up the gap left by removing a roller door (that was in interesting experience for the two of us, as it came crashing to the ground), rendering walls and a coat of paint, it is fast becoming something unique. Painting is not my favourite occupation, but has been placed in my arena, where I tend to wear as much paint as the walls. That is fine, until I go to the shops and discover all the splashes and splodges I missed in the shower as I go through the supermarket check out. Quite embarrassing fo me and the check out person, who just had to tell me that I had paint down my arm. Not sure who blushed the most.

Unlike the rest of our home, which is filled with treasured heirlooms, family photos and practical pieces of furniture, this has a modern, contemporary feel. Already I envision a couple of my own photos, mounted on canvases adorning the walls. My collection of books which are currently scattered around the house will have a place of honour, huddling together on shelves, creating their own work of art, enticing me to handle each one with the reverence they deserve.

There is an air of expectancy about me, the big move capturing my imagination and creating an excitement, not felt for some time. First though, I have light fittings, a rug and a couple of big old armchairs to find.

Let the shopping begin…….

© Sandie’s Snippets 2013