How often do we read a book because someone suggested it or you liked the cover, I have to admit I often read simply to say ‘I’ve read that one…’ but once in a while along comes a study in human nature that sweeps you off your feet, blows gusts of wind under your sails of imagination and takes you on a journey that not only satisfies your curiosity and excitement but teaches you about life in a manner that’s easy to understand yet near impossible to comprehend. ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ IS that book and I feel enriched for reading it.
I was hooked from the onset. The opening pages although written about an alien culture, drew me in, engaging me with the characters so much so that I could feel the heat under my bare feet as I sat in the blistering sun and watched life unfold for heroine Miriam. I missed a breath at her tragedy, at her determination, at her rejection and finally at her accepted existence. But what was extremely enlightening about this book was the plight of the Afghans and why our troops ended up in a foreign land fighting a battle for foreign soil, a case of their land today – our land tomorrow?
It is also a tale of contrasts, 2 young girls from opposing backgrounds yet they end up in direct conflict with one another before finally forging a bond that exceeds any that you or I may ever encounter. The story is beautiful, it is powerful, it is emotionally heartbreaking – in Afghanistan, it’s very real.
Like every mother of a serviceman I quake inside at the thought he may have to go there, he has been to the Middle East before so I am friendly with the fear. Miriam and the other characters in this story are not as fortunate with the word ‘choice’ – they are captives of their own ruling bodies and openly punished for the slightest step out of line, I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading about the 21st century for I kept slipping into thought that it must be decades past before the world caught up with equality and political correctness.
Read this book if you can, it’s something a little special.
Life has been rather hectic this week, not a lot of time to write but just as much to read – well, you need a break now and then. If only I’d get a little electric shock when I’d gone past my limit!
Nina’s Book / Inchmark
Maybe it’s my age that I find posts reminiscing about the past so delightful. I love the way that people still care about their families when so many are disjointed. I love the way that families can recall such happy times when so many people’s childhoods were cold and fragmented. Here is such a wonderful appreciation of a great grandmother, her family were so fortunate to have.
(Mildly Creative Newsletter) Let Go And Get A Hold Of Yourself / Ken Robert / Sometimes I think this guy just writes for me. He seems to know exactly how I’m feeling – or maybe everyone feels like me all of the time! Whatever it is, he is a great support and mentor, a wonderful writer and communicator. His posts never disappoint but always encourage.
My Coconut Boy / Rose Creek Cottage
Another sad demise of a beloved pet but I make no apology. I vowed when my last dog died that that would be the end of the heartbreak but barely two weeks later I had my poppy. It’s the mothering instinct in us that compels us to love these little beings and their loss is crushing. I dare you to read this post and not be overwhelmed.
Blast From The Past / Moments of Perfect Clarity
I so identified with this post, the rawness of adolescence, the awkwardness and lack of being. I’m with her, leave all those feelings where they belong.
Bad Hair Day / Robins Nesting Place
I’m fanatical about the wildlife in my garden and this lady has such an affinity with her surroundings that it’s a fascinating experience to sit in her garden for a while.
Accelerate Your Blog With Mind Mapping / Nicholas Cardot
Nicholas Cardot is a rich seam of information and inspiration when it comes to improving your blogging experience. When the mind is buzzing, post ideas grow like termite hills – when you get stuck it’s like pulling a train on a rope using your teeth. This blog will renew your enthusiasm.
Yesterday our walking club had it’s Annual General Meeting and of course the subject of fundraising came up. We do a variety of things to raise money to keep our bus going including delivering magazines door to door – a great pursuit for a walker!
We help pack shopping at the local supermarket and in the summer visit car boot sales with items donated from friends and family.
This year I suggested doing a cookery book and selling advertising space to local businesses to cover the printing cost which means all proceeds are then profit.
Whilst browsing the web for a printer I found this great site BLURB.COM which is available both here in the UK and overseas, they do make it look easy.
You can download their software or simply use Adobe’s PDF. I’m practically finished my own cookbook so I may kill two birds with one stone. Cookery book aside I think it’s a great way to publish a small family history or perhaps your poetry, wouldn’t it be nice to give as a birthday present for example.
Now I’m off to look for a pair of walkie talkie radios so our group can remain safe during our forest walks. Too often we splinter and spend time looking for one another so this may do the trick!
A nice little quiz that I felt depicted me very accurately.
Your Word is “PEACE”
You see life as precious, and you wish everyone was safe, happy,and taken care of.
Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to you.
While you can’t stop war, you try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in your everyday life.
You promote harmony and cooperation. You’re always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.
I love to surf through the many tremendous blogs that I’m lucky enough to know – and those I’m fortunate to find.
I sometimes feel so inadequate just leaving a comment so I’ve decide to pay credit to exceptional posts I find by making them one of my seven Posts of the Week.
Drop by each Sunday when you may have a little more time and see if you agree with my choices.There are no categories and no order, they’re just posts that have inspired me, touched me or made me smile.
Whispers From the Woods / Keepsakes This was a very touching post. So often we’re rushing ahead when we can draw a lot of comfort and inspiration from the past.
I went walking yesterday, first time this year and I was so eager I was way in front with my delightful friend Mary as a companion. One of the reasons I love to walk in a group is that we all spurt ahead or fall back into the company of one another and start an entirely different conversation. One riveting talk I had was with Keith whose son has traced their ancestry back to 609 – isn’t that incredible! Sometimes I realise just what a minute atom we are in the grand scheme of things but we still manage to make a major contribution to how the world turns.
After our trek along the seashore we went to a local hotel and had our ‘Burn’s Lunch’. To be in the company of a couple of dozen wonderful, enthusiastic, kindly, amusing and entertaining people goes beyond words.
Barbara gave a toast to the men of the group in our native dialect as did Willie with his toast to the ladies. Greta read Robert Burns’ last letter to his wife, then Archie said grace. We then tucked into a super 3 course meal which included Cock a’ Leekie soup, the infamous haggis followed by fruit dumpling with brandy custard. To round off the celebration of our national bard we enjoyed a great old singalong of old Scottish favourites.
Last night I decided to watch a film and plumped for ‘Julia / Julie’ – the parallel tale of two aspiring cooks, one very famous and the other who achieved fame through writing her culinary trials in a blog. At first I wasn’t too impressed because I’m not a lover of scripts which hop back and forth but after about 15 mins the storyline grabbed me and the time passed so quickly, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I won’t spoil it for you except to say I thought Meryl Streep gave a rather sympathetic portrayal of the rather awkward Julia, but it was entertaining, and Amy Adams was totally convincing as the young woman blogging her heart out. If you’re looking for something light to spend a relaxing evening I’d highly recommend it.
I’m lucky in that I’m an organised cook, I plan the weeks menu, make a shopping list and then prepare meals the night before so that I’m not too hassled during the day, for working at home means you spot any little chore that needs done and breaking off that chain of creative thought to answer the door or the phone. If the house is tidy, my paperwork is up to date (I always do things by return – it saves so much grief when you have a poor memory) – and I know what’s for tea then I’m a step away from heaven.
I worked out a recipe system that suits me. I write down a balance of meat, poultry and fish for 2 days each (I don’t cook Saturdays) and weave in my favourite dishes around them. It works well because I have quite a lot of favourites so we could eat for six weeks and never have the same thing twice.
We love fresh vegetables so that is a blessing and the soups you can now make taste incredible especially if they’re made quickly like the steaming method I like to use, they retain all their nutrients and taste fabulous.
Please don’t think I’m painting a picture perfect of myself far from it, my oven has been broken since after christmas so I’m having to use the small halogen oven which is limited and a grill which is over zealous and unforgiving if you get distracted. If I have to wait any longer for ‘a part’ – I may combust. Still, it’s only when these things happen that we can test ourselves and take a peek outside the comfort zone. During the wait I’ve seized the opportunity to eat from the over stuffed freezer and we’re doing very well – as long as I remember just how long I need for the dish to thaw!
Next week we celebrate our national poet Robert Burns and the Walking group are having a haggis lunch in his honour. I’ll be forgoing that particular delicacy and choosing the alternative as that is a little bit out of even my comfort zone.
This made me consider what I’d have to eat for my last meal – so this would be it.
Have you ever experienced having a problem and someone will say something that switches a light on in your head and your mind suddenly becomes clear? It happens quite a lot for me maybe because I believe that there is always someone looking out for us guiding us to those who can give us answers.
Just before Christmas I went into town to do some last minute shopping. I was going to a party that night and although I’d bought a sparkly new dress I wasn’t comfortable with one or two curves that were in the wrong places. My last port of call was a lovely little fabric shop tucked off the High Street. The owner, a french woman incredibly kind and attentive to her customers was smiling as usual and we struck up quite a conversation about patterns etc. Just before leaving, quite out of the blue I asked her if she knew where I could buy a foundation garment.
Suddenly she became very serious, clasped her her hands together and leant across the counter like a barrister questioning a witness…’And why do you weesh to buy such a garment?’ she quizzed – I told her my story and how I wanted to look sleek.
‘Now leesen ‘ere my dear, she commanded in her thick yet very clear accent,
Where do you theenk ze fat is going to go? It as to go somewhere non?’
Do you really want to truss yourself up like a poulé and be uncomfortable for hours? Be yourself - love who you are and the shape you are, it is you!
I have girls in here all the time being measured for clothes she added, little skinny girls who whine ‘I’m so fat, look at me I’m like a pig. I smile and say nothing but I’d like to shake them and tell them to behave themselves!’
Tonight when you go to get ready – look in the mirror, put on your makeup and do your ‘air – then on no account look in zat mirror again I forbid it! Put your dress on and walk out that door with your head up – go and enjoy every moment of your night out!
She was right of course why did I want to be miserable and unable to breathe when I really could ‘hang loose’ and have fun. I did exactly as she told me and incredible but true I never thought once about my curves, I was laughing too hard and tucking into delicious food without a care for the calories.
So now I’m working on being myself and hope people like the real ‘me’ – warts and all.
Over on my other blog A Little Precious Jewellery I’ve welcomed the brand new year by committing to do four new projects in the next four weeks.
Here I’m being just as ambitious with my dedication to knuckle under and get things done so I’m committing myself to writing an e-book before the month is out. (meet you here 3 seconds before midnight on the 31st!)
The prospect tickled me right away because I have always entertained the idea, started many and then lost interest however the challenge is in the time factor so takes on a whole new meaning.
I have no clue at this moment what I shall write about but I have grabbed the kitchen timer so that I can acurately account for each moment just to test her theory.
Step No.2 reads…‘Tell your readers that you’ll be bringing out a free ebook in a week or two weeks’ time. It’s amazing how a deadline – and public accountability – can motivate you!’
So here I am on the verge of making myself look foolish if I don’t produce the goods – yet quietly confident that this time I’ll cross that final hurdle – you have been warned!
A warm welcome to my blog. As a jewellery maker I know that beads and gemstones make us feel exquisitely beautiful and more appealing but as a writer there's no doubt that laughter and happiness, kindness and caring, inspiring and sharing are all equally resplendent jewels of our multi-faceted personalities. Life is about choice, choose to shine and sparkle on a daily basis.
Take care - Jennifer x
How often do we read a book because someone suggested it or you liked the cover, I have to admit I often read simply to say ‘I’ve read that one…’ but once in a while along comes a study in human nature that sweeps you off your feet, blows gusts of wind under your sails of imagination and takes you on a journey that not only satisfies your curiosity and excitement but teaches you about life in a manner that’s easy to understand yet near impossible to comprehend. ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ IS that book and I feel enriched for reading it. 
