The little things that count...

I was recently cutting a gem squash - something I usually take a little care with after many years ago working with a woman who cut her thumb off cutting a gem squash!! I usually get a good grip, stick the tip of the knife in slowly cut around. I was about to mention this woman' freak accident to a friend who was in the kitchen with me, when my knife slipped and slipped back up again and instead stuck the sharp piece of the knife into the palm of my left hand.  Not pleasant, but no major injury - just one of those kitchen injuries that stings for the next few days. Inspecting the site of the "scratch" (that's all it looked like - a deep scratch), I  noticed another scar which I gained a few years back.  I was cutting an avocado and trying to get the pip out.  I must've been daydreaming for a moment - I mean who tries to remove the pip while holding the avo in the other hand - with a sharp knife!? The knife slipped on the slippery avo pip, went through the av

It often is those little things that count.  A little while back we were experiencing day after day of rain.  Much needed rain after the dry spell we'd had, but rain does sometimes start getting you down. I was sitting at my desk at work and one of our supplier's drivers arrived with brochures. He walked in with a huge smile on his face: something you wouldn't expect from somebody who's job involves driving and currently doing it in the rain where many an idiot likes to play the fool. "I bring with me, blessings.  Blessings of the Earth" His words to me flipped my day and turned a dreary outlook into a sunny one. One seemingly insignificant person who sees the good in things made a difference to my day, and most likely many others along his travels.  It doesn't take much to bring a smile to another's face - a smile, a cheerful hello, a motivational note in your loved one's lunch box, or a lollipop on a co-worker's desk... the little

Driving in the rain a few mornings back, the car windows started misting up.  I pressed a few buttons in the car, and it was smooth sailing again.  One button was the front winder de-mister, another for the back. Another button to wind down the passenger window and another for air.  One click of the wiper switch (up) for front wipers and another click forward for the back wiper.  It made me think about times have changed - rather quickly if you think about it.  When I was younger, if the car misted up, mom had to wipe the window with a tissue she dug from her bag and we were all told to wind our windows down (sometimes a few times during the drive).  Everything was manual back then - and back then was only the 1980's. Dad would do all the driving for family trips - whether to the shops or on a long trip. Mom only drove during the week - taking us 3 girls to school (on second thought, Dad used to take us to school), fetching us after school and any extra lessons (or other a

Receptionists must be (unknown to me) the biggest liars around... I have been a receptionist for the past 4 years for the same company. People never believe me.  Recently our phone lines were out.  People were walking in and telling me they've been phoning all morning "yes unfortunately our phone lines are out.  Went out with the big storm yesterday" the words fall on deaf ears.  No, it rings and rings and then just cuts off. "Yes, because the lines are out of order" (deep breath, big smile) Consultant J walks out to greet them as asks if they've been waiting long. "No, but I've been trying to phone all morning, and there's been no answer" "Oh" says consultant J "our phones lines are out of order.  Hit by lightning in the storm of yesterday" "Oh dear, that's why" says customer. Inside I'm yelling "I TOLD YOU THAT!!!" but keep a smile and carry on working... Another one I often encount

...or as I was going to call the post - The Dog Box. Mornings are starting to get a little darker.  I dislike coming to the realization that winter is in fact coming.  I woke up this morning really not in the mood for the day, but knowing I don't have a choice, I got up and got ready.  I need to leave 6:12am - by 6:15 latest to get Kayden to his bus on time. Start the car.  The car gives me a new message today "STOP".  That can't be good... "Check coolant" it tells me.  "What the heck is coolant?".  Anyway, I run back inside, grab my purse and run back out.  Head to the bus stop - which happens to be at a garage (filling station). While waiting for bus, I noticed the "picture" on the error message was the same as the oil. Hmm, that might explain the burning smell I've been smelling in the car.  Sorted - the oil was indeed empty. Thank goodness I have a car that tells me these things...  Paid the attendant and headed back home for

Part of my morning routine these days consists of walking Damian to school.. The reason we walk is because his school is less than 300 metres from the house. Only problem is my dog, Bella.  Bella is 10 years old... She has a little problem with people going for a walk without her.  She finds a way to get out of our yard and follow us.  The very first day I walked Damian, I found her running around sniffing the ground trying to follow me.  We live on a corner stand between 2 extremely busy roads.  From that day on I decided she would have to come with.  Along with Koda, our "Africanis" puppy - now 6 months old (we're not really sure what breed he is mixed with but we've been offered many suggestions - the top few being Labrador, Great Dane, Weimeraner and Boerbull).

As someone who would like to consider herself a writer, I find - more often than not - when it comes to putting pen to paper (or these days fingers to keyboard), I either can't find a thing to write about...Or, I can't put into words what I want to say (I honestly can't find the right words - sometimes the most basic of English words - a language I have spoken my entire life)... Or I just don't feel like writing . I should start listening to people around me... I'm generally a good listener, but I tend to switch off when stories start sounding too bizarre.  But I reckon it would be worth my while to listen to their crap drivel. It would give me great inspiration in my writing. What astounds me is the way these people are so confident in spewing these words out, that many people find themselves believing them.  Which is probably the greatest form of encouragment to these Elaborators. The more people believe, the more they believe their own stories... which means t