iWrite

OK here’s the thing.  Lots of people say that blogging isn’t really writing.  I disagree, but then I’m fairly new to all of this.  It all comes down to how you view things.  Before I started blogging the only thing I really wrote was poetry.  Poetry was my thing and I can still rattle one-off at the drop of a hat – I’m not saying it’s any good mind, but boy can I get things to rhyme.  Anyhow I’ve been thinking….. In the summer last year I bravely took my first creative writing class.  It was very, very scary and I felt incredibly brave.  The class was taken by a teacher who taught me in Glasgow when I was 15.  So years later I found my life full circle back in his writing class.  This time though I was a fully fledged adult but inside I was still a petrified 15-year-old wondering whether or not I would be able to deliver the goods.

The thing is though even though it was scary to sit in that group, put pen to paper and THEN have to read you work out to EVERYONE I really enjoyed it.  I also discovered that when I’m put in that kind of situation I am surprised with what I come up with.  I also marvelled at what everyone else came up with.  It was just a joy.

Of late I’ve realised that I really miss my creative writing class.  Unfortunately I was unable to sign up for the next round of classes because it was just too much with my studies.  But I miss it.

Lately, as I’ve been walking to work my mind has been prompting me to write – to be creative. Now there are a few bloggers who read my posts who are also writers.  Actually you’re all writers because you blog – there I’ve said it – enough of this snobbery.  However there are some bloggers who read my posts who have gone the extra mile.  Carridwen and her fabby cauldron is a one woman literary powerhouse, Lorna with her laugh out loud tales is inches away from being published and Lynda kindly invites me to her book launches.  Can you believe I have a friend whose book I can download on a Kindle.  If I had a Kindle that is.  But how cool is that!

So, this writing lark.  Ok I’ll be honest.  I don’t know if I’m any good.  What I do know is that back in my writing class where you had feel the fear and write like hell the bottom line was you’ll never know if you don’t dip your toe in the water.  I’ve decided to hatch a plan……..

If I can’t sign up to attend a creative writing class how about having a virtual one.  My plan is once a week write a post with a wee thing I’ve written.  Rather than being here on my own some in this virtual creative writing I thought a few of you might sign up to it.  It being my ‘Something for the Weekend’.  It can be a story, a poem whatever really all you have to do is post what you’ve written on Saturday.  I’m up for trying it for four Saturdays. What do you think?  Are you up for it?

I’m going to give it a go.  I might not be the next JK Rowling but hell a gal’s got to start somewhere.

Tulips, Chocolate Hobnobs and the lovely Wee Car

I had to step up to the mark as a mum this weekend.  Sometimes our kids need us in ways that we don’t expect that they will.  I am that Mum without a manual and so at times we need to dig deep and find the answers within.  Maybe we’re all writing our own manual and when a new chapter opens up we have to gather our thoughts and with our big hearts look for the words that are going to be part of the solution.  Instinctively I know that when our kids are going through the rapids of life there is no point in pretending that everything is ok.  It is far better to acknowledge the swirling scary water and help them put their life jacket on as they weather their storm.  So that’s what I’m going to do and I know that this is made possible because someone is holding a life jacket out for me too. (Thank you husband ).

Pulling together is what gets us through the bumpy bits of life.  Take Friday for example.  My buddy at work was diagnosed with cancer and it blew me away.  I felt as flat as the tulips on my desk.Later that night my husband got a call from our pal Billy.  ”There’s something at the door for you”, instructed Billy.  There at the front door was a bunch of tulips and a packet of chocolate Hobnobs.  Billy had read my blog and then headed out to the shops for this lovely pick-me up.  How nice was that!

Today when I went into the office I was surprised to see my buddy there.  He gave me a big hug and said he was doing ok.  Despite his prognosis being poor he has decided to keep life as normal as possible, for as long as possible and to enjoy the time he has with his family and friends.  His attitude does not surprise me – he is one of life’s good guys and although things are emotional he is a very grounded man.  I have so much respect for his attitude – we can learn much from people like this in our lives and I know that I am blessed to have friends like this.

So with all that life presents us with to deal with or think about it also provides us with just the right amount of pick me ups to keep us focussed.  When we think things are going to be a problem or not work out they often do.

Take Sunday for example.  My husband has this wee car that has been garaged at a friend’s house.  As it turned out the car had to be moved as our friend needed the garage.  My husband asked if I could come with him so that I could drive his car to tow the wee car back to our house.  Yep, that’s what I said – ME TOW A CAR!

Now I wouldn’t say I was accident prone but the thought of me towing a car across town just seemed like a bit of a step too far.  That said however I am also the kind of gal who steps up to the mark, so off we went.

We pushed the wee car out of the garage.  I had forgotten how lovely she is and we laughed about the fact that this little car, which my husband lovingly restored himself is older than me, his wife.  It seems that the wee car and I have something in common – she also steps up to the mark when required.  Not only did the wee car start, but my husband drove her home.

Driving behind my husband in the wee car it was lovely to see kids waving at him as she trundled along the road.  Folk stopped to look at her – the wee car has this amazing capacity to make folk smile. So I might be that Mum without a manual but I am also reminded that this life is full of surprises and as a mum we always have the capacity to make our kids smile – even in the rapids. I’m off now to have a chocolate Hobnob and admire my tulips