As most of you know, I have a true passion for writing that goes back to the times of the ox-wagons. I do believe I was blessed in my school days, as typing was a subject I chose. Truth to be told, the reason I chose typing, was as simple as the fact that it wasn’t a learning subject, so how easy would that be to ace an A. Ok, so whilst we on easy peasy acing an A subject choices, I also chose Art. And dear reader that didn’t work out too well, whilst I imagined myself drawing all through the lesson I never imagined the enormous book we would be handed – the subject: The history of Art. However, I do need to add at this point, I actually did better in the history part of art than I did the creative. Turned out I wasn’t really born a Picasso nor a Michelangelo. Anyhow back to the typing story….. I don’t recall ever really receiving an A but I do thank goodness for that early life choice, which to this day I use each and every day. Typing and my love of writing. My love of stories I definitely inherited from my mom and dad who to their dying day were 100% book worms. Always with a book, in my dad’s case, more than one book, easy within his reach. I recall writing my English essays at school, oh my word the poor English teacher would literally have to mark off the rest of her day as she read my essay. I totally lost myself in whatever the subject choice was. For me there was no such thing as word count. I recall the teacher being as enthralled, as I was with my “who dun nit”, the down side of that however was we were both quite confused as to who was who in the story, I remember her comment:”You have great potential however who was the killer in the end?”
Now, when I reflect back on my writing, I do recall an essay I got zero for. To this day I always seem to find the subject choice a bit of a challenge. With that particular essay I hear you asking yourself Why oh why (sigh, sigh) did she score so dismally? Because, I wrote, word for word, the script from the original “Jaws” movie, what was I thinking? As I say, I wrote scene for scene, no jokes. My story played out exactly as the movie had rolled on the big screen. I clearly must have believed I was the only one who would rush to the cinema to see the movie.
On the subject of marks and averages – I do need to confess at this stage, albeit I have completed a few writing courses and yes, acquired quite good marks – alas! The dear, dear old comma and me! We have an issue, I to this day after the courses and my schooling am still pretty confused as to when and when not to use the dear old comma. So dear reader …be warned! Throughout this blog I am so very sure there are going to be commas where there should not be, and commas missing where they should have been. Apologies in advance – what can I say …..comma comma chameleon ….. you either gonna see her or you won’tJ.
I recently found a letter I had written to my gran as a teenager. Yip! You read that correctly, as a teen I was writing and to my gran nogal. They say that writing is catharsis. And for me it is. It’s my happy place, the fact that I finish my writing with a sore, stiff neck is beside the point! When we first settled in Nelspruit, I cannot recall off hand but I am leaning towards I think it was each week, I would send a “newsletter” back home to all our (my) specials. Sharing with them all our adventures. Let’s face it Nelspruit (Mbombela) and her beautifully scenic surrounds really does have plenty to brag about. Albeit, with each frikken passing year, thanks to the state of the country (dare I start this conversation!) It has become rather a daunting expedition, as you either dodge the potholes, stones being lobed at your car, or tyres being burned. All depending on what the protestor’s subject choice on that given day that you innocently, (and excitedly) are exploring our wonderful region. Digressing now, so, as no doubt have you surely realised, I have an extreme passion for writing, and hence why this BLOG has been born.
I am quite confident, through these turbulent times of COVID and other unforeseen scenarios of this that we call Life, you and I will save ourselves heaps on therapy costs by you simply reading my blog and my tapping away on my keyboard. Time for me to post my first post. Here’s hoping you enjoy reading it as much as I totally, totally love writing and sharing. As I say….. Therapy perhaps??