Not So Purple Thoughts

Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.  Oxford Languages English Dictionary n.d.  Google's English dictionary  official website ,  viewed 17 July 2022,  nostalgia meaning - Google Search 'Mummy, why do grownups like nostalgia?' I smile at the thought that there is little for my child beyond now. 'We like to savour happy moments... I guess.' I had a moment of nostalgia a few weeks ago. I met with my friend from uni to go to a concert of a mega star we admired back then.  Mega star - a performer and a creator in one. *My own definition* When we were at uni, Alicia Keys released her first album "Songs in A Minor," and our shared flat was frequently filled with the sounds of "Fallin," "A Woman's Worth," "Girlfriend" etc.  Needless to say, we had high expectations for this concert. We hoped to be teleported back to our youth with the power of music. It was a slow burner. Very slow. To

It's Mother's Day where I am! And even though it's not Mother's Day where mum is, I want to celebrate her today. Two countries, two Mother's Days. What's not to like?! Agreed, any day is good to celebrate motherhood, but today the attention is on mums in more than one place in the world.  I wrote this piece in the early days of the pandemic with no intention of submitting or posting it. If I remember correctly, it was a Mother's Day  competition. The challenge was to write a poem about your mum consisting of 29 words exactly. Since I like a little brain task (even more so in pandemic times) an attempt at a poem was made. Here it goes:  My mum is a Sunday cake. Cake that comforts us all and fills us with love. With all her layers and flavours, a piece of cake she is not.  Happy Mother's Day! 

I aspire to share positivity through my writing. But it is hard to stay positive today when there is so much suffering in the world. A couple of days ago, I saw something unimaginable on the news. Something I wished never happened, and something I can never unsee. An 18-moths old boy was killed in a supposed "ceasefire" in front of his parents... I oppose media praying on people's tragedy and sensationalising it. Though I am forever disturbed by the horrific death of a boy whose name I will never know. In my own words: *** I cried so hard today,  Though my soul cried harder.  A lifeless body of a young child was carried to safety. Shrapnel piercing through his organs.  His little fingers covered in blood.  I had hope, but there was no hope.  The faces of his saviours said a thousand words... He was gone.  They covered him with his blanket. The one he used to cuddle to sleep.  His mum and dad still in disbelief.  I stopped crying eventually, Though my soul never will.  ***

What a weird feeling to be starting the weekend in the living room alone, with the rest of my family self-isolating upstairs... Much different from the usual chaos. Funny, we appreciate things more when they are taken away. Heh. I need to keep my spirits high between fighting off the invisible particles, being everything (a nurse, cook, cleaner, shopper...), and the puzzling news hitting me right in the face... Apparently cases are low?? And we will soon get rid of all the restrictions, including self-isolation. Ha? Why are we always too early to the party?? Travelled in the summer, had to obey every single rule and pay loads extra money for tests... travelled over Christmas, had to obey every single rule and had to pay loads of extra money for tests again... and now this isolation prison for the family.  Anyway, here is my recipe for how to stay sane when sitting on a ticking time-bomb of "do I have it," "when will I have it?" and looking after your loved ones.  *D

On my day off (if parents have these), I find myself scraping muddy football boots with a toothbrush. The layers are so thick I'm practically digging in the dirt. Bleh... This would be the perfect moment to handover to the husband and say, "Awww, you two are so alike, both live and breathe football..." Cleaning boots is part of the fun, right? Well... he's at work today and there is a game in the morning, hey ho...  Muddy boots misery over, time to unwind. Hot chocolate in hand, a splash of Baileys would do nicely. I'll have to save that one for later since I'm on childcare duty. Swirling glitter lantern on. Browsing Christmas movies. Boom! "To escape a scandal, a bestselling author journeys to Scotland, where she falls in love with a castle - and faces off with the grumpy duke who owns it." Sign me up! If only children didn't play football around the house. No, they are not allowed, especially with all the Christmas ornaments up. They still do i

Willingly or not and with various levels of anxiety, we are being propelled back to our "normal lives." As much as I welcome the long-lost freedom, I can't help but feel uneasy about it at the same time. Especially as the weather is slowly turning, and we are spending more and more time indoors.  We no longer have to self-isolate after coming into contact with COVID-positive people. Unless we test positive. We can continue to work, drop off children at school and activities, meet with friends and family. Unless we test positive. The question is, what if we take the test too early? We will carry on with our lives, infecting many others in the process. Only to test positive a day or two later. It just doesn't seem right. After eighteen months of drumming into us how deadly the virus is and how we must protect everyone, we are being told to get on with it. It is not an easy transition, considering the pandemic hasn't ended yet... Travelling through Europe in the summ