Yes, the 1980’s hit Funky Town is now stuck in my head after typing that title. Did someone say #earworm or #brainitch.
Moving along, believe it or not, I’ve never had an Advent calendar. Until now…
Yesterday Eliza and Nathan gifted me an entire Advent Town!
Just before the annual arrival of the Northerners to our little town last December, the municipality imposed water restrictions due to continuously lowering dam levels. For me, it isn’t such a serious thing, because I’m at work during the day and the most water I use is to shower daily Continue reading
I’ve read a few of JT Lawrence’s masterpieces: Two of her Sticky Fingers short story anthologies, her debut novel, The Memory of Water, some of her urban fantasy works, The Highfire Crown, The Sigma Surrogate, Why You were Taken, Grey Magic and her pregnancy-journey-memoir, The Underachieving Ovary. I’ve loved every one of them, for different reasons.
When I was younger, I would buy an array of magazines every month. That was before I moved into my The Cave and realized that adulting costs money and that magazines, while made of paper, are not the kind of paper that pays bills or buy a loaf of bread.
I did buy Woman and Home this month. Not because I am interested in bathing suits that would fit my pear-shaped, cross-between-an-hourglass-and-an-apple-shape, or the insert on Andrea McLean but because it contained a handbag-sized novel written by JTL.
I read it from cover to cover in just over four hours, so it would make for a great poolside-, or airplane read. An added bonus for me is that it is set in Johannesburg where I spent a portion of my life, making the story all the more real for me.
I do favour novels that read quickly like those of Jeffrey Deaver or James Patterson. JTL’s Jigsaw captured me immediately because of this. The short chapters build suspense in a staccato fashion and crescendo into a climax that has you wanting more. It’s not easy to avoid spoiler alerts, so all I’m going to say is if you have a penchant for serial killers such as Deaver’s Bone Collector, or Patterson’s Mastermind, then Jigsaw will not disappoint.
Rating 5 out of 5
For those of you that have just started following my blog, there are two people I often refer to as The Bean and The Toppie – these are my parents, the former being Mom and the latter being Dad.
The Bean often told me growing up that Yours Truly is as transparent as a pane of glass. Some days she’s wrong, because my condition has taught me how to be like the penguins of Madagascar. Most days the smile and wave approach to life works, but then there are days like yesterday where I’m visibly not my sparkling, rainbow-farting-unicorn self.
I went to my favourite restaurant in town after work to sit in what has become known as my table, which is in the cosiest of corners, intent on blogging. I read a few more chapters of my current novel, James Patterson’s 15th Affair instead. I had zero inspiration to write and I almost always have a real book with me. Failing that I have a selection of Kindle books on my phone, thanks to Charlie.
Some of the waitstaff who I’ve got to know over numerous cappuccinos and amazing meals came to ask if I was okay – not the standard implied question of are you satisfied with your meal and/or our service? One even sat next to me for what might have been thirty seconds and asked how my day was (because clearly something was amiss). They noticed me and that made a shitty’ish day a lot better.
The point that I’m trying to get across here, is that sometimes all that’s needed to life someone’s spirits is a kind word and a smile. What’s even better about this is that it costs nothing.
Thanks for reading this post 😊 Have a fantastic Friday!
So, I did what I said I was going to with my previous post and relaxed.
I had a decent lie-in until after nine, a lazy hot shower at ten and made a decision to go somewhere sunny. At first I thought of going to the local farmers’ market, but the idea of people put me off.
Armed with my phone (for photo taking purposes only – the data was off so nobody could bug me) I ventured down to the Riviera Hotel, close to my house where I spent some time in the sun, reading Humans, Bow Down by one of my favourite authors, James Patterson. For a long while I was the only soul there and it was bliss to hear the tranquil ripple of the pool and the river and the ocassional cheep of the wagtails.
Given that the meds I’m on are somewhat potent, the doctor warned against using alcohol with them, so I opted for a Lime ‘n Soda, because for all anyone else knows, it could have been a vodka 😉
I heard the seagulls squawking, but not overhead. Turns out, they were having a Mexican stand-off with a cormorant close by. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a seagull just sitting on the water like that.
The sun got hotter, as did the bergwind, so I moved into the shade, thinking to myself, “You should have brought your bathing costume.” How inviting doesn’t the pool look?
Hours passed before hunger struck. I went a little overboard, but when I saw prawns and steak, I knew I just had to order the surf and turf. It didn’t disappoint! I’ll definitely be having it again sometime, with a glass of wine!
Today though, is Monday, and not a regular one… it started with protest action 😦 Every one is on edge and yesterday’s R&R seems like a distant memory already 😦 The only way to rectify that, is to have another Me-Time Sunday, and soon!
The wheel is finally turning and it looks like things are looking up.
I got a call from the recruitment agency regarding the position I applied for with them a while back. I have a formal interview with the employer on Wednesday at 10:00. I am so glad because I really was beginning to lose hope. I also applied for another position at a well-know insurance brokerage which was advertised in our local rag on Friday and was called for a direct interview on Friday at 11:00. I am hoping for the one that I am interviewing for on Wednesday because it has to do with imports and exports, which is what I spent seven years studying through correspondence for, but I am keen to hear what the insurance company is willing to offer so that I may have some salary negotiation leverage.
Elizabeth, Liza, Rachel, Kyle, myself and two other friends went out dancing on Saturday night. Elizabeth’s brother, Patrick was supposed to join us, but he never pitched up, leaving all of us without a dance partner. Fortunately some lonely chap took pity on us and we at least had a few turns on the dance floor. My feet were a tad sore this morning, but well worth it. I haven’t been out of the house at all this entire week, because job hunting and applying for anything I might qualify for has been top priority. It was good to get out, but I didn’t tell my parents about our plans, because they may feel the little bit of cash I do have may have been better spent elsewhere.
Today was a quiet day at home. Elizabeth joined us for lunch, but the poor woman is all bunged up with the onset of a cold that she ended up napping on the couch. While she was napping on the couch I did something constructive and baked some biscuits, but before you all burst into deafening applause, the biscuit mix is ready made, i.e. out of a B-O-X.
I don’t mind baking a cake from scratch, but past experience has taught me that biscuits are not something I am ready to attempt quite just yet. Anyhow, my “unreal” biscuit didn’t come out too badly, so this is a step in the right direction.
The first batch was Ina Paarman’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, and boy – they a choc-a-block with those chocolate chips.
The second batch were Madagascan Vanilla Biscuits from Woolies. They are lovely with a cuppa tea or a glass of milk because they are not sweet biscuits.
My hand was a bit heavy on the icing sugar, but they still taste good.
Dad called Mom and I onto the balcony about an hour ago to look at the sunset. My camera didn’t do the beauty of the blazing ball of fire in the sky justice, but at least I got a pic.
My folks are going to watch the eight o’ clock movie on M-Net tonight, so I will be curled up in my bed with another James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club novel, 8th Confession. I don’t know why, but I seem to be reading the series backwards…
…but then again, as my blog tagline says, “I’m the Piece of the Puzzle that doesn’t quite fit…”
Reflections of a Misfit 