Non fiction writing
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A different world and our changed lives
Netflix
I’m sat here again watching Netflix, Designated Survivor. Kiefer Sutherland makes a very good President. I remember him in Flatliners, a very different role. I’m glad that despite the terrible time right now I can escape into the world of Netflix.
Life right now is a world away from a year ago. Many people seem to have continued life as normal, following restrictions but still happy to attend gyms and restaurants. My husband was asked to shield in March, so from then on we stayed at home, until shielding was paused in August. I’m lucky that we all get on, but now in October I fear going any-where. The children are happy being back at school, but I’m scared in the supermarket and seeing friends.
A different world
The world is very different to the world back in February / March when I last freely walked about. A week ago, I had to go to the post office and despite wearing my mask I got told off because it is a maximum of two people in at a time. It hadn’t occurred to me that there would be such a restriction. My anxiety rose when I noticed that a customer near me was not wearing her mask properly.
There seems to be a divide between those that were shielded and remained at home and those that went about their daily lives. It’s been hard for all, but right now I’m worried and desperate for my husband to be shielded again. He’s happy at work but the figures are rising. Can we really trust track and trace? And was the government really advised to lockdown for three weeks? And yes I’m aware our economy and jobs are a huge factor with locking down. How bad is this situation going to get before there is a safe vaccine being distributed?
This year has not been the one anyone expected. It has been hard and stressful, I’ve struggled with my writing and reading, and Netflix seems to have taken over my evenings. It has brought more time with my children and husband, but we shut ourselves away for months. At the end of July, we found out that my dad is terminally ill. A young man and healthy and now in October he’s weak and frail. Point is none of us know how long we have left. My poor dad is scared and not ready, he’s had all his future plans swept away from him and COVID-19 has made this all so much worse.
The children
Both the children enjoyed being at home for months, but where my son worked hard my daughter did very little. They are happy being back at school, happy seeing their friends and both working hard. The school has a one-way system with arrows and class bubbles. However, surely with siblings the bubbles are mixing. I really hope that for the sake of the children that the risk is low, but I read of so many worried teachers, especially those that were shielding, the fear is real.
My achievements this year
I have continued writing and have been productive, (please note that anything purchased through my blog will earn me commission which will help to pay for my blogs).
I am a contributing author to the following:
MJ Mallon’s – This is Lockdown.
Living during the Coronavirus Pandemic – my reflective piece set next year on COVID 19, helping to raise money for NHS Charities Together.
Dimensions of Paranormal volume one – Anthology for Writers Unite
Dimensions of Paranormal volume two
I’m still writing my western story for the Writers Unite Western anthology. I’ve felt rejection this year but its nice to be part of the books that I have been included in. I’ve got no further with my time travel novel. My confidence in it has taken a dive but I do need to finish my first draft properly, and then it needs a full rewrite.
I have developed the monthly stories on my blog but haven’t kept up with publishing at marianwood.com. Two blogs and my newsletter are too much to keep up with at the moment.
Today
From previous posts you will know that my children are not easy. My seven-year-old is now happy to walk on tables and is a master with the hot glue. She loves creating and today climbed and found some red nail varnish. The consequence was a heart drawn on her bed sheet, red finger-nails, varnish on my bedroom rug and a care bear. I’m proud of her being so creative but it comes with a stressful price.
My son is content staring at a screen. Nothing broken but it’s not healthy either and the arguments on reading carry on.
Now we are living a day at a time, things could look very different a week from now. I can’t imagine a world with my dad not in it, but I think I’m soon going to find out.
So, how is life with you? Have you been writing? And how has COVID 19 affected you?
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My trip to Miami and the Everglades
Written in response to Laci’s blog – mcgeetraveltales.com – Travel moment contest
It is very hard for me to define a favourite travel moment, especially to limit it to 200 words only.
In 2006 we went to Orlando, Florida. Whilst there we went on a coach trip to Miami and the Everglades. We will never forget this trip as it was really amazing!
From the palm trees to the swimming pool to Randy the bar man, who I’m not going to picture here but I do have his photograph.
The Everglades and the crocodiles, really were fantastic!
We also took the boat for a tour around the marina and saw the celebrities houses. I also held a snake but again could not upload the photo due to the man pictured behind me.
Also of course we visited the hard rock café and we still have the Hurricane glasses.
Taking the coach to Miami and the Everglades really made our Florida trip memorable.
As an adult the experience of holding a baby crocodile was so much better then meeting Mickey Mouse. This could be defined as my favourite travel moment but the whole trip was fantastic!
For more see, Visit to Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Yorkshire -26th October 2017
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Love is hard
I sat in shock, what had he just said? We had been together for two years, he knew my hopes and dreams, my needs and my wants. He also knew that I would do almost anything for him. However, there are times when love is not enough, and some things will break you. Did you ever dream of what your life would look like when you are a grown up? Dreamed of your wedding? Horses and carts? Cathedral, church or registry office? White dress, cream or Ivory? Then kids or no kids? Career or stay at home mum, which could be argued to also be a career.
The times we had sat talking, discussed where we would live, I had even considered renting out my flat so I could be with him. Making the break was a painful one but also the right one. I had always imagined that I would have children, I wanted them more than anything. If I could not have had them naturally, I knew I would adopt. I needed to be with someone who had the same aspirations. Finding out that all he wanted was his career, he didn’t want children as they would just get in the way of his work. This news hit me hard, why had he not told me this before? Before I had fallen in love with him.
In my life, I think maybe I have felt love three times. They say that love hurts, well yes it does. Love involves a lot of work, but it needs to be worked at from both sides. I’ve been left broken hearted twice, I am grateful that I did the leaving both times, but it still really hurt. The feeling that a part of you is missing. Wanting to see that other person and wondering if you have done the right thing by ending it. The phone calls to go back to maybe reignite the relationship, then resisting the urge to listen and go back, to then be hurt further.
You know in your gut when something is over, you know when there is no going back. Life can be very hard and sometimes you may feel you are being tortured especially when you are left broken hearted. The fear that no one else will love you, the thought that you will grow old alone.
I believe there is someone for everyone, it is just finding the right man or woman for you. We are all learning as we go along. I’m sure my ex did not really see the break up coming in the way it did. Neither did I, it was sudden. I wanted children and he didn’t, there was no going back, the words had been said. There was no point in chasing a dream when we wanted different things. I am not sure if he is a dad now, good luck to him now if he is, but it obviously was not meant to be for us as I now have a husband that I love very much and two lovely children.
So how do you find Mr or Miss Right? Well, this is a difficult one. I met my first through a church youth group when I was just 15. Ending the relationship ten years later was a difficult one, we grew apart, but I still think of him as a friend. The second I met online and my now husband I also met through the internet. I fell for someone at work but that did not go anywhere.
Finding someone who loves you for you, who will accept your bad habits as well as your good. Who will support you through the good and bad times. A person who will not give up on you, this is love and it is hard work. Working together to raise children also adds more stress and pressure. It is no longer just the two of you, you now have another life who is wholly dependent on you. One advantage of the internet is you can get to know that person before you meet them. You already know important things like if they want children before you sit down and eat dinner together. When I met my husband, we had already discussed our dreams and family. We knew that we were headed in the same direction.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Children bring about a different love. I feel very proud when my husband is sat cuddled up with them. They both adore daddy, I sometimes feel more than mummy, but as my husband has often said, “daddy means fun and mummy means business”. I think he is right, it is often me that says no to things where daddy gives in. Right now, he is sat with the kids watching television. They are happily playing on the iPad and iPod. If daddy was at work today, I would not be typing this. They would not be playing on their gadgets. We might be sat under a duvet watching a film on Netflix or trying to do something constructive together. However, I am grateful that I can be sat here typing whilst daddy is looking after them.
Photo by J carter on Pexels.com It is all give and take, love must be worked at. Relationships and marriage are hard work and if one gives up it makes it harder for the other. I met a couple a few days ago in their 80s. They had been together since they were 15 and they will still finish each other sentences. I am sure they have not always had it easy. I am sure their relationship has been tested many times, but all I could say was “Wow”, they had been together over 65 years.
Being left broken hearted felt like the hardest thing in the world both times, but I learnt from both experiences. I believe there is a reason for everything that happens to us, we just don’t know why at the time. When you do meet that special someone though, remember to reciprocate and work together. Life can be hard, children will make it even harder, keep working at it together and if it is meant to me it will be. Look after and support each other, there is no greater love than the love of your children and the love you feel for your life partner.
For the Blog Battle word prompt for December 2018 – Heart
See also, written for blog battle – educate,
https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2018/11/13/a-fork-in-the-road/ Share this:
