Category: Just writing

Just writing

The Bad Apple

nhpureandsimple

What villain actually had a good point?

Why do you think there is a villain in almost every story?

Because without one, the story would not only be boring, but also unrealistic.

There is a bad apple everywhere in life, and real life is such a big story.

So…this person who stirs problems, spread lies, wounds others, behaves this way mainly for their own benefit.

After all the hard efforts and plights the villain weaves and plots, they gain no real prize, only a bloated self-satisfaction. 

They could do far worse things, of course, but let’s stop at this level.

Do you think a villain has any good point?

A good point for being mean, sneaky, and evil!

Perhaps this good point is possible in fiction, where the writer is the sole weaver of the character. In fiction, the only “good point” a villain can offer is a memorable warning sign — a danger zone marked with a quiet Please Be Careful note.

In real life, things are different. The villain chooses to be a villain, chooses the path of Abel, Scar, and… Voldemort.

There is no good point they can have, or pretend to have.

Is there any good point left after choosing to be the bad apple?

With villains-and-life-thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

We’ll Always be Friends

nhpureandsimple

What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?

Friendship will last forever.

Yes, this is how I, and perhaps you too, used to believe in this promise when we were children.

We promised we would go to the same school, to the same university, and that our children would one day be friends just like us.

But these pure and simple childhood dreams didn’t always come true.

Your childhood best friends changed schools, moved abroad, or just disappeared.

And this holy promise of “we’ll always be friends” vanished into thin air.

And the blow repeated itself over the years

Because this is life; unexpected and always changing.

So instead of crying over the holy promise, you learn to move on. 

Day after day, you realise how that the old holy promise wasn’t only ridiculous but it was also so naive. 

But you can’t blame your childhood self.

And don’t laugh at its innocence.

What could be better in life than those simple, pure children?

Their holy pinky promise was honest,

but their little minds could never have imagined how the big world would change everything, friendship included and perhaps on the top of the list.

With kids-promise-of- friendship-thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Old, Famous Slogan 

nhpureandsimple

If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?

I’ve just come across an old slogan in my reading book.

By the way, I am reading two at the moment: one fiction and one non- fiction. 

And my reading rhythm is going at a turtle’s  pace. 

Hopefully, I’ll finish at least one by the end of this month.

Oh my… it’s already the 26th.

And it’s so hot today.

So I’ve been thinking… perhaps instead of changing the ending of a book, we can change one of its quotes, can’t we? 

Now, that famous slogan I came across was actually an advertising catchphrase for an old brand of men’s hair crème.

I’m not sure if the brand still exists.

But of course, my reading book has a totally different content, about a totally different subject.

I was really drawn to that quote because I believe such a casual, simple phrase can carry blossoms of wisdom. So, I decided to change it.

Now here’s the quote:

“A little dab’ll do ya.”

The advert was offering a piece of advice for healthy, shiny hair.

But in a flash of light, my brain saw something broader.

And then I turned the old slogan into this brief piece : 

A little of everything will be sufficient.

Don’t overthink.

Don’t overreact.

And definitely don’t overeat.

This way,

your mind,

your feelings,

and your body

will always be at peace. 

I don’t think my version suits any hair crème advert, but it certainly suits your wellbeing in general.

With a little-will-do-thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Longest Day of the Year

nhpureandsimple

Well… that was yesterday.

Honestly, I didn’t really notice the difference nor did I try to register the moment.

Over the last few days, the day wasn’t only long, it was also hot; too hot to care about the addition of a few more minutes.

The Uk sun has no equivalent, even the Egyptian sun would shy away before it. 

Really, this English sun goes straight into your eyes, and you can’t escape it.

It feels so close, like your shadow following you everywhere.

And these days, it likes to linger until ten pm.

This cheeky yellow-orange sun hangs in the sky and smiles at you as if to say, it’s still too early to go to bed.

‘But it’s almost ten,’ you moan, wanting so much to push it down.

Instead, you yawn, rub your eyes, and yawn again.

And then, you start scrolling online.

Everyone is talking about the heat, turning it into a heatwave with warnings and precautions. 

And people start complaining.

Why?

Because it is so hot. 

But we have been crying our eyes out because of the long winter and the cold spring. 

We have been longing for some warmth and some sunshine.

Yes, the sun has been more generous, but it’s finally summertime, with its short nights, long days, and this memorable longest day which I barely noticed.

With summertime thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

There’s Always a Second Trial

nhpureandsimple

Why a second blog? 

I’ve already asked myself this question too many times.

One day, I decided to be more disciplined by creating a separate blog for my book reviews and quotes. 

We usually feel excited when we start something new, right?

So I was excited when the idea struck me like thunder striking a tree.

Then my reading mood changed— for a long time, and my second blog got bored.

It actually fell into a slumber, then a nap, and finally a long, sound sleep. 

Honestly, I almost forget about it, which only made things worse.

My poor blog was almost on the brink of… some deep psychological loneliness. 

And just before its final departure, I realised there was something missing. 

Aha, my second blog! I slapped my forehead, and decided to give it a second go.

It was a wonder how I regained my interest. I tried to give it a new look and some easy exercise.

And so…

even if we give up sometimes,

there’s always a second trial.

Things may need a little change,

perhaps an open window,

to breathe again and feel fresher.

With a new trial thoughts,

Nahla

nh825.wordpress.com

Just writing

Joy in Between the Lines.

nhpureandsimple

Well… I borrowed the title exactly as it is.

But, mind you, this is not plagiarism.

How?

Because that’s the title of my post on my other blog.

Anyway… how many beautiful things do you notice while walking?

By walking, I mean that nice long walk you enjoy with no rush.

I hope you’ll say “many,”  because there are so many beautiful things around.

If you miss them, you really miss so much beauty and fun.

Really… you will miss things like the sky when it is clear, 

and the gentle, warm breeze.

Everything looks different…  more shiny and pretty:

from the high sky to the green grass,

from the wavy see to the steady land,

from the flying birds to the buzzing bees.

Aren’t these simple, quiet joys that are tucked in between the lines of everything around us worth your attention and appreciation?

Of course they are.

But sometimes you just can’t avoid interruptions.

A phone call, a serious talk, some funny comments, or the barking of an angry dog.

That’s exactly what happened today as me and my daughter were going for a walk.

Though we were on the other side of the road, a nosy, jumpy dog began barking nonstop at the gate of his house. 

He didn’t only interrupt our conversation, he also gave us such a jump that made us forget what we were talking about.

But… perhaps he was somehow trying to remind us that he also wanted to go out and look for those hidden joys tucked along the road.

Honestly, I was happy that his search – for – joy adventure wasn’t scheduled with ours.

With simple, quiet joys,

Nahla

 https://nh825.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/joy-in-between-the-lines/

Just writing

How was your day?

nhpureandsimple

Windy, sunny, rainy, and cold.

Doesn’t that make a wonderfully multi – weather day?

I suppose it does.

At least we saw the sun, and the wind passed by to dry the laundry.

Not to forget the visit of rain, and her insistance on offering the birds’ a fun gift — a small pool. 

And now, at bedtime, the cold breeze slipped into our homes, just to remind us of dear, missed autumn.

It is June, right?

Can June in your place nudge our June here?

He seems a bit confused.

Or lost.

I think… according to his symptoms, his mental confusion is affected by the madness in the world these days.

East and west, North and south, and the even World Cup squeezed into the mess.

Poor June, and it’s only the tenth.

But let’s have hope,

Tomorrow will be a good day.

And next week will bring more warmth, and good news.

And by the week after, you will laugh, wondering how your visit passed in the blink of an eye

Amen.

With confused – June – weather thoughts,

Nahla 

Just writing

Off The Hook Fishy

nhpureandsimple

Should a fish shut her mouth?

But of course she should,

otherwise she will be hooked out of her world; her big, secure home. 

And then it’s over.

She will serve as a fresh dinner plat for a hungry stomach.

“You definitely, and by all means, shouldn’t open it,” the old wise fish advised her fellows. 

“As delicious, fresh, and rare as the bait may be, it is as dangerous, cunning, and deceptive. You should remember that, and think twice,” the old wise fish warned.

We humans should think not only twice but thrice or even more before stepping into a zone that isn’t ours.

Whatever this zone may be; 

social, professional, or even familial.

It isn’t advisable to open your mouth and swallow everything, 

nor to open your mouth and pour everything out.

In both cases, you transgress your zone and fall into waters that aren’t yours; whether deep or shallow it doesn’t matter, again they’re not yours.

You sacrifice your self-respect, your peace of mind, and your time over trivialities.

Didn’t the old man repeatedly give this piece of advice?

Of course he did.

Psychologists , psychiatrists, and many books say and repeat the very same advice. 

If you don’t trust humans because they’re the ones who invented fishing rods, then trust the old wise fish who has never transgressed its own territory.

By the way this post was inspired by a quote I wrote on my other blog; the one I’m trying to bring it back to life. If you’d like to read it, here’s the link:

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/the-fish-and-the-hook/The Fish And The Hook

With the old wise fish’s  thoughts, 

Nahla

Just writing

Hello, June

nhpureandsimple

Your big brother May was kind all the way to the end.

Yes, thank God, May was fun, interesting, and productive.

I posted quite often, as ideas flowed easily and unexpectedly.

But… I read less in May.

Guess why.

Because I picked the wrong book at the wrong time.

It was one of the old classics; a collection of Kipling’s short stories.

The name rang a bell from somewhere back in my English degree days, but I’m pretty sure I hadn’t read anything by this author before.

So I welcomed the book heartily; looking forward to enjoying some beautiful, rich prose.

But it turned out to be like a machine manual catalogue with too many symbols and clues that gave me a headache. 

My brain couldn’t digest this piece of literary work, save for one story.

I exhaled a long, deep breath when I decided not only to stop reading it, but also to never pick up another book by Kipling.

But then, as I was checking my want-to- read list, I remembered that I have a second blog.

Quotes and Reviews…. nh825.wordpress.com

I felt sorry for it.

It has been mute for so long that it doesn’t know me anymore.

I gave it a little nudge post to wake it up.

It did wake up though still yawning with, heavy lids and slow motion.

Hopefully, in June I can feed it with more quotes and book reviews.

With June’s new blogging thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Busy, Buzzy Week

nhpureandsimple

Well… this week started good, actually very good.

Indoors and outdoors were busy and buzzy.

The birds were chirping from dawn to dusk.

The bees were buzzing around trees and flowers.

And people were running outside either on their feet or in their cars.

The roads, parks, markets and beaches were all so busy.

All because the weather was hot, finally.

Mrs Sun had been so loyal over the last few days.

Actually.. she was more than loyal.

She was protective, subjective, and fictive.

Honestly, she was, and still is, committed to her principles up to this very moment.

As for being protective, her shiny, strong rays blocked the wind, and allowed only a bit of breeze every now and then.

It happened, though, when the clouds and the wind started a big thundery fight over some lighting debate.

But Mrs Sun sorted it all in a couple of hours.

But… I’d like to seize this opportunity and blame her for being subjective.

Yes she was.

She was highly subjective, insisting that sunburn is a long awaited gift, and didn’t consider how it’s not for everyone.

But she was forgiven for being fictive. 

Yes, under her majestic warmth, we build sandcastles, 

we relax to the splash music of the waves,

and we smile while listening to the ocean humming inside the shells.

With sunny, busy, buzzy thoughts,

Nahla