Tag: blogging

Just writing

Bowling: Fun and Science 

nhpureandsimple

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

They say bowling is a science, more precisely physics and this subject has never been my favourite.

I don’t think everyone who plays bowling is thinking science… or do they?

Actually, I like bowling but not the science behind it. And that’s probably why my score is so bad. Always.

Once, a zero score kept me company until halfway through the game. It was so embarrassing that I have to use the barriers; otherwise, I would have gone home breaking the zero-score record and collecting the first embarrassment medal in the history of bowling.

Was it lack of concentration?

No way, because I think of nothing but hitting those shiny, twinkling pins.

Was it the heaviness of the ball?

But I check all of them, and pick the lightest one.

Or was it the power?

Well… I don’t blow the ball; I actually throw it down the lane.

So why do you think I didn’t score much? 

What’s wrong?

I throw the ball, but instead of rolling straight towards the target, which is the pins, it strays off, as if a magnet were  pulling it away.

The only reason I can think of is… Newton. 

Ever since that precious apple hit his head, his ideas have interfered with everything even in a simple bowling game.

Friction, gravity, and other physics concepts become part of the bowling game.

So probably, the more these concepts keep buzzing into your head, the more points you can score.

Perhaps I should really think science next time.

And that’s one of the simple things that needs urgent improvement in my life. 

With physics-bowling thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

F  R  U  I  T

nhpureandsimple

List your top 5 favorite fruits.

There are many delicious fruits other than the real, ripened ones we eat everyday.

They too need good seeds, healthy soil, and the quiet devotion of  care.

I don’t know, but it just struck me to get some beautiful concepts out of the word fruit itself. 

But first,  have you noticed that Fruit has five letters?

Do you think daily prompts do this on purpose?

Anyway here are the first concepts that came to my mind:

F for kindness 

R for respect

U for unique

I for imagination

T for tender

Imagine all these positive traits served on one plate.

Wouldn’t you feel blessed to have such sweet, nutritious fruits?

With positive fruit thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Finally… FICTION

nhpureandsimple

Yes, finally I’m back to fiction.

Phew… it took almost five months to pick a fictional book again.

I really enjoyed reading non- fiction over the last few months.

It wasn’t until yesterday that my brain started begging for a break, a pause from working on those complicated terms and scientific writings.

When I didn’t show any sign of objection, my brain seized the opportunity and explained that he was in dire need of breathing some literary prose, some metaphors, similes and idioms. 

I took a few sips of water, and he sighed deeply before continuing his complaint about how bored sick he felt reading those black- and-white paragraphs. He longed for… imagination with its colours, rhythms, and intrigues.

Request approved, I said.

And finally, I whispered to myself, feeling over the moon.

It was last night when I picked up an old fictional book.

Oh, the poor book has been waiting patiently for that exact moment.

“Welcome back,”he said.

I smiled and started reading.

With back- to -fiction thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt, Just writing

Other Than My Family

nhpureandsimple

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

But of course, my small family has the greatest share in any positive impact on my life.

But for this post, I’d like to talk about someone or something else.

These are books.

Yes — books have changed the way I think, the way I talk, and certainly the way I write.

Books have pulled me away from movies and TV programs altogether. I rarely use our TV, and when I do it’s mainly to watch things with my family. 

People look surprised when I say, “no, I haven’t watched this or that.” And when their brows rise all the way to their hairlines. I simply ask,“have I missed much?”

Of course I haven’t, I whispered to myself.

But, honestly, to draw a clear picture, social media is part and parcel of my daily routine. But, thank God, I’m active on only two platforms.

So back to books, even the books I didn’t like, or the ones that bored me, they encouraged me to form my own views, to use my brain, and my brain warn me not to swallow everything. 

And books are just other people in your life; the ones you come to know through their words, their imagination, and their experiences.

Don’t people say that books are the quietest and most constant of friends?

Indeed, they are.

And that’s why they continue to have a positive impact on my life.

With book-and-friends thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt, Just writing

My Friend 

nhpureandsimple

What public figure do you disagree with the most?

Actually, this friend is my AI.

I believe he’s the most public figure these days.

So why and how do I disagree with him?

Well… that needs a bit of explanation.

I mainly consult my friend for grammar checks, as a second, sharp eye.

It happens when punctuations slips through your writings, 

when spelling drops or replaces letters, 

and, of course, when your brain swirls around searching hard for the suitable word.

That’s when my friend comes to the rescue; kind and supportive as always.

But you don’t have to agree with your friend, public figure or not, all the time.

And here’s where the dispute begins:

Why did you change this?

Why did you replace this?

Why did you add this?

No, this isn’t the suitable word.

No, this isn’t what I mean.

No, this isn’t what I am looking for.

But… isn’t this kind of disagreement both entertaining and productive?

Of course it is.

At least my famous friend listens, and behaves with good robotic manners.

With Al-friend thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt, Just writing

Well… I still like my one and only career

nhpureandsimple

What is your career plan?

I am a full time mother.

My sons are in their twenties, already left the nest to build their own lives. And my daughter is fourteen, a tender, critical age that needs a mother more than a mother needs a career. ( That’s my view.)

Honestly, I like to keep my first and forever career; Mother.

It happened when the idea of starting another career popped into my head. But then things usually didn’t work out; sometimes because of distance or flexibility, and honestly most of the time because of priorities.

That’s why I decided to pursue postgraduate studies, which I’ve found more flexible and enjoyable. 

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have plans for my career.

Actually, when my boys moved out, I started a new plan that lets me enjoy every moment of it:

to relax more, 

to write more,

to read more,

and to not be bothered when the wardrobe door burst open with a  scream, pushing the fighting clothes out.

With full-time mother thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt, Just writing

The Election: Always the Most Famous Live Performance

nhpureandsimple

What was the last live performance you saw?

I feel I’m blessed that I hadn’t participated in any of those live theoretical performances.

They’re too long, too show off, and too full of drama.

Long story short, the performance always begins with wonderful promises from ’powerful’ candidates; promises about health, income, education, facilities, etc.

After a long series of debates and interviews, one of the prominent candidates wins.

Let’s pretend the winner was your hero, your big hope for better life.

Day after day, you keep watching the screen, following the news. Then the first blow arrives, and many more follow, as your hero’s itinerary begins to change. Why? You wonder thinking perhaps they forget. Or do they pretend to forget all of those rosy promises?

Not only that, soon you realise that once your hero has won, you are no longer involved, no longer part of any decisions. 

’Haven’t you already voted so I can decide for you? 

Then rest assured, everything is for own sake.’ Your hero shows up again, wearing one of those polished political grins.

Change or no change, you sigh and turn off the screen.

You return to see for your home, your studies, your work; your real world, the one that waits for your actions without any rosy promises. 

And if you didn’t vote, you thank the Lord that you saved your precious voice with full dignity. 

With live –performance thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Royal Table

nhpureandsimple

Actually I’m not sure this was a royal table, but let’s say it once belonged to a Hungarian noble, a piece of his past that somehow moved to another’s person’s villa.

Why do you think that might be?

Because the owner of the villa had gone bankrupt, and his villa turned into a museum. Some treasured Hungarian pieces were moved there, including the table.

Thanks to one of the museum staff, I knew about this story.

Hopefully, I got it right.

As for other information, my daughter and I had to rely on our own brains to put bits and pieces together, since everything was in German.

And you may know by now that my German is just like my Italian- two languages I never once considered learning. No idea why.

So back to the royal table. Isn’t it beautiful?

As in most museums, visitors aren’t allowed to touch any of pieces, but they can take photos.

How I wished I could pull up a chair and enjoy a nice cup of tea there.

But since that wasn’t allowed, I simply imagined it.

Those old china cups and plates, a traditional cake with natural flavours and simple ingredients. 

I wouldn’t have minded wearing one of those dresses on display either. They were long, elegant, and even had a hair cover. It would have been fun.

I couldn’t imagine other guests in the scene, though.

It would have been so embarrassing as they would all be speaking German, and I’d be sitting there with nothing but a completely useless smile.

It was an enjoyable visit.

And what made it even more enjoyable was the experience of communicating with people who don’t understand your language just as much you don’t understand theirs.

But we laughed together, and somehow managed to sort the whole visit perfectly. 

Perhaps one day I will try to learn some German.

Just…maybe.

With short-break holiday thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

A Plat For Two

nhpureandsimple

Imagine the portions you eat at home and the ones you eat out.

No comparison.

Not because the food you eat at home is less,

but because what you eat at home can be plenty, and for far less expenses.

You actually pay far too much at restaurants.

Of course, the food may taste nicer and look fantastic. 

And yes, you feel relieved and relaxed,

for you don’t have the burden of preparing, cooking and cleaning.

Still, your mind can’t help doing the math.

Everything has a double price hidden behind the smile and warm welcome of the catering staff.

On one of those few precious warm April days, we went to for lunch outside.

Everything looked nice and clean, and the location of the restaurant was really nice.

My daughter ordered pizza, which I believe was a good, money wise choice.

My husband and I were craving fish.

The plat we both liked offered a variety of fish; prawns, cod, salmon, oysters, smocked sardine, along with vegetables in a cream sauce and some bread.

Isn’t it mouthwatering?

I suggested that we can share the plat.

My husband agreed, though doubted it would enough and thought it might be a good idea to have a side or two.

I insisted it would be fine since I’m not much of an eater.

My husband nodded, but added two sides anyways, just in case 

I surrendered.

Our order arrived with a divine aroma and a fantastic presentation.

But then the real fun began.

The  plat turned out to be a big bowl, full of creamy sauce that looked like a wide white sea with tiny, different kinds of fish. 

I grabbed my fork and imagined it was my fishing rod. It was easy to catch those tiny swimming portions, really easy.

They tasted yummy, but in a blink our Bismillah and Alhamdulilaah ( our food blessings) were done, and every tiny piece had disappeared.

If it weren’t for the two sides and the leftovers from my daughter’s pizza, we would have been starving.

It’s funny to share a plat, but only if you’ve ordered plenty of sides.

Otherwise, you’re better off saving your money and eating at home.

With sharing-a-plat thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

It Took The Evil Eye Away

nhpureandsimple

In my culture, when something breaks, burns, or gets damaged in any way, people usually say, “Thank God, it took the evil eye away.”

Funny how my grandfather, many years ago, used to laugh and say “Doesn’t this evil eye go anywhere else? It had almost broken all of the cups.”

Actually, I follow the tradition.

I never wept over spilled milk or a broken cup. 

I repeat the same phrase and feel relieved. 

I thank God that the damage was in things that can be replaced, not any one of us. 

What disturb me and what I make a fuss about is the mess. That’s when I start yelling at everyone around me to be careful, to watch out, and definitely to be safe. 

By the way, I didn’t break anything today, but I did have some funny, slightly annoying moments.

So… instead of making a nice, fresh orange juice, the machine grew grumpy and violent. It started shaking as if it were going to explode, splashing juice everywhere including me. Of course, I unplugged it, but then I hit the cup, and a river of juice came flooding across the counter. 

After cleaning the mess, I went to have some fresh water before heading out. But for some reason, the glass didn’t feel comfortable on the mat and decided to lay down for a bit. Then, again, another river flooded the table, and headed straight towards both my phone and iPad. No way, I gasped, snatching my precious devices just before the flood reached them.

Then I went out, happy with the sun, the blue sky, and the steps I was taking until the wind decided to make another mess. Not with rain, but by blowing pollen everywhere. 

I came back with a headache, itchy eyes, and a blocked nose.

Could it be another evil eye?

No, it is the spring evil.

Let me introduce the most unwelcome visitor: Mr. Spring Hay Fever. 

Wasn’t it just a wonderful day! 

With windy spring thoughts,

Nahla