Tag: dailyprompt

daily prompt

Franco – Egyptian

nhpureandsimple

What is your all time favorite automobile?

In Egypt until the sixties, the French language was common in Cairo and Alexandia. This Franco – Egyptian influence stared with Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt at the end of the eighteenth century. Though the expedition was a big failure and didn’t last long, mainly three years, it had affected the culture, including the language, mainly among the elite, literary, commerce, and political classes. Since then, French seeped into the Egyptian Arabic, though with some alterations and accent.

In our daily language, some French words easily slip off our tongues. Here are some examples: douche (shower), couverte ( blanket), pantalon (trousers), écharpe (scarf), etiquette, Garçon (waiter), and merci. The list, of course, is too long to mention all.

One might wonder how such change took place, if Napoleon’s expedition didn’t last long and was mainly limited to Cairo and Alexandria? That was mainly because of education. French missionary schools, mainly for Christians and Jews, were introduced in the main cities. But, later, they were open to Musilm Egyptians as well, and french scholarships were granted to Egyptian students. Scientists, politicians, and businessmen, became well acquintted with French systems and law. And then, as historians put it in our history books, modernisation found its way to Egypt.

Thanks to the word “automobile,” that this post turned out a bit historical. But isn’t it better this way?

À bientôt,

Avec meilleures vœux,

Nahla

daily prompt

Creativity

nhpureandsimple

How are you creative?

When you use your own voice, your own hands, and your own brain, that what creativity is. Think, imagine, and be you with your own unique signature. That’s creativity.

Does creativity imply perfection? A big WOW? A high rating? I’ll say no, but that’s how I see it.

Creativity might need support, education, and knowledge, but what it needs most is genuineness. And of course, you don’t have to be a celebrity to be creative.

To clarify my point, let’s say I read your post and find it interesting and good, with countless likes and comments, and then I decided to write a similar piece. By the way that’s different from inspiration becuase when we are inspired, we still use our own brains. So, If I follow your style, words, and thoughts, my post will never be creative becuase it wasn’t me writing it ‐ I’m mainly replicating yours. But, that’s not so bad, we are not supposed to be creative everyday, right? Still, there will be a strange feeling, an annoying thought, that will pop into your head every now and then when you remember this post.

We might share the same cake, but it would be more delicious when I put my heart into it.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla











daily prompt

Influencers

nhpureandsimple

Who are the biggest influences in your life?

Years ago, if you asked someone who their biggest influencer was, I can imagine that person would first pause, think, perhaps close their eyes and take a moment to breathe deeply, before giving you their answers. When they started talking, their words will be full of awe, respect, and pure love. They might talk about their parents, teachers, or perhaps a favourite historical figure or special author. In some cases, they would  talk about their true friends. I believe that for the pre- social media generation quality mattered more than quantity. Genuine relationships more than pretenses. Am I right?

But as things have change in a way that seemed both ridiculous and vague, I believe, nowadays, today’s selection of influencers depends mainly on quantity. It’s like copy and paste, repetition, drama, and, even worse, the madness of fame. Nowadays, many influencers share nonsense, believe in nothing and everything, and make fortunes of easy money. How many influencers are there nowadays? Countless, thanks to social media platforms. How do they affect you, as a unique individual? Unfortunately, they often reduce you to nothing more than a number, a fan!

Would you search your head ( not your phone), for a role model with no camera in hand, no fancy brand fashion, no cosmetic surgeries, no sophisticated food receipes, no international festivals, no cocoland dreams, etc? Please do!

Congratulations, if you find any!

Have you read my blog Idolization? Please do if you haven’t yet.

https://pure-and-simple.co.uk/2024/12/10/idolization/

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Such a gift!

nhpureandsimple

Share what you know about the year you were born.

Life is such a wonderful gift, regardless of the year,  month, or day of our births.We have nothing to do with our birth place or time, but we have coutless things to appreciate about this divine gift.

What difference does it make if you were born in a special year when a war ended or started? Or when the first spaceship landed on the moon? Or when Romeo and Juliate died? The only thing that truly makes a difference is that you have been gifted with a life to live with all its ups and downs. You have been gifted with a life to sacredize its privicy, its authenticity, and its temporarity.

Have you been grateful to the One created you, gifted you with the most precious gift in your entire life: your Life?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

The quiet, shy girl

nhpureandsimple

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

“Are you still quiet and shy as you used to be in university?” A friend asked me one day when we found each other on facebook.
“I think I’ve changed, a bit.” I replied.

It seems like something I was born with. I am the youngest of my two siblings. My father used to take me everywhere. My relatives used to invite me for sleepovers which would extend for weeks. At school, my marks were always good. I never failed. In university, for my converstation exams, my responses were the briefest in class, but my marks were just as good. Still, I was that quiet, shy girl.

I married, moved and studied abroad, and now have three children; two graduate boys and a girl in her first year of high school. Still, I am that quiet, shy girl.

Therefore, going on stage for a speech or performance would be my nightmare. Of course I lived these moments as I had to do them sometimes at school or university. But even though with all my rehearsals and prayers, I couldn’t help my hands from trembling and my heart from pounding.

I always remember my graduation ceremony, it was such a funny, great day. My friends and I were full of the life of spring, shining in beautiful dresses, lining up in a long queue with many others of the same group. We couldn’t wait to step on stage to receive our B.A. certificates and shake hands with Her Honour, our smiley-faced dean. It went so well with all my friends: climbing the steps, shaking hands, turing for the memorable photo, and then climbing down the few steps and joining our families. Just that simple.

But, things went slightly different for the quiet, shy girl. I tripped over my long dress as climbed the steps, but thank God I straightened and steadied my legs, and didn’t fall down. I tried to forget and calm down, but then my graduation cap slipped down my hijab. Before it could fall, I grasped it and tried to put it back on my head, but it would not stay there. There was no time, Her Honour was already extending her hand with a genuine, warm smile. I believe she didn’t give others the same one. With one hand grasping my cap over my head,  I shook her hand and receive my certificate. Then I hurried down the steps, and forgot to take that memorable photo with the certificate and the smile.

But I took other photos and laughed long and hard that day. Sometimes, the quiet, shy girl can be more special and fun than the others.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Life in the countryside

nhpureandsimple

Do you ever see wild animals?

One of the best things about living in the countryside is the ability to handle difficult problems and situations. There, people live and strive to thrive. Using basic ingredients, they can make the most delicious meals and desserts. They can fix broken things, mend old clothes or sew new ones, and even save lives as quickly as an ambulance.

I’m not sure if countryside life is still the same nowadays as it was when I was a little kid vising my grandparents for a month during summer holidays? But to be honest, though I enjoyed it, I couldn’t wait to go back to my easy life in Cairo.

I remembered that becuase of today’s prompt.  I am not sure if a scorpion can be considered as a wild animal, but I am making it one in my post for today.

It was one of those long, hot summar nights, and I was having a sleepover at my Aunt’s country house. We had just come back from visiting one of her neighbours. We were laughing and joking, and couldn’t wait to hit the pillow. My aunt rested on a wooden bench in the big, high ceiling, and so dimly lit hall, pondering her next day chores.  I headed straight to the bedroom I used to share with her, but just before getting changed, her screams filled the house. I ran out, and saw her hands tightened around one of her calves, as she lifted her leg, trying to slow her blood circulation. ( of course I understood that later). ‘Scorpion,’ she shouted, and her sister ran outside to get some help from their neighbour, asking another to fetch the village doctor. That night, she survived, and I went to bed whispering one prayer: ‘Please God keep that dreadful insect away from me. Amen,’ I prayed and fell into a sound sleep. Next morning, life went back to normal, with my aunt doing her chores and me playing around.

By the way, did you know that scorpions don’t live in Antarctica, although they can adapt to almost every other place on Earth. Of course, they would freeze, be unable to use their venomous sting, be easily seen, and their lifespan would be cut down to a few days. Don’t you think this can also apply to wild, evil people?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books, daily prompt

Don’t go back

nhpureandsimple

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?



I am reading The Caliph’s House right now. It is a travel memoir, a type of biography. It’s full of adventures, cultural explorations, self discoveries, and humorous characters and stories. However, it has also some misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, perhaps becuase it’s written in the first person, mainly reflecting and generalising personal views. Here is the link for my book review. Have a look, and hope you will like it

https://nh825.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/the-caliphs-house/

Any way, the more I read from the book, the more I am totally convinced that ‘don’t go back,’ though the hardest decision one might take, is also the right decision. It something like; forgive but don’t forget. Or, time never goes back, so why would you? Or, don’t cry over spilled milk! These all could be hard decisions taken in different ways and on different occasions.

My point can apply to places, people, and even careers. Once you step out of something, you change and so do the others. You become a different person, and so will your old place, your old friends, and your work experience. It will be not only disappointing but also torturous to imagine yourself, the others, or your old place, the same as in the old days.

So, the best, though also the hardest, is to not go back which of course doesn’t mean abandonment. Eventully, you will call your old friend, visit your old place, and relish the memories of your old job. But that will be it, no more expectations, no more memories.


Does this make any sense? Hope it does.



With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Strange

nhpureandsimple

Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?


We often hear that men do not know how to cook, or even worse, their cooking is terrible, don’t we?

But isn’t it strange when you find out that they can, or can do very well.

Cooking is mostly one of everyday mandatory chores, but it can also be fun and a special hobby.

I still remember my father’s baked potatoes with meat. Although he mainly used basic spices, that dish was like nothing else- delicious. I remember he used to cook this dish, mainly, but not often, during the summar holidays. The aroma would waft through our house, making our mouth water. I remember how he looked so proud and happy of his achievement.

Strange how simple things, such as baked potatos with meat, can be carved in children’s memories. And, how strange that some parents deny their children such beautiful moments to relish later on when they grow up.

If it weren’t for the speciality of the chef, the love it was made with, and my family around it, I am sure that dish wouldn’t have crossed my mind for today’s prompt.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

WordPress

nhpureandsimple

If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

It’s not that I would post more on WordPress. I am satisfied if I manage to share one post a day, as my hands are full with other priorities and chores.


But, if I have extra free time I would like to check and read more posts on WordPress, especially from you, my visitors and subscribers. It’s not mainly because you are reading mine, but also because I might get some inspiration from your posts or learn something new. It’s such a wonderful experience, as though you’re meeting different people and hearing their voices from all around the world. Though, in actual life, our paths might never cross.

I really appreciate your visits, likes, and comments, and I wish I could have some extra time to read more of your posts.



With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

More than three

nhpureandsimple

Name your top three pet peeves.

‘I can’t find,’ the everyday phrase that makes me mad
‘Mama, there aren’t any clean glasses in the cupboard?’ Shouted my son from the kitchen downstairs.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as it was just an hour or so ago that I had taken a dozen from the dishwasher and arranged all the sparkly clean glasses in the cupboard.
‘Go and borrow some from the neighbours, then,’ I shouted back from my bedroom.

‘After you.‘ The kind but also annoying phrase.
‘After you,’ I said with a smile and took a step back so the  next person, mostly an elderly, could get on the bus. But then the third followed, and the fourth, and the fifth. And, I became the last to get on. (To be honest, sometimes I am the second in line who accepted the first’s sacrifice and caused the martyer more delay)

‘I am not complaining,’ the phrase that gives me a terrible headache.
‘Such a horrible day! My muscles ache. Traffic, traffic, traffic.
No one understands. No one cares. Everyday expenses. Blocks on social media, etc., but, I am not complaining.’

‘Don’t judge‘ the phrase that makes me feel so unfair, so inconsiderate though I am not.
‘He didn’t stop swearing all evening.’
’Don’t judge.’
‘How can this be judging?’
’Because you mean he is a bad person.’
’But I didn’t say that, and he might be better than all of us. I was just referring to something that was obvious and improper.’

The poor drama, that makes me so disappointed, so hurt. 
’I was busy with relocation and all its fuss.’
‘You moved, really? Where? Why? How is it?’
And I answered, joined in, detailing what the other already knew.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla