Words and Imagery: 1

This photo was taken by my husband during his visit to Paris for a conference in 2006. Looking at this the following words come to mind.

Anticipation, Expectation, Time.

What comes to your mind when you see this image?

Surrender

Surrender,
Imagine your arms up in the air
You will not resist, you will not argue
Let the processes surrounding you carve your day
Surrender.

Surrender,
Let your mind be free
Let what is to be, be
No worries, no opinions, no concerns
Surrender.

Surrender,
And feel your tense nerves unravel
To not be in control
Not even for a little while
Surrender.

Surrender,
Listen to nothing
See everything
Taste that sweet freedom
of Surrender.

Copyright: Mervat @ The Writing Instinct

'Hey Mum, Guess What?'

Photo courtesy of http://www.cigarettesreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/brad-pitt.jpg

Photo courtesy: http://www.csmngt.com/smokers%20lung.jpg

My children love trivia, especially Mr Almost-16. He greeted me this morning with 'Hey Mum, guess what?'. And of course, before I could even respond the next words fell out of his mouth:

'Did you know that Brad Pitt has been smoking since the age of
16. He's not so pretty on the inside, then is he?'

I laughed. Thinking back, maybe my reaction should have been to reaffirm what Mr Almost-16 already knows, according to the judgement he had just made about Mr Pitt's internal aesthetics. But, I just laughed. No, not a giggle, but a good old belly laugh. If you know anything about Mr Almost-16 he is usually cracking a joke, and always trying to make light of almost any situation he finds himself in. However, this morning his response was to look at me inquiringly, probably wondering what on earth had possessed his mother to respond in this way. He gave me a side-ways smile and got on with his morning preparations. I felt quite embarrassed. Maybe I have such confidence that they will never smoke as I know they are frightened by the potential harm it could do to them? Maybe I genuinly found his comment about Pretty-Mr-Pitt's-not-so-pretty-insides ironic in a humorous way?

I know my children are baffled as to why people smoke when all the warning signs are there (Mr 6 regularly asks me why his grandparents (my parents and mother-in-law) still smoke if smoking 'causes the brain to bleed'). Mr 6's response is the legacy of a rigorous Australian Cancer Institute's anti-smoking campaign in which Leonard Cohen sings 'Everybody Knows'.

In remembering this eerie add (and having just seen it for probably for the 100th time) the smile is wiped off my face completely. Indeed, why won't my parents, and all of those I love and are dear to me, stop smoking? I can only hope and pray that one day they will have the strength and courage to stop smoking and that my confidence, in my own children never smoking, holds true.

Premios Dardo Award from Kelly

I would like to thank the talented, passionate and articulate Kelly from My Voice, My View for nominating me for this wonderful award. Kelly is married and is not only a busy mother to four children but also manages to find time to be a perceptive and insightful poet and writer. She has kindly honoured me with the "Premios Dardo" award, which she says roughly translates to "Top Dart". Thank you so much for this award, Kelly. I don't know whether I deserve it but I gratefully accept it and appreciate this recognition.

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values everyday.

Here are the rules for this award:

Accept and post the award on your blog.
Link to the person from whom you received it.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment.
Let them know they’ve been chosen for this award.

Blogging encourages self-expression through writing and imagery. I believe that all bloggers deserve praise for opening up to the world, enabling strangers to see into their lives, their thoughts and experiences. We are all truly fortunate to live in an age where we can express ourselves in this way but are still able to maintain any level of anonymity that we choose. As I really do not wish to burden anyone directly, I would like to pass this award onto anyone who reads this post. Please copy and paste the icon and display proudly on your blog.

Thank you again, Kelly.

A Meme from the letter M

Photo courtesy of: http://squathole.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/marmoset2.jpg

I have taken up an invitation to copy the Meme below from the

just loverly Natalie at Musings from the Deep.

The answers have to be real...nothing made up!
If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers.
You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have Fun!!

lll

1. What is your name: Mervat

2. A four Letter Word: Muck

3. A boy's Name: Miguel

4. A girl's Name: Mirelle

5. An occupation: Musician

6. A color: Magenta

7. Something you wear: Maxi dress

8. A food: Moussaka

9. Something found in the bathroom: Modelling clay (left on taps and sink by an arty six year old!)

10. A place: Myanmar

11. A reason for being late: Munching on lactose-laden macaroni cheese (please see 14 below!)

12. Something you shout: Mo! (Mr. Almost-16’s nick name! It usually ends with ‘…stop picking on your brother!’)

13. A movie title: My Fair Lady

14. Something you drink: lactose-free Milk

15. A musical group: Meatloaf

16. An animal: Marmoset Monkey (and aren't they just so cute!)

17. Street name: Mulgoa

18. A type of car: Murcielago

19. A song title: Mamma Mia

20. A verb: Mimic

If anybody would like to play then please feel free copy and paste.

Thanks for reading!