Monday’s Muse: Landslide…

This weekend my friend turned 50 and his wife invited friends and family over to celebrate his birthday with him. It was great to see his face when he came home and found us all there, but you could tell when we toasted to the big 5-0 he seemed to be a little shocked to have reached this particular milestone. I talked to him about it and he told me he doesn’t feel a day over 30, and he doesn’t know how...

Monday’s Muse: Wild World

Certain sounds, or sights will bring back memories so strong that I’ll remember how I felt, how things smelt…. Almost as if I’ve literally been transported back to a different time. When I was pregnant with my second boy, my husband got Dengue Fever and had to be admitted to hospital for days. His platelet count was very low and it was a really scary ordeal. I had my 2yr old son at home so I...

First Christmas

This is my first Christmas in Blogland, and I’ve spent a lot of it writing about the local customs and family traditions that mark the season here at home. I’ve always loved experiencing Christmas here, and there’s a part of me that believes that is because of the pride I have in my country. There’s another part of me that says that there’s just so much to enjoy and participate in at...

Monday’s Muse – Behind the Mask

We walk through this life behind masks of our making. When we interact with others, we do not always allow them to see the effect their actions truly have on us. To do so would show our weakness. Or allow us to feel emotion we choose not to feel. And to give in to that emotion would cause us to lose control. So we keep on going. Masks firmly in place. Behind masks that protect us. There are other less noble...

Monday’s Muse – Moko Jumbies

When I was a child, I was exposed to a myriad of traditional local characters that were part of the culture of Carnival here. Born of circumstances where slaves mocked their “owners” and yet deeply associated with the idea of religion vs spiritual temptation, the masks and disguises of these characters could range from comical to downright frightening. Some though, were simply mysterious. As if they hid...

Monday’s Muse – Love Actually is All Around

It’s the time of the year for one of my favourite movies of all time… Love Actually. The film is set at Christmas time, but the stories unfold every day all around us. Stories of love in all different forms:New romance…Forbidden romance…Unexpected romance…Love unconditional… Between a father and son… A husband and wife… The love of a loyal friend…...

Monday’s Muse – Perspective

Inspired by Mama Kat’s interview of her own kids and based on Scary Mommy’s contest, I thought I’d see what kind of response I’d get from mine.Boy was I surprised…. Boy, the younger (1st pass)Is mummy a scary mummy?Yes.Why?No, you’re not scary I was just playing. (Giggle.)Mummy doesn’t do anything scary?No! Do you? I dunno! (Giggle.)Boy, the olderIs mummy a scary...

Monday’s Muse – I’ll be there

I woke up this morning and looked at my three sleeping children. I studied their little faces before they woke up and got involved in the issues of the day. Little princess. You have already brought so much positive change and joy to our lives. They do say that good things come in small packages. Your smile has the power to distract me from anything else going on and make me laugh with you. I can tell already that...

Monday’s Muse – Progress

This song has been playing in my head for the past few days. I thought I’d use it for Flashback Friday this week, but the truth is that it’s not a flashback for most of you. This is a calypso performed by King Austin in 1980 but it is timeless. And the lyrics seem hauntingly relevant today. In a day when we can witness greed embraced and justified! Without a second thought for those for whom the...

Monday’s Muse – Father and Son

There’s not much I can add to my muse today – it is so eloquent in words both spoken and unspoken. I will say this – Cat Stevens is one of my favourite performers of all time. He sang with the passion and emotion of a true artist, and in this song he captures the age-old struggle of coming of age.  In my mind, I know that I will have to face the flight of my little ones from the nest all too...