Category: #AtoZchallenge

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Reading Writing

R is for ‘rainband’

Yes, that’s the correct word. No, not ‘rainbow’, but ‘rainband’.

So what is it? I hear you ask.

[Great question! she replies, grinning widely.]

According to my Macquarie Dictionary, a rainband (noun) is a dark band in the solar spectrum, due to water-vapour in the atmosphere.

Huh!

Ten minutes ago, I never knew this word existed. But sitting here at my messy desk, dictionary on my lap and curiosity in my mind, I’ve just discovered that something I’m sure I’ve seen many times in my life before, boasts its very own name.

Well, that makes sense. Most things are named, aren’t they? That’s how we can communicate about them. It reminds me that the Eskimos have many words (apparently!) describing ice and snow – as opposed to the two I would commonly use.

It’s a pretty cool feeling, discovering words. I wonder if I could somehow be influential into making them more popular. Or would my usage of these words I’d newly discovered just be taken as bragging? Would I be seen to be preening with my new-found knowledge?

And does that even matter?

Only one way to find out, I guess…

Have a great day, dear Reader! And look out for a rainbands 🙂

— KRidwyn

[Image of rainband courtesy Wikipedia, retrieved 1 May, 2017]

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Random thoughts teaching Work

Q is for ‘quiet’

Which is what this blog’s been since… um… well, since the ‘P’ post, well over a week ago. But it feels like a month, indicative of just how crazy-busy my life has been since the last post.

To be truthful, that last post kinda scared me a little too. “P is for Power” means that I also have the choice to *not* post – to be lazy, to procrastinate, to pretend life is just too busy.

Well, right here, right now, it’s May 1st. I missed completing the final 10 posts of the #AtoZchallenge in April. My blog was dead quiet. Silent. As in, as the grave. Goodbye, dear April, I’ll never see you again. #AtoZchallenge, I failed you. I did not manage to post 26 posts during April.

April in my time zone, that is.

New challenge: finish them before May 1st worldwide!

Ready… set…

GO!

[And have a great day, dear Reader!]

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Random thoughts Uncategorized

P is for ‘power’

It’s a strange idea, really: power.

We all have it, to varying degrees.

The power to choose between options. To direct our own paths.

The power to eat those Easter eggs, that hot cross bun, and also the power to smile and say ‘no thank you’.

The power to get up in the morning and exercise, or the power to roll over and stay comfy under the covers.

The power to join in a conversation, likewise the power to remain silent.

The power to do the work we should – or to just check out our favourite social network a little first…

The power to offer a kind word, or a smile – maybe even a helping hand! Or the power to ignore. To pretend. To justify our busy-ness to ourself.

What power will *you* choose today?

Me? I’m hoping that for today – and for the rest of this week, this month, this year – that  the choices I make are wise ones.

Have a ‘powerful’ day, dear Reader!

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Random thoughts

O is for ‘opine’

(verb) to think; deem; hold or express an opinion, or as one’s opinion

I do this. I think. I deem. I hold an opinion – and like to express said opinion. Sometimes, the opinion I express is even my own 😀 [I’ve tried it on for size, decided I liked it, concluded that it suited me – or perhaps I suited it? – and claimed it for my own.]

But you already knew that, dear reader. I *do* have a blog, after all!

I enjoy having a definite point of view on issues. I quite like having a voice, and sometimes even the odd person who listens. Strokes the ego, as it were. I must admit, I *like* opining.

I deem it necessary for my mental health.

What’s necessary for yours?

And have a great day, dear reader!

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Random thoughts

N is for ‘never’

This word, like ‘always’, is a problem word for me.

It’s just so… final. Wouldn’t you agree?

And, really, how truthful is it?

‘Never’?

My Macbook Pro thesaurus states that ‘never’s homonyms are:

at no time

not at any time

not ever

not once

on no occasion

[literary] ne’er

not at all

certainly not

not for a moment

not under any circumstances

in no circumstances

on no account

no way

not on your life

not in a million years

not for love or money…

that’s all pretty definite. So final. Irrevocable, conclusive. Binding.

Leaving zero room for wiggling. For hope of the same.

It seems sad to me.

[But that may just be the final evening of school holidays talking :(]

Have a great day, dear Reader.

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges random scribblings Random thoughts

M is for ‘monteith’ (the bowl, not the name)

‘Retrieving a cup from the scalloped rim of the monteith, he served himself some of its cool water. He could feel the eyes of the lady of the house boring into his back, but he refused to turn and meet her glance until he had quaffed his fill.’

Ah, the monteith. A large bowl, commonly made of silver, often with a rim for suspending drinking glasses in the cool water within the bowl; also used as a punchbowl.

This one, above, I found on Pinterest (I realised I needed to search ‘monteith BOWL’ after a ‘monteith’ search brought up photos of Cory Monteith, of Glee fame) – and it apparently is a Victorian period reproduction of a C1685 Charles II period Monteith bowl – this English sterling silver monteith or punch bowl is by James Dixon & Son, Sheffield, c1905.

Isn’t it beautiful!

Have a great day, dear Reader 🙂

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges

L is for ‘Librarian’

#truth

— KRidwyn

(image originally posted by Goodwill Librarian)

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges family anecdotes

K is for ‘kitten’

I’ve always preferred cats to dogs – or so I thought, until falling in love with my first dog when Hubby and I, newlyweds, visited a German Shepherd breeder.

I fell, hard. We bought one, and drove him home, naming him ‘Smudge’ just before he decided to vomit on my lap. (Lucky the towel he was wrapped in caught the majority of it!) At home, we introduced him to our Ragdoll kitten, ‘Rascal’, and there we were – married just a few short months, and a ‘family’ of four already!

The years passed, and pets came and went. After Rascal though, there were just dogs. Even now, we have Aksel (another German Shepherd) and Rocky (Australian Cattle Dog, and the best snake-killer you’ve ever seen…) but no cats.

And I’ve decided I miss them. So once the renovations are completed, we’ll be getting another one. I must admit – I’m looking forward to that day more than I realised!

So let’s hear it for the kitten 🙂

And have a great day, dear Reader!

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Christianity More about me my novel-in-progress Work Writing

J is for ‘job’

The regular reader of this blog may remember that I started a new job this year.

Head of Middle School at Caloundra Christian College.

I have well over one hundred 11 to 14 year olds to be responsible for. That’s a lot of hormones!

It’s been fun. So far, I’ve laughed and cried, exulted and been furious, enjoyed every second and wanted to tear my hair out with frustration. And that’s just before Morning Tea each day! Just kidding.

It’s been a wild ride, and I’m loving it. As a Christian, I *do* feel ‘called’ to the position, and I also feel as though I’m making a difference in the lives of the majority of the children in my care. And that gives me such a feeling of satisfaction!

But it’s also been far busier than I’d expected. So much so, that my writing has fallen seriously by the wayside. I knew it would – but not quite to this extent. No matter. This #AtoZchallenge is helping me get back some writing mojo – and when April finishes, I have JUSTINE BROWNING AND THE MEDDLING MERMAN to complete. Hopefully by Mother’s Day, which is the challenge I’ve set myself.

But school starts back next week after the two week Easter break, so it’ll be interesting to see if things go to plan…

Anyway, have a great day, dear Reader, and hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with ‘K’ !

— KRidwyn

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#AtoZchallenge Blogging challenges Random thoughts

I is for ‘iridescent’

I love, love, LOVE this word!

My MacbookPro dictionary gives ‘iridescent’ this meaning:

‘luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles’. And it’s descended from Latin, where ‘irid’ means ‘rainbow’.

(That’s also how the silvery-white metal, iridium, got its name…)

How cool is that, huh?!

Have a great day, dear Reader!

— KRidwyn