Category: You Asked

Sharing my world- August 15, 2023

This week Share Your World is being hosted by Di. Thanks you so much Di.

1. Do you prefer to live in a single story property like a bungalow, a high rise apartment, or a house?

I have lived in all sort of homes and right now we are in a double storied home of own. I seldom go upstairs as I have issues with my foot. It’s a big family home and I feel that in a few years we should downsize and get an apartment in a nearby complex. That place has a mall, a swimming pool, a walking track and lots of apartments. There will be no hassle of maintaining a garden or the security.

2. If you won a large amount of money on the lottery, would you want publicity or keep things quiet and low key?

Shush……. Don’t tell anyone at all.

3. How do you like your eggs? (No, this is not a trick question)

I really don’t like eggs, especially since I got my gallbladder out. If I have to have them I’d prefer to have them in a cake like Paula, or perhaps a Spanish omelette.

4. If cars were no longer available, what would be your choice of transport?

I think bikes are the best alternative to cars. And if it’s a permanent situation, then get an e-bike like Fandango for we aren’t getting any younger.

Gratitude:

Last Wednesday, I was finally allowed to use my left foot to walk on. Despite my apprehension, there wasn’t any pain on walking on the operated foot, just discomfort. I have been advised to take it easy and do as much as I can easily do. But I am very grateful to the Almighty to be able to be independent again and do stuff for myself, myself!!!

It was good to step out and take a photo of the lush green trees.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Blogging Insights NF # 50 “Conversation is King”

This week Dr Tanya has asked our opinion about this quote;

blogging insights banner

TODAY’S QUOTE:

Conversation is king. Content is just something to talk about. ~Cory Doctorow

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I do agree with this quote in the context of blogging. We blog and then we wait for others to read and comment on it. A blog post without any comments or reader interaction is just sad.

When I write a post on my blog, I have two things in mind. One is to convey a message of some sort. It could be to spread awareness, or to entertain. The other is to connect with my readers. The first action cannot be complete without the second half. When my post is read by others, they connect to me by giving their reaction to what I wrote.

This is the whole aim of blogging! This connection/ conversation is what makes blogging fun. The community here on WordPress is especially different in this respect that they are very friendly people and also encourage others.

But…..

You have to engage with your fellow bloggers before they come to your site and comment on your posts. I’ve read the comments from many new bloggers that nobody comes to read their posts or comments on them. I tell them often that it’s a two-way traffic street, and to get people to visit your blog, you have to visit their blogs too. And leave meaningful comments there.

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Written for Blogging Insights- NF #50, hosted by Tanya

#Keepitalive

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A few riddles to tease the brain from Rory

Rory, now hosting Earthy comforts has posed these teasers for us;

Where and what does the phrase ‘Mad as a box of frogs originate from and mean?’

Never heard of this before, and I think it’s a British thing! I guess that it means to be very noisily mad!

At what age do you think you would clearly recognise a ‘much younger version of you’ if you bumped into YOU on the street today?[example – if l bumped into any version of me younger than 15 l wouldn’t recognise myself]

For the last 25 years or so I’m more or less the way I am now. Weight-wise. Personality wise I’m like that for the last 15 years or so. A chill sort of person who has stopped being stressed out about everything. So I’ll recognize myself if I bumped into a 45-year-old me!

How would you react if you woke up one morning next to a headless horse?

I’ll think I’ve stepped into an alternate universe, like twilight zone, and would go back to sleep hoping that when I wake up again, it’s gone!

What country would you most like to visit if you were a rabbit and why?

I think I’ll stay where I am because for a rabbit to visit other countries is not easy! I’ll just go and find a lettuce farm someplace and live there.

When did Time actually begin and if you are not sure well then make something up!

I want to be the first one to tell you that time began with the Big Bang. The universe is as old as time!

How often do you forget what you just said… ?

Unfortunately, very often. I also forget what I wrote on someone’s post if they reply to my comment after a couple of days so I go back and read my comment first before replying to theirs!

Who would you rather be – Casper the Friendly Ghost or Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost and why?

I’m the friendly type, so I’ll be Casper 👻

Which came first – the banana or the orange or yellow and orange the colours?

Of course the fruit came first and man when inventing words for colors couldn’t come up with something better so they named the colors after the fruits.

Are we actually living our best lives?

I don’t know about others, but I’m doing my best to do so. Are you?

Do you think we owe the world our life, the world owes us our life, or we owe it to ourselves to live life? [Interpret as you wish]

I think we are in a symbiotic relationship with the world around us, where we rely on each other. If we try to live a life independent of the world around us, it will be a miserable life. So better to be mindful of the environment around us.

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#Keepitalive

#Q&A

Sharing my world- August 8-9, 2022

Di is our host today for Share your world, while Melanie is away for health reasons. Thank you Di for stepping in at such short notice. Thanks for keeping SYW going!

Questions;

1. When you’re on holiday, do you prefer self catering or a hotel/B&B?

For me, being on holiday means a holiday from house work and cooking. I like to eat out and that’s one on the main attractions of a holiday.

2. Do you have a favourite meal you cook

I have a few special dishes that I cook well and kids like. I’ve shared the recipe of Haleem before. I also like to make daal makhni, bread pudding, apple pie and English trifle.

3. In the current fuel crisis, have you made a conscious effort not to use the car unless absolutely necessary?

Well since my foot surgery, I am housebound, mainly going out for checkup visits to the hospital and just twice to have a meal with family, I can honestly say that I’m conserving a lot of fuel.

4. If you were to compare yourself to a plant, what would you be?

I’d like to think I’d be something pleasing but useful. Perhaps an aloe plant which has a lot of healing properties but can produce beautiful flowers too.

GRATITUDE:

I am lucky to have a lot of happy memories from my childhood. Please share one from yours.

My childhood memories are a bit fuzzy but I remember one occasion after my mother’s death when we went with our grandparents to a nearby hill resort in Azad Kashmir where the river Jehlum passes before entering Punjab province. It was a serene place and we had very peaceful family time with our father, he was otherwise very busy with his job as the chief secretary of Kashmir.

Ghari Dupatta, is a small town. It is located 20 kilometers away from Muzaffarabad city

I hope that Melanie recovers soon and is hosting this challenge once again. Sending her lots of love and hugs.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Persistence pays

This week Dr Tanya has asked our opinion about this quote;

” The difference between writers who finish books and those who don’t– is that the finishers don’t stop writing until they get to : THE END.” —- Brian Hutchinson, author of Writer’s Doubt.

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To write a story or a novel, one needs to not only have a story in one’s head, and determination to write it, but also the persistence to get to the end.

In fact to complete any job or task, one needs the will to take it to the end. Many would-be writers with their half-finished manuscripts can testify to this fact. Just today I was Ritu’s blog where she wrote that she has already finished the rough draft of her second book in a few days. I know many bloggers who are successful writers and I think the difference between those who finish and publish a book and those who don’t is just this; the burning desire to get the book/ story out of their head and onto the paper/ screen.

I have a notion to compile a poetry book from the poems I’ve already written in my blog one day but since the drive is missing, I haven’t even started it yet.

The simple truth is that the doers do and others just talk, think or plan. I fall in the second category.

What about you? Any plans to write a book or have you already done that?

Written for Blogging Insights- NF # 49, hosted by Tanya

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#BloggingInsights

Successful people don’t quit!

Today’s quote that Dr Tanya has presented to us for discussion is;

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” — Richard Bach

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Although I agree with this quote in reference to writing in general, it hardly applies to blogging. A person who aspires to be a professional writer starts as an amateur and kept on diligently writing till they achieved success.

And as Tanya said in her post, any person who acquires success has had to work hard and consistently to get where they wanted to reach.

In blogging world, the success is measured differently. Some people want to be read and appreciated, irrespective of the number of followers they have. While others measure success by the number of people who follow their blog or leave likes and comments on their posts.

In blogging, there’s a world of difference between a professional blogger and a personal one ( non-professional), they aim for different things and the way they approach blogging is different too. A professional wants to make money from their blog. That is done by advertising, using sponsored links, and promoting other products that in turn pay them. While a personal blogger blogs for personal satisfaction only. They may dream of making some money by getting WordPress to advertise Wordads on their blog but that never amounts to more than a few dollars.

In conclusion, I’d say that gaining success in any field needs hard work. Writing is no different. And in blogging, if you want to achieve your personal goals, put in the effort!

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Written in response to Blogging Insights- NF # 48, hosted by Tanya

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First Share of August 2022

These are the questions of Share Your World, posed by Melanie, our gracious host

Thanks to Sadje for the image today!

QUESTIONS

Do you ever feel more excited about getting the package in the mail, rather than the item that’s in it?

Once I had ordered a facial cleanser online and it got delayed. I was traveling back to Pakistan from Seattle that day and wanted to take it with me. It arrived 10 minutes before I had to leave for the airport. I was so excited. As for the cleanser, I still have it, partly used four years later. I think it must have gone bad by now and I should get rid of it!

What is the difference between your ideal self and your real self? (i.e. what attribute or physical feature would allow you feel the ideal ‘you’?)

I do try to match my ideal me to the real me that I am. There’s no doubt that the ideal me would be a slimmer, fitter, and healthier version of the real me. She would also be more patient and less impulsive. Otherwise, I’m okay with the real me.

If you found $2,000 on the ground and there were no witnesses, what would you do with it?

I would take it to the nearest police station and declare that I found it is such and such place. It wouldn’t feel right to keep it because God knows how badly the real owner would need that money.

Are you ever morally obliged to take action? Under what circumstances?

I think when I see a wrong being done, it’s my duty to speak up or take action against it.

If someone is being cruel towards humans or children, I should step in. The same goes if an animal is being abused, I should prevent the abuse.

Sometimes, we are obliged to step in albeit unwilling when we see a loved one in a difficult situation. We have to try to tell them that they aren’t making the right choices. This is the hardest of all situations as it can and does often backfires.

GRATITUDE SECTION
Please feel free to share how last week went for you. Bright or not so bright spots?

Last week was mostly stay at home, lazy week. My husband was away on official business and my youngest daughter and granddaughter gave me company and looked after my needs. It’s the hardest thing to do; to ask someone to do little chores for you that you aren’t able to do yourself. But she is so sweet that she asks me if I need anything many times a day.

Monsoon season has arrived and so have the best of mangoes. We are enjoying them daily.

Thanks Melanie for these thought provoking questions.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

My TV viewing habits

This week Fandango asks us about our TV viewing habits.

I’ll answer these questions together instead of separately.

I live in Pakistan. And we have 4 TV sets in our home. One in the family lounge, and three in bedrooms. It’s not that we need so many TVs but when we upgrade to a newer model, instead of selling the old one at a fraction of the original cost, we put it in one of the bedrooms. The latest one was the one my husband bought for our bedroom when I had my surgery. He felt that I might need some entertainment because I’m almost bed-bound.

Before my surgery, I’d only watch a movie or a serial with my family, as family entertainment. I didn’t watch tv regularly as I preferred to blog. Now since I have too much time to kill I typically watch either a movie a day or a few episodes of some show that takes my fancy. I’d recommend “Blown away” as it’s a lot of fun and the episodes are about 25 minutes long.

I never watch the news if I have an option to walk away from it. All news is depressing and demoralizing. I don’t like live tv either as I don’t remember the times any show is aired. My entertainment of choice is Netflix as it’s the only platform that offers a variety of shows and movies that interest me. We do have Amazon prime here but it’s being aired from India so most of the content is Indian and not in Hindi that I understand but in regional languages, which I don’t.

I’m waiting when I’ll be able to go to a theater and watch the new Thor and Topgun movie. Perhaps the new Minions too.

In response to FPQ # 175, hosted by Fandango

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Waiting for the perfect conditions?

Dr Tanya has asked our opinion about this quote this week;

” A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word to paper.” E. B. White

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We all need to have conditions that are conducive to writing. They might not be ideal but they have to be such that writing comes easily to us.

I prefer an environment free from distraction of people talking. Be it real people or on tv. That just distracts me so much that I cannot form a thought to put in writing. I like to be by myself and with some soft music playing in the background when I write.

Good writing is much more than our environment and surroundings. Good writing is basically a good idea. And a good idea can come to us at anytime. The trick is to write it down so that we don’t forget it, which is often the case with me.

And writing needs commitment. Without commitment, writing a short post isn’t easy. If we are serious about writing, we need to follow through our resolve to write.

I’ve known bloggers who post sporadically, because there is a lot going on in their lives. But basically it comes down to how committed they are to their writing. I find time to write on days even when I’m very busy because I am committed to my blog. If I know I’ll be unavailable, I pre-schedule posts for those days. And I do try to keep my posting streak unbroken.

In conclusion, I think that writing needs a basic level of comfort where one can write without interruption, a good idea to write about and a commitment to o writing.

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In response to Blogging Insights- NF # 47, hosted by Tanya

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#BloggingInsights

Sharing my world- July 25, 2022

Melanie, our gracious host of Share Your World has posed these questions this week;

Credit for this image goes to Paula Light of Light Motifs II

QUESTIONS

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed? (If you don’t know, just choose something that you think would improve things 🙂 )

I don’t know if any such creature exists that would improve things all over the world. But if I have to invent one, I’d say those dark angles who carry whips with them and stop wherever people are being unkind, cruel, unjust, bigoted and destroying the planet.

Should the death penalty be re-instated? Why or why not?

In my country, the death penalty exists and is reserved for those who have committed the most heinous of crimes like murder, child rape, molestation, and terrorism.

Spontaneity Or Stability?

A bit of both. Otherwise, life would be unbalanced.

Can a dog/cat suffer? What about an ant? What about a plant? What about a bacteria cell? Why do some humans think we’re the only species that does suffer? Your thoughts?

All creature that have brains, can feel pain. A bacteria or virus doesn’t have a brain. A plant might feel pain because we don’t know yet how they communicate with each other or parts of themselves. Other higher animals feel pain and other emotions like love just like we do.

GRATITUDE SECTION

What are two things that have brightened your day today?

On the weekend, we all got together for a family dinner at a restaurant. It was wonderful to have everyone there and we had a great time .

Many thanks to Melanie for coming up with interesting questions every week.

Written for SYW, hosted by Melanie

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#SYW