Just About Now

While not the episode promised last time around, this is still worth a listen: It’s impossible to go wrong with a theme like favourite things.

I begin with the sudden realisation, carrots are not loved. They are grown, peeled, sometimes cooked, grated and then eaten. In the history of modern society, the carrot has had but one public champion, a character willing to face scorn and mockery, in his defence of the carrots he loved… The episode is nowhere near as dramatic as that, but still worth a listen.

You know the one where there’s this thing you’ve always wanted to do? It’s possible your need to do it borders on the obsessive –though, it’s also fine if it doesn’t. What matters is the joy you feel when the thing you’ve always wanted to do gets done. That’s what this episode is about. Going forward, the About That Book ‘miniseries’ will share thoughts and observations on the journey from idea to story to published book.

A sudden increase in pedestrian and cycle traffic on the streets of Amsterdam led to a near miss between two cyclists –one of whom had obviously ignored a red traffic sign! Of course this led to a noisy and angry exchange between the cycling gentlemen, in which curses (themed around the hope that the other would be stricken down with some terrible illness) were thrown about quite freely. Meanwhile we, the viewing public, chuckled awkwardly and wondered why the two were so angry about so little? My ‘wonderings’ evolved into this quick trip into memories about unnecessary anger.

This particular BWM led to a couple of things…

First, the series of photographs in the Nervous Camera Movements clip (there’s a link in the show notes). Second, memories of how I escaped from some work-related BWMs - back in the day.

So there I am, watering the plants, it’s raining outside, and just like that… I realise how much of my life has been spent watching raindrops.

I mean, would you allow absolutely anyone to overtake you, especially when you believe you are moving as fast as you can?

Today’s subject matter: An elegant jogger.

Imagine a danger so great, so intense, goosebumps ripple across your skin and the hairs on your arms stand up and perform Mexican waves. Or what about the dangers of climbing into a volcano’s crater and pleading with it not to erupt. Or having to put one’s fears to the side and face down a deadly donkey called Duncan. Yep, there are dangers out there…

Beni, me, and a crew of other uncool first year undergraduates, found an outlet for the pain of rejection. We drove our mothers’ cars around Enugu, at night, like crazy bandits. Oh how we had the time of our lives; zooming and screeching; racing around. It was all such great fun, until it wasn’t…