@Charli_Mills Weekly Flash Fiction Prompt: Rebellion

In response to Carrot Ranch’s weekly Flash Fiction Prompt: Rebellion.

Ignorance

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

He said it so casually, for such an inconsequential thing. David stared at his brother.

“What?” Scott grunted, barely looking up from his laptop (too busy spamming job applications).

“You don’t even know where that phrase comes from.” Not a question.

Scott grimaced. “But you’re about to tell me…”

“Guy Fawkes said that.”

“The firework?”

David gave up with a melodramatic gesture towards his brother. It was Scott’s ignorance that caused him to get sacked from his last job, inadvertently offending his boss’s family. He had to learn some social awareness sometime… surely?

*

A tenuous link to the prompt, I know, but ‘rebellion’ caused me to think of Guy Fawkes, which in turn made me think of the phrase ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’. While I was told by a teacher in high school that Guy Fawkes said this, the phrase is actually much older and is thought to originate from Hippocrates’ Aphorisms (an ancient Greek book) : Extreme diseases require extreme cures.

This also got me thinking about how we use everything in the world while (largely) being ignorant of their origins. Another example I can think of is the Nobel Peace Prize, which was started by Alfred Nobel so he could be remembered for something better than becoming ‘rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before’ – he invented dynamite.

In turn, isn’t rebellion often brought on by ignorance? The ignorance of the plight of an oppressed people, until the oppressed rise up to face their oppressors? Or in the case of propaganda, being used to spread half-truths to people who don’t know any better, to stir them up into rebellion?

Food for thought.

Photo Challenge: Weight(less)

In response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Weight(less)

These shoes have been hanging on the powerlines by the train station since before I moved to the neighbourhood. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw this week’s prompt: share a photo of something marked by its weight. They still turn in the breeze…

 

@RonovanWrites Weekly Haiku Prompt Challenge: Vast & Clear

Vast year stretched ahead

The way forward is not clear

First steps undesigned…

In response to Ronovan’s Weekly Haiku Prompt Challenge: Vast & Clear

@CharliMills Flash Fiction Prompt: Industry

In response to Charli Mill’s weekly Flash Fiction Prompt: Industry

One year on, an unexpected correspondence landed in my inbox.

FW: Additional Information – Workpac & Centrelink

At first I thought it was spam, but I recognised the sender. My old boss. Or, to be more accurate, my old boss’s boss’s boss. The big boss.

The big boss was sending out links on how to find work.

Despite having left the industry for my own reasons (and pleased to see the back of it) I couldn’t help but feel a foreboding sorrow.

Operations temporarily suspended. 242 jobs lost.

Owned by a blue-chip company, but ended up another Blue Sky Mine.

This is actually a true story – the mine I used to work at has been one of a number mines in Australia to close. I must have been left on the mailing list by accident to get the email. It’s pretty surprising to see your old boss email you about Centrelink (the government job and income support in Australia). The next day, I saw it on the news: 242 jobs.

I hadn’t kept in touch with anyone I knew from that mine. I wonder what they’re doing, but it would be a bit like rubber-necking to call them now. Some will be okay, and some won’t. Circumstance is a terrible thing. You almost need to plan for bad times, just in case.

Indie Book Review: Sailor’s Warning by Noelle Greene

Review:

This is the second book by Noelle Greene that I’ve read, and another one I loved. The characters are so real, no stereotypes here – just complicated, flawed human beings. I particularly liked Rob (the hero) as he is honestly one of the most realistic male characters I have ever read in a romance. Quite simply, he’s a bit distasteful at times due to his arrogance or presumptions, but rather than making him dislikeable it actually makes him honest. We are made from our own experiences, and this can result in poor judgement on our own part. There was a moment early in the book when he meets the heroine when her illness is at its worst, an illness that causes her hair to fall out and strips her of her youth. Rather than feeling pity for her (as I expected) he felt disgusted, and then ashamed of himself. It is a reaction many people have in the face of such sickness, and I was surprised the author didn’t shy away from describing it. There was nothing rosy about the scene, just honest and terrible humanity.

Rob takes a long time to redeem himself, to become honest with his own flaws and expectations for life. While I would call the genre of this novel suspense/mystery romance, there are ample doses of family drama and personal discovery too. The hero and heroine are entirely equal in this book as they both go through their own, intersecting journeys. Okay, I’ve talked enough about the hero, let’s hear about the heroine!

Meri Darrow is a scientist (yay!) whose career and health are in tatters (boo!). She’s one smart cookie, although maybe if she’d read as many Agatha Christie novels as I had she might’ve guessed one of the twists earlier (I swear, some novels are as good as textbooks for the things you can learn). Her character is equal parts fierce and wary, her illness (I’m being vague deliberately) having sapped much of her vigour, but not all! As she recovers, she starts to dig towards the truth of the experiments at her old labs. The subsequent mystery and suspense are so much fun. Honestly, what’s not to like about Sailor’s Warning? It has everything I could want! (Hooray for complex characters!)

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like my review? Like it on Goodreads too!

Amazon buy link.

Sailor’s Warning, by Noelle Greene

Book Length: 255 pages

Suspense/Mystery Romance (Adult Fiction)

According to the Blurb:

They want her complete silence. He wants her complete surrender.

He’s ambitious. Meri Darrow has Rob McLain pegged. He’s a fund manager, more interested in profit than innovation. Rob wants the privileged life she rejected long ago, right down to the showy ocean view villa. Cute as he is, he’s definitely not her type. But Meri needs Rob’s help after she is suddenly fired from her dream job developing a breakthrough anti-aging drug.

She’s a lightning rod for trouble. Rob is shocked how much he wants this brilliant but naïve scientist, even though helping her could ruin his career. Then there’s her mysterious illness. This intense attraction scares the hell out of him.

They can’t win. Now Rob is about to lose everything he’s worked for. Meri’s attempts to do the right thing have only brought fear and death, putting Rob and his little boy in danger. The best thing she can do for them is walk away.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Circle

In response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Circle

The prompt this week was ‘circle’ to celebrate the new year but also to be interpreted any which way we liked 🙂 The memory of visiting the temple of Athena at the ancient site of Delphi came to mind. See the circle? Many of these structures found at religious sites have an unknown purpose, making it even more intriguing. Was it an altar? A place of prayer? Was there once a grand statue in the middle? Either way, it makes for a good tourist shot.

(Greece is well worth visiting if you love archaeology!)

Happy New Year Everyone!

@Charli_Mills Flash Fiction Challenge: Spreading the Light

In response to Charil’s Carrot Range Flash Fiction Challenge: Spreading the Light

Tensions were running high as was expected at this time of year. The first weekend of December must always be murderously hot, and so the whole household must work away in baking heat to cover the property in artistically arranged Christmas lights.

From previous experience we knew we must stock the freezer with zooper doopers. It didn’t matter how old we were, that stuff was more potent than Gatorade. But even though we prepared, by late afternoon we had dissolved into sweaty, frustrated shouting matches.

Until the sun went down and the lights came on.

And everything was okay.

I was very literal with the prompt this time, wasn’t I? On that note, did we all get to see the Christmas lights in our neighbourhood? It was always a tradition in my family, not to put up Christmas lights, but to drive around on Christmas Eve and see everyone else’s lights!

While googling pictures of Christmas lights for inspiration, I came across this wonderful article from Canberra highlighting the people who decorate their homes for others to visit, raising funds and drawing attention to important charities. The stories in this article are far more important than my frivolous flash fiction, so if you want to give it a read you can find it here.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Now

In response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Now (take a photo of the present)

All weekend I’ve been waiting for the sky to open and deliver some rain to cool things off. Luckily, this afternoon I got my wish!

Right after taking the first photo, the rain came.

Sweet relief! Although I just heard the first crack of thunder… be careful what you wish for! (The whole world seems to be experiencing some awful weather at the moment…)

 

@RonovanWrites Haiku Challenge Sing & Day

In response to Ronovan Writes’ Weekly Haiku Challenge: Sing & Day

When the day drags on

I sing to keep completing

All these little chores.

Now around Christmas

They all seem to be endless

Keep calm, carry on.

 

Photo Challenge: Gathering

In response to the Daily Post’s weekly Photo Challenge

The challenge this week could be interpreted in any way, and I thought of the multi-coloured chili bush growing in my neighbours’ front yard. I have walked past this thing, practically spilling out onto the footpath, for over two years now. This week is the first I week I actually picked a few to use in some Indian dinners!

Okay, okay, it’s not stealing exactly. Look how many chilies are growing on this thing! Also, it’s from a garden outside a massive apartment block, so surely it’s there to service more then one person? I have no idea who actually owns/grows it. Maybe it doesn’t need any help. Maybe it’s just this magical chili bush that grew out of some discarded seeds one day. Either way, it makes food delicious!

On another note…

I have not posted in several months (being flat out with uni assessments and things) and then I wondered if I should even go back to blogging. But I was feeling an… absence. Of purpose? Of fulfillment? I don’t know, but I spoke to a few friends who encouraged me to go back 🙂 I honestly don’t know how often or how regularly I will be able to post in the new year, but I have to remember this is a hobby and not a chore. I will post as long as I am having fun, and I’m looking forward to having some fun dabbling in the interwebs once again 🙂

Cheers everyone! Happy holidays!