tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81474323121202271722026-04-18T23:44:12.494+01:00Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.comBlogger866125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-65819220247757746662025-11-04T01:11:00.003+00:002025-11-04T11:13:10.141+00:00

  The theme for this 20th anniversary Blogblast for Peace is SPEAK LOVE. I had to dig deep for this one as it's not been a year that spoke love, personally or globally. I lost contact with loved ones this year due to their disapproval of my views on politics and life choices, I'm in danger of losing my home and community due to things beyond my control, and the news from all around

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-78909698836308423372025-08-21T19:58:00.000+01:002025-08-21T19:58:14.848+01:00

To start this spiral I needed to repost the "full circle"  story I wrote in 2018. Back then, I thought it was a closure, a completed circle of personal history. I was wrongLast year my seemingly complete ring began to spiral in the most unexpected and wonderful way. It started with us taking a dear friend on holiday to see the Fochabers Folk Museum. We'd actually never been there

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-10979563689152717932025-08-21T15:51:00.000+01:002025-08-21T18:45:55.636+01:00

I wrote this many years ago years ago, but decided to post it again for friends and family.What do Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and this very impressive stone building in Scotland have in common? Some things I never knew and someone I would NEVER would have expected! © Copyright Ann Harrison and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. This gorgeous neo-Gothic building is a school in

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-57514360987050128112025-03-30T11:03:00.004+01:002025-03-30T11:03:51.572+01:00

  

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-82036992590808620072025-02-26T10:24:00.000+00:002025-02-26T10:24:16.187+00:00

Saw a news item this morning on a new invention and MAYBE I'm going tinfoil hat here, but this creeped me out.  Couldn't help thinking of Revelations. Revelation 13:1, 2; 11–1811 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-84727825170049767492025-02-12T15:17:00.000+00:002025-02-12T17:00:08.261+00:00

 In 2014 I wrote a poem that seems even more needed today.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-40209166708873084192025-02-12T15:15:00.000+00:002025-02-12T16:59:29.423+00:00

On January 6th 2021, I watched live TV as mobs attacked the Capitol Building in the USA. Afterwards, I wrote out my fears in this blog post - REPEAT PATTERNS. I hope you read it, but for now I'm copying how I ended that post in 2021 and putting it here."For the last four years, I've constantly tried to make those in the spiral see that this man they follow is a narcissist. Constantly

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-6751579112795841262025-02-12T13:00:00.003+00:002025-02-12T17:01:37.351+00:00

 Know your history or be doomed to repeat it...~1~ ~ 2 ~   ~ 3 ~  ~4~     ~ 5 ~    I have to digress here and add that 11 February 2025 was Women in Science Day. In honour of that I'm adding my own "comment" on the role of women in NASAKeep shining your light.  ~ 6 ~   ~ 7 ~    ~ 8 ~ 

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-39614436695537242272025-01-29T17:50:00.017+00:002025-01-29T17:53:36.749+00:00

A friend commented today that they were surprised that I hated this new president's inaugural speech. My reply became too long to post at the place where my friend left this query, so I am putting it here and will send them the link. Dear friend, You said: "most Americans found it to be the most uplifting and inspiring speech in the last 50 years. It was refreshingly honest." Most

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-30193341680898685312025-01-25T11:14:00.000+00:002025-01-25T11:14:11.839+00:00

 I say that fairly often, then equally often add that I do follow Jesus.  And I guess that must sound a bit nuts. Something happened this week that made me realise I could explain it. I had a meme thing pop up on Facebook that stunned me. Americans calling a Bishop evil for .. the sin of empathy? My dad LOVED the concept of empathy. He always said that the greatest gift we could have.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-20915232188576496632024-11-04T18:03:00.004+00:002024-11-04T18:03:50.392+00:00

I am out of words this year, so I'm using some lovely lyrics from a song by a very talented duo called Our Atlantic Roots.     With thanks to Debbie Edwards for the lantern lady artwork.   

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-32602498837635023632023-11-04T12:14:00.001+00:002023-11-04T12:14:06.450+00:00

  This year, Queen Mimi's peace challenge was to "Change the Room":"How do you keep your peace when all around you is chaos? The planet is groaning for peace and stability. We can change the atmosphere by walking in daily calmness and joy, even during the darkest of days. What fuels your inner peace? Tell us how you do it. We'll learn from each other." Every story has to start from

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-43789971337192106472023-08-21T10:21:00.002+01:002023-08-21T10:21:38.228+01:00

Everyone jump up on the Peace Train!  

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-42760087851558636522023-04-20T14:12:00.006+01:002023-05-27T12:59:51.492+01:00

 I've spoken about having endometriosis and how that gave me nerve damage and fibromyalgia. What I very rarely talk about is the fact I have anxiety. "Have anxiety" sounded better than "I suffer from anxiety", which made me see martyred saint icons waving their hands and staring up in spiritual despair. Chronic illnesses are things you learn to live with. Suffering from them is an

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-18669176524356864032022-12-22T11:53:00.001+00:002022-12-22T11:53:12.738+00:00

As much as I enjoy the giving and getting of presents and watching "feel good" Christmas movies, that's not at all what this season is about for me.As far back as I can remember, the true magic lies in stars and wise men willing to follow them, simple shepherds experiencing the unimaginable and the most humble birth of a child. The fact they are woven through with older religions gifting us

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-84752874491926693592022-11-04T01:01:00.002+00:002022-11-04T12:35:55.002+00:00

This year,  the theme for Blog for Peace is No Freedom, No Peace"It's hard to remain unboundwhen the world wants to keep you in chains.  Are you free? And if you're not, what is holding you back? I am convinced that no amount of peace can spring from even a sliver of bondage. Figure it out. What is keeping you bound? When you fight for your freedom you are fighting for

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-101775947182670792022-10-27T10:26:00.006+01:002022-11-04T12:37:00.769+00:00

It's official! My books are rebranded on Amazon as a linked series. They have new covers and some new content. For old fans, do not despair! Nothing good was removed or taken out, and not much has been added. A few continuity issues between book 1 and 2 needed sorting, and otherwise the only difference is a "bit of polish", as in improved proofing and formatting. The old books covers had to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-39486815906235973732022-07-06T10:18:00.004+01:002022-07-06T10:18:33.730+01:00

This week, I've realised something huge - the old South Africa and (some of) the USA are very much alike; which is why so much of the USA stuff triggers me. It brings back a lot of bad memories. Maybe I've just been exceptionally unlucky, or maybe I've just been more aware. Either way, it was often nothing huge, just constant small slap downs. Slap... slap... slap... until you either break and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-37624506611700961812022-07-05T12:24:00.002+01:002022-07-05T12:24:51.532+01:00

The recent news that the USA Supreme court has overturned Roe vs Wade is a dark day for women living there. For all women, really. To have 50 years of bodily autonomy declared irrelevant overnight impacts  all of us. I'm tired now. I'm tired of having to explain why a foetus (no matter whether it is loved or wanted, or feared and not wanted) is not a person. A foetus may be the potential to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-38850767418787434232022-03-20T18:18:00.004+00:002022-05-05T11:45:56.809+01:00

 For this special edition of Blogblast for Peace, I'd like to focus on one question: Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? For me, the conflict in Ukraine is shining a huge spotlight on all the things that need to change before humans can ever hope to have world peace. It's impressive how many countries are offering homes to Ukrainian refugees, but also completely 

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-90782647840603075382021-11-01T04:44:00.069+00:002022-05-05T11:45:56.813+01:00

For two decades (how did the time go by so fast?) I've taken part in Blogblast for Peace, every November. I've watched it continue to grow, steadily spiralled outwards as we draw, write and create in the name of Peace. But this year I'm turning around and following the spiral back to the centre. It's time to turn. Because no matter how much of a difference we might make in fighting for

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-53273311739313973602021-10-20T19:54:00.007+01:002021-10-20T19:54:52.182+01:00

The theme for Blogblast for Peace this year (Nov 4-7 2021) is.. "Courageous Peace in a Time of Great Change"  Please join us! I'm ready! :) And here's my inspiration... Brave! You can be amazing You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug You can be the outcast Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love Or you can start speaking up... Say what you wanna say And let the words

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-49573553959685112222021-09-23T11:07:00.004+01:002021-09-23T11:07:57.291+01:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-24077413361295788562021-07-08T10:32:00.004+01:002021-08-05T07:45:44.047+01:00

 I saw this picture on a friend's Facebook today...... it hit home for several reasons. The first being that this was something I failed badly at, when I was young; I regularly dimmed my light when I was a teen. It started after I moved countries, at age 10, and wanted to just "fit in" at my new schools in a strange new culture. Looking back, I can see that a lot of the "me" from those high

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-63615857146898997472021-01-10T19:30:00.002+00:002021-01-11T09:07:48.814+00:00

 I drew this picture a long time ago, in the 1990s, as an illustration for a book: "Die Dans van die Brein/The Brain Dance" by Shani Grove This drawing was for a chapter on how, and why, ordinary individuals lose their self-identity when they join group belief systems. The harmful systems, such as cults and extremist political groups, in particular. On January 6th 2021, I saw this

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com7