I nominate and challenge......

Over the years I have been “nominated” to participate in many Facebook “nomination/challenge posts”. I am not really sure what to call them, besides exactly that. Admittedly, in the past, I would turn a blind eye to them. I mean, who has time to “dig out” old photographs or CD’s or what ever else is trending right?

Who cares anyway?

Now, how times have changed!

Over the past couple of days I have successfully participated in two of these “nominations”, that of your favourite travel images without explanations and albums that have greatly influenced your taste in music. You are probably wondering as to why these 2 were different from any others which I have “ignored”. To be honest I am not exactly sure myself. It might be that I wanted to be taken down memory lane or maybe that I really did just have “spare time” on my hands.

With me doing my “nominations” I have noticed I am not the only one who turns a blind eye and ignores these challenges. Friends would “like” the pics, but not participate. Out of genuine interest, I would love to hear your reasoning for not participating. Then on the flip side, what motivates you to participate?

Yesterday after my Monday morning of cleaning, working, chatting to various friends, it was time to cook dinner and although I had originally asked my Mom to do the cooking, I found myself taking over the main meal and then also a dessert of Sharlotka (Russian Apple Cake).

To be honest, I am not sure what has gotten into me lately.

I do not mind cooking, in fact I do love it and must confess that because of Jason’s love of braaing, I really do not get to cook as often as what I would like to. Also in the past, time would not permit me to cook a gourmet meal. Not if I was running late from work and wanted to have dinner on the table by 18h30.

Now, it is as if a certain passion has been reignited in me. I want to cook and bake. I want to have friends over for “proper grown up dinner parties” with food and wine pairings dressed in black tie. That all sounds so “civilized and posh” does it not? My head is “spinning” with ideas, but the reality is that sadly, unfortunately it is not something that we will be allowed to do any time soon. In the meanwhile, it does sound like a great “date night” idea. A certain wedding anniversary is coming up next week, although I do miss a certain local seafood restaurant so I might have to make an exception and order off their delivery menu instead! We should still dress up! How fun and different would that be, especially with us practically living in the same clothes for the past 8 weeks? Anything to get out of our "dressing routine"!

As I am writing this blog, I realise that I have “slowed down”. I have taken the time to participate in nomination challenges, reignite my passion for cooking, reconnect with “old” friends, turn on my electric blanket, stare out the window and enjoy the sound of the rain.

There are a lot of things that I miss and that I have missed. I have slowly but surely brought “missing” pieces of me back and I cannot wait for more of these little “lost” treasures to re-emerge.

Until next time.

Love, light and positive change

Ophelia