Category Archives: sports and hobby

Summer in Europe – Taking a break from work and self care

culture, Societal Issues, sports and hobby, Values and Principles

Hello. I’m currently enjoying my annual holiday and taking this time to read more than write. So instead of something new, I’m sharing an article I wrote six weeks ago; it’s part of a book chapter I’m hoping to publish this year.

“My favourite season is summer (June – September), as I burst with life even though streets in Luxembourg and France are almost empty. Some shops are closed in August, and most inhabitants are on holiday elsewhere.  I adore the thick air with the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grasses in parks. Those who have returned from their annual holiday or cannot afford one, are enjoying the outdoors, such as walking and riding bicycles.  

I’m often away in July, sometimes spending precious moments with relatives and friends in Australia and England. Since I do not resume work until September, I have plenty of time to enjoy European life in t-shirts, shorts, and tongs.

Last year, one blazing summer day, my French friend decided to take her dog walking with us along the Moselle River. Coco, a golden retriever with more energy than the sun itself, was beyond excited. While we were admiring the wild berries, Coco immediately ran straight into the water, but instead of swimming, he started chasing after a swan. Annie, thinking this would be harmless fun, continued picking up wild berries with me until we heard a loud splash. She turned to see Coco, completely soaked, doing a full-on sprint toward her. With his tail wagging like a propeller, Coco kicked up water everywhere, sending my blueberries flying into the air.

In France (where I live), in summer, residents flee to the Riviera, tourists queue for lukewarm espresso, and every “boulangerie” (bakery) ​has mysteriously “fermé pour congés” (closed for holiday) until further notice. Likewise, in Luxembourg (where I work), half the country is on holiday, the other half is stuck in traffic (due to infrastructure work) trying to leave or ​go to work in skeleton offices, and somehow ​I still need a jacket in the morning.”

Where we were a fortnight ago, the sun turned tourists into tomatoes and our Airbnb didn’t know why the oven was out-of-order. We had to decide whether to eat a cold pizza or be generous to the bin; aided by the heatwave that spoilt the cheese and my appetite, the latter won.​ We were in a European country that shares a total land border of 2000 kilometres with Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Morocco, and Portugal. Can you guess where we were?

Holidays improve our mental and physical health, relieve stress and monotony, and strengthen relationships.

Vive l’été en Europe! Vamos a la playa!

I’m wishing you a restful, safe, and fun break from work wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Rolade

Resurrecting dreams and old projects

personal and social development, Societal Issues, sports and hobby, Values and Principles

Have you lost a dream along the way? Did you shelve it because of unforeseen challenges? Do you have projects that have become dormant due to time constraints or shifted priorities? Did you know that revisiting a dream or resurrecting an old project can be a profoundly rewarding experience, as it provides fresh insights, renews passion, and gives a sense of accomplishment?

When reviving an old project or exploit, we’re reconnecting with past ideas and aspirations, invigorating motivation. While the idea of resurrecting an old project is exhilarating, it has its challenges. One of the main hurdles is its potential for outdated or irrelevant content. What was once innovative or necessary might no longer be applicable now. Also, revisiting a dormant project may bring back memories of past failures or frustrations; overcoming these requires resilience and optimism. Though ignoring previous setbacks is a hard thing to do, it’s worth a try.

I have recently revisited a project that came out of a family challenge a decade ago. A relative said I was too pragmatic and not creative enough to write non-fiction books. Well, in 2014, I wrote “Future Perfect”, a novel about a woman without a known past who battles against secrecy, insecurity, and the unexplained kindness of others.  A few weeks ago, I revived it after reading the Conversation’s 3 June 2024 article by Kate Falconer entitled, “You can now be frozen after death in Australia.  If you get revived in the future, will you still legally be the same person?” It has been 10 years since Future Perfect was published, but the story has never been relevant today. Except for its cover, nothing has been changed.

Perfection doesn’t exist; if it does, there’s never enough time to achieve it the first time, but there’s always time to go back to improve it (There’s always room for improvement).

The first step to reviving a dream is to do activities related to it, e.g. changing a career, learning a new skill, or saving money for a trip. Revamping an old project is a journey of rediscovery, growth, and reconnection. With perseverance and an open mind, one can turn a “dream-only thing” and an old or unfinished project into a testimony of imaginativeness, resourcefulness, tenacity, and self-satisfaction.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” —C.S. Lewis (British writer, literary scholar, and Anglican lay theologian, 1989 – 1963).

Olympic Torch parade outside our residence. I could hardly open the door of our building because of the crowd.