Black and white*

That old cliché, that nothing in life is black and white, is also a truism.

Mid 2016, I was increasingly less able to manage the jaundice that was developing in my working environment and then my work encroached on my blog space. Posts were sporadic over the previous 18 or so months: not for lack of material, but rather an inability to focus because the jaundice had become a cancer.

About a year later, I came to a crossroads and had to make a very difficult decision. To give up my day job.

The had to be excised. Living in one of the most beautiful places in the world (I believe) no longer soothed my soul in the same way because I didn't have the energy to enjoy it.

Early winter colours over my beloved McGregor

Back to not having a day job. Terrifying and liberating, that decision has been. Liberation came with the deciding. The terror is because, I am again following my heart, leaving the toxicity of what was my “day job” to start something using skills and resources I am only just beginning to recognise as having value outside that milieu.

In action: cooking Selma's Sunday Supper

I am doing more cooking - regular Sunday Suppers @ The Sandbag House - and have even had the privilege of having a Sunday Supper documented by professional photographer friend, Selma.

You will find her take on Sunday Suppers here - and while you're there, explore her blog and fabulous photography.

Some of the recipes for Sunday Suppers, are Fiona's Favourites and already feature here. The leaflet below, is how I market Sunday Suppers in in the village and via The Sandbag House Facebook page. Alas, with the novel corona virus I'm not sure when we'll be hosting the next Sunday Supper. I am doing even more writing and online work. I miss the cooking.

New recipes have emerged; as I said, I'm not short of material.... As I update and add new posts, recipes will be in downloadable PDF files. Some already are. I'm being nagged about a book. I mentioned the possibility here.

So, in mid 2017 I started getting my groove back. Cooking and little bit of writing. As I started my new journey which has seen me learning how to do a website on another platform, I am doing more cooking and taking the odd photograph. Like these two.

Both are in a house are included on that website (always an evolving work-in-progress), and new venture. The first, a beautiful pestle and mortar with a lemon squeezer. The latter, I am sure, would be much happier in my kitchen! How's that for a confession?

Here, I just liked the contrast of the stainless steel against the surfaces. The property owner was a little alarmed.

Fiona, that's so ugly, the surface is not good....

So, until next time, the photographs are all that are black and white....in my life at the moment, anyway!

*Some "after thoughts"

I wrote this in September 2017 and other than some minor edits, have made few changes to republish because of this. It's funny how things turn. I suspect that there's little in anyone's life that's black and white right now.

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Photo: Selma

Post Script

• I’m participating in blogpal @tracyork’s April challenge of sharing a post every day during April – on the Hive blockchain. I succeeded last year – on Steemit from which the new blockchain “hived off”…
• It seems a good way to constructively use the time during a compulsory lock down, right? For more about this initiative, please check out Traci’s post.

I’m still blogging on Steem and more recently share my burbling on Uptrennd.

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Posted from my WordPress blog: http://fionasfavourites.net/black-and-white/

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