Bridget McNulty

Effort vs. intention…

// April 29th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Decisions, Life (and the living of it), Time, book launch

I’ll have to be brief this morning, because I’ve got a day of nonstop Things To Do, many of them rather lovely (if you’re in South Africa, tune into SAfm at 1.30pm for an interview I’m taking part in on blogging… should be fun!)

I just wanted to throw an idea at you, and see what you think. It’s about effort vs. intention. Esther Hicks, who I’m rather a fan of (could you guess?) says that why things come to us has less to do with how hard we try, and more to do with how much in alignment our energy is. So, for example, if you really want a new job you obviously have to pitch up to the interview and do your best, but when you go home it would be more valuable to spend some time getting your energy to a good place – feeling happy and inspired and lucky and ready to receive a new job – than it would be calling the secretary every five minutes and hanging up before you say anything!

It’s an interesting idea, I think, because it could have the most extraordinary effects if it turns out to be true… I’m going to experiment with it and let you know how it goes, care to join me?
My experiment involves a long story about how I started applying for my Irish passport renewal in February, but due to me being a dummy and smiling too much in the photos and then having to take and post new photos, and then having them get lost in the mail, I’m now scarily in danger of not getting my passport before I leave for the USA. It takes 4 weeks, I leave in 3 and a half.

Now, apparently sometimes it takes 3 weeks, so there’s hope. And I plan on calling the Irish passport people (in Ireland) today to state my case – my book’s coming out! I need to get there on time! I will make every effort to do as much as I can to get my passport in time. And then I will let go and wait for it to come to me. Because stressing about it and trying to make up things to do to make it arrive won’t work. At all.

I don’t think.

What do you think?

UPDATE: 24 hours later, and I’ve spoken to the charming Irish Embassy people in Dublin (I was stating my sob story for her and she interrupted to ask me what my novel is called and how to spell my name!) All I had to do was supply the South African office with a telephone number, and the passport could be processed. The Irish folks seem to think there’ll be no problem getting it in 3 weeks. *Phew!*

So how was your long weekend?

// April 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Life (and the living of it), Time

For those of you not in South Africa, we’re in the midst of a whole month full of long weekends…. In fact, this week is slap bang in the middle of two long weekends, giving us a 3 day weekend, a 3 day workweek, and a 3 day weekend. Lovely!

Only… I have so. much. to. do.

I was reflecting, last week, on what serendipitous timing it was that this month I have desperately needed long weekends to recuperate from the busy-ness of the week, and that it’s a month full of these zen spaced-out weekends. But then I realised that the reason I need the weekends so badly is that I’m cramming a full week’s worth of work into 3 or 4 days. And that extra day is all the time I usually take off – time in my hammock, catching my breath, doing a meditation, watching movies, going for walks. So essentially, all these long weekends have taken the pockets of breathing space out of my days, and made them exhaustingly busy! Nobody’s fault but my own, of course, but I do miss my more laidback pace…

I’m sure it will be back soon. Most of the busy-ness at the moment is planning for our round the world trip, and trying to sort out sponsorship for it. Oh yes, did I mention? We’re getting sponsored to go around the world… More on that when it’s in the bag!
It seems like my man and I are running all week to fit in normal work and trip planning stuff, and then we get to the weekend and we indulge in luxurious nothingness – watching DVDs, eating really good food, sleeping 10 hours a night, drinking countless cups of tea, reading, and catching our breath. So I suppose my pockets of breathing space have been crammed into the weekends. Not much to complain about, then!

What about you? How was your long weekend?

Beth: a podcast from Strange Nervous Laughter

// April 24th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Do you want to meet Beth? She’s a charming soul, with a penchant for floating, and a tendency to fall in love at the drop of a hat…

Here’s a podcast introducing her:

“The first chapter of Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty, in which we meet Beth – a cashier (later turned motivational speaker) who has a heart too big for her life…”

Click here to download the MP3 from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty ...

Listen to the MP3 online!

Beth from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty

Celebrity news :)

// April 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Life (and the living of it), Publishing, Writing

Every so often, I get just the faintest inkling of what it would be like to be a minor celebrity….

Like now, for example.

Check out the May issue of Shape magazine for an article I wrote on the space between mothers and daughters, ‘Fuelled by love’. I wrote about 4 pairs of amazing moms and daughters who have done cool things together (including my mom and I, even though our plans to skydive were foiled by clouds!)

Then in the May issue of O, the Oprah magazine, (the SA version) there’s an article on Blogging that lists me as one of the best Humour Blogs (who knew??) and my fabulous sister-in-law Dagmar as one of the best Crafty Blogs, and my very funny friend Megan as one of the best Lifestyle Blogs (scroll over their names to get to their blogs, for some reason the word doesn’t change colour when it’s hiding a link!)

And then, as a result of that article, in which I give a few tips for blogging, I’m going to be on SAfm on Wednesday! (For those out of South Africa, it’s one of the best national radio stations, tagline: “For the well-informed”, don’t you know!) On Nancy Richards show, between 1.30pm and 2pm. Listen in!

So all in all, I’m starting to wonder where my entourage of minions is… Any volunteers??

Wonder-full quote:

// April 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Inspiration

I just read this in a chain letter (of all places!) and thought it was uncannily well-timed…

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

The Shopping List of my mind:

// April 23rd, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Life (and the living of it), Time

Sometimes my mind feels like a shopping list. Of a person who hasn’t shopped in a really long time… Do you know what I mean? Thoughts are on there that are urgent and really need to be bought (or thought, ha!), others kind of slipped in there by mistake, and others would really be better off if they were dealt with one at a time. In a quiet boutique environment.

But here they are anyway…. Are you ready for it? Welcome to the shopping paradise of my mind!

1. That was a really yummy lunch.
2. I have so much to do.
3. Why won’t iTunes let me submit my podcast, just cause I’m in South Africa?
4. I hope everyone in SA voted yesterday.
5. It is alarming how quickly winter arrived in Cape Town.
6. I’m worried about a friend who broke up with her boyfriend yesterday.
7. I’m anxious/excited for a friend who’s reuniting with her boyfriend today.
8. Thank goodness it’s a long weekend!
9. I really need to get some work-work done.
10. I really need to clarify our round the world budget.
11. I really need to make those changes to the Fresh Living article I submitted.
12. I wonder what’s for dinner?
13. I must pay my phone bill today.
14. I wonder if the I love the Labia stuff can wait till Monday?
15. Monday is a public holiday! Yay!
16. I have never needed public holidays as much as I have this month.
17. Pretty convenient that this is a month full of South African public holidays!
18. I’m going to the States in less than a month!
19. I have so much to do before then!!
20. When did I get so busy?
21. I can’t wait to chat to the Just the Planet people at 6pm tonight…
22. There’s some potentially amazing stuff in the pipeline for our trip.
23. Our flat smells like cheese on toast. Yum!
24. It’s my brother and sister-in-law’s 3rd wedding anniversary. Amazing.
25. I really need to write and reply to some emails.
26. Thunder in the middle of the day is so cool…

So there you have it! I’m 26 years old, and I have 26 thoughts buzzing around my head. Consider this a challenge, to write down the shopping list of your mind, and see if you can reach your age in numbers!

Do you want to be in the loop…

// April 21st, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Blogs, Strange Nervous Laughter

… with all matters Strange Nervous Laughter / novels / Bridget McNulty / USA / readings / cupcakes / green food / love / musings on life, love and everything else?

Then join my mailing list!
Just shoot me a mail to hello@bridgetmcnulty.com with Mailing List please! in the subject, and I’ll make sure you get all the latest updates… most probably in full colour!

Come on… you know you want to!

Prelude: a podcast from Strange Nervous Laughter

// April 21st, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Downloads, Links, Strange Nervous Laughter, podcast

This is the first in a series of podcasts I’m going to be releasing from Strange Nervous Laughter.

There will be seven in all – the Prelude (today), and then one for each of the six main characters – Beth, Pravesh, Aisha, Mdu, Meryl and Harry. Check back each Friday for a new podcast (today is just an added bonus).

What’s it all about?
“The opening passages of Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty, in which we are introduced to the six main characters – Beth, Pravesh, Mdu, Aisha, Meryl and Harry – and the whimsical world they inhabit. Set in Durban, South Africa, in the hottest summer ever known.”

Click here to download the MP3 from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty ...

Listen to the MP3 online!

What are you grateful for?

// April 21st, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Inspiration, Life (and the living of it), Time

It’s such an over-asked question, isn’t it?

But it can have an extraordinarily far-reaching effect if you answer it honestly.

I’ve been reeaall busy lately. Real busy. Have I mentioned that I’ve been real busy? Trying to juggle a handful of really exciting balls (Strange Nervous Laughter in the USA, online marketing, Round the World trip and sponsorship, as well as that old thing called everyday life and, oh yes! Work!)

What’s interesting, though, is that no matter how exciting the work is, when I’m busy busy I tend to get focused on it and not much else. Which means I’m not very happy, or excited, or joyful. Which is why it’s such a treat to stumble across the ‘What are you grateful for right now?’ question (a question I found while editing one of my blog posts from three months ago), and answer it honestly. You might have a heap of to-do’s on your list, but if you can be grateful for a cup of hot tea, a slice of fresh banana bread, a cool breeze and blue skies, and a man you love, that’s a pretty wonderful morning, don’t you think?

So what are you grateful for?

A restaurant with a difference…

// April 20th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cape Town, Life (and the living of it)

… Not a restaurant with a view, but one with a whole lot of charm.

Yesterday my man and I went for lunch with two dear friends at Sibanye Restaurant in Imizamo Yethu, the township just outside Hout Bay. I was a little reluctant, not to go for lunch in the township, but because I thought it would be very touristy – Sibanye is specifically aimed at tourists.

I was (very) pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is in a shack quite close to the entrance of Imizamo Yethu, and although we attracted a few stares when we walked in, we were pretty much treated like locals for the rest of the time. Inside the brightly painted shack there are mismatched tables and chairs and some very popular arcade games. The lunch is a 3 course meal (for only R60 – a steal!) and it was absolutely delicious. Starters were small vetkoek-type pastries stuffed with delicious mince and served with a tomato salsa-type sauce. Mains were beef or chicken with samp and beans, cabbage, more tomato mix, pumpkin and delicious potatoes, and dessert was tea or coffee with freshly made koeksisters. Delicious!

Sibanye was started by a team of two – Randy Mcknight and Nathan Roberts – and they’ve got the place running as smoothly as you could wish. They even hooked up a pair of teenage gumboot dancerts to provide midmeal entertainment, a real treat! It’s aimed at tourists, local and international, and seems to be a more chilled alternative to Mzoli’s Place in Gugulethu. Bear in mind, though, that you do have to book 24 hours ahead, and it’s only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunch.

In the mood for an unconventional Sunday lunch? Check out Sibanye, you won’t be disappointed.