Bridget McNulty

We’re ENGAGED!!!

// December 29th, 2009 // 8 Comments » // Decisions, Laughter, Life (and the living of it), Love

I am SO happy! I can’t even tell you. I’ve been grinning nonstop since yesterday evening (yes, all through the night – I hardly slept a wink!)

So here’s how it happened…

Yesterday around 6pm Mark told me he had a surprise for me, and that I had to meet him on the beach in half an hour… We’ve been staying in a charming little fishing village called Amed, on the North coast of Bali (in Indonesia) for the last five nights, and we’ve loved every second of it. Not at all touristy (unlike the rest of Bali), fantastic scuba diving, incredible snorkelling, and superb grilled prawns and Indonesian delicacies eaten right on the beach. Divine.

So I head down to the beach and there’s a part of me that’s thinking, ‘Is he about to propose?’ because it was all so mysterious. But I had a feeling he might propose on Christmas Day and he didn’t, so I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

I walk to the restaurant where he said he’d meet me, and what do I see? No Mark. But the waitress was all clued up, handed me two fresh mango juices (our favourite, unbelievably sweet and fresh and yummy) and told me to wait a few minutes.

Less than two minutes later, I see Mark heading towards shore on a local fisherman’s boat. Looked something like this:

I climb on board and off we go, on a ‘sunset cruise’, he tells me. So we’re sitting out there soaking up the view (a volcano, an island fringed with palm trees, an endless horizon in the other direction, the clouds streaked pink with sunset just around the corner, a half moon starting to rise) and sipping our mango juice.

Dusk is my favourite time of day, the ocean is my favourite place to be, I have a thing about endless horizons. And Mark’s all fidgety and looks nervous, so of course I’m wondering what’s up. Then he pulls out a dozen candles and lights them and I start to feel like I know what’s coming up…

After many more minutes of a really magical slice of my life, Mark turns to me and says, “Will you marry me?”
I was so happy I couldn’t even speak – crying and laughing at the same time, honestly it’s the best feeling in the world! But of course I said yes.

And then he gave me my ring – a bamboo ring he’d found in Thailand (and been carrying around for the last four months!) with strips of silver that he’d had a local silversmith in Gili Air (the island we were on last week) put in. I love it! It’s just perfect – I told him once that I wanted a ring I could swim in the sea with. It’s so me.

And now we’re ENGAGED!!! And we are both on Cloud Nine. It’s a lovely place to be.

Discovering the interweb…

// July 22nd, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Blogs, Laughter, Strange Nervous Laughter

One of my favourite things about the internet is its possibility for discovery. You can be hanging out, surfing away, when all of a sudden you find something really wonderful, or funny, or true.

Here are my current interweb discoveries:

* 52 Faces. Today is Blog Swap Day on 20 Something Bloggers and my Blog Swap partner is 52 Faces. I’m going to be publishing a post from her, and she’s going to be publishing a post from me. Cool idea, hey? What’s been so interesting, though, is discovering the person behind the blog… Check out this list of 52 Things to discover who Sophia of 52 Faces actually is.

* My brother introduced me to this website, and it is quite possibly one of the funniest websites I’ve ever been to in my life. It’s called Don’t Even Reply: Emails from an Asshole, and it’s not for the faint-hearted! But it might just make you laugh till you cry…

* Check out A Book Blogger’s Diary for a guest post I wrote for them about what I’m waiting for before I write my next book.

And send me any links to treasures you’ve found on the interweb!

Reflections on the last month…

// June 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Inspiration, Laughter, Life (and the living of it), Strange Nervous Laughter, travelling

A month ago I left home to go to Joburg for a writer’s conference, and then to the USA for 3 weeks… It doesn’t seem possible! It feels like at least 3 months, it’s definitely been one of the busiest months of my life.

What’s interesting, though, is thinking back to how I felt a month ago, and realising how much of what I was worried about didn’t materialise. Isn’t it often that way?

I was hugely excited to go on holiday, but a little apprehensive too, for a number of reasons… It was my first solo trip with diabetes, my first overseas trip with diabetes, my first time crossing time zones with diabetes (are you noticing a trend here??) but also my first time away from my man for 3 weeks, and the first time seeing friends I hadn’t seen in 4 years. Four years! It’s a long time. And I was worried that although I felt like we could pick up where we left off, maybe we couldn’t. Maybe it would be awkward. Maybe I’d get claustrophobic not having any alone time for three weeks straight. Maybe I’d get sick of being sociable.

Maybe maybe maybe.

But none of my worries materialised! How fantastic. My diabetes behaved itself wonderfully – I didn’t have any scary lows, I adjusted to eating (strange) American food with no hassles, and I felt remarkably well the whole time I was there. Seeing my old friends was incredible – honestly, it felt as if I’d just left the room and then come back in and it was 2005 (only we all look better and are less crazy than we were in college!) And I didn’t get claustrophic at all. I took alone time when I needed it, but most of the time I was just happy to be with my friends.

I had forgotten how much I love my US friends… I suppose I’d blocked it out so that I wouldn’t miss them too much. When I think back over the last few weeks, the prevailing word that pops out at me is FUN. It was so much fun! I laughed so much, I really connected with people that I love, I saw new things and had so many adventures. I am ready to travel!

It’s amazing how alive travelling makes you feel. Have you noticed that? Being surrounded by fresh sights and new ideas and different ways of living is so invigorating. One of the greatest gifts this trip has given me is confidence in our round the world trip, later this year. I’m ready: physically, emotionally, and diabetically!

It was also great for Strange Nervous Laughter. I met my editor (and had a lovely lunch with her), I made connections with extremely helpful people, I had two great radio interviews, and I feel like I gave the book a good start in life. Where it goes from here is out of my hands!

So all in all? An extraordinary trip, that far exceeded my expectations!
That said, I’m very happy to be home. And I will be until it’s time to sail off into the sunset again…

(Me in NYC!)

Returning to old places.

// June 6th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Laughter, Life (and the living of it), Love, travelling

So I spent most of this week in Lancaster, the small city where my lovely college, Franklin and Marshall (check it out at www.fandm.edu) is. I was a little worried that it would feel haunted… that I’d wander around feeling like I’d stepped back in time, and not in a good way.

I was wrong. It was so so wonderful to be back, like visiting an old home that is still very familiar and dear. Here are the best moments from this week…

LANCASTER HIGHLIGHTS:

* Catching up with old professors and friends (often the same person) and realizing that although 4 years is a long time, it condenses really quickly when you’re real friends.

* Seeing my college campus (which looks incredible! I’m jealous), and walking around it again… I felt like I was back in school, and on my way to class, quite uncanny!

* Fabulous conversations about life, love, relationships, books, and other scintillating topics.

* Waking to a 2am thunderstorm.

* Waking to a 6am thunderstorm.

* Going to Harrisburg (45 minutes from Lancaster) for my first ever American radio interview, and having a lot of fun doing it! Also figuring out the whole train / taxi thing in a foreign town – I’m actually pretty savvy. Who knew??

* Hanging out with Eva – the coolest 9 year old I know – and her American Girl dolls. I want one! (We did a photo shoot – see below).

* Freshly baked pound cake with whipped cream and fresh farm strawberries… on a warm, muggy evening, outdoors.

* Visiting the new Ice Cream Parlour (heaven in a room!) not once but twice.

* Breakfast at the new Creperie – yum!

* Going to the famous Shiny Diner for lunch.

* Wandering around the city and having it feel like a second home.

* Visiting all my old haunts and having them smell exactly the same.

* Eating superb food at a girl’s night out and realizing that age and distance don’t matter when you really love people.

* Laughing. So much.

The trip so far…

// May 31st, 2009 // No Comments » // Laughter, Time, travelling

I know, I know! I’ve been terrible at keeping you updated… But I’ve been having so much fun!

Even now I’m reluctant to sit down in front of a computer when I could be hanging out with my friends. So I’ll do a Highlights Tour:

NEW YORK CITY HIGHLIGHTS:

* My first afternoon in the city happened to be a public holiday – Memorial Day – so my friend Dan took me to a double barbecue, one at Prospect Park (where I saw hundreds of New Yorkers barbecuing, lying in the sun, playing volleyball and throwing frisbees), and one on a rooftop, where I ate a hotdog and my first ever S’More (melted marshmallow, biscuit and chocolate combined – delicious!)

* Met old friends and new for tea, soup, drinks and catch-ups. You’d think after four years it would be awkward to bridge the gap, but so far it isn’t. It’s just fun to see people again.

* Met my publisher for a delightful (swanky!) lunch.

*Ate the famous Magnolia and Sugar Sweet Sunshine cupcakes (Red Velvet flavour, because I’d never had them before). The verdict? Delicious, but I think I can make just as delicious cupcakes (gasp!)

* Walked allll over thc city with my friend Dan, taking ridiculous photos (which you’ll see once I upload them) and talking nonsense for hours on end.

* Ate great Mexican food.

* Went to the People’s Improv Theatre for some really funny improv (starring a friend from college).

I feel like I had a truly New York experience – I saw so much, and so many parts of the city, had a bit of nature time, and LOTS of city time, and walked my feet to the bone. Surely that’s what being a New Yorker is all about??

I then took a magically-internet-enabled bus to Washington DC.

WASHINGTON DC HIGHLIGHTS:

* Spending every available minute with Jen and Julia and laughing till we cry.

* Having a great welcome dinner with them and their significant others – a loud Mediterranean dinner filled with laughter.

* Going on a staff-led tour of the Capitol because Jen has connections in high places. What a cool building!

* Lying on the couch watching TV on her giant television.

* Hanging out, catching up.

* Going shopping in Georgetown ($5 Urban Outfitters sale, be still my beating heart!) and having a girl’s dinner out (more giggling).

* Walking around the very cool Eastern Market on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

* Checking out the monuments from afar, and deciding to go home and make Rice Krispies treats instead.

* Watching rom coms together.

* Late night jacuzzi dip… Turns out there’s one in the building!

* And today – a baseball game! Can’t wait…

I’ll update again soon (well, in less than a week, anyway!) I’ve been totally disconnected from the blogosphere and online communities, and I have to say it feels quite nice… Not so many voices in my head!

So how are YOU doing? Any highlights from the last week?

Gratitude now!

// January 30th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Inspiration, Laughter, Life (and the living of it)

Are any of you Seinfeld fans? I’m a huge Seinfeld fan, it’s my favourite show ever and I’m busy collecting the whole series. One that I haven’t got to yet, but that has stuck in my mind for years is when George’s dad is trying to become more peaceful, and he walks around saying, “Serenity now!” any time he starts feeling stressed. Funny.

Eckhart Tolle (in his amazing discussions about ‘A New Earth’ with Oprah) suggests a similar thing, only with gratitude. I call it, “Gratitude now!” and it’s basically stopping what you’re doing – right now! – and focusing on what you’re grateful for.

Right now!
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Did you do it? For me, I’m grateful right now for the cup of tea I’ve just finished, for feeling well and healthy, for the light breeze blowing in the window and my beautifully sun-filled flat. I’m grateful that it’s Friday and that I get to decide how much work to do today and that I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I’m grateful for aloe-scented moisturiser and fresh banana muffins and  a map of the world to keep me inspired. I’m grateful for this life of mine.

You?

So what was 2008 all about for you?

// December 17th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Decisions, Diabetes, Laughter, Life (and the living of it), Philosophy

For me, it’s been about living the life of my dreams.

My first year as a freelance writer, and overall I’d say it’s been a big success. I’m living in an amazing flat with the man I love. I’m doing work I enjoy, and being well-paid for it. My novel is being published in the USA next year. I’ve written a rough draft of a new novel.

And I’ve been searching for, and in many ways attaining, balance.
Between work and play.
Socialising and alone time.
Work for me and work for money.
Exercise and rest.
Food and insulin!

Health was obviously one of my top priorities this year, and now that my first full year as a diabetic is coming to an end, I have to say it’s gone pretty damn well. I feel vital and alive, and full of energy (most of the time). And although having an immunological disorder (sounds hectic, hey?) means that I get sick more often than I used to, overall I think it’s been a glowingly healthy year.

Personally, too, it’s been a great year, and I attribute a lot of that to the practical philosophy courses I’ve taken, and the wisdom they’ve imparted (check under the Philosophy tags to read all about it!) I feel far more centered and balanced than in previous years – like I have tools to help me deal with life in a much calmer way.

Most of all, though, this has been a playful year – full of laughter and fun and dancing and good times…

How has your year been?

In a spirit of hope…

// November 5th, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Inspiration, Laughter, Life (and the living of it)

I woke up this morning feeling hopeful, and not only because I’m not sick any more!

Barack Obama is the president of the United States. The first black president in history, and a pretty charismatic guy at that! Doesn’t this bode well? Surely this could have an enormous impact on a number of issues that affect us all over the world, even here in South Africa?

Now, my normal response to News of any kind (political / economic / violent) is to stick my head in the sand. Not because I don’t want to know what’s going on, per se, but just because I think that the more energy you give to a crisis of any kind, the stronger it grows. And South Africa has more than its fair share of violent horror stories – if I paid attention to all of them, I’d be a dithering heap.

That said, I’m also quite sensitive to the prevailing mood, and the mood in the last couple of weeks (could it be months?) has been one of fear, uncertainty and doubt. The economic crisis, the global meltdown, the political uncertainty, none of it makes for happy times. Add to that severe financial restraints for the upcoming holidays, and I’m not seeing too many happy campers.

But perhaps this one shift – this shift where the most powerful country in the world has chosen the right person to lead them – will start to change all that. Do you think I’m being naive? Perhaps. But wouldn’t you like to join me? Just for today, what if this heralds the beginning of a new age? What then?

I began my day today with a cup of tea in the sun on my verandah, and my gratitude journal. In the hubbub of daily activity I’ve forgotten, lately, to list the reasons I’m grateful for my most wonderful life. Writing them down this morning helped propel me into this hopeful, festive mood. Why don’t you give it a try? If nothing else, a gang of hopeful people will infect those around us, and they’ll infect those around them, until we have a small colony of hope growing.

The cultivation of hope: a worthy goal, I believe.

Celebrate good times!

// October 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Laughter, Life (and the living of it)

It was my man’s 30th birthday on Friday and we had a huuge (and wonderful!) party.

It was a great big gathering of all his favourite people in a super-cheesy club with the most amazing 80s music (courtesy of the Wedding DJs) and a 70s Sweat theme. Everyone dressed up, everyone danced their feet off, everyone let loose. And as we danced (and danced and danced and danced) and sang along to fun tunes, and laughed and drank and revelled, I couldn’t help thinking how amazing it was for everyone to be celebrating together. Nobody was thinking about work, or about how they looked (because everyone looked crazy dumb) and everyone was just having fun.

Fun! Remember that?

I think so often we’re so busy being busy we forget to let loose and enjoy ourselves… to celebrate life, and love, and the people we love. To have a little fun.

A worthy goal for this week, no? Especially seeing as everyone seems to have kicked into end-of-the-year stress a little early!

All work and no play?

// September 11th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Inspiration, Laughter, Life (and the living of it)

As you know, I’m a big fan of the ‘more play and not so much work’ philosophy in life.

But what happens when you actually have to work? When there’s a pile of work to be done, and nobody to do it but you? Too often, I think, we forget to take time out, and just put our heads down and plough through the work. Very enterprising, yes. But not very good for the soul.

I’ve been working craaazy hard this week (the pile of work was resembling a mountain!) and I noticed, yesterday, that I was feeling irritable and generally out of sorts. Why? Because I hadn’t given anything back – I wasn’t having any fun, or laughing enough, or relaxing at the end of a busy day… I wasn’t dancing or taking delight in all the wonderful things in my life, because I was too bogged down by work.

When I was younger, I was hooked on this series of books by a woman called SARK (visit her website here – www.planetsark.com ). I’ve grown out of a lot of her work, or perhaps grown INTO it, seeing as I don’t need as many reminders to live a passionate life and be creative as I did when I was writing school exams!
But there’s one quote of hers that has stuck with me for at least ten years… it’s about living a juicy life.

“If we rush around, never look closely, and practice self-denial, we will begin to feel dry and cracked for the lack of sweet wild moments that nourish us and those around us. The name for this is living juicy!”

I love that! When’s the last time you indulged in a sweet, wild moment? Are you living juicy?
Food for thought on a busy Thursday in an altogether busy month!