Bridget McNulty

Gratitude in a breath of air.

// August 17th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Decisions, Inspiration, Nature, Philosophy

Life is busy, isn’t it? And so much of the time (I realised recently) I’m so busy living it and discovering new things and figuring out how to live it better, that I don’t really take time out to appreciate where I am, right now.

We went away this past weekend, my man and I, with a group of friends, and at the end of the day on Saturday (after a delicious afternoon nap) I took a dog for a walk. This is actually quite big news: dogs and I don’t usually mix. Anyhoo, I took this very playful dog for a walk along these raised wooden walkways right next to the sea… The wind was howling, but it was a warm, friendly wind, and the waves were whipping up into froth, and there was nobody around as far as I could see. After I’d walked quite a distance I stopped and watched the sun set behind a mountain.

I only had a few minutes, because the dog was pulling to keep walking, but I had this sudden, very clear moment where I felt gratitude. For my life as it is right now: for feeling healthy almost all of the time, for having found a man I want to spend all my days with, for a job that challenges me and friends that support me and make me laugh. I suddenly felt this deep thankfulness for it all – as if I’d stepped out of the everyday run of things and could look in and see how lovely it all is.

And it’s stuck with me, this sense of lovely.

Have you had a moment like this lately? Have you given yourself a chance to?

One wonderful weekend…

// August 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cape Town, Inspiration, Life (and the living of it), Nature, food

This past weekend was one of those weekends that will stick in my memory for a long time to come… My man and I went away with five other friends to a tiny little town called Prince Albert in the Karoo. It was a four hour drive (a stunning four hour drive, through some really majestic scenery) to get to the little town, and we arrived on Friday just in time for dinner. I fell in love then, even in the dark, mainly because there were succulents everywhere. Everywhere! Excitement overload.

The next day I fell in love even more. The whole town is centered around a main street, which has lots of the expected restaurants and guesthouses, but also has a Saturday market run by Afrikaans tannies and ooms (aunts and uncles, for those not from SA). They were selling pancakes for R3 each, big slices of homemade cake for R5, pots of tea for R3 and homemade roosterbrood for R8. It was like being in the land that time forgot…

Before the Saturday market, I’d gone for a long walk into the surrounding orchards and then out into the veld. It’s extraordinary how vast the Karoo sky is – like a completely different country, with a 360 sweep of sky. Incredible.

The weekend was spent strolling around, stealing succulents (see above), sitting in the sunshine eating delicious food, visiting the dairy (yes! A dairy!) to sample the homemade cheese (yum!), and playing a particularly fun game called Post-It (our name) where you think of a famous character, write it on a Post It and then stick it to someone’s forehead. Then they have to guess who it is in 20 questions, while dealing with the humiliation of sitting in front of everyone with a blue Post It on your forehead. Ha! Hilarious. Until it’s your turn…

The highlight of the weekend was our ghost tour – dinner combo. Prince Albert is a  town rich in history (and ghosts) and we went on a ghost walk around the town with a fascinating storyteller (dressed in a long black coat) who told us all the local tales… Creepy! We then went to African Relish for a superb dinner – bacon and spinach fritters (wow), Karoo lamb stuffed with roasted celery and pecans with the most amazing polenta I’ve ever tasted, and hands-down the best milk tart in the world. The dinner was long and full of laughter and I can’t wait to go back.

Oh! And how could I forget! That afternoon we’d visited African Relish (which is also a cooking school, and is co-owned by our friend’s father) and I tasted jamon for the first time! Jamon! The real deal! Made in South Africa using all the Spanish techniques! It was extraordinary.

So, all in all, a pretty wonderful weekend. We stayed in the most amazing cottage (see below), we ate some truly special food, and we spent good time with friends, laughing. What more could you ask for?

Photos courtesy of the extremely talented Mark Peddle: www.markpeddle.com

Day 7: Thank you gift

// July 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // 29 Gifts, Inspiration, Love, food, travelling

My man and I have had such a wonder-full time in Knysna… We arrived worn out, frazzled and in need of some quality down time. We’re leaving rested, relaxed, full to the brim of oysters and champagne, and having had a really lovely holiday.

The reason for that is one woman: Jeannine Orzechowski, the lovely PR who made our stay so great. She pulled out all the stops – a sunset cruise, a massage, whisky and wine tastings, an oyster bed cruise around the lagoon… Really, it’s been one pleasure after another.

So to say a (small) thank you, we bought her a gift. Because I think a lot of the time if being nice to people is your job, you don’t get the thanks you deserve. And isn’t it lovely to say thank you once in a while?

Day 6: Meaningful email

// July 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // 29 Gifts, Decisions, Life (and the living of it), Love

Life is really busy, isn’t it? I so often find the days kind of slipping into each other and things that I had meant to do – small things – just slip by the sidelines of the ‘more important’ To Do List.

One of the things I always mean to do (and sometimes never find time for) is sending heartfelt emails to friends. Just no-reason-in-particular mails, to tell them how I feel about them.

So today I did that. A friend of mine has been making a lot of life changes lately, and I wanted to let her now how proud I am of her.

Day 5: Spare change

// July 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // 29 Gifts, Decisions, Inspiration, Philosophy

As a South African, it’s very easy to become immune to people asking for help.

There are just so many askers – beggars, streetkids, bergies, people selling things you don’t want at the traffic lights, Big Issue salespeople. I’ve often thought that if I said yes to everyone who asked me for spare change in a day, I’d be broke by the end of that day. Which isn’t to say I don’t give at all – I generally go on gut feel and if I really think someone needs money I’ll give them when they ask.

But often, especially when I’m in a really lovely holiday town (thank you, Knysna), with a full belly and a happy heart, it’s easier just to pretend not to hear a plea for help.

Which is, let’s be honest, not cool.

So today this guy asked for money for bread, and I remembered I had to give a gift today, and actually listened to him.

Day 4: Well-meaning tip

// July 4th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // 29 Gifts, Decisions, Inspiration, Life (and the living of it)

We drove to Knysna today, for the Knysna Oyster Festival (we’ll be here for the next 4 days and I am SO happy to be here). The timing couldn’t be better – both my man and I really need a few days out of routine, to catch up with ourselves and each other.

En route we stopped off at the obligatory petrol station for a somewhat crappy lunch (greasy chips and a dry toasted sandwich, yum!) and when I went to the bathroom I saw this sad little tip jar. Surrounded by wilted wet flower petals, I didn’t think there was much chance of the attendant getting any tips today, so I gave her a rather large one.

It’s so funny how knowing you have to give a gift each day makes you more aware of people who might need a bit of cheering up… And this is only day 4! I’m curious to see how my view of the world changes by the end of the month…

Spreading the bloggy love

// June 26th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // 29 Gifts, Blogs, Cape Town, travelling

Another reason I’ve been so quiet on the bloggy front lately (aside from, oh, I don’t know, one of the greatest sporting tournaments EVER being held in my country) is that I’m spreading my bloggy wings.

You’ll now find me, once a week, over at Travelstart Street, writing about a few of my favourite things (because blogging is one of those favourites, don’t you know). And remember Just the Planet? The lovely folks who made sure my man and I didn’t sleep in airports while we were travelling all over the world? I’ll be blogging from there, too, about Cape Town and travel and some beyootiful places to spend the night.

So head on over to Travelstart Street – http://www.travelstart.com/street/
And the Just the Planet blog – http://blog.justtheplanet.com/
if you’re in the mood for something a little different.

Never fear, though, with my birthday fast approaching (one week today wooohoooo!) I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and unknotting a couple of thoughts I’d like to chat to you about… For now, though, I have a stew bubbling on the stove, a man in need of one big hug (he doesn’t know it yet, but he needs it) and another soccer game to watch!

Have you been following the World Cup at all? Or is it just me who feels as if life now revolves around the results of two teams of strangers trying to shoot a ball into a net?

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!)

In the mood for a holiday?

// March 3rd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Durban, Life (and the living of it)

I certainly am!
So I’m going on one… but not to some exotic island. Nope, I’m off to Durban, to visit family and friends (but mainly family) and spend some QT with them. My dad had an operation last week, and my brother and sister-in-law and amazingly cute niece are heading back to the Netherlands next week, so it’s time I spent some family time at home.

No complaints here!

Oh, and my mom and I are going SKYDIVING on Thursday, did I mention that? Eeeeek!!!

(not Durban!)

A day of total slow…

// December 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cape Town, Inspiration, Life (and the living of it)

I know, I know! I’ve been rather slack of late. But things have been non-stop busy.

My best friend came to stay last week, which was lovely, and then the day after he left, my man and I jetted off to Knysna (in the car, not a jet, unfortunately!) for a truly amazing wedding… We stayed a short distance from the wedding in what is possibly the coolest place I’ve ever stayed – Fern Gully (check it out at www.ferngully.co.za). If you are ever in the Knysna area, stay here!

The pictures absolutely don’t do it justice. It was a little wooden cabin (handbuilt!) on stilts overlooking the Knysna forest – completely private and completely wonderful. They’d built an outdoor shower on the deck so you could shower practically in the forest, and we were visited on our first afternoon by a Knysna loerie – apparently very rare. We woke each morning to birdsong and the sound of the breeze in the trees… heavenly!

But after the wonderful wedding and the very fun (but long) 4 hour drive each way, I’m pooped. My brother and his girlfriend arrive to stay with us on Wednesday, and all four of us are driving home to Durban on Monday – staying overnight at the extraordinary Nieu Bethesda, home to the Owl House (www.owlhouse.co.za). And then Christmas! With an epic 13 family members and nonstop celebrations…

… All of which I will blog about this week. For today, though, I’m having a day of total slow. Running a few errands. Reading voraciously. Drinking tea and being still. I believe the word I’m looking for is ‘tonic’.

Here’s the loerie we made friends with!