Friday, 15 December 2023

Write … Edit ... Publish ... Bloghop: Out of Africa …

 

Out of Africa – never – so true that phrase – anyone having spent time or lived in Africa - it is not possible to take Africa out of one's system ...

Film poster

embedded for ever – perhaps tied to the roots of the human race, or perhaps just imprinted into this blogger's life … BC blogging …



Out of Africa - first
edition cover of the book
then along comes the Write Edit Publish group with prompts for the blogger of positive intent to join in with … at first with trepidation, then later with random abandon, as the poor Phantom of the Opera found out, regarding her input …



Freedom Morning has arrived … Freedom of Speech was accomplished … the Caged Bird escaped into the WEP world …

A bit late for this to
appear ... ne'er mind!

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall … which created an Urban Nightmare from The Great Wave … but The Kiss had a fun story to tell …


There was Grave Mistake, a smelly Antique Vase, a pretty Jewel Box, Long Shadows spread over a delicious meal, Horrible Harvests did not prevail at that time, Dark Places were brightened with memories of the Red Wheelbarrow days …

Not to be read before a meal!

There was a Thriller in the authorship of A Change of Heart (ugh!)Gone with the Wind hastened the Unravelling of the Yarn


A Grave Mistake could have been made when the Back of the Drawer was opened to find the Letter that was begging Please to be Read, while the Moonlight Sonata resonated in the background …



Probably my 
favourite entry
Bridges were mended, a Reunion would take place in the Cafe Terrace, besides the river where Like Water for Chocolate was enjoyed by all the WEP group remembering All You Need is Love



The Last Remembrance we will have is of Footprints for our memory bank … while we as a group will all reflect Peace and Love for the world.


Write one's memories
to be held for the future
The little Voodoo is doing its thing weaving, diving, spinning and in true childish passion will be remembered in our penned compositions …



Prompt for Dec 2017
From this Blogger to all WEPpers, particularly the administrators, I acknowledge you … and even though I for The First Time I Ever Saw Your Faces was and is on the screen … where you were Unmasked … this End is now the Beginning for you to enjoy your Freedom Mornings

This another personal prompt

before I get In Too Deep and mushy in thought … I will say Farewell to WEP and thank you all profusely for organising, initiating the fabulous thought provoking prompts, for all generous commenters, and supporters …


A fond goodbye to Write Edit Publish … and I've just scraped into the time frame … though Out of Africa was going to be my last WEP – it changed its spots! …

Proposed mock up for the
2024 WEP Anthology

however if a piece for the Anthology is required, please administrators let me know … and I'll craft an entry before the year end.


Cheers from the Positive Blogger …


Note all highlighted phrases or titles were prompts ...


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

45 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
An inspired and truly meaningful farewell, Hilary! Brava! Brava! YAM xx

jabblog said...

Impressive, Hilary - the more you wrote, the more you found. Brilliant!

Elephant's Child said...

This is gorgeous. A truly fitting (and clever) tribute). WEP has meant a great deal to me, and I will miss the administrators and the site. Immensely.

Debbie D. said...

Thanks for the summary of WEP challenges over the years. I participated in a few of them. ☺ It's sad to see it end, but online pursuits are incredibly time-consuming. Many of us struggle to keep them going. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Christmas and New Year!

Liz A. said...

Clever use of all those titles.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yam – thanks … it was fun to write up … and I remembered some of the entries I'd written …

@ Janice – I'm not sure how many posts I wrote – there were only 4 a year … but obviously I achieved a few … glad you enjoyed it …

@ Sue - thanks … it was fun to draft up … and remind myself of some of the posts I wrote …

Like you I will (and am already) missing the potential prompts for next year. I hope I'll keep in touch with the administrators …

@ Debbie – yes it was interesting to write up the titles into a post. Blogging is time consuming … my main objective in blogging is and has been interaction with fellow bloggers – I prefer it to FB …
Thank you re the Christmas and New Year wishes …

@ Liz – I just suddenly had the idea – I'm glad you enjoyed it …

Thanks for commenting – cheers Hilary

Jacqui Murray--Writer-Teacher said...

Your posts are a work of art, Hilary. Kudos and thank you!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

A fitting goodbye from a polymath! The more you probed the more you found to share with us and that surely has been your hallmark, Hilary. What a pleasure it is to read your blog! All the best - David

A Hundred Quills said...

Hi Hilary! This is splendid. What a befitting goodbye. Couldn't get better. Thank you for this and for all the stories and writings. I've thoroughly enjoyed being here.
-Sonia

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jacqui - I like to highlight things if appropriate ... and I wanted to get in as many of the prompts as possible ... so thank you!

@ David - yes very sad saying goodbye to WEP ... I'm hardly a polymath - but I do appreciate your support and enjoyment in my posts ... you've endorsed my thoughts should I write for the anthology ...

@ Sonia - thank you so much ... I've thoroughly enjoyed WEP after the initial trepidation ... but they've stimulated me to write and expand my 'authorly views' on life ...

Thanks so much to three of you - I so appreciate the support - cheers for now - I'll be catching up tomorrow ... Hilary

Olga Godim said...

Oh, I love your 'collage' of WEP challenges. A great farewell.

Vallypee said...

What a fabulouse interweaving of all your WEP prompts and challenges. Well done, Hilary! It's a great ending and farewell.

N. R. Williams said...

I love what you did here, and I love Out of Africa. One of my favorite movies.
Nancy

hels said...

Gosh the 1980s seem like the dim, distant past, nowadays. But I did love "Out of Africa" and "Like Water for Chocolate" back then.

Jemi Fraser said...

Welp, I got a little teary-eyed reading this!
Thank you for the many (many!) great contributions to WEP!
*hugs*

Denise Covey said...

Hi Hilary! Thanks for coming up with something so jaunty for your final WEP post. Loved it. With your permission I'll post it on the WEP site. Lovely.

Now you're cordially invited to turn up to the WEP website on the first of every month to share where you're at - a story, a challenge, anything ...

Thanks for your happy participation at WEP over the years. You were always unique in your postings.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!

Denise :-)

Pradeep Nair said...

Very nicely strung together!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Olga - thank you ... the 'collage idea' just came to me ... I'm sad WEP is finishing ... but have so enjoyed it ...

@ Val - thank you ... they reminded me of many of the posts I'd written - good memories of WEP ...


@ Nancy - thank you ... I too love the film, but so enjoyed living there ...

@ Hels - oh I know 1980s ... so many years ago. Never Out of Africa for me ... but I only read Like Water for Chocolate this year - which as you've gathered was one of my favourite posts this year ...

@ Jemi - lovely to hear from you ... it's funny - I too had weepy eyes as I wrote the post up, and remembered the stories for WEP - some true, some created. *hugs* back ...

@ Denise - delighted you enjoyed this post - that you want to post it up on the WEP site - with pleasure ...

Yes - I've been thinking about next year - I'll try and work something out to add to the WEP site in the future. Once I got over the shock of posting I've enjoyed the process of 'dreaming' up a WEP post ... !! I've enjoyed participating.

@ Pradeep - thanks so much ...

Cheers to you all - and I do hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ... 2024 - who'd have thought?! With thoughts - Hilary

Jacqui Murray--Writer-Teacher said...

@Hilary Glad you figured out @ComputerTutor was me. I don't know why Blogger signed me in under that very old account! Hopefully I fixed it now.

I don't get it... I keep signing out... signing in... Maybe I have to delete that account.

Sandra Cox said...

Fun use of titles. Happy Holidays, dear Hils.

Botanist said...

Ingenious use of the writing prompts to form a blog post!

Retirement Reflections said...

What a wonderful farewell tribute. Very clever and meaningful!

Marja said...

Great goodbye Out of Africa is an amazing movie I still have it at home and must rewatch it again
Take care

Pat Garcia said...

Good Afternoon, Hilary,

I love how you summarized the WEP and what it meant to you. Tears popped up and wet my eyes.
It has been wonderful writing alongside you.
Take care of yourself, and I truly wish you the very best life offers.
Shalom shalom

Pat

Keith's Ramblings said...

A brilliant way to wish WEP farewell! Taking part clearly meant a lot to you.
Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a splendid New Year, Hilary.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jacqui - we all have problems commenting somewhere along the way - it's a funny old world as far as blogging is concerned. I have kept things as simple as possible ...

@ Sandra - thanks ... it was fun to write and put together ...

@ Ian - thank you ... I'm not sure how I came up with the idea - but I'm glad it worked.

@ Donna - thank you - a sad farewell as far as I'm concerned ...

@ Marja = I agree Out of Africa is an amazing film ... I too must watch it again ...

@ Pat - great to see you ... I became very endeared to WEP over time ... sometimes crafting before the posting date, sometimes winging it - like this one ... so I'm so glad it's been so well received.

Thanks for your thoughts Pat - appreciate them ...

@ Keith - great to have your thanks ... the WEP posts ... really stretched me - subject wise, process wise and creativity wise ...

Thanks so much and best wishes to you all for Christmas, the festive season and here's to very successful and peaceful 2024 .. cheers Hilary

mail4rosey said...

I don't know the site, but it seems like many are sad to see it go. It's wonderful that you made a tribute. Nice work with the prompts. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

Dan said...

A wonderful fond farewell to WEP. I hope you have a delightful holiday season, Hilary.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Rosey - thank you ... I've usually entered the quarterly prompts ... which after the initial trepidation I've enjoyed! Thank you re my take on the prompt and post for this last WEP ... it made it fun as I was able to go back ... and remember winners and commenters, and especially the organisers ...

@ Dan - thanks ... it's been a fun time drafting up stories for WEP ... you too have a lovely family time ...

Cheers to you both - and wishing you and yours a very happy holiday time - all the best - Hilary

Nilanjana Bose said...

Hi Hilary! What an inspired and creative farewell post! Thank you for your many positive, unique and utterly delightful WEP entries over the years. I have enjoyed each one.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year 2024. Hope to keep in touch on the WEP site and elsewhere on the blogging trail.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nila - thank you ... it suddenly came to me ... which made it relatively easy to craft up. Yes - my bubble of being introverted decided to burst - WEP gave me yet another voice - so thank you for all the organising and being there for us.

I can see you're having a lovely time over 'my pond' - enjoy the time with your son and hubby, family and friends ... and yes here's to a happy and successful 2024 - cheers and a happy holidays - Hilary

Inger said...

Hilary, I loved this post, thank you for it. You are so clever! Happy Christmas and have a wonderful holiday season.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thanks Inger - you too ... it was a fun post to write up ... you enjoy yourself in your Desert Canyon with Faith ... cheers for now - Hlary

Joanne said...

I am very late to commenting on this (what have I been doing - too much Christmas party fun and frolic for all of December). However, once again you pulled together your years of writing clever bits and wrapping it neatly into a final post for WEP. Wow. I'm glad I got to read so many of your entries. Kudos and a fond farewell to this chapter. Merry Christmas. Onward to 2024, my friend. Cheers.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Joanne - quite honestly I've switched off - having felt 'frot' ... so am still 'off duty' as such - you've had a wonderful excuse being with your Dad, family and friends up north ... using your words! 'too much Christmas party fun and frolic for all of December)' ...

... so sad re the final WEP post - not sure where this 'bright idea' came from ... now to find one for the anthology! - but delighted to read you enjoyed the many and varied posts ...

As you also say onward to a rapidly approaching 2024 ... here's to many more comments across our blogs - and yes - cheers and lovely to see you ... belatedly or no ... Hilary

Sandra Cox said...

A lovely farewell, Hils. Hope you are healthy. Happy Holidays,

Tara Tyler said...

excellent seniments
and enjoyed the emphasis of the highlights

Happy New Year!
Tara Tyler Talks

cleemckenzie said...

A lovely tribute and a fond farewell! All good things must end, but still, I'm always sad when my favorites fade into history.

Happy New Year, Hilar.

My new address: https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sandra - thank you ... it certainly seemed to work out for us all - just sad WEP has come to an end ...

@ Tara - thanks so much ... I needed to highlight the prompt titles, otherwise non-WEP members might not understand what we were about as we participated with our entries ... all so different.

@ Lee - lovely to see you - I even managed to leave a comment on substack! It is a fond farewell ... I remember WEP very fondly and was so glad I eventually joined in.

Thanks to you three and all readers - Happy New Year ... cheers Hilary

Sherry Ellis said...

Happy New Year! I have not been to Africa. Maybe someday I will visit.

Sandra Cox said...

See you back the 13th.
Cheers,

Yolanda Renée said...

Beautiful, creative, and inspired post! As always! Thank you, dear friend, for your continued support. It means the world. Sorry that I'm beyond late, but it's been a very busy time, there are lots of reasons the WEP has changed. But life holds many mysteries, and who knows maybe the WEP will come back.

Keep posting and I will check back frequently! Love you dearly!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sherry - thanks ... you should go if you can ... it's a fascinating part of the world - lots of countries to visit - or for Bubba and Squirt to appear in! Good luck with the new book out shortly ...

@ Sandra - yes I'll be there - still in go slow mode, I suspect ... and good luck with your new book too ...

@ Yolanda - no worries - lots going on - but I'm always happy to have cheering messages ... so thank you! I've enjoyed WEP a great deal ... I'll be around at the start of the month for friends' updates as each month passes ... I'm not going anywhere - just slow!

Cheers and thanks to you three for being here - Happy New Year too ... Hilary

Bernadette said...

Awesome! I remember some of these prompts. Thanks for the walk down memory lane :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Benadette - great to see you ... and I'm so pleased you enjoyed the walk down memory lane - I enjoyed drafting the post and remembering some of our posts - cheers to you and a Happy New Year - Hilary