But in New Zealand???

Posted on March 16, 2019May 30, 2025

2019 forced me to face a shift in my sense of reality. One day, my world was safe and calm, and my worst worry was how I was going to convince my husband to buy the new lounge suite that I wanted, or how was the next scene in my manuscript going to play out, or where does one find the money to pay for the writers conference that I wanted to go to.

But in March 2019, my worst worry joined that of many others around world.

Will today be the day that a terrorist takes my son, my daughter, or my husband away from me?

On Friday 15th March, 2019, an unknown number of madmen marched into two separate mosques on opposite sides of Christchurch, New Zealand (my home city) and opened fire. They then proceeded to locations north and south of the central city, attempting to evade arrest while causing more acts of terrorism.

For the first time in history, the entire city of Christchurch, New Zealand was on lockdown. All schools, all malls, and all businesses closed and locked their doors. Residents citywide were encouraged to stay inside. For nearly 4 hours, an entire city was held to ransom. And what makes it all bizarre... It happened in little, old New Zealand, one of the safest countries in the world.

Lives were lost in this senseless madness. Families ripped apart by an act driven by hatred. Nothing can make up for that. New Zealand as a whole suffered.

Can’t is an evil word… It shouldn’t exist.

Posted on June 28, 2016May 22, 2025

The word can't is a word that needs to disappear from people's vocabulary. It's an evil word, on so many levels.

But for me, the word can't is a challenge that my brain subconsciously accepts, for good or bad. If I hear the word can't, my brain goes, "Watch me!"

Most of the time, it's a good thing, because it's not about focusing on limits, but accepting that the solution on how to do something will be made up of strategies that might be a bit oddball. But everything can be done, even if we don't know how. However, there have been times when I heard that horrible little word, and I got myself into big trouble.

"You can't get lost." And it wasn't just a 2-hours drive in the wrong direction. I totaled the boss's car.

A New Excuse for Messy Bedrooms — Remembering February 22, 2011

Posted on February 17, 2016May 21, 2025

"Clean your room. You know my rule."

The children bowed their heads, forlorn as a result of their mother's scowl. "Yes, mum. There must always be a clear path from the door to the bed."

It wasn't much to ask for as far as the mother was concerned. It really was just for a matter of safety. But the children went about their chores, knowing the consequences if they didn't. Their mother's wrath was not something anyone wanted to wage war with—and she knew it. Smiling to herself, she left her children to tidy the messes that they called bedrooms.

Sunday afternoon bounded along and it was time for inspection. The son had everything in its place: books on the shelves, desk clear, laundry in the hamper, and the bed made. He had even vacuumed. The daughter… Well… The mess had been carefully stowed away in the cupboards and stacked in unstable piles. The laundry was pushed under the bed and the covers were pulled back to give the false impression of a made bed. The mother shook her head in dismay.