I’ve changed my profile photo over social media. I’ve also changed various cover photos.
I have news, but I can’t divulge it yet.
And, in conjunction with the featuring of me on Crooked Cat’s website from tomorrow, 7th March, this post is the one you should use to ask me questions. You can ask me anything at all. I don’t promise to answer everything, but I’ll do my best!
So, do watch the (possibly unusual) video and read the extra stuff, all on Crooked Cat’s home page. And then come back here to ask about me, my life, my books, my writing, even… …my poetry.
OK, your turn, go to the comments ⇒ OK, your turn, go to the comments ⇒⇓ OK, your turn, go to the comments ⇒⇓
OK, your turn, go to the comments ⇒⇓ OK, your turn, go to the comments ⇒⇓me page, you have to click Comments at the top ⇑ (But if you’re reading this from the Home page, you have to click Comments at the top ⇑)
When you’ve experienced everything you’re ever going to experience, it’s time to write: THE END.
…said I, although I’m probably not the first!
I’m back home after an amazing trip to China and Tibet. I’ve posted my photos and videos on Facebook, which must mean I’m well and truly back, and you’re welcome to view them, whether or not you’re a friend of mine there.
Labrang Monastery
Today, I’m thinking about firsts. Yes, even at my age, there are firsts.
The first time I went to China. The first time I went to Tibet. The first time I slept nearly 4,000 metres above sea level. The first time I climbed to almost 5,000 metres. My first plane ride in which the air pressure was increased as we took off. The first video I created for one of my books:
It’s 2019 and time for something new on this blog. New and old. I’ve veered away from the topics of this blog lately, but will be getting back on track with SIM Talks (hashtag: #SIMTalksWithMiriam).
Each week, on Friday, I or a guest blogger will talk about one (or more) of three topics:
Social anxiety
Israel
Misunderstandings
The talk can take the form of a written piece or a video. It can be about anything connected to one or more of the three topics except for politics and any sort of intolerance. (I’ve never encountered intolerance on this blog, but wanted to make that clear.)
If you want to take part, please let me know via Contact me above or Twitter or Facebook.
Next week’s post is by Jess B. Moore, author of The Guilt of a Sparrow and Fierce Grace.
Let’s make 2019 a year of more understanding, empathy and compassion. Different ≠ Wrong.
Before anything else, I was shocked 😉 to discover that not everyone has seen my video introducing Social Anxiety Revealed. If you’re one of those unfortunate people, here’s the link you need to sort it: [See it, say it, sorted. Don’t mind me; I’m just learning the lingo. See below.]
***
“It’s been an awfully long time since you last wrote a blog post,” said everyone.
“I know,” I replied, “and I’m awfully sorry, but life got in the way again.”
“You haven’t been travelling again, have you?” said everyone.
“Actually, I have.” I gave a sheepish grin. “I’ve literally spent like the last six weeks in various like places in the UK.”
“Picked up the lingo, too,” said everyone.
“Just trying to blend in. I didn’t like it when two people I met in Cardiff thought I sounded foreign. I mean… well… if I don’t sound British, then what do I sound?”
Making Welsh cakes in Cardiff market
“Weird?” suggested everyone.
“Yeah, but apart from that.”
“What have you been up to?” said everyone, clumsily changing the subject.
“I went geocaching around Wittenham Clump. I did belly dancing and zumba. I walked in Devon, Cambridge, the Lake District, Chess Valley and Richmond. I travelled in cars, buses, trains, planes, a bicycle and a boat.
“I got detrained in Newark. I know I did, because the guard said so, so I don’t care about that red squiggly line that’s appeared below the word. (And no, I don’t want to change it to detained, retained or restrained, but if you annoy me any more, Spelling Checker, you may have to restrain me to prevent me from getting detained.)
“I spent five days at an Arvon retreat and have some great ideas about how to complete one of my works in progress.
“I ate in various restaurants, including Mexican, Italian and Indian. I ate sandwiches a little too often. I ate food on planes that I didn’t particularly like. I enjoyed home cooking that I didn’t have to prepare. The most delicious thing I ate was cheesecake in a Turkish café in Chesham.
“I visited art museums and an old house. I saw a musical, two plays and a film.
“I read books, including one that I loved: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I also read from one out loud, while taking part in a book festival.
Reading from Neither Here Nor There
“I had two dogs and a cat on my lap… at different times. But most of all, I met and talked to lots of people and had a great time doing it. I hope they enjoyed my company, too.”
The video of a Jew walking the streets of Paris wearing a kippa (yarmulke) and tzitzit (tassels) has received a lot of publicity. Zvika Klein, the journalist who did this, has been interviewed all over the world. Youtube is full of copies of the short video. Here is one of them:
In this interview, both interviewer and interviewee said they were “shocked at their shockedness,” meaning that they were surprised that people around the world were shocked at what happened to him.
I’m not shocked. I’m not even surprised.
Firstly, I’m not surprised it happened. The fact is, I’ve never felt comfortable as a Jew in Europe, and that goes a long way to explaining why I’m here in Israel. It’s not that I ever went around displaying my Jewishness. Just the fact that I was afraid to say I was Jewish, because I couldn’t know what people would think. Ordinary people – not Muslims. I don’t think I ever met any Muslims while living in England. Anti-semitism has become more visible in recent years, but it was always there.
Secondly, I’m not surprised that people are shocked. I think most people don’t understand what it’s like to live as a Jew in the diaspora, and if this video goes a little way towards explaining, then I’m glad.
…my poetry.
Miriam Drori, Author 