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corona virus

Writing

Birds on a Wire

by belinda May 3, 2020

So many feelings, but so difficult to express them. They sit bundled up beneath her skin, like flies trapped against a window. Like a tangle of white cords, with nowhere to plug into. Is this how non-writers feel? What do they do with these feelings, if they don’t write them down? Do they disappear back into the body, like a pimple that isn’t popped? Poison sent back down into the self again, because the carrier does not have the means to release it.

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May 3, 2020 2 comments
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Writing

Grieving Lost Things

by belinda April 14, 2020

It feels like we’ve reached a phase in this pandemic where we have nothing much to say to each other. We started out all cocky and optimistic – things were a novelty. Let’s bake guys! Let’s exercise! Help others! Share memes! But with the end of the long Easter weekend, everything just feels extremely…meh.

We’re starting to get on each others’ nerves. We’ve watched all the things we wanted to. Read all our good books. Work may be trickling in, or not at all, and we’re starting to worry about what the future holds. And then enter home schooling, which began for me today, bringing with it a whole other set of frustrations and challenges.

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April 14, 2020 10 comments
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Writing

We Need Things We Can Touch

by belinda March 31, 2020

Put away the glare of worlds within those squares of light

Because we need things we can touch

 

We need the metallic smell of yeast

The touch of dough in the webs of our hands

The comfort of butter

 

We need to light candles

on our tables and in our hearts

We need the Autumn sun to leak out of the sky

and into our skin

 

We need to notice how the clouds are in pieces

How the moon is a rind

Watch the leaves gather in silent groups

as the trees are suddenly unburdened

 

We need hugs, warm ones. Long ones.

To breathe each other in and to rest there for a bit

Because now we can.

 

We need to hear voices

Ones we love and miss

Hear their fears and their joys

because we hadn’t really been listening

 

We need to press pen to paper

Trace words with our fingers

Make the music

Paint the colours

 

We need soil in our fingernails

To press a seed into the warmth

To watch that green shoot heading

upwards towards the light

 

Put away that rectangle, which reflects where you are not.

Because we need things we can touch.

 

March 31, 2020 2 comments
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FamilyOther

What’s Actually Working for Parents over Lockdown (& what’s not)

by belinda March 28, 2020

There are so many articles, lists, schedules and activities being sent around at the moment that my head is spinning. Yours too? And then there are all the memes saying “you don’t have to be your child’s teacher over this time” – yes, thank you for that, although I had no intention to be. In a list of possible alternative and suitable occupations I know full well that teaching would not come top of my list. Most teachers are patient saints and I am not one of those.

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March 28, 2020 3 comments
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Wellness

7 Things That are Bringing Me Joy Right Now

by belinda March 18, 2020

Right, so I thought it would be helpful to list a few things that are providing me with solace and a little shot of joy over this time, in the hope that they will do the same for you. Please also share yours as comments if you have some cool stuff to add, so we can raise our spirits when we’re feeling low:

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March 18, 2020 4 comments
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About Me

About Me

Belinda Mountain

Writer. Blogger. Overthinker.
Likes to eat/read/exercise.
Asks good questions.
Cannot tell a lie.
South African currently in The Netherlands.
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Instagram Corner

belindamountain

Home schooling & lockdown totally kicked my ass th Home schooling & lockdown totally kicked my ass this week (limping over the finish line here). But the sun is shining and the sky is blue. And the PM here says it is their “highest priority” that primary schools go back on 8 February - so we live in hope.
I’ve been wanting this book of poems by @katejba I’ve been wanting this book of poems by @katejbaer since it was released last year but could never find stock in South Africa - really excited to finally get my hands on this🙌🏻. Poetry is having a renaissance lately, from the inspiring words of Amanda Gorman at the recent US inauguration to poetry simply being shared more increasingly on social media these days. I read an article saying how during this pandemic, “poems are springing up like daffodils”. In difficult times, it seems humans rely even more on the redemptive power of art (if you’re a reader, I also recommend following @baerbooks for Kate’s great book recommendations📚) #poetry #whatkindofwoman
I think it’s fair to say that we’re all strugg I think it’s fair to say that we’re all struggling a bit right now, even those who are lucky enough to have not suffered severe losses due to this pandemic💔. If our lives used to be these whole juicy oranges, a solid & comforting sphere in our hands, they’re now full of gaps. There are so many missing segments. Maybe it’s the segment that was time with your best friends, you know those catch ups where they nod along at everything you say & tell you your hair looks great? Maybe it’s the segment that was traveling to a new place, the thrill of discovery, the wonder of something new? Maybe it was simply laughing (in person) with a colleague about something that happened that day. Or just an hour to yourself, for reflection & rest. We’re all incomplete oranges right now. We’re all feeling pap. So don’t beat yourself up if your life doesn’t feel juicy. It’s not a full life right now and this is so much bigger then we think. One day we’ll be a bit more like this orange again. One day we’ll be a bit more whole. Until then though, get your vitamin C & go eat some fruit😊🍊
A dreary day weather-wise, so this beautiful produ A dreary day weather-wise, so this beautiful produce is cheering me up (I didn’t realize that the Dutch are the 2nd largest food exporter in the world & are known for their innovative agricultural techniques). I plan to eat everything.
A poem about what I can see from my bed right now A poem about what I can see from my bed right now (yes I know I need to get up😆), but also a poem about colour & country. #poetry
Overexcited Saffers in snow! First time for the ki Overexcited Saffers in snow! First time for the kids❄️ #snow #thehague
“So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay “So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.” (The Fault in our Stars)
Bright eyed & bushy tailed. #haagsebos Bright eyed & bushy tailed. #haagsebos
New yellow raincoat to counteract the grey 💛. I New yellow raincoat to counteract the grey 💛. Is it frivolous that I miss my clothes? (& my books). I can’t help it, they’re like my friends 😆. I packed spectacularly badly & only have 3 pairs of jeans, 2 jerseys & some exercise gear. Everything else is on the ship & will probably get here in March/April. Meh, at least I am warm & dry 🌧
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Popular Posts

  • Pesso wedges Win R2000 with Pesso Shoes posted on February 7, 2020
  • We Need to Stop Making Things Easy for our Kids posted on January 29, 2020
  • Grieving Lost Things posted on April 14, 2020
  • Our Age Shouldn’t Limit Us posted on March 4, 2020
  • The Light Years & the ‘Beautiful Awful’ posted on October 9, 2019

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