Category: Social media, apps and devices

Sunday Thoughts

February 27, 2022February 28, 2022 · Leave a comment ·

I started this blog a few Sundays ago, but didn’t post but shall do today .., with a few more thoughts to add 😄!

This week has been amazing. I travelled, met people, hugged my loved ones. I read books on positive thinking, what you think is what you get, dream big, and more. I believe very much that this happens. I have seen my thoughts manifest for good, and not so good. My life’s desires are built on my thoughts and deeds.

I have (well who knows, but let’s just put it out there) at least another 15 or more years on this planet Earth. It’s important to have a great mindset to continue my journey. And this week a number of my thoughts have come to be. I love life. I love the people in my life. I love learning. I love the people who assist my learning. I love the words put my way from which I learn.

Thoughts put into Words, then Actions are powerful. Meaningful. Uplifting. Just glorious.

Só, tô continue with my last Sunday’s blog …

Face-to-Face

Can’t beat the energy you get from meeting face-to-face. This evening we met a young Mum and her three beautiful daughters. We were their landlords for nine years. We built up a great relationship with them. This evening they hosted us in their new home. They’ve been there for six years and because of the pandemic we’ve not seen them for many of those years. What a spread they presented to us. Very tasty and so much variety.

How lovely to meet them face-to-face and see how these beautiful, striking young people have turned out. Their Mum can be proud of her daughters, the girls she brought up on her own. The youngest was but three-years old when they moved into our rented property. She is now a confident, well-spoken 19-year old; her sisters are 21 and 20 and both at university, one studying medicine, the other midwifery. The loving and close connection between the three is wonderful to see. I’ve missed the warmth of their hugs.

I remember when we put the property out to rent, we didn’t envisage a single Mum taking it on. But when we met her, her questions showed us that she had her children’s best interests at heart. She was looking for a home for them. We were often told that the house would be wrecked when rented. That with children we’d need to do much work when they moved out. We told them to treat the house as their own home. And so they did. They called us “Mr and Mrs L”. They contacted us whenever they wanted to do something, such as decorate, or change the garden. The house was beautifully kept. Tastefully decorated. Loved. My hubby had put a lot of work into renovating it in the first place to a decent standard, so we were pleased to see that it was maintained.

When this caring family left the property – the girls cried. I gave them each a gift. When we visited them on Sunday – they told me they still love and wear the pyjamas I bought them! They told us that they have fond memories of growing up in that house. It will always be the home they remember. The girls remind me of my daughter, my nieces. All young women who I’ve watched develop and who make me proud.

Video and social media

In 1-2-1 video chats yes, you can build a rapport, keep relationships with friends and family fresh, feel the energy and vibes because it’s just two people communicating. But when there’s a group, I think it’s more difficult to feel that energy that can fill a room. You have to mute when on group videos because of the “feedback” noise. And of course it’s impossible to have different conversations happening in the same video room, which is possible when you’re in a physical room full of people. One good thing is you have to wait for someone to finish speak or you’ll be talking over … not easy when you’re excited to say what you want to say! Yes, you can text-chat privately in a group, but then you lose the overall conversations. Although, having said that, we are adept at ‘double chatting’ on our WhatsApp, Messenger and others, but we’re then not fully immersed in either conversation. And sometimes we send the wrong message to the wrong person. Haven’t we all done that at sometime? It can be embarrassing or a laugh!

Now I love technology and years ago often used Skype for personal and business communication before the popular #WhatsApp, #Messenger, #Teams, Zoom added sophistication.

Business Meetings

Video conferences are here to stay, that’s for sure. They make sense as it’s more cost effective and eco-friendly, especially for business. Skype has come a long way from it’s early offering, with Microsoft as it’s parent company, I guess it was expected. I can see the difference in Teams on the Office suite. Teams, in my humble opinion, is now almost as effective as Zoom. But hats off to WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram and the like for integrating the video facility easily into their apps for social interaction.

I had some work-related face-to-face meetings over the last few weeks and realised just how much I’ve missed them. Although I can be a loner, the positive interaction and vibes from each person in a group helps to create buzz and stimulate and propel ideas. There’s also the easy flow of conversation with laughs and being able to see and feel body language.

Creative, hobbies, wellness

Last week I met a work frend of some 11 years. Over lunch she told me about the online portrait painting course she started. Her first lessons were 1-2-1 with the tutor prior to the lockdown. She asked me to join her then as he’d do private classes with up to three people. Because of work commitments I declined. Her lessons started again but online a few weeks ago. It’s a small class. She showed me her work – absolutely beautiful! She’s meeting new people online with the same interests and finds that the classes are good – but she prefers to keep her video off, and turns it on only when she wants to do so.

We know that anything can take place online, in the virtual world. Online classes and meetings have been around for many years, there’s just more of them now as the lockdown the world over made people look at different ways to continue their work, whether professionals or creatives, well-being, and everything else.

The New Way

Onwards and upwards! May those businesses that have developed during the pandemic continue to grow and prosper – from wellness to food,

There are so many foodie businesses providing full meals, including cream teas. We’ve always had take-aways, but these are different, sophisticated offerings. Today we had a meal that was prepared by a top chef. It was a gift from our daughter. Everything was pre-prepared and delivered in an insulated box. All ingredients were included even salt! I had to cook but it was enjoyable. The organisation that provided this is called Dishpatch. It was a delicious meal. Well worth it. The Customer Service was second to none.

If you’d like a £20 coupon from Dishpatch, let me know. There’s an ‘introduce a friend’ deal and I’d be happy to share.

Bitter leaf salad with honey and oil dressing

End of Sunday Thoughts

Sunday Thiughts were a bit longer than I’d intended! Thanks for getting this far. What have been your Sunday Thoughts?

I’ve been listening to Al Jarreau today – he seemed to be on music lists and stations I tuned in to. I think it’s a sign. Hope you enjoy – an iconic performer.

This evening I was sent a link to a painting by artist Dumisani Ndlovu. I’m not able to download a copy so took a screenshot to use as my Feature Image. Lovely. No copyright intended. This is the website.
https://www.the-nala-project.com/artists/artists-from-zimbabwe/

Thank you for visiting

Written by Cecily on Sunday 27 February 2022 (started 3 weeks ago). I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings, on my Facebook Page. Follow my blogs at Cecilyswritings.wordpress.comand cecilystravels.wordpress.com. © Cecily Lalloo 2022 and © Cecilyswritings 2022. You’re welcome to share anything on this blog, but please give credit. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, and photos taken by Cecily, without permission is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links (shares) may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, or to other authors/writers/artists where they are acknowledged.

Today’s music video is from YouTube. 😊

On a Silver Platter

November 11, 2021February 20, 2022 · Leave a comment ·

That’s what we do. We just give it away … on no less than a silver platter. In fact many of us do. And I’m as guilty as any.

Games and quizzes

I see a post on my friend’s profile. Interesting. I wonder if mine will be the same? “Let me have a go. Won’t take long.” Giggle!

It’s a quizz. Favourite colour. Pet’s name. Likes and dislikes. The answer? “Dangerous when crossed”, not so flattering, I can try again!

Then there’s the Horoscopes, I love them. Day of birth, month, year, easy enough and hey presto … my future is laid out before me … love, hates, highs and lows. I read it intently. Mmmm how true, in general terms. To get a detailed reading, I’ve got to give away more information. That’s when I stop.

I am gullible. I just give away my private information at a touch of an icon. Someone, somewhere has built up my profile. They know my name, date of birth, place of birth, where I went to school and college, where I work, my address, my favourite colour, my pets name, my phone numbers, my email addresses, my family and friends names, what social media platforms I use, my car, nationality, what I like and dislike. And I still feed them with more.

“Alexa, tell me where…” I don’t have an Alexa, but if I did of course she’d be providing more and more information, and saving my habits in her memory.

You can link Whatsapp to Facebook to Instagram and there’s more history being collated, add the many websites we visit and allow our activity to be tracked. How many times do I simply ‘Agree’ when The Google presents me with their terms? How many times do I read those terms? Not once. There’s so much to read, I doubt many of us have read it all, unless you’re a legal whose job it is to do so.

Ancestry

Now ancestry websites is another way we share our information. We are finding our long lost relatives in ways that we’ve never done before. And I can see the resemblance to my immediate family in people I’ve met through ancestry websites. We are spread all over the world and the world, in that well-used cliché, is getting smaller.

Have you had your DNA analysed? It’s much easier these days to find next of kin. Easy, but time-consuming. We’ve found that over half of our DNA is from South and North India. This surprised our family. However, it makes sense because we know that one of our great great great great (maybe even more greats) grandmother was a slave on the beautiful and remote island of St Helena. She landed there along with other slaves by we assume a ship of the Dutch East India Company. We’re still tracing our ancestry to find out from whence she came – possibly India or Malaysia. Could she have been a young girl sold by her family? We need more information. And by my family’s searches, I’m still giving away more of my personal details on a platter. Why? Why would I continue to make it easy for anyone to ‘clone’ me. I think I’m careful, but I’ve been caught out a couple of times.

Cower in the shadows

I’m taking a dig here at our use of social media. But I couldn’t do without this mode of communication. Most people are using the likes of Facebook, even if they cower in the shadows and watch what’s going on without contributing. This is the way we keep up with what’s happening in the world, what’s happening in our country, what’s happening in our community, and even closer, what’s happening in our families and whats happening with our loved ones.

I do admire those who have shied away from using popular platforms. But I’d wager that even those who are not publicly on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and more, are communicating in private on channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Signal, GoogleMeet, Skype and more. They too are sharing their information in one way or another. How interesting and easier it is to be a private investigator in today’s age.

Learn

Social media is also a fantastic learning station. Choose whatever you fancy learning, and it’s at your finger tips. There’s groups, pages, videos, webinars on any subject under the sun. Learn about gardening, how to programme, learn a language, how to sing or play an instrument.

Find the love of your life on social media, or your missing family member. The Police are active on social media so when you report a missing person their Facebook appeals will bring results. Crimes are short-circuited as more people have home CCTV; and many have cameras on motorcycle and cycle helmets or vehicle dashboards to record events and incidents, and then to share when necessary.

Relationships

We all know what we know and more! It’s quite exciting, in a way. We can find anything, anyone, anywhere at anytime. Who would have thought that’s possible 10 years ago?

Like everything, there is good and bad. At times sharing sensitive or personal information becomes hurtful when it’s about loved ones, and where you’d least expect that information to appear. Many thousands of people can know your personal business even before you or your close family know if someone posts to public platforms without thought. Or, as a friend pointed out, that person may want to be seen to be the first to know. To be seen as the person who has the finger on the pulse. Sharing for sharing sake. News such as births, deaths and marriages must be shared with caution.

Crazy inventors

Technology has moved us forward in leaps and bounds and will continue to do so. I’m ever fascinated by the imaginative minds that make it happen. Minds of very young people must continue to be nurtured and we must take note of their ‘crazy ideas’. As we know, many inventions that were cast aside because the inventor was thought to be insane, have become part of our everyday world.

Thank goodness for the crazy inventors, the mad creatives, the people who are labelled deranged because their imagination and suggestive ideas are poo-pooed, thank goodness for the nurds and the brainboxes. May you long continue to share your craziness. And social media makes it so much easier to do.

Use and enjoy

Enjoy your communicating time … I admit that social platforms have helped me in both my personal and business life. Long may they continue. But we should be cautious … I tell myself.

My song for this blog today is Crazy by Gnarls Barclay. It’s the title that attracted me, but I like the tune too – nice beat. The lyrics? Well I’ll leave it up to you.

Crazy by Gnarls Barclay on YouTube

I write when I have the urge. I write to express feelings. I write to explore my imagination. I write about my thoughts and dreams. I write for enjoyment. I write to relax. I write because I like to write.

If you find words that resonate with you, I’d love to hear from you. If you find a situation that reminds you of something, someone, sometime, I’d love to hear from you. Do hope you enjoy reading Cecilyswritings.

Where I use images, music and quotes in my blog, that do not belong to me, no copyright infringement is intended. I shall wherever possible attribute or apply links to the original where it’s on the internet.

Today’s song is from YouTube and feature image from Pexels free photos.

Thank you for visiting

I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings, on my Facebook Page

Written by Cecily in September and November, and posted on 11 November 2021 – SMALL AMENDMENTS MADE ON 12 November

(c)Cecily Lalloo 2021

Follow my blogs Cecilyswritings.wordpress.com and cecilystravels.wordpress.com.

Do You Double Chat?

October 29, 2021April 27, 2022 · Leave a comment ·

Writing Research

A ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ. Wʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴅᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ OR voice/video chatting and text chatting at the same time?

𝒟ℴ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 ℴ𝓇 𝒹ℴ𝓃’𝓉 𝓎ℴ𝓊?

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 – whether with your significant other, family or friends.

What is Dᴏᴜʙʟᴇ Cʜᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ I hear you ask?

The Urban Dictionary has one definition and I have another.

Uʀʙᴀɴ Dɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ: to use two (or more) instant message services to chat with one person

AND this also from the URBAN DICTIONARY that is closer to what I think it is: trying to keep up with two chat conversations at once, sometimes falling behind in one or forgetting to talk to one person: “hey, sorry i replied late, i was double chatting” by A Friend Of Tyler Durden November 20, 2009

Mʏ Dᴇғɪɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ: to chat with two DIFFERENT people at the same time (either on the same instant message service or on one or more of the other instant message services; or voice/video with one and text chat with the other). This may mean using the ‘notifications’ or ‘pop ups’ features.

Sometimes I’ve been known to hold two conversations with different people on different instant messaging services. It’s easier when you use notifications or pop-ups – depends what device you have. I touch-type so I’m fairly quick or I use ‘swipe’. And people are adept at using device keypads, but there are some who are slow.

Yes, I admit, I have been known to double chat. It is usually if one of the people I’m chatting with is slow to respond or if I can send the other person a quick response for instance – I’m busy now, chat/phone later.

BUT … I don’t keep two conversations going for long at all. Isn’t it just frustrating watching someone ‘online’ when you’re waiting for them to answer knowing that they’re probably double chatting as they go off and on! What’s more frustrating is when you’re voice /video talking and they are distracted as they are sending a text message whilst talking. I either ask them if they’re double chatting or busy; or tell them to contact me when they’re free.

I hasten to add that I don’t double chat when I’m talking to work clients. If a client sends a message, I may send a message back to say I’ll get back to them, or I’ll end a conversation with someone if it’s not work related.

To get back to my question.
Is it rude to double chat OR voice/video chat and text chat at the same time?
That is, if it’s social chatting.
Let’s take the client or customer out of the equation because that’s a definite ‘no’.

I look forward to your comments or do send me a message. It will be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

What song for this post? It’s not really associated with the question I ask. It’s from one of my playlists and is a light, upbeat song with sweet words called Cover me with sunshine by Pink, Willow Sage Hart. Lyrics are below should you want to sing along!

Today’s song is from YouTube and feature image from 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝑷𝒊𝒂𝒄𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑷𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒍𝒔

Thank you for visiting

I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings, on my Facebook Page

Written by Cecily and posted on 27 October 2021

(c)Cecily Lalloo 2021

Follow my blogs Cecilyswritings.wordpress.com and cecilystravels.wordpress.com.

Lyrics to Cover me in Sunshine

Cover Me In Sunshine

P!nk, Willow Sage Hart

I’ve been dreaming of friendly faces
I’ve got so much time to kill
Just imagine people laughing
I know some day we will
And even if it’s far away
Get me through another day

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world’s been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright
Cover me in sunshine

From a distance all these mountains
Are just some tiny hills
Wildflowers, they keep living
While they’re just standing still
I’ve been missing yesterday
But what if there’s a better place?

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world’s been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world’s been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright
Cover me in sunshine

Source: MusixmatchSongwriters: Amy Rose Allen / Maureen Anne Mcdonald

Cover Me In Sunshine lyrics © Artist Publishing Group West, Kenny + Betty Tunes, Superreal Songs

Do What They Want to Do

October 25, 2021October 26, 2021 · 2 Comments ·

A couple of months ago I attended a webinar by Mike who is in IT and set up a company that uses assistive technology to help people with disabilities do what they want to do. The majority of Mike’s clients have acquired brain injury sustained through an accident. Little did Mike know that his two sons would benefit from his knowledge and skills as they have acquired brain injury.

I have long been a fan of technology, the internet, social media and more, so I found this webinar extremely interesting and uplifting. I shall attempt, in the next few paragraphs, to explain some of Mike’s work. It is by no means as simple as I convey it here. It takes much patience and research, and knowledge and skill, for Mike and to reach a solution, but find one he does.

Mike first introduced us to Jack, a 17-year old who is non-verbal and has physical disabilities. Jack took over the presentation and showed us how he is studying maths and the sciences using off-the-shelf software with his ipad and computers but with access to his devices in a way that is easier for him to use. He is also a gamer and he is so adept and innovative, that he has been contacting Mike, with suggestions and ideas to further make use of technology to help him, and possibly others. He has an adapted joy stick to play his games on his X-box. Mike has been working with Jack for many years and says that his parents are very supportive so that Jack can live a fulfilling life and do things that any 17-year old would like to do. Jack is now an Ambassador for Mike’s company and asked Mike if he could do his work placement with him. It was fun watching him, an intelligent and proud young man, achieve what he set his mind to do. I smiled as he corrected his Mum … “it’s an X-Box, Mum”, he said when she mentioned Playstation.

Then we were introduced to 7-year old Sam. His parents have been working with Mike since their son was 4 years old. He has limited use of his limbs and Mike talked about finding out what Sam wants so he could provide him with ways to do what he wants to do. Mike says that he had to find a way to make Sam aware of ’cause and effect’. Through much research, he discovered that Sam loved the feeling of being ‘jiggled’. So they sited pads on either side of his head on this wheelchair, showed him that when his head hit the pads, it activated his computer. He took a long and hard look at what was on the screen and this activated his wheelchair to jiggle. This made Sam laugh as he enjoyed the sensation. But the head movements weren’t easy for him and through further research Mike set up a pad close to his knee. This enabled him to move his knee to hit the pad, and the same action would present the screen for him to look at to activate the jiggling movement of his chair. Once he learnt about cause and effect, Mike went on to set up cartoons that would jiggle and Sam learnt to activate them which gave him enormous pleasure. It’s the simple things in life! Over the years they have progressed and Sam uses his knee pad to switch lights on and off in the home – what child doesn’t enjoy playing with lights! The lights are controlled by remote so Sam uses the switches that the rest of the family use. This means he is included despite his disabilities. Using bluetooth, he also helps his Mum with the cleaning as he instructs “Alexa” to vacuum. Mike says he tries to use off-the-shelf technology as far as possible and makes them work with hardware, apps, programmes and networks that are already available. There is a world waiting ahead for Sam as he becomes familiar with using his knee pad to enable him to do everyday things, and the technology is taken into school. It will take time, but Mike says they will get there. As a child grows and develops his needs will change.

Mike’s ethos is to enable people with disabilities such as Jack and Sam to live as good a life as they can, making use of technology and what is around us to help them do what they want to do. In a few years Mike says things will have changed dramatically. And we need to keep up.

I am in awe of what people invent. What they know. What they do to help others. I continue to research life on the internet. It is where the modern world lives, works and plays. Where life is shared, promoted, learnt. Where intense relationships are formed. Where able bodied and disabled can come together, get to know one another as people without being judged physically for their attractiveness, but rather for the depth of their feelings through words. Where voice-to-voice, text-to-text, and face-to-face in real time forge long lasting bonds across miles, oceans and countries.

Despite the many disadvantages and negativity we hear about life on the internet, there are very many advantages and I look forward to following the lives of people like Jack and Sam. They find ways to make their lives better, rather than make excuses for being unable to do everyday things that we take for granted. May the Mike’s of this world continue with their innovation.

If you’d like to find out more about Mike’s work or would like an introduction to him, do let me know in the comments or message me.

My song for this post is by Sly and the Family Stone – Everyday People. At the end of the day, we all want to be happy, to be thankful for what we have, no matter our outward appearance.

Lyrics

Sometimes I’m right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I’m in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah

There is a blue one who can’t accept
The green one for living with
A fat one tryin’ to be a skinny one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha
We got to live together

I am no better and neither are you
We’re all the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me
You know me and then
You can’t figure out the bag I’m in
I am everyday people

There is a long hair
That doesn’t like the short hair
For being such a rich one
That will not help the poor one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha
We got to live together

There is a yellow one that won’t
Accept the black one
That won’t accept the red one
That won’t accept the white one

Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and
Scooby dooby dooby
Ooh sha sha
I am everyday people

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Sylvester Stewart

Today’s song is from YouTube and feature image from Pexels free photos.

Thank you for visiting

I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings, on my Facebook Page

Written by Cecily in September and posted on 25 October 2021

(c)Cecily Lalloo 2021

Follow my blogs Cecilyswritings.wordpress.com and cecilystravels.wordpress.com.

What did you do without WhatsApp et al?

October 4, 2021October 5, 2021 · 1 Comment ·

Well this evening, actually from about 16.30 this afternoon in the UK, it’s been a funny one. Without my friends on WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger [Instagram], I’ve busied myself on the other apps – Twitter, LinkedIn, and Telegram. I know some who resorted to using the phone Messenging.

This is a good time to do a poll – tell me, choose only ONE – what app did you use when …

It’s times like this that I find how much I really miss my apps. It’s just so quick and easy to pick up a device and send a message and receive an almost [some take longer than others!] immediate response. It’s no longer a problem if you’re far away, in a different town, city, country, time-zone. You are still so accessible.

Another question. Honestly, how long did you fiddle about with your wi-fi or other network before you realise that it wasn’t your network but the apps that had gone down? Okay, I admit it took me a while, 20 minutes or so. It didn’t realise that my email and other programmes were working – after I’d powered the router on and off – well the hubby actually did the physical.

I can laugh at myself now – poor hubby was busy checking things and testing, he sent me an email and it still didn’t hit home for another 5 minutes that everything but WhatsApp and FB were working. I was busy typing a response to someone on Messenger when it happened …

Anyway, it takes an outage every now and again to make me realise that I shouldn’t have too many eggs in one basket – we all know this – but do we take action?

So tomorrow is another day. Having had time to play with my mobile phone’s accessibility feature, because a kind author told me about it, thank you D Wallace Peach, I’ve activated the VoiceOver so the phone says everything that appears on my phone screen. EVERYTHING, yes EVERY APP, EVERY INSTRUCTION, EVERY BIT OF TEXT … IF IT’S ON THE SCREEN AND IT IS TOUCHED, IT IS VOCALISED … and I don’t know how to stop it. It is quite funny. So I’ve switched my mobile off for the night for us both to take a break.

What music for tonight I wonder? Well something that is soft and gentle. Angelina Jordan has a beautiful beautiful, sensual voice. She was on one of the popular TV talent shows. Hope you enjoy her rendition of Welcome to my World and have a lovely evening.

The feature image today is by Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

The video from YouTube.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING

Written by Cecily on 4 October 2021. I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings, on my Facebook Page. Follow my blogs at Cecilyswritings.wordpress.com and cecilystravels.wordpress.com. © Cecily Lalloo and Cecilyswritings 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, and photos taken by Cecily, without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links (shares) may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cecily Lalloo and Cecilyswritings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, or other authors/writers/artists.

In the name of LOVE

February 28, 2021February 14, 2022 · Leave a comment ·

EVERYTHING can be done virtually. I say that all you need is love and fresh air, a mobile device and access to the internet or cell network; and your social media accounts be they WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, Messenger or anything else.

When family come together in the name of love – anything is possible.

I received a WhatsApp audio call at 8.50 GMT this morning, from my niece in Zimbabwe; she then added a friend from Mocambique into the conversation.

Decisions needed to be taken quickly.

Without further ado the family wheels went into motion. I felt the adrenalin kick in. No justification was needed for what we had to do.

Isn’t WhatsApp fabulous?

Aren’t WhatsApp groups, and sub-groups, a great thing? The fact that our family are scattered throughout the world, we are each in different lands, in different time zones, didn’t make a difference to the speed at which we managed to achieve our goal. We needed to get my neice from Harare to Mocambique despite the COVID restrictions, in the best way possible. She needed a COVID test before travelling.

It’s Sunday, normally a day of rest, but everyone helped in some way. To research and book flights and hotel. To make phone calls to seek out a COVID test centre. To keep in touch with those who needed to know. To obtain advice. To drive to pick up and collect. To be there on the group to support, encourage and keep going.

We primarily used a WhatsApp group and had smaller sub-groups for specific tasks. Of course it’s possible to use any of the other social media platforms – Skype, Telegram, Messenger, and others, they’d work just as well.

We made it.

It’s now 14.21 and my niece is at the airport in Harare.

It just shows that EVERYTHING can be done virtually. You just need love and fresh air, a mobile device and access to the internet. And loving people who are ‘doers’ when needed.

Let me explain the sequence of events to you, using UK time. It’s +2 hours for Southern Africa:

08.50 WhatsApp group audio call between Harare, UK and Mocambique

09.38 Search for flights and hotels – departs today Sunday 28th

10.22 COVID test done, funds sorted

13.12 COVID test collected – negative

13.15 Flight ticket booked and collected

13.34 Hotel for overnight stay booked

13.37 On the way to the airport in Harare

13.48 Dropped off at airport

13.58 Checked in and in departure lounge

15.50 Flight due to depart [local time in Harare 17.50]

POSTSCRIPT: 15.29 – Have just had a message from my niece to say take off is imminent!

Our family came together and we all pulled together. Each did something small to achieve the greater good. We are scattered in the Diaspora – in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Mocambique, UK, USA and Australia. It’s just amazing when a plan comes together. When we do things through love for each other. There is nothing greater than family in times of crises.

Now we’ll wait to hear about ‘touch down’ this evening then departure and arrival at final destination in Mocambique. God Speed. It is all now in God’s hands.

“He’ll make a way to get it done, fix it, shift it, turn it. Even when there doesn’t seem to be a way.”

What song for this blog? It’s an easy one for me, although I’ve used it before.

When on holiday some years ago in Harare, we had a fabulous family and friends gathering at home and this was our song – “We Are Family”. Since then one of my brothers calls me “Sister Sledge”. So here it is … dedicating this song to my brother, Gavin, and to ALL our family wherever in the world you are.

To my siblings, nieces and nephews, my hubby and children, and to our extended family.

You are awesome. I love you.

Sister Sledge – We Are Family on You Tube

Written by Cecily on 28 February 2021. I’d love it if you LIKE or follow cecilyswritings,on my Facebook Page. Follow my blogs at Cecilyswritings.wordpress.comand cecilystravels.wordpress.com. © Cecily Lalloo and Cecilyswritings 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, and photos taken by Cecily, without permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links (shares) may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cecily Lalloo and Cecilyswritings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, or to other authors/writers/artists where they are acknowledged or used.