My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right

The first picture I ever posted on my blog

I'm torn. Conflicted. Suffering from an identity crisis ... When I originally started blogging way back in April 2009, just after moving to Madagascar,  it was to keep in touch with friends and family back in South Africa – to let them know how my mad life abroad was panning out – through my words and photos. 

And so, rather than sending out huge, photo-bloated email updates to people who weren’t interested in being spammed by a missionary-type who they didn’t want to hear from, I started blogging. My sister has been my biggest fan – encouraging me that my stories and photos actually are interesting and vaguely-amusing, and so I thought others out there might also get something from my ramblings and view of life from behind my Nikon lens.

Because I have many friends in common with the Midgleys (see the multitude of posts in which I refer to them) I often blogged about them – mostly about the five children, because the parents just aren’t as interesting or good looking. And I blogged about my life. And school. And church. And real life out there beyond my front gate. And often the stories were actually funny. But sometimes they weren’t.

And now, unlike when I first started down this road, I think I have more traffic from people I don’t know – people who stumble across my site from who-knows-where – and I ask myself, “Where to now?”

Do I blog for those who will read it, or do I blog for myself? What's the point? Well, the point, for me, is mostly a therapeutic one – almost like doing the dishes.  It keeps me semi-sane on those crazy days, and it may just benefit others.  I love it. (Sure, it still helps me to keep in touch with friends around the world and I’ve even made a new acquaintance or two).

And so, I pray that as you read this blog you will find something that stirs you: something that makes you sit up and take notice of a world bigger than yours, something that makes you smile, or laugh, or cry, or think about why life really is worth living. You may not agree with everything I write about, or find everything of interest.

But I’ll just keep washing one dish at a time, with as much care and delight as I can muster, until people (including myself) stop needing or using them ...

Seriously: Solemn one (and his/her mother) at my front gate ...

Straight and true: Midgley # 2 growing his patience one Lego brick at a time ...

Middle class: Madagascar has a long history of honouring the dead. The upper class tombs are even larger and more ornate than this one. And every so often the relatives of the dead remove the bodies, wrap them in fresh cloth and then have a major party - (often with drunken) dancing around the tomb and into the streets - in a ceremony known as famadihana, "the turning of the bones."

Poser: Midgley # 5 very proud of what he looks like in my cap. Every time he sees me he begs for either a wrestle or a hugickle - my popular invention of a bear hug and tickle at the same time. I was showing his mother the picture of the tomb (above) earlier, when he asked, "Is that where Jesus lives?" "No," she replied, to which he responded, "But then why is his cross on the building?" Interesting question ...

Through the kitchen door: I had an hilarious story about Midgley # 4 Reece having a conversation with his mother about human anatomy and how moms feed their babies, but have withheld it for the greater good. He is the most innocent, sweetest thing, but I think in pictures and it was just too graphic!

Shop assistants: My two little next door neighbours, who I have featured before on my blog. They are so friendly, and wait for me every morning to say hello and give me a huge smile, and every evening to ask how I am and say goodnight with an even bigger smile! The other day a drunk guy was harassing me about taking photos in my little lane, and all my (local) neighbours came out of their homes to my defence. They chased him away, smiled, and I gathered I could take pics any time. It feels more and more like home all the time ...

This will probably be my last blog post for the year (unless something hilarious or profound happens between now and Friday). I'm heading to South Africa for three weeks to spend time with friends and family I haven't seen for way too long, and probably won't have much access to the Internet while there. If you're around, I'll see you there; if not, have a wonderful Christmas, hot or cold. 

If this is your first time here, feel free to delve deeper into this mad life, this life which is mine. Feel free to comment while I'm away and I'll respond when I can. 

"Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story". (Ashleigh Brilliant, along with this blog post title)