Gramatical - Grammaticum - Grammatica

Every language has its own grammar.
In Delphi you end every sentence with a semi-colon;
It is word order with which in Afrikaans I struggle.
In English it's easy, I just struggle to read other people's work when they don't use grammar: spelling, punctuation, who cares? I do. It's what gives a piece flow or no flow. Vive Grammatica!

An Immortal with a Destiny

I've been reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. It's not the best I've ever read, but it is very good. It also got me thinking about some of the fantasy concepts that we always dismiss as just that: fantasy.

Immortality is one of those. Tolkien's elves are what first springs to mind. In Middle-Earth the elves will live forever, but humans are doomed to die. In real life, there's obviously no such thing as immortality. Actually, I don't believe that. I believe I'm immortal. No, you don't need to be worried about me (I don't think). That belief comes from a very specific perspective: I've trusted Jesus with my life and I know I'll live in heaven with Him for eternity. I'm not going to get any closer to immortality than that.

The second concept is destiny. There are probably more people who believe in destiny than in immortality, but I'm less certain about it. My thoughts go along the lines of: God has a plan for each of us. If we don't follow his plan will we ever be truly happy? I don't think so. In that case, couldn't I call his plan for me my destiny? It's something to think about.

Tech Crew

Today we met all our new Grade 7 tech crew members. We spent an hour with them, but we didn't get much further than explaining the rules and teaching them how to coil cables. Cables must be coiled properly or they twist and crack, for those who don't know. I was very proud of my three little girls who all got it right. Hurrah!

It's not very major, but it made me happy, so I think it's worthwhile. Nobody else need ever care, I know. I love teaching and tech stuff is cool.

Thankyou Lord for giving me so much. Amen!

Scared

Dry as lightning
Hard as ice
Great One's wrath
Not so nice

Firm as cotton
Tough as string
Place To Hide
Mama's wing

Hurts like love
Stings like sorrow
I'll survive
Until Tomorrow

Schooldays

Why do people look back on their "idyllic schooldays" in books? Some parts of school are not-so-bad, but other parts are hectic in the extreme. For example, we have an Afrikaans project due tomorrow (that we couldn't start before today), plenty of Maths homework and enough English that we "can't finish at school" - I'm only half way.

Perhaps in twenty years I'll look back and think of my wonderful schooldays, when I didn't have to worry about putting food on the table. Then again, maybe not. There is little (no?) intersection between the people who say that and the people I really respect. Schooldays are no more idyllic than the rest of life.

Perhaps I'm a little cynical, but it seems harsh to end the day by making us spend half-an-hour of homework time being told how we can spend R20 000 to wash dishes in the USA. Some people may have enjoyed it, but I would have preferred some time to work on my English homework.

Oh well, such is life. I do seem to have time to update my blog, so it can't be that bad, can it? Or maybe it can. What do you think?

Trust and Faith

We've been doing John Milton's "On his blindness" in English. It was one of my favourite poems before now, although the discussion in class did bring new facets of the poem forward.

Strangely enough, what really struck me and heightened my appreciation of the poem, is not what we discussed, but what we didn't. I probably look at most things with a more christian perspective than most of my class and maybe more of a writer's perspective too, which might explain my interpretation. We barely touched on this (the following) in class, but it jumped out at me immediately.

I've always been struck by Milton's absolute faith in God. Even when he goes through blindness, he doesn't blame God, but wonders how he will continue to serve Him. Milton doesn't demand an answer from God, but eventually does come to a profound, and I think divine, conclusion. I might express it as God wants us to BE his people rather than DOing work for him. In some cases the work is important, but other times we just need to wait.

Something we did discuss in class, which added to my understanding is Milton's patience. His personification of Patience as answering his questions inspires me to spend time being patient, to spend time in thought and in prayer. Perhaps it reminds me that one should not be sacrificed for the other.

"On his blindness" really is an awesome poem. I'm more inclined than ever to read "Paradise Lost". I think I know what my next trip to the library will bring.

Back to School

On the whole, I think today was a good day. I've one new teacher, who seems nice, although she did admit to an obsession with lambs. (This was evident from her classroom decorations.) I've moved seats in a few classes and got a whole pile of new books and files to cover.

English continued as if we'd never been away; some teachers are like that. Ditto Afrikaans, except our desks had moved from "group discussion" layout to "cycle test" layout. We have been threatened with having our seating rearranged - and we're the First Div. "angels". We're supposed to be at least.

Other subjects we got back exams and discovered how much work this year is going to be - or rather how no-one needs to tell us this, since everyone else has (apparantly) told us this. We somehow got the message, without actually hearing it: "Work! Hard! Now! You can have a free today." When we actually do have to work, we'll be told it's not that much of a load.

Ironic.

Now I need to finish my maths so I can read Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' series.

Goodbye

Totsiens

LHS=RHS

QED

School's Out!

My Pillow Book

I first heard of a pillow book when I read 'this is all: the pillow book of Cordelia Kenn' by Aidan Chambers. I liked the idea, since I usually give up diaries after a few days. A pillow book gives me more freedom: I write whatever I want, whenever I want.

The pillow book was conceptualised in Japan. It is a book kept somewhere personal to the writer - like under a pillow. It usually includes poetry as well as diary-type entries. I write whatever I feel like in my pillow book, which includes random "poetry", diary-type entries, ideas and thoughts.
Having kept the pillow book that I literally keep by my pillow and that noone else may read, I'm making a leap to keeping an electronic pillow book too. If you think it's interesting, go ahead and read it.

So, here goes!

Am I me?

When I am alone
just me and my mind
that is my zone:
I know I am me

But surround me by people
I'll lose my nerve
and that simple but subtle
knowledge of me

I agree I'm an introvert
that's who I am.
Don't want to get hurt
'cos I am me.