The Bouncer Guarding the Writer’s Circle

07 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Food for the Mind - Books, Island Tales - Expatriate Living, The Most Interesting Roosters - People Tags: , , , , ,

When Robin Barratt says WRITE he means it

Author Robin Barratt Security Expert

Usually one wouldn’t expect a group of writers to need a bouncer.  That’s not the case for the Bahrain Writer’s Circle.  If it wasn’t for bouncer Robin Barratt the meeting would not have even gotten started.

Last year Robin Barratt arrived in Bahrain.   After checking out JJ’s, the Coral Beach Club and Wrangler, he decided those clubs did not have the vibe he wanted.  He posted a notice that all writers on the island, whether they could dance or not, were invited to his inaugural party.

Admittedly I have a low opinion of bouncers.  My girlfriend met her husband when he was the bouncer at a club and the rest of the story is pretty grim, or amusing depending on who is doing the telling.

And that’s the key point – who is doing the telling.

Robin Barratt has written 6 books about his life as a bouncer.  Each cover features a large man with a tough English street bully attitude.  Frankly, Robin’s huge guns (biceps on normal people) prominently displayed on his covers frightened me.  But if Doing the Doors was the must-have book for clubbers around the world then Robin certainly told a good story.   I gathered two of my writing buddies and carrying our pashminas we trotted off to the Elite Hotel.

“Hello I’m Robin” were the first words out of his mouth.   Like his world wide fans, his warm smile and genuine enthusiasm immediately won me over.   Before my eyes he transformed from a tough thug into a charismatic leader.

And he has led.

Within months the BWC has grown from zero to 70 members, acquired a few corporate sponsors, created a website, gathered a FACEBOOK following, held creative writing workshops and spun off a poetry group, the Second Circle.  Currently Robin’s big project is creating an anthology called My Beautiful Bahrain, writings that reflect life in Bahrain.  He intends to publish it in January 2012.

At the last BWC meeting, he told the 30 odd writers assembled, “I always do what I say I am going to do.”

I don’t doubt it.

Any writer, published or not, who lives in Bahrain or has lived in Bahrain can contribute a piece to the anthology.  The one criterion about content is the work must stay out of politics and negative commentary.  Other than that it is a blank page and an opportunity to be creative.

If you don’t believe it is possible, come meet Robin for yourself at the next meeting.

Rabbit Blowback

06 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor

Day four of blogging.

Susan, my daughter, looked at my blog.  She read About Eva, the Hamleys and Helicopter story and the follow up.

“What do you think about the blog? “ I asked.  My sons had LOVED it.

“Looks like there are a lot of stories about Dragons and nothing about Rabbits.”

Point taken.

 

I Really Want To Go To The Party, But I Have To Study For My Breast Exam

05 Oct 2011 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in Healing - Self and the Earth Tags: , , ,

Think Pink

Think Pink

I don’t know why we women must wait all year to pay special attention to our breasts.  Men view them positively 365 days a year.  Regardless of the size or shape, breasts still rate above ass and legs as men’s favorite body part.  Why don’t we give them the same love?

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Everywhere campaigns are reminding us to check our breasts to identify a pea-sized c before it becomes THE Big C.

Energetically, breasts represent mothering, nurturing and nourishment says Louise Hay in her classic book You Can Heal Your Life.  Cancers stem from our deep hurts and longstanding resentments.  If you combine the two, then breast cancer might be the manifestation of the anger we feel towards ourselves for our lack of self care and for always putting others’ needs before our own.

I prefer to “Think Pink” rather than focus my attention on Breast Cancer,  to move away from the idea of breast EXAMS.  None of us want to fail and no one, including our breasts, likes taking a test .  Change the thought from “I’d better examine my breasts in case I have cancer” to an attitude of “let me take five minutes to care for myself.”

THINK PINK – HEALING RITUAL

This is not the doctor’s office – enjoy the experience.  The privacy of your bath or shower is as a good of place as any to begin your monthly ritual.  Choose a scented soap or a lovely oil and hold it in your hands.  Palms upwards, imagine you are holding a ball of pink light.  When the light is very strong, cup your hand over your breast and see the pink light covering your breast.

Say one of Louise Hay’s affirmations (here’s where you may have to study a bit but it’s not hard)

“I am important.  I count.  I now care for and nourish myself with love and with joy.  I allow others the freedom to be who they are.  We are all safe and free.”

OR

“I lovingly forgive and release all of the past.  I choose to fill my world with joy.  I love and approve of myself.”

In a circular motion, using your fingertips, carefully and gently spread the loving energy.  Continue saying your affirmation as you massage the pink light into every cell and every gland in your entire breast.  When finished, allow yourself to feel the pink light to spread throughout your body.  Say thank you to your self.

If you happen to find a hard spot, your body is sending you a wake up call. Listen and take care of yourself immediately.

Quit looking for Trouble.  Breast awareness means becoming aware of our needs.  Approach your breasts with love and they will respond positively.

And tell your loved one how great your breasts are.  I am certain he or she will be more than happy to help you nurture your joy 365 days AND nights a year.

Artist Demi Mcleod Exhibits at the Capital Club

04 Oct 2011 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in Eye Candy - Art, Island Tales - Expatriate Living, The Most Interesting Roosters - People Tags: , , ,

Yin Yang by Demi Mcleod

Artist Demi Mcleod is showing her work at the Capital Club in the Bahrain Financial Center through this weekend October 6th, 2011.  At midnight the exhibition closes and she takes off her glass heels and runs back to her studio.

Demi is inspired by the things she is most familiar with – her goldfish, African animals and textures in fabrics.  In her mind’s eye they explode larger than life and that is when her alchemist side takes over.

Talk to Demi and she’ll explain how she combined a paint or an ink with a process which inevitably turns to gold.  Her works take time to develop because she experiments with materials gathered from her global travels.  Intrigued with each paints’ qualities she describes how they interacted with the light, the humidity and other colors.  Unafraid of the results she boldly moves forward.  Each layer deepens the painting creating new textures until her final vision comes to life.

PS Hamleys and Helicopters

04 Oct 2011 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor Tags:

Strawberry Mirinda Rocket and Volunteer Astronaut

The Problem with Outlaws

Even if governments confiscate devices, outlaws come up with alternative ways to propel objects into space.

As test results demonstrate, the reason Strawberry Mirinda doesn’t appear on the prohibited items list is because it doesn’t work.

Will I be considered an accessory to Arming A Squirrel with Dangerous Explosives if I follow the instructions anonymous left on my grocery list?

“Please buy Diet Coke and mint Mentos.”

Magic Carpet Anyone?

02 Oct 2011 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living

 

Sand Dunes in Saudi Arabia

Like the tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, many of my stories take place in a kingdom whose rule has been passed from father to son for 200 years.  To an American this seems like quite a long time.  But to the natives whose ancient mothers remember the day Gilgamesh arrived looking for the pearl of immortality, the royal family’s arrival is as fresh as this morning’s bread.

As kingdoms go, it is a cosmopolitan kingdom under a king nothing like the English Henry the Eighth.  Not only do the muezzins call from the minarets five times a day, but followers of Ganesh, Buddha, Jesus and Zoroaster all congregate here and freely practice their rites.  Still I am a visitor.  It is best to stay out of the palace intrigues and to avoid the marching people.

After 2,555 nights on this desert island, I have stories to share.  Depending on who is doing the telling – they take place at the edge of the Arabian Gulf where the call “Allah Akbar” drowns out the sound of the waves.  When the sand here burns our feet, my fellow dragons, rabbits and I take to the sky and fly to diverse lands where we collect and create our own tales.

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