Movie Review: Soul Surfer

The other night I watched “Soul Surfer” - a movie about Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer who at thirteen lost her left arm after being attacked by a 14 foot tiger shark.  If that was me, I would have given up my lifelong dream and stop surfing. But a month after the attack, Bethany went back to the water and learnt how to surf with one arm, no easy task.

This is an amazing story of courage and fight – not letting your handicap pull your under and stop you pursuing what you want.  She is an inspiration. However, after not doing too well at her first competition since the attack, Bethany gave up again and questioned God’s plans for her.

After the Tsunami in Thailand in 2004, Bethany went on a mission trip with her church to take aid relief to the people affected by the Tsunami.  This was a turning point for Bethany as she realised she needs to not give up.  People in Thailand were afraid of going into the water but she helped one wee boy get back in the water by putting him on a surfboard. This was the first time he had smiled since the Tsunami happened.  Once others saw the happiness in the wee boy, they ventured into the water as well.

When she returned from her trip, Bethany came home to a living room full of mail for her from fans, people who had seen her story and were inspired by her and her ability to stay strong.  They also shared their own stories and some said because of her being brave, they were going to chase their dreams as well despite their handicaps.  Inspired by these letters Bethany decided she was going to get back to the water and begin to competitions again.

What kept her going? Well it was her family and their support for and belief in her as well as her faith in Jesus Christ. Bethany was a Christian before the attack and though she did question God’s plan for her, she still believed in him.  

On the journey to the hospital after the attack, the paramedic whispered in her ear, “God will never leave or forsake you”. She believes God has been there for her throughout the experience.  Yes, she had a few doubts at the beginning, but she believed and still believes God will never leave her and with God nothing is impossible.

Bethany kept on going, kept surfing and has gone on to win many surfing competitions.  She has not let having one less arm deter her from the dream of being a professional wining surfer.  An inspiration of someone who trusted her faith in God and never gave up, and also believes in herself. 

Flash Fiction: Shouting Match

We dare you to write a shouting match between two characters who are filming a low-budget television show

“For goodness sake can get nothing right?

“Do you ever stop complaining?”

“Only when you aren't annoying me”

“I don’t know what your problem is anyway, it’s not as if we are making a Hollywood Blockbuster, it’s just some low budget TV show for Channel 5”

“Speak like that again and this may be your last job in the world of television”

“Why are you always shouting at me?”

“Because you are always getting things wrong and deserve to be shouted at”

“NO I DO NOT”

“YES YOU DO, look at that cable, you can’t even lay it straight on the ground, and you have managed to get it tangled, how can that happen?”

“I haven’t finished working on it”

“WHAT? WHY? HOW? You have been on it for half an hour now, are you creating the Mona Lisa with it, or something?”

“You think you are so smart don’t you?”

“Well, I am smarter than you”

“No you are not”

“Yes I am”

“How do you reckon that?”

“Well I am the director of this movie and you are just the gaffer boy and now YOU ARE FIRED”

Writing: The 90's

"In 90 words or less, my favourite part of the 90s"

My favourite part of the 90’s has to be the cheesy music from 911 to Ant and Dec’s ‘Ready to Rumble’, and doing the mad dances to the ‘Macarena’ and Whigfield’s ‘Saturday Night’ etc etc. Add to that the cheesy TV characters Zig and Zag to Mr Blobby including others.

Growing up in the 90’s, those were good times.  A new school, new friends, first boyfriends and dancing to the music – all the worries and joys of a teenage life – all lived out to a very good soundtrack. 

Flash Fiction: The Still Voice

“Today the still voice must be heard” I was lying in my bed just about to drift off to sleep when I heard a voice whispering these words to me. I sat up and turned the light on, there was no one there, I was alone and now I was scared. I turned the light back off the crawled under the covers when I heard the voice again, this time a little louder. I was shaking now, as I was afraid. Were these words inside my head or was there someone in the room?

For a third time the voice whispered “Today the still voice must be heard” This time I got a little courage and decided to answer back. “What does the still voice have to say”. Nothing happened, there was silence, and it was an eerie.

A few minutes passed and still no response to my question. Then I heard a dripping noise and turned my light on to see what was dripping. I screamed. Written on my wall in blood where the words “The still voice says you must die”.  Suddenly there was a searing pain in my side. I touched it, blood. I had been stabbed

Flash Fiction: Black Friday

When I opened the shop today I knew it would be a hard day.  It’s Black Friday, the darkest and brightest day for shopkeepers, as all the maniacs come out to purchase discounted items.  Fights are a common occurrence in shops, people fighting over TV’s, iPods, phones etc..  Everybody wanted a bargain or two.  Two men were arguing in the corner of the shop. Quietly at first and then heated.  Fists started flying, then the gun came out.  “No” I shouted, but I was too late, the gun fired, a man dead. All over the price of a Television.

(99 word story that takes place at an electronics sale on Black Friday) 

Flash Fiction: The Empty Corridor

I heard a laugh in the empty corridor.  It sent shivers down my spine and left me feeling uneasy. The laugh was an evil laugh and sounded as if it was coming from right behind me. But that was not right as I was the only one in the building.  I turned around slowly but no one was there. My body trembled in fear.  I turned back to continue walking, the laugh came again. This time from beside me.  No one was there.  Another laugh, behind me again.  This time more terrifying. I turned around again and I screamed.

(99 word story starting with the line “I heard a laugh in the empty corridor”)

Writing: What a difference a year makes

The following story came from my writing group where we were asked to write about a time in our lives that formed us or changed us. Here's mine: 

I was ten years old and for me life was a happy one.  I was living in Belfast with my family. I attended a local primary school and had no issues, no problems, everything was fine and carefree.

I ran the streets at night playing with the other kids in the neighbourhood. I have fond memories of playing kerbie, riding our bikes and skateboarding down the hill. By the time I was seven my knees were rough with scabs and scars.  It was fun.

I was happy at school. My mum taught me for two years, there weren’t any major problems with that. The other kids told tales on me. It was a difficult situation but think it was harder on my Mum. We got through.   I don’t remember any big issues in primary school. There was the usual kid’s stuff, girls falling out and making up the next day, chasing after boys and being made to learn to knit!!

There was one thing in life which I did not like and which scared me.  That was the bombing and terrorism going on around me. I also remember my granny not liking me very much but that didn’t really annoy me until I was fifteen.  When you are ten or younger things don’t bother you as much as they do when you are older. I fought with my sister at times, but then who doesn’t fight with their siblings?!

I loved going to Church and being the minister’s daughter, everyone knowing me, giving me sweets and just generally being kind to me.  However, that changed in time as I grew up.

I loved Belfast, it was my home and I didn’t want to leave, but one night my Dad sat me and my sister down to tell us we were leaving Belfast and moving to Bangor.  I was upset, I didn’t want to go. That was the night my childhood left and things changed. I had to go to a new town, a new school, a new church and I would have no friends and was unsure if I would find any more.

Life wasn’t carefree any more, I was eleven and had to rebuild my life.  It was probably a dress rehearsal for the other four times I have now had to rebuild my life.  But at eleven it is very difficult.  I was annoyed and probably a bit angry at my Dad for making us move and not asking my permission before hand, but I was ten why would the decision be up to me?

I was happy in Belfast and hated leaving it behind. We packed the house and our life up, all ready to move. In August I went to summer camp. I left to go to camp from Belfast but a week later when camp finished I went to Bangor. During the week I was away my family had moved house. It was a weird experience and a new chapter and challenge in my life.

My life had changed, no longer carefree, no longer surrounded by love and friendship.  I still had my family. I had to rebuild my life in a town which I didn’t know and where I knew no one.  Moving from primary school to secondary school is always hard but for me it seemed harder, I knew no one. Most people knew someone else as they had been to primary school together, but I knew no one. I was lonely. I was sad. 

Moving church was hard, there was no one handing out fruit pastilles or polo mints to me, there were no friends to sit beside.  I was new and everyone was in a friendship group, it was hard.  Life was different. I was eleven now and had to grow up and leave my childhood behind.  I was eleven and this was when my worries started to come. I was eleven and the world was changing.

First thing we had to deal with in Bangor was our church being partly destroyed due to an IRA car bomb on Bangor Main Street.  Life was changing, the troubles and worries of life were beginning.  How can life change so much between being ten and being eleven?

Flash Fiction: No worries, I can walk

He punched me directly in the stomach, it was so hard that it took me off my feet and I hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.  I lay on the ground while he yelled at me to get up and face him.  However, I couldn't move. I was so scared and in much pain.  Because I didn't obey him, he got angry and started kicking me, stamping on my legs and causing more pain.  Thankfully my brother arrived. He helped me up, lifted me up to carry me, but I told him, no worries, I can walk.

99  word story dare ending with “No worries, I can walk”