THIS ISSUE OF THE BASH COMPETITION IS FEATURING ‘MURPHY’
I have been looking forward to going to the Blogger’s Bash since I saw video and blog posts about how fun the last one was last year, and because so many of my wonderful British friends will be there.
When I formulate a plan to do something, I do it. I will move mountains and obstacles and arrange whatever it takes to see me through my mission. The only problem is, I can control my stuff, but I’m not in control of what fates are in store for the people I’m counting on to make my plan come to fruition. Also, when it comes to me and my best friend Zan, we’ve always had a third party meddle in our plans. In fact, this third party has been a part of our lives as long as we’ve been friends, and yet, we’ve always managed a way to dodge or work around “Murphy” and his motto: “If anything can go wrong, it will.”
Zan and I laugh a lot, and even when there’s a matter we share between us that isn’t a laughing matter, we’ll instantly bring up “Murphy’s” name and blame circumstances on him, because his timing is the absolute worst. So here’s the thing, my plans to get to the Bash in the UK are on lockdown at the moment. Unlocking the plans will depend on whether Murphy sorts himself out before the day of the Bash, plus a day to let me get to the UK, and recover another from severe jetlag.
So here’s the scoop on my our (meaning mine and Zan’s predicament).
Zan is known as someone who is notorious for moving . . . a lot. She has bought, renovated, lived in, and sold many homes throughout her life. She emailed me in March while I was in Arizona to notify me that her house was once again on the market. She presumed the house would be sold and moved out of into a temporary rental while her and her husband built yet another house, but assured me, wherever she was at the time of the Bash, I’d be staying with her because I’m considered family and don’t require ‘guest’ attention or accommodation, a couch would be fine, and I could assist her in packing or unpacking, whatever the case would be at the time. But there have been several interjections by Murphy.
At first I was worried about going to the UK, leaving my husband alone for a week or so, but I had managed to arrange things on that front. Then Zan and I kept missing each other’s calls from Skype (time zone issues) and we finally got hold of one another and she updated me two weeks ago that the house issue was still dragging out with the lawyers of the buyers, and when it does confirm, she’ll have 28 days from that date to pack up, find a rental and move. Yes, the woman is an amazon warrior woman who gets shit done.
We kept stringently in touch of the updates so I could know when it was safe to book my trip and that I wouldn’t be landing in the UK on her actual moving date where I would also be relying on her to pick me up at Gatwick airport, a good hour and forty minute drive away from Kent each way, and the Bash date was growing closer as another week passed before the deal went through and the 28 days begin counting down.
A week ago, we spoke and the deal still wasn’t sealed but she told me to book my airfare anyway and we’ll deal with it when the time comes. Something nagged away at my subconscience and intuition, telling me to wait out the end of the week before booking and wait to confirm all was going to work out before I committed to an airline ticket I didn’t want to lose money on if I couldn’t go. Before last weekend approached Zan Skypes me again with her announcement ‘New Event Updates’, I knew full well that Murphy was making things difficult for both of us to connect.
At first Zan informed me that matters still weren’t sewn up with the house issue, but in the next breath, informed me that she’s coming to Toronto either this week or next. “Omg, what?????????” I threw my hands in the air and pretended to be tearing my hair out on camera as we talked on Skype.
Zan’s mom is ill, a suspected return of a cancer is quite possible. She lives here in Toronto, where Zan is originally from, and Zan’s sister is also ill, her sister being her only sibling and no other family to help their mother out, and considerably too much for her sister to take care of by herself. Of course with all the kerfuffle, we managed to laugh as Zan pointed out that Murphy was up to tricks again because she obviously didn’t have enough on her plate without having to fly back to Toronto in the midst of mayhem, which of course falls onto our plans of me coming there.
Zan said she will stay in Toronto for approximately 10 days to assess her mother’s situation and talk to doctors and when the house closes confirmed, will fly home to pack up her house in whatever time is left on the contract while her husband looks for a temporary home and if need be she’d hire packers to pack up her house, depending on the time frame left. So where does this leave me, besides the fact that I’ll get to spend time with my bestie while she’s here in Toronto?
So I said to her, if she comes and winds up having to stay till the end of May, we’ll fly to the UK together and I’ll still make the Bash. Now, we think that sounds good in theory and we’ve agreed that I shouldn’t book my fare until her life takes some more definite structure, and if things work out okay by mid to end of May, I’ll be purchasing a last minute flight to the UK. On the other hand, Zan isn’t certain if her mom could be living out her last days now, and may have to stay longer in Toronto and merely dash home to the UK for a few days to straighten out legalities and living arrangements and having to fly right back to Toronto again. So basically, Murphy has indeed interjected himself once again into our lives and plans, and as of this posting, I am unable to confirm that I am still coming to the Bash or not, depending on how all these chips fall.
If you found this post confusing, try being me and Zan, but then again, don’t even bother.
I know myself and many of my good friends who will be at the Bash are all waiting anxiously to spend some time and give each other some big hugs and I am doing my best to keep on top of the situation and am fully still willing to come to the UK, if Zan’s situation permits, up until within 3 days of the Bash if it should so work out that way and I can get a last minute deal for late booking as opposed to being robbed by an enormous price for same reason. So I just wanted to let my wonderful blogging friends here know the situation currently, because I know we’ve been anxiously waiting to meet, and if I can make it happen, I wanted you all to know what is entailed in order for me to do so.
Now that you’re all updated with as much as I know up to this point, I will certainly keep you all posted as Murphy the situation unfolds. As Zan says: “Pause, alert . . . watch this space.”
Oh, and I promised to give a shout out to Zan’s little grandies, Poppy and Barney, as they were visiting Zan when we last chatted and they were thrilled to show up in our Skype conversation wanting to know who their glamma was talking to and found it was cool to talk to their grandma’s best friend across the pond on a computer, and to be chatting with a ‘real’ author, lol. I told you two little cuties I’d mention your name in this blog post. 🙂 Now go to bed.
DGKayewriter.com 
I will get my Murphy to have a word with your Murphy as I am sure that they are related and if it is meant to be it will happen.. Having been in a similar situation a number of years ago, I know that you can only go with the flow.. ♥♥
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Arg Sal, we’re working our best around circumstances, and I will keep you updated on an as I know basis! Now, don’t be telling me you have a Murphy too???? Because if you are, I’m thinking like most things about us, we are actually sharing the same guy! 🙂 ❤ ❤
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Ooops.. he is a sly one!! ♥
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Don’t I know it! 🙂 ❤
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UK is a big trip, Debby, and it’s hard to have your plans up in the air. I hope it turns out well, especially for Zan’s mom. You’re a good friend. I plan to get to the UK at some point, but it’s still a couple years away. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you’ll make it. 🙂
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Thanks Diana. Yes, I know it’s a big trip, and I know how that 1st day I’m a write-off with not sleeping on the plane and time change, but I’ll see how the situation pans out. Thanks again for the positive wishes. 🙂
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If you go, can I attend vicariously through you?
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Of course! 🙂
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You’re definitely persistent. Also adaptable. You just have to go with the flow and make the most of it all, right?
Love how you’re bringing Murphy to life! Maybe you should consider doing a treatment for a new TV show, “Murphy’s Law,” and send it off to an agent or producer in Vancouver. Might be a hit show!
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Wow! What a great idea! Now, would you be interested in collaborating or producing? 🙂 🙂
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Only collaborating–I couldn’t raise the bucks. LOL.
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Lol, ok, I’ll keep that idea on the back burner. I do love comedy and manage to do much of it in my own daily life (keeps me sane), so I’d have to think of script material. 🙂
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Good thing you listen to your intuition Debby. Good you two will meet in Toronto.. 🙂 and if it is meant to be.. Then You will both go to the ‘ Ball’ I mean Bash.. haha.. 🙂 You are all so very dedicated.. 🙂 xxx ❤
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Thanks Sue. That’s true, I’m a firm believer of ‘if it’s meant to be’. 🙂 ❤ xx
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🙂 ❤
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Murphy is a pain in the butt sometimes. I had a few people in my life who would blame him for so many things which “are out of our control.”
I also can see how important it would be to stay put, Debby. To wait until next year. Your bestie needs you. . . Dear Zan may need someone to lean on. . . Hope all turns out for the best for Zan’s mother and sister, too. Hugs and best wishes for a Bash trip ahead. xo
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HI Robin. Interesting to hear from someone else that Murphy does indeed exist in other people’s lives and vocabularies, lol. You are so right. I’m on ‘pause’ for sure, at least until she gets here and we assess the situation before moving on to Plan B! Thanks Robin. 🙂 ❤ (P.S. I got your 2nd message and corrected here and deleted the other message, I know all about cell phones putting in names and letters I didn't type, lol 🙂 ) xx
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Debby, it must be so hard for you to have your trip up in a flux. Can you just see what feels right in your heart at the moment of the final decision…this is a tough one. Hugs to both you and Zan…my heart goes out to her in this difficult time.
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Thank you so much Annika. Yes, when in doubt, don’t do anything, as I’m doing now – the wait and see approach, lol. I will be able to better gauge once she arrives here and gets a handle on things. Until then, I am on standby. 🙂
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Oh dear, I hope that everything for Zan and you gets sorted out, what a dreadful situation to happen. Hope her Mom gets well too. xxx
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Thanks a bunch Adele. A bit of chaos at the moment, but when it comes to Zan and me, we’re quite used to the Murphy effect, lol. Crossing fingers though. 🙂 ❤ xx
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I’ve been trying to work out why I never got an email notification about this post, Debby (I found it over on Flipboard where Terri Webster Schrandt has saved it). Then I remembered that Tuesday night into Wednesday, somehow, WordPress turned off all my notifications! It’s happened a few times to me and they can’t explain why it happens. Maybe it’s something to do with Murphy?
I’ve had many occasions where I’ve had a feeling not to go ahead with something. There’s something inside of us which acts as a warning light and stops us from doing what it is we were going to do. I see it as a gift, because it’s saved me money and getting myself into trouble many a time. Of course, I hope you do make it to the UK, but fully understand if you don’t, given what’s going on at the moment. I hope Zan’s mother makes a quick and full recovery because that’s most important of all. After all, there will be another Bloggers Bash next year. I know you’ll keep us posted, and if you don’t collect all those hugs this year, then there will be even more for you when you next come to the UK.
xx
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Aw Hugh, thanks so much for your uplifting comment. Yes, I’ve had my heart set on coming for months now, and still it may happen, but if it doesn’t, it wasn’t from the lack of trying, and yes, there will be a next year. Thank you for the lovely wishes too for Zan’s mom. I, like you, have saved my own skin many time by paying heed to my internal warnings. I will get a better handle on the situation once she arrives here. Also, if I can’t end up making it over, maybe I’ll make a video clip of me whining, lol, so you can show it around at the Bash like I’m there. 🙂 🙂
ON another note, yes, so many of us have experienced those WP gremlins where notifications are ‘mysteriously’ turned off. It usually happens a few times a year. I’ve learned to go to my ‘manage WP’ page to take a quick scan that blogs I follow haven’t been turned off. I usally go in once or twice a month. But if you notice regular bloggers aren’t posting, that’s an indicator something is wonky. 🙂 ❤
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Thanks, Debby. I generally know something is wrong with my WordPress notifications when my email box losses a lot of weight. ? I noticed it on Wednesday morning and instantly checked the manage page of the blogs I’m following and found that the nasty little tick had inserted itself into the ‘block all email notifications’ box. It’s great for when you’re going away, but how it gets there by itself I’ve no idea. Another mystery for Scooby-Doo and the gang to solve. ?
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Lol, I know right? Unfortunately, we cannot always rely on what technology is supposed to do and do have to babysit things every so often. 🙂 xx
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Happens on my blog quite regularly. It’s very annoying and often unchecking the box makes no difference at all.
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I’d ask the Happiness Engineers at WordPress to investigate that one for you, Ali. I have heard that some WordPress themes have various bugs where faults don’t occurs on other themes. I had some with the last theme I used before switching to my current theme.
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Sorry to hear this. I hope all will work out for us all, though 🙂
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Thanks Christoph. I will definitely keep you posted. Nothing is final yet. 🙂 x
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I hope you make it there, Deb ♥
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HI T. I’ll leave it up to fate at this point. ❤
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I hope that you can go, Debbie…. But if not at least you´ll meet your dear friend, regardless of the bad circumstances involving her mother´s health. Well seen, It could be a good moment to be by her side, too, given those fact.
And yes as To Murphy´s law… it happens many times, indeed … LOL.
Much love, my friend. 😀
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Thanks dear Aq. Lol, that Murphy character does get around! 🙂 ❤
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Oh my word reading tbat left me breathless! That bloody Murphy, I know him well! Well, he is Irish after all! I’ll hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind… a few wacks over the head with my hurley should convince him to leave you girls alone! Joking aside, it is a very stressful time for your friend, I hope all is well with her mom and sis, and I really hope to meet you in June. Take care lovely lady! Xxx
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Aw, thanks so much Ali. I need a hurley, lol. You’re so funny. Danged Murphy, now you’re telling me he comes all the way from Ireland? Lol, he gets around!
I’m still optimistic Ali, there’s still hope! 🙂 xx
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I’ll get you one. Wonder if Ryanair
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🙂
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Would let me carry it on the plane!
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Lol 🙂 🙂 x
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Oh dear! I know that Murphy fellow quite well too. I do hope Zan’s Mum will be all right. Zan seems to have a lot on her plate. I hope you get to the Bash. It should be awesome fun!
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Thanks so much Norah. And it’s amazing to learn how many people are well acquainted with Murphy, lol. Fingers crossed! 🙂
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I do hope you get there. It will be fun!
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I hope everything works out okay. ❤ Best to you all and hope you get to the Bash.
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Thanks a bunch girlfriend~ 🙂 ❤
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Riding the waves and showing your nerves of steel. I hope you make to England, and I hope Zan’s mama makes it, too. I’m happy to be blogging less and spending more time writing longer pieces and not writing at all. For the moment, with family staying here much of the last month and now moving to their own place a 5 minute drive away, there has been some chaos–the kind of chaos that feels like the best part of life. It includes a new rescue dog (theirs) which my dog Willow and I visited at the shelter before they adopted. We said yes. There’s some dog sitting in my future and who knows what else. Now if I could only get motivated to write a blog–about lack of motivation?
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Lol, first thanks for your kind wishes Elaine. And second, I do envy you – blogging less, writing more, when you want. La dolce vita my friend. So glad you’re enjoying your family again in close proximity. And I’m sure Willow will be happy with the new addition to the family. 🙂
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