My husband Andrew, who began this blog in October 2007, died peacefully on September 3rd 2012, at the age of 83, after long and well-controlled illness culminating in a sudden, brief decline. I'll be posting pieces of his life writing and autobiographical reminiscences to his other blog, The Game of Life. This blog will be used for other material relevant to Andrew, beginning with the wonderful tributes to him which poured in after his death, both by email and on facebook. At some point this blog will become an archive, without further additions.— Rosemary Nissen-Wade


Wednesday 15 October 2008

Who Created That?

It was Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 6.45am. I wrote in my diary:

'Today is crucial to my future. I feel that strongly. Yesterday my interview with the most powerful woman I have ever met seems to have sealed my resolve to overcome all my negativity. Working with her has swept away all my fears.

'She has set a new standard of fearlessness that I must follow if I am to succeed.

'And I will! I no longer have anything to be afraid of - least of all speaking the truth, particularly to parents and their children - even to large audiences.

'I will be guided in reinterpreting the interview so that the power of its message affects all those who read it.'

Earlier, at 1400 hrs, as I climbed into my car to head off to the interview, I turned the key in the ignition but it wouldn't start. The battery was flat, I thought. I went back inside and informed my wife and a house guest that I wasn't going anywhere because the battery, already on its third life, had given up.

My house guest offered to drive me. What a gift! And so we left to enter into a new world of opportunities. The interview was not only inspiring but energised me in a way I had never experienced before.

That night, as I pulled up the blankets, I wondered why the car wouldn't start. Did I create that? I had been nervous about driving alone into an area I had never been before.

As soon as I woke up I went outside to check the battery. I pushed in the key and turned on the ignition. The engine burst into life and ticked over smoothly. There was my answer!

This is a new day and a new future.