Marie is a Pisces (Happy Birthday!!!) who was born in South Africa but now resides in The Netherlands with her husband. As a writer and photographer, she speaks 3 languages and can be found on her site Rebels Notes. She also runs Wicked Wednesday, a weekly blogging meme for all things wicked, The Menopause Diaries, a monthly prompt about the woes of menopause and co-hosts Blogable, a resource for all things writing. You can find more of Marie on Twitter and Medium.
We asked Marie some questions about who she is and what makes her say Mmm. This is what she had to say.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be either an astronomer (first choice) or a meteorologist. There was even brief moments when I wanted to be an archeologist.
When did you first start writing?
I already had to write essays for both Afrikaans and English when I was in primary school, and I loved that. I was about ten at the time. I wrote my first story that wasn’t for school when I was fourteen. It was handwritten, and I still have it. Back then, I had even started editing it!
What led to the idea of your blog/site/niche/etc.?
I have written on and off over the years, but those stories always stayed on my computer, or sometimes only in my head. There was always the urge to share my stories, which is why I started a blog on the Blogger platform in January 2010. Somewhere in 2011 I changed to WordPress, and in 2012 I registered my own domain.
What are you most proud of accomplishing? Either in blogging or in general? Why?
My most recent accomplishments is twelve years of blogging and ten years of running the meme Wicked Wednesday, both of which I am incredibly proud. Except for a slight wobble where I allowed others to dictate what I should and shouldn’t do, throughout these years I have been true to myself, and of that I am proud.
What is one book everyone should read?
Oh dear… I am very bad at these kinds of recommendations as I never remember titles. One story I am totally intrigued with is The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. There is so much in this story, and it’s as applicable to today’s political climate as it was back when the book was written.
A song that means something to you. Feel free to share why. Alternatively tell us about your favourite song of all time.
I have several favorite songs, but just like books, I am bad at remembering names. However, the first one that came to mind is Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston. There’s such a beautiful lesson in that song, as indeed, the greatest love of all IS to love yourself.
If they made a movie about your life, who do you think would play you?
Julia Roberts. I have seen so many movies of her, but Steel Magnolias is my absolute favorite of her. She plays a difficult role with so much feeling, and since my life has been filled with ups and downs and twists and turns, I think she will be perfect for the role.
What quote defines the way you live your life?
A quote I found recently is this one:
Stop feeling like you have to justify to everyone. You are who you are, and if it’s not enough for some people, that’s their problem – not yours.
I have no idea who said this (source wasn’t mentioned on Pinterest), but this is something I try to live by. There were times when it mattered too much what people think of me, but in the past two years I have found my way back to: I am who I am.
What is your favourite recipe?
My favorite, and something I don’t make nearly enough is South African Bobotie (ba-bo-tea). This is the traditional recipe, taken and translated from my South African cook book (in Afrikaans), first printed in 1951. I have the version from 1974 – the 34th print.
South African Bobotie
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) mince meat traditionally lamb or beef
- 2 onions yellow
- 1 slice bread white, crusts removed
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper black
- 1/2 tsp tumeric
- 2 tsps vinegar
- 1/2 cup raisins seedless
- 3 tbsp chutney for serving
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350F (180C)
- Dice onions, and sauté until light brown. Add the mince meat and fry together with onion until well incorporated and cooked through.
- Soak crustless bread in milk, then squeeze milk out. Retain milk for later.
- mix all ingredients together, leaving out 1 egg, 1/2 cup milk and the bay leaves and chutney
- Transfer mixture to oven dish and leaven out mixture to make uniform top.
- mix leftover egg and milk together, and pour over meat mixture
- Bake for 25 minutes
- Serve with rice, and chutney on side
- Enjoy!
3 posts on your blog you recommend
Oh gosh, now you’re asking me something! I am going to cheat a bit here, as two of these links will lead to more than just one post.
- The priest and his calling https://rebelsnotes.com/2021/08/priest-saint/ – this is the last in a series of 5, and the links to the other four are in this story.
- Sucking porn https://rebelsnotes.com/2021/07/sucking-porn/ – a story I really enjoyed writing, and I wrote a follow-up too!
- My 100-word stories https://rebelsnotes.com/tag/100-words/ – I love challenging myself to write stories of exactly 100 words!
A huge thank you to Marie for being the February ’22 Mmm Maker.
Want to be in the Mmm Mondays spotlight? Let MrsK know!
For more Mmm Makers, check here.
Thank you for asking me to be your Mmm Maker for this month <3
This is such a cool idea Mrs k and it is great to have a recipe from Marie too
May xx
Thanks May! Feel free to send a recipe whenever you’d like. I;ll always link it back to you (perhaps for medium?)