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A journal of sincerity and sarcasm, where the voices in my head come to be counted

Family

What Mel Did - Hart Fargo in goggles and muddy pool

January 29, 2017 February 24, 2017

Helping my son play truant

What Mel Did - US Elections 2016

November 10, 2016 January 13, 2017

Taking civil liberties

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What Mel Did – Melinda Fargo

Melinda (‘Mel’) is a freelance writer and blogger and former newspaper columnist for the UK’s largest regional newspaper. She was also the former Editor-in-chief of online magazine ‘Post-40 Bloggers’ before GoDaddy accidentally deleted the site and 7 years of work by over 500 subscribers. An enthusiastic photographer, Melinda is also the passionate founder of the bespoke cushion making brand, ‘The Cushion Maven.’

“The inspiration can come from anywhere, then I source fabulous fabrics to make a small quantity of beautiful cushions” | The Cushion Maven

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I WANTED MY SON TO ATTEND A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY. WHY I WAS WRONG

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This is a capture from my first “proper” early

This is a capture from my first “proper” early morning walk. The kind of walk where the back of your thighs wake up and scream: “What the ‘F’ is going on this morning?”⁠
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I’ve being feeling sluggish for weeks now, but got into the bad habit of looking at my work laptop first thing. You know how it is; you go into your inbox promising yourself you’ll just get rid of one or two urgent matters, *then* you’ll go for the power walk, come back, shower, have breakfast, then sit down like a normal human being to start the work day. By the time you’ve finished “the few urgent matters,” it’s evening and another day has gone in a blur. The irony is ignoring work first thing and taking that 2-hour walk actually sets you up physically and mentally for anything work throws at you. So come on inbox, do your worst, I’m ready for you.

BEYOND THE GRID Today's guest, Melinda Fargo⁠
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Was honoured to be the third guest on Tinuke Bernard's (@TinukeBernard) podcast. Tinuke "explores the lives of her favourite influencers past the images we see of them on their social media grids. A refreshing, honest conversation with inspirational guests."⁠
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And then there was me. 😊 Hah!⁠
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Here's a link to Spotify, but Podcast will be wherever you normally access. Mx⁠

Special mentions: @morganfargo, @downssideup @hillhousevintage @herstoriesproject
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https://open.spotify.com/episode/46k9tlGg4KR0SBvZUTMe5M?si=1paF8Zv9QU2uFPvUfJcMLw

BLOG POST | IN PLAIN SIGHT⁠ ⁠ My inbox this mo

BLOG POST | IN PLAIN SIGHT⁠
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My inbox this morning is overrun with organisations advocating for black lives; pledging to be there for black mothers, black children, black businesses; for me.⁠
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These pledges are not unlike those which flooded my inbox at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. A mass swell of organisations eager to be on the right side of history on how well they handled this sickness.⁠
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I read through these outpourings from CEOs and their counterparts over my morning coffee, knowing in the slush pile there may be genuine feeling. But my nagging internal voice taps me on the shoulder asking if these people had first looked around their own organisations for the fairness and diversity they seek and are pedalling into my inbox.⁠
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For some, this will involve the tokenism of appointing more black employees, regardless of their qualification for the job. Not understanding a leg-up based solely on the colour of one’s skin is not a compliment. Having the same doors and chances opened to us because our qualifications or character plainly say it should be so, is the ask.⁠
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Link in bio to continue reading.⁠

Some days, it just has to be a tiara and red lipst

Some days, it just has to be a tiara and red lipstick day - and a dodgy self-inflicted haircut. No, I don’t normally waft around wearing a crown, not on a weekday anyway, but as today is National Olive Day, our team meeting involved a little whimsy. And you know what? I quite enjoyed it. Enjoyed conjuring up elective craziness to counter the craziness we cannot control at the moment. Happy Olive Day! 🍸 Mx ⁠

I love me a conspiracy theory, and we have been sp

I love me a conspiracy theory, and we have been spoiled aplenty in these bunkered down days. I don’t get mired in them where they keep me up nights, but something has been happening in my apartment with my Google Home. It has been taking itself offline the last few days, but not offline. Meaning, it won’t accept instructions, but I can clearly hear echoes and shapes in what feels like it might be chairs being scraped across a darkened room. Typically, I unplug the thing, restart and it works as expected, but are *they* listening to us? And, yes, who are *they?* Being said, my reasonable mind knows these happenings with my Google Home can be efficiently explained away. But, wait, there's more.⁠
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Today's photograph was taken with my Canon DSLR, where I tried to capture sunrise on the buildings in Lobster Lane. Before this, I took about six shots with my iPhone, capturing a lone cyclist in fluorescent yellow in the distance. When I got home to process the photos, all the DSLR photos were there….but the images taken on my iPhone had disappeared. On my mother’s eyes, the iPhone photos were there. I know because I checked one or two before going onto my camera.⁠
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Explain that away.⁠
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But no doubt, those of you who also like a good conspiracy theory, will be reading this wondering who I’m working for.⁠
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Happy uneventful Sunday, friends. Mx⁠

This is today’s capture from my walk and shoppin

This is today’s capture from my walk and shopping errand to Tesco. Spotted a couple of security guards, but none of them stopped and asked me to justify being out – or why beetroot was considered an essential food item. Luckily, I had my case notes with me from the PowerPoint presentation I made last night explaining exactly why beetroot was an essential food item chez Fargo. You say tomato...⁠
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Happy Thursday. Mx 💖

For two weeks, I have given up my greatest pick-me

For two weeks, I have given up my greatest pick-me-up; that of walking. Thank you to my daughter, @MorganFargo, for reminding me it's perfectly okay to go for a walk at the moment and that, in any case, the time I usually walk no-one is around anyway! Feel SO MUCH BETTER, especially as Spring is my hands-down favourite season. Mx

Having the best birthday weekend at The Tate Moder

Having the best birthday weekend at The Tate Modern with daughter No. 2, @morganfargo. I call this ‘THE GIRL IN THE GALLERY.’
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#tatemodern #art #photography #familyfirst #faughters parenthood #parentblogger #pbloggers #pbloggersuk #parentblogger #writing #writer #writers #writersofinstagram #littlestoriesofmylife #blogger #bloggers #blackphotographers #lifestyle #blackblogger #norwichblogger #melindafargo #melfargo #whatmeldid

A NEW WORD FOR 2020 The ink on the divorce papers

A NEW WORD FOR 2020

The ink on the divorce papers has long since dried between me and New Year resolutions.

Being said, I am addicted to that newly in love feeling of fresh starts.

One fresh start I need is to lose the trigger with unfairness. Whether towards me or against someone else, it has the power to render me tearful with self-pity and rage.

Enter a word of my own making, with roots from my favourite word of ‘’Serendipity’ (luck) and my creative soul:

MAKINDIPITY

Meaning to make the best from - or find the lesson - in every pitiful situation, with the deliberate aim of kindness to self.

This is the marriage I will do my utmost to keep healthy and unbroken.

In the meantime, wishing you all a year of your own making, kindness and wellbeing in the New Year.

Much love, Mx (Extract from Facebook post of 31-Dec-19)
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#whatmeldid #newyear #thecushionmaven #cushionmaven #familyfirst #blog #blogger #writer #writers #writersofinstagram #diary #journal #reflections #blackbloggers #norwich #norfolk #lifestyle #littlestoriesofmylife #norwichblogger #norwichbloggers #melindafargo #melfargo #hermelness #cushionmaven #newyear2020

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Melinda Fargo

Melinda (‘Mel’) is a freelance writer and blogger and former newspaper columnist for the UK’s largest regional newspaper. She was also the former Editor-in-chief of online magazine ‘Post-40 Bloggers’ before GoDaddy accidentally deleted the site and 7 years of work by over 500 subscribers. An enthusiastic photographer, Melinda is also the passionate founder of the bespoke cushion making brand, ‘The Cushion Maven.’

(c) 2018 Melinda Fargo | WHAT MEL DID

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