Why do we write?

Writing is something that some people love and unfortunately, others hate. It is because of different causes. For example, for some, it takes a lot of effort, time and dedication that they are not willing to do, or they do not have the ability to write correctly, so the easiest way is to say that they cannot do it. On the contrary, doing this is something exiting for many of us. The way how some people express their feelings on a piece of paper makes it almost a natural and unconscious activity.

Personally talking I would say that I really like writing. What is the reason? Simply, because when writing, I can express freely what I am feeling and thinking without looking directly at other people. I consider myself a shy person, so writing allows me to say certain things I am not always able to say in front of a group of many people. Even so, it is not my best skill. Nevertheless, whenever I have to write a piece of paper, I try to do my best in order to make it clear and entertaining, and make the readers interested in what they are reading. Unfortunately, not always I get that point.

If I talk about my preferences when writing a piece of paper like a blog, a story or an essay, I would say that I prefer to write about personal opinions, stories that I have lived, to give my point of view about certain problems or events that have happened, but I must say that I prefer to write from a text that I have already read. I think that I am awfully bad at creating or thinking of fun ideas. That is one of my defects that I would like to change. In addition, it is easier to continue an idea that is already done, or to give your opinion about a matter than creating a new one.

While writing this, it is impossible to forget about high school teacher who used to say that we are all intelligent human beings, and therefore we are able to do whatever we want. So if she were reading this blog, I am pretty sure she would rebuke me.

Returning to my preferences about writing, I would also say that I prefer writing by computer. Some time ago, it was almost impossible to listen to me saying this. I was a paper-pencil lover. It had more benefits. For example, if I wanted to get relaxed and transfer my thoughts on a paper, I could easily climb a tree and start writing what I felt. Sadly, it is not completely possible to do that using a computer because it needs electric power. So it can be said that nature and technology are not always compatible. Even so, I prefer to write long texts by computer for the reason that it is easier to correct them (the computer itself corrects the mistakes you have made) you can write faster and delete wrong written words easily, you do not need to rewrite it into your computer, etc. For me, this option is chosen just for comfort and convenience. However, when I have the opportunity or I feel like writing in a comfortable place and I need to be very concentrate, I take my pencil and paper and go to my younger sister’s tree-house. That is the best place to reflect upon many things without being bothered by others.

As I said at the beginning, not everybody is a good writer, so having into account that not many people (considering myself) are able to write a good piece of paper, I dare say that it is something that everybody can improve. It is known that some have the “magic capacity” of doing this naturally. It seems like if they were born with the gift to write almost perfectly. But not everything is lost for the ones less gifted. I remember me reading an interesting book which provided many strategies to become a good writer. I am sure that that book was not the only one for this purpose. In addition, there are many web sites that we can visit to become an excellent writer. So the tools are available, it depends on each of us to take them and become the best writers.

The Million Dollar bond Robbery

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery is actually one of the best detective stories I have ever read. It is all well structured and recounted. The way how it is narrated makes the reader be curious and anxious during the whole story and it is just at the end when finally that complicated knot is undone.

If you, dear reader, are thinking of reading this short story let me tell you that you are not going to regret of that. Basically and as you can imagine, it is about a robbery that took place in a ship, the Olympia. Unfortunately, what was stolen was not a common thing, but a million dollars’ worth of Liberty Bonds which the London and Scottish Bank were sending to New York. As is it narrated, a lady called Esmeé Farquhar who was engaged to Philip Ridgeway (the man that was in charge of carrying the bonds to New York) asked for help to Mr. Poirot, a kind of detective and Captain Hastings, his partner, to solve the case. In spite of the fact that her boyfriend was the person who was carrying the bonds to New York, she was certain that no actual blame could attach to him because it had not been his fault in any way, so she told Mr. Poirot her version of the events in order to find the real thief. Principally, she told that the Bank wished to extend its credits in America and decided to send a million of dollars in Bonds, which were secretly enclosed in a portmanteau. The person who was in charge of bringing them was Mr. Ridgeway, the nephew of one of the two general manager of the bank, Mr. Vavasour (the other one was Mr. Shaw). A few hours before The Olympia arrived, the bonds were stolen and offered for sale. Apparently the lock had been forced but everything indicated that it had been unlocked with a key, which was almost impossible because the only three people who had a key to open it were Mr. Ridgeway, Mr. Vavasour and Mr. Shaw.

After listening to the lady, Mr. Poirot, made some inquires to Philip Ridgeway in order to see if his version agreed with Esmeé’s version and then, he interrogated the two general managers of he bank. After asking a few questions, Mr. Poirot had already discovered the guilty, but he did not want to accuse him still finding some evidence and the reason. So they decided to wait for the return of the Olympia and interrogate some more people in order to see what had happened exactly. Four stewards and a Poirot’s friend were asked, discovering that one of the last people who had disembarked was an old man, wearing glasses, who also was invalid. After that, two possibilities remained: the package had been hidden on board or thrown overboard. It was there, when they finally discovered that the bonds had not been packaged in the portmanteau, so they were not on board at all. Therefore, everything seemed to be that the bonds were never packaged and a substitution had been made in the office by one of the people who were there. Consequently, somebody, specifically the accomplice, had to travel on the Oplympia so that Philip could not discover it was a dummy (meanwhile the real packet with the bonds were travelling in a faster ship, The Gigantic). That accomplice was in charge of forcing the lock, but actually he unlocked it and thrown the package overboard and waited to be the last one to leave the ship. But who was behind of all of it? The answer was as simple as realizing that who was the person that had a duplicate key, who had ordered that childish plan: Mr. Shaw and his accomplice, who unlocked the portmanteau and thrown it overboard, had been the poor invalid man. As it is said in the text, “There are criminals in high places too”. Finally, it was another easy case solved by the great Mr. Poirot.

And the surprises continue, because for the ones who enjoy technology more than everything, there is also a digital version, a 50 minutes-video. That video, as it is expected, is not really similar with the text. There are some evident differences which make it almost completely different with the paper version. In the text for example, the robbery had been already done. On the other hand, in the video, it starts whit an attempt on Mr. Shaw’s life, because he was in charge of carrying the bonds to New York and not Mr. Ridgeway as it happened in the text. A second attack happened to him (he was poisoned) so now the work had to be made by Philip Ridegeway. As you have read, the thief’s accomplice was an invalid person but in the video, it was a beautiful woman, Miranda Brook, who also was travelling in the boat and was Mr. Shaw’s nurse and fiancé. While looking for the guilty, Mr. Vavasour and Ridgeway were put in prison. Everybody thought strongly that they were the thieves. But Mr. Poirot’s shrewdness let us know that Mr. Shaw together with his fiancé, Miranda, had planned the robbery.

In my opinion, both formats are able to make the reader curious during the whole story but, personally talking, I liked most the video. It does not agree with my common likes, because almost every time that I read a story and watch its movie, I prefer the paper version, because the facts are narrated in a better way. On the contrary, this time I preferred the video for many reasons, for example, the robbery had not happened yet, so we were able to see that and follow all the events. The thief’s accomplice was the nurse and at the same time it was a beautiful woman who stayed at the next room of Mr. Ridgeway’s, so it makes the story more attractive. Moreover, Mr. Vavasour and Ridgeway were took in prison thinking wrongly that one on them were the thief, so it made all the spectators completely confused and think that they were the guilty. Nevertheless, the text was interesting too, as I said at the beginning it has been one the best I have read.

So finally, both the video and the text are a very good option to read and watch. Any of them will make you interested in it. Now you can choose any, it is up to you…

Whenever people ask me about the things I like most, I immediately answer “football and music”. They divide my life into two parts. The first one, football, is something inexplicable. I cannot explain what I feel when I watch a win of my favourite football team. I just can say that it’s something extraordinary. But I must admit that I’m awfully bad playing it, that’ why I’m just a fan. I don’t know exactly when his like for this sport started, but I remember me watching football matches together with my sister since I was a little girl. The most attractive thing about this sport is, of course, the football team I support to. It is one of the best and most popular in our country. They’ve obtained the national cup in the first championship of the year, and as it is a semiannual activity, there’s a big possibility get it again. Fans are strongly sure that it will occur, but I prefer not to anticipate things, anyhow I’m anxiously waiting for it.

Many times I prefer to watch a football match instead of doing other things like going shopping, watching a movie, etc. it doesn’t mean that I don’t care about important things. I never postpone the things I must do. I really think that the secret to succeed and get our goals is to do a balance between all the things we are expected to do.

When I talk to some of my university friends about football, they don’ put much attention. They think it’s a nonsense topic, so finally I get into a monologue. Fortunately, I’ve got some other friends that never contradict my opinion about that. One thing I’m very sure of, is that my passion for this sport will never decrease.

The second thing that I mentioned was music. I think it is one of the strongest ways to communicate our thoughts and feelings. Many songs talk about violence, brotherhood, humanity, etc. I think it’s incredible how we can indentify ourselves with some songs depending on our mood.
I could continue talking about these two things forever, but to finish I will say that talking about our likes, there is nothing better than them.