More June Reading

 

I really tried to get into this, but at Chapter 25 I chucked it in (8 hours in, 10 to go). Just too slow. I did like that the central relationship was a love between siblings - younger adoration of the older, starting as very young kids, then aging. That's quite different from most books that centre aroung love and marriage. I think she made wonderful asides and comments on life and philosphy, quite ahead of her time.  Even on simple things of human nature like the keenness of Tom to be able to shave to show his manhood. I really loved the bit where Maggie runs off to join  the Gypsies. That whole scene was hilarious, and insightful on youth and naivety.

However, it just took too long to get there. By the time we hit the hard times and the money problems, I just felt I couldn't push through. I did read the summary and I feel I probably quite when it ramped up, and perhaps if I started at book 2, I would have read the rest.

We did this for bookclub. It's good but I found it very heavy going. So it's a good book but it's not a fun read. It is clever so if it wasn't based in reality of millions of people, it would be an engrossing read, however, it's all too real so distressing at times. It's an excellent read, but I would recommend it if you're not already overwhelmed by the state of the world. I would say it's full of hope and quite positive. I learnt a lot - either I didn't know or I just hadn't thought about it. 

 If you do read it, here's a talk by the author. 

This little book was making it's way to the street library so I gave it a read. It's a small picture book, there are 12 in the series and this is the third. It has questions for creative writing and also for drawing at the end. It has fun library facts at the end. My favourite being the longest over due book was out for 288 years - 1668 and returned in 1956!

The story itself I think is to inspire creativity and imagination. It's left for the reader to do the work, or take it further. I think this would be great for teachers, actually. 

I heard about this when my library emailed about a Queer Bookclub they were starting. I was curious what the book would be about.

It's actually more about a bad affair (married man, young women) from the woman's point of view. It starts out fun junk romance book and becomes in the second half more interesting in it's complexity. I enjoyed it and read it quickly (listened to it quickly).

This is a children's book but I will admit I found one of the puzzles too hard! I got it in Hobart for the plane home, thinking I need to do more puzzles as I'm becoming stupider by the day. I thought it was an adult book but it's not. It's a choose your own adventure, solve the puzzles mystery book....Good fun for young and young at heart.

Linking with #MonthlyBookworms

The food at Dark Mofo

While I was only there for 48 hours, and the main purpose of the visit was art and music, the food was definitely a bonus! 

Starting with the sensational chilli scrambled eggs and shallot pancake breakfast at Lotus at Sydney airport. It's never too early for dumplings in my opinion!

Our evenings were spent at Winter Feast - the range was sensational and the quality very good! It's not cheap but it was delicious! And I could get my negroni so that made me happy!

The dessert to get, which we found out too late was the Cherry Pie. The line was massive though, so I settled for a hazelnut choux...then spent the rest of the weekend seeking out cherry pie with no success!

Bruny Island is famous for it's oysters and I managed to have them both at Winter Feast and at lunch at the Old Wharf Restaurant on the last day before heading to the airport.

This oyster was so massive! My pointer finger is there for size.

Mona we hit the cocktail bar but realised we were too early for the truffle pizza I'd eyed for lunch, so we headed up to the lawns for a prawn roll in the sunshine (and my sister had the Reuben).

The Emptiness in the Void Bar...did not taste as bleak as all the words implied.

On Sunday morning we hit Farm Gate Market for breakfast (and some music in the sun). The mushrooms gift box was $35 and would make a perfect gift alternative to chocolates if you were going to a dinner party. So pretty. Alas, not for me and the plane...so they stayed there.

The delicious meals really was the icing on the cake of a fabulous weekend! 

Lastly, while I did not dine here, the clever play on words made me laugh. 

The whole city celebrates, and there are pop up parties in may of the restaurants - from coffee bars to the pizza restaurant & kebab takeaway that were both pumping while I walked home from Night Mass.

 Linking with #TforTuesday #WordlessWednesday

Lobster pots in B&W

As I try to lean further plant forward, I've little to say about the lobster pots except them make interesting photos.

Linking with #WeekendinB&W

Colour version here.

 

Hobart Waterfront

The view in the day is quite different during Dark Mofo. From 4pm on, a red glow takes over the city.

During the day, the waterfront is an icy blue.

On of the highlights of the trip for me was seeing a seal frolicking in the river on the way back from Mona, but alas I was too slow to get my camera out. It was still swimming about but the boat had gone past too fast...

These were taken on my final day as we headed to Mac1 for lunch!

Linking with #WaterThursday #ThruMyLens #KeithsRamblings #TalkaboutitTuesday

Lobster pot in B&W

Hobart Street Art

Just back from a wonderful weekend at my first Dark Mofo. What a joy that celebration of art, music , food and life is!

I am already planning how to go back for longer and do more of the pop up parites.

Even without Mona and the art and celebration of life festival, there's plenty of street art around Hobart.

Both official...

and unofficial. 

Linking with #MuralMondays #TalkaboutitTuesday

Explosion of colour

 

I was taking a short cut through some back alleys behind a friend's house when I stumbled across this explosion of colour. In the space of 10 metres there were all these murals converging... 

“Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No. "― Pablo Picasso

I'm not sure if artists live here or if one mural spurred the neighbours to get one as well...but what a delight.

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ”
― Oscar Wilde

Linking with #MySundayBest #WordlessWednesday #MuralMondays and #AwwMondays because the pencil fence made me go Aww - so joyous and charming in it's nostalgia-inducing reminder of my children when they were little!

Lights out and #Allseasons house keeping

Alas VIVID is done and dusted for another year. 

Always a little sad.

The city suddenly seems a little dull, or the mood drops as we start to focus on reality a little more...

I spent the last night dancing away at Carriageworks - Golden Features and Porter DJ - both excellent. And the crowd was so wholesome - singing their hearts out. mindful of body contact even in a massive crush. All around perfect and great vibes!

I've been getting up and watching the last half of the morning game for the World Cup. Unfortunately I'll miss the 2 games today as I've organised a lunch, well in advance before I made the connection with what was happening today.

Anyway, the house keeping. is the last #Allseasons before I shut the blog for a month. The blog will shut from 26 June to 26 July.

I'm off travelling in July, however, I'm off to Dark Mofo this weekend so the comments & posts won't get looked at until next week. I am very excited!

Hope you are all enjoying your Summer, Winter, World Cup or Dark Mofo - whatever seasonal event is bringing you sparks of joy! (I had to share the gorgeous cakes from Koi that were at VIVID)

Linking with #MondayMusicMovesMe

#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week. 

Linking with #WordlessWednesday