Share Four Somethings September

 I honestly feel I just did this. I've no idea where the month went. Lost in a frantic chasing lost passport applications and subsequent break down, trying to book a holiday at Xmas with insane travel prices and no appropriate accommodation left and the overwhelming work not being done so I have to squeeze it in on weekends.

Something Loved: We had planned a weekend down at the Wanderer festival, with most of the bands I wanted to see on the Friday night. Unfortunately we have some family circumstances that meant I had to change the flights (at increased expense. of course) to Saturday morning) and none oof the Friday expenses are refundable so effectively we are now spending $80 a minute for Curtis Harding's 50 minute set and a fleeting 24 hour visit (including flying time). However, I am happy to still get to see him at all and trying not to think about what a bad fiscal decision this turned out to be...If you haven't checked him out, Curtis Harding is definitely a musician you will love. He also does a song with Rufus who I'm seeing in November...but I'm guessing he won't be making a sneak appearance there. In short, I love that we are still going, I love the idea of a festival again and I love Curtis Harding's music! 

Something Gleaned: I had a learning moment on the weekend. I went to FODI, Precious White Lives b Sisonke Msimang (which was brilliant and if it goes digital, check it out).  At one point she reads out some appalling racist rhetoric from a science journal written in 1910. I was shocked but in my head, it was 'ye olde' history etc. At the end of the talk, Stan Grant said to her 'I'm sorry you had to read out and hear some of that damaging material. I'm sorry you had to put yourself in a distressing position to educate these white people'. And that for me was when the penny dropped. It hadn't occurred to me that it was still insulting or damaging to anyone of colour (because I feel we have improved since then - which I realise might also be naive). It didn't occur to me that looking back at history would still be upsetting for people, just because the words are so insulting to you now. Most importantly, it made me realise how much I think I get it, I'm not even close to understanding it. It was such a powerful learning moment for me.

Something Braved or Saved: At Fodi, I had tickets to Alok Vaid-Menon's speech, Beyond the Gender Binary but I also had a dinner with friends I had to go to, so had to leave early. Because it started 20 mins late, I only managed to hear 20 mins of the the talk. It was so powerful I was very disappointed to have to miss it. They emailed that it is available on line (for a price) so I will pay that and listen to the rest of it today. It's top of my bookmarked listening list. I can't recommend this in full, as I only heard the beginning, but for that alone, it's worth checking out.

Something Achieved: I won another StoryBox award and the story will be shown in Campsie at the end of the month and later in Canberra, so I'm very excited as the last time they displayed my work, we went into lockdown so I never got to see it. I also had to do an author interview and I feel a bit daft about that. I'm keen to see what the other writers said so I will find some time to head down there and stake it out for a bit.

You can follow StoryBox on Instagram

I also entered YeahWrites competition, and came in the top 3 of my group. While shortlisted, I didn't eventually win one of the prizes. I do have to be happy though as it was my first ever 'retelling' and the word count was so tight, I found it quite restrictive and difficult. So great outcome for something that was quite a stretch for me.

Taking a break come Thursday until the 10th of October. My Insta should have some cool pics (hopefully) over the next few weeks so check in there if you miss me....or just to follow along.

Linking with #ShareFourSomethings and #KeithsRamblings  #ThruMylens #WildbirdWednesday

Hijinx

I've had a jammed packed week with so much fun and energising activity, it was hard to choose one thing that made me happy this week. However, the Wednesday Club went to the Hijinx hotel and it was simply the most unadulterted fun that it gave me quite a high. Exuberant endorphins that buoyed me well into the next day. Even thinking about it is giving me an emotional shift. I'm keen to lure my teens there these holidays.

Get a group of fun loving friends and find a night to go. You won't regret it.

What I liked most, was at the start we were playing against each other but as the night progressed, we began to work as a team, and there's this sort of connection between you as a result. It's simple but clever. And most of all, fun.

(The short version of what it is, is basically 5 old fashioned games - from finding things in ball pits to word puzzles. On the ball pit, don't have your phone in your pocket. One poor guy in another group lost his phone in it!!)

“It’s more fun when you’re not the only one having it.” – the Oaqui

 (I did try to google what the Oaqui is and I can't work out if it's a game or a religion. So if it's something bad, I'm not endorsing it, but it appears from this quote to be something good....I also couldn't find any quotes about hijinx so there's a mission for you there. Find me some hijinx quotes because clearly it is an important but uncelebrated life goal)

Oh, you can be sure we will get into all kinds of mischief." He winked. "And there is a strong possibility that shenanigans and hijinks of various sorts will also occur, with regularity. - Author: Sylvain Reynard

What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week? 

Linking with #WWAndP (Can't find the code for the badge)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

What's on my Bookshelf - September

Excitedly, I listened to the new Horowitz Hawthorne book, A Twist of a Knife. This series is delightful in the true sense of the word. It's funny, laugh out loud at times and so clever. I am very grateful there are more on the way. If you haven't read them, there are four now. All brilliantly entertaining, and easy reading crime to boot. They are also excellent on Audible. I have an absolute crush on the brain of this guy. This series is fabulous. I've already started harassing the excellent author on the next one, which he informs me is already underway....

I just finished this book by Dick Gregory. It is an interesting memoir, a real eye opener on the poverty in America and the mistreatment and complexity of segregation. By complexity I mean the way a rich or successful person could still be a star and admired/friends with white people but then not allowed in the venue for the team dinner etc. Not implying it was a complex issue that was somehow right in any way. He also at one point discusses the different racism in the North and the South, and that in the North it was there but disguised as something else. In the South you knew where you stood. Some really powerful words in there and well worth the read. It also comes up in this podcast which was how I found it. The book is in political from the inside view, as Dick Gregory was protesting with Meager Evers and down in Birmingham with the Civil Rights movement but it is also a life story of a poor boy who became one of the most beloved comedians in America. I will be tracking down his other books.

In the Gifts of Reading, this Muriel Spark book kept getting mentioned as books given as gifts by authors. So I gifted it to myself. Ha!. So far so good but not as funny as Symposium. Will discuss further when I finish it.

I read Little Weirds, which is at time exactly what the title says. At other times, really great poetic little anecdotes. I'm not sure if I recommend this or not. I think I do but maybe borrow from the library...

For book club we did Plum which is not something I would normally read but I am glad it was picked. I didn't love it, and I think it was actually two book ideas which would have worked better as different books. I did find the brain damage 'fog' point of view of the protagonist very interesting and well done. Again not sure I'd recommend but I did hear this interview and most of my book club seemed to really enjoy it.

Lastly, I finished John Banville's Snow, which is crime but a throw back to that sort of Darkness at Pemberly style and expertly written. There is a trigger warning (from me) on child abuse and I have to say it was done so masterfully it really made me feel disgusted (with that kind of physical revulsion that you feel creeping up your spine). I found it very disturbing and it sort of comes out of nowhere in terms of the rest of the style of the book. I am keen to read the Banville book I've had on my shelf for 30 years but never bothered to read so far...

So that's been my month's reading - what's on your bookshelf at the moment? (It should be what's on your bedside table, because there's plenty on my bookshelf that's been there for decades, still unread.)

Linking with #WhatsOnMyBookshelf #FriendshipFriday #WordsAndPictures and #WeekendCoffeeShare

“Plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom.” ― Ken Kesey

 Last week I went to the David Jones Spring Flower Show - and thought I'd share a few of the strange and unusual flowers they used for sea plants and coral. It really was a clever display. 

Colourful but unusual shapes and textures really added to the display. A lot of thought and creativity went into making the underwater world come to life....

They also kindly signposted the names, for people like me who don't know anything about flowers and plants...

Just like in the old days, pre COVID, the Flower Show heralds the start of Spring for me. And as I've said many times before (in all the posts), it truly puts a Spring in my step!

Linking with #WWOT #DND and #GardenAffair

Chills

 I had debated getting the tickets to the Michael Sheen play at the Opera House at Xmas because they were so pricey but in the end begrudgingly got them, wondering if I thought it would be 'my sort of thing'. However, when this made the rounds, I'm most glad I did!

I have watched this so many times now and it still gives me chills in my neck at the end. 

Michael Sheen gives rousing speech for Wales football team on A League of Their Own – video | Football | The Guardian

Watch it, and be ready to storm the castle....

Bring on the World Cup! Whose excited??!!

Sharing this completely irrelevant sunset for #WeekendReflection #NaturesNotes (photo only) #HappyTuesday #WordlessWednesday #WonderfulWednesday #WWOAT  #SkyWatch and #PictorialPotpurri

What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week? And are we all going for Wales now (after Australia, of course)?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

David Jones Spring Flower Show

 

The David Jones Spring Flower Show is back and ends this weekend so you only have a few days left to see (and smell) it!

An abundance of glorious orchids are transformed into an underwater seascape in celebration of the Great Barrier Reef.

They've found many strange and wonderful plants to represent coral and anemones, and have helpfully named them (for people like me with limited knowledge of botany).

The most interesting fact to me, however, was the flower show's history. Over 80 years ago, the store staff started bringing in the spring flowers from their gardens to adorn their counters. The then leader, Sir Charles Lloyd Jones encouraged and formalised it. Over time it grew into a Rose show, then a Daffodil and Azalea festival. In the 80's it grew into the Spring Flower Show with the grandeur and opulence we see today.

So head to David Jones between now and Sunday to see these gorgeous blooms in the windows and on the main floor.

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." Harriet Ann Jacobs

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #PicturePerfectLinky #WWOAT #YourMoment #Allseasons #FridayBliss  #DND and #FloralFridayFoto