Winter

 

Waiting for an Uber and I looked up. The tree, even with the bright blue sky behind it screamed winter at me. The B&W version cemented it.

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #Huislvijt #SundayBest #Gardenaffair #WeekendinB&W #WordlessWednesday #TalkaboutitTuesday

July Reading

This is a strange little book I picked at random. It's classed as horror but I wouldn't say horror. Gruesome thriller maybe? I don't know. Almost modern day folk tale? I really enjoyed it. It was fun and surprising in that it starts in one genre and moves to another. It's translated from Icelandic so I don't know if that's what gives it that different feel? It also had this brilliant line on internal criticism (I forget on looks or weight or work?)  'The patriarchy speaks with my mother's voice'. Doesn't take long, if you want something different, it's a fun book. I loved it. (I borrowed it from the library and listened to it on Libby)

I didn't love this book, I've read quite a bit about the Vietnam war, from all sides, and the French occupation. It had some interesting parts about the way women were treated on  their return to the states and the beginning of PTSD becoming a recognised disorder but I found some of the way the story was told treated the reader like an idiot, that they didn't know basic history or that they might have forgotten what happened earlier in the book (it is too long, I thought). That said, it seems pretty popular so most people are loving it.

I stumbled on this by accident, and as I hadn't read any Shirley Jackson, I figured I'd check it out (of the library, on Libby). In the opening paragraphs I realised the timing was perfect, given the mushroom case here. I really enjoyed working out what was going on...it was alluded to from the start but you need to put the pieces together. That's part of the fun of the book. I found this delightfully kooky and a really crazy gem for the reader. 

As you may remember, I've discovered Ryu Murakami and been reading his books all year. This one is quite different to the other two, semi autobiographical, very funny and much more palatable than the other two (In the Miso Soup and Piercing). I found it quite charming (though the main character is not exactly what you would call charming in the traditional sense). It's written from the view point of a teen boy at a time of war and protest, the year 1969 - but on the sidelines, in Japan. I really enjoyed it.

This is a cute idea, rejigging fairy tales but it's aimed at younger readers. I'd say 7-12 or for those with an interest in fairy tales. This collection had Ninja-rella, Zombie Hansel & Gretel, and superhero Billy Goats Gruff and Red Riding Hood. 

(I borrowed it from the library and read it on Hoopla, it only takes an hour, if that)

Finally, Careless People, about working at Facebook and the tech industry in general. It's horrifying, from the gross arrogance of the people there to the disregard of damage while chasing profit and the incredibly obnoxious attitude to other countries (and the ignorance of basic laws and customs in other countries. It's one unbelievable saga after another. Not a must read but definitely fascinating.

Linking with #MonthlyBookReport #WOYBS #MonthlyWrapUp #IMWAYR #SundayPost #SundaySalon  #Bookdate #StackingtheShelves  #MonthlyBookworms 

“Photography is a love affair with life.” – Burk Uzzle

I've been spending a bit of time at the Baptist Street Rec Club and Wunderlich Lane, the Solstice Dinner and the great music trivia. The other Saturday, a friend and I went to a photography workshop where you spent 2 hours playing around with a Fuji GFX camera. 

It was great value - for $25 you got a cocktail, a slider and 2 little workshops. You handed over your phone to get the camera, to be in the moment, so to speak.

The camera had some great video and still combination features for Social Media but we were not the most skilled at following the very basic instructions (and blogger struggles with video for me so I'm not bothering to post those here). 

We both loved the workshop with the filters, though both of us needed more time to master the camera features.

Mirror, blurry, fisheye and more.

It's a great little camera with an old school look. I did find it interesting, at no point was there the hard sell or even the mention of price. So I can't tell you anything about that.

It was a highly enjoyable afternoon, and a good time spent with a friend, so I will definitely be keeping an eye on what else is on there....

As Frank Turner says 'It's supposed to be about snapshots, not oil paintings....Remember the moment, be proud that you were there and then move on and find another moment"

The song is NSFW because he swears in the introduction of it but the song and video are fine.

Linking with #Secondonthe2nd

Winter Wonderland

I had to go to Bunnings so swung by The Grounds to get some bread on the way home. 

The laneway is all dressed up for winter and looked spectacular, as usual.

Sometimes you don't have to feel the chill the weather brings....

I felt I'd walked through the wardrobe and into Narnia. I was just waiting for the White Queen to arrive....

Good thing I had to hurry on before I was lured with Turkish Delight....

Happiness can be found in the most routine activities...magic and beauty abounds if you remember where to look.  

Linking with #WeekendCoffeeShare #WWWhimsy #HappyNow #SundayBest  #MCoW #WednesdayAroundtheWorld and snaking in for #AwwMondays because the gingerbread man did make me go AWWW when I saw it.

Truffle Season

Nomad had a fabulous truffle menu for brunch. Everything had truffles, including the dessert.

I had an amazing leek and winter greens pie. The truffle hot sauce was amazingly delicious and you can buy a bottle to take home!

We shared the Basque cheese cake and the  Cinnamon bun (the winner of the two).

It is a must for the truffle lover, and a cheaper way to eat at Nomad as you aren't adding wine to your bill!

The Truffle Brunch has been extended until the 3rd of August. Details here.

Note the top picture is unrelated, I was just struck by the prettiness of the building and lights as I walked home from the Belvoir.

Linking with #WordlessWednesday &  #MuralMondays for the top pic.

Street art in Papeete

We had run out of cash, and the taxi's only take cash, not card in Tahiti so it was a must to get some if we were to get to the airport to fly home (and we were also off to the street markets for dinner so I assumed  that cash might be needed for that.

There is a shopping centre connected to the Hilton Papeete by a foot bridge, but their ATM was out of order. So as the sun slowly went down, I wandered of the 17 minute walk to the next closest ATM in town.

I wandered into the bank one way, and home another to make the most of the sights, and mainly the street art.

I was surprised at how much street art there was!

I walked past sports fields that were packed with people playing soccer and basketball, a busy skate park and people hurrying home from work or families out for  a stroll.

The Skate park had a lot of graffiti and a different vibe, as they often do. Being made their own by the users of the space. I did love that this one required helmets!

This seemed a little bleak in paradise.

The school I passed on the other hand, was cheerful and welcoming!

Sometimes running errands is a tour in itself. You see the real lifestyle and culture in action.

You see what the guidebooks don't mention.

You see the real people living their daily lives.

And home before dark, in time to head out for dinner!

As a kid, I loved the Mille Bornes card game, So seeing this made me smile! I only ever managed to get one of my kids to play, but they weren't a fan....

Linking with #TalkaboutitTuesday #ThruMyLens #WordlessWednesday   #WeekendCoffeeShare #WordlessWednesday#MCoW