THANK YOU DONNA.....

There's nothing better than to open a new cook book and be absolutely blown away by .......

             *         the number of delicious recipes presented
             *         the absolutely fabulous illustrations

             *         the simplicity of the recipes
             *         the fact I wanted to get up from my chair

.....and cook!                                           

         

and that is just what happened when I opened Donna Hay's Christmas publication

" fast, fresh, simple "

           The groans from my long suffering husband were audible,

           ..." not another cookbook....you know the rules! "

The rules....yes the rules....I hadn't forgotten.

Quite simply.... I have to make at least one dish from the collection before it is added to the ever increasing  pile gathering dust on the shelf , never to see the light of day again. (This doesn't apply of course to my all time favourite cookbooks, and this one was about to join them and become a victim of those oily fingers, sauce stains, notations, pages all stuck together, etc....etc...)

So here is my first effort Donna,

Baked Italian Chicken

not quite as well presented as in your illustration, but absolutely delicious....

and it was fast, fresh and simple

A NEW YEAR...a new beginning

You could say that the year just finished was one I could have done without, but there amongst all the sadness and pain were moments of great happiness and joy.... and those moments will stay with me when the others are just a distant memory.

A new year....the slate is clean..... and with that comes the hope that I will once again be an active participant in my Book Club.

How disappointing it was this last year.... missing so many meetings.... coming ill prepared.... skimming the book to get a sense of the story, the author's intent... and then "winging it" during the discussions. What a fraud I felt....they should have tossed me out. But even though I didn't have much to add to the meetings, it was so great to be among friends... and I'll try to make up for it this year, I've already made a start!

Wish me luck....



(Check out the Book Club List for 2011 !! )

THOSE WERE THE DAYS....my friends

Further to my previous post, I came across an informative article published in a 1955 edition of the HOUSEKEEPING MONTHLY, which I will now reprint for your edification.......

THE GOOD WIFE'S GUIDE

(The Italics are all mine!)

HAVE DINNER READY.  Plan ahead the night before to have a delicious meal ready on time for HIS return.   This is a way of letting HIM know you have been thinking of HIM and are concerned about HIS needs

PREPARE YOURSELF. Touch up your makeup and put a ribbon in your hair.  Be fresh looking as HE has been with a lot of work weary people.  Be a little bit gay and more interesting for HIM.  HIS boring day may need a lift and it is your DUTY to provide it

PREPARE THE CHILDREN.  Wash their faces and comb their hair.  They are HIS little treasures and HE wants them to look the part

MINIMISE ALL NOISE.  At the time of HIS arrival stop the washing machine, the dryer and the vacuum cleaner

DON'T GREET HIM WITH COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS.  Never complain if HE comes home late or goes to other places of entertainment without you, or even stays out ALL NIGHT.  Count this as minor compared to what HE may have gone through during the day

MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE.   Have HIM sit back or lie down in the bedroom.  Arrange HIS pillow and offer to TAKE OFF HIS SHOES.  Always use a pleasant voice

LIGHT A FIRE.  In cooler months, light a fire for HIM to unwind by.  HE will feel HE has reached a haven of rest and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for HIS comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction

DON'T ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ACTIONS OR INTEGRITY.   Remember HE is the MASTER OF THE HOME who must exercise HIS will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have NO RIGHT to quesion HIM

BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM.  A good wife always knows her PLACE

*********

I might add I had great difficulty typing this blog due to an involuntary gagging reaction.... (which no doubt you will also experience dear readers, should you be of the female persuasion)

I might also add that I had an Aunt who would never allow her husband to see her face without makeup. ( I came upon this interesting snippet of information whilst on an interstate visit to stay with the family as a 12 year old.) ...

She would retire to the bedroom each evening, put on her nightclothes and matching satin scarf to hide the hair rollers, touch up her lipstick then hop into bed.......  She was always awake well before my Uncle.... bathed, fully dressed and made up by the time he came to the table for breakfast..... and he accepted it all as a matter of course......  He was the sweetest person, kind and uncomplaining in spite of all the fluffing around, the cooing baby talk and incessant twittering that was part of her daily routine...... (I might also add that she predeceased him by about 20 years which may have had something to do with the situation !)

Those were the days my friends.......

(As a further addendum.....may I give thanks to Betty Friedan....Germaine Greer......and the contraceptive pill...)

HALLELUJAH !

 

                                                                                                                                                           

               

MAD MEN.....and women

TV Promo on release

Over the years I've watched some great television....and some not so great.... But the series that has captured my attention this last year has been "MAD MEN" ..... Yes dear readers,  I've been hooked by this terrific series and can't wait for Series 3 which is currently showing here in dear old Aussie on Pay Television..... but not at my house!..... (No subscription TV I'm afraid)

So what is it about this show that has drawn me to the TV for hours on end....for not only did I watch the hourly episodes each week....I hired out the DVD's.... then watched the whole lot again in one big sitting!....( MAD WOMAN!)

What it was that kept me entranced for hours on end is that I knew these people.... they were part of my world ...the part that is now just a memory.

Some of the cast of Mad Men

Back in the 50's I worked for one of our country's largest Banks....

and just as in MAD MEN....women had a lesser role. 

There were no female Bank Tellers..... no female Heads of Departments....and as for female Bank Managers....forget it.

 We knew our place. We were hired as Steno/typistes....Ledger machine operators...

and should we marry...PFFT! ....out the door we went.... Once married you had to resign. ( I kid you not !)

 Dining with my friend Judy

Yes...this was my world.....and I was happy to be part of it...for that was the way of things in those days....and just like the females cast in the series, I dressed in the latest fashion....high heels.... nylon stockings....(suspender belts were de rigeur)...pointy bras (making the most of nothing) .... tiny waists....flared skirts.... (or pencil thin if you had a nice ass)... ass?...what am I saying...(.that was unknown in my vocabulary in those days).....and then of course there was the make-up...powdered and painted to within an inch of my life....and the gloves.... Never left the house without gloves, usually white in summer and soft doeskin in winter. Then If the occasion demanded it...(such as going out to dinner with my girl friends after work)....I sometimes wore a hat.

I was single,fancy free...and so naive.....and the thought of marriage never entered my mind

 A Special Occasion

And so my working life continued.....and just as in the series ....promotions came my way. 

I moved throughout the State  making new friends.....dating...travelling....growing older and somewhat wiser..

Then came the 60's
but that's another story.....

But back to MAD MEN....and their women.  I can relate to it all.  That's how it was then....(though the younger generation may find it hard to believe). The ensuing years have brought greater  freedom for women...some may say at a price

but I look back at those years now in wonderment and marvel at the life we lived.  How far have we come !

******

But wait.....there's more.....

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ?

Mattel are about to release their latest range of Barbie's friends.......
And here they are....Don Draper and his wife Betty.....Roger Sterling and former lover Joan Holloway....
They say there's a market for these grown up Barbie Dolls......(Hope they've done their research!)

MY BOOKCLUB...and Obama

Another month has come and gone....and yesterday our reading group met to discuss two books...."Dreams from my Father"  and  "The Audacity of Hope"..... both written by Barack Obama

I chose to read "The Audacity of Hope" as I thought it would be interesting to read something he had written as a Senator, before putting up his hand as a Presidential Candidate.  I had some knowledge of what this journey entailed having been an avid fan of "West Wing" (and let's face it ...American politics are not for the faint hearted) and I did know it would be a long and winding road.....however we all know how this particular journey ended.

As always , the conversations led us into many diverse topics far removed from the actual books under  review...but who cares.  One of the joys of our club, and one that makes it such a popular group is that we can have free and open discussion.... have our ideas shot down in flames.... have our thoughts acknowledged with a smile and a nod....and always come back for more!

With these books however, the consensus of opinion seemed to be universal....he had known poverty...he  was a man of vision...he was a man of intergity....he had lovely teeth and a great smile...he had a beautiful and intelligent wife, two delightful children...(and the obligatory white house dog)... he appeared to be free from sexual scandal...in fact, he was almost too good to be true.

And so the discussion progressed..... We talked about the diverse makeup of the American people, their hopes, their joys, their frustrations, their health care, their employment situation.....

We also discussed the people in power who pull the strings.....the parties themselves... the Senate...previous Presidents..(their successes and failures).... and what about Rahm Emmanuel..(will he get the boot ?) ....and how  the American system differs from our own....and how our own Prime Minister compares with Obama (alike in so many ways....and soon to meet again, this time in Australia)

In almost no time at all the meeting was over....  We felt stimulated.  We'd had great discussion.  We'd exercised our minds...but we hadn't solved the problems of the world.... That was for others to do...and for us to think about !

(I would be interested to hear from my blogger friends in the USofA your thoughts about your President....and if you feel satisfied with the way things are going.... .no names...no pack drill ! ) 

OP SHOPPING....

Coffee plunger & mugs

This morning I went op shopping.....

I'd been reading about all the wonderful treasures that could be found if you had a discerning eye....and with about 20 minutes to spare before collecting the man I live with from his Chi Kung class, I ventured in to the local Salvos Store hoping that the time spent would be productive and there would be something that would catch my eye.....

I was amazed at the stock....men's suits for $15.....tailored jackets, a bargain at $10.....but wait, I was shopping for ME. Lead me to the ladies' department!

I was not disappointed.....I took blouses from the rack (too small)...never mind ...
What about these camis?... still with the original price tag, now marked at $2 each. Thank you I'll have that beautiful saxe blue, and that cream one could be useful.

What's this....a whole rack of casual pants....$4 each....would I be lucky enough to find my size? ....yes a lovely pair of 3/4 pants in the taupe colour I'd been looking for. I was almost overcome with joy

Time was ticking by and I hadn't even been into the bric-a-brac. The handbags caught my eye....put that down I told myself ...but the leather was so soft...I put it back!

I spied a beautiful hat....where would I wear it....no Melbourne Cup here, but for $8?....I had to pull myself together.

A quick dash into the bric-a-brac...... A brand new coffee plunger caught my eye....could that only be $4. Thank you very much

Then I saw a beautifully stylish Avanti water jug.....it had a tiny burnish mark near the handle....but for $3 it was a bargain.
I checked my watch....time to go.

As I dashed towards the check-out counter, two coffee mugs...(50c each) ....were added to my collection. I could not believe I had this armful of delights and the sweet lady at the counter said...."That will be $16 please, would you like a bag?"

I was in shock....So THIS was op shopping ! 
 
Thank you to my blogger friends, especially Melbourne Girl and my daughters (who always manage to find such a wonderful collection of designer clothes going for a song in Melbourne).....I had a great time....and I'll be back!

Avanti Slimline Water Jug

POLLYWAFFLE .....

My usual Sunday morning TV viewing has left my head spinning.....

 

While the memory was still fresh I thought I'd share with you a couple of  "pearlers" from our elected politicians and ever hopeful aspirants as they gently debated the state of the nation with some of our respected journalists this morning.

I am ever hopeful of "plainspeak" ....something that's in really short supply these days as they wind themselves up with the pre prepared gobbledegook that passes for policy...or even (golly gosh) ... for the  occasional educated guess....which brings a smile to my face....but surely not their minders as they try to salvage something from the riposte

I am ever hopeful for an answer to the question...but try as they might they never quite manage  to say ...Yes!....or even better .....No! 

How simple would that be....  Instead we get prevarication as they twist and turn under the belligerent questioning of the moderator......

Enough I say.....

Acronyms aside, here were just a couple of this morning's offerings...OPTIONALITY.....SERENDIPITOUS COMMENTS.....FISCAL ZERO 9....EXECUTIONAL PROGRESS.....the mind boggles

Dear readers....please bear with me...it's not my usual style....I'm a simple conversationalist, but I do have a game of SCRABBLE on the boil....and I'm ever hopeful

AN INCIDENT .....

On a very hot Melbourne day....with the temperature expected to climb above the 40 mark....we had decided to see a film at the Nova in Carlton.   

Our Grandchild was with us....and it was a special treat for her.  We were going on a bus....(something she finds very exciting)....we were going to have lunch at a place of her choosing..(also very exciting) ...and we would spend lots of time browsing in the bookshops...(this was very, very exciting)

All went according to plan.... the bus was on time....and I joined the long queue to buy the movie tickets. Eliza and her Grandfather went into Borders Bookstore to start their adventure....

I knew they would be down in the children's section, so with tickets in hand I made my way slowly through the vast array of books and magazines on offer....and it was then I thought I heard the sound of a dog yelping in pain.

I stood quietly and listened for it again..... nothing. 

A big display of newly published Penguins caught my eye, and as I was making my way towards it, I heard the sound again....closer now

I stood at the bookshelf marvelling at all the old classics ....most of which I'd read over the years...(and some I'd wished I had)....when I heard it again...quite loud... and this time very near.

I looked round startled and said to a well dressed woman sitting on a couch nearby ...."Did you hear tha" ....

I didn't get to finish the sentence before she yelled....."P..s off you f...ing b.tch!"  and the yowl of a dog in pain came from her lips......

I turned and moved quickly away from the scene....I knew instantly she had Tourette Syndrome, but never having been confronted by it before I was shocked and frightened.......

"Look Nana.....look at all these lovely books we've found"......my Grandchild's voice, so happy and excited.

My husband looked at me...questioningly.  "You OK?"     .....  I nodded

Later as we moved out of the shop I looked over to the couch near the classic Penquins....

She wasn't there.....

THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN.....

Yesterday was Book Club Day....It was the first meeting of our group for the new year, and as expected there were a couple of new faces....both women.  


Our lone male member had that look of resignation on his face that we have come to expect over the years, but to his credit he hangs in there, not allowing the twittering of the group of post menopausal women to daunt his spirit....and he can be ever hopeful!


As is the custom for the first book of the year, it was an easy read....nothing too difficult to frighten away potential members.... and this was a BEST SELLER....(world wide)...written by an AUSTRALIAN author.... was partly set in our home state of QUEENSLAND.... in particular...MARYBOROUGH ...a small provincial town a few hundred kilometres to the south of where we live.

It was THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN...the second novel by KATE MORTON...an up and coming author....and according to all the blurb on the back cover,it would enthrall the reader from the very first page....a compulsive read...a real page turner....an absorbing family saga wonderfully written.  One of the best reads this year!

 
I couldn't wait to get started on the 554 pages, so I popped it into my suitcase for the trip south to Melbourne.....


Oh me oh my....how disappointed was I.  


Surely all those wonderful critiques must have been about another novel?   No...I had the right book....  I laboured through it as we jumped through time, then back again, losing track of the characters who were so one dimensional that it was difficult to remember them.

As for the story....the so called mystery that would hook you in....it was just so predictable I felt sure everyone would have already guessed the outcome. An unlikely tale, somewhat Mills and Boonish....(yes one of those was required reading as we had a M&B author in our midst for a few years!)


I found the book much too ambitious....in need of serious editing....(so much so that I wondered if the first draft had been published by mistake ).   I gave it the thumbs down....and went off to the meeting assured that everyone would be of like mind.

Imagine my surprise when half the group LIKED the book.   I was in disbelief!   Surely this erudite group, so well read couldn't have LIKED this book?    They DID!


So dear readers...I'll have to wear it, but as far as I was concerned THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN should have been forgotten .  We can't win them all....can we


Critiques welcome!

A SUMMER SURPRISE.....

We have returned home to the heat....not the heat of Melbourne mind you, though I found some days there unbearably hot as the heat rose from the ground to sear my face. That was when the temperature was over the 40 mark, and I can't begin to know how it was around a year ago when the searing heat  was in excess of 46 degreesC... and so many people lost their lives in the firestorms.  

No...this is tropical heat and humidity accompanied by rain....rain....rain.  The wet season has returned after years of pretense and we are back to what we used to know....and I'm not liking it one little bit. 

But something wonderful has happened to my front garden.....  My waterwise garden, filled with heat loving plants, needing very little attention, fertilizer or water has suddenly bloomed with a wonderful massed display of white crocus, revelling in the inches of rain that has poured from the sky.....

    So I have taken some pics to share with you....

             Still wet with the morning rain...so beautiful

 

These little flowers are taking great pleasure

in the hot wet summer days........

HAVE YOURSELF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

Dear Friends.....this will be my last blog for the year, as it's time to prepare for the journey south to be with our family at this special time.

What a memorable year it's been.....One never knows what's round the next corner just waiting to come alongside!   You have to take it in your stride, the happy with the sad, the good with the bad....never let it get you down.....(# sounds like something out of a song I once knew!)

Please try to enjoy all that this time of year has to offer.....It will mean different things to different people.... (# sounds like something out of a song I once knew)... but the common denominator, the most important thing of all is to try to have love and compassion in your heart.   We can go a long way on that!

Thank you for welcoming me to your blogging world.  I've been amazed at just what is out there to read... to enjoy....to learn...and to experience through other people's eyes.... (# I don't think that's a song title I once knew.... but perhaps it should be!)

I'll finish with a few lyrics from a song that I know I once knew......

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?........

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind 

(thank you Bob Dylan for those beautiful lyrics)

And to all of you.....Merry Christmas!

 

 

AS TIME GOES BY .......

A few days ago we celebrated another wedding anniversary.  It was a happy day....we didn't do anything special though because we were both busy with prior engagements..... but I was happy to know that the boy had not forgotten, as very early that morning....even before the birds had started their morning chatter....he had touched my face gently and whispered the words "Happy Anniversary"..... not knowing that I was awake.

We were married 48 years ago....and yet it doesn't seem that long.  The two of us not knowing what was ahead, but trusting in each other that we could make this journey together.  What did we know of life.... or of each other for that matter.  We just knew that we wanted to be together

How young we look in this photo....newly married and about to leave for the reception.... my husband somewhat nervous about the speech he knew he had to make....in front of  people,  some of whom he had never seen in his life before.....Oh the joy....and the terror!

                                                           

Almost ready to leave the reception...(me in my going away outfit which was the tradition for the times.)
I had made this outfit myself....a softly flared skirt and a three quarter sleeved jacket with boat neckline collar finished with a soft bow.... and the fabric was a beautiful sea green paper silk which I had bought in Thailand just months before. The headpiece was draped with tendrils of lily of the valley echoing the colour of the fabric, and those were my wedding shoes (white pearlescent leather).... and soft suede gloves .  It all seemed so important at the time.....

               Now lets move on a few years......                

 

And here we are celebrating our 25th anniversary with our beautiful daughters

Our girls eventually moved away to the bright lights, big city, to follow their careers....marry.....and have a family of their own....

And there we were again....back where we started....just the two of us.

What wonderful years they have been and what memories of those times.....
Yes... there have been disappointments....yes....there has been grief and pain with the deaths of much loved parents and a younger sister....but the joys far outweighed the sadness.

He tried to leave me....three times.....but the doctors brought him back... a little worse for wear....but he still had things to do on earth....obviously.   And so...as time goes by....another year comes and goes... and we are still learning about each other. The memory is failing....but not the sense of humour.

 How lucky we have been so far on this journey of a lifetime, happy in each other's company....making no demands of each other....just enjoying our time.... together

REMEMBERING CHERNOBYL.....

                                     Three Mile Island Plant

A few days ago I read in our daily newspaper that the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania had had a radiation leak forcing the evacuation of 150 workers the previous weekend.  There was no explanation why the disclosure had been delayed, only that management felt the levels of radiation were not considered harmful.....

In April 1986, the world's worst nuclear disaster occurred at Chernobyl.......No exact figures are known for the number of workers killed as a direct result of this meltdown.....or the number of people who died from the fallout.....  A code of silence existed.  The contamination spread across countries, affecting crops and livestock, poisoning the soil for further plantings.  But what was even worse was the knowledge that future generations of Russian children could be genetically damaged.......In 1993 two children affected by this disaster came to live with us and be part of our family for nearly two months.....and this is their story

Through our Lions International Club my husband & I had said "yes", when families were asked to host one, but preferably two children from the contaminated areas.  We were told that some were unwell, most had eye problems, some needed dental work..... but they were well enough to travel to a country with clean fresh air, sunshine and uncontaminated food, in the hopes that their recovery would be hastened.

From the list we chose two little girls...one 8 years old, and one almost 9.  I prepared their room...twin beds in an upstairs bedroom...with a larger bedroom/sitting room adjacent, with TV and Stereo (This had been my younger daughter's domain before she left for Melbourne and the bright city lights!).... neighbours gave me the most beautiful dolls for them ...then we waited....and waited....

Finally we had a date of arrival and we couldn't wait to collect our two little girls when the bus arrived.  Imagine our shock when we were told that illness had prevented their travel and would we take Alexandra (aged 13), and Alexander (aged 10).  Of course we would....but what about the dolls...and the twin beds!  Plan B needed to be put into operation!

They were tired and hungry...had not met before boarding the bus at the airport.....Alexandra spoke few words of English......Alexander didn't speak at all....nothing....but they seemed happy to be with us if not a little wary. I had tears in my eyes as I unpacked the young boys clothes...threadbare... and the soles of his runners were worn through in places, but Alexandra was quite the young lady.... with a good dress, casual clothes, and some jewelery.  I wondered how I would manage as my husband left for work the next morning with the words..."Good Luck"

I could write pages and pages......about the time we had getting to know each other....gaining their confidence....taking them shopping for new clothes.... "Are always these many clothes in shops"  Sasha asked of me. ( Between us we had decided on short names... Sasha for Alexandra, and Alex for Alexander, as it was quite confusing....as it was for them also... as Sasha is also a boy's name and short for Alexander).

Alex finally spoke some Russian and then he learned some English words...and we in turn learned some Russian!

The joy they brought to our home was unbelievable....they made friends with the neighbours.  Alex could play soccer and was snapped up for a local team.....Sasha went to a local college a couple of days a week with a neighbour who was the Deputy Principal....they washed cars....watered the garden.... ("May we wash flowers?" ) Sasha would ask.  Alex made cakes....Sasha learned to cook Spaghetti Bolognese...and excitedly told her parents on the phone. They went to the beach....and on picnics.  And they ate....and ate...(.bananas up to 3kgs per day!) ...they gained weight and their cheeks were pink....laughter filled the house.

                                        At the beach in Winter...brrr

                                                     (why no people swim?....THEY did!)

Alex loved to be with my husband....(apart from his mother, he had a big brother....an older sister and younger twin sisters . He would only have been about 3 when his father died from the fallout)...and so this relationship blossomed.  He would come downstairs every morning and sit in the chair next to my husband while he read the paper, and would be there again at night beside him watching TV.  At one time Boris Yeltsin appeared on a news bulletin.  He pointed to him...."Bad"....he said.

                                                                        Good Mates

We celebrated Alex's 10th birthday with a party at MacDonalds. He had made lots of friends....and the manager presented him with a watch....not one of those toy ones, but a beautiful gold plated one with a leather band.(I think he would have preferred one with Ronald on the dial!)

Happy Times

Too soon it was time to go.  We packed up their bags...new ones had been bought to cater for all the extras they were taking home.  Sasha had a tennis racquet..(and balls)...for her father... they had photos....new clothes and gifts from neighbours. Alex was presented with the soccer club's uniform and a team photo...they were happy....they were excited........we were sad

The neighbours gathered in the early hours before dawn to farewell them...there were kisses and hugs....and tears.  We were on our way to the airport in Brisbane where they would board the British Airways Jet that would take them home.

We didn't say much on the way back.  It was a long drive and we'd been up since before dawn.  We needed a coffee and a good sleep.  It wasn't until the next morning when we woke to an empty house that we realised they were really truly gone....just Alex's fingerprints left there on the lowered ceiling as he used to bound down the stairs then reach up to touch the sky......

.

OUT OF LUCK....

I have just posted The Booklist for 2010.....(See Side Bar).
None of mine ....unfortunately, but we do get to read one of Obama's.  (Looks like I'll have to read Sarah Palin's on the sly)

Not a bad collection though I must admit...some even appeal....and if I can get through the lot of them, how much more knowing will I be....(mmm.....don't think I'm gonna make the full list...)

Not even a "Twilight " in sight!..... I'm out of luck.... again    (Have just removed tongue from cheek)

Has anyone read any of these?.....please advise! 

A BREAKFAST TREAT.....

Fresh figs......delicious.....almost dripping with their own nectar.

On this very hot and humid morning.....what a breakfast treat!

They looked so great, I wanted to share them with you all.....

MY VERY FIRST AWARD.....

The Lemonade Award .....

 Imagine my surprise ....and delight....to find that my blogging companion Journaling Woman had thought my blog worthy of this nomination.

This is my acknowledgment of her faith in me as a blogger, albeit a somewhat misplaced one, as I have not posted as often as I would have liked these last months.

I'm rather new to this game...but it is now a special part of my life, as I've discovered just how much alike many of us are, disregarding age, location, family situations and the like. 

The reason I became a blogger was the hope that in the years to come when I am just a fading memory, something of my being would be captured in my musings and would become a permanent memory for my grandchildren who at times seem a million miles away, even though we visit, and talk on the phone. My family is the mainstay of my life.

So thank you Teresa....and all who drop by.....for taking the time to welcome me into your lives....sometimes offering words of encouragement, comfort, joy and laughter......  You are all so very special, and much appreciated.

TIME TO CHOOSE....

 I belong to a Bookclub..... 

 I have been a member of this fascinating group now for over 10 years,
and considering we read one book each month...  (except for the month of January.... which allows us to get into some really trashy reads over the Christmas break  )... a lot of books have been stacked on my bedside table at one time or another!


At this time of year we have to choose the books for the following year.  Much discussion takes place as titles are put forward and rejected...(or accepted).  Considering we have to choose 11 books and we have a membership of around 20, I feel rather elated when I have a book on the list.

Belonging to this club has broadened my reading horizon.....I often have to read a book I wouldn't have chosen in a fit....and sometimes.... to my surprise.... I've really enjoyed it. 

But what I most enjoy are the diverse opinions of our members as the Book of the Month is discussed.  There are usually those FOR and those AGAINST.....and we have one member... (an educated,erudite woman in her  50's ....a writer of scientific texts for University study).... who hardly ever enjoys any of the reads... unless it's a grisly murder along the lines of Silent Witness.   Sometimes these discussions give you a greater appreciation of the novel, and a fuller understanding of the characterisation, motive and plot.   

Such is our group...ranging in age from late 30's to 80's... teachers, doctors' wives, a solicitor, a literary critic, an engineer (male), a scientist....mostly retirees....and me.    I'd say we are a pretty conservative lot.....they don't like too much swearing, sex or other non acceptable behaviour...and to some extent, that's why some of the books I put forward are rejected out of hand !

So I wasn't unduly surprised when I suggested we read Sarah Palin's ' Going Rogue '....." It's a love story"  I said "and it's about a woman who loves to exercise....she's gonna RUN"  ....my humour was lost on the group who gave it the thumbs down.

 I'm undeterred however....I'm trying again to get on the list with the book of the moment.

   

Yes....It's "Twilight"

and don't you just love this pic

(courtesy of "The Weekend Australian Magazine)

It's supposed to be for teenagers..... the answer to Harry Potter

but....

it's Harry Potter on Hormones

and....

It's attracting OLDER WOMEN readers!!

It will be interesting to see whether I make it to the 2010 list !

How do you think I'll go ?

And here I am with some of my Bookclub friends

(No prizes for guessing that I'm the one on the left)

.........

ALAS....ALACK......

Alas, alack....woe is me....I'm too busy.....just too busy to post to my blog....  Just too busy reading what other folks are posting  to attend to my own.   But what a wonderful time I'm having....

It will have to stop.

But how fascinating is this blogging life?..... What wonderful fulfilling lives some people lead..... How many happy.....sad.....insightful....informative....laugh out loud things have I read about that stir my interest... touch my heart....occupy my thoughts?

"You will never be lonely in your old age "  my husband says of this new found interest which has taken up residence in our home.

How sweet is that dear readers......I AM old.......but this blogging life has a lot going for it.  Yay !!!