With daughter and dog minding the fort, Mr Gums and I headed out last weekend to Central Australia where we are spending ten or so days escaping the wintry south. It is an interesting place to visit, geologically, botanically and culturally; it is where we urban Aussies come across more indigenous people than we usually … Continue reading Some thoughts from Centralia
Commentary
George Orwell, Books v. Cigarettes
We all do it! That is, we say we haven't got the time to do something or we can't afford something when in fact we really could if we changed our priorities. This idea is the inspiration for George Orwell's essay titled "Books v. Cigarettes" (written in 1946). It all started when a newspaper editor told him … Continue reading George Orwell, Books v. Cigarettes
More on blogging, images and copyright
Those of you who have read my very early posts will know that copyright on images is an important issue for me - it's why I often don't have a lot of images on my posts, much as I'd like to. I'm sure that it won't be long before the whole copyright situation is blown … Continue reading More on blogging, images and copyright
Murakami on The Great Gatsby
I have nearly finished Haruki Murakami's slim memoir, What I talk about when I talk about running, but thought this little tidbit deserved its own post. As well as writing his works in Japanese which others translate for him, he also translates English language works into Japanese. Interesting eh? Anyhow, while he was writing this memoir, … Continue reading Murakami on The Great Gatsby
On growing old
I am currently reading Haruki Murakami's What I talk about when I talk about running. I will write more on it when I've finished it, but today I came across this statement which rather caught my attention: ...one of the privileges given to those who've avoided dying young is the blessed right to grow old. … Continue reading On growing old
Jane Austen Regency Feast
I'm going to have my dinner after which I shan't be thinner (Jane Austen, Juvenilia) Last night was my local Jane Austen Society's eighth annual midwinter feast. We started off small in 2002 as a lunch for members only but, in the last few years, we have expanded it to a night event including members' … Continue reading Jane Austen Regency Feast
Seen today
As we were shopping at our local mall today, we saw a mum with her young daughter who was about 8 years old. This little girl was wearing a t-shirt that said: I'm too pretty to do homework. I'll say no more ... because, well, what can I say?
Too many books?
No, this is not one of those "too many books too little time" posts. This is way more serious! This is about something I read in the July issue of goodreading (why I read this magazine is beyond me really, but I do). What I read was this, from one Ken Duncan who is apparently … Continue reading Too many books?
Diva novels
Have YOU heard of diva novels? I haven't but Mike Ashman, the author of the article "The dawn of the diva" in the July 2009 issue of Limelight magazine, apparentlly has. He writes: The notion of the singer as victim and seductress moved into literature and, in the next 100 years George Eliot, George Moore, … Continue reading Diva novels
My mate the AktiMate
I'm late into mp3 players, mainly because I'm not all that keen on walking around with earbuds stuck in my ears. I like to engage with the world - particularly when I walk - rather than cut myself off. After all, isn't it nice to have some pockets of peace in our otherwise wonderfully connected … Continue reading My mate the AktiMate
