I always think of the animals who served in the World Wars as well as the veterans.

I have jumped into a few books this week. I am slowly making my way through the Penguin black classic The Monk written by Matthew Gregory Lewis 1796, revised 1798. He was known as a Gothic writer and I am enjoying it much more than I thought I would. The location is Madrid.

The blurb…

“The Monk: A Romance is a Gothic novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis, published in 1796. A quickly written book from early in Lewis’s career (in one letter he claimed to have written it in ten weeks, but other correspondence suggests that he had at least started it, or something similar, a couple of years earlier^[1]), it was published before he turned twenty. It is a prime example of the type of Gothic that specialises in the aspect of horror. Its convoluted and scandalous plot has made it one of the most important Gothic novels of its time, often imitated and adapted for the stage and the screen.

Plot

The Monk has two main plotlines. The first concerns the corruption and downfall of the monk Ambrosio, and his interactions with the demon-in-disguise Matilda and the virtuous maiden Antonia. The subplot follows the romance of Raymond and the nun Agnes. The novel switches between the stories at moments of high suspense. At various points, the novel also includes several extended anecdotes of characters with Gothic backstories who tell their tales.”

It took me awhile to get the characters straight. Our book club will discuss it in May and it should be a lively discussion.

The Wikipedia information about the author is quite fascinating so the link, if interested is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Gregory_Lewis

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The other book I finished is a travel book called Solo by Jenny Tough. She is a runner and kept excellent notes about her running journey throughout the world on a personal challenge she set herself.

It was a crazy challenge and she finished it. I enjoyed her story very much.

The blurb…”Jenny Tough is an endurance athlete who’s best known for running and cycling in some of world’s most challenging events – achieving accolades that are an inspiration to outdoor adventurers everywhere. But SOLO tells the story of a much more personal project: Jenny’s quest to come to terms with feelings and emotions that were holding her back. Like runners at any level, she knew already that running made her feel better, and like so many of us, she knew that completing goals independently was empowering, too. So she set herself an audacious objective: to run – solo, unsupported, on her own – across mountain ranges on six continents, starting with one of the most remote locations on Earth in Kyrgystan. 

SOLO chronicles Jenny’s journey every step of the way across the Tien Shan (Asia), the High Atlas (Africa), the Bolivian Andes (South America), the Southern Alps (Oceania), the Canadian Rockies (North America) and the Transylvanian Alps (Europe), as she learns lessons in self-esteem, resilience, bravery and so much more. What Jenny’s story tells us most of all is that setting out to do things solo – whether the ambitious or the everyday – can be invigorating, encouraging and joyful. And her call to action to find strength, confidence and self-belief in everything we do will inspire and motivate.”

She is incredibly courageous, almost crazy in her pursuit of her goal. It was quite suspenseful at times so could keep a reader up at night.

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The other book I’m in the middle of is Calypso by David Sedaris. I think I will work my way through all of his books on audio. He narrates them and I laugh out loud at his stories. His observations of people and his thought processes at times make one shake their head if they can stop wondering how his mind works. He covers a lot of family memories and I feel like I know his sisters and his father as if they lived next door. Such light relief when the world gets you down.

Other bits of life….

My sister is back in California and I continue to care for the big garden projects we did while she was here. She has a mich greener thumb than I do and I learned quite a bit from her. I was very sad for a few days after she left.

Now cold weather is upon us as winter begins to slide into Tasmania, my thoughts have turned to baking and cooking a bit. Mr Penguin does most of the cooking around here but if I can do some earlier in the day before MS fatigue kicks in I am quite happy. My energy supplies quit around 4 or 5:00. I never mind cleaning up though. It is very satisfying to have a clean kitchen with everything in its place at night, ready for the next day.

I’m looking at ginger-molasses cookie recipes for the weekend. I also found an interesting gnocchi tray bake online I might try. Stay tuned. I’ll share it with you if it gets off the ground.

That is all I have this week. I hope other Australians had a special ANZAC day and the rest of you are well.

Travelled south to a market and then lunch where we sat outdoors at a beautiful restaurant for lunch. While outside a couple of New South Wales motor-biker women approached us for a photo for a motor bike publication. They thought we looked “game”. They gave us a couple of tips for the photo and we obliged. Two of us in our 70s and two in our 80s had a great time laughing. Our one friend turns 90 next year!

Then my sister and I went to the tip (thrift/op) shop for some materials we needed for a garden project. We became distracted by the art sculptures made from scraps.

Loving street photography I couldn’t resist.

It is lovely to see creative people working with items designed for landfill.

Do something fun today if only for a moment and forget the world.

No time to read this week yet.

We have had some beautiful days here. Autumn is my favourite season. I am always happy to say goodbye to hot drier weather.

It has been a busy time with my sister’s visit from overseas. Road trips, rainy, windy drives, fisherman’s shacks for accommodation, feeding wildlife at Bonorong Wildlife sanctuary and chatting with the owner about the new hospital plans.

Then there were several projects around the garden.

Not much time for reading at all but listening to a few things on audible at night. I have belonged to two book clubs but am dropping one of them. I’m not enjoying the book selections so much as many about war and depression. It isn’t something I want to bring into my life at the moment so quite happy to go with the second club. The variety of books in this group have been fun. Calvino, Kafka’s the Castle, Ginzburg’s The Dry Heart had such various contrasts from each other. Next month we’ll be delving into The Monk, a Penguin classic by Matthew Lewis. I had not heard of this so am looking forward to seeing what it entails.

Coming up are two market days in two different cities with my sister and friends, then a fall festival with our photo club. We still have a few day trips to do too so a busy couple of weeks to come.

I will end the day with a few photos here.

Looking forward to further adventures, photography and more reading as the year progresses.

My sister arrives in five days from California for a month’s stay. I am really looking forward to her visit as I’ve not seen her in five years. We plan on several day trips, some theatre experiences, a market day and a week on the west and northwest coast of Tasmania. I will have my camera on me a lot so who knows what kind of photos I’ll collect.

Today is 34 degrees C in Hobart (almost 100F) so a good day to stay in and write a post.

One of my book groups met last week to discuss The Dry by Natalia Ginzburg. We only have 5 in the group and really got into a good discussion. Such an interesting tale of a loveless marriage, a mistress on the side, a sickly child and an Italian background. Depressing? Yes, but also riveting to see where it all goes and a good discussion about the interpretation of the ending.

I’ve just started The Castle by Franz Kafka for next month’s discussion. A novel that Kafka did not finish due to his death. A story of the absurdity of bureaucracy and so far it is quite funny with very descriptive characters.

I am also going to begin Richard Flanagan’s latest book Question 7. It has received many great reviews. I went to the launch of this book and that was such a good evening. The stories of his family living on the west coast of Tasmania really drew me in.

I have done a couple of days of street photography and am doing some online courses and studying many you tube videos. It takes a lot of time so not as many books being regularly read but am learning a lot. It really keeps me an hored and I have always enjoyed learning new things. Non fiction over fiction I guess as I age. There is so much out there.

I have been playing with AI Chat GPT and that has been great fun. For example I am able to ask it to give me 3 dinner recipes for two adults using an air fryer and it comes up with three recipes, including the directions and a shopping list if I include that request. The recipes look good.

I also asked it to tell me about the book The Castle and I got a really good answer explaining what it is about.

I can see why teachers in educational institutions are wringing their hands over it. It develops and produces quite good essays on any number of topics. I asked it “How can I become a really good street photographer based on the advice of the best street photographers in the world.”. I got a list of ten items telling me what to concentrate on when I go out.

I also asked for a good bedtime routine to follow before bedtime to get over my severe insomnia. My GP has me on a very good behavioural program that’s online and free and it has been starting to work. The AI app gave exactly the same advice with a few more things one can do to prepare for a good night’s rest. This is ongoing.

So quite a diverse week of learning on top of a lovely lunch with a good friend and her son as well as my regular gym workouts and follow up coffee with my fun trainer friend.

Now to just get the spare room fixed up for my sister’s visit. It will go by all to fast I’m sure.

I hope the rest of you are enjoying your weekend and if you’re not do try and find a happy time to look forward if even for a few minutes. It is so important to take care of yourself and don;t be afraid to use the word NO if life gets too hectic.

Summer’s morning. Birds are active outdoors. Can hear a wattle bird at the moment, a magpie with it’s wonderful chat and the neighbour’s chickens clucking around their front yard. I really like hearing their chickens.

 We are looking at a 26 C (79F) today. Lovely day with a mild breeze coming through the window. Cats and dogs still sleeping. Always lovely when they sleep.  I’m looking forward to the week. 

 The Hobart Photographic Society photography exhibition is on at the moment and I will work a two hour shift down there this week. It doesn’t require much except passing out pencils and slips of paper for people’s choice awards and keeping track of njmbers of visitors and selling raffle tickets to win a print.

So far the photo of a baby wombat named Lenny is leading the pack by a great number of votes.

 There is a Philosophy Night at Fullers Book store later in the week that Mr. P and I will attend. Should be interesting and fun. They are in the midst of their 104^th year birthday celebrations with prizes, cake, etc that I am watching from their social media. Will will share one of their photos.

 I only have two small books to share with you today from Wooden books publishers. There is an entire series of these little books and I acquired two of them sometime back.

Grammar: The Structure of Language by Rachel Grenon and Plot: The Art of the Story by Amy Jones.

Logic asks, “When is a sentence true?” Rhetoric asks, “Which is the right sentence?” Grammar purely asks, “when is a sentence correct?” I hope that these pages will at least whet your appetite for grammar, if not turn you into a most ardent and impassioned grammarian. (Introduction from Grammar:the structure of language.)

 They are small books that slip easily into a bag and come in a variety of subjects. I love the covers.

 

I missed the book club where the group discussed Zadie Smith’s, The Fraud for a really pitiful reason. There was a three car fender bender on the Tasman Bridge in Hobart. There are very limited streets heading out of South Hobart where I live. The traffic was backed up seven to eight kilometres. Where we exit South Hobart there is also the Southern Outlet that goes south to Kingston. It was also backed up kilometres. I sat in South Hobart trying to travel the five kilometres to the city.  After trying every way of getting out of South Hobart, I was unable to do so. Cars were at a standstill, what is known as the Hobart Grid Lock. 

Our politicians can’t work out public transport. We have a large river system and it would be wonderful if they would put in some ferries like Sydney has up and down their harbour. They talk about it a lot. There is a rail track that could accommodate light rail north of town with some work.

Bike trails are appalling. But the Metro system has a shortage of drivers due to less than ideal working conditions.

The timetable can be erratic. Lots of pollies standing around looking at everything, tsk, tsk, tsking but taking no action (as usual). So as the time edged into the meeting without me, I turned around and went home. I was very disappointed to miss the group. Just ridiculous. Wished I still had my scooter.

 Well that is the quiet trial of the week. I am now just satisfied having my morning coffee and the neighbour’s chickens chatting.  See you next time.

This past week was incredibly busy and this week is

turning out to be the same too.

I had a couple of very good gym sessions in the weight

room and the Barre’ class room.

I turned up on Thursday for my private PT session and my

trainer friend, Teresa and I just looked at each other and

said, “Let’s go for a coffee!!” We postponed the training

until tomorrow. It was a beautiful Tassie day and we sat in

the sun at our favourite café, drinking our oat latte’s (I

know), and along came another woman friend from the

Barre’ class. The three of us happily chatted until we had to

get back to the gym. They are such positive women and I

really enjoy them.

I had Adam’s book group Wed night and six of us had a

lovely time during the evening in an empty Fullers book

shop café discussing Olga Tokarczuk’s book Flights. We

had a lot of fun really dissecting this book. We all enjoyed it

as just so much in it.

Speaking of Adam’s group, I finished The Dry Heart by

Italian author Natalia Ginzburg (Dob 1916 to 1991). It was

first published in 1947 then translated into other languages

beginning in 1950s. It is wonderfully written and very

concise. It packs a lot in for only 105 pages. The writing style

reminded me of Graham Swift’s Mothering Sunday. I would

certainly recommend it if you enjoy a real study of a couple

in a very unusual marriage situation. The characters are

well developed and the story kept me reading even though

we know on the first page the protagonist shoots her

husband between the eyes with his revolver. It takes place,

I would guess in the 1950s, post WWII.

I also went to a couple of Fullers book launches last week

too. I met some friends there and we all enjoyed the launch

of The Chocolate Factory by Mary Lou Stevens. The

history of the Quakers who first developed Cadbury’s

chocolate in the UK is an interesting tale. Alcoholism was so

bad in the UK, they developed a chocolate drink that took off

In popularity. They wanted people to drink chocolate

instead of alcohol. It eventually became the Dairy Milk

chocolate the rest of us know. They were great employers,

developing accommodation, child care and

schools for the children of the employees.

The author said she ate a lot of chocolate while she wrote

it.

Friday night we went to another launch but I am not going

to write much about it as although the book is probably

interesting, the presentation was abysmal. The woman

stood behind a podium, cleared her throat continually, did

not consistently use her microphone and droned for 50

minutes. Complete monotone. Painful! I played with my

watch in order to not pull out my eye lashes. My friend fell

asleep as did a few others in the room. I guess you never

know the level of public speaking skills of an author when

that author is booked.

This past weekend had me spending Saturday meeting my

photography friends north of Hobart in the small town of

Oatlands. It is a lovely country town with an even lovelier

bakery. I had the best heated chocolate croissant with my

flat white. We then had a few cars and we car pooled north

to Tunbridge an even smaller village with not much there

except very old houses and agriculture.

From there we went farther north to the more touristy

town, Ross. It has one of the older convict made bridges

in the country. It also has a nice bakery. There was an

amateur medieval day going on and they were happy for us to photograph them. The local group do these little exercises

regularly and by then I was getting tired. There was

another American expat on the sidelines watching her

husband running around with armour and a sword. The

group was funny as they were like enthusiastic four year

olds who had all been given rubber swords for Christmas.

The others took more photos and I enjoyed talking to the

woman on the sidelines. We discussed the Super Bowl and

the upcoming American elections and how much we both

hate Donald Trump.

So now we are in the next week and activities continue to

roll on but more of that next week. I hope you do something

fun this week. I’ll leave you with the delicious banana bread recipe I made today. I substituted 1/4 cup of the flour for drinking chocolate mix. It really added to the flavour.

Another week is almost gone. It’s hard to believe we’re sliding into February already. This week has a few gym sessions and a Fullers Book store event at the end of the week. It is the launch of a book by Hilary Burden called Undersong.

It celebrates the stories of Tasmanian landscapes and environments, through the journeys of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, Undersong is a Tasmanian journey into Country.

Hilary Burden’s book explores the relationship to Country of several women of Tasmania, including herself, Aunty Patsy Cameron and historical figures Louisa Anne Meredith and Marianne North, among others. Separated by time but not place, the women in this non-linear, narrative non-fiction work all share a deep connection to this island at the bottom of the world.

I am going to it with a friend and I am looking forward to the first event of 2024 at Fullers Book store. Let my social life begin.

Books

I have a book I am reading one chapter at a time called: Waymakers:  An Anthology of Women’s Writing about Walking edited by Kerri Andrews. Poetry, anecdotes, short pieces of prose dating back into history. I’m enjoying it so far.

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I’m getting reading to begin two new books for the March book clubs I’m in.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran. The blurb reads: Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home is nestled in the quiet suburb of Westgrove, Sydney – populated with residents with colourful histories, each with their own secrets, triumphs and failings. This is their safe place, an oasis of familiar delights – a beautiful garden, a busy kitchen and a bountiful recreation schedule. But this ordinary neighbourhood is not without its prejudices.
The serenity of Cinnamon Gardens is threatened by malignant forces more interested in what makes this refuge different rather than embracing the calm companionship that makes this place home to so many. As those who challenge the residents’ existence make their stand against the nursing home with devastating consequences, our characters are forced to reckon with a country divided.

The Dry Heart by Matalia Ginzburg. I have never heard of this book or author but the blurb states:

The Dry Heart begins and ends with the matter-of-fact pronouncement: ‘I shot him between the eyes.’ As the tale – a plunge into the chilly waters of loneliness, desperation, and revenge – proceeds, the narrator’s murder of her flighty husband takes on a certain logical inevitability.

Stripped of any preciousness or sentimentality, Natalia Ginzburg’s writing here is white-hot, tempered by rage. She transforms the unhappy tale of an ordinary dull marriage into a rich psychological thriller that seems to beg the question: why don’t more wives kill their husbands?

About the Author

Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) was born in Sicily and became one of the most important Italian writers of the twentieth century.

This sounds interesting.

Photography

A fellow photography club member and I went to the top of two car parks to take some photos. I was reading an article about photographers trying new perspectives and one of them was “Look down!”  I had not done that much in the past so I thought car parks might be fun. One had ten levels, the other seven. Then we went to Fullers for a coffee and chat. A very pleasant way to spend part of a day. I’d like to go back at night time though and get the lights as the ten level car park overlooks the harbour and riverfront. Would be quite beautiful at night. But will wait until winter when darkness comes much earlier as I don’t fancy walking around a city car park late at night with all my camera gear.

Here are a couple of the photos.

I guess that brings you up to date so stay tuned for more adventures and books.

…..The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.

I can relate to that quite a bit but must say I enjoyed my binge of Netflix last week of the British crime drama “Fool Me Once’ with Joanna Lumley playing the matriarch of a drug company doing the wrong thing. It has so many twists and turns.

I am just about finished with Zadie Smith’s book The Fraud. I am enjoying it so much. I am doing a read listen of it and Smith reads it. She is so good at all the voices and accents. It takes place in England, Jamaica and Australia across the 19th century. Lots of characters but I find listening to all the voices while I read along the book helps keep them sorted.

2024- I am really looking forward to this year. I made one resolution. I will not have any major health problems this year. 2020 was one big benign ovarian tumour. Doctor said it was the size of a baby’s head. 2022 was loss of vision in one eye. 2023 was a heart attack, lucky not major. 2024 is going to be the healthiest year I ever had. Sometimes I laugh at how ridiculous it has all been. Add all that to my stroke I had 10 yrs ago and the MS I’ve had for 23 years. You have to laugh and just keep going. Move!!

The gym will remain in my life. I finished listening to a couple of travel writing books. I tend to begin one audible book, listen to half of it, then the mood changes and off I go into another. I end up with three or four half listened to books then go back and clean them all up to finish them.

Another little book I was gifted and have looked at for 2024 is The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. It is all about getting out and socialising, taking care of one’s mental health. Spending time with friends and happy self affirmations all discussed with a spunky, small frog.

I am really looking forward to our two book clubs beginning next and my two photo clubs starting activities again. We have an excursion in one club where we drive up to the midlands area of Tasmania and travel back roads taking photos of whatever we fancy. Probably quite a few old abandoned buildings, sheds, farm photos. n all meet for coffees and lunch.

I am rejoining the seniors group I belonged to also. I had stopped going due to being so upset to so many health problems but after a couple of years away I am looking forward to the evening meal once a month, the occasional speakers and a country lunch here and there every month. I enjoy the members of the group, many who are in their 80s and 90s and live vibrant, active lives. I think the older one gets the more socialising and reading becomes for one’s mind. Also get down on the floor everyday and practice getting up. Sounds silly but such a skill once you get over 65/70.😏😏😏

I had good news when I entered a photo in the competition run by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The rule was we had to include a structure within the gardens. My photo came in second of about 80 entries that I could see. I missed out on the first place with a $300.00 prize but was very happy with the Highly Commended.

We are off and running into 2024 so stay tuned for the books coming up, the photographs, my sister’s month long visit in March. She lives in California. There will be road trips and day trips. There will be food.

And on a final note…each year, rather than a resolution being thought about I pick one word that I will attempt to live by. This year’s word is INTENTION. Each morning as I write a note in my diary I think of what intention I want to act on for the day. Gym, walk, read, be kind, do laundry, play with the dog, doesn’t matter, just get up and do something.

I hope the new year has kicked off for all of you cyber friends. All the best.

By the way, Penguin has a new friend this year too. Mr. Galah.

(Quote by Charlotte Carpenter)

It has been awhile since I was here but wanted to wish everyone well for the new Year and hope your Christmas is/was going well. We aren’t much of Christmas people anymore. We do enjoy the day but our priority is giving funds to the local animal welfare groups in our city.

Yesterday I took Ollie and Peannie to the dog beach. After a few months of rehab, Ollie’s leg has healed enough he can play with other dogs. They had so much fun and really wore themselves out. They both came home and crashed out. I think they had smiles on their faces.

I finally finished the book Flights by Olga Tokarczuk. Because I took so many notes on my Kindle Scribe it took me a long time to read it. The next book on my list is Zadie Smith’s book Fraud. I’ve not read her before but have heard so much about her. I will also be choosing a random book off my shelves to begin. I will randomly select three books and choose one of the three to get stuck into. I will need to speed up my reading or allow more time to get through all the books coming up in 2024. I am not the fastest reader in the world.

With my eye sight being so low now in my left eye I look like a budgie, focusing on the print with my right eye.

I find kindle books much easier and faster to read as I can adjust the font size so I think the majority of my book club reads will be kindle and I will also try to mop up more TBRs from my shelves.

Earlier in December I met my good friend from Port Macquarie in Sydney for 5 days.

She and I saw the Dictionary of Lost Words by the Sydney Theatre Company at the Opera house. We enjoyed it very much and laughed at all the big groups of people around us in the audience. They were all book clubs. How fun would that be. Your whole book group goes to the Opera house.

I also spent some time with my photography friend who lives in Sydney that I missed when in Sydney the end of May because she came down with Covid. It was a fun week but I was glad to leave on the 8th as Sydney was 41 C (105.8 F) that day. We went to Central station that morning and boarded a train for the 6 hr journey to Port Macquarie. I enjoyed the trip but it is S L O W ! So many stops.

I stayed for a few nights with my friend. I have never been there before. It is a beautiful city.

The highlights were attending the Glass House performing arts centre to see the indigenous dance group, Bangarra. It was excellent performance and the dancers are incredible. We also had lunch at the Koala hospital grounds that includes the historic Roto house. Just beautiful. I adopted a koala for a year while there and receive mail outs about how Roto-Jazz is doing.

wrap this up with some of the phone photos from the last month . I didn’t take my big camera as my friend and I spent time at theatre (no cameras allowed), shopping (just a nuisance when holding ags) and having a cocktail every night, (takes up too much space on those tiny tables).

This year had it ups and downs, as usual so I look forward to the clean slate of a new year. I also look forward continued chatting with my blogger friends who I have enjoyed very much this past year. Here’s to the next year into our world of the unknown.