A Book is like……

A key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self. (Franz Kafka)

I hope this find everyone well. I’m keeping busy but will try and focus on a couple of things both bookish and not.

Still exercising a lot with walks but weather slowed me down a bit in the past week. Will keep at it with gym and walks tomorrow.

I have been walking to the library on my gym days at times as it is on the way. I checked out the book The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.

The sales blurb reads: “book for all ages, a book for all time.
Adapted into the BAFTA and Oscar winning short animated film.

Enter the world of Charlie’s four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons.

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared millions of times online. They’ve also been recreated by children in schools and hung on hospital walls. They sometimes even appear on lamp posts and on cafe and bookshop windows. Here, you will find them together in this book of Charlie’s most-loved drawings, adventuring into the Wild and exploring the thoughts and feelings that unite us all.

‘A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart’ Richard Curtis”

Many of you will be familiar with it as it has been quite popular. It has beautiful inked lettering and sketches.

I finally finished my car book, This much is true by Miriam Margoyles. I was beginning to think it would never end.

I am well into Frankenstein for Adam’s book group and really enjoying it. Much different than what I was expecting. I haven’t read many books written in the 18th century and I am enjoying Mary Shelly’s writing. It is hard to believe she wrote it at age 19.

The other book I’m reading for book group is a Tasmanian book by Anette Higgs. On a bright hillside in Paradise. Paradise is a fictional small town in northeastern Tasmanian. The author wrote the story based on the tales her grandmother told her of when the Brethren came to town in the 19th century. It features a family and each chapter is a different telling from the perspective of each family member. I went to the launch of this book several months ago and picked it up. Mr P took it on his trip to Canada and enjoyed it. Now it’s my turn. The characters are well drawn and the imagery is very strong of the Tasmanian bush. I am enjoying it.

Outside of bookish news- tomorrow begins National Bird Week and the great Australian bird count. They ask people to download an app, register and spend 20 minutes in a favourite place each day and record each bird you see. I have participated in the past as a member of Birdlife Australia, a conservation organisation that lobbies for environmental changes to protect birds. They also feature stories and photography in their magazine about birds. I have always loved birds and feel a real connection to the ones who live in our yard, especially the old male wattle bird, our tamish, escapee, neighbourhood cockatoo who comes for seeds and sometimes taps on the window if we don’t pay attention to him and the magpies who sing their beautiful song. We used to get little flame robins bit not seen one now for several years and the superb blue wren population is down too but Indo see them around from time to time.

This coming week it looks to be quiet. The weather should warm ip by Tuesday and the rain and wind will rest a bit. We had shocking winds yesterday with hard rain. My last art class at Fullers is Tuesday evening. Drawing class. Has been fun but I am not a natural and fine it quite embarrassing at times. It is good to learn things to remember how it is for those who struggle in schools. I;m much better with technology which I find easy but ask me to draw, tone and shade a composition. I’m better with a camera. It is all about practise and more practise.

That wraps up the time since my last post. I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs bit just not a lot of time or energy to always comment. Hope your week goes well.

If you live outside of Australia you can hear the magpie’s call

here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYEYc8Ge3nw