Posted in Fiction

Some fun times coming up…

Posted on by TravellinPenguin
SMILE !

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.

The original cover is nicer than this one.

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.

This is the version we’re reading.

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.

My trip into town.
I had to chase these two in order to get that umbrella.
I had a lively conversation with this young woman and her friend. She was really lovely and loved that I was on the street photographing what I see in the city.

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.

Goodnight everyone.
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Author:

I live a retired life in Tasmania, Australia. I love books, travel, animals, photography, motor biking and good friends. I indulge in all these activities with the little Travellin' Penguin who has now shared five continents with me. We love book shops, photography walks and time with friends as all our family is in USA and Canada. I enjoy visitors to my blog so hope you'll stop by.

18 thoughts on “Some fun times coming up…”

  1. Hope you have a wonderful month with your sister. Must be exciting after not having seen each other for such a long time. Wonderful photos as usual, and some interesting books. I don’t think I have read Kafka’s The Castle. His books are always difficult and nightmarish to read, but well worth the effort. The Ginsburg book also sounds interesting.

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  3. The Dry sounds good.

    That picture of the lady with the piercings is really nice, even though I am squeamish about piercings. The composition and light are great!

    Enjoy the month with your sister! Has she been there before?

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    1. She has been twice before. Thanks for the well wishes. My sister arrived today. 15 hrs flight from San Francisco, then 3 hrs in airport then 2 hrs to Hobart Tasmania. She is still standing. Lol

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  6. Just be careful with those recipes.

    We have a house full of recipe books but sometimes The Spouse finds one online that he wants to try, and almost every single one of them gives the wrong times for cooking anything that needs long slow cooking.

    Have a great time with your sister!

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    1. There are some great recipes online but if it’s a source I don’t know I tend to triple check the recipe – or very close ones if I can’t find the same recipe – at different sources to make sure they seem right. Cooking times do tend to be the issue! I downsized many of my recipe books – it was tough because they had stories to them – because I find I am more and more using online ones. Tonight I am
      cooking an online one I’ve saved into my recipe app because it was good.

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      1. It’s most often a case of cuts for casseroles and stews being used in recipes that can be cooked quickly for ‘time-poor’ cooks. We went to a French festival event once where there was a demonstration of Boeuf Bourguignon being cooked for only an hour. When they served it up to us it was like old boot-leather.

        Truth be told, if you’re a time-poor cook on a budget, the best thing to do is to buy the inexpensive cuts and do the recipe in a slow cooker. I used to put the dinner on in the crockpot before I went to work in the morning and it would be nicely ready when I came home from work:)

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        1. Yes, experienced cooks know that long and slow is the way to go with stewing/casseroling cuts. You see a recipe that’s not – or that’s a leaner cut of meat – and you know you’re in trouble!

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