“Books are the mirrors of the soul.”― Virginia Woolf

LIFE ☕️☕️

Good news- the days are a couple of minutes longer and the rain has turned to clouds. On Wednesday of this week we are expecting 15 degrees C (60 degrees F). It will hopefully be a mood lifter.

Mr. P is getting the ingredients for a big pot of chilli for tomorrow on the way back from his gym.

The dogs had an enjoyable bit of time in the yard. Ollie has an obsession with the neighbour’s cat who only goes out back with his owner. So Ollie exhausted himself,  stuck to the crack in the fence watching them both this morning while they spent time in their yard.  Peanny came in after her tasks were completed and stayed in the warm house. Sensible girl.

The past week had me attending a Fullers event that was really interesting. Tasmanian author, Lou Rae has launched an enormous book on the history of mining and the logging industry on Tasmania’s west coast. The book entitled The Lost Province: On Tasmania’s West Coast will be a very collectable historical non fiction book in the future. He not only details the history of mining and logging back to early 1800s, but he has collected a lot of stories from the families of residents, letters, library archives. He explained how many Tasmanian born residents have connections to the west coast, no matter where they live now in this state. 

The event was very well attended and I think it was the first Fullers event where more men attended than women. I enjoyed his talk very much. I would like to own this book but at the cost of $100.00 I think I’ll get it from the library. If I were younger I’d buy it as it will no doubt be worth much more in the future. 

BOOKS 🛀

Our next book for book club is an old classic published by Penguin now; Lolly Willows by Sylvia Townsend Warner. Published in 1926, Wikipedia says “it has been described as an early feminist classic. It is the story of a middle-aged spinster who moves to a country village to escape her controlling relatives and takes up the practice of witchcraft.  The novel opens at the turn of the twentieth century, with Laura Willowes moving from Somerset to London to live with her brother Henry and his family. The move comes in the wake of the death of Laura’s father, Everard, with whom she lived at the family home, Lady Place. Laura’s other brother, James, moves into Lady Place with his wife and his young son, Titus, with the intention to continue the family’s brewing business. However, James dies suddenly of a heart attack and Lady Place is rented out, with the view that Titus, once grown up, will return to the home and run the business. “

I didn’t read any further as I didn’t want to encounter any spoilers. I bought the little clothbound Penguin classic to read. However, last week, on a very cold and rainy day, I decided to clean the dust out of the bathtub, fill it with very hot water and take my lovely little book, relax and read in the tub. I find I can really concentrate in the bathroom with the door closed and everyone/pets out. No interruptions!
However, I accidentally dropped the book in the tub, thus ending my sojourn into oblivion.

Life’s annoyances just seem never ending though this was minor.  I ended the whole adventure, got dressed and stood the book upright, pages spread on the dining room table, near the heater to dry. Once dry though, the book doesn’t close. It has stayed wide open and though the pages are still readable I am just over it.

I tried to read it but with pages sticking out everywhere and the print being extremely small (come on Penguin, just because it is a classic increase the font size). 

I went to Amazon to get a kindle version of it. I do like the large text on my kindle. Good news, they were selling it for 80 cents! Bargain. The book stores sell it for $22.00. However I am a firm believer in supporting independent book stores so I paid the $22.00. The book has now cost me $20.80. You have to laugh.

LOOKING FORWARD 🤾‍♀️🤾‍♀️🤾‍♀️

The coming week looks fairly quiet. I am looking forward to getting through my two pilates classes and my session with my personal trainer. My balance has improved slightly and I am now standing on the reformer. One foot on a solid plate and one on the moving carriage. My trainer usually gives me a balance pole to hang on to but I didn’t need it as much last week. I will persevere. I have lost a lot of depth perception having vision in only one eye so my brain needs retraining. 

I am also attending another Fullers event on Thursday with a friend. It is the launch of a book entitled Doing Life Differently in Thailand by author Mel Pike. 

The Fullers blurb states: 

Doing Life Differently in Thailand is a celebration of courage, curiosity, possibility and the power of travel. 

“Realising in her early fifties that she needed to do life differently for a while, Mel Pike seizes the opportunity of a few months with no responsibilities in her happy place, Thailand.

Among the sun-soaked streets of Phuket’s Kata Beach, she discovers the joys of solo travel and embracing new experiences. From the aromatic flavours of Thai food to the restorative power of the ocean to learning more of the language and the fun of immersing herself in the vibrant culture, Mel takes you with her every step of the way.

The resilience and kindness of the Thai people she befriends have a profound impact on her. As her days unfold, Mel candidly reflects on love, loss and the passage of time, and sees how essential it was for her to simplify her life. This book sets out to inspire readers to step outside their comfort zones, live life to the full, accept the warmth of genuine human connections and create lifelong memories.”

Mr P and I have an upcoming trip later this year to Asia. We are going to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Then hopping on a small cruise boat in Siem Reap, 16 compartments, for a trip down the Mekong to Ho Chi Minh city. We then fly to Thailand to a large resort that has swimming pools, the beach and cocktails with umbrellas. We just want time away from the world. I am looking forward to photographing people especially as well as scenery. So stay tuned for that. 

MORE PET NEWS 🐶🐱

Ollie and Peannie go into a wonderful kennel that they do well in. It is like camp for them, with three little rooms, a bedroom, an eating area and a large outdoor area that is private just for them. Once a day they go into a larger yard and play with just little dogs. The big dogs play area is at another time. It has under flood heating.

The cats go into a cattery that is separate from the kennel. I find good catteries are easier to find than good dog kennels. I do a lot of research and visit them. We just pretend price wise we have a child going on the trip with us and we need that air fare to get them there.  It is worth the money to know they are completely safe and well cared for. After all, they do need to remember they are animals once in awhile. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 📸

Well that wraps up this Sunday’s post. I didn’t do any photography this week so I might find a nature photo of Tassie to leave you with.

All the best for the coming week. ❤️