Posted in Fiction

“A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.” – Charles Baudelaire

Posted on by TravellinPenguin

We have had a sunny week in Hobart. I’ve been out a few times and I have noticed the days are getting longer. There are also some daffodils popping up around the place. I never mind the chilliness of our winters as we only have snow on the higher peaks around us but I don’t like the early dark.

I like a few comfort books thrown into the mix. Between reading photography magazines, journaling, creating a commonplace book and going to my exercise classes the days pass quickly.

I also took some things to auction that have been tucked away in drawers and cupboards. I had a set of four 30 year old Le Cruset pans that don’t work on our induction stove top as they are not magnetic. I understand the new ones are but I don’t need them. They sold at auction for over $500 which floored me. I also had some old jewelry that went at auction as well.

The book I tucked myself away with for a couple of evenings was Bookish by Lucy Mangan.

Good Reads explains it as:

From exploring the stacks as a student, to finding her feet as a bookseller-turned-journalist, falling for a fellow bookworm in an independent bookshop, escaping the doldrums of new motherhood and finally building a (book) room of her own, Bookish is the story of a life spent falling in love with reading. Bookworm author Lucy Mangan chronicles her years of buying, borrowing and hoarding everything from well-worn literary classics to steamy bonkbusters, gripping thrillers, young adult novels and other not-so-guilty pleasures.

Brimming with literary insights, wry observations and stellar recommendations, this book is an ode to the bookish places – from local libraries to bookstores big and small – and the stories that make us who we are.

I really liked her reference to book snobs. We all know one. The one that goes tut, tut when she (usually), hears about you reading a book by James Patterson or Jacqui Collins. We all need variety in our life so they just need to back off. I have enjoyed this book and it has been lovely to share with a hot chocolate and polar fleece robe on an early dark, winter’s night.

I also finished reading a book last week called Bliss(ters) by Gail Francis. The book chronicled her hike on the Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Canada. It was an interesting book but not he most exciting travel book I’ve read. I did enjoy hearing her talk about all the friends and other people she met along the trail. Some were quite funny and certainly had varied habits.

A Little Surprise

I am sharing a photo that was posted up on the Fullers Book shop Facebook page this week. This is a sketch of the shop from 1928! It was given to them this past week by a member of the community. The shop has been open now for 105 consecutive years. Just amazing.

1928

So- what else is new?

Pickles is continuing to settle into our household though she remains in her room. We have opened the door though. She is under supervision as the dogs have met her. Peanny is sweet about it and even gave Pickles a quick kiss on the nose without getting slapped. Ollie, being a Jack Russell will take a bit more watching. He is curious but very boisterous and I imagine he will be the first household member to get the claws, besides me.

I finally got a quick photo of her. Once Ollie worked out he couldn’t chase her, he left the room with one of her toys.

To wrap up: I have not forgotten my photography and I will be back soon with some photos of Bruny Island. The Japan photography workshop is coming up end of October but more on that later.

Closer to home I walked past the Hobart Geographica shop the other day. They have many beautiful travel books and maps and these two books were in the window. I would really like to read them as I love travel writing so much.

These look very inviting. Well, I guess that brings this to the end of another week. I hope all of you have a good week and see you next week!

Bye for now …🌻❤️🌻

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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 ““A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.” – Charles Baudelaire”

  1. Well, no one else is going to own up, so I’ll have to be the only book snob. I did try some Patterson but he’s just a production line of right wing attitudes and gun violence. On the other hand I do enjoy a good Stephanie Plum.

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  2. Oooo what color were your Le Cruset??? I only have one big dutch oven in boring white. lol That’s great that you got $500+ for them.

    I would love to hike the PCT but there’s no one I would want to hike with and I’m too scared-y to hike alone, even if I was physically fit enough to do it. Have to be content with reading other’s adventures. 

    Pickles is such a beautiful cat!!!

    I agree those travel writing books do look inviting! —

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    1. I would love to walk the Camino but never will. Too old and Spain is so hot!! The LeCruset pans were red. But pretty well used so not shiny but they do last forever. They come in some beautiful colours now but now I just have boring stainless steel but they do the job!
      Pickles is a very affectionate cat so we are confident of integrating her with the rest of our fools ( as we call them!)😃

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  5. Just to let you know that I very much enjoy your Notes From The Other End of the World. It’s a hot and sunny summer here in Toronto.

    Pickles is a handsome cat. About 10 years ago I had a mostly Jack Russel named Lizzie and we lived in a small corner apartment here in Toronto. This was about 2 years after my previous husband had died of cancer. My daughter in law, a nurse practitioner, felt that I was in need of something more to care for, and asked me to adopt Ollie, an older cat whose owner, one of her patients, had died. Ollie ,who was about 10 years old, lived in a “hovel”- his late owner was very poor and somewhat confused. When he came to us, he was very reticent at first, hiding under beds etc,but he eventually emerged, sized up the situation, and took over – he put Lizzie in her place with a few well timed swats, established his place on the other side of me in bed at night, claimed his favourite sleeping spots, and loved to roam around my very long wrap-around 16th floor balcony, watching the hawks who did flybys (we lived over a well-treed ravine) ……Ollie and Lizzie eventually got to the point where both of them sat together on my lap as I read my books….. So you are right to be so patient; Pickles will join the family when he is ready.

    And thanks for the suggestions–Bookish sounds like my kind of book….. Regards Josée Posen Toronto

    647 924 4683 cell

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  6. Thoroughly enjoyable post Pam. Love the Le Creuset auction story. You just never know. I discovered a few years ago – actually 10 years ago – that the original blue motif Corning-ware is in high demand.

    Japan photography workshop. Are you going there, or? We are going to Japan — our 5th trip – in late August for three weeks. Sort of last minute decision but have been thinking of it for over a year.

    Love the animal stories of course. Progress is slowly being made?

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    1. Yes, progress is steady. It will get exciting now she is starting to meet the rest of our guys. I’m doing a photography workshop for about 8 days with Luke O’Brien, professional photographer and his Japanese wife. We will be going to northern Japan. The others who are participating are from the mainland. There will be six of us receiving instruction and friendship.

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      1. Ah … are you hanging around for longer? Do you mean northern Honshu or are you going to Hokkaido. We are starting in Shikoku and travelling roughly anti clockwise on that island and then heading across to Honshu and sort of clockwise up to Niigata and then back across and south to Tokyo which we’ll fly out from. We are going for three weeks.

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        1. I’m going up 2 days before tour starts and staying 2 days after. We are going to so many places I have no idea where they are but up towards the north. Doing sun rises, sunsets, temples, sea scapes, gorges, rivers. It will be full on. I’ll have a couple days afterwards in Tokyo then home. I’m going alone so not wanting to travel very much on my own. The tour will be pretty tiring. I think I’m the oldest person going. Lol

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