As many of you know Icelandic persons celebrate Christmas in a way that I love. The government sends each resident a catalog of books before the big day. The residents pick out the books they plan to buy for their family members and off they go shopping. On Christmas Day they all receive their books as gifts and they they settle down and read for the day. That sounds like heaven to me so we will come close to doing that tomorrow.
We have celebrated Christmas with a surrogate family (friends with kids) on Saturday so most of it is over. Mr. Penguin and I celebrate it on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning is spent quietly at home, reading the papers, books, magazines and a leisurely breakfast. I might add it is to be 24 degrees C tomorrow here (75 F) so a lovely summer day. Then a friend will join us for afternoon tea later in the day.
I bought these books last year but they arrived too late to read them for the season so looking at them tomorrow. Very northern hemisphere but I love the covers and the authors.
Then it’s over. Of course the big Sydney to Hobart boat race begins on Boxing Day (26th) and we usually listen to a bit of that news or watch them leave Sydney Harbour on TV. The boats begin arriving in Hobart around the 27th (the big maxis) to New Year’s day (the smaller ones.) I admire the smaller ones taking on this race. I’m not interested in the multi-million dollars racing boats. It’s those that sail on the smaller boats across treacherous Bass Strait that seem to have the spirit of the race in them, in my humble, non boating opinion. They are all scored on handicap. I might post up a few photos later in the week.
Today I decided to take the bus into town and get a bit of Christmas Spirit. I missed the first one so just started walking. I knew the next one would be along in another 35 minutes or so. It takes one hour, ten minutes to get into the city centre from my house. Once the next bus was due I stopped at a bus shelter and sat down for a little rest. It was very hot today. 31 degrees C (88 F). An Indonesian woman, named Clara, who has lived in South Hobart for many years was at the stop. I loved the flowers in her hair and the little Christmas hat she wore. We chatted for about 10 minutes and then both of us rode the bus into town. She certainly was enjoying the Christmas season. I ran into her again on the way back to the bus home. She was carrying two heavy grocery bags and I asked her if I could help, but she waved me away and said she was taking a taxi home. So we wished each other well again and went on our merry way.
While in town I sat at Bojangles cafe which is located in the Elizabeth Mall. (For you American friends, a mall here is an area outdoors- not like you have.) I had a toasted cheese sandwich and a large, cold milkshake and people watched for about 30 minutes. It was fun watching everyone walk past with large bags and parcels, funny t shirts and all kinds of hats.
I then went on my way, finished my errands and caught the bus home. I am looking forward to peace and quiet now in the coming week. I haven’t decided if I’ll do the Boxing Day sales. I think it might be a bit mad and I really don’t need a thing. I think I just talked myself into staying home and playing with Odie and Molly.
There are some fun summer photography challenges happening with our club so I will have a closer look at the topics and see what I can get up to with my camera. I need to practise using my camera on its tripod more often. Sharper photos but so often I just don’t bother. There is always something to work on in photography.
I am looking forward to seeing what books people get from Santa and I look forward to the year ahead reading, mostly what is on my shelf. Stay tuned.
Merry Christmas to all my online friends and let’s hope 2019 is a really good year, personally, environmentally and politically. 
Enjoy the photos.
Last but not least- the photo challenge for this week from Hobart Photographic Society fun challenge. The theme this week is: LIQUID.
Whoever devised the term, “Best Laid Plans…”, well, you know what I mean.
On our trip I did read two ‘fluffy’ books. Those are books that don’t have much to them and one reads them when exhausted at night to the point it might be difficult just turning the page. This is usually when I read fictional crime. I read book 26 in the Alex Cross detective series by James Patterson. Before you all cringe, I started this series back in 1993 with Along Came a Spider. I continue, not because the stories are substantial, but I do like his characters who I’ve known now for 25 years. His kids, his 90 some year old grandmother. The setting of Washington DC. They have gotten a bit more violent over the years but I skim over that as I know they will generally be ok, except for some of his girlfriends over the years. Need that revenge story line once in awhile. 
The latest, Target: Alex Cross. It was over the top and far fetched. The plot is the four top White House people, President, Vice President, Secretary of State of Leader of the Senate are all assassinated in the same week in four different locations. It really was a free for all as everyone scrambled and I enjoyed watching how the country was going to handle it all. To tell you the truth it wasn’t that much crazier than what goes on in Washington DC now. I read it in two sittings. I saw James Patterson interviewed once. The interviewer asked him how he copes with all the criticism he gets about his writing. He was quite honest when he said, “I don’t have the ability to do strong literary works so I write books that people read for entertainment and I make a bucket load of money doing it.” I have always been one who does not judge what people read. I simply want them to read. One woman in my book group once made a derogatory comment when Bryce Courtenay died, “We don’t need writers like him anyway so I’m not going to feel sad.” I admit, I turned on her. He may not have won the Booker prize or the Pulitzer or the Nobel Literary awards but by gee, generations of people read his books and loved them and him. I met him at a book signing once and he was a lovely man that took time to talk to people and never looked down his nose at anyone. So get off your high horse and be quiet. We all need to make a living and/or do what we love.
I also read Lee Child’s latest book, Past Tense. I spent time with a young couple who became stranded in an old motel room and later kept prisoner. Rich, well dressed men began to arrive in luxury cars. We didn’t know what was going to happen to the couple until halfway through the book. Jack Reacher also just happened to be in the same area researching his genealogy. As the story continued and we figured out why the young couple were being kept hostage the suspense builds and Jack Reacher’s path intersects with theirs. There was quite a bit of page turning suspense. I’ve probably ever only read two or three Reacher books in my life but they are fast paced.
The last time I posted I also shared the competition photos I sent in to Australian Photography magazine the day before they were due. I am happy to say the magazine people contacted me and have told me the photos have been moved to the short list. At least I will get a commendation from them and at best they will be first or second prize. (I should live so long.) I am happy with this result and don’t need anything more but the two top photo portfolios will be featured in the February issue and I should know results towards the end of January. I can’t begin to say how pleased I am. I think 2019 will have me entering more competitions and if I never win anything the skills I learn are more than enough.
I will think about all of that while I sit on long plane flights and map my immediate future. I find travelling always puts things in perspective and shows me what is important and what isn’t.
Travellin' Penguin 