Travellin' Penguin

LIFE

I have been enjoying this warmer weather here in Tasmania and getting out to do a few things this week. Aside from the gym which was a bit lacking this week due to some medical issues. I had a growth removed from inside my bottom lip and I didn’t feel like doing much with a mouthful of stitches. I felt like a porcupine. But it is all healed and good now. Nothing to worry about.

BOOKISH EVENT

I did get to a Fullers book event. 

We enjoyed the big-brained, open-hearted conversation on Tuesday night, celebrating lawyer and writer Sam Elkin’s book ‘Detachable Penis’, a personal account of his transition, and becoming the inaugural lawyer of Victoria’s queer law service. Sam, Meg Tait of the Tasmanian Council of Social Services, and legendary LGBTQI+ rights advocate Rodney Croome AM discussed LGBTQIA+ advocacy, self-care, and both the importance and potential burden of ‘lived experience’ in trying to change minds and policy, and get funding for the LGBTQIA+ community. (from Fullers fb page).

It was so interesting and lovely to see these young people doing so much good for the trans community. 

This event was the last one I will be attending for the year. The events will resume in the new year.

READING NOW

As every other book I read/share in 2025 is going to be by an Australian writer from my shelf, I began Helen Garner’s The Children;s Bach. I really like Helen Garner’s writing though most of what I have read of hers is more current. Her award winning books are earlier and I’ve yet to read a couple of those. She is coming out with a new one end of this month. I read an article about it. It is based on her grandson’s footy life. Not sure if I’ll be interested in that enough to read but will wait for the reviews. I have plenty of Australian authors on my shelves to read yet.

Good Reads says:

“It follows Dexter and Athena Fox, a husband and wife who live with their two sons in the inner suburbs of early-1980s Melbourne. Dexter is gregarious, opinionated, and old fashioned. Athena is a dutiful wife and mother, stoic yet underestimated. Though their son’s disability strains the family at times, they appear to lead otherwise happy lives.

But when a friend from Dexter’s past resurfaces, she and her cast of beguiling companions reveal another world to Dexter and Athena: a bohemian underground, unbound by routine and driven by desire, where choice seems to exist independent of consequence. And as Athena delves deeper into this other kind of life, the tenuous bonds that hold the Fox family together begin to fray.”

I am enjoying 1980s Melbourne. I haven’t read anything based in Melbourne lately so think I will enjoy following the daily life of these characters.

EXHIBITION

Two friends of mine and I went to an exhibition called Cactusmania. It was a beautiful display of cactus/succulents that were put forward for judging. There were so many unusual types of plants. I have a small succulent garden (no spikes) and most of them are producing interesting blooms at the moment. I’ll put a couple of the more interesting plants we saw.

We then visited a book shop and market north of Hobart and had a great lunch with tomato and cheese (very gooey cheese) toasted sandwiches and milkshakes. A very relaxing and enjoyable day out. 

TRAVEL

I am going to Sydney later in the week to visit two of my dearest friends. One is flying in for a week and the other lives there. I may not get a post out next weekend but I will be posting phone photos on Instagram if you wish to see any. It is such a beautiful city. I will have a bit of quiet time so might get some street photography up on Instagram too.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend and will do something enjoyable in the coming week. Whether very small or a big event, just enjoy it.

Question of the week…Have you discovered anything new this week?

BOOKS

I am really looking forward to reading this book. It has been on my shelf for ages so time to get stuck in to it.

The blurb…

“Here is a true adventure story about two young men from Sydney who, in 1929, decided to take a holiday with a difference and ride right round Australia on a motorcycle. 

This was a feat that had never been done before, which was not surprising as travelling conditions in the outback in those days were often hard and hazardous. It was not an expedition to be undertaken lightly.

With the boundless optimism of youth they bought a 7/9hp FD magneto model Harley-Davidson motorcycle – the grandfather of today’s big twins – fitted a stout wooden box on the sidecar chassis to house their gear and the relief rider, and set out to conquer the continent with just sixty pounds in the kitty and neither a watch nor compass between them.

As the Depression was already looming, they were unable to interest any sponsors in their venture and the only support they received was a jumper apiece from the Harley-Davidson agents.

Seven weeks and over 15,000 km later they returned travel-strained and triumphant. Not only had they achieved their goal and been the first to circumnavigate the continent by motorcycle but they had done so in record time for any motorised vehicle. On the way the two young pioneers had endured just about every imaginable hardship and danger and survived through sheer guts and resourcefulness. “

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Since the election in America I am devoting more time to being an Australian. That will involve a 2025 challenge ( I am starting now) of every other book I read will be by an Australian writer. It might be serious or it might just be a palate cleanser after something serious. I won’t read anywhere near as many Australian books as Whispering Gums https://whisperinggums.com or ANZ Lit Lovers https://anzlitlovers.com do but I am on track!!

I’d like to read more books from writers of other countries too.

I will, of course read American writers as I doubt many of the more serious writers voted for Trump, but who knows. Seems every other person and their dog did. Actually I think dogs are smarter.

I have downloaded Stanley Tucci’s book What I ate in one year as it sounds good. Libby has the audio. I think this will be a good audio book. Narrated by the author himself.

The blurb…

“Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life- from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.

Now, in What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating, in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.

Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable, to the comfortingly domestic, to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialized in this diary are a prism through which he reflects on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks – and mourns – the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and prepares himself for what is to come.

Whether it’s duck l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbecued at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and richness to his days.”

It is close to travel writing so I think I’ll enjoy it. I’d be surprised if he’s a Trump supporter.

LIFE

Lots of odds and ends this week. I needed to slow down a bit but it didn’t happen. Monday I spent the day with my dear friend from NSW. I mentioned I was going to and we had a fun day out.

Tuesday was the Fullers event I mentioned before. I have one more book launch coming up before December. More on that later.

Wednesday was our book group , already mentioned. Thursday I had to take Ollie to the vet to check on progress of his ear infection. Lookin’ good! Medication continues. I always train the dogs we have as puppies to have something inserted into their ear area. It works a treat as I seem to have dogs over the years with floppy ears and they get infections. So no problem inserting a syringeful of medicines now he’s five.

Friday was my birthday. The big 75. I’m going into the last quarter is what I told my sports minded brother. He thought that was quite funny. Had a lovely dinner with friends.

Saturday I went to another friend’s hens party. Yes at my age!! She is getting married in January. Second for both. It was in a restaurant I’d not been to down at the waterfront. Lots of high pitched voices echoing around the room. Along with a guitarist no one could hear. The sparkling was nice for my one glass.

I spent another weekend day walking around Battery Point, which is the oldest part of Hobart. Many of the houses built in early 20th century or the 1800s. I am starting a photographic project and needed photos for it. More on that later too while it progresses.

Had a lovely goat’s cheese and caramelised onion tart and a cold drink to reward myself for spending hours taking pictures. Then bussed it home.

That sums up activity in this household so will leave you with a wonderful cartoon that was in our local Tasmanian newspaper this past week.

It might be truer than we think.

Have a good week everyone. If you had to migrate to another country where would it be? I think I’d choose the UK so I could photograph all the Wainwrights. You’ll need to google that if you don’t know them.

The past couple of weeks have been zooming by. Book launches, photography club, friends, reading group. Exercising. All of it enjoyable.

Control your moods-

This week had a few walks in between 5 and 8 kms each. Had a pedicure as it is probably the most relaxing task. Love the massage of legs and feet after soaking feet in very warm water, only to have them swabbed with lotion. Hair appt too is always good for the mood. Coming out of winter an appointment or two with a psychologist also change a mindset and can be rewarding.

Book Launches

The raptor refuge in Tasmania has launched a book about Tasmanian raptors (Birds of prey) Wonderfully photographed with relevant information about the birds. It was well attended and appreciated.

Jenny Hocking came to Tasmania to launch her Australian history book, The Palace Letters.

Jenny Hocking is an award-winning biographer, Emeritus Professor and political commentator. She is the author of the acclaimed two-volume biography of Gough Whitlam, Gough Whitlam: A Moment in History (Melbourne Universiry Publishing 2008) and Gough Whitlam: His Time (Melbourne Universiry Publishing 2012), winner of the Fellowship of Australian Writers’ Barbara Ramsden Award and shortlisted for several awards including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the National Biography Award.

It was a riveting discussion as it related to Australia’s governor general and his covert links with Prince Charles in the sacking of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in the 1970s. The corruption, the lack of any transparency, the secret letters that have only recently been discovered and released from the national archives after winning a high court battle. The conspiracy between the royal family especially a younger Prince Charles and John Kerr, the governor general at the time.

I know a lot of Australian history of colonial times. I also am familiar with political history from the time of our arrival in Australia in 1988 to the current day. However I am quite weak with historical knowledge from the time of federation in 1901 through the 1970s.

I also attended a book launch of Profiles in Hope by John Brogden. John Brogden was a former liberal politician from New South Wales. The two other speakers were Jacqui Lambie who is a current Tasmanian Senator and Nick Sherry is a former Tasmanian Senator. What do they have in common? They all made serious attempts to end their lives. It was a very interesting discussion about events that led to their attempts and how they recovered. Older men make up the majority of people who kill themselves at this time. All very sad. But help is available and this evening we heard about these three success stories.

Reading Group

There were 8 of us who had a really fun discussion of Paul Auster’s book New York Trilogy. Several of us want to read more of him. One man said he’d had enough. Lots of laughs.

We are now on summer break until February next year. Time to dive into that large TBR pile.

Looking forward to this new book.

I recently acquired this beautiful travel book called Border Crossings: a Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway by Emma Fick. It is a beautiful format of her travels with coloured illustrations throughout. Emma Fick is an artist and illustrator. After completing her degrees in English Lit and Art History in 2013, she obtained a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in Serbia. I’ve included a few

photos.

Social life

The highlight was when a dear friend of mine from New South wales was in town this past week and we spent a couple of days together. We went to the southwest of the state to Mt Field National Park, having stopped in a favourite cafe for lunch on the way there. So good to catch up. We had beautiful weather.

Looking forward to …..

Spending a week in Sydney in December to see two wonderful friends. I really love Sydney and will meet a family member of one who is helping me with transport to spend time with one friend. The other is our 15th year of a girl’s week out. Shopping, a play at the Opera house and a cocktail each night. Did I mention visiting a favourite stationery shop and a couple of book stores.

Planning

Looking forward to refreshing my blog posts in the next year. Looking at content and/or format. Reading more Australian writers in 2025 and books from writers of other countries. I will not be interacting with any political news from America. When someone asks me if I’m American, as they often do because of my accent, I am going to tell them I used to be. Fully embracing my Australian citizenship from now on. 🇦🇺

There is some exciting news to look forward to in 2025 but I will talk about that more once it is confirmed.

30 Minute Friends (a random person one chats with for a short period of time in a shop, bus stop, restaurant, etc. A pleasant chat before moving on with your day)

Renay is a lovely woman who runs a cafe in a country town in Tasmania. I have chatted to her when my sister was here and we visited her cafe. We were sitting outside by the river, trying to spot a platypus (wrong time of day) .Our photo workshop had us going there for lunch one day and Renay chatted to us. This last week I took my friend and the three of us had a few laughs.

Question to ponder

Did any of you have a 30 min friend this week? Or

What was your favourite reading/bookish moment of the week ?

Have a good week. Do something fun.