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?
Travellin' Penguin 