Travellin' Penguin

‘Books fall open, you fall in’ D. McCord. Photo- T Penguin

I had a big reading week again this week. I finished the Colony by Irish writer Audrey McGee. I loved it. I can’t recommend it enough. Probably my best read this year.

I am almost finished with If On A Winter’s Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino. Only about 20% to go. I have really enjoyed working my way slowly through it.

Yesterday we had a rainy day so as I started a jigsaw puzzle of dogs I listened to Miriam Margoyles auto biography. Love her or not, she has had a very interesting life. Yesterday she talked about her days at Cambridge and breaking into stage and comedy as a female at the time the Monty Python men were becoming into our world. She was treated so badly by them, ostracised almost completely and I won’t repeat what she had to say about John Cleese. Women in comedy still have difficult times. I have no idea why men feel women can’t be as funny as them. Fragile egos I guess.

Although I read a lot, my week’s priority was walking to improve my health. Since the heart episode my stamina has been quite low. So I am walking. As much as I can. Monday had me in weight training, Tuesday was a long walk along the Hobart Rivulet track into the city. Wednesday was a rest day as I’d been out Tuesday evening with my first art lesson. That was a laugh. They served wine which made the group all relax as beginners and draw everything.

Thursday I had my personal trainer on the pilates reformer stretching my spine then we went for a coffee and chat.

My walk up and down the hilly streets of Hobart (my photos)

Friday I was back on the treadmill at the gym for the 25 minute hill climb program then walked five kilometres around Hobart up into North Hobart.

My walking goal is to connect my walks to thrift shops to look for slim classic books. I want to read some of the smaller classics I haven’t read or read a long time ago. I don’t want to buy the newer expensive copies so I pick up the 50 cent ones or the $1.00 ones. I want ragged copies so I can write in them without feeling bad. I wanted books that are less than 150-200 pgs.

4 of my thrift shop finds- incentive to walk. I’ll try to read one this week.

This coming week will see me finish the Calvino book and listen to more of Miriam’s book. I have the art class, three sessions at gym, a Fullers event Thursday evening then Friday our photography group is going south to the Tasman Peninsula to the old coal mine ruins to tale photos. Stay tuned for that. Hope the weather doesn’t blow us away.

Saltwater River is a small community on the western shore of Norfolk Bay on the Tasman Peninsula. The Saltwater River area contained two penal settlements. One was an agricultural settlement, which produced vegetables, wheat, and had a piggery. The other was a coal mine, known amongst convicts for its hellish conditions. It is now on the Australian National Heritage List as the Coal Mines Historic Site. Today, only ruins exist at the site, which includes underground cells.

Where Is it? Saltwater River is 23 kilometres from Port Arthur, and 106 kilometres from Hobart.

I must say I’m starting to feel normal again, whatever that is. Walking really is a miracle cure for almost anything.

I might add, Ollie gets out of his pen and gets to do more as it’s been almost four weeks since his surgery.

I hope you all have a good week. If you drop by here tell me what your plans are for the week.