My new computer is all up and running thanks to the lovely young man who sets it up especially for my vision impairment. Two hours work amounted to $60, not sure if this is mates rates or not but I am very impressed. Everything I want urgently is at my fingertips, even though I did have a little trouble accessing this blog, could not remember my password.
Just One Look may have been on the New York Times bestseller list but it is not an easy book to follow as a talking book. If I miss even the smallest amount I have to rewind as I am completely lost as the plot has moved forward so quickly. Mystery novels are not my forte but this one does have the makings of a story with several twists in the plot.
Poetry is something I have never really enjoyed until the last few years. I downloaded a volume of general poetry, one of Yeats and another of Rilke to my kindle, it is time to read them as autumn brings cool days and nights made for reading. This 'year of reading', prompted by Susan Hill's Howards End is on the Landing is proving very interesting. I have a long list of books I wish to purchase for my kindle, to try and borrow or arrange for the Foundation to provide in talking book format. Renewal of my joy in reading has brought new adventures, new thoughts, new dreams. Authors are presenting themselves to me in wondrous ways and I crave each new page, new kindle book opened, new pages and that smell of printers ink. Disappointments are few, I have two books half read on my kindle, one about reading, I just need more hours and less to do in my real world.
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Monday 28 April 2014
Bankers
I have spent all morning getting documentation to prove who I am so I can withdraw a relatively small amount of my own money from an investment. I find the procedures invasive and too detailed given I have made several phone calls and they sent me the papers without question. I understand it is to avoid illegalities, but this has gone a step too far.
I have had this book on my VRS for a couple of years and decided it was time to read it. New genres are fascinating me, recommendations for this book abound so it will be interesting to see if I find the book as gripping as the reviews propose. I have only just begun, if it keeps me awake I will know it is due the accolades.
I have read several issues of North and South magazine as well as the New Zealand version of Readers Digest this week on my VRS. I am unsure who in the RNZFB chooses which stories to tape but sometimes one is led to wonder if personal preferences substitute for more interesting stories. I have no 'ordinary' book underway at present, but am devouring New Zealand Home and Garden, The Healthy Food Guide and Coeliac Link. Diversions and 'put down' reading such as this are good when one is tired.
Yesterday I went with a friend to see the movie The Invisible Woman. The story of Charles Dicken's mistress, a young woman of 18 who somehow was inveigled into developing a relationship with him the story was very sad. She bore him a stillborn child, but in later years married a younger man and had two children by him. An unknown relationship, not taught when studying Dickens, one wonders if anyone is normal today as far as relationships go. I am now disappointed by the man, more so by the woman's family, but it has introduced me to movies I had no idea existed. The Lido may well become my favourite haunt for art movies. As an aside, Jay slept right through, cannot have been to his taste!
I have had this book on my VRS for a couple of years and decided it was time to read it. New genres are fascinating me, recommendations for this book abound so it will be interesting to see if I find the book as gripping as the reviews propose. I have only just begun, if it keeps me awake I will know it is due the accolades.
I have read several issues of North and South magazine as well as the New Zealand version of Readers Digest this week on my VRS. I am unsure who in the RNZFB chooses which stories to tape but sometimes one is led to wonder if personal preferences substitute for more interesting stories. I have no 'ordinary' book underway at present, but am devouring New Zealand Home and Garden, The Healthy Food Guide and Coeliac Link. Diversions and 'put down' reading such as this are good when one is tired.
Yesterday I went with a friend to see the movie The Invisible Woman. The story of Charles Dicken's mistress, a young woman of 18 who somehow was inveigled into developing a relationship with him the story was very sad. She bore him a stillborn child, but in later years married a younger man and had two children by him. An unknown relationship, not taught when studying Dickens, one wonders if anyone is normal today as far as relationships go. I am now disappointed by the man, more so by the woman's family, but it has introduced me to movies I had no idea existed. The Lido may well become my favourite haunt for art movies. As an aside, Jay slept right through, cannot have been to his taste!
Thursday 24 April 2014
ANZAC Day
Today is ANZAC day; we commemorate all those who have lost their lives fighting in wars. While the focus appears to be on WW1 with its upcoming 100th anniversary even I am impressed that Prince William and Catherine unexpectedly attended the dawn service in Canberra. I hope it was a very moving experience for them.
Early this morning I finished Bill Bryson's Down Under which was incredibly humorous, focused on the many places that the average tourist would bypass and his quirky writing enhances the overall view of what is truly a large and desert filled country. Even he, after all his travels, seemed stunned to discover that it was 1600 miles in Western Australia to the next real tourist attraction, probably 3 days drive. A highly recommended read for those who don't take themselves too seriously.
Yesterday, having turned up for a meeting 2 weeks early and having to wait 2 hours for the next scheduled meeting I began reading Tracks on my kindle. It was a little hard to concentrate with people coming and going wondering what I was doing there, but I think this is going to be a stunning memoir. Robyn has admitted she knows little or nothing about camels but is learning everything she can from a rather 'grumpy old man'. I seem to be reading a lot of Australian fiction and non-fiction at present, probably due to my recent Brisbane visit; this memoir might be what I need to project me into another travel adventure of my own.
Work is improving, I now have another full day and other possible work in the pipeline. This will help with my daily living expenses and I may even be able to have a few more treats, not of the food kind! I might even save for a New Zealand holiday where I can take Jay rather than tripping off on an overseas jet.
Today we remember those who fought and died to give us these freedoms and choices.
Early this morning I finished Bill Bryson's Down Under which was incredibly humorous, focused on the many places that the average tourist would bypass and his quirky writing enhances the overall view of what is truly a large and desert filled country. Even he, after all his travels, seemed stunned to discover that it was 1600 miles in Western Australia to the next real tourist attraction, probably 3 days drive. A highly recommended read for those who don't take themselves too seriously.
Yesterday, having turned up for a meeting 2 weeks early and having to wait 2 hours for the next scheduled meeting I began reading Tracks on my kindle. It was a little hard to concentrate with people coming and going wondering what I was doing there, but I think this is going to be a stunning memoir. Robyn has admitted she knows little or nothing about camels but is learning everything she can from a rather 'grumpy old man'. I seem to be reading a lot of Australian fiction and non-fiction at present, probably due to my recent Brisbane visit; this memoir might be what I need to project me into another travel adventure of my own.
Work is improving, I now have another full day and other possible work in the pipeline. This will help with my daily living expenses and I may even be able to have a few more treats, not of the food kind! I might even save for a New Zealand holiday where I can take Jay rather than tripping off on an overseas jet.
Today we remember those who fought and died to give us these freedoms and choices.
Monday 21 April 2014
Peace
My life has been changed again by a phone call at lunch time today. I have been employed as the archivist for the Waikato Society of Arts. This is a fixed term position until the funding runs out, but this will help my precarious finances immensely.
I loved this book, it grew on me the further I read. Although quite light, a memoir of sorts, I was fascinated at how she could make a living from the art journaling I am just starting. I think I need to do some each day and look at using this art format to write letters and cards. Janice's story has a happy ending and shows that taking chances can bring both a new life and renewed spirit.
I am still trying to read A Book of Silence but am finding the print so small that I am really struggling to finish it. This is a real pity as Sara's words of wisdom speak to my heart and enhance the journey i am on to make my life as fulfilled as possible. Unfortunately it is not available as a Kindle book so I may never find out how silence, or my version of it, could impact my life.
Bill Bryson is continuing his journey around Australia with good humour and enjoyment. Australians have some difficulty laughing at themselves as we also do so I wonder how his book is received over there. I am now searching for what to read next on my Kindle, VRS and in print if possible. I love reading!
I loved this book, it grew on me the further I read. Although quite light, a memoir of sorts, I was fascinated at how she could make a living from the art journaling I am just starting. I think I need to do some each day and look at using this art format to write letters and cards. Janice's story has a happy ending and shows that taking chances can bring both a new life and renewed spirit.
I am still trying to read A Book of Silence but am finding the print so small that I am really struggling to finish it. This is a real pity as Sara's words of wisdom speak to my heart and enhance the journey i am on to make my life as fulfilled as possible. Unfortunately it is not available as a Kindle book so I may never find out how silence, or my version of it, could impact my life.
Bill Bryson is continuing his journey around Australia with good humour and enjoyment. Australians have some difficulty laughing at themselves as we also do so I wonder how his book is received over there. I am now searching for what to read next on my Kindle, VRS and in print if possible. I love reading!
Saturday 19 April 2014
RNZFB Library
I have been trying all weekend to access the RNZFB online library to no avail. It will not open. As holiday times are when many of us read our talking books and also decide to read the next in a series or something else by the same author I think it is quite sad that access is difficult. I have a lot of work to do over the school holidays and would prefer to choose and order new books while in 'holiday' mode.
Bill Bryson continues to fascinate with his humorous and insightful look at Australian life. Somehow they are different from New Zealanders; less shy, less reserved in many situations, yet often more outspoken and very insular. Their response to the successes of many other countries is quite shameful, as is their response to anyone with a different background or skin colour. Although we have levels of racism here in New Zealand, it is minor compared to that easily exposed in casual conversation in Australia. Bill Bryson has only made minor mention of this, reactions to his comments seem to have made him respond with silence.
I am still struggling through A Book of Silence, it is not an easy read later in the evening and the print is quite small. A sojourn on a Scottish island sounds heavenly to me, but I am not sure Sara's silence is far removed from mine when enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon with a book and soft music. There is little nature here to offer its version of silence. I am just grateful I don't live in a big city with its motorways, overwhelming bus systems and noisy people and traffic.
Jay is still unsettled; a day's work at the Base should have brought him back to reality but somehow all the gains I made over the last few months have been negated in a week. I think it is really his fondness for both me and his puppy walker makes it difficult for him to know where his true allegiance lies.
Bill Bryson continues to fascinate with his humorous and insightful look at Australian life. Somehow they are different from New Zealanders; less shy, less reserved in many situations, yet often more outspoken and very insular. Their response to the successes of many other countries is quite shameful, as is their response to anyone with a different background or skin colour. Although we have levels of racism here in New Zealand, it is minor compared to that easily exposed in casual conversation in Australia. Bill Bryson has only made minor mention of this, reactions to his comments seem to have made him respond with silence.
I am still struggling through A Book of Silence, it is not an easy read later in the evening and the print is quite small. A sojourn on a Scottish island sounds heavenly to me, but I am not sure Sara's silence is far removed from mine when enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon with a book and soft music. There is little nature here to offer its version of silence. I am just grateful I don't live in a big city with its motorways, overwhelming bus systems and noisy people and traffic.
Jay is still unsettled; a day's work at the Base should have brought him back to reality but somehow all the gains I made over the last few months have been negated in a week. I think it is really his fondness for both me and his puppy walker makes it difficult for him to know where his true allegiance lies.
Thursday 17 April 2014
Molemap
Yesterday I had my first molemap. Living in New Zealand means we are all very prone to skin cancer and I have the highest possible risk, particularly since I have recently had a melanoma removed. It was an interesting experience and some of the poses required for the photographs to be taken made me feel like a Greek athlete ready to hurl the discus.
I have just finished reading this book on my VRS. The third in her series, I think Tessa Hainsworth became a little lost for incidents and memories to write about in this book. There is a lot of repetition from her previous two books and it became even lighter and lacking in any substance. As a light read it is suitable and could be read in isolation from the two previous books but it offers little new. One wonders how many life changing incidents can be extracted from living in Cornwall and doing the mail run. I hope she waits a while before attempting a new book.
I began reading Bill Bryson again last night. His humour and tongue in cheek comments make one stand and notice our own impressions of Australia and life downunder. He makes fun of many of the things we view as normal, insightful commentary on a lifestyle we all know really well. I have only read the first two chapters so will hopefully enjoy this book as much as I have other Bryson books.
Paris Letters is proving to be a very light memoir, aimed at the mid-life crisis audience who are fearful of attempting their own change of the highway of life. Several of these books I have read seem to descend into relationships rather than real memoir and travel, finding a male to share one's adventure with appears to be the goal of European travel rather than learning about the culture, history, art and architecture of the country being explored. My eclectic reading is taking me on a journey I had not truly planned this year, novels and much light reading interspersed with the serious and philosophical. It makes life interesting and is opening up new genres of reading never before explored.
I have just finished reading this book on my VRS. The third in her series, I think Tessa Hainsworth became a little lost for incidents and memories to write about in this book. There is a lot of repetition from her previous two books and it became even lighter and lacking in any substance. As a light read it is suitable and could be read in isolation from the two previous books but it offers little new. One wonders how many life changing incidents can be extracted from living in Cornwall and doing the mail run. I hope she waits a while before attempting a new book.
I began reading Bill Bryson again last night. His humour and tongue in cheek comments make one stand and notice our own impressions of Australia and life downunder. He makes fun of many of the things we view as normal, insightful commentary on a lifestyle we all know really well. I have only read the first two chapters so will hopefully enjoy this book as much as I have other Bryson books.
Paris Letters is proving to be a very light memoir, aimed at the mid-life crisis audience who are fearful of attempting their own change of the highway of life. Several of these books I have read seem to descend into relationships rather than real memoir and travel, finding a male to share one's adventure with appears to be the goal of European travel rather than learning about the culture, history, art and architecture of the country being explored. My eclectic reading is taking me on a journey I had not truly planned this year, novels and much light reading interspersed with the serious and philosophical. It makes life interesting and is opening up new genres of reading never before explored.
Monday 14 April 2014
Brisbane
I have just spent a week in Brisbane attending a family wedding and other attendant events. It was so very hot and humid, I could not live there. I also met up with friends I have not seen for a while and explored the markets. The heat meant I often retreated to my accommodation and read.
I took my ipad with me and devoured the above book on my Kindle. It is a truly fascinating story of life on a lighthouse, loss, family and ends with an unexpected outcome. Tom is such a solid person, one whose integrity I could relate to and whose story I felt was more akin to my own life of solitude and making the most of opportunities offered. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Australian novels and intent on discovering themselves in silence.
I also took my VRS and read The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer on the plane and during the evening. The nights are long in Brisbane, it is dark early and light early so having a talking book was wonderful. Again Archer spins a tale around US politics and makes us wonder what the next part of the plot will bring to the life of Florentina Kane. Although some of the story was predictable many sections were not and this is what kept my interest up. A very interesting tale well worth a second read and an invitation to read more of his books.
I am now reading Paris Letters on my Kindle. A light hearted memoir yet serious attempt to discover what shutting the door on a mundane life and opening a window onto chance and opportunity can bring. I am enjoying this book, though suspect the ending may be a little predictable.
Jay and Chocolat were very pleased to see me arrive home. Using a white cane is not easy, nor is attempting to use public transport in a strange city when one has a severe vision impairment. Travelling 'blind' is not easy, particularly when taxi drivers take advantage of a visitor. Guide dogs are wonderful, a Rolls Royce of mobility!
I took my ipad with me and devoured the above book on my Kindle. It is a truly fascinating story of life on a lighthouse, loss, family and ends with an unexpected outcome. Tom is such a solid person, one whose integrity I could relate to and whose story I felt was more akin to my own life of solitude and making the most of opportunities offered. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Australian novels and intent on discovering themselves in silence.
I also took my VRS and read The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer on the plane and during the evening. The nights are long in Brisbane, it is dark early and light early so having a talking book was wonderful. Again Archer spins a tale around US politics and makes us wonder what the next part of the plot will bring to the life of Florentina Kane. Although some of the story was predictable many sections were not and this is what kept my interest up. A very interesting tale well worth a second read and an invitation to read more of his books.
I am now reading Paris Letters on my Kindle. A light hearted memoir yet serious attempt to discover what shutting the door on a mundane life and opening a window onto chance and opportunity can bring. I am enjoying this book, though suspect the ending may be a little predictable.
Jay and Chocolat were very pleased to see me arrive home. Using a white cane is not easy, nor is attempting to use public transport in a strange city when one has a severe vision impairment. Travelling 'blind' is not easy, particularly when taxi drivers take advantage of a visitor. Guide dogs are wonderful, a Rolls Royce of mobility!
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