The Facebook page, We Love Memoirs, is having a 1st birthday party today. I was unsure how it would work given we are domiciled all over the world but so far it is fantastic. Word games, pass the parcel, tagging people, I cannot keep up with all the posts. What an amazing group of people dedicated to the writing and reading of memoirs.
Tonight I am attending a concert to raise funds for the hospital chaplains. I am not sure who is singing but I understand it is a mixture of choirs. It will be interesting to see who is performing, I am looking forward to it.
Reading has taken a back seat much of this week, although I have read quite a lot of The Flame Trees of Thika. I had no idea that there were several books in a series, hopefully the RNZFB has all of them so I can continue this story of Kenya.
My latest issue of NZ House and Garden arrived earlier this week, I have managed to read the story of one home, in a famous block of flats in Auckland, but tiredness and other chores have kept me away from my year of reading.
A short post this time, with no pictures! I am trying a different contact lens and everything has a shadow to it, very blurred, I think glasses are my only option now. I can hardly see the screen as I type.
Friday 29 August 2014
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Fast Reading
After finishing the rather uninspiring Silver Wedding by Maeve Binchey I trawled through my VRS for something a bit more inspiring. I opened:
Somehow I knew, as soon as I started reading this book that I had read it before on my VRS. It is interesting, just a short read, I managed to finish it by reading at work while sorting photographs. Inspired by the number of well known people who moved to live in Florence for a variety of reasons, Leavitt twists and turns around some rather interesting and unknown history of this beautiful city. He does not mention many more famous people, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, yet the curves in the story invite the more unusual and perhaps newsworthy events.
Having finished this book I again pushed the 'book' button and decided to read:
This book was made into a TV series, in the 1970's I think, and was fascinating. I also have her next book, The Mottled Lizard which I am sure will be just as interesting. Elspeth recalls that her father won the land while gambling and so the whole family was uprooted and taken to Kenya. I left her in a small village resting overnight after beginning the trek from Nairobi to their farm sitting on a buffalo cart. Books are often better than their TV series and I suspect this one will follow that pattern.
Last night I also finished Follow my Heart by Frances Lawson. While it does describe the difficulties she faced when deciding, in middle age, to move to France from New Zealand, I found her naivete rather difficult to understand. Surely she had researched the 'systems' of achieving things in France before she left, after all this is the day of 'Google', and was aware of the many difficulties she would have sorting through government regulations. I found myself having little sympathy for her given that more planning should have gone into her move and her constant drive to find a sexual partner despite admitting early in the book that she found it physically difficult. I think I finished the book believeing she was the maker of her own destiny and wishing she would stop complaining and try to discover how other people had coped with such a move. Admitting she had not thought about the lack of a pension as she aged seemed a statement which showed her overall ignorance.
This is my next adventure into a kindle memoir. The story of a piano, coveted then different, forms the basis for this investigative memoir into how a piano is born and the sound developed. A lovely weekend read.
I am off to lunch today with a lovely friend who is travelling overseas on Monday for 2 months to accompany her husband as he lectures all around the world. I will miss her but know that she is such a genuine person that our friendship will not suffer. It does alert me to the obvious that I need to occupy myself with what I enjoy and fill these growing days with joy and the business of getting well again.
Somehow I knew, as soon as I started reading this book that I had read it before on my VRS. It is interesting, just a short read, I managed to finish it by reading at work while sorting photographs. Inspired by the number of well known people who moved to live in Florence for a variety of reasons, Leavitt twists and turns around some rather interesting and unknown history of this beautiful city. He does not mention many more famous people, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, yet the curves in the story invite the more unusual and perhaps newsworthy events.
Having finished this book I again pushed the 'book' button and decided to read:
This book was made into a TV series, in the 1970's I think, and was fascinating. I also have her next book, The Mottled Lizard which I am sure will be just as interesting. Elspeth recalls that her father won the land while gambling and so the whole family was uprooted and taken to Kenya. I left her in a small village resting overnight after beginning the trek from Nairobi to their farm sitting on a buffalo cart. Books are often better than their TV series and I suspect this one will follow that pattern.
Last night I also finished Follow my Heart by Frances Lawson. While it does describe the difficulties she faced when deciding, in middle age, to move to France from New Zealand, I found her naivete rather difficult to understand. Surely she had researched the 'systems' of achieving things in France before she left, after all this is the day of 'Google', and was aware of the many difficulties she would have sorting through government regulations. I found myself having little sympathy for her given that more planning should have gone into her move and her constant drive to find a sexual partner despite admitting early in the book that she found it physically difficult. I think I finished the book believeing she was the maker of her own destiny and wishing she would stop complaining and try to discover how other people had coped with such a move. Admitting she had not thought about the lack of a pension as she aged seemed a statement which showed her overall ignorance.
This is my next adventure into a kindle memoir. The story of a piano, coveted then different, forms the basis for this investigative memoir into how a piano is born and the sound developed. A lovely weekend read.
I am off to lunch today with a lovely friend who is travelling overseas on Monday for 2 months to accompany her husband as he lectures all around the world. I will miss her but know that she is such a genuine person that our friendship will not suffer. It does alert me to the obvious that I need to occupy myself with what I enjoy and fill these growing days with joy and the business of getting well again.
Sunday 24 August 2014
New Music
After 10 years my stereo has finally given up. It was not playing CD's properly, stopping and jamming all the time, so I decided I needed to get a new one. Thanks to the generosity of a neighbour I was able to visit the shop I had chosen to purchase it from and bring it home without having to book taxis. I am now waiting for the man to call in and set it up, hopefully I will have it up and running after dinner.
Hoping for a very lazy Sunday afternoon I opened this book on my kindle and could not put it down. The story of a middle-aged New Zealand woman who felt the tug of her French ancestors and moved to France to begin a new life. Many of us would have given up after the struggles she had even getting there, but all now appears to be good and she is happily settled in the country of her dreams. The only dissonance is her desire for a male companion which seems to be, as yet, unfulfilled. I am never sure why women feel they need a man to make them complete. Not the normal 'buying a ruin and doing it up in France' story, this book is one I will finish in another hour or so of reading. I think many women envy those who make such huge life changes leaving everyone behind who has formed their life to date.
I am an avid buyer of this magazine but often fail to read it properly. This issue has yet to arrive in New Zealand so I am one behind. While it is British based many of the ideas and suggestions are relevant to writers of all genres wherever they live. I often find it has competitions which have almost closed and writing retreats in exciting parts of Europe are very tempting. It makes one feel one is not alone even if many of the writers seem to be in the romance and light fiction genre.
This book was recommended by the Memoirs group I belong to on Facebook. It looks to be another light read, perhaps in the same category as the movie about the French gardener who inspires the artist to re-invent his life and do a series of paintings about reality.
Inspired by Frances Lawson's 'Follow my Heart' I have decided France is a wonderful destination, I just hope it is not too far to travel in the future as I still struggle with sight, gluten and arthritis issues. I can dream!
Hoping for a very lazy Sunday afternoon I opened this book on my kindle and could not put it down. The story of a middle-aged New Zealand woman who felt the tug of her French ancestors and moved to France to begin a new life. Many of us would have given up after the struggles she had even getting there, but all now appears to be good and she is happily settled in the country of her dreams. The only dissonance is her desire for a male companion which seems to be, as yet, unfulfilled. I am never sure why women feel they need a man to make them complete. Not the normal 'buying a ruin and doing it up in France' story, this book is one I will finish in another hour or so of reading. I think many women envy those who make such huge life changes leaving everyone behind who has formed their life to date.
I am an avid buyer of this magazine but often fail to read it properly. This issue has yet to arrive in New Zealand so I am one behind. While it is British based many of the ideas and suggestions are relevant to writers of all genres wherever they live. I often find it has competitions which have almost closed and writing retreats in exciting parts of Europe are very tempting. It makes one feel one is not alone even if many of the writers seem to be in the romance and light fiction genre.
This book was recommended by the Memoirs group I belong to on Facebook. It looks to be another light read, perhaps in the same category as the movie about the French gardener who inspires the artist to re-invent his life and do a series of paintings about reality.
Inspired by Frances Lawson's 'Follow my Heart' I have decided France is a wonderful destination, I just hope it is not too far to travel in the future as I still struggle with sight, gluten and arthritis issues. I can dream!
Friday 22 August 2014
Spring is Coming
Spring appears to be on the way with daffodils and other spring bulbs now flowering, a whole fine weekend forecast and blue skies and warm sunny days. It will be wonderful to get out more, walk the dogs and not get sore feet.
I picked this at random on my VRS, not sure it is my sort of reading but is certainly a means of getting to sleep. A series of linked short stories based around celebrating a silver wedding anniversary, the diverse destinations and conversations of the children provide the outline for this rather simple book.
Reading this book is slow going as there is so much to absorb. Brene links differing feelings and attributes them to shame, not something I am finding other people understand unless they have experienced the emotions and put downs so many of us have. I am continuing with this at times when I feel I can absorb all her pearls of wisdom and apply them to my own life journey.
I have recently purchased two books of Celtic fairy tales, it is a genre I would be interested in pursuing with my writing. My dark dreamy side seems to be ideal to write these sort of short stories, but I do need to read some first.
Yesterday I was interviewed by an archives researcher who lives in one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, the Nelson Lakes District. She works from home, so lucky, a lovely person who instantly became a colleague.
I picked this at random on my VRS, not sure it is my sort of reading but is certainly a means of getting to sleep. A series of linked short stories based around celebrating a silver wedding anniversary, the diverse destinations and conversations of the children provide the outline for this rather simple book.
Reading this book is slow going as there is so much to absorb. Brene links differing feelings and attributes them to shame, not something I am finding other people understand unless they have experienced the emotions and put downs so many of us have. I am continuing with this at times when I feel I can absorb all her pearls of wisdom and apply them to my own life journey.
I have recently purchased two books of Celtic fairy tales, it is a genre I would be interested in pursuing with my writing. My dark dreamy side seems to be ideal to write these sort of short stories, but I do need to read some first.
Yesterday I was interviewed by an archives researcher who lives in one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, the Nelson Lakes District. She works from home, so lucky, a lovely person who instantly became a colleague.
Monday 18 August 2014
Quiet
The world seems to have gone uneerily quiet. MH17, rescuing Iraqi people off a mountain, Syria, Ebola; is it just the New Zealand press who seem to be fixated on the book Dirty Politics, or has the world really disappeared into a vortex of silence. While news of Julian Assange leaving the embassy and his Vitamin D deficiency is news of sorts there are far more interesting and dramatic events occurring worldwide.
I am reading a talking book about Nepal.
Dervula Murphy is a travel writer who visited Nepal as a volunteer and seems almost surprised by the depth of courage and culture in this country which is so attached to New Zealand due to the exploits of Sir Edmund Hillary. Although this seems to be quite an old book, 1963 I think, her stories of day to day life in this tiny Himalayan nation are very interesting. She must have been very fit because her descriptions of cycling all over the area, which is very hilly, add to the mystery of her travel adventure.
I met Sir Edmund Hillary once, I have never forgotten sitting on a stage with him when he came to speak at my secondary school, a real honour. This small yet strong nation remains in our thoughts.
I am reading a talking book about Nepal.
Dervula Murphy is a travel writer who visited Nepal as a volunteer and seems almost surprised by the depth of courage and culture in this country which is so attached to New Zealand due to the exploits of Sir Edmund Hillary. Although this seems to be quite an old book, 1963 I think, her stories of day to day life in this tiny Himalayan nation are very interesting. She must have been very fit because her descriptions of cycling all over the area, which is very hilly, add to the mystery of her travel adventure.
I met Sir Edmund Hillary once, I have never forgotten sitting on a stage with him when he came to speak at my secondary school, a real honour. This small yet strong nation remains in our thoughts.
Sunday 17 August 2014
Shame
I started reading this at the weekend, not sure how I feel as many people say I have low self esteem but this author re-defines it as shame. Many of the things she is saying ring true for me, someone who was made to feel less by both a mother and husband who felt they could control my thoughts and actions. I found her other book, The Gift of Imperfection too difficult to read in the print version so I have purchased it for my kindle too. While many people are critical of self-help books I think this genre has improved and become far more realistic in the help they offer, leaving it to the reader to make their own decisions about taking advice or opening up to areas of their life which have traditionally been very private.
I have just finished reading the first issue of NZ House and Garden I received from my Brownie points earned from my power company. I love looking at other people's homes and gardens, how they fit their lives around caring for beautiful homes, writing, working, photography - all occupations I would love to feel positive about at the moment.
Yesterday I went to the movies, rather a silly thing to do when we are having beautiful sunny days but it was a very positive way to spend a couple of hours.
Dame Helen Mirren always delights in unexpected ways. This story of despair, food, jealousy and eventual success and triumph is really worth watching. I love the storyline, the characters, the food and the everyday life in a French village we all envy so much.
Friday 15 August 2014
Enjoyment
I am really enjoying Eugenia, so much so that I took my VRS to work yesterday and chose work I could do so that I could listen to my book. While some of the legal and court descriptions are quite detailed, one wonders how an author writing almost 100 years later can imagine the questions which were asked, it is interesting enough to make me turn my machine on and listen at every opportunity.
I have been struggling with the small print in this book and have lost track of the ideas and themes that Dr Brene Brown writes about. I think a good cup of coffee and a sit in the sun this morning may help me make the decision whether or not to purchase this or one of her other books for my kindle. The tiny size of print in most books today makes them inaccessible for the vision impaired reader. While readers who were blind 100 years or more ago would never have imagined the opportunities accessible technology has now given us there is still a great deal of frustration at the inability of many of us to access all the literature we wish to read.
I have borrowed this from the library and while the print is too small I am hoping I can gather some information from it to help with my art journaling. I was always told I could not draw but given my now serious eye difficulties my desire to explore the world around me in print and paint I am finding that 'you cannot draw' has become one of those things that have defined my creativity. At present I am just copying, but soon I will hopefully gain the confidence to strike out with my own ideas.
Added to my pile of reading is the new, September, issue of the Healthy Food Guide. I have not finished reading the issue shown here yet so have some real catching up to do. Off for that coffee and some sun now!
I have been struggling with the small print in this book and have lost track of the ideas and themes that Dr Brene Brown writes about. I think a good cup of coffee and a sit in the sun this morning may help me make the decision whether or not to purchase this or one of her other books for my kindle. The tiny size of print in most books today makes them inaccessible for the vision impaired reader. While readers who were blind 100 years or more ago would never have imagined the opportunities accessible technology has now given us there is still a great deal of frustration at the inability of many of us to access all the literature we wish to read.
I have borrowed this from the library and while the print is too small I am hoping I can gather some information from it to help with my art journaling. I was always told I could not draw but given my now serious eye difficulties my desire to explore the world around me in print and paint I am finding that 'you cannot draw' has become one of those things that have defined my creativity. At present I am just copying, but soon I will hopefully gain the confidence to strike out with my own ideas.
Added to my pile of reading is the new, September, issue of the Healthy Food Guide. I have not finished reading the issue shown here yet so have some real catching up to do. Off for that coffee and some sun now!
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