What's On My Mind: I'm so grateful that I thoroughly enjoyed the two weekends of sunshine we had in August, because Sydney in September is back to rain, rain, rain. Thankfully we are taking off for a week to (hopefully) find some sunshine and warmth in FNQ and to celebrate the birthday of Mr Books. … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #53

What's On My Mind: July was a busy month with two weekends away from Sydney for various social gatherings. One with friends; one with family. The friend one was a catch up with all the women I worked with at Mudgee Preschool in my first year of teaching - 1990. Many of them are still … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #52

What's On My Mind: Covid blues. It has been three weeks since I tested positive, but a lingering cough and tiredness now that I'm back at work has made it rather hard to blog and read. Most nights I'm lucky to read 5-6 pages of my book - which is a VERY slow way to … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #51

What's On My Mind: I have had a head cold this past week, so not much!And it's cold outside. I don't like being cold. What I'm Reading: Grand Days | Frank MoorhouseChernobyl Prayer | Svetlana AlexievichH is for Hawk | Helen MacdonaldBurning Questions | Margaret AtwoodEssays Two | Lydia DavisCollected Stories | Shirley HazzardMauritius Command … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #50

What's On My Mind: After my holiday, I flirted with the idea of giving up blogging.I'd run out of scheduled posts and I thought, that's that.I've got nothing left to say write.I backed up my blog and logged off.It lasted a week! What I'm Reading: The Birds and other Stories | Daphne du MaurierOctober | … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #49

My Month: My writing hiatus is mostly a reviewing hiatus. The words to describe my reading journey have deserted me, for now.Instead, I have been tidying up behind the scenes.And catching up on my Classic Club duties.In case you were wondering, it's still raining! What I'm Reading: His Excellency Eugene Rougon | Emile ZolaThe Tortoise … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #48

My Year so far: BusyLots of lovely weekends at our home in the mountains during January with various friends and family coming to stay and DIY projects galore.Our first (small) dinner party at home since Covid.February is my birthday month, so plenty of dinners, lunches and coffee dates have been had!B24 & GF are about … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #47

My Year so far: After our self-isolating Omicron Christmas and New Year, Mr Books and I were able to escape to the South Coast for a week of walking along the beach, swimming and reading. Since then we have been trying to organise a family get together to make up for the one we missed … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #46

My Week: Christmas shopping done - tick!Mr Books & I enjoyed our first night out at the movies since Feb 2020. We dined beforehand, then enjoyed a rather large glass of rose during the screening of Dune!I decided to reinstate the sending of Christmas cards this year. It felt like the right thing to do. … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #45

My Week: NSW has now enjoyed a week and a half of 'learning-to-live-with-Covid'. After 107 days of lockdown, we were all looking forward to some relaxation of the restrictions.Our new Premier may have overestimated this mood though.Many people I know, including me, are feeling very cautious and careful about this phase of opening up.Even B21 … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #44

My Week: Same as last week, except I am now double vaxxed! What I'm Reading: Mrs Marsh | Virginia FeitoBewilderment | Richard PowersThe Bombay Prince | Sujata Massey (book 3 in the Perveen Mistry series)Meditations | Marcus Aurelius (translator Gregory Hays)Committed Writings | Albert Camus (translator Justin O'Brien)The Countess From Kirribilli | Joyce Morgan (bio)Julia … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #43

My Week: Same as last week. E x a c t l y the same as last week.Although I did get my first Pfizer vaccination today. Finally. I booked this appointment back on the 23rd June. This was the first available time slot. It's a huge relief to be on the road to protection. What … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #42

My Week: Bah!Three Australian states are in various degrees of lockdown once again.The politics of fear is in full flight. It's hard not to get caught up in it, as states are pitched against states against the federal government, who sends it back against the states!Trying to remember instead that I am/want to be a … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #41

My Week: Winter blue blew into town last week. Snow fell in the Central West, Northern Tablelands and Blue Mountains. Sydney only got the icy cold wind that cut through every single layer of clothing with none of the pleasure of building a snowman.Mr Books got his first Covid shot (AstraZeneca) - no reaction. My … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #40

My Week: I've had better. I continue to feel too tired and wiped-out after work each day to even think about blogging. And I'm lucky to read a chapter of my book before falling asleep at night. I remember when I was a kid, how I would read on and off all day. Mostly on. … Continue reading Stories & Shout Outs #39