my intentional word
After reading lots of blogs at the end of last year where the writers referred to their ‘word for the year’ or their Intentional Word I decided on one, too. My word was BALANCE. Not even remotely original but that only underlines how unbalanced life can seem at different times. Mine was pretty skew whiff!
Put lots of thought into rearranging how I spend my time but found it hard to change things where other people were involved. Then we began having cases of Covid in Western Australia and suddenly, we had to wear masks in the metropolitan and Peel regions. That meant canceling lots of things and staying home. Mostly these things were lunches with several different groups of teaching friends who are still enjoying school holidays. Masks combined with top temperatures over 40ºC for six days in a row meant many planned activities went by the board!
So, suddenly, I had time to read, paint, watch TV, phone friends and go for long (masked) walks. Some of my daily steps had to be done indoors as it was very hot outside. Although I was aiming for balance in my life things actually felt out of balance again as there was a lot of downtime.
reading
birds of a feather
Tricia Stringer is a prolific and well known Australian author. I haven’t read any of her books before but will definitely read more in the future. This story about a group of women in various stages of their lives, widowed, mother of young children, newly partnered woman in her forti is set on Spencers Gulf in South Australia. It centres around the prawning industry and the local town.
We follow the women as they resolve family problems, sell long established businesses, sort out future plans as a family and change direction at work. So, all the usual things that happen in families, but well written with the od unexpected turn of events. This is a book to take on holidays or to the beach and become immersed.
Abbi Waxman’s THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS was a light, easy and entertaining. The text is smart and snappy. The story focuses on the characters who enrol in establishing a community garden under the guidance of a famous horticulturalist.
As the garden evolves, so do the characters. Their lives become intertwined in many positive ways. Each chapter ends with notes and advice on growing a particular vegetable. Enjoyable, with a happy ending.
TWO FEET FORWARD
Written by husband and wife team Graeme Simsion and Anne Burst this is the story of Zoe, from California and recently widowed and Martin, recently divorced, from the UK. They meet just before they both set off to walk the Camino de Santiago trail.
The walk is known to inspire reflection and change. The walkers meet other pilgrims and their stories about their lives, their challenges finding accommodation and food and the general difficulties of walking the various terrains make up the story. Martin and Zoe bump into one another along the way but for various reasons, mainly barely credible misunderstandings, they never quite get together.
I persisted with this book as I’d like to walk the trail, too, and found the descriptions of various towns, the hospitality offered and the reason people embarked on the walk interesting. I found Martin’s attempts to improve his relationship with his hurt, troubled daughter rather tepid. Zoe’s faith in the universe, which was very unhelpful at providing regular vegetarian meals, was irritating and quite sad for a woman and mother in her forties.
Reviews vary from five stars to one star, with strong feelings expressed at both ends of the scale. I’m glad I read it because the information about the Camino trail was interesting but I didn’t enjoy the book.
watching
Credit Walter Presents
Ice Station Murders is an Italian police drama on Stan. Set in Aosta, close to the Swiss Alps, it is a gritty drama in a very beautiful setting. So when I flicked through Frances Mayes’s ‘Always in Italy’ I read everything about the Aosta region. Apart from the surrounding Alps, always covered in snow in the series, one of the attractions is the beautiful buildings. So many of the characters live in lovely old buildings with high ceilings, big rooms and a cafe with outdoor tables and chairs just downstairs!
Pleased that there are many episodes of Ice Cold Murders as there’s little to watch on free to air TV and cinemas are out of the question at the moment.
cooking
Two loaves of sourdough rye bread. I wait until they are cool as they are easier to cut then I slice and freeze most of the bread, leaving out six slices for immediate use. This is a heavy bread with a distinctive taste and not liked by everyone. My husband prefers a white loaf from a local bakery which he cuts into thick slices.
australia day
Wednesday, 26th of January was Australia Day, commemorating the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove in 1788. We reflect on the history and diversity of our nation. We celebrate with family barbecues, community events, citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members to Australia and acknowledge personal achievements through the Australia Day Honour List.
It is a public holiday in Australia. Like thousands of other Australians, my favourite event on Australia Day is the fireworks! They are fabulous. Usually, people crowd around the foreshore to watch the display, but social distancing resulted in far less spectators this year. I watched it from an upstairs window. Really like fireworks.