Archive for 13/02/2007

The Diviner’s Son Gary Crew

27/02/2007 Joh reading

I know I have said it before, but I just love Gary Crew books. I have just finished ‘The Diviner’s Son’ I thoroughly enjoyed the both the setting and style of the book. Crew used actual historical articles throughout the novel about spritualism to enrich the setting of the novel. The characters were interesting and multiple perspectives were used. I like the ability to follow different characters and their point of view of what is occuring.

It was a good story too and although I considered the murderer at one stage as a suspect, I was totally surprised when the ending revealed him. I had been completely distracted by other events.

This novel was set in Tasmania. My parents are there on holidays right now.

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She’s Leaving Home

23/02/2007 Joh gratitude

Today we are taking the last of my daughters belongings to her new residence. She is moving to the city to go to Uni. She is a competent, independent young woman and I am immensely proud of her and confident that she will make a great life for herself and will be diligent and successful in her studies. I imagine she will have learning experiences about living away from home and I feel nervous and excited for her.
Most of all I will miss her. She is a fabulous daughter. I have adored her since the moment of her birth and this new letting go, just like the previous steps she has made into the world, I must admit make me long for the time when she was a toddler with wild curly hair and a trusting smile, asking plenty of questions, smiling a lot and taking great delight in everything around her. The tickles and cuddles are less frequent and the questions are harder to answer, even though they are more interesting now.

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Hot, Hot, Hot

21/02/2007 Joh reading

It’s been so hot for so long here. Lots of people have been complaining about hot classrooms and hot libraries and just hot. Last night there were some clouds in the sky and I hoped for rain. I went to the supermarket and when I came home, the sky was cloudless again. Each day it is in the 30s. February so far has had an average daily temperature of 31.
I was reading one of my favourite books to my class today “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse. On one page it read something like ‘It rained everywhere today but here’ or something like that. I thought, “I know how you feel!”.
Perhaps the swimming carnival will bring rain.

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Read if you have a Home Loan

20/02/2007 Joh home

If you are paying more than 7.19% on your homeloan, you should check out My Rate. The whole process was completed via phone/internet and fax, which was perfect for me. I find that fitting in visits to banks and having ‘meetings’ with people to be a big time waster.
The reduction in interest rate on my loan comes with no bank fees and it has allowed me to save enough to better support my daughter as she heads off to Uni. The service was helpful and friendly and I would recommend it.

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I Heard the Owl Call My Name

17/02/2007 Joh reading

This book, written by Margaret Craven, is a truly beautiful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is the story of a man who works in a remote place with people whose culture is eroding and being absorbed by the wider world. It is just lovely and I highly recommend it.
It is a book that calls you to enjoy it, I thought about it during the busy day and couldn’t wait to get to it. It is a small book, too small – it didn’t last long enough.

Luckily I have a mountain of other great books waiting, or I might be miserable right now having completed it.

PS: There is a movie, so I will look out for it!

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Dieting and Chocolate

17/02/2007 Joh health

I have being doing great with my exercising and have improved my fitness. I am using an exercise machine and started off being able to do 6 kms in 20 minutes and now can do over 8. It is taking a lot more to get my heart rate up and I feel generally better.

My diet however has not been sustained, so I am not losing any weight. I find low carb diets work well for me, but the chocolate always continues to beckon me. Low Carb chocolate is expensive and doesn’t scratch the itch. I am going to have to just bite the bullet though and deprive myself of this pleasure to get the weight off.

I will have to satisfy myself with reading about it, perhaps at Chocolate Dreams.

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Happy Chinese New Years Eve – Year of the Boar/Pig

16/02/2007 Joh astrology

I find Chinese New Year a lot more gracious than Western New Year. I don’t have to worry about who will get hurt, there doesn’t seem to be as much self destructive revelry. This wikipedia entry gives the history and traditions associated with this festivity. It is a more domestic and family centered celebration. I like it.

The Year of the Boar promises:

Times Online: Pig of a Year? On the contrary…
Motley Fool: Year of The Pig: Squealing with Delight
Boston Globe: Fortune:Year of Pig will bring disaster

You can stay up to date with other news about the Year of the Pig on Google News.

Astrologers Predictions are found on this page. I am a philosophical snake so it looks like whilst finances will be good, health could need attention.

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Loveocracy

15/02/2007 Joh blogging, relationships

Kathy Sierra’s Creating Passionate Users, Valentine’s Day post is spot on. As are most of her posts.

“And why do you read this blog? I always ask myself, “how can I help my readers in some way?” Whether it’s a tip or trick, a post you can use to help make your case to your boss, a new way of looking at something, a potential source for an idea, a pointer to something useful…I try to make 90% of the posts here for you. And you in turn respond with the most amazing, insightful, inspirational, and often entertaining comments.

What’s good for you is what’s good for the blog. And for me.”

I love reading this blog because she does provide useful ideas. It works. Thanks Kathy

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Margo Lanagan

14/02/2007 Joh reading


I have just completed reading ‘Red Spikes‘. It is a delightful collection of short stories that has really fired my imagination. My favourites were ‘Winkie’, ‘A Feather in the Breat of God’ and ‘Under Hell, Over Heaven’, yet each was a special little adventure into a surreal, yet familiar somehow landscape. ‘Under Hell, Over Heaven’ was especially thought provoking and brought up fears and thoughts so young and forgotton in me.

I read ‘Black Juice‘ last year and found it terribly good. I have ‘White Time‘ on my bedside table and will dig into it soon.

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Happy Valentines Day Andy

13/02/2007 Joh film, relationships

I know it’s only the 13th, but I’ll probably forget tomorrow. I know Andy never reads my blog, so he’ll never get this greeting. I know I don’t believe in Valentines Day, but this clip made me laugh.

In the event that you do read this Andy, I adore you, everyday. I didn’t say I didn’t believe in love.

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