Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Jane sent me this book. During most of the whiney phone conversations I’ve had with her since, she’s asked if I’ve read it. All my griefs that I regularly share with her were covered by the book. She was correct in recommending it to me. It was good for me. A woman I work with who lived in Bali for many years put me off it, as she said the Indonesia section was inaccurate. Having completed reading, I don’t care. I enjoyed it. I don’t know any better.
I liked it because the author expresses so many emotions I’ve had and probably many people have. Her fixations with past loves in particular were comforting as sometimes that anguish makes me feel so immature and out of control. This part was in the Pray part (which was deceiving cause it’s clearly a Love part):
“I met an old lady once, almost one hundred years old, and she told me, “There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? And Who’s in charge?” Everything else is somehow manageable. But these two questions of love and control undo us all, trip us up and cause war, grief and suffering.”(p165)
The author reflects also that people in really desperate situations are most anguished about personal relationships. That’s always bothered me about myself. So perhaps I’m not so weird! Another good relationship part:
“I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and then I have hung on to the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) wating for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism.” p298-299
I remember walking with a friend once after finishing a dodgy relationship and saying I have to stop seeing men like I see homes and loving the potential I see, rather than what’s really before me.
What I find frustrating about the book though, is there is no logical way for me to find the little peices that I wanted to share. It’s order is very organised from the authors point of view as she explains in her introduction. Yet, to go back and find parts you remember in it is difficult. It’s not as it seems. It’s a journey and there is no going back as far as I can see.
Naturally I loved the Food part. Italy is certainly one place I hope to eat my way through in the impending child free future. I remember when my daughter returned from there she was full of praise for the food and I spent a little while trying to find cheeses and things she’d spoken so highly of. I gave up after several dissappointed ‘It isn’t the same’ meals. I thought I was going to lose her to that country. She told me honestly as much as she loved me, she didn’t want to come home.
Overall, whilst a little decadent, it was a pleasure seeking journey and I enjoyed it all. There are plenty of lovely things in this book. Even my friend from work, who was dissappointed with the Indonesian part, said she’d enjoyed the first two sections.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Blog as Memory
Today I was reading Mystic Medusa:Ultrascorping.., I had to check in because I noticed this morning at our briefing everyone was looking a bit shabby and I assumed that the looming full moon had something to do with it. The reference made to late 2005 started me wondering, what I was up to then. As my memory is not the foolproof thing it once was, I went to my journal file and found I had already archived 2005! (see Andy I do backup, or rather I did a couple of times:-)
Damn – that meant, if I really wanted to know what I was thinking/feeling/doing back then, I’d have to dig through my DVD backups – probably not worth the effort! When I checked my blog tonight though, I realised I had been posting since late 2005, so I could in fact check out my earliest posts and that helped me to remember. Wow – how easy!
My parents have headed off again on their caravaning the country ways. I actually got an email from my mum tonight. I was absolutely delighted. I have spent a little bit of time trying to teach them how to email so they can stay in touch whilst they are away. They always throw up their hands and say they’ll stick with the mobile phone texting – which they feel they’ve only just mastered. I am really pleased they have managed to get the email thing handled. It’s such a great way to stay in touch. I find phones an inconvenience now to be honest. I can’t have my phone with me for most of the day – imagine that – “Excuse me class, my mum’s on the phone.” Email is great because it’s convenient at both ends. Next thing I know they’ll be commenting on my blog – that will be another voice in my head I’ll cater to
Popularity: 11% [?]
The Great Ocean Road – Road Trip
I got up early on Friday morning, before the sun rose, to take some photo’s from the balcony. It was still warm as I sat out on the balcony, handwriting my journal, taking some shots and drinking my coffee in the still and quiet morning.
We were back on the road by 9.00 and headed to Ocean Grove for breakfast. It became really windy and looked like a cool change was heading our way. We stopped to check out the surf shop factories at Torquay, yet found we had no real interest in it. The hot wind was pretty draining though. The wind dropped enough for us to take the roof off and drive along the stretch from Lorne to Apollo Bay in the open air, which was pleasant. We had lunch at Apollo Bay. There were no vacancies signs everywhere so we headed home through Forest.
Once more I saw the miserable signs of logging along that road. It is ugly. Driving along through lovely cool ferns and trees and then you come to these hot, stripped, desolate parcels of land with little piles of tree rubble. Yuck.
We got to Melbourne in time for peak hour, so made a detour into the city and had a stroll by the Yarra, before heading home. I feel really lucky to have great friends that I can so pleasantly share time with. Rhonda and her daughter were amazing company and we had lots of laughs together.
Popularity: 100% [?]
‘The Girlo Travel Survival Kit’ by Anthea Paul
‘The Girlo Travel Survival Kit’ is released this month and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. If it’s anything like her previous books, it will be a precious addition to my library. I know I’m a bit old to consider myself a girl, but somewhere on the inside, I must be because I have taken a big liking to the Girlosophy series. Anthea Paul writes such good common sense. She writes about living with spirit and awareness and I love it.
If you get the opportunity to hear Anthea speak, whilst she is promoting this book, I recommend you take your daughter. I wish I’d had mine with me, as well as every other young woman I knew, when I heard her talk last year. She is passionate and articulate. She has a very powerful and important message about self esteem and living. Her experiences make her very credible. She’s just fabulous.
Popularity: 9% [?]
The Adelaide Part of My Trip
Arriving in Adelaide on Friday 19th December, I checked into the Youth Hostel I had booked online and was pleasantly surprised. The Adelaide Central Youth hostel is a great place to stay. I have loved my stays in Youth Hostels and I don’t think I would ever stay in a motel again, if there were a hostel available. You meet more interesting people and it is more social. I like having a kitchen to use although I didn’t really use it much and I have always found them to be clean and well maintained, unlike cheaper motels I have stayed in. I met a wonderful character and had lots of chats with him about his adventures in Flinders Ranges and Tasmania.
Jane’s Auntie Megan collected me on the Saturday morning and showed me around Port Adelaide area. She took me to Hahndorf and the wineries for lunch and the afternoon. We had a delicious lunch at the German pub there, more than enough for me, I had to abandon my clean plate inclination due to being fit to burst halfway. We drove around the hills and dropped into a great mosaic place. The lady gave me lots of information about mosaics and also an old interest of mine, lead lighting. We got a little lost and the first winery we found was about to close, so I will be back to taste another time. I really appreciated Megan’s hospitality. She is a wonderful and generous person.
I had breakfast at the Market each day I was in Adelaide. It’s a fantastic place and the food is just divine. I did quite a bit of shopping in the main strip and at the market, which surprised me, because I am not really a recreational shopper, but I enjoyed the unique and individual shops. I also like shopping on a strip and not in a shopping centre where there is no natural light or air.
I found this great tribute to the Volunteers of ‘Meals on Wheels’. I really appreciate seeing volunteers acknowledged. There are so many, mainly women, who do such wonderful work in our communities. It was great to see this. Reminded me of the great one in Broken Hill.
I strolled around the streets of Adelaide and napped a bit, ate a lot and before I knew it I was flying home to Melbourne. I will be back though. It’s a great place and three days is no where near long enough for me.
Popularity: 19% [?]
Adelaide by the River
This is a little 360 clip taken at the back of the Arts Centre. I would have enjoyed spending more time there.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Indian Pacific Journey
Popularity: 55% [?]
Cook – School Rules
The teacher in me found some of these rules highly amusing!
Popularity: 18% [?]
New Years Eve 2007
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Fremantle Reflection
Jane lives near Fremantle. After a long sit at Little Creatures and a few of their lovely Pale Ales and lots of delicious food, we went for a stroll along the water. There we are reflected in the McDonalds window.
My first visit to Fremantle was in 1999 when Jane lived about a street away from this part of the world. My kids and I spent two weeks here. The beachfront here has altered. At that time my kids went to the little building on the beach on the right in this photo below and had some art lessons. They loved it. 
I didn’t recognise the view at first with the big modern building. I vaguely recall being told it was a Museum.
There is a lot of development going on in that part of the world. It’s a shame to see the coastline getting built up with housing. I guess for the people who will live there, it will be great.
We drove past Sam’s school and it’s a great space. It sounds like there are some good people there too. Sam seems really fond of his integration aide and some of his teachers, which is good. I wish he was at my school, but the grounds at the school he attends are awesome.
I visited the Freo Market, mainly to check out the mosaics I remembered from my last visit. I wanted to take photo’s, but the sign said ‘No Photos’, so I chatted to the nice man and he gave me a few tips, which I know will help a lot and a nice postcard with their website: mosaicart, there are some great photos and links to other artists on the site. Nice story too!
I love my time with Jane. This was my fourth trip to WA. I would be happy to just sit at her kitchen table and drink coffee until it was a respectable time to have red or a beer. She is one of the few people I drink with. She is such a creative soul, her home is always beautiful and interesting and I always enjoy seeing the magic she creates in her space. We have been friends for such a long time and know each others history. It is very comfortable.
Popularity: 7% [?]
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