My husband's choice

A couple of years ago while reading the Sunday paper, Richard discovered an article on a book that he felt compelled to share.  In the 25 years I've known him he's only finished two books, so when he said "here's a book you should read", I should of been suspicious...

So here's his choice...

"365 Nights" by Charla Muller

What's it about?  A wife gives her husband the ultimate 40th birthday present (supposedly). 

                  Sex every day for a year...

Yes, I bought the book.  What was it like?   As "ho hum" as sex every day for a year would be...

Did I offer Richard the same birthday present?  Sadly for him, he had already had his 40th birthday.



Vintage sale

My Wonderful Neighbour who has the most wonderful collection of "things vintage" had a sale on Saturday.  I was lounging in my pj's on Saturday morning eating my toast and vegemite - no Saturday sport - when Wonderful's husband knocked on the door to let me know.  (Hopefully I didn't miss anything too good because we were out when Wonderful's husband came over on Friday night to tell me).

Quick change of pj pants to trackie pants and I was out the door with purse in hand.  It was like Aladdin's Cave - so many treasures to behold.  It was set out just like a shop - sorted in colour or theme.  I could easily have bought so much but the downside of teenage boys is there is never any money left in my purse.  I did buy 3 plates.  Here's one of them...

Pretty isn't it? 

What about these...

They belonged to my husband and his brother. They got them for Easter one year with the obligatory chocolate egg.  If rabbits are more your thing, pop over to Enchanted Moments and have a look.

I love all this sort of stuff don't you?

Cleaning off the bookcase

I couldn't fit one more book on the bookcase so I decided it was time to have a clean out but which books to choose...

I've read some real quirky ones but they weren't all bad reads.  So I decided that it would have to be ones that I was most unlikely to read again.

I was quite surprised that I actually managed to remove 12 books but what's a book if not for reading, so there wasn't much point them sitting on the shelf.

I enjoyed reading "The Coroner's lunch" the most out of the books to be passed on but struggled with "A fine balance".  I tried to finish "In my father's house" but gave up when I realised I'd been trying to read it for 2 years. 

"Oxygen" made me want to shake the main character for being so stupid and "The Kite Runner" made me feel physically sick.  I admired Lance Armstrong's determination to get better but I don't think I could be married to anyone so consumed with winning.

I found "The Gathering" to be boring and "Odalisque" a little out there... "Songs of the Humpback Whale" I can't remember and "Honk if you're Jesus", well the less said the better.

But...I'll pass them along and the next reader may love them all, that's the beauty of books.  Maybe even if I read them again I may too...but I doubt it.

Free postage

Don't you just love it when someone finds a great buy and passes the information along.  Well my friend, the same one that passed along all those books, has found an online book shop that doesn't charge postage...

So I checked out The Book Depository and must say that I might just have to change my book buying habits.  I think I'll have to still visit the book shops because I love being amongst so many books, looking at their front covers, reading their blurbs, and checking out what else the author has written.

There's also the bargain table that needs to be checked on a regular basis and of course you have to see what's new in the shop, what's new to the Top 100 and who's recommending what book.

So here's the plan...I'll do some reconnaissance at the bookshop and then order online...which might sound silly, because why don't I just buy at the shop because they don't charge postage either BUT The Book Depository have discounted prices on books as well.  A double bonus for all us readers.

Maybe I might buy this one for starters.

Thanks Rebecca for sharing that little gem with me...but no photo tho until you start your blog ;)

"Second honeymoon" by Joanna Trollope

I've started a new book because I've been very good and finished the book for book club in a very short space of time.

"Second honeymoon" is about life once the kids all move out.   The story starts with the youngest son, Ben, leaving home at 22.  Here's a bit from page 1.

"Edie put her hand out, took a breath and slowly...opened his bedroom door...The bed was unmade, the curtains half drawn, the carpet almost invisible...single trainers...scatterings of papers and books everywhere."

I think these photos of my youngest son's room could of been used as illustrations in the book.

The only difference is, if my youngest leaves at 22, I've still got another 7 years to go.

Check out the trophies...

this is some of them and as for the medallions, they're all just lumped together.  Do you want to know what will happen to all these?  Well the same thing as his Dad's...they'll be boxed up by the woman in his life and put on the top shelf of the wardrobe.  If she even lets them in the house to start with...lol.

"60 Second Secrets" by Julie Maree Wood

I had a birthday a few weeks ago and my sister bought me "60 Second Secrets" by Julie Maree Wood.  Julie is an nutritionist and naturopath.

The book has over 350 "easy to implement" tips which have been organised by seasons.  I must say that it feels strange to be starting a book at page 175.

The first tip for the season is about food...mmmm....love food.  It's time to change to a nurturing autumn diet - no more raw food or cold salads.  We need to be eating warm well-cooked food using lots of chilli, curry, garlic, cinnamon and ginger in your cooking.  These are all warming and help boost our immune system.  

Other great autumn food - apples, pears, sweet potato, zucchini, carrots, figs, leeks, eggs, green beans, oranges and pumpkin.   Hmmm no bananas on this list. Good thing yours are still green Mud Pie and good thing for us too as they're $12.99 a kilo here at the moment.

Enjoy the weekend.

Lucky me...

The past month I've had sorts of little treats given to me and it's made me feel very lucky.

It all started with a fantastic bag of books from a friend...

My friend had them passed to her, now they've been passed to me and I'll get to pass them on to someone else and hopefully the "passing on" will continue.

Later that day the same friend gave me some wonderful veges from her garden.

Another friend passed along her Country Style magazines from last year - lucky me as I hadn't read some of them.

Then I got hand cream from someone else and bunches of flowers from someone elses' garden, a divine bottle of wine and...and...the list goes on.

On Saturday my friend gave me this beautiful teacup, saucer and plate cause she knows that's what I like.

Today one of the children at work bought me a sweet treat from their local French patisserie, mmm you could taste the butter.  :)

But how lucky am I really?  Very.  All my family and friends are safe, my house hasn't been washed away or been destroyed by an earthquake and I can safely breathe the air around me. 

...I'm passing along prayers, love, good vibes and anything else I can think of to everyone who's been affected by all the natural disasters recently.

End of the season

Sadly we've come to the end of another cricket season.  That means football and soccer are now the talk in our house and while that's ok, I'm already missing my Saturday mornings with the girls.

Going to watch football and soccer isn't quite the same - not as relaxing as sitting watching cricket.  I'll still pack the thermos and Tim Tams but not all the girls will be there.   

On a high note tho, my youngest son's team (Dad's the coach) did win the Grand Final.

This was Michael's (back row, 3rd from left) last season in juniors and Richard's (back row, red check shirt) last season as coach.  Richard has coached both boys since U12's but now they'll both be in Seniors.

We got to celebrate the win at one of the parent's houses.

Next season there will be only afternoon cricket for both boys and if I'm really lucky they'll be in the same team.  Fingers crossed.

My time flies...

Cover of Day After Night: A Novel

Can't believe it's nearly a month since I posted anything.  Wish I could say that time flies when you're having fun but I've just been doing the everyday ordinary things.  Really wish someone else would come and do all that boring stuff for me.

Well we finished the book for bookclub "The Help".  It was really interesting and I'm not so sure I could ever be as brave as the women portrayed in the book.  It was one of those books that I did have to peek ahead every so often to check that the characters were ok.  If you come across it, it's definitely worth a read.

This month we're reading "Day after Night" by Anita Diamant.  I'm finding it easy to read so far - up to page 75.  We've read another of Anita's books - "The Red Tent".  Which we all enjoyed.  So hopefully this one will be a good read.  Although I'm hoping there's no graphic descriptions.