Ballarat Library Chick

Book: Nowhere Else

2012-01-24T14:31:00.003+11:00

Summary: On the surface, current affairs reporter Nicola Harvey has the world at her feet — she's at the top of her profession, part of Australian television's celebrity A-list, has a wealthy, successful fiancé and a beautiful warehouse conversion in Adelaide. But appearances can be deceiving and not all is perfect in Nicola's world. So when her boss offers to send her on an extended research trip to investigate the effects of the drought, she jumps at the chance to indulge in some country-style relaxation.

When Nicola arrives in the little town of Nowhere Else, nothing is as she expected: there's no spa in town, the locals are tight-lipped, and she senses it's not just the drought that is making the town nervous. So why has her boss sent her out here? The deeper Nicola digs into the town's history, the more she realises coming to Nowhere Else wasn't a mistake after all. In fact, it may just unlock the mystery of her own past. And hold the key to her future happiness...

What I thought: Once again another rural romance which has me reading like never before. Loved this book. Sure a bit far fetched in places but who cares!

Book: The Cattle King

2012-01-20T14:27:00.001+11:00

Summary: At the age of 13 Sidney Kidman ran away from home with only five shillings in his pocket. He went on to become a horse dealer, drover, cattle buyer and bush jockey and he also ran a coach business. Above all Kidman created a mighty cattle empire of more than a hundred stations, fighting droughts, bushfires, floods and plagues of vermin to do so. His enterprise and courage won him a huge fortune and made him a legend.

What I thought: WOW! What an amazing person. This book made me love the outback even more. Just can't get enough of reading out this wonderful country. Also amazing to still see how much of his legacy still remains. Highly recommend reading.

Book: The Bay

2012-01-17T14:38:00.002+11:00

Summary: When Sydney corporate wife Holly Jamieson turns 40, she shocks her husband by buying an old house in The Bay, a beautiful and peaceful town on the Australian east coast, and transforming it into a charming B&B. What began as a gesture of independence changes her life. Holly soon discovers that beneath its tranquil surface, The Bay is a whirlpool of passions and conflicts. Once a whaling town, then a sleepy resort that became trendy... and now developers are moving in for the kill. Holly, her family, and an unusual band of new friends are in the battle lines.

What I thought: Once again I really enjoyed. Just love the vivid imagery. Must admit though that in this one there were a few too many characters and I got a little mixed up...

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Prime Cut

2012-01-16T13:39:00.003+11:00

Summary: Meet Cato Kwong — disgraced cop and ex-poster boy for the police force. Banished to the stock squad after the fallout from a police frame-up, Cato is brought in from the cold to solve the case of a torso washed up on the wild shores of the Great Southern Ocean. But Cato faces powerful opposition when his investigation lifts the lid on the exploitation of migrant workers and disturbs an even darker criminal mind...

What I thought: I really enjoyed this. Lots of different layers to work through... Also loved the vivid descriptions of the scenery. Recommend reading it.

Book: Someone Special

2012-01-10T10:23:00.003+11:00

Summary: Romy Kilkenny loves her life in Australia – she has her dream job, lots of mates, and a best friend in Keith who understands her better than anyone. Best of all, she couldn't be further from her family. But when her brother rings to say she's needed back in Ireland right away, Romy's world is turned upside down. Flying home to see her mother and her half-siblings, Romy doubts she'll fit in better now than she ever did, and she's still not ready to forgive her mother for her truly disgraceful behaviour a few years earlier. Romy also worries that the accidental half-kiss with Keith at the airport may have brought their easy friendship to a sudden end. Whatever lies ahead, it's not what Romy's expecting – even the people we grow up with can surprise us, and if love is to be found, it will find a way.

This was Ok. Didn't really draw me in like many of her other books have. But still love Irish chick lit.

Book: Race Around the Sports World

2012-01-06T15:32:00.003+11:00

Summary: Sports tragic Tony Hardy sets off to see as many great events around the world as he can in 50 days. The problems? Hardy has a delicate constitution, suffers chronic homesickness and loathes leaving his couch. From New York, where he goes to the US Open at Flushing Meadows, and a Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, to Belfast for a World Cup Qualiﬁer between England and Northern Ireland. In Dusseldorf for a famous ice-hockey derby, he escapes with singed ears from a ﬁre-loving Turkish barber, only to be cornered while under the inﬂuence for a live interview on German television. In Dublin at a hurling game, he discovers goalkeepers who face death without armour. And at the Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island, he ﬁnds lacy women's underwear ﬂying from ﬂags and the greatest sportsman on the planet.

This book was really hit and miss. Some funny parts but otherwise a bit boring which is a shame as it was a great idea...

Monday and Tuesday night bookgroup: The Reader

2012-01-06T14:27:00.004+11:00

I am trying to get a jump start on my bookgroup books for the year and this one is in both (not until May and June)! Currently feeling virtuous!

Summary: When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover—then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realises that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder.

I enjoyed this book though it is somewhat depressing. More a winter read when it's dark and gloomy outside than a summer one... Think I might get the DVD now to see the comparison.

Book: The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots

2012-01-05T15:00:00.003+11:00

My first book of 2012. Thanks to @sharonu for telling me about this one:

Summary: Lena Todd is a city girl who thrives on cocktails and cappuccinos. So when her boss announces he's sending her to the outback to join a construction team, her world is turned upside down. Lena's new accommodation will be an aluminium box called a dongar; Her new social network is 350 men; Her daily foot attire is steel-capped boots.

Unfortunately, Lena can't refuse. Mistakes of the past are choking her confidence. She needs to do something to right those wrongs and prove herself. Going into a remote community might just be the place to do that, if only tall, dark and obnoxious Dan didn't seem so determined to stand in her way ...

I absolutely LOVED this book. Rural romance at it's best. Can't wait for her next book. Just so excited about this genre at the minute.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T09:36:00.002+11:00

Merry Christmas from the Siemensma crew. All the best for 2012 xoxo

2011 books - an overview

2011-12-23T09:31:00.003+11:00

I managed to read 40 books this year which was a pretty good effort for me. Here's the break down:

Aussie rural romance - 12
Teenage - 6
Non-fiction - 5
General fiction - 17

I absolutely LOVED sinking into my rural romances this year. Finding Di Morrissey helped! Again though I was bad at reading my book group ones... I was also disappointed in my non-fiction list. I usually read heaps more. But in reflection it has been a massive personal year so all in all I have done well.

Book: Paycheque

2011-12-19T14:16:00.003+11:00

Summary: Claire McIntyre has it all: an adoring husband, a bubbly best friend, a chic townhouse and a high-flying corporate career in the city. But somehow she’s forgotten what really makes her happy. After receiving tragic news, closely followed by the loss of her job, Claire’s world is thrown into turmoil. She is then forced to reconsider everything that matters to her.

Claire soon finds herself back at the very place she’s been running from — the family property. A place where the bush telegraph exposes every secret, where reputations are hard won and easily lost, and where fortune is as fickle as the weather. Here, in the rugged beauty of the Australian Adelaide Hills, Claire starts to rebuild her life with her friends, her father and his beloved racehorses — including a promising young horse called Paycheque. But just as she begins to find happiness, and perhaps even love, fate comes to call. Now Claire must decide whether to do the sensible thing, or risk it all on her newfound passion...

Oh tragic rural romance at it's best. Loved it! Looking forward to reading her second one now :)

Clinician's Health Channel catch-up

2011-12-19T13:51:00.003+11:00

Last Wednesday I headed to Melbourne for a CHC catch-up. It was lovely to catch-up with folk who I haven't seen for well over a year. It was also good to reacquaint myself with some of the products.

MIMS

MyDR - Consumer health website (includes videos)
MIMS Bi-monthly now called MIMS abbreviated
2,000,000 views per month!
Looking at introducing an overseas "drug equivalent"

Therapeutic Guidelines

Releases in March, July and November each year.

Ebsco

Introduction of Ebsco Discovery Service to CHC and can tailor to individual hospital to include local data. Trials happening.

Book: Vanishing Acts

2011-12-13T16:52:00.003+11:00

Summary: Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiancé, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as she plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can’t recall. And when a policemen arrives to disclose a truth that will upend the world as she knows it, Delia must search through these memories – even when they have the potential to devastate her life, and the lives of those she loves most. Vanishing Acts is a book about the nature and power of memory; about what happens when the past we have been running from catches up to us and what happens when the memory we thought had vanished returns as a threat...

I really enjoyed this one. Was sucked in from the start! Think I'll read another Picoult now!

Book: The Girl and the Ghost-Grey Mare

2011-12-09T16:45:00.004+11:00

This was a selection of short stories from Rachael Treasure. I love Rachael's novels and she is by far one of my favourite authors. Not too keen on short stories though. This was ok. Some were good, some were average. Can't wait for her next full length novel to be released.

Monday Night Bookgroup: Marching Powder

2011-11-29T16:28:00.003+11:00

Summary: Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young Australian went to La Paz and joined one of Thomas's illegal tours. They formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record Thomas's experiences in the jail. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time. San Pedro is not your average prison. Inmates are expected to buy their cells from real estate agents. Others run shops and restaurants. Women and children live with imprisoned family members. It is a place where corrupt politicians and drug lords live in luxury apartments, while the poorest prisoners are subjected to squalor and deprivation. Violence is a constant threat, and sections of San Pedro that echo with the sound of children by day house some of Bolivia's busiest cocaine laboratories by night.

I did enjoy this book but it was pretty poorly written. Was desperate for it to end about 3/4 way through and some of the incidents were just a little too far fetched to believe...

Kaszazz workshop

2011-11-28T14:28:00.002+11:00

On Friday night I headed to my friend's for another scrapping workshop. This time though we made a tissue box. It is actually really cute. Was even thinking of making another one for a friend at Christmas but am a little time poor at the minute!

Uni: HRM & Operations Management

2011-11-28T14:21:00.003+11:00

Well Uni is done and dusted for another semester. I am now only 3 subjects away from completing my MBA. This semester saw me finish Human Resource Management and Operations Management. I thought the first would be easy but it happened to be the harder of the two. I could grasp concepts easily enough but the lecturer was a REALLY hard marker so you never really knew if you were putting in what you were meant to... Operations Management on the other hand took me way out of my comfort zone. It was all about manufacturing and included maths and formulas (yuck!). However I did learn a lot by studying hard and blitzing the exam (I think!). Am still waiting the results of exams which are due in about 10 days or so but am pretty sure I passed. Also am waiting for next year's timetable to be released. Not sure if I can finish next year or the one after. There is a summer subject starting late January but I just don't know...

Book: Kimberley Sun

2011-11-28T14:12:00.003+11:00

Summary: Lily Barton is beautiful, adventurous and looking for a complete life change. Sami, her daughter, is 30, driving alone through the outback and finally, reluctantly, confronting her family roots. Together they are swept into a world where legends, myths and reality start to converge. Among those who come into their orbit are Farouz, the old Afghan camel driver, Bobby, the Chinese/Aboriginal man who is tangled in the murder of a German tourist, and Biddy, the survivor from Captain Tyndall and Olivia's era… All have a secret and all have a story to tell until each finds their place under the Kimberley sun.

I am so loving Di Morrissey. This again swept me in... Once again though I later discovered it was a sequel! So annoyed. Will probably wait a few years before reading the first one now.

Book: Parvana's Journey

2011-11-28T14:00:00.002+11:00

Summary: Homeless and alone, Parvana begins a desperate journey through war-torn Afghanistan in search of her family. Living in constant fear of the Taliban, often without food or water in the barren landscape, Parvana and the children she rescues journey on foot through a country laid waste by years of conflict, in search of peace and safety.

This was a beautifully written story. I loved the relationships between the children. Only problem is that it's the sequel which I only discovered after reading. Now my dilemma is to go back and read or wait a few years and read the first one...

Cardmaking class - Christmas

2011-11-25T15:00:00.003+11:00

In late October I headed to my friend's house for a Kaszazz cardmaking class. This time it was Christmas cards. Here's what we produced:

This one is also a Kaszazz card and is the card I am making for Christmas this year:

Book: No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club

2011-11-25T14:54:00.000+11:00

Summary: Don’t harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads toward the big 6-0, but she’s fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving-to-Florida-bicycling-across- Mongolia-for-the-hell-of-it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She’s already led an exciting life: She came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with both a new grandchild and a new man on the horizon, all she wants to do is make the most of what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. In this wonderfully astute novel based on the author’s own experiences, No! I Don’t Want to Join a Book Club is the funny—and often poignant—fictionalized diary of an older woman . . . a decade or two past her prime and content to leave it all behind her. So don’t tell her to take a gourmet cooking class, and whatever you do, don’t you dare tell her to join a book club.

This book was actually really funny. I know a few ladies who have recently turned 60 so I had them in mind when reading. This was a great light read and I've recommended it those 60 somethings!

Book: Size 12 is Not Fat

2011-11-25T14:49:00.002+11:00

Summary: Heather Wells Rocks! Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two -- and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

I really enjoyed this book. Light and fluffy with a bit of crime thrown in. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Rachael Treasure talk

2011-11-23T09:07:00.004+11:00

Back at the start of October I was lucky enough to go to one of our local bookshops to see Rachael Treasure talk about her latest book. She is one of my all time favourite authors. She writes about farms, outback and rural romances. Just love her work. It's all very Aussie which I love. Anyway, she has just published a short story collection which I am currently reading now. I love listening to authors read their own words and just listening to them discuss how they got into writing, why they write, when they write etc. The bonus of going was that I also got to be a groupie and get her to sign all my books that's she's written!

Cardmaking class

2011-11-23T09:03:00.002+11:00

Sometime in late August I went to my friend's for a Kaszazz workshop. Basically we made Father's Day cards and male cards. Here they are. The shirt folding one I replicated for all the kids at Mother's Group to give to their dad's:

Book: Noah's Law

2011-11-23T08:55:00.002+11:00

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Noah is a troublemaker. His father is a hotshot barrister.
This is not a good combination. When Noah gets caught mucking up at school, his dad sends him to work at his aunt's law firm during the holidays to 'learn responsibility' and 'fix his attitude'. There he meets Jacinta - the cute intern who knows her way around a photocopier, and Casey - the wicked witch of the firm. Noah becomes involved in a case where a woman has been killed during a mugging gone wrong. There's a grieving husband, a guilty employer, and an open and shut case involving lots of money. But right and wrong, and crime and punishment are soon entangled as Noah realises that things are seldom what they seem.

I really loved this book. At lot of it was a bit far fetched but still enjoyed it. There is just something about the law that fascinates me...

Book: Heart of the Dreaming

2011-11-23T08:26:00.003+11:00

Summary: At 21, Queenie Hanlon has the world at her feet and the love of handsome bushman TR Hamilton. Beautiful, wealthy and intelligent, she is the only daughter of Tingulla Station, the famed outback property in the wilds of western Queensland. At 22, her life lies in ruins. A series of disasters has robbed her of everything she ever loved. Everything except Tingulla – her ancestral home and her spirit's Dreaming place. An extraordinary tale of one woman's courage and her determination to take on the world and win.

Oh my, what a romping great read. Outback romance at it's best. Will have to borrow the sequel now. Just adored this book and the characters in it. Trashy rural romance, handsome farmers, determined women.... Bliss!

Paperific

2011-11-22T09:19:00.003+11:00

In late August (I think) I headed to Melbourne to catch up with the lovely Tania, Rebecca and Rachel to attend Paperific. WHAT FUN! Sooooo many scraping and cardmaking products. Just boggling. I spent about $150 which included buying a Big Shot machine (which is still all wrapped up but will be unleashed this week). Plus lots of embellishments and stamps and other bits and pieces. Just insane what you can buy though. I'm still very much a newbie to this hobby. Anyway, one of the best things was the "Make and Take" demonstrations. I got to make the following cards and a few other things (scrap pages and tags which I don't have pictures of). Anyway, Paperific is definitely on my to attend list every year!

Book: Fly A Rebel Flag - The Battle At Eureka

2011-11-22T09:06:00.003+11:00

Summary: "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties!" The diggers' oath, 30 November 1854.

The diggers were fed up. Ever since the gold rushes began, the police had hounded them, forcing them to show their licenses like common criminals. At last the diggers of Ballarat made a stand. They would pay no more licence fees. They took up arms, built a stockade, and swore to defend themselves against the authorities. When government troops stormed the Eureka stockade the battle lasted just twenty minutes, but it changed Australia forever...

I read this one basically because I live in Ballarat and often forget the wonderful history of this town. Was OK. Great for school kids.

Cardmaking

2011-11-22T08:58:00.002+11:00

I often have my friend's daughter over for a sleepover if they are out for the night (as Miss 9 is the best baby sitter EVER, my kids adore her). Anyway, tradition is that when the kids go to bed we sit up and make cards. Here are some of my creations from one of those nights. I think it must be when I got some new chalks for my birthday!

July Scrap Challenge

2011-11-22T08:54:00.004+11:00

Back in June I did a 30 day card challenge. July's challenge was to make a scrap layout per week and incorporate the theme. I only managed to do one. The concept of the week was "7 things I love..." At the very end of my kids albums I plan to include a page like the one below. This page now lives in Adam's album which chronicles the adventures of him as a one year old. Love my little man to the moon and back xoxo

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

2011-11-21T13:29:00.001+11:00

Summary: Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing. Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.

What a fabulous book. Highly recommend.

Book: Where The Streets Had A Name

2011-11-21T13:23:00.001+11:00

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Hayaat is on a mission. She believes a handful of soil from her grandmother's ancestral home in Jerusalem will save her beloved Sitti Zeynab's life. The only problem is the impenetrable wall that divides the West Bank, as well as the check points, the curfews, the permit system and Hayaat's best friend Samy, who is mainly interested in football and the latest elimination on X-Factor, but always manages to attract trouble. But luck is on their side. Hayaat and Samy have a curfew-free day to travel to Jerusalem. However, while their journey may only be a few kilometres long, it may take a lifetime to complete.

Again I really enjoyed this. Makes me feel so very special to live in Australia where we are free to do as we please. Others live such very different lives...

Book: Ten Things I Hate About Me

2011-11-21T13:19:00.003+11:00

Summary: For the past three years Jamie has hidden her Lebanese background from everyone at school. It's only with her email friend John that she can really be herself. But now things are getting complicated: the most popular boy in school is interested in her, but there's no way he would be if he knew the truth. Then there's Timothy, the school loner, who for some reason Jamie just can't stop thinking about. As for John, he seems to have a pretty big secret of his own...

Really enjoyed this. Am a big fan of teenage fiction and I read her first book years ago and just stumbled across this at the library. Oh to be a teenager again and have all that angst!

Book: Last Mile Home

2011-11-18T15:33:00.003+11:00

Summary: It is 1953 in a small Australian country town, a time of post-war prosperity and hope. The Holtens are wealthy, yet austere, graziers who have lived on the land for generations. The McBrides are a large and loving shearer's family who are new arrivals to the district. When the McBrides eldest daughter falls in love with the Holtens only son and heir, it seems impossible that they can have a future together. As conflict and tragedy confront them, it is only with great determination that their love can survive.

Loved this! A beautiful country romance full of drama. The McBrides remind me of the family from the Darling Buds of May! I've started to become a major fan of Di Morrissey.

Book: The Silent Country

2011-11-18T15:30:00.003+11:00

Summary: TV producer Veronica Anderson travels to the Northern Territory to retrace the journey of an expedition that had set out 50 years earlier to film the outback, but which mysteriously ended in tragedy. Of the group, led by the eccentric Maxim Topov, few are still alive and they are reluctant to talk about the intriguing events. It is through the help of local NT Park Ranger, Jamie McIntosh, that Veronica begins to piece together the puzzle and discover the answers...

Really enjoyed this book. The way she writes about the outback really is like you're there. Such magnificent places I have yet to visit. One day...

Monday Night Bookgroup: Spare Room

2011-11-18T15:20:00.001+11:00

Summary: Helen prepares her spare room for her friend Nicola, who is flying down from Sydney for a three-week visit. But this is no ordinary visit—Nicola has advanced cancer. She is coming to Melbourne to receive treatment she believes will cure her. From the moment Nicola steps off the plane, Helen becomes her nurse, her protector, her guardian angel and her stony judge. The Spare Room tells a story of compassion and rage as the two women — one sceptical, one stubbornly serene — negotiate their way through Nicola's gruelling treatments.

I wasn't keen on reading this one as my mother-in-law died of cancer last year so really wanted to stay away from the topic. However, this was an amazing book. A brilliant insight. I really gained a lot from reading it. Highly recommend.

Book: Lucy's kiss

2011-11-18T15:12:00.004+11:00

Summary: Lucy never forgot 'The Kiss'. Or the bad boy she shared it with. Now, 17 years later, he's back - and, dammit, he's still sexy as hell… As owner of The Book Spire in the sleepy town of Cypress Hollow, Lucy Harrison isn't used to too much excitement. But in one night all that changes when Owen Bancroft walks back into her life and sparks - quite literally - fly.

I enjoyed this but not as much as her first book. Think it was the farmer (cowboy) who sucked me into the first one! LOL. My life is trashy sometimes!

Blog Everyday of June

2011-06-30T21:38:00.005+10:00

OMG - June 30th is finally here and I have managed to blog everyday. I am so proud of myself! I have really enjoyed the experience. Not only have I enjoyed sharing the more personal aspects of my life with you all BUT I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and learning more about you all.

So what now? I've lots of challenges coming up in the next few months and before I know it I'll be back at work where I will have to refocus and learn lots of "library stuff" again.

Looking forward to catching up with you all in library land (whatever form that takes) in the near future...

Cardmaking Challenge, the Final Two!

2011-06-29T19:51:00.004+10:00

June 29 – Make a card using a border punch.

June 30 – Make a card with some sort of folds or folded paper on it.

I am so pleased that I managed to make all 30 cards from scratch in 30 (well 29) days. I have had such a ball doing this challenge and have learnt lots along the way. Think I'll keep uploading them from now on!

My bookshelves

2011-06-28T20:42:00.005+10:00

I always love looking at bookshelves so here are a few happy snaps of mine. These of course only consist of my "reading books". Mine and hubby's uni books are in the study, cookbooks and mags are in the kitchen and bedroom and all my scrapbooking mags are in the bedroom too! But I love to look at these shelves everyday. It's my favourite room in the house. Just need more time to read!

Cardmaking Challenge, Week 4

2011-06-27T13:46:00.007+10:00

June 22 – Make a Christmas themed card in non-traditional colours.

June 23 – Make a card with some embossing.

June 24 – Make a card using your coloured pencils.

June 25 – Make a vintage inspired card with lace.

June 26 – Make a card with torn paper.

June 27 – Make a card with hand made flowers.

June 28 – Make a card with some fabric on it.

Only two more cards to go!

Looking ahead to July...

2011-06-26T21:30:00.004+10:00

Stealing Retrokatz post and looking ahead to the future. In July I want to...

UNI - Make a start on my Uni reading for HR. I am organised and contacted lecturer early so I know what I have to read. I even ordered the book through work. I unwrapped it today - now I just have to start reading...

Tax time - Get organised and do return in July!

My birthday - Enjoy celebrations. Dinner with hubby, Daylesford retreat...

Movies - Off to see Harry Potter in Gold Class. Bought my tickets weeks ago. Have never been so really looking forward to it!

Read more - Haven't finished a book in over three weeks! Gotta get back in the zone!

Continue blogging - just because June is almost over it doesn't mean I have to stop blogging!

Scrapbooking - start new scrapbook challenge (a double page per week) and also take part in the Week in the Life challenge. Make more cards and sell some.

Family - Spend quality one on one time with both the kids and hubby.

Sleep more - Is that really possible with two small kids??

Bonfire Night

2011-06-26T21:08:00.002+10:00

There's nothing better than a bonfire with friends.

My house

2011-06-24T21:36:00.006+10:00

We live just out of town between Ballarat and Creswick on 5 glorious acres. I love having the space. There is always lots of fun activities to partake in such as swimming, car racing and like tomorrow night - a bonfire!

Side view. Couldn't be bothered moving two cars to get front shot! Is a beautiful house though. Old station house which is about 130 years old but has been renovated and extended a fair few times!

The dam. Good for swimming in and for catching a few redfin too! Lots of ducks also!

We need lots of wood to heat the house. Lucky my hubby is an arborist so the wood is free - just lots of effort to prepare it. Love my heater though!

Fresh vegies! We have about 5 different vegie patches and we've planted an orchard too.

Adam loves the sandpit and his trucks!

Ah, paddock bombs - gotta have a few of them! And yes, paddock bombs have been driven into the dam, then winched out and have still been drivable!

Kid 2 - Luke

2011-06-23T20:17:00.005+10:00

My gorgeous baby boy is almost 5 months old now! Boy time goes fast! He is such a good little bubba. He dropped the night feed at about 13 weeks but still needs to be settled once in the night. So waiting the day he drops this! But he is starting to get to that good age now. He babbles away to himself, loves his play gym and loves his big brother even more. His eyes follow Adam around the room constantly! He can roll from his tummy to his back and is almost there on his back to front... He has such a cheeky little smile. You go into his room once he wakes and there he is smiling and giggling up at you from his cot. Enough to melt my heart. Love you Lukey xoxoxo

Kid 1 - Adam

2011-06-22T21:07:00.005+10:00

The above is a photo of me and Adam taken a few months ago when we went on the steam train for Heritage Weekend. The train ran past our property so it was fantastic to see the place from a different angle.

Adam turned 2 in March. He is such a wonderful little boy. Don't get me wrong, he is a NIGHTMARE to take shopping (grabs everything off the shelves, hates getting in his car seat etc.). BUT, he is wonderful in many other ways... He is so brilliant to his baby brother and loves him very much. Ads (or Addy as he is commonly refered to) is just starting to string sentences together like" I love you mummy". He has such a cheeky smile and is always the life of the party. He loves to sing and dance, and he loves his dogs, especially Jules (who is extremely patient with him!) He is a really laid back kid who plays well with others, and generally shares... He is obsessed with trains, cars, trucks and buses. His other passion in life is Toy Story and Shrek! He loves animals too - cows, sheep, dogs, fish... Just love him to bits and can't wait to watch him grow in a young man... Love you Adam xoxo

Cardmaking Challenge Week 3

2011-06-21T19:43:00.014+10:00

June 15 – Make a gatefold card.

June 16 – Make a card using no less than 3 brads/eyelets.

June 17 – Make a card with heat embossing on it.

June 18 – Make a card with a stamped background.

June 19 – Make a card using the colours purple and yellow.

June 20 – Make a card with something metal on it.

June 21 – Make a card for a new baby.

This week was tough as many were first time cards for me. Loving it though!

Picture Books about Libraries

2011-06-20T22:10:00.002+10:00

One thing you may not know about me is that I collect picture books that feature libraries and books. So far I have a collection of about 40 or so... They are locked in the "special" bookcase to keep prying hands away from them! It's easy to get newly published ones and thanks to Bookmooch I have amassed many others from around the globe.

Bookmooch

2011-06-19T22:33:00.004+10:00

Logo artwork courtesy of BookMooch.com

I know we are all heading towards e-books and such devices but I am still a massive fan of the paper book! I do borrow from the library but generally I acquire second hand books from shops, markets, garage sales and my favourite book swapping site Bookmooch. BookMooch lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want. I really encourage you to take a look. I have traded hundred of books over the years and have found hidden gems from all over the world...

Saturday Crop Day

2011-06-18T21:34:00.004+10:00

Today I headed to Melton for a full Scrapbook/Cardmarking crop day. Basically you bring what ever project you are working on and all sit down and scrap and chat together. The above pages are half finished. They form part of my sons album which celebrates "When he was 1". These snaps are from when we went camping with a group of friends to Lorne early last year. I have never been to a crop day before but just loved it. I achieved so much (I did some of this weeks cards too for the cardmaking challenge). Here's hoping I can make some more crop days (though hubby generally works weekends...)

Friday Scrap Class

2011-06-18T21:28:00.002+10:00

On Friday night I headed out to my friends for a scrapbooking class. We made the above double page and all I need to do is insert photos (when I decide what to use the pages for). I love heading to my friends as it's a group of women and kids who come together and scrap and chat. A nice relaxing evening once a month... Am hoping to attend more classes but alas am time (and money) poor!

My Other Personal Learning Network...

2011-06-16T19:38:00.003+10:00

My other big Personal Learning Network (PLN) is my Mother's Group. These women are both amazing and fabulous and have gotten me through the first 2 years of motherhood with plenty of advice but most importantly warmth, love, friendship and lots of laughs. Each are amazing in their own way and the love and support has been invaluable.

The above photo is at Jo's parents farm. We all headed down for the day so the kids could feed the pigs, potty calves, chickens etc. Followed by a sausage sizzle for lunch and naps on the way home.

Tired...

2011-06-15T21:57:00.004+10:00

Tonight I am EXTREMELY tired due to the following little munchkins:

I absolutely LOVE being a mum but sometimes it can be very draining. Last night Adam was up for almost 3 hours in the middle of the night - for no apparent reason. Highly unusual for him. Luke on the other hand still requires settling at least once each night. Generally I can function well and power through the day - IF I have enough sleep. So anyway, here's to a night of long peaceful sleep (I hope!)

Cardmaking challenge, Week 2

2011-06-14T20:02:00.009+10:00

I struggled a bit with week 2 as we went away for a few days and I sort of lost my mojo. Happy with most of the below but it highlights to me how many more supplies I still need!

June 8 – Make a card using no less than 3 buttons

June 9 – Make a card using glitter

June 10 – Make a card in a shape that is not square or rectangle

June 11 – Make a card using the colours pink and orange

June 12 – Make a card that features some chipboard

June 13 – Make a card with lots of distressing

June 14 – Make a card using paint somewhere

Book: Rosalee Station

2011-06-13T21:46:00.003+10:00

Summary: Sarah Clarke's dream is to experience life in the real outback. When her boyfriend Brad offers her a job with him on Rosalee Station, she can't believe her luck. But within days of arriving, her relationship is in tatters, and the dream is fast losing its lustre.

Sarah stays on to prove herself in the unforgiving land, earning the admiration of Matt, the station owners' son. Beneath the wide outback skies, the pair are irresistibly drawn to each other, until a stolen kiss leads to disaster. Sarah leaves Rosalee, convinced she'll never see Matt again – but fate has a way of intervening . . .

Loved this. Only criticism is that there is ALOT of Aussie slang - much of which I don't know. Otherwise awesome outback romance! Love that this genre has grown so much the last few years.

Long weekend, Day 3

2011-06-12T20:41:00.003+10:00

Whenever we stay with our friends (or vice versa) the board game challenge is on. I absolutely love board games but we only play a few times a year with these friends. Generally we play Cluedo, cards and most importantly Monopoly! The winner reigns supreme! This weekend consisted of lots of cards: spit; gerzunk and canasta. Then Boogle and multiple games of Monopoly. Can't wait for my boys to grow a little bigger so we can sit down to good old fashioned family fun!

Long weekend, Day 2

2011-06-12T20:33:00.004+10:00

The next day we headed further afield - 20 minutes to Walkerville. This beach is a gorgeous spot which overlooks Wilsom's Prom. The beach has lots of rocks and caves to explore and is much more secluded and the waves are MUCH smaller. Adam had more fun splashing about and playing here than at the BIG BEACH!

Long weekend, Day 1

2011-06-12T20:28:00.003+10:00

On Thursday afternoon we headed off to the beach for three lovely nights. We stayed with friends down at Venus Bay in South Gippsland. We are so lucky to be able to head down to this gorgeous location a few times each year. Adam was VERY excited to go to the beach but like at Xmas it takes him a few days to warm up to it. We had been there about 2 minutes before he was waving and saying "good-bye" to the water. He slowly progressed the next day at Walkerville...

Book: How to make a bird

2011-06-09T11:56:00.002+10:00

Summary: Mannie is escaping - from small town life, from family mysteries, from grief, from her fragile former self; she's heading for the city in search of an elusive 'something' to make herself feel right.

A good teen novel about finding ones self. I enjoyed as she was from the country in a place not too far from here so I always enjoy reading about places I know.

Off to the beach soon for the long weekend so posts may not be forthcoming dependant on internet access!

Library Storytimes...

2011-06-08T13:57:00.003+10:00

I worked back in public libraries when I was 18-21 on the service desk and in tech services so I kind of got what storytime was about - sort of...

In reality it hasn't really been embedded into me what a fantastic asset they are until I had my own kids. We go to Rhyme time every Friday to see Sam (fantastic girl - does a brilliant job). Over the past few months I have really seen Adam blossom and each week he now picks up more actions to the rhymes etc. I also love the special storytimes that we take part in.

In Library and Information week we went along for the National Simultaneous Storytime session to hear Phoebe's Feathers being read by the local Mayor. Adam hardly listened and was more interested in the toys but it was still lovely to be part of the event.

Today we went to the library and the Gruffalo came to visit. Adam is probably a little small for some of these sessions but I still get a kick out of taking him. At least he got to "draw" afterwards - one of his favourite things.

We've also been for Easter where we made a bonnet and a basket and got chocolate eggs. We've also go when authors come to read their own work. All in all a fantastic service offered but one I probably gave little kudos to until I started using it! Thanks to all the brilliant staff at CHRLC.

Cardmaking challenge, Week 1

2011-06-07T19:30:00.009+10:00

This month I am a glutton for punishment. I am taking part in a "Make a card everyday of June" challenge too, care of Scrap Everything. Each week we are given a brief on what to make - the rest is only limited by your imagination. For instance, this week was:

June 1 – Make a square shaped card for a male

June 2 – Make a sympathy card

June 3 – Make a card using the colours blue and brown

June 4 – Make a card using at least 3 different ribbons

June 5 – Make a card using die cuts

June 6 – Make a card using flowers

June 7 – Make a card using the colours red, black and white

All in all I'm pretty happy with how most of them turned out. I'm still just a newbie to cardmaking so I look at others work and think WOW, AMAZING. But in reality, who cares! I'm loving participating and that's the main thing! More cards in a week!

Personal Learning Network

2011-06-06T20:45:00.005+10:00

Some recent blogs such as Tania and Kate (and others that I fail to remember at this point) have been discussing the benefit of their Personal Learning Networks (PLN's). You can catch me on Twitter @gemmas1980 however I'm not a big tweeter - more of a silent observer. I'm more of a face-to-face girl and have immensely enjoyed that last few days catching up with my lovely library girls!

As I am currently on maternity leave I'm not as often in touch with those who I regularly called on for help with library related issues. On Sunday I caught up with Michelle (local), Laura (Melbourne) and Sherrill (Geelong) who travelled to Ballarat for lunch. It was great to catch up on library news and just to discuss life over wine. Something I have missed immensely the last few months.

Today I travelled to a kids indoor play centre in Hopper's Crossing to catch up with Tania (who is also on maternity leave) and Jill who is just starting back in the library world after having time off to be a mum. We chatted about libraries, life and motherhood! A fantastic time where the two toddlers could play and we could chat. Rather different to the dinners and library events where we normal meet.

To me these PLN's are invaluable. Though I benefit from networks such as Twitter, nothing beats the face-to-face interaction for me!

Book: Bark Cutters

2011-06-05T16:28:00.002+10:00

Summary: Sarah Gordon knows what she wants: the family homestead, Wangallon. When it comes to working the homestead she’s a natural but as a woman, it’s not her birthright. Even when her beloved brother, Cameron James, first born and heir, is killed in a tragic accident, nobody looks to Sarah to inherit. Instead her grandfather passes management to the one man she truly loves. Feeling betrayed she runs away to Sydney to try to put Wangallon, behind her, but it’s in her blood. She is constantly drawn back to Wangallon but when will she finally admit that it’s not just Wangallon she longs for but the station’s manager, Anthony.

Loved this one. Was a bit more in depth than some of the other rural romances I like to read. Have the sequel at home. Just so little time and so many books...

Clunes Booktown 2011

2011-06-04T10:58:00.007+10:00

Once again I was lucky enough to head out to the picturesque town of Clunes located only 15 minutes from my door. Booktown is held annually and consists of thousands of rare and second hand books, writers talks and street performances. This year I only bought about 10 books which was pretty good for me. I was however lucky enough to catch a couple of writers talks and my notes from these are below:

Writing Family, Peter Rose, Anne Deveson, Tara June Winch

AD - Wrote it 2 years after his death
PR - About brother who became a quadriplegic, written 1 year after his death (Brother, Uncles, Fathers all played for Collingwood, Father coached them)
ALL - Started from tragedies and deaths
AD - Help came from the most unlikely of places - the plumber!
PR - Sometimes books are over dramatised to draw in readers. Lots of woe. Not always that bad though. Hard to write memoir due to repercussions etc. But don't baulk at it, write it. Very liberating.
TJW - Characters are an amalgamation of the traits of different family members/friends.
AD/PR - People approached them thinking they were experts on schizophrenia/quadriplegia etc. as they had written about them in their books. Also having mental illness/disability in the family soon highlights those friends that are loyal.

Bob Hawke, Biography
I was lucky enough to hear Bob Hawke speak this year, last year it was Malcolm Fraser. Just so fantastic the array and calibre of guests they are drawing. Anyway, here's a bit of what Bob had to say, such a character:

Thinks Tony Abott is potentially dangerous as a future PM.
Good leadership is: capacity/willingness to listen; intelligence; readiness to take risks.
Doesn't think any international leaders stand out as fantastic. All are good - but not great.
A lot of politics is charades. No genuine debate if you already have the numbers.
No such thing as free education - it's who pays? Hence introduction of schemes like HECS.
In reflection he thinks his performance as PM was overall "pretty bloody good". But in hindsight could obviously improve in some areas.
Enabling people to make judgements on knowledge - biography/autobiography.
Today's big issues - climate change; economy; indigenous disadvantage.

Just had the most brilliant time there. Well worth going to!

Book: North Star

2011-06-03T21:12:00.001+10:00

Summary: Since her divorce a year ago, Kate Thurston feels like she's lurched from one disaster to another. Her teenage daughter, Georgia, seems to have morphed into a monster overnight, and her son Liam breaks her heart with his sad brown eyes.
When Kate receives news that her grandfather has bequeathed her North Star, the vast property that has been in her family for generations, it feels like the perfect opportunity to flee the hectic pace of city life for a calmer rural existence.
As soon as she arrives at North Star, however, Kate realises she's going to need every ounce of determination to restore the rundown homestead to its former glory and fulfil her dream of turning it into a bush retreat. And as for the farm, well it's in utter disarray. As she starts to make headway with the homestead's restoration, and falls for a local bloke, Kate finally feels like life is going right for her. Then her ex-husband comes to town and triggers a series of events that will change her life forever ...

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. Awesome trashy country romance! Can't wait for more from this author!

Book: Dark Country

2011-06-02T13:26:00.003+10:00

Summary: Most people in the small town of Dungirri have considered Morgan ‘Gil’ Gillespie a murderer for eighteen years, so he expects no welcome on his return. What he doesn’t expect is the discovery of a woman’s tortured body in the boot of his car, and new accusations of murder. Wearied by too many deaths and doubting her own skills, local police sergeant Kris Matthews isn’t sure whether Gil is a decent man wronged by life, or a brutal criminal she should be locking up. But she does know that he is not guilty of this murder – because she is his alibi . . .

Between organised crime, police corruption, and the hatred of a town, Gil has nowhere to hide. He needs to work out who’s behind the murder before his enemies realise that the one thing more punishing than putting him back in prison would be to harm the few people he cares about. Kris is determined to help him, but will their search for the truth make her the next target?

The first book, As Darkness Falls (review below) was great. This one was a little slower to get into. Still loved it though and am looking forward to more from this author.

Blog Everyday of June

2011-06-01T19:31:00.002+10:00

As my blogging is somewhat sporadic I thought I'd attempt the Blog Every Day of June Challenge. The official hashtag for this event is #blogjune

So for those who don't know me a little bit of info...

I live in Ballarat in regional Victoria and work as a medical librarian. I am currently on maternity leave playing mum to 4 month old Luke and my beautiful 2 year old boy Adam. Back to work later in the year though...

I live on about 5 acres just out of town with my hubby, kids and dogs and love the space we have to roam.

In my spare time (yeah right!) I love to sleep, read, cook, scrapbook and make cards. Am actually participating in a make 30 cards challenge also this month!

So what can you expect from me this month.... Book reviews, library/literary event reviews and who knows what else! That's as far as I've thought ahead!

The Big Read, at Ballarat Library

2011-04-15T21:40:00.003+10:00

On Sunday April 10th, Adam, Luke and I headed to our local library for the Big Read. We heard a story-teller, looked at some books then sat down to read. I pulled out Adam's new Thomas the Tank book which he received on the day and the lollipop in the bag to actually make him sit still. We read for about 1o minutes before he got bored (pretty good) and it goes without saying that his new book now has several sticky pages!! Was a great morning though and was a pity we had to leave as he'd have done the crafty things all day. Oh, there were Chinese dragons who were VERY loud. He only liked them from a distance...

Book: Eliza's Gift

2011-04-15T21:32:00.002+10:00

Summary: When Abigail Durant inherits a cottage from her friend, the world famous knitting guru Eliza Carpenter, she's sees it as her chance to start anew after the terrifying end of her last relationship. Only problem is, the cottage is slap-bang in the middle of a sheep ranch owned by Cade MacArthur, Eliza's tall, dark and infuriating nephew. Cade's a man's man, a cowboy through and through, and he's none too pleased there's now a young - albeit very pretty - woman living on his property. And that's before she tells him she plans to turn her new home into a knitting shop a With battlelines drawn, city girl and cowboy go head to head. But soon, with the sexual chemistry fizzing between them, both start to question the real nature of Eliza's gift...

Awesome cowboy romance! Makes me want to take up knitting. Just a lovely trashy country chick lit book. Loved it!

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Breath

2011-04-15T21:25:00.003+10:00

Summary: In the first part of the book, the narrator, Bruce Pike, recounts his boyhood friendship with Ivan "Loonie" Loon. As young boys, Pikelet and Loonie dare each other to perform dangerous stunts in the local river. When they become teenagers, they take up surfing and meet a former professional surfer named Sando, who leads them to new levels of recklessness. The novel explores the boys' youthful urge to seek out the farthest limits of courage, endurance and sanity in an attempt to escape the ordinariness of their lives. The second half of Breath is concerned with the disintegration of Pikelet's friendship with Sando and Loonie and his developing relationship with Sando's American wife Eva.

I liked this book alot but I didn't love it. It just lacked... something for me. Not sure what though. Also thought it was quite similar to Dirt Music in places. Worth reading though, it is a Miles Franklin winner after all!

Book: Mr Darcy Broke my Heart

2011-04-15T21:17:00.003+10:00

Summary: Recently unemployed Claire Prescott heads to England to give a paper for her sister at a Jane Austen seminar. Not an Austen scholar by any means, Claire feels out of place at Oxford among the learned Austenites until she’s approached by elderly Harriet Dalrymple, who claims to be in possession of a partial manuscript of First Impressions, an early version of Pride and Prejudice. When she shows Claire the manuscript bit by bit, Claire is surprised to find a very different love story for Elizabeth Bennet unfolding on the page. Claire is questioning her own relationship with her stable but sports-obsessed boyfriend, Neil, while engaging in a serious flirtation with James, a handsome, inscrutable publisher. When Claire presents her sister’s paper and finds some startling parallels to her own life in it, she realizes she has some serious reevaluating to do.

An Austen spin off. Was ok, didn't quite hit all the marks for me but a nice chick lit story none the less!

Monday Night Bookgroup: The Closers

2011-04-15T20:45:00.003+10:00

Summary: After three years out of the LAPD, Harry Bosch returns, to find the department a different place from the one he left. A new Police Chief has been brought over from New York to give the place a thorough clean up from top to bottom. Working with his former partner, Kiz Rider, Harry is assigned to the department's Open-Unsolved Unit, working on the thousands of cold cases that haunt the LAPD's files. These detectives are the Closers — they put a shovel in the dirt and turn over the past. By applying new techniques to old evidence they aim to unearth some hidden killers and bring them to justice, for "a city that forgets its murder victims is a city lost." Harry and Kiz are given a politically sensitive case when a DNA match connects a white supremacist to the 1988 murder of Rebecca Verloren, a sixteen-year-old girl. Becky was of mixed race, and the case appears to have a racial angle. This was LA before the riots and Rodney King; the city was a powder keg waiting for a match. The detectives who worked the case all those years ago seem to have done a decent job, but something doesn't fit.

Loved this book. Will definitely be ready more Harry Bosch novels!

Book: As Darkness Falls

2011-04-15T20:41:00.003+10:00

Summary: Haunted by her failures, Detective Isabelle O’Connell is recalled to duty by DCI Alec Goddard to investigate the abduction of yet another child from her home town. They have only days to find the girl alive, with few clues, a town full of suspects, and a vast wilderness to search. It soon becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Bella firmly in the killer’s sights. For Bella, this case is already personal; for Alec, his best intentions to keep it purely professional soon dissolve, and his anguish over Bella’s safety moves beyond the concern for a colleague. Their mutual attraction leaves them both vulnerable to their private nightmares – nightmares the killer ruthlessly exploits.

Loved it. Similar to the Aussie rural romance ones but with a bit of crime thrown in. Easy enjoyable read!

Monday Night Bookgroup: Alchemist

2011-04-15T20:35:00.003+10:00

Summary: The tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures. He journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment.

One of those tales that is meant to touch you spiritually but just didn't do it for me (or anyone else in bookgroup either!)

Book: Place of Safety

2011-04-15T20:27:00.003+10:00

Summary: The rape of a young asylum seeker plunges family care lawyer Lilly Valentine into the toughest case of her life. 14-year-old Anna lives in Hounds Place, a hostel in Bedfordshire for youngsters seeking refuge from the atrocities being carried out in their homelands. A chance meeting with three public schoolboys ends in her being horrifically assaulted. When Artan, Anna's friend and a fellow asylum seeker, approaches Lilly about seeking justice through the courts she warns him that the law may not be on their side. Who will believe the words of an asylum seeker over the account of three privileged English boys? Despite this, Lilly is loath to get involved. After all, she is supposed to be putting her family and work commitments first. But Lilly quickly lives to regret that decision when Artan and Anna turn up at a school armed with guns, determined to take matters into their own hands. The day turns to tragedy and Anna is arrested.Wracked with guilt, Lilly is compelled to take on Anna's case despite the objections of her boyfriend Jack, boss, and most importantly, her own son Sam - a pupil at the school. Her decision to defend Anna attracts a huge backlash from the press and the community. And when local racist groups pick up on the story, Lilly's family and friends become a target. Can Lilly follow her conscience and defend Anna - or is this case just too close to home?

Was a good read. A bit slow in places but I'll give this author another shot.

Book: Not Buying It

2011-04-15T20:19:00.002+10:00

Summary: Other than phenomenal willpower and maxed-out credit cards, what does it take to simply stop purchasing for 12 months? Levine took the plunge and found it irritating, exhilarating, thought provoking, and humiliating among many other conflicting emotions. What's an inexpensive substitute for Q-tips? How to best gift a soon-to-be college graduate without spending any money? How to avoid the consumption seduction that lurks in every corner? Levine chronicles her feelings in this almost-weekly diary of the year of nonpurchasing. Many of her points are intentionally provocative; for instance, not buying makes her feel vulnerable and having to ask for help...

This book was ok but was quite intellectual in points and discussed economic theory etc. Not really what I was after but still a decent read.

Book: Heart of Gold

2011-04-15T20:14:00.002+10:00

Summary: CJ Wishart is a hardworking country girl with a heart of gold but a life that can be tough. Her job as a wool classer is back-breaking, her family life is a disaster and, after a string of dating debacles, she's put men in the too-hard basket. When strong, handsome Lindsay arrives on the scene as their new shearer, CJ can't help but take notice. They have an undeniable spark, but can she handle the complications and potential heartbreak of falling in love? With help from her friend and an endearing old farmer, CJ learns that when you stay true to yourself and open your heart, anything is possible.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! I adore these books and just can't get enough. Trashy outback romance but with the Aussie flavour and shearing shed! Bliss!

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

2011-04-15T20:03:00.003+10:00

Summary: This book tracks the lives of two teens, childhood friends who have been sent to a small Chinese village for "re-education" during Mao's Cultural Revolution. Sons of doctors and dentists, their days are now spent muscling buckets of excrement up the mountainside and mining coal. But the boys receive a bit of a reprieve when the villagers discover their talents as storytellers; they are sent on monthly treks to town, tasked with watching a movie and relating it in detail on their return. It is here that they encounter the little seamstress, whom Luo falls for instantly. When, through a series of comic and clever tricks and favors, the boys acquire a suitcase full of forbidden Western literature, Luo decides to "re-educate" the ignorant girl whom he hopes will become his intellectual match.

I liked the book but it was all a bit of fairy-tale type nonsense for me and I wasn't too keen on the open ending... Pleased to have read it though.

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2011-04-14T21:24:00.004+10:00

Summary: January 1946 - London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is.

Oh what a gorgeous book. I loved this. So beautiful, highly recommend reading.

Book: One Red Paperclip

2011-04-14T21:16:00.002+10:00

Summary: Kyle MacDonald had a paperclip. One red paperclip, a dream, and a resume to write. And bills to pay. Oh, and a very patient girlfriend who was paying the rent while he was once again “between jobs.” Kyle wanted to be able to provide for himself and his girlfriend, Dominique. He wanted to own his own home. He wanted something bigger than a paperclip. So he put an ad on Craigslist, the popular classifieds website, with the intention of trading that paperclip for something better. A girl in Vancouver offered him a fish pen in exchange for his paperclip. He traded the fish pen for a doorknob and the doorknob for a camping stove. Before long he had traded the camping stove for a generator for a neon sign. Not long after that, avid snow-globe collector and television star Corbin Bernsen and the small Canadian town of Kipling were involved, and Kyle was on to bigger and better things.

In One Red Paperclip, Kyle takes you on a journey around the globe as he moves from paperclip holder to homeowner in just fourteen trades. With plenty of irreverent and insightful anecdotes and practical tips on how you can find your own paperclip and realize your dreams, he proves it’s possible to succeed in life and achieve your dreams on your own terms. Quirky and inspirational, this story of a regular guy and a small, red, now-legendary paperclip will have you looking at your office supplies-and your life-in a whole new way.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It isn't the best written or anything but it just grabbed me from the start and I was hooked. Highly recommend!

Monday Night Bookgroup: An Orphans Escape

2011-04-14T21:00:00.004+10:00

My Saturday Bookgroup has now switched to Monday nights - so much easier with kids!

Summary: It was Christmas 1940 when brothers Billy six, Bobby, four, and Frank, not yet three, became wards of the state. They spent twelve hard years inside the Ballarat Orphan Asylum, suffering cruelty, deprivation and humiliation at the hands of their carers in the emotional wasteland of state care. But Frank Golding and his brothers were not orphans at all; the state had deemed their parents unworthy of raising them due to an 'irregular domestic situation.' Golding and his brothers constantly wondered 'Where are our parents? Why won't they come to rescue us?' The questions itched like scabs. Fifty years later, Golding learned of his parent's desperate battle to regain custody of their sons despite bureaucratic bungling and autocratic indifference.

I only persevered with this book because it was for bookgroup and it was about Ballarat so I could visualize all the places etc. Otherwise it was a very dry read.

Book: Under the Duvet

2011-04-14T20:50:00.003+10:00

Summary: Bursting with her hilarious observations – on life, in-laws, weight loss and parties; her love of shoes and her LTFs (Long-Term Friends); the horrors of estate agents and lost luggage; and how she once had an office Christmas party that involved roasting two sheep on a spit, Moroccan style – it's the perfect bedtime companion, and will have you wincing with recognition or roaring with laughter.

Brilliant collection of short stories, articles etc. Some obviously better than other but I really enjoyed these!

Book: Great Australian Girls

2011-04-14T20:37:00.002+10:00

Summary: Whether it's swimming the fastest 100 metres in the world, flying a plane or starring on stage, anything is possible if you dare. Great Australian Girls tells remarkable stories of over 20 determined women-many of whom began to achieve extraordinary things while still girls. This fascinating collection of stories ranging from convict to contemporary times will convince you that girls can do anything!

A nice interesting read. Some good stories, others just ok.

Book: The Associate

2011-04-14T20:29:00.002+10:00

Summary: Kyle McAvoy, a callow Yale Law School student, dreams of a public service gig on graduation, until shadowy figures blackmail him with a videotape that could revive a five-year-old rape accusation. Instead of helping those in need, McAvoy accepts a position at a huge Wall Street firm, Scully & Pershing, whose clients include a military contractor enmeshed in a $800 billion lawsuit concerning a newly-designed aircraft. McAvoy can avoid exposure of his past if he feeds his new masters inside information on the case.

A classic Grisham. Loved it!

New Addition

2011-04-14T20:23:00.004+10:00

I have definitely been very quiet of late but that may only be online, not in real life. In reality I have read LOTS of books which I will post later, but most importantly we had a new addition to the family!

Meet LUKE PETER SIEMENSMA. Born January 27th at 3:33pm at the Ballarat Base. A gorgeous brother for Adam. I ended up having an emergency caesarean after a nasty labour but all is forgotten now (almost)! He is such a beautiful boy and am loving having sometime at home with my two boys.

Book: Love in the Age of Drought

2011-01-01T22:31:00.003+11:00

First book for 2011. OK, half was read in 2010 but it counts as a 2011 book in my mind...

Summary: When Fiona Collins meets Stuart Higgins at a conference in Melbourne, she isn't looking for a relationship, let alone the upheaval of falling for an eco-aware cotton farmer from South-East Queensland. But then life never goes quite according to plan… When Stuart sends Fiona a pair of crusty old boots and a declaration of his feelings just sixteen days into their relationship, it's the start of a love story that endures - in spite of distance, the strain of Stuart's farm entering its fourth year of drought, and Fiona's own issues with commitment. Something's got to give and eventually Fiona puts everything on the line - her career, her Sydney life, her future - and moves to Stuart's farm. Nearest township? Jandowae, population 750.

I enjoyed this book. Not super fab but still good. Love that old romantic farmer story... Very different sort of couple though!

2010 Books in Review

2010-12-24T09:59:00.005+11:00

WOW! I read 34 books. I am so proud of myself. What a big year. Anyway, a quick overview of what I read:

Teenage, 11 books (10 of which were the amazing Tomorrow series!)
Chick Lit, 6 books
Crime, 3 books
General Fiction, 6 books
Non-fiction, 8 books

Hmm, any surprises? Not really.... Disappointed that I read very few of my bookgroup ones though. But you know, I always go into the next year saying that'll change! LOL. Plus, I will be home more in 2011 (with 2 small kids mind you) but hopefully that'll help. Would love to conquer the 52 books again. Only time will tell...

Book: Skipping Christmas

2010-12-17T13:18:00.003+11:00

Summary: Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded malls, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences–and isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.

Loved this book. Was a quick read but just perfect considering Christmas is only a week or so away. Highly recommended...

Book: The making of me

2010-12-16T16:21:00.003+11:00

Summary: Tegan Wagner, 14, thought she was going to a party with friends. Instead, she found herself trapped in a house with a group of older boys she had never met before. She was gang raped that night by three brothers. What followed forms the basis of Tegan Wagner's riveting story as she struggled to cope with the fallout from that horrific night – the betrayal of friends, the school yard scrutiny, the psychological scars and the eventual descent into drugs and self harm as a way of dealing with the trauma of the rapes.

But eventually she found the courage and determination to pick herself up and speak out about what had happened to her. After three frustrating years her case finally came to trial and she faced the brothers in court. She withstood the anxiety and pressure of the legal process and then, in one further act of bravery, unveiled her identity to the media in order to encourage other victims of rape to report the crime and not hide away in shame.

A great quick read. So sad to hear how our legal system works at times. What a brave girl. Brilliant.

Book: Head over heels

2010-12-16T16:17:00.002+11:00

Summary: At the age of nineteen, a young farmer, Sam Bailey, became a quadriplegic after a freak car accident. After years of struggle, he learned how to resume his life as a farmer, running a sheep and cattle property in north-west New South Wales. Then he met and fell in love with Jenny Black, an ABC Rural journalist, proposed to her on air, and the rest is history.

A great story. Both Sam and Jenny are remarkable people. really inspirational read. Loved it!

Night Bookgroup: Never Say Die

2010-12-16T16:14:00.003+11:00

Summary: It was a cruel twist of fate: in November 2006 Chris O′Brien, one of the country′s leading head and neck cancer surgeons, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and almost inevitably lethal form of brain cancer. As he knew, few sufferers survive past 12 months. Nevertheless, he was determined to beat the odds.

I really enjoyed this book and got through it in a few days but it wasn't the best autobiography ever. There was too much about childhood etc. rather than focusing on the cancer which was what I was more interested in. Brilliant man though, pity he is no longer with us.

Health Libraries Inc Conference

2010-11-04T17:18:00.001+11:00

On Friday October 22^nd I headed to Melbourne’s RACV Club for the 7^th Health Libraries Inc. Conference. It was great to catch up face-to-face with lots of people as I haven’t really made it to many events since I left work last time to have my first bub. Here are my notes from the day…

TROVE : Alison Delit

1 million registered users.

Thousands of volunteers.

20-30 new releases this year.

Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube search “on the side” – no control.

Should we:

Bulk upload our A-Z journals?

Share old photos on Picture Australia?

Training and Support for Remote Library Users : Jane Ryan

They use WebEx.

Cost, scalability, functionality all things to consider.

DimDim & Yumya – both free but limited.

Should we:

Citrix (which IT may implement here…)

Otherwise who do IT/GRAHnet use? If at all?

KOHA : Marion Steele & Heather Walker

Free open source LMS.

Available in multiple languages.

41 in Australia using – 33 health/medical. Includes ABS and soon to be NT Health.

Appealing features: low cost; web based; simple interface; independence from IT; support; ease/speed of implementation.

Trade offs: some of the above; bugs; authority files incorrect.

ENDNOTE : Jenny Ward

Purchased per PC – approx $500 each.

On shared network drive.

There are free reference management systems available.

Reusable Learning Objects : Sharee Crocker

RLO is information literacy by any other name ie. Electronic; multimedia etc. For instance video clips on YouTube on how to search Deakin Library Catalogue etc.

Captivate and Camtasia are the 2 products they use to “shoot” the clip.

Need Flash; Quicktime; Adobe Reader; MP4: Windows Media Player etc. also…

Library instruction with Screencast Software : Jann Small

Jing – free program. Felt Camtasia was too complex.

Screencasting – same as RLO ie. Information literacy by another means.

These are to be seen as complimentary to face-to-face, not as the main alternative.

Jing can be viewed in web browser, don’t need media players/programs.

5 minutes recording time.

Book: Broken

2010-10-29T15:41:00.002+11:00

This sort of followed on from the Ladykiller but you could have read it out of order if you wanted to (unless you remember EVERYTHING you read in a book). Again it was great trashy crime.

Summary: Leading an investigation into the neglect and abandonment of a number of young Grantley children throws DI Kate Burrows into contact with the most vile and repugnant of criminals. As a mother herself, Kate finds their crimes almost incomprehensible. And with the case becoming ever more sinister, she knows she needs to find answers quickly.

Book: Ladykiller

2010-10-07T17:05:00.003+11:00

Back into my crime spree. hadn't read a Martina Cole for ages and she is just as good as I remember. This was fairly predictable etc. but still a great trashy read!

Summary: George Markham has a nasty little hobby, one that erupts into an orgy of viscous sexual depravity. Patrick Kelly is a hard man. His one soft spot is his daughter, and when she falls victim to the Grantley Ripper, Kelly wants revenge. The DI in charge of the case is Kate Burrows. She feels for Kelly but her growing involvement with a known villain is putting her career at risk... As the forces of law and order and London’s underworld converge in a huge manhunt, Kate fears she’ll lose everything she’s ever cared about... to the ladykiller.

Baby news

2010-09-29T08:58:00.000+10:00

The reason I actually read the last book was because we are expecting baby number 2! I am about 22-23weeks at the minute so am due in late January 2011. We are very excited and we are sure that Adam will be an amazing big brother. We don't know what we are having but we have affectionately called it Gertrude - or Gertie for short (was the worst name we could think of to go with Frank who turned into an Adam!)

Travelling along OK now thanks to some amazing tablets otherwise the morning sickness has been UNBEARABLE! Have been completely exhausted so hopefully my second wind kicks in soon! No photo to post this time but will be sure to let you know of any developments...

Book: From here to maternity

2010-09-29T08:55:00.001+10:00

Summary: Emma and James have waited ages for one to turn up, then two come along at once. Not twins – but an adopted Russian tot called Yuri, and an as yet unnamed bump already wreaking its special brand of havoc. Not only are Emma and James overwhelmed by the crying, the crankiness, the fitful sleeping, the fussy feeding – and that's just the new mother . . .

An new Irish chick lit author to love. I enjoyed this book. It wasn't amazing but gave me a few laughs and tears in all the right places!

Book: Billie Jo

2010-09-29T08:50:00.003+10:00

Summary: Terry - the lucky villain with a heart of gold - is riding for a fall. Michelle - the wife he hates and is plotting to leave - knows something is afoot, but not quite what. Billie Jo - their adored only daughter - loathes her parents quarrelling and her mother drinking, but will she understand when Terry tells her the truth: that he is planning to marry his pregnant secretary? Jade - a cut above the rest - waits patiently for the day when she and Terry can live peacefully together on his ill-gotten gains. But fate is about to deal a terrible hand and change everything in a way which Terry has not planned at all, leaving Billie Jo's protected world in tatters...

Really enjoyed this book. They said she is meant to be like Martina Cole and though good, not a patch on her. Will keep reading her books though but may duck into another Martina first!

Book: Big sky

2010-09-17T15:57:00.004+10:00

When i was a teen I was obsessed with Dolly fiction and this is today's alternative:

Summary: When her dad breaks his leg, Skye has to lead the muster on her family's cattle station in the Kimberley. She's never been the boss on a muster before and her job gets harder with the surprise arrival of her high-maintenance fashionista best friend from boarding school. On the upside there is the very handsome Dan, a young jackaroo. But while Skye is a great horse rider and a seasoned cattle wrangler, she's ill-equipped to handle the human element and in this beautiful yet harsh country, jealousy, hot-tempers and inexperience may cost her more than she could have imagined. It will certainly be a cattle muster Skye will never forget...

Oh, a sweet teen read. We were so innocent back then...

Book: Travelling tales

2010-09-17T15:55:00.002+10:00

Collection of the author's favourite travelling stories. Charles Wooley is a reporter on '60 Minutes' and the 'Sunday Program' and his reporting style is reflected in these adventures which include a trip in the back of a WW11 Lancaster bomber with a couple of septuagenarian venturers, riding the perilous seas in the Sydney -Hobart yacht race, close encounters with voodoo in west Africa and experimenting with an alternative lifestyle in Nimbin. Not a bad read, one you can dip in and out of. Makes me see that I have so many adventures ahead of me!

Book: Behind the bestsellers

2010-08-27T08:46:00.002+10:00

This is a collection of 50 fascinating stories about the lives, loves and literature that inspired the world’s greatest books. There is a small chapter on each book such as Pride and Prejudice (of course), Peter Pan, Jaws, DaVinci Code and Harry Potter and each chapter attempts to delve behind the scenes. For instance I never knew that as a young child, Charles Dickens was forced to work in a rat infested factory as his father served a prison sentence. I really enjoyed this collection as it helped me to learn more about where each novel originated. The only problem is that now I have added another 20 books to my TBR pile!