ALIA stuff

As previously mentioned I was rather sick in my initial stages of pregnancy (pass the bucket please) so I spent most of my time sleeping. This meant that I could no longer commit to many extra curricular ALIA activities so I had to resign from many committees. I said goodbye to:

ALIA Vic LT - I have learnt so much from this group as it was my first foray into ALIA. Just a great bunch of people who I will miss. I was pleased to be able to stop Technotes, the groups newsletter as I think I had run out of steam.

ALIA Vic - this group was so different to the LT group for lots of reasons. I will miss the experience of group members the most and admire many of them for what they have achieved.

ALIA NGAC - I felt bad about pulling out of NGAC as I had just been reappointed for another term (sorry guys). I did however learn so much more about ALIA the Association and how the Board works etc. Good to see "the other side's" view. I won't miss those reports though!

The only thing I kept was NLS4 as we had been working towards this for over 2 years. I will blog more about them later.

Uni

Ok, so back in February I told you all about how I was going back to Uni to do my MBA. The first semester of 2008 was great. I thought Accounting and Finance would be really hard and scary but I had the best lecturer I have ever had in my life. Brian West - just an amazing lecturer, truly outstanding (and that is saying something). I learnt so much and am so thankful. I put the work in and it really paid off. I am still so amazed at what I got out of one subject. Never in my previous undergrad or masters in LIS have I learnt so much. I was rewarded for my efforts too by getting a Distinction (a hard fought one I tell you!).

The other subject however was crap! Marketing is very interesting but basically it was read the textbook and understand the concepts and remember the jargon for the exam. The lecturer knew a lot but it just wasn't as good as Accounting. I also got a Distinction for Marketing though so was very pleased with myself!

I definitely know that the MBA was the right course for me to pursue. It is a little MIA right now though! You see I started Business Economics in semester 2 but was really sick due to my pregnancy that I hadn't done any reading and was falling chapters and chapters behind. So I deferred for a year and had a great 6 months off at home letting bubs grow (plus working on NLS4). I have enrolled for semester 2 later in the year but I will just wait and see how I go at home with bubs and see what I feel like doing. So you may hear more about "Organisations, Behaviour, Structure and Processes" later in the year. If not, I am sure I will one day complete this course but it just may take me 10 years!

Book: The Know

The first book of 2009.

I really do love Martina Cole. I know sometimes her writing isn't perfect and that stories and characters sometimes overlap between novels but I still love her work. There is nothing like a bit of East End London Gangster/Mafia crime to get me going! The Know was a little different from the other stuff of hers I have read because it actually all took place over 6 months or so. Often her books span decades so that was a nice change. Joanie Brewer and her children, Jon Jon(18), Jeanette(14) and Kira(11) live in a run-down London Council estate. The two eldest are accustomed to crime and little Kira is innocent perfection. Then Kira goes missing... This book deals with the worst life can offer - child abduction, paedophiles and murder. But it also shows how family life can be pushed apart and thrown back together. Just brilliant!

Book: Dewey - the small town library cat who touched the world

My last read for 2008.

Dewey was a great book, not only because it was about a library but it was just one of those that pulls at the heart strings. When Spencer, Iowa, librarian Vicki Myron arrived at work that cold winter morning in 1988, she had no inkling that a small thing she would find in the overnight book drop would forever change her life and that of her whole community. That something was a tiny kitten, bedraggled and half frozen. Almost immediately, this unannounced critter won the hearts of the staff. They even named him Dewey Readmore Books. For the next 18 years, until he died in 2006, Dewey added his gentle, independent feline presence to a small library and the surrounding rural community. Am pretty sure I read somewhere that they are making a movie out of it so that should be interesting too!

Book: Rosewater and Soda Bread

I was eagerly awaiting this as I had read the first book Pomegranate Soup back in January. I was however a little disappointed as it wasn't quite as magical as the first. Story lines didn't flow as easily and there were unresolved questions at the end. I mean I still loved reading about the town and characters but there just wasn't "much" to it.

Book: Glory Garage

This was actually a really great book. I love reading about different cultures and this was about growing up a female muslim in Australia. Lots of short stories about different aspects of muslim life, issues, regulations, religion etc. I walked away from it thinking that I need to be more open on my views etc. A really easy insight into a different view from my own and how one can be caught between two worlds.

Book: Three Wishes

Lyn, Cat and Gemma Kettle are approaching their 34th birthday together. These Aussie triplets may share a birthday, but they have their own very different personalities. Gemma floats through life and relationships. Lyn powers her way through her organized and efficient days. The fiercely emotional Cat does battle with co-workers, her husband, and her sisters. In the year surrounding this particular birthday, their lives are thrown upside down by various tragedies and joys and they struggle through as they always have - together. A good chick lit book but not the best that I have read. It is however nice to read Australian authors.

Book: A Little Bush Maid

I remember borrowing these books from the public library when I was a kid. They were awesome books and there are 15 in the series so now as an adult I have been collecting them (I have one more to go - number 15). I decided to start reading them from the start again though so I began with book 1.

Eleven year-old Norah Linton lives on an isolated cattle station in Northern Victoria in the early 1900s. Having never known her Mother, she lives with her father and elder brother Jim. After introducing Norah and her life, A Little Bush Maid tells the story of Jim’s return from his first term at boarding school in Melbourne. Jim brings along two mates, Wally and Harry, and the four youngsters enjoy the Easter holidays together. They entertain themselves riding horses, going on picnics and running a menagerie race in the home paddock. They also cheerfully take care of their pets and various jobs around the station. Whilst out fishing they stumble across a hermit who they befriend without telling their father. A few unexpected twists and the hermit’s identity is revealed at the end of the book. This also continues into book 2.

It is just one of those magical series that makes you see how life really was back then. Yes there is racism etc. but this was how it was at the time (book was first published in 1910). Just a wonderful glimpse into the past to see how Australia and life on the land developed. It will probably take me 15 years to read them all!

Book: Sari and Sins

Oh I do love a bit of chick lit. This one was a bit different from Nisha's usual. Two girls – the timid new Indian bride and the long-term secret girlfriend who slog it out for the favours of the same man. Yes there was arranged marriages and secret girlfriends but this time he ended up with the right chick. Just a trashy novel that offers escapism. Loved it!

Books: Mills & Boon

See what I mean...tragic. I had been really sick and the thought of reading a novel tired me out. However I got to a point where I needed something. So I did the unthinkable and read the only two Mills & Boon books in the house! (Thankfully there were no more). You may wonder why I had two in the first place. Well, Falling for Jack is by a local Ballarat author and I heard her speak once so had a copy of one of her books (and boy it was damn good - just what the doctor ordered! A country romance...) . The second I had because it was about a Librarian. The Notorious Groom married a small town librarian, yadda, yadda... But again, just what I needed. Now I don't want to dis those who read Mills & Boon because I really believe they have a place. I think I should try and hunt out some more because my reading habits may become tragic again once bub arrives!

I'm back....

WOW! Have I been slack or what! There has however been an extremely wonderful reason. You see last time I wrote I had just discovered I was pregnant and lets just say that it has not been the smoothest of journeys. I am currently 30-31 weeks now so am heading towards the exciting part. I have heaps to blog about so will do that now (hopefully) so that I have a proper record of everything. I have to report on NLS4, the HLI Conference, Uni and the few books I have read. Lets just say that my reading habits were non-existent then bad... LOL!

This is the best picture I have of bubs (affectionally called Frank - and NO we do not know what we are having). This was at around 20 weeks or so.

Author talk: Gregory Day

On Saturday I headed over to Daylesford for their Words in Winter Festival. Each year the public library has a free author talk and this year it was writer, poet and musician Gregory Day. He was very different to the previous years actually because he bought his guitar, sung some songs, poetry etc. He was a bit Pete Murray like really. Anyway, I liked hearing him talk as he is sort of local. His books are based in a South West Coast Victorian town so it felt like I knew where he was talking about. He also read some chapters from his book. Not sure if they are my sort of thing as they deal with the ideas of the natural world, animal love and loss of place (a bit too in depth for me I think). Anyway, he was interesting and I had a lovely afternoon out. I love it that I only had 20 minutes to drive to hear him instead of going all the way to Melbourne.

Book: Glitz

I just finished Louise Bagshawe's latest blockbuster. Now Louise WAS my favourite chick lit author for many years, but the last two novels have been a bit off. I mean I really enjoyed this but it seems she has slapped it together whereas her first 10 or so were brilliant. Not sure if it is because she has gotten really popular or what?? Anyway, this was about 4 cousins who are accustomed to living the high life, thanks to a trust fund set up by their super-rich, reclusive Uncle Clem. But when Uncle Clem summons his nieces to his mansion in the Seychelles to announce his engagement to Bai-Ling, a woman young enough to be their baby sister, the four girls instantly know trouble's afoot. We read about them trying to stop the wedding and how the four pampered princesses have to cope without their trust fund. But as in all of Louise's books the girls find an inner strength that will be the making of them all. Ah - trashy (but great)!

NLS4 Meeting

On the Saturday morning I was up early and headed back into the city for an NLS4 meeting. It was a great meeting as everything is starting to "fall into place". It really will be a superb event. There is still so much to do (so I want time to slow) but it will be so exciting so at the same time I want it to speed up and arrive. Plus, we also had a new edition to the team. Jill had a baby boy two weeks ago (Ronan Baker Stephens) and I went and visited him at the hospital and he is gorgeous. Congrats to our beautiful Jill and welcome along for the ride Ronan!

HLI Dinner (Life Membership Award)

On Friday July 25th I did head to Melbourne for the HLI Life Membership Award. Kerry Johannes, was the recipient of the 2008 Award. Kerry has contributed in many ways to the development of the Victorian Health Library Sector and to both ALIA and HLI during her lengthy career in Libraries. It was great to hear the citation because as I am relatively "new" to libraries you come to hear about the industry and those who contributed to it before my time. Not to forget of course that the dinner was deliciously and the company superb!

ALIA Rural and Regional NAC Teleconference

On July 16th I participated in the ALIA Rural and Regional NAC Teleconference. It was great to be able to dial into an ALIA meeting rather than having to trek up and down that highway (which I just can't face these days).

The meeting focused on the future of Professional Development and it was great to have a discussion with those that are in similar situations. ie. NOT in capital cities. I mean PD can be really expensive as is, not to mention the costs of travel, accommodation etc. Anyway, Jan who chaired the teleconference asked who was in the PD Scheme etc. and those who were got a prize. A week later in the mail I received one of those cool memory sticks that are bracelets. It was worth dialling in just for that!!

Anyway, it was nice to "meet" Jan as she is ALIA VP and she lives in a regional area so she knew where we were coming from. It will be interesting to see what comes of the discussions around the country.

Book: Alek

I read the above book far too soon after reading the Waris Dirie one as they were very similar. This book was very easy to read and a nice story about Alek who was once a Sudanese refugee and is now a International Supermodel (apparently - I had not heard of her before but that isn't surprising considering I have no idea about fashion!). Anyway, we see her raised from a rural up bringing to the glamour of London and New York. Not bad - but not super either.

Book: Chapatti or Chips

I also read this on holidays in NZ but never realised the author lived and set the books in Milton Keynes in the UK, just down the road from where I was born (so you know I liked it even more!). Basically a chick lit book based on an Indian girl who has a arranged marriage organised. She however, falls for the white Biritsh incorragible womaniser Dave. Just like a Mills and Boon romance he comes in just before she is to be married and sweeps her off her feet. Yes, you could easily read the plot from page one but I still loved it!

Book: Desert Flower

I read this book whilst on holidays in New Zealand. One of those that has been very well received by the public, lots of publicity etc. but just one I had never got around to reading. It was brilliant. Waris Dirie's life story, from her childhood as a desert nomad in Somalia to the start of her career as a supermodel in England, provides a great deal of cultural insight. Her strength of conviction, faith in a higher power, and courage in the face of great danger are truly inspiring. This is a very frankly written, often disturbing account meant to spread awareness of the dangerous but all-too-common cultural practice of female genital mutilation. Just a great heart wrenching read. Her story since continues in more books that have been published since which I need to read now!

Book: Return to the High Country

This was a good book, but not a great one like the first one. It carried on David's story with his wife and three children, which in turn grew into their lives, their children etc. Another great story but just not quite as good as the first. I definitely can't wait to read more of his though!