Book: The Terminal Man

I just read The Terminal Man by Sir Alfred Mehran. It is a true story about a guy who has been living in the terminal of a french Airport for 16 years. The Tom Hanks movie The Terminal was based on his story. It is a easy to read account of his life leading up to arriving at the airport, as well as the various accounts of him trying to leave and obtain citizenship in various locations. However when he has the chance to become free (some 11 years later) he instead chooses to stay at the airport. So in some ways I feel sorry for him but in others I think that he isn't helping himself! Interesting read though!

Book: Pomegranate Soup

I finished this one on the weekend - what a magical book. So beautifully written. It's a fictional story about three Iranian sisters who move to a small Irish town after spending 7 years in London after fleeing Tehran in the late 70's. Just a lovely story about fitting into the town, opening a cafe (with lots of mouthwatering recipes) and trying to put the past behind them. It has been so well received that the sequel is due out in May - can't wait!

Book: Sickened

I just read Sickened by Julie Gregory. It was a biography of her life with Munchausen By Proxy (MBP) disease. Basically her mother used to make her ill and take her to the doctors - continuously! I mean she went hundreds and hundreds of times. This book chronicles her life and her discovery of MBP when she was in her mid twenties - a riveting but very sad read. I mean I complain about life but in reality I have nothing to complain about compared to others. I just can't imagine a mother wanting her child to be sick (to gain attention themselves). Very sad...

Book: Faces

I love Martina Cole as an author. I mean sure you know how the story is going to go and you can predict the ending from the very beginning but I still love her work. Faces saw Danny Boy become the biggest "face" of London crime in the 80's. With his trusty sidekick Michael they owned the scene. But then Danny Boy's ego (and temper) got too big... loved it!!

This was my Christmas read - I stayed up last in the tent with a torch finishing it off!

NLS4: Venue Confirmed

Back in late November I headed to Melbourne for an NLS4 Meeting and we had some exciting news - the venue has been confirmed. This is the announcement email sent by Andrew (and let me just say that I love the venue and think it is perfect for a NLS4 crowd - very funky):

The NLS4 Committee are incredibly excited to announce the venue for the 4th ALIA New Librarians Symposium - Citiclub on Queen.

CQ is a delightfully modern venue, located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, and easily accessible by public transport. A stone's throw from all of Melbourne's major attractions, it is the perfect place to be in December 2008.

The CQ Functions centre provides ample space to accommodate concurrent sessions, with state-of-the-art presentation technology, so that we can truly break through those MS-Powerpoint barriers! Furthermore, the function space contains its own bar, if you need a little Dutch courage to spur you into networking with the industry's movers and shakers.
CQ also provides a range of comfortable inner-city hotel accommodation - details of accommodation deals for conference delegates will be confirmed as we draw closer to the event.

For more information about the venue, check it out at:
http://www.cqmelbourne.com.au

We're sure you'll be as excited as we are about this venue.

Book: So many books, so little time

I don't know why but I love reading about books. I mean I have hundreds of books at home that I haven't read yet so why do I read about more books??? Hence my "To read" list keeps getting longer and longer and I think if I was locked up for ten years in my house I still wouldn't get through all the books I have to read! Anyway, I do love reading about books and thinking that I should "try that one" to push myself further. (In fact I have joined a bookgroup starting early next year so I should read some things I have never dreamed of). Anyway, this was a great book as it reminded me that so much of what I read can be related back to certain situations in my life and that books have helped to shape me and the person that I have become.

ALIA Victorian LT Christmas Dinner

Top: Me and Kim

Bottom: The steak! The food looked devine (not sure if it tasted all that good though)

Last Friday (the 7th) Kim and I headed down to the Melbourne Docklands to the James Squire Brewhouse for the Victorian Library Technician's End of Year Dinner. (BTW - Kim drove - how awesome!). Anyway it was a good night. I haven't really been to the Docklands but it was great looking at the multi-million dollar yachts from the restaurant! Anyway, we also managed to raise $82 for the Mobile Donkey fund too!

ALIA Vic End of Year Christmas Party

Last night I headed to Victoria University Learning Commons (aka Library) on Flinders Street. As you can see from the top image we were 15 floors up. What an awesome view! Don't know if I could work in a library like that as I would forever be staring out the window people watching! They had some great spaces though and one I definitely think I could incorporate into our new library (yeah - the one they keep promising!). Anyway it was a good night and you can see Michelle playing host to the very well dressed (LOL) Trevor and the lovely Alex.

ALIA Vic Specials End of Year Celebration

On Thursday 15th November I headed to the MCG for a tour of the MCC Library and Museum. What can I say but WOW! The staff did us this awesome newsletter which chronicled the history and showed photos of them moving and renovating. The library is open whenever there is an event on (like the Boxing Day Test, AFL etc.) They have 5 paid staff and 15 volunteers!

After the tour we headed into the members room for dinner and boy was that lush (I only ever sit in the cheap seats!) This was just a wonderful night, awesome tour, great people, and I won a prize! Check out Donna's blog for her thoughts (mainly about the food) and some more pictures!

Book: Jane Eyre

So my hubby was away and I was flicking channels and Jane Eyre had just started on the ABC. I watched it for a couple of minutes and thought - this looks good! So I quickly turned the telly off, went to my bookcase and pulled it off the shelf (I have hundreds of books which I am yet to read!). So I started Jane and boy was I hooked. Oh - what a wonderful story. Naturally it was a bit hard going with the language (and small print) but I chomped through it in about a week. I am so in love with it now. I also feel really good because I always say to myself that I should read one "classic" per year (hence when I am old will have got through lots of them!). So anyway I am on the "classics" brigade at the minute wondering what to pursue next!!

Book: Game, Set and Match

I picked this one up at an op shop too! Good book (but for 10 year olds - I thought it was for teenagers!). However, as it was a short read I read it anyway. One of those ones that teaches kids how to play fair and how to conduct yourself etc. Naturally the nasty girl was taught her lesson!

Book: Father Frank

I picked this one up while secondhand bookshopping and boy was it great. I loved it! Father Frank drives a taxi to raise money for the church and one day beautiful Sarah hopes into the back of his cab. The story goes from there...should he stay with the church...follow his feeling??? Just a wonderful read! Sort of like chick lit but not because it was from the boys perspective. Am now scrounging about for Paul Burke's other works!

Book: Rough Diamonds and Real Gems

I tend to love stories about the outback and country life so thought I would enjoy this one. It contains nine captivating stories about ordinary bush men and women who lead extraordinary lives. There's the island cattleman who swims his herd past toothy sharks and beady-eyed crocs; the pineapple grower who builds a stone church for his community; the timber worker who becomes a champion woodchopper; and a dairywoman who, at eighty-eight, is still rescuing birthing cows from the brink of death. Naturally some of the stories were great whilst others were a bit pointless. I definitely love those uplifting ones though where you are left to question what you have achieved in your own life?

Book: Odd One Out

This book was written exclusively for the Australian market and was offered as a freebie for the Booksalive campaign (but I picked it up at an op shop!) I have read lots of her other books but you could tell this was quickly thrown together. Typically story, where there is a sister who is left out of everything whilst her other siblings are famous artists etc. It was a nice little cute story though (only 150 pages) so you could whip through it in a few hours. Tended to lack the substance of her other books though and I didn't like the ending very much!!

Library furniture

And you are actually trying to convince me that this is comfortable? Ok it looks really funky but how long could you realistically sit there and read?

Library on the Internet

I wonder how many people use this service? Seems awfully expensive when you can pop down to your public library for free?

Writer's rooms

So speaking of writers, I feel like I have a connection with them. Not sure whether it is because I am a librarian who works with books, or whether it is because I think surely "I have a book in me!!". But anyway, I love to delve into the world of writers (and not necessarily reading their books - not enough time!). So this website is cool because it has links to writer's studies etc. I love the difference between the super messy, the ultra neat, the libraries etc. My study at home very boring compared to these!

Book: Unpolished Gem

Back in August I went to an author talk about this book in nearby Daylesford Library. You know when you go and you just love sitting and listening to authors talk about their works? Anyway, she (Alice Pung) was a great presenter and there were lots of things that bonded me to her - like the fact that she is my age. Anyway, the book sounded great but I resisted and didn't buy a copy, instead I reserved it. So after all the hype what did I think? You know I am a bit unsure - it has had rave reviews and I felt like during the talk I would love it to bits (as most others in the room had read and loved it) but I'm not too sure myself. I can't decide if I liked it because I was meant to, or if I didn't like it all that much? Anyway, I suppose I did enjoy it to an extent but it was one of those books that jumps back and forth through her life and you get all confused at what age she's meant to be? So, the verdict: Undecided!!

Up-to-Date (well sort of!)

OK, so now that brings me up-to-date (well sort of!) I may have finished Uni but I have so many other things I have to do! I have to proof read my husbands last two assignments for the year, I have to do Technotes for the Vic LT Group and help promote the Christmas Party (not sure where it is yet), Write an article for Vic Specials and New Grad News, I have to type up the minutes for ALIA Vic, I have to chase up come contacts for NGAC and prepare a paper for the Board, I have to hunt out some info for NLS4, I have to focus on the Ballarat Library Group for 2008, I have to burn some DVD’s, I have to write some letters then finally I want to do some of the things I enjoy like reading some books, doing some jigsaws, watching some trashy DVD’s from my school days, sleeping lots more, eating lots of yummy food, cooking – well attempting to, exercising, more than I currently do. And the list goes on…

Finished Uni

Yeah for me! Big claps! I have just submitted my last assignment for Uni and I feel fantastic. I can just about say that now I have my Masters! (OK – I need to wait for my results but close enough!). Now I have to decide what I am going to spoil myself with. Last night when I finished I opened a good bottle of wine to celebrate (By good I mean $16 compared to my usual $8!) I am definitely thinking of buying a whole TV series on DVD but also I think a facial or some sort of pampering is in order! Now that I have finished Uni though I can get back to all the ALIA and Library stuff that I have been shoving aside for far too long! So yeah for me and lets hope this blog can stay a little more updated now!