June's Book Done and Dusted

Well it's had a lot of hype and press surrounding it so what's a girl to do but read it?  Tagged as 'Mommy Porn', "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E. L. James is described as a romance/suspense/erotica novel. Well yes, it's all that. Not the most cerebral read in the world, certainly explicit in terms of its sexual content, but to be honest, all that bedroom/ red-room-of-pain stuff gets rather passe after a few chapters.

The writing is bland and the plot is thin. The characters are pretty one dimensional with repetitively annoying behaviours (all that lip biting and eye rolling). Despite other friends rollicking through the whole series in under two weeks, it has taken me almost a month to get through the first book. Those who know what's happening in my own life currently may say there's an explanation for that, but I did expect it to be more engaging than it was. 

So am I going to bother with the next two. Of course I am!

I had been warned that the ending of book one was designed to make you want to start book two immediately. Well mine's packed away for a long plane trip, so I will just have to wait till I get seated to find out what happens next... and actually, I can wait. 

A Proud First

Well a few weeks back I was a little disappointed to miss out on getting Stirling's 8th and final challenge at Kawerau. However when I reflected upon 'winning' a challenge by beating just one other dog, I realised that it would be a far sweeter goal to reach if he actually won in good company. Well today he did just that, and under a Cavalier specialty judge too. It made obtaining his Champion title so much more meaningful.

And he showed his little heart out too. A welcome change from the shrinking violet he often turns into in the ring. My new tactic is pretty much ignoring him until it's time to go in to the ring, then he's all loved up on me. That and a switch of 'bait' from chicken to liver!

The show today was at Ngaruawahia, on the banks of the mighty Waikato river.  I was convinced to have my pic taken with this as a backdrop, with the judge and Stirling's final challenge...  The photo on the right is Stirling's breeder, Mignon, who was even more reluctant to have her pic taken than me.

But really it's all about my beautiful boy, CH Du Maurier Sterling Silver. My first Champion. Oh and another goal to tick off the 50 List.

Appreciating the Local

To officially tick something off my 50 List, a blog post about the achievement is necessary.
So here's the post about...
Go to a local (South Auckland) theatre performance.
I took myself to see the Manukau Performing Arts production of "Oliver" tonight. Ordinarily I would not have chosen this show to fulfill my goal - although it is one of the first musicals I remember seeing as a child, and although I loved playing the soundtrack (LP!) growing up, as an adult  (having seen it several times) I find the way the story evolves, especially in Act 2, 'fantastic' (in the fantasy notion of the word, not the amazing).
But late last year a Year 8 student and her Mum told me they were auditioning for this particular show. I voiced my encouragement and wished them luck, and didn't think much more of it. However the Mum then let me know they were both successful in becoming cast members, and later emailed me when tickets went on sale, so it became the 'right way' to achieve my goal.
I would say I appreciated the experience as opposed to enjoyed it. Small group amateur theatre (as opposed to larger amateur organisations with larger budgets and facilities) is a great place for the average person with a yearning for the limelight to get some time in it. I know - I have been there earlier in my life! It's also a great way for kids to gain stage experience and confidence in front of an audience, and Oliver is a great show to accommodate this.
But I am ashamed to say that too many top end professional shows have spoiled me, and warts-and-all small time theatre doesn't quite do it for me as entertainment any more. A bit like not being able to drink instant coffee anymore; only a freshly made espresso will do.
I openly confess that makes me sound like a total snob, but I promise I am not turning my nose up at my experience. I am pleased to have achieved my goal, and I absolutely commend each and every cast member; I was particularly impressed with the young guy who played Oliver, and the woman who portrayed Nancy. Oh, and the young girl who encouraged me to attend - she was a little star too; one of those ensemble members who stands out because of their commitment and believability. I hope she goes far.

All's well that ends well

Not quite the way I intended to spend my Sunday, but feeling a little under the weather, indulging in a book for pleasure - as opposed to academic reading - is not really wasting time, is it? Plus I had only one day left to meet my goals of reading a book a month.
The third and final of the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson - The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest -  didn't have me totally enthralled at the beginning. It seemed too much like an extension of the previous book, as opposed to being its own story. But about 2 days ago it started getting interesting, with today necessitating a marathon read to get it finished.
I few too many peripheral sub-plots lines for my liking - which, if a movie for the trilogy eventuates, will not be missed if left out - but still a strong main plot line building to a well knitted together crescendo towards the end. I was grateful for the tying up of necessary lose ends in the final chapter as it seemed for a bit there that a couple of stragglers would be left hanging. And as for the relationship of the central characters, this too was suitably resigned. I like it when something - like a book or movie - that has ended is truly 'finished'. Means I don't feel ripped off.

Mrs Benbow's Bootees

I don't actually remember meeting Mrs Benbow, but I have knitted her bootees several times. I cannot recall my mother's connection with her, but I do know that this is where the pattern for these bootees came from. (Hopefully Mum will comment and fill us in)
My mother has always loved this pattern, as have I, because the bootees are square-toed and 'boot-like'. I was fortunate that Mum shared it with me, as she kept it safely as her own special pattern for years. I wonder if Mrs Benbow was as protective of it!
I remember copying it long-hand from our 'Family Book' many moons ago, and am amazed that I still have it recorded on the same writing paper, held together with a sewing-up needle. I must type it up for posterity, and perhaps to share... but only with Mum's permission!
This time the bootees are for my hairdresser, who will colour and trim my locks for the final time tomorrow before taking time out to welcome a much wanted baby boy in a few weeks. Not only do these bootees provide a means of thanking her for trussing my locks so well, but also helps to tick another goal off my 50 List - Knit a garment for someone's child.
It is probably a good thing that hand-knitted jerseys are a fashion statement of the past as my shoulder tends to seize when I knit these days... So a garment for a little person was a sensible goal to encourage me to get the needles out again.
Hmmm, recalling the hand-knitted jerseys I can feel another blog post brewing... It could be ugly!
But not these bootees. They are just a bit cute.

Blinded no more!

Now

Crossing this one off my 50 List has taken some time. Far too long really, as the process has been blighted  by a few shortage complications, but mainly, frankly, by procrastination.  But this week I hung the final drops of new curtains in my little lounge.
Butt ugly wooden blinds had adorned the windows since I moved in here, closing the already small room in, and gayly catching dust. I hated them, but this house is just a rental after all, so I put up.



Then a whole lot of family love came to the fore to relinquish me from my blinded ways.

Thanks must go to...

• My brother Rik for removing the butt ugly blinds. I can barely wait until the next inorganic collection to get rid of them altogether
• My lovely Uncle Kevin and Aunty Lois, who own Waikato Windoware, and who supplied me with brand new custom made rails, for a ridiculous mates rates price. AND came to put them up for me free of charge. Amazing.
• My other brother John, for plugging the holes left by said butt ugly blinds. 
• My landlords, aka my parents, for paying for new curtains.

Then

Then

I must also thank Briscoes for having half price curtains just at the right time. They are not the flashest of drapes, but are an immense improvement on what was there before.
Tick!

But am I hungry for more?

Well March's book is done and dusted - the current 'it' book for teens (though many adults I know have enjoyed it.) - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
To be honest I wasn't entirely taken with the idea of reading a book written for young people, where the plot was primarily concerned with a group of teenagers killing one another in a game. I still struggle with that concept. However it was a new idea and was no doubt designed not just for entertainment, but to evoke a reflection on society and human nature; authority, freedom, sacrifice, fashion...
It was an easy read - I liked how the story was predominately told in present tense, which did create some tension.
While I would happily read the next two books in the series, because it was teen fiction, it didn't really have the plot complexity to keep me guessing, and I found the mini climaxes along the way didn't really surprise or hold me (except maybe the tracker jackers) as they were resolved too quickly. Jury is still out on whether or not I will make the effort to see the movie. But I am sure many, many fans will.

Catching Up

Time to chronicle a couple more achievements from my 50 List.
Well it took a few hours, but I have successfully done a major digital photo cull over the weekend. A good many hours went in to this! With each RAW image taking up over 20MB of space, this fledgling photographer and natural hoarder had accrued hundreds, perhaps thousands,  of images that were definitely not needed. I did however, transfer them ALL to an external hard drive - just in case...
My new goal is to be more discerning from the point of download, and as well, to cull those photos that I know I definitely don't want after looking at them on the big screen as well, straight away!
Dumping the photos and a few school movies from my iMac enabled me to clear around 100GB from its memory! I also felt it was necessary to do this before I took my machine to my best geek friend for OS upgrades. (Thanks John). I would have feared a big growling, because it was running like a pig.

The second goal that is ticking away is my reading goal, though I must admit that I finished my second book a little after the month's end. But then again February was a short month. With the majority of my day currently taken up with reading, it is not always a pleasurable prospect to hunker down with a book at night.
My second book was the second of the Milleneum series - The Girl Who Played with Fire. It took me a while to get in to it, but once I reached half way, it was pretty un-put-downable. If I had a criticism to make it would be that there was a major event on the back cover that took a long time to get to in the book, so I felt a bit like I was treading water until then.
Having seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the movies, I read this book visualising the (American) cast as the characters. While I really enjoyed the first movie, this plot did not seem to have as many twists and turns, and I reckon it will translate to the big screen quite easily. There are certainly some scenes near the end of the book that I have already created a my own screenplay for! Without giving anything away, one involves a fox... I hope they (Sony?) make the movie with the characters I am now familiar with (I know there is a Swedish version and that some prefer it) And WHEN this happens, I hope it does not let me down there by missing my vividly imagines scene out!

True to Form

Well another of my 50 List goals is half way to being met.
Took myself to a late afternoon movie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, today. Loved it. With the book still fresh in my mind I was prepared to pick holes in its accuracy. There was actually no way it could include all the detail of the book, but all in all, a pretty true representation.
It was a little freaky however, that until the movie was just about to start, I was alone in the Deluxe Cinema by myself! Fortunately a group of four women came in at that time, and despite an empty theatre, sat directly in front of me. Luckily no one was tall and being the Deluxe theatre, seats were deep anyways.
Must do that again. And must keep going with the second book of the Millennium series. Tick, tick, tick off the 50 List.

Progress

I am trying to make inroads into my 50 list. Some I already see are not going to happen. I am contemplating surreptitiously replacing these with things more achievable - I am sure no one but me will notice!
Today I made progress towards a photographic goal - doubling the number of photos on my Hall Wall. I began this project a year ago, not knowing how far I would go with it. This morning there were 18 photos up, tonight, 28. The photos are there purely for my own pleasure, and I reflect on the photos I have chosen quite often. There are certainly some I would choose not to put up there were I starting from scratch now, but they are all a reminder of my journey as an amateur photographer and I am grateful for that.



It has taken time some to get the most recent up, mainly because I had some printing issues... my advice is not to go to places like Harvey Norman when they have an offer on... I went back for 3 reprints as my prints were definitely 'green' in hue. Not what I wanted for my Hall Wall. One of the most affected photos is STILL not on the wall - I should always remember that I munt the first one I try to put on a block... this time it was my favourite pic of Miss Karissa - so that has to get done AGAIN!

Some of the new blocks before they went up

Speaking of having to go back for a 3rd time reminds me of another thing I am progressing towards on my 50 List - being more house-proud. This is not easy to achieve when the house you live in was built on the cheap, and you have 3 long haired inside dogs. Keeping the already grotty carpet clean is a perpetual battle.
I thought I had hit on a solution to avoiding vacuuming every day, when I decided to purchase an old-timey carpet sweeper. We had an orange one when we were kids, and I recall it being quite efficient for those in between times. So in January I got myself one. I loved it - perfect for brushing up the dog hair as many times a day as I liked. Until one of the small rollers fell out when I was cleaning it. So, I got it replaced. Replacement's central roller fell out on the first use! So today I have replaced it again.
A third item I am progressing towards is my reading goal. To 'make it' I must read a book per month. Having succeeded with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", I am now on to "The girl who Played with Fire". Part of succeeding here is banishing myself from playing games on the iPhone when in bed. Have to change habits to make progress sometimes!

We're Underway!

Four days into the new year, and I have begun to chip away at some of the things I hope to achieve on my 50 List. Yes, yes these things are always started with a hiss and a roar, and I am under no illusions that I will complete everything.
As mentioned a few days ago, one thing I am determined to do however, is rekindle my love for reading (There could be an unintended pun there, once I get my iPad...). And this morning I finished my first novel for two years. My lengthy hiatus has left me a bit behind the eight ball in terms of only now reading the very popular 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'. With the release of the movie not very far away, I had to read this as my first read of recent times, as I have an unwritten rule that I must read the book first if I am going to see a movie based on the book. I like to make my own pictures of characters, scenes and events before I am shown someone else's interpretation. 
I loved this book. I am now looking forward to seeing how Stieg Larsson's work will be portrayed on the big screen, though I hope I won't be disappointed. I can appreciate a script writer and film maker making interpretive changes, but I don't enjoy it when the plot is inextricably changed (Like My Sister's Keeper - grrr). 



Alongside my pledge to read more, was the writing of a list of books loved, which I have begun. Many of these I have read more than once. Given time between reads, I conveniently forget enough of the plot to enable me to enjoy reading it all over again!
In no particular order and stretching over a number of years here's the start... 

The Thorn Birds - Colleen McCullough
The World According to Garp - John Irving
Kane and Abel - Jeffrey Archer
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
The Bone People - Keri Hulme
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Bronze Horseman - Paulina Simmons
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
The Power of One - Bryce Courtney
The Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Crosstitch - Diana Gabaldon
Bridget Jonses's Diary - Helen Feilding
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbars Kingsolverand now
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson


I have enjoyed other titles by the same authors, but have, at this stage, recorded only those which started me off on that author. And the list is only a start. I would love it if some readers would comment with their own favourites - it may be that I can add them to my own list!
To meet my reading challenge in full, I must read a novel per month. This I will have to balance with all my academic reading, which I also began today - four articles about ethics and issues in regards to educational research. So I have decided that 'bed' will be for pleasure reading only - no work stuff, and no TV or iPhone games before sleep!