26 Things I Like
2 Comments »12th August, 2007; Category: General
- Apples crunching juicy, crisp and sweet.
- Butterflies fluttering in soft silence.
Australian Admiral butterfly
- Carrots freshly pulled from the damp earth.
- Dragonflies hovering over shimmering water.
- Eucalypt trees towering into the deep blue sky.
- Frogs croaking serenades to campers cocooned in their tents.
- Galahs painting the sky pink as they wing home to roost.
- Hakea flowers spiking the air in pink pin pricks.
Hakea multilineata
- Insects chirping the welcome raindrops.
- Jonquils splashing a crazy carpet of colour.
- Koalas high in tree forks snoozing the day away.
- Lizards skin soaking in the sunshine.
Bearded Dragon lizard
- Mandarines dripping juicy sweetness on licked fingers.
- Numbats nuzzling nosily in the leaf litter.
- Opals gleaming the rainbow colours in the sunshine.
- Pandas padding softly through the forest.
- Quandong fruits glowing stop-light red in the morning sun.
Santalum acuminatum (Wild Peach, Quandong)
- Roses wafting perfume on the morning breeze.
- Sunsets glowing deep red on storm clouds.
- Thunder on a stormy night while warm and cosy in bed.
- Umbrellas blooming in colourful arrays.
- Violets painting the garden edge in mauve.
- Waterfalls crashing over sparkling rocks.
- Xanthorrea flower spikes spearing the sky.
- Yellow tulips nodding asleep in the drowsy sunshine.
- Zebras crossing the dusty road.
Writing exercise:
Try writing your own list of things that you like – or dislike. Use the alphabetic order like the list above thinking of one thing starting with each letter of the alphabet.
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101 very useful websites for writers
I used to subscribe to the American based magazine Writer’s Digest. In the early days of my writing career this magazine was a monthly source of information, help and inspiration for me as a fledgling writer. I would still like to read the magazine, but the cost of subscribing to it here in Australia is too prohibitive. I still get email newsletters from them, but it’s not the same as having the magazine.
One of the very useful things the magazine has done in recent years is to compile a list of The 101 Best Websites for Writers. This list is primarily web sites but there are a few blogs included too. You can search via the full list in alphabetical order, or you can search by one of nine different categories.
A very useful resource.
A night at the movies
Last night we went to see “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” at our local cinema. The first in this series quickly became a favourite of ours and the DVD copy has been much used in recent times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest offering, marvelling at the amazing special effects and the over the top sword fights. It is not quite as funny as the first in the series but still most entertaining. I find it interesting how Keira Knightly has developed as an actor, from an average performance in “Bend it like Beckam” through a great portrayal in “Pride and Prejudice” and on to this series. I thought she was somewhat out of her depth in the first “Pirates” movie but this last one has her in a very dominant role. She obviously revelled in the opportunity to show off the vast range of her talents, sword fighting being one of them.
It was interesting to see this latest movie in the “Pirates” series just two days after seeing the second in the series (“Dead Man’s Chest”). We missed this when first released in the theatres and I’ve only just recently bought the DVD. This particular movie is the poorer for having only one scene featuring Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa. Fortunately he has a much more prominent role in this latest movie.
Now for a warning to all who have yet to see the movie – or those impatient people who leave the theatre before the credits have finished. There is a most important scene AFTER all the credits have finished – so stick around. It rounds off the story nicely.
The purpose of computers
2 Comments »5th June, 2007; Category: General
“The purpose of computers is to teach us humility, patience and obedience.”
Ashleigh Brilliant.
How true this is.
Having spent about a half hour last night looking for a file I KNEW was on my computer somewhere, I fully understand this statement. (And yes- I did use the search facility – I was just way off with the file name.)
Books, Bookshops and Bookshelves
Last Monday we needed to travel to Adelaide on business. This is usually an excuse to visit one or two bookshops. While my wife was doing some shopping in a large department store I spent an enjoyable hour browsing in the large Borders Bookshop in the heart of the CBD. Inevitably I found a few titles I would have liked to read but resisted buying any. I have a large enough heap – make that heaps – of books waiting to be read as it is. I won’t even start on about the numerous magazines waiting for my attention. I also felt rather virtuous for resisting the call to buy more books.
On our way back to the car park we needed to walk right past one of the Angus and Robertson* bookshops. “Let’s just have a quick look at the bargain tables out the front,” I said innocently. Three books and $20 lighter in my wallet and we were on our way. Resistance is futile. Actually, any three books for $20 is good value. My wife bought two interesting novels and I bought a book about writing novels written by Elizabeth George, author of the Inspector Lynley crime novels. We are currently enjoying the television series based on the novels.
Later in the day we visited a large international furniture store. I hesitate to use the name here. Let’s just say the store has Scandinavian origins. We ended up buying five new bookshelves to accommodate all those piles of books and magazines making a mess everywhere. So this week I have been busy putting these bookshelves together. Next comes the reorganisation of the office, including moving it from one room to another. I would have enjoyed making the shelves myself as I’ve done on several other occasions over the years as our library has grown. Still, I doubt if I’d been able to buy the timber any cheaper than what we paid for these.
I can’t wait to get really organised.
*A large Australian based chain of bookshops.
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