“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Friday 31 August 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY ~ Friday 31st August 2012

Outside my window...I normally write my daybook when I first wake, but once again I'm a little late not only with the hour of the day, but also the day...well very late in fact for me because its Friday and nearly dinner time...so the view is very different.
Tomorrow is officially the start of spring here and not a moment too soon as far as I'm concerned.
Although we have seen the sun for most of the day today...that lazy wind has been its constant companion. (just in case you haven't heard me use the term 'a lazy wind' before I just mean it doesn't go around you...it just cuts straight through!)
So what can I see from my dining room window...lots of plant cuttings that I took a few days ago when the temperature started to rise...I'm ever the optimist!
I'm also keeping a very close eye on my jasmine because there's a challenge on between my jasmine here in Melbourne and a friend's jasmine in Brisbane. The challenge is whose jasmine will flower first! I know I'm up against it here, as Brisbane gets far more sun and higher degrees more temperature but I have lots of buds on mine and it is in the sun (when it comes to call) They are just waiting to pop! It could be a close match! 
One more day of sun might just snatch this win for me ~ :D
I've also had a regular visitor this week coming into the entertaining area tidying up for me...no I haven't decided to take on a cleaner or gardener...it's a Magpie and he/she's obviously thinking spring is here already because he/she is collecting all the twigs and sticks for the nest. 
The sun is just dipping down now making that wonderful light that apparently makes photographers never home for dinner...it just changes everything and I always stop to appreciate it for a few minutes.

I am thinking...Whoohoo...my son got a new job today, so life is pretty good ;D
 

I am thankful...for the above obviously. 
 

In the kitchen...There's nothing cooking and I really must get going...dinner may be a little late this evening. Maybe a take-away might be better...hmm....
 
I am wearing...layers....the best ideal clothing for Melbourne. 
I've been out and about today so had to try and cover all eventualities. Jacket off...jacket on...jacket off!!!
I think it may be time to light the fire...don't you just love Friday nights!
 
I am creating...well I'm not really creating but I should be...I've hit a problem....because I wanted to post a scanned copy of a painting but it is in pdf format and I can't or don't know how to change that format without having to rescan!
If anyone knows how then please can you let me know before I pull ALL of my hair out! 

I am going...to a craft fair tomorrow which I believe to be the best in the whole of Melbourne! I can't wait! I'll hopefully post about it sometime next week...but I might be so overcome and hyperventilating that I might forget to take photos or have soooooo many bags to carry be unable to. We'll have to wait and see ;D

I am wondering...how people are coping after Hurracane Isaac. I've never been in anything other than a heavy tropical thunderstorm so can't imagine what it would be like to experience a hurracane.

I'm reading...I'm still reading this book but I have to say I'm really enjoying it...which is strange because when you read the synopsis you may think this one isn't for me...it sounds so depressing but let me tell you somehow it isn't... the writing is lucid, with precise and memorable images. It is a novel built on acute character observation, told with great beauty and that rare thing in fiction: genuine poignancy."
'The Meaning of Grace by Deborah Forester'






'Mum is the reference point. If you ever get confused about anything, there she is, waiting with all her knowledge of you.'
Grace Fisher, mother of three, one day decides her husband is a sore disappointment and moves the family from Melbourne to a coastal village in Victoria. But Ian's slow dissolution on the couch masked a depression that will harrow him into an early grave, leaving the kids with a lifetime of questioning: what happened to their father; how did he get so sad? Between their father's demise and Grace's hardscrabble existence working at a local bakery, each child is left to find meaning on their own. Edie, the eldest child, locks herself into a romantic ideal so lofty that it can't help but fail. The middle child, Juliet, struts and careens through life, filling it only with what she can seduce, steal and manipulate. Sibling rivalry between sisters proves the slowest and fiercest of burns. Love comes easily for Ted, the youngest, but when his wife abandons him to raise two daughters on his own, the perils of fatherhood are laid bare.
When Grace, the distant, imperfect hub of the family, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the siblings are forced to confront each other as adults, and come to understand their mother.
Written with her hallmark warmth, humour and deftness of observation, Deborah Forster's follow-up novel to the Miles Franklin shortlisted The Book of Emmett is a moving story of the loves and rivalries that burn at the heart of every family, and the meaning that comes from it.

About the Author....



 
Deborah Forster grew up in Footscray, Melbourne. She worked as a staff and freelance journalist for many years and was a This Life columnist on The Age and The Sunday Age. Deborah Foster is married to Alan Kohler and they have three children. The Book of Emmett, her first novel, received the Dobbie Prize and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literature Prize and the Miles Franklin Award.



I am hoping...that a friend who is having a really difficult time at the moment finds some comfort, stability and moves forward to a new positive place that provides all that she needs....she deserves it!

I am looking forward to...warmer days. I'm sorry if you're heading into autumn/fall but I need spring :D
 
Around the house...I don't know because I'm sitting here in the dark now...there's only the glow from my screen as the sun has decided to call it a day. 

A favourite quote for today..."Learn from yesterday....live for today...hope for tomorrow"... Albert Einstein


 

One of my favourite things...is relaxing at the end of the week...candles lit, a glass of wine near to hand, chocolate and watching a movie...ahh....relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxing at last. 
    
A few plans for the rest of the week: Work, rest and play but not necessarily in that order : D
 
A peek into my day: I went into the CBD with a friend to see ‘The 400 Fest’ which started today at Federation Square. It's celebrating 400 collective years of Melbourne’s major municipal Markets.  
Today was the start of the 2nd annual market week festivities which will run from Friday 31st August - Sunday 9th September.
Don't you feel so much healthier just by looking at all this fresh produce never mind eating it.


I've posted previously about Prahran Market and the Queen Vic Market but have yet to post about the South Melbourne Market....but I will ;D


 So that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit. Don't forget to pop over to The Simple Womans Daybook and check out the other day book entries
Have a fabulous week and hopefully the sun will shine wherever you are : D


16 comments:

  1. Love reading your Day book always interesting to delve into other people's minds! Ha ha. Have fun with Spring, definitely getting colder in the mornings here! Take care Zo xx

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    1. Oh be careful Zo...it's a frightening thought delving into my mind!

      Make sure you tie a rope around your waist before you enter.... ;D
      I'm happy to report it's a lovely spring day today. Sun's shining and there's a clear blue sky. Still a little chilly but it'll soon warm up in the next month so I'll not complain.

      I hope you're well and I've been very naughty not visiting everyone but it's been a crazy week. I hope to see you soon :D

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  2. I love so much your posts, it gives us such a great idea of your country and life, have a wonderful weekend, I happy for spring arriving for you, Fall is sneaking in on us, congratulations on your son's new job!! Enjoy the craft fair,

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    1. Hello Laurie,
      Oh boy I've had such a crazy week...in fact they just seem to get worse. That's why I'm so late replying to everyone.
      I'm definitely going to up my organisational skills for next week...well I'm going to try anyway ;D
      We did have a wonderful spring day today...the sun came out to play and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Still a little fresh though.
      Enjoy your fall colours arriving and thanks for stopping by.
      xoxo



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  3. Hey Neesie,

    I know I can save a pdf file as a jpeg. You just open the file and choose "Save As". I hope this helps.....

    I enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing!

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Thanks Kay...but I think once the document is scanned in the pdf format it can't be changed...I may be wrong but I think you have to chose the file option at the scanning stage.
      I took a photo of a copy of my daughter's painting in the end and just managed to enter it in time...but oh I wasted so much time trying to be a computer whizz!
      I am under no disillusionment about being tech savy...I've got such a lot to learn!
      Are you ready for another fun packed week...I'm going to try to manage my time much better...I haven't even visited any desks yet!
      Eek! ;D

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  4. Hi Neesie, well done to your Son for getting a job! Hope you have fun at the craft fair - don't spend too much (I would of course). Love the picture of the market. No lemon cake today - just as well, I am trying to diet..... Crafty hugs, Anne x

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    1. Aww thanks for your kind comments Anne,
      I did enjoy the craft fair and believe it or not I wasn't too naughty either...but I'll be posting about it later.

      I know I haven't posted any baking for quite some time but when I do I'll make sure it's on the day that calories don't count. ;O

      Are you ready for another fun packed crafty week...let's hope its a good one :D

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  5. Everything sounds wonderful especially the clematis budding out. Mine is in full bloom but it's an autumn clematis so the flowers are tiny. Hooray for your son't new job, that's great! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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    1. Hi Sandee,
      Well I'm so late replying to you ~ can you forgive me and I haven't even been to anyone's desk yet!
      I'm trying desperately to play catch up....diddledee dee...diddledee dee.
      Thanks for your kind comments. I'll be heading to your hills as soon as I can! ;D
      Let's hope the coming week will be a brilliant creative one :D
      Have fun!

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  6. Beautifully written Neesie. Hugs, Di xx

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    1. Thanks Di...that's a lovely thing to say. I appreciate it ;D
      Let's hope we have a great creative week ahead to enjoy :D
      xoxo

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  7. Congrats to your son on the new job Denise! Loved reading your daybook as always. I love the autumn, so I am not sorry we are heading into it now, and truth be told, I love the winter too . . . it helps us to appreciate beautiful spring even more. Saddest thing though is . . . we have not really had a summer! I wish you well at the craft fair! Can't wait to hear all about it! Love and luck! xxoo

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    1. Hi Marie,
      I love all the seasons but I have to admit this past winter although nothing like a UK or Canadian winter has been really wet, so I'm ready for some warmth! (I know that after 10 years drought it has been a welcome relief and the reservoir are nearly 80% full so relief all round)

      The seasons were one of the things I missed most when living in the Middle East...so I'm enjoying all the weather whatever that may be.
      I know you've had a really pathetic summer but hopefully the autumn will make up for it!
      Well that's the weekend over...so bring on a new week! I'm hoping that I can be a little more organised with my time...fingers crossed.
      I need to come and see if you have your new bathroom...whoohoo
      xoxo

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  8. What a lovely, lovely post. I am reading it as the sun is starting to set over here on the other side of the world on Saturday night. (I'm catching up.) I hope you get warmer and we get cooler. ;) Enjoy your relaxing weekend!!! :)

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    1. I'm trying desperately to catch up too Rita,
      It sounds lovely reading whilst the sun goes down...I've actually managed to sit on the lounger outside for a short time today...well truth be told, I was recovering after a bike ride.
      It's quite hilly here and I haven't been on the bike for some time so the lounger looked very inviting when I managed to get home!
      Are you ready for another fun packed week...let's hope it's a good one ;D

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