Saturday, 2 March 2013
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
#52 Lists - List 7
Great Reads I've Read Lately (... or in the last 12 months)
Pip Lincoln's list is recent reads... I'm stretching back a bit further as I read a lot of books (but a side-effect from the earthquakes is my concentration levels are lower and if I don't get into a book quickly it goes by the way-side). I've learned that this is quite common. I have some friends in a book club and they say most of them have found it challenging in the last two years. So my hit rate is lower these days, despite my appetite for books and the library. For this reason I'm looking at books I've read lately... or in the last 12 months.
In no particular order, my best "ahem, recent" reads have been:
Oh Dear Sylvia - Dawn French
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul - Deborah Rodriguez
The Prisoner of Heaven - Carlos Zafron Ruiz
The Drowning Girl - Margaret Leroy
The Legacy - Katherine Webb
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
The Table Comes First - Adam Gopnik (non-fiction)
Only one non-fiction in that list, but I do read a lot of articles and I've been concentrating on travel books with my non-fiction in preparation for trip to Europe.
I don't have one particular genre that I prefer. I read the odd historical drama ("Painting Mona Lisa"), a bit of Chick Lit (Celia Ahern), Bloke Lit (Mike Gayle/Nick Hornby), contemporary (Colm Toibin/Roddy Doyle), and everything in between. Hey, I've even read all the Harry Potters. On my bookshelf I have the classics (Victor Hugo, Jane Austen) and the medieval (both french and english literature)... so it's fair to say I have a wide interest. I'll give anything a go, but I do have a page rule. If I can't get to page 130 within 3 attempts... it goes.
Erin Morgenstern's book is one of the best I've read and it's a gorgeous book if you get the hard copy (the black pages and red edging are a delight). I follow Erin's blog too (listed to the right) - where she regular writes a 10 sentence essay based on a photograph. Definitely worth checking out.
My favourite author though, Maggie O'Farrell, isn't on this list as I'm waiting for her new book out (due mid year). "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" is a book that side-swiped me with its twist, and all of her books are stunning. "After You'd Gone" was the book that introduced me to Maggie and it is a beautiful book. It was a recommended read by Lisa Jewell, another author I enjoy - she's funny and witty and her books are all different. I recommend you search both Lisa and Maggie out.
Pip Lincoln's list is recent reads... I'm stretching back a bit further as I read a lot of books (but a side-effect from the earthquakes is my concentration levels are lower and if I don't get into a book quickly it goes by the way-side). I've learned that this is quite common. I have some friends in a book club and they say most of them have found it challenging in the last two years. So my hit rate is lower these days, despite my appetite for books and the library. For this reason I'm looking at books I've read lately... or in the last 12 months.
In no particular order, my best "ahem, recent" reads have been:
Oh Dear Sylvia - Dawn French
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul - Deborah Rodriguez
The Prisoner of Heaven - Carlos Zafron Ruiz
The Drowning Girl - Margaret Leroy
The Legacy - Katherine Webb
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
The Table Comes First - Adam Gopnik (non-fiction)
Only one non-fiction in that list, but I do read a lot of articles and I've been concentrating on travel books with my non-fiction in preparation for trip to Europe.
I don't have one particular genre that I prefer. I read the odd historical drama ("Painting Mona Lisa"), a bit of Chick Lit (Celia Ahern), Bloke Lit (Mike Gayle/Nick Hornby), contemporary (Colm Toibin/Roddy Doyle), and everything in between. Hey, I've even read all the Harry Potters. On my bookshelf I have the classics (Victor Hugo, Jane Austen) and the medieval (both french and english literature)... so it's fair to say I have a wide interest. I'll give anything a go, but I do have a page rule. If I can't get to page 130 within 3 attempts... it goes.
Erin Morgenstern's book is one of the best I've read and it's a gorgeous book if you get the hard copy (the black pages and red edging are a delight). I follow Erin's blog too (listed to the right) - where she regular writes a 10 sentence essay based on a photograph. Definitely worth checking out.
My favourite author though, Maggie O'Farrell, isn't on this list as I'm waiting for her new book out (due mid year). "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" is a book that side-swiped me with its twist, and all of her books are stunning. "After You'd Gone" was the book that introduced me to Maggie and it is a beautiful book. It was a recommended read by Lisa Jewell, another author I enjoy - she's funny and witty and her books are all different. I recommend you search both Lisa and Maggie out.
Friday, 22 February 2013
12:51 22 February 2011 - In memory
It was 12:50pm and I remember looking at my watch thinking the queue for lunch had been quite quick. One minute later, as I went to pull out my seat in our staff cafeteria a rumbling noise came, the power went out and the ground underneath me lurched. I didn't know whether to crouch, stand... there was no room under the small table. I looked over to see our large fridge wobbling back and forth at nearly 90 degree angles, knowing someone was sitting directly in front of it.
That moment is etched in my memory. It's the moment my life, and those of the 420,000-ish citizens of Christchurch, changed forever.
Others, have worse memories of that moment the ground erupted. Mine are quite calm and non-destructive... the memories of the next two-three hours aftermath are far far worse. I will never forget the faces around me, distraught and terrified. I won't forget seeing bodies under bricks as we evacuated and I won't forget screaming an obscenity at a press photographer for taking photographs of a badly injured man (then turning around and seeing my Managing Director was standing right behind me!).
Two years later.... and I looked at my watch at 12.50pm as I stood amongst others, ready to observe a minute's silence in memory, I looked around me. I didn't think the memories would still feel this raw. But they are. I hate to think how those that lost loved ones felt.
So at the same time as I stood in memory of those lost, I also stood in thanks. Thanks that I was one of the lucky ones. Thanks that I didn't know the names on the list of 185. I knew people who knew people, but I had the reprieve from being hurt so directly.
I was lucky that I was in one of the safest buildings in Cashel Mall, when normally if I buy lunch I venture out ... Something (my guardian angels?) made me choose the easy alternative that day and stay indoors. I was lucky that I had people help me home and that when I got home to a mess in my house, it was just a mess and it wasn't too broken. I was lucky that I got power back within 24 hours. I was lucky that strangers gave me a car to use for a month when mine was stuck in the red zone. I was thankful for being one lucky gal. I was lucky I worked for who I work for and was kept in a job.
I have so much to be thankful for. The earthquakes have reinforced the fact that I have the most amazing family and friends, rallying around. I already knew that I was resillient, and I am thankful for parents that encouraged me to be so, but this was a real test. I think I've come through it.
This blog comes out of the earthquake. After the aftershocks on 23 Dec 2011, I went into a black fugue - it was one aftershock too many and after "Being Strong" for 9 months, I had enough! But I hated that blackness, so my challenge to take "a photo a day" was an attempt to push me out of it. It worked in many ways. Yes I documented broken buildings, but I documented change and improvements and ordinary life too. This city will re-build.
So as 12:51 ticked over, today 22 February 2013, two years on, I remembered, I offered up a prayer and I gave thanks.
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| The Blessed Sacrament Cathedral - post quake |
Others, have worse memories of that moment the ground erupted. Mine are quite calm and non-destructive... the memories of the next two-three hours aftermath are far far worse. I will never forget the faces around me, distraught and terrified. I won't forget seeing bodies under bricks as we evacuated and I won't forget screaming an obscenity at a press photographer for taking photographs of a badly injured man (then turning around and seeing my Managing Director was standing right behind me!).
Two years later.... and I looked at my watch at 12.50pm as I stood amongst others, ready to observe a minute's silence in memory, I looked around me. I didn't think the memories would still feel this raw. But they are. I hate to think how those that lost loved ones felt.
So at the same time as I stood in memory of those lost, I also stood in thanks. Thanks that I was one of the lucky ones. Thanks that I didn't know the names on the list of 185. I knew people who knew people, but I had the reprieve from being hurt so directly.
I was lucky that I was in one of the safest buildings in Cashel Mall, when normally if I buy lunch I venture out ... Something (my guardian angels?) made me choose the easy alternative that day and stay indoors. I was lucky that I had people help me home and that when I got home to a mess in my house, it was just a mess and it wasn't too broken. I was lucky that I got power back within 24 hours. I was lucky that strangers gave me a car to use for a month when mine was stuck in the red zone. I was thankful for being one lucky gal. I was lucky I worked for who I work for and was kept in a job.
I have so much to be thankful for. The earthquakes have reinforced the fact that I have the most amazing family and friends, rallying around. I already knew that I was resillient, and I am thankful for parents that encouraged me to be so, but this was a real test. I think I've come through it.
This blog comes out of the earthquake. After the aftershocks on 23 Dec 2011, I went into a black fugue - it was one aftershock too many and after "Being Strong" for 9 months, I had enough! But I hated that blackness, so my challenge to take "a photo a day" was an attempt to push me out of it. It worked in many ways. Yes I documented broken buildings, but I documented change and improvements and ordinary life too. This city will re-build.
So as 12:51 ticked over, today 22 February 2013, two years on, I remembered, I offered up a prayer and I gave thanks.
Eternal Rest Grant to Them O Lord. May they Rest In Peace.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
#52Lists - List 6
List 6 = (Some of) The Flowers I Like
The best thing about this list, is that all the photos come from my garden! I do love other flowers too, but these are some of my favourites.
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| Peonies |
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| "Fresia" Rose |
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| Gladioli |
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| Baby Camelia |
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| Trilium |
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| Daffodils |
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| Lillies |
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| "Jubilee" Rose |
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Weekend Mini-Break
I'm just back in from a quick overnight trip to Motunau Beach and taking in the Winery Tour at Mudhouse Winery. Fabulous weather, and with the views like this...
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| Deck View! |
It really is quite breathaking.
The Mudhouse Winery tour was a fabulous evening. I'm a huge fan of the Adults, and have blogged about Anika Boh & Hollie on the Listening To... page. They were supported by Clara van Wel (a talent who will only get better and better) who was on stage as we arrived.
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| Perfect skies for a concert |
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| The Adults (with Anika, in lieu of Julia) |
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| NZ's own Spice Girls, "Sporty, Five-Spice & Sexy Spice" |
The evening finished with a real summer feel and grooving out to the headline act, Fat Freddy's Drop.
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| Fat Freddy's |
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| Sunset skies - reflections |
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| Awesome sunset |
A perfect 25 degree warm evening kept everyone smiling until the end, and we went back to the bach (such a better idea than driving in post-concert traffic to Christchurch) and sat out underneath the starry starry sky, looking for shooting stars, satellites and the odd constellation with David Bowie singing Starman on the stereo, while we finished the evening with a civilised tea/coffee and chocolate nibbles.
Great music, great food, great company, AWESOME nature! The perfect Mini-Break.
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