Summer comes early, but there’s no rain in sight.

Wow, things are just crazy right now. While Winter was quite chilly, there was little rain - which we desperately need - and by the time August rolled around, well, the temperatures shot up. It was almost as if the last week or so of July was Spring, and then… BOOM! Summer, baby! I’m completely over it.

Which leads me to the next item in my “things be crazy” list. Water. Yes, that life giving liquid that everyone needs to live. It seems like I’m out. That’s correct. My tank runneth dry. It has been my biggest stressor over the last few days since I discovered that I had but mere inches left in the water tank. That facilitated a phone call to a recommended water carrier who was happy to schedule a delivery for 2000 gallons - for the Friday, 13th October! Honestly, the demand for water at the moment is unreal. We haven’t had any decent rain for nearly 7+weeks, and even then it only filled the one tank to about 2/3 full. Then yesterday I went out to the tank to check, and thanks to a blocked toilet over the weekend, my tank is down about an inch or two of water. So today, Monday, I called the water carriers early to see if I could get any leftover water from a delivery that didn’t use the full water tank’s worth, and nope. But I could go on the wait list for a cancelled order - with 40 other customers. It just isn’t my week for this shit.

So that leaves me with a few bottles of bought water until I can go into town next (where I can hopefully but a few 10L bottles) and eeking out what little water I can scrape together from other sources. There is a small tank on a stand at the back of the house, but I only used that for the plants so I’m not game to drink that, but it will be fine for flushing the toilet. So if anyone does read this, keep your fingers crossed for me as it’s going to be a bumpy 11 days until delivery. On the plus side, I’m shuffling along pretty well. I still get very fatigued and the brain fog is no joke at times, but my achilles tendon has settled down to the best it’s been in years, so I’ll take this as a small victory in the face of having limited bathing opportunities for the next week. 

Now, onto the reading front. I’ve been fairly restrained over the last couple of weeks on the book buying front. There has not been a huge amount of books that have caught my eye, but some of the ones that did are well and truly out of my price range. I just can’t get over the economy at the moment. Prices are ridiculous on all consumption fronts. A mass market paperback should not cost $20+, and I’m completely pissed off at the meteoric rise in food prices and petrol. I bought petrol last Friday and it was $2/L (or over $7.55 per gallon). Anyway, rant tangent aside, although I haven’t been buying up big on the book front, I have been reading some interesting books. I’ve gone off the fantasy books at the moment, and have had a real desire to dive into some Urban Fantasy, as well as some Paranormal Cosy Mysteries. So I’ve been rereading some old favourites as well as trying some new recommendations. Once I get through my current KU reads I might go back through my finished books and put together a recommendations list… yes?

So that brings me to right now as I come to the end of this post. I’m rather sporadic in my uploading, and I’m still on the hunt for an affordable replacement laptop, or desktop, so that I can get back into filming some videos for BookTube. Until then, I’ll leave you here. I need to start closing off some of the windows and curtains on the back of the house so that I don’t get roasted as the sun starts to scorch the back of the house in an hour or so.  So, it’s goodbye from me, and until I see you next time,

Just a quick update

Hi guys,

Sorry this is so rushed, but I’m on my iPad and all this hen-pecking typing is driving me nuts.

As you can see, I’m taking a little time out, but plan to be back after this heatwave and local bushfires calm down.

Thank you for watching (and subscribing! 🥰), and until I see you next time,

Huge hail storm

Yesterday we had a doozy of a hail storm hit.  It started as just a really wild storm, and then the clouds went a funky brown/sepia colour and the hail started to fall!  It got so bad at one point when the winds shifted that I was getting wet on my balcony - and that's only happened about 5 times in the 4 years I've lived here! 

Once the hail really started to come down, I got my butt inside and started to film out the window beside my front door.  The hail was just smashing down, and it was so heavy that I my ears hurt from the continuous bashing of the hail on the tin roof.  It was over in about 15 minutes, but during that time I was worried whether or not I would have a roof at the end.

This is the closest I'm ever going to get to snow in QLD, but this was also a hell of a lot scarier ;-D

Until next time,

Christmas starting early this year

 

Hello my lovelies!

 

This is just going to be a rambling entry as I just can't seem to get myself into a bookish mood.  Still waiting for new things to arrive in the post, but I will show you three of my favourite non-bookish thngs I found this week.  

 

I'm getting into the Christmas Spirit early this year so I wanted to show you all my latest finds.  Firstly, I saw this online and immediately called my mum to see if she could find it in her area (I don't have a K-Mart here!) and yes, she bought it for me ;-D  I love it, and it is sitting on a box beside my computer desk until I decide exactly where I want it.  Then on Saturday I saw this cute Christmas ornaments, a little felt bird, and had to have it, then I remembered I'd seen some sweet hanging mason jars for candles a few days before, so I bought one to go along with the red theme I've got going this year.  I wanted things to decorate my bookshelves with, but they have instead found their way into my bedroom.  I've got the bird hanging from my lacy curtain, and the candle holder is currently on the box next to the ampersand light.

 

On the bookish side of things after the success of last weekend's TBR only reading binge, I just haven't really been feeling like picking up any other books from my massive TBR pile.  Instead I've been spending waaaay too much time on YouTube, and rereading some of my favourite books.  It's become a bit of a problem.

I was planning on doing something about that today, but it's overcast, and quite chilly for November!, so I'm sitting back on the bed, watching YouTube.  There  are plenty of things that really need to get done, but the weather has saved me from laundry duty, however I should have gone to the store this morning for a few groceries, but have decided to put that off until tomorrow so I can bask in the glory that is spending a lazy morning in bed so I can make the most of my favourite weather ;-D

Hoping that the postman delivers a book or two today - I ordered another handful of books, yeah! - and am still debating whether or not I should read the Song of Ice and Fire books before watching the TV series.  Yes, I still haven't read/watched it... and I own the books and seasons 1-4 on Blu-ray! {hmmm, a little off topic there}  So, I've got a myriad of bookish things to get done, read, or watch, but just can't seem to summon the enthusiasm to start any of it.  

Do you feel this way at times?  Let me know down below if you do, and what worked to get you out of your reading funk.

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Freezing cold and a reading slump to boot

It's been about 2 weeks since I posted anything - sorry 'bout that - but I have just been so busy lately.  I've been a cleaning fiend, inspection by landlord, and between that, and the absolutely icy winds that have been howling in from the west, it's just been a really crappy time to read.  Now I know it should be the best weather for snuggling up in a blanket on the couch to read... however, when there is no heating in your home it's not really conducive for reading for any length of time.  So instead I have been bundled up in my quilted jacket, under some blankets, and watching old TV series that I like.  Yes, I'm under a blanket, but at least my hands/arms aren't out in the cold holding a book!

I'm hoping that this is either my last winter in this unit, or perhaps in this town (?), as although I do love the cool weather - I really do need either a warmer climate, or a place that has heating.  I'd even settle for a place that's draft proof.  But until then I've been re-reading some old favourites during the odd times that I've felt like reading.  I'm hoping to snap myself out of this little slump.  It's been so annoying.  I was so looking forward to Siren's Call by Jayne Castle to be released, but when I finally got a copy I read it and blah!  I've really enjoyed all the books in this futuristic paranormal romance, and yet this didn't do anything for me.  I'm hoping that it's just a result of being in a reading funk - and not that the book might be wishy-washy.

Oy, now I'm feeling blue.  Off to make some brownies I think.  Need a little chocolate-y goodness to cheer me up ;-D

Hope that your reading this month has been more productive than mine.

Until next time,

 

I'm frozen!

Need I say more?

Until next time,
 

Freezing my butt off!

It's been so cold here at night.  The weatherman commented, on the news tonight, that this is the coldest start to June in over a decade!  Last night was almost 10°c below average!  As you can see, we're in for more of the same tonight, so I've rugged up and I'm sitting in bed under the doona.  Brought a bottle of water and an old favourite to bed so I don't have to get up any time soon ;-D

Fingers crossed that I don't wake up to heavy frost covering everything.

Until next time,
 

Tropical Cyclone Marcia

I don't know if any of you lovely people out there have been following this, but Queensland has just been hit by a rather quick forming cyclone.  TC Marcia may have been small, but she certainly packed a punch (Cat 5), and she's not done yet.  Although downgraded to a Cat 1 cyclone, Marcia has been steadily heading down the coast, which means that by lunchtime today it should be over/near my town, and although I love wet and stormy weather, I'm not to enthused about the strong winds that could still be gusting at over 95km/h - even if she's downgraded again into a Low.

 Out and about after heading to the shops to pay a bill - in case I get flooded in!

Strangely while everyone back home on the coast is getting drenched, I had no real rain to report yesterday.  Then at about 10pm last night, the heavens opened and it has been raining ever since.  It's down to a drizzle at the moment, but there has been enough rain over the last 12 hours to start flooding some roads.  I hope that any of the rivers upstream don't flood - otherwise I'll be flooded in!

Wish I was back on the coast for this.  I just love watching the waves crash against the shore.  Although if we get more rain running off into the massive storm drain that backs up to my unit complex, then I'll definitely be seeing some wave action!

Thinking warm thoughts ;-D, and until next time,

 

Sorry, it's too hot to post

Sorry about this unintended hiatus from reviewing, but it has been waaay too hot here to do much more than sit on the bed and listen to some audiobooks.  Temperatures have been up in the high 30s and I have been just too uncomfortable to sit at a desk and update everything - which is really annoying because I have read so many great books in the last 2 weeks!  So hopefully the hot weather will go away in the coming week (finger's crossed) and I will finally be able to post something.

Upcoming reviews should include:

• Coraline
• The Sleeper and the Spindle
• Doll Bones
• Withering-by-Sea
• The Minaturist {still reading . . . slowly ;-D }
• Clockwork Scarab
• The Wee Free Men
• John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat
• The Fry Chronicles
• The Hot Zone
• Mist
• Archangel's Shadow

. . . and many more!

Phew!  That's more than I thought I'd read!

Anyway, must dash off and turn on the fans as the wind has stilled and it's getting too damned hot.

So until next time my lovelies,

 

Did I mention it's cold?

Hi there, my lovelies. I may have metioned it a time or two over the last few days, that it's getting cold.  Today I really mean it... I'M COLD!  As I sit here typing, I have a hot water bottle snuggly sitting on my lap, some woolly wrist warmers keeping my wrist warm (obviously), layered long sleeve shirts, a beanie, track pants (uh, sweat pants in America?) and warm woolly socks with Ugg boots on.  If I could, I'd be rugged up in my thick blanket as well.

There's a hot water bottle underneath all the blankets as well!

Last night I took a photo of my cat snuggling up to my hot water bottle - she also snuck under the blankets some time during the night! - just to show you I'm not kidding.  And to add insult to injury, it's toasty warm outside in the sun.  (Whoever designed these units needed to run his designs by his mum to make sure it would work in 'real life' and not just on the page as the living rooms share the internal wall!)  Anyhow, I'm off to enjoy a hot lunch and try to find a sunny spot to read.  Fingers crossed I thaw out soon ;-D

On the mend - but freezing!

I'm finally getting over my headcold, but today I wish I'd stayed in bed.  It is so very cold here.  I'm so cold that I had to go and get my little peguin gloves {aren't they so cute!}, make a hot cup of tea and get a hot water bottle!  Just so I could poddle around online and update my blog.  I wish we had central heating in unit complexes in Australia.  It would make life so much more comfortable in winter.

Winter's in the air

After some very unseasonably warm weather, Winter has finally decided to make an entrance after a truly mild Autumn.  That means that for the past week or so every morning I've woken to find my place surrounded by thick fog.  Such a magical, yet eerie, atmosphere.  My only question is why, when you can hardly see the road in front of you, does it never show up as well in photo's?

A cool change

Finally, after what seems like a eternity, the weather has finally changed for the better.  Even though cloudy days haven't meant cooler temps over the last week, today there is a real difference in the atmosphere.  Such a relief.

To celebrate the cool change I'm going to spend the day lounging on the sofa, and reading some of my old favourites.  At the moment I'm three quarters of the way through Dark Desire (by Christine Feehan), with Dark Gold next on the pile.  It's been some time since I've read these books and I'd forgotten how much I loved them.  They were one of the reasons that I got hooked on the whole paranormal romance/urban fantasy genre.

As you can see, my copies are very well read - but much cherished!

Happy reading!

Yeah, I see clouds!

After an absolutely nightmare of a night (no pun intended) I was so happy to wake up to a cool breeze and no sun in the sky!  Yes, that's right folks - it's not going to be a scorcher today!!!!

Last night was just the worst night I've had since I moved out this way nearly 2½ years ago.  There was not one little puff of air blowing through my windows - and let me tell you, I had everything open.  That's only the 3rd time that's happened since I moved in!  So, there I was, desk fan on the side of the bed plus the ceiling fan on as well.  Even with all that, I still spritzed myself a couple of times during the night just to get a little cooler.  It was not a comfortable night I can tell you.

It's been so hot and uncomfortable lately that I haven't even been able to escape into my books for relief!  Usually I can loose myself in whatever book I'm reading for hours.  I tried on numerous occasions over the past few days, and the most I could manage was a good half and hour to an hour at the most before I just could not ignore the heat any longer.  I jokingly said to my mum the other day "you'll visit me when I move to Tasmania, or NZ, won't you?" - but after the lung sucking heat over the past 4 days I'm seriously considering a change of address I can tell you!

Though for all my whinging about the heat (I need to vent somewhere) I consider myself lucky I'm not living further west.  The western parts of QLD are suffering so much more with the heat and the drought, so really, what do I have to complain about in the scheme of things?

Happy Reading!

'Beat the Heat' Survival Kit

It's been another scorcher today.  At 3:30pm it was 41.5°c!  Well, maybe a tad more, but still bloody hot ;-D

After yesterday's hot temperature, when the mercury started to climb today I retreated to the bedroom where my little 'Beat the Heat' supplies have come in handy.

First, make sure that you have a good cross ventilation system going.  I simply opened the windows.  Then put a small desk fan at the bottom of the bed.  To make sure it's wasn't going anywhere, I put it on a hardcover book.  Lie down and spritz your bare legs with the water bottle - set on mist - and the result will make you feel so much cooler!

I, personally, made sure there was a supply of cold water, and books to read, so that I didn't have to get up very often.  Its a cheap way to keep cool - especially if you don't have air conditioning.

Just remember to spritz yourself regularly for best results.

PS, put an old sheet under yourself otherwise your bedspread might get a little damp!

So hot!

It's just after 3:30pm, and when I went to the kitchen to get an icy cold glass of water - which I forgot - the thermometer was reading 39°c!

It's too hot!

It's heatwave time again in Australia.  I'm sitting on the couch finishing up my cup of tea (toast went ages ago), so that I can have most of my chores and errands done before 10am, when it really starts to heat up.  Queensland is being fried as the temperatures this week have his 48°c in some places, like Birdsville and Bedourie.  I'm frazzled just dealing with 38°c!  I don't know how they're surviving out there...industrial air-conditioning I suppose?

The heat has meant that a lot of self imposed New Year's projects have been put on hiatus until the weather behaves.  I was planning to get give the balcony a right royal scrubbing - and de-spidering - but I nearly melted when I spent 20 minutes out there yesterday hanging the clothes on the line!  I was also planning on starting a bigger quilt (about twice the size of the one I did for mum), but there is no way I'm going to sit at the sewing machine for hours in this heat.  Perhaps it's time I seriously considered getting some air-conditioning... or move to Tasmania? ;-D

My cats seem to be handling the heat.  Evie Nyx has a thing about lying in the bathroom's sink, when possible, while my old Titchy just settles down on her armchair which I've tucked beside a large bookshelf.  She's happy enough to just snooze the day away.  The weatherman has said that this extreme heat is supposed to hang around until at least the middle of next week (ugh!), but I'm hoping that we're not going to go straight from a heatwave into flooding.  For the past two summers here, it's flooded each January.  

I hope your New Year is getting off to a better start than mine.  I'm off to the store to stock up on some cooling ice cream ;-D

Happy reading!

Rainy Days

Just great.  It's only been about 3 weeks since we'd last had torrential rain and flooding in the region - and my street - and now it's back again.  For the last two days it's been coming down in sheets.  I really shouldn't complain because this is my all time favourite weather, but I am worried about the flooding.  That being said, I'm whiling away the hours of enforced enclosure by reading a dearly loved - and always at the ready - series that never gets old.  Yes, that's right.  I've dipped back into the bookshelf for Stephanie Plum.  Now I know that I go there a lot, but there is just something about the series that just hits the spot.  It's funny and quirky, fast paced and just an all round great series - and if you love J.D. Robb, Jayne Ann Krentz, I'd highly recommend you check it out.   The characters are well written and seem to just jump off the page (especially after hearing Lorelei King's narrations).  Lula is a real card, and although I would pass out on the spot if I had her for my Granny, Edna Mazur is a real pistol.   With nineteen books under her belt for this series, Janet Evanovich has kept me interested in the eternal love triangle that is Stephanie, Joe and Ranger.   Even though we're up to book 20 this year, I have only found one or two that didn't really hit the spot with me.... plus I just love to daydream about Ranger and Morelli.  Really, who doesn't?

So, after I'm finished here I will make myself a hot cup of tea, break out the Tim Tams (Caramel, of course) and dive back into Lean Mean Thirteen.   Hope you find some fabulous books this week.

Happy Reading!

Spending a cold night with a good book and a cuppa

Last night was so cold here in SE QLD.  For the 11th night in a row, I had to shiver through subzero temperatures - the lowest at -4°c (or about 25°f) - and it seems there's no end in sight.  At these temperatures I should be able to enjoy having some snow falling, but nooooo we don't get snow here.  So, when I heard the weatherman make his prediction that was it.  I was calling it a night and heading off to bed.  There was no way in hell I was sitting in a chilly room (that I can never seem to heat up) trying to watch the Olympics (the only thing watchable on TV, but that's another story).  Grabbing a book at random, I made a steaming hot mug of tea and scampered off to bed.  

It was so cold that my cat wanted to get under the blankets too!  That's when you know it's really cold.  Today it's fine and sunny but the wind is howling.  As I write this I'm curled up on the sofa, cat in lap, bundled up in winter woollies.  I'm even contemplating getting a throw rug to wrap around me.  I foresee another freezing night ahead of me... I wish I had a fireplace.

Oncoming Storm

Yeah!  After more than a few steamy days it looks like we're going to get a good storm.

Luckily for me, the town I live in is not prone to the flooding that has inundated other southwest towns like Mitchell, Roma, St George and Charleville.  Most of the rain that fell there over the last few weeks missed us here.  Hopefully this storm brings enough rain to cool the area down