Huge Book Order for April

Yes, I know that I really should be used to this by now.  However I was not technically on a book buying ban - wouldn't even delude myself by trying to attempt one - so I can take some comfort in that.

I have ordered more than a few books from my favourite online retailers (my local chain store bookshop has a poor range) and I had two discount vouchers to use as well which made the damage done to my wallet slightly less.

My spending has been reasonable so far this month, but today I went a tad overboard.  I couldn't go down to celebrate ANZAC Day as I'm sick, and I didn't want to either a) give it to anyone else, or b) catch something that will make me feel worse, so naturally I ended up online.  Today wasn't supposed to be about buying books.  I just wanted to catch up on some YouTube and do a few other bits and pieces.  But did that happen?  NO!  Last night my mother asked me to get a book for her so it all started from that request. 

Today I managed to order...

The Hobbit - Tolkien

The Return on the King - Tolkien {both these Tolkien books are beautiful cloth-bound editions!}

A Darker Shade of Magic - V. E. Schwab

The Winter Sea - Susanna Kearsley

Heraclix & Pomp - Forrest Aguirre

MOAB is my Washpot - Stephen Fry *

The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides *

Lady Audley's Secret - Mary Elizabeth Braddon *

Cut Throat - Sharon Sala {this was mum's request!} *

On Thursday I went a little mad and ordered,
A Blight of Mages - Karen Miller
Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle {Barnes & Noble leather editions!}
The Arabian Nights
The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

and earlier in the month I ordered - and am still waiting for mind you - these titles;

The Shining - Stephen King *
Tennant of Wildfell Hall - Emily Bronte
Shirley - Charlotte Bronte
Hounded - Kevin Hearne
Wolfsbane - Patricia Briggs
Air Bound - Christine Feehan

And I am still waiting for The Dragon of Despair* by Jane Lindskold to find it's way into my post box as I ordered it over 4 weeks ago!

* AbeBooks {I can now finally find my OOP editions, God bless them!}

Amongst this rather large amount of books that will be winging their way to me during May I have tried a few new editions.  There are some Penguin English Library books.  I just love the spines and the lovely almost suede feeling of the covers!  As mentioned, the Sherlock Holmes volume is one of those gorgeous B&N leather bound editions with the gilding.  Today I seemed to have a thing for hardcovers, so I hope that they have that they have dust jackets, and there is also a smattering of my usual mass market paperbacks.  Yes, I know that they're quite delicate as the spines almost always break, but they are reasonably priced which matters a hell of a lot when books cost so much in Australia! 

I could tally up all the money I've spent on books this month, but I think I'd keel over in shock.  Thankfully I was able to use some 10% off vouchers - thank you Book Depository! -  and Booktopia always has some amazing bargains.  Even op shops have some great titles.  I found my The Fry Chronicles - hardcover! - at a local thrift shop for $4 last year! 

Speaking of thrift shops, I nearly forgot to mention the great books I found yesterday when I went looking for some cheap bowls {I use them for plant saucers - they look nicer and are easier to keep clean inside!}.  As soon as I walked in the door I was sidetracked by the books.  I haven't been to my local St. Vinnie's in months, and I'm so glad I went because I found a couple of books that I've been meaning to get - as well as one that I'd just put in my wishlist!

As per usual, I spent more time and money on the books than I did on the items I actually went for.

Well, I think I've spent enough.  Have to leave you all as I'll just want to start compiling another cart full of books if I keep thinking about them for much longer ;-D 

Okay, must go watch a DVD to take my mind off this dead tree purchasing ...

Until next time,

 

Mrs. Bennet - a realist and successful mother

After watching some of RonLit's YouTube videos about Jane Austen, I found myself longing to revisit the world of Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy.  It's been about three years since I've picked up P&P, and I'd forgotten just how much I love this book.  

{Side note: Jane Austen must have been a most interesting person as the witty remarks her characters make, and her personal observations of their behaviour, are just as apt and amusing today as they must have been to her readers buying P&P hot off the press.}

Now, after watching these YouTube videos where the books are critically reviewed and picked apart on every underlying meaning, I feel a new regard for Mrs Bennet.  She has always been a character that I didn't really think much of - apart from the overwhelming relief that my mother is in no way like her! - and yet after thinking about it, out of all the characters who flitter across the pages it is she who is most sensible in her doggedly obsessive hunt to secure her daughters futures.

Just think in Austen's time a mother, daughter, wife or widow had no legal rights to remain in the family home after the death of the man of the house, especially if said estate was entailed to another distantly related male.  He has the power.  This unpalatable truth is brought home by the determination of Mrs Bennet to see her daughters married come hell or high water.  Why else would you consider forcing your daughter to marry the obnoxious Mr. Collins, or to blindly look the other way in regards to Wickham's deeds?  The fact that Mrs Bennet does shows you just how far a Regency mother will go to see her daughters futures secured.  I bet that if all her daughters were to have married men of Wickham's ilk she would not have thought of anything else but an overwhelming relief that her daughters were now married and she had done her job of seeing them all wed.

It is she, instead of her husband, who has the financial security of her daughters in mind.  Why didn't Mr Bennet put aside money for their futures?  Yes, he planned on having a son, but that's still no excuse as to why once it became clear that there was no son to inherit he didn't simply not set aside some amount annually.  Especially since he would have known to whom the estate would have been entailed to.  It speaks of a lack of understanding, and a selfishness in a way, that he just didn't think about their futures once he was gone.  He retreats to his library, escaping his reality and ignoring what he doesn't want to be true.  Yet, for all this Mr Bennet is a much loved character while his wife is not.

Thanks to RonLit and BooksandPieces videos, I now read Pride and Prejudice with a better understanding of Mrs Bennet, and although I think that she is still an annoying character of the highest order ... well, behind Lydia that is, I don't think I'll ever be able to read it without the understanding that out of all the characters, she is the only one that accomplishes her goals - to see your daughters wed.

Okay, that was way too deep and thought provoking for a sunny Tuesday afternoon.  I'm off to watch something lighthearted ;-D

So until next time my lovelies,

Meet Phryne!

On Saturday morning I brought home the newest furry member in our family.  A gorgeous little furball - who looks so much like Evie Nyxx it's spooky! - she came from the RSPCA's adoption pen at our local shopping centre (a school holidays awareness and adoption campaign).  Phryne is supposed to be 7 and a half months old, but from the size of her I'd say she's more 4 and a half months.

Why the name Phryne?  Well it just so happens that I was watching an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries not long after we got her home.  I still hadn't thought of a name - she was listed as Roxanne at the shelter! - and I decided that she had spunky attitude, mysterious past and gorgeous looks of our leading lady ;-D

Cute as a button, playful and quirky, I think that this little stripy bundle will liven up the household and provide companionship to not only myself, but to Titchy and Evie Nyxx as well.

It's now day 3, and last night Evie Nyxx and Phrynekinns (don't blame me, blame Cousin Guy!) played chase-me-Charlie all through the living area.  I found them curled up within touching distance on the couch, and this morning I woke up to the sounds of cats thundering around the house so I am optimistic that life will settle back to it's usual quiet rhythms in a few more days.

It is such a rewarding experience adopting an animal, so if you are wanting a new pet - be it a dog, cat, chicken, donkey, or pig - please check out your local RSPCA Animal Shelter and give an animal a second chance.

 

Physio, dry needling, and re-reading

Back at home after an early morning visit to the hospital physio department.  This week was my second session of dry needling on my Achilles to help reduce the scar tissue forming on the tendon.  Last week I had 6 needles drilled into the back of my ankle.  It felt really strange, almost like my muscles wanted to tick, and I ended up with a bruise from that - and it felt like someone had hauled off and kicked me in the back of my ankle by day 2.

Today the needles went in a lower location.  They hurt a bit more, and once they were out and I had to flex my foot up and down... oh boy.  Pointing my toes down almost sent my achilles into a spasm.  I've been assured that this is normal and a hot pack/hot foot bath later on today should help.  Fingers crossed.  Thankfully this treatment does seem like this is helping as the extreme feeling of stretching to the point of breaking isn't as intense as it has been for the past couple of months.  If it helps loosen the knot of scar tissue that seems to be forming on the tendon, then I will be happy to have the professionals use me as a pincushion.

Love this book.  A much adored guilty pleasure read ;-D

For now, I'm going to slowly go about the usual chores (laundry, how lovely) and then take it slow and put my feet up for a few hours.  I've been rereading some of my favourite Regency era mystery books - The Bastion Club plus the occasional Bar Cynster series books - and am trying to get out of the reading funk I've been having for the last 2 months.  I just can't seem to muster the energy to pick up any of the myriad of new books that are waiting on my TBR shelves.  Anyway, I'm going to try and start one tonight.  The weather is getting cooler, so perhaps snuggling under a knitted afghan will help.

Wish me luck for next week as I go in for my final session.

Unitl next time,

 

Black Cockatoo at Dawn

Just thought that I'd post this photo I took on my way down to the coast {house-sitting}.  It was just after dawn and I needed to stop so I could have a cup of tea - and there in a tree on the other side of the road were a noisy group of Black Cockatoo's.  I only managed to get this guy as they were startled by some passing traffic.  They were so gorgeous.

Hope you enjoy!

Until next time,

Big Weekend - iMac and a new cat

Sorry about being m.i.a recently.  I spent a week house-sitting for my mother as she went on a week long cruise to the Barrier Reef with my aunt.  They had a great time, even if my mum couldn't find her land legs for a few days after, but it poured rain for most of the time.  In 72 hours my neighbours had 8+ inches in their rain gauge!

So, as I was saying, I was house sitting and on my second last day there I fired up the laptop and decided to defrag it as it was getting a tad sluggish.  Everything went as always, until I got home on Easter Sunday.  I fired up the laptop and ended up with a black screen that keep looping back to a start-up repair menu.  OMG!!!  No internet access at my mother's house - their phone lines aren't set up for cable, and wi-fi isn't an option either due to reception difficulties.  So I've been without internet for 2 weeks and had to fork out for a new computer!  Luckily I found a great special that JB Hi-Fi was having - a MASSIVE 10% off ALL Apple computers and accessories.  Being the budget conscious gal I am I quickly rang the local shops to see if they'd price match (NO), and then called my mum to see if she could pick it up for me before she was due to come out here on Friday.  Yes, she could - and so on Friday morning I took possession of my first ever Apple computer.  So exciting ;-D

Now I was so eager to get back online, but being a good daughter I waited until after my mum's visit. With the internet not an option, I ended up going to the local shopping centre with her yesterday and since it is the school holidays the RSPCA have had a collection of cute kittens there all week.  Yesterday though, they brought in some older cats {over 6 mths I think} and all of them looked similar to my Evie Nyxx.  I fell for the smallest of the three, and she is soooo cute.  I really didn't need another cat in the house, but my Titchy is getting very old and raggedy and I don't want Evie Nyxx to pine for her when I loose her.  Call me crazy for introducing Phryne (also known as Phrynekinns), but looking into that gorgeous face I couldn't say no.

As you can see she is the spitting image of Evie Nyxx... just a lighter colour I think.

It's now 24 hours later and after a sleepless night - sleeping with one eye open so as to avoid WWIII - I have a purring Phryne on the bed and a still not impressed Evie Nyxx on my lap as I try to type over her ;-D  I'm still trying to get used to the mac way of things and missing my older version of Photoshop CS4 as I'm now without a photo editor program.  I really didn't think this through did I?

Keep your fingers crossed for me that the furry family settles down over the next few days - and that I start to get my head wrapped around this new way of doing things with my iMac.

So until next time my lovelies,

Temporary hiatus

Had a terrible month with laptop and phone acting up, but today my laptop finally succumbed to the black screen of death. 

I'll be updating Instagram from phone, but will be unable to update Goodreads until I get a new computer.

So until then, wish me luck.  I'm seriously considering an Apple desktop, but they're sooo expensive here.

Until next time,
Happy Reading!

Archangel's Enigma cover art!

Just stumbled across the cover art for Archangel's Enigma, the 8th book in the Guild Hunters series by Nalini Singh.  I love this series, and although this is the first cover not to feature the character, I love the way he peaks through the claw marks.  From the synopsis {below} Naasir's story sounds amazing.  He's such a mysterious character - as are his origins (which are touched on in Archangel's Shadow) - and I'm hoping to read more on the Elena & Raphael front as well.  Truly, I can't wait to have this book in my hands.  Nalini Singh has created such an amazing series.  I recommend it to anyone who loves Urban Fantasy ;-D

Archangel's Enigma

Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required—those more common to predatory animals than to man.

Enlisted to accompany Naasir, Andromeda, a young angelic scholar with dangerous secrets, is fascinated by his nature—at once playful and brilliant, sensual and brutal. As they race to find the Sleeping archangel before it’s too late, Naasir will force her to question all she knows...and tempt her to walk into the magnificent, feral darkness of his world. But first they must survive an enemy vicious enough to shatter the greatest taboo of the angelic race and plunge the world into a screaming nightmare…

Archangel's Enigma is due for release on the 01 September 2015

Be sure to pre-order so you don't miss out!

Until next time,

 

T5W | Books I'd save in a fire

Sorry to keep it so short and to the point this week.  I just couldn't make up my mind as to which of my hundreds of books I'd save {more like which authors book's I'd save instead!}.

I hope you enjoyed my Top 5 Books I'd save in a fire, and if you want to know more about Top 5 Wednesday - or would like to participate - then head on over to the Goodreads group {here}.  This series was created by the lovely Lainey at GINGERREADSLAINEY and she has some great lists.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them down below.

Until next time,

 

Childhood scary movie remade

OMG!  They've remade the movie that scared the pants off me as a child!  I stayed over at my older cousin's house when I was 8 or so.  Poltergeist had just come out on VHS, so she rented it.  I remember watching parts of it from behind the sofa, cushion, and my hands.  It gave me the willies for years as my childhood bedroom had a built-in closet opposite my bed, and I also had an old clown doll (that my mother had given to her years and years ago) that used to sit on the bed.  After I came home - totally freaked out by the way - I couldn't sleep in my room until I shoved an old bit of dowling through the handles of the built-in closet.... with the clown doll inside!

This will just terrify/traumatise a new generation of children.  But I have to admit, I'll most likely watch it as I love a good spooky movie - and the special effects look amazing.  Am I nuts or what?

Until next time,

 

All strapped up with no place to go!

I am quite sore this morning after yesterday's visit to the local physio department at the hospital.  As usual I was poked and prodded - with a million and one questions regarding how painful this or that pain was on a scale from 1 to 10 - and after a truly painful massage to loosen the tension in my left calf muscle I was all strapped up on both feet and free to go.  Walking to the car was awkward with the strapping on, but I can take it off in another day or two ;-D

Today I've taken the new look out for a test drive.  Had to get a few essentials at Woolworth's, and I've also done the first set of exercises.  Strapping pinching on the inner left ankle, but I can always adjust that, or remove that piece of tape if it gets painful - or so said the physio.  Only the laundry to be put on the line left of my chores today, then I can put my feet up and see how things go.  Fingers crossed this works.

Oh, and I know the photo's aren't the best but I took them on my cruddy phone camera.  Can't wait to get a new phone - but that's another story ;-D

Until next time, keep safe and

 

Early morning swim

Got an early start this morning and by 7am I was 25km from home and doing my hydrotherapy exercises.  After an hour of that I was truly knackered - that's not including the drive back home which was another 25km!  

Luckily it's a great pool.  Lovely ramp entry or wide platform step on the other side, quite warm and always a pleasure to go into when winter hits ;-D 

Unfortunately, I also have a physiotherapy session this afternoon at the hospital.  Tomorrow could be a bed day as I think I'll be too sore and tired to do anything else but rest and take it easy.  But fear not, I have a pile of books that I want to get through so I'll be set.

Take it easy, and 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,