Dear Gran,
One of my favourite things these days is my Request List at the library. I actually like looking at the list more than I like reading the resultant books.
This is how it works: When I read an interesting book review, or hear about something good, or just remember a movie that came out a couple of years ago that I never got around to seeing, I can find it on the online catalogue and request it. Some librarian finds it for me (maybe from another library, maybe from our library) and puts it on a special shelf for me to pick up. They send me an email when it's there. Sometimes, there will be a queue of requests, so I will have to wait. This adds an element of surprise. There was the time that we got three Dr Who DVDs in a fortnight--- too much!
This is some of what's on my list right now:
ABC for kids bumper songbook
Some music to play for Ruth (hopefully it will be easy enough for my poor piano skills).
Album for the piano, by Schumann, Robert, 1810-1856.
Some music for me.
Bleak House
This is the TV series. We missed the first couple of episodes of this, so I want to catch up. I am 21st in line for this so I hope I get it while it's still winter!
Cold Comfort Farm by Gibbons, Stella, 1902-
I haven't read this for years. Interestingly, despite being an old book, there has been quite a waiting list for it--- I'm now at number 2.
Doctor Who. Volume 3
Doctor Who. Volume 4
Did you watch these? (With the last doctor but one). One hours shows are the perfect length for us--- we can go to bed by 9.30.
The permaculture home garden by Woodrow, Linda, 1957-
A book recommended by my friend Hilary, who has one of the best ever permaculture gardens on her property just outside of Canberra. I will be making a new garden bed in the next couple of days, will send photos as it happens.
Slaughterhouse-five, or, The children's crusade : a duty-dance with death by Vonnegut, Kurt.
My friends Dan and Allison were surprised I hadn't read anything by Vonnegut, so I requested this. A couple of days after I requested it (again, a classic book with a small waiting list, I started off at 5th in line) Vonnegut died. This resulted in a burst of popularity, just like paintings increasing in value when the artist dies! There are currently 24 requests.
Swallows and Amazons by Ransome, Arthur, 1884-1967.
Brendan hasn't read this! Sometimes I wonder about his education.
The Secret River, by Kate Grenville.
Yes, I remember that you said this was too depressing.
Some time ago I started a project to read all the Georgette Heyer books. This is a good project, because (unlike most things) I do it when I'm sick or have absolutely zero energy. However it has also been a bit of a disappointment. I expected them to be repetitious, but there have been some absolutely terrible ones. In the most recent, the book ended by the second most unpleasant character strangling the most unpleasant one, then committing suicide himself, leaving all the nice characters to enjoy the big house and fortune. And titles, of course, even in the bad books that stays the same. Silly, but not even enjoyably silly.
Much love,
Julie.
Ruth is enjoying her new mobility and is very careful with negotiating the three back steps.
And here she plays with the fallen leaves from the vine: putting them in the bottle, then out of the bottle, then back in etc
Ruth and Julie have been on a few bushwalks lately. Here Ruth does her best Harry Butler impression while scaling Black Mountain.
And beanie weather has definitely arrived - snow is forecast for the ranges tonight!
much love
