The Book Questions

What a lovely weekend. I'm back from a charity high tea, held for a local charity called Share the Dignity. (www.sharethedignity.com,au) - a charity which helps to get sanitary items to women on the streets or in need of assistance. It's a great cause. I got to catch up with and old workmate and her lovely daughters, which was great too.

Other things I have done this weekend.

• Gone to the gym
• Saw Aladdin and Avengers: Endgame
• Did some cooking
• Cuddled the cat
• Had my eyebrows seen to (they needed it)
• Sorted out my heath insurance.
• Started to plan trips to India and the United States.

So now onto some great questions, thanks to Bev at Sunday Stealing.


Authors you never get tired of reading

Here are a few:

• Margaret Atwood
• JK Rowling
• Geraldine Brooks
• Richard Flanagan
• William Shakespeare

A book you bought for the cover, and discovered it was better than you thought

I recently bought Angie Harper's The Hate You Give. it was excellent. Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things had a pretty cover. I adore that book.

A book that made you laugh and cry, and made you depressed

Oh, that would have to go to Gail Honeywell's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Louis de Bernieres Captain Corelli's Mandolin has aspects of this too.

A book that was a pleasant surprise

Slaughterhouse Five. Fantastic book, I see what they are raving about.

A book everyone loves that you don’t

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Terribly written, badly translated violent dribble. The Fifty Shades of Grey books are rubbish too.

A book with a great sidekick that you like more than the hero

I gotta say, I do love Hermione Granger - she is awesome (though I love Harry too)

A book that helped you through a difficult time

There are a few of these.

• Who Moved My Cheese - by Dr Spencer Johnson
• The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak
• The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
• A Little Life by Hanya Yahanigara
• The Secret History and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

A book that taught you something valuable

I think Charlotte Wood's The Natural Way of Things taught me interesting ways to maintain the rage. It's remarkable. And Anna Burns' Milkman taught me that through perseverance, you will find diamonds. Oh, put Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale up there too.

A book or series that it took you awhile to get into

Oh, that goes to The Great Gatsby - that took me 25 years to get from cover to cover. I read it a few years ago and appreciated it - wouldn't say loved it, but it was better than the other 15 or so times I started it, got to about page 25, threw it against the wall and picked it up when I cleaned.

A fictional character you’d love to have to dinner.

Oh, can I please have Sugar from The Crimson Petal and the White, along with Briony from Atonement, Antonio Corelli and Pelagia from Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and maybe Willem from A Little Life. That could be interesting.

Today's song:

The Unconscious Mutterings Questions

So I have a slight hangover. It's not a real hangover, more an acknowledgement of the fact I was out drinking gin and tonics, eating pizza and mourning the country we could be over the country - and the government to which we are subjected at the moment - the election results are in and they are not great. We're pretty much back where we were before with the same lot of smug, arrogant cretins in office *(minus one fellow, Tony Abbott, who lost his seat - probably the best news from a shocking night.)

So I'm here licking my wounds and eating chocolate bullets. I'm also wearing my Ramones t-shirt. Has to be done. and sorry, I might get a bit sweary in my post today. I'm really not happy.


And planning a trip...

And pondering moving to New Zealand...

Anyway, questions have been provided by Bev at Sunday Stealing.

I say ... and you think ... ?

    Hurry!  And I think, nah, I can have another ten minutes in bed. There will be another tram.

    Dumb :: And I think WHAT THE ACTUAL  FUCK AUSTRALIA!! WE HAVE ANOTHER THREE YEARS OF THESE GREEDY, SHORT-SIGHTED, SOCIALLY BACKWARDS, BIGOTED, SCORCHED-EARTH LOVING,ENTITLED FUCKWITS.  Bring on the revolution.

    Fudge :: And I think of a little store in Akaroa, just out of Christchurch, New Zealand, which does fantastic fudge.

    Sturdy :: And I think of my biker boots, of which I would like to go and kick Queensland's arse with at the moment.

    Printing :: And I think of finishing that novel.

    Itch :: And I think some things that I would like to scratch. I'll leave that there.

    Creaks :: And I think of the lat pull-down machine at the gym which really requires a bit of love and WD-40 - it creaks like a see-saw (I think you American's call them teeter-totters - kids playground equipment).

    Paste :: and I think of my dear old Aunt who loved the art of decoupage.

    Waste of time :: and I think that arguing with a redneck Queenslander would be like that. I'm still shaking my head.

    Let down :: And I think these current election results. I feel personally let down by anybody who who voted for these idiots.

    Cancellation :: And I think of why they are cancelling Suits just as it is getting interesting.

    Suspect :: And I think and suspect that a mob of white, entitled, middle aged blokes are not prepared to faced the wrath of women on a global scale after what has gone down in Alabama this week. (And I think Australia is a cray cray place...)

    Fireplace :: and I think of my childhood and how much I miss an open fire.

    Spring :: And I think of casting off my coat for a cardigan  and my boots for sandals.

    Commute :: and I think I am very pleased that my commute to work is less than half an hour - for mot people it is around an hour, I'm doing well. Joys of living in the inner city.

    Places :: and I think of the trips I am planning in November. India and the United States - ten days each.

    Fraud :: and I think of most of the Government who have been put back in power. They seriously are on the nose. There is some pretty nasty corruption and fraud going on there. The truth will out.

    Adoption :: and I think that this might be the solution the Alabama legislators have for those women who's reproductive rights they are curtailing - because I would really like to see them pay the medical bills for the mothers, feed, clothe, educate and love these children who may have been conceived by the actions of a father, brother or rapist.

    Election :: and I think don't mention the war. I have only just started to agitate on the side of the sensibles. Sheesh.

    Moving day :: and I think of how much preparation goes into getting ready for that day.

Today's Song:

The Ask Anything Questions

So it is Mother's Day around here. So far today I've cuddled the cat, been to the gym, called my mother, did three loads of washing, seen a film (the wonderful All is True - loved it) cooked Meatballs and Spaghetti and done some writing. I'm part of a writing group on Twitter. You get a topic on Saturday and have until midnight Sunday to put 30 words in on the topic. I'm amazed at what you can get done in 30 words. My Twitter handle is @TrellawneyThom if you're interested.

Good questions this week, thanks to Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. Do you own your things or do your things own you?

I like things, but they definitely don't own me. I try to take care of my stuff. When my car got broken into the other week, it was dealt with swiftly, but I live for experiences - and books. But then again, books are things.

2. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?

Part of me wants to keep making new ones, but old memories shape who you are. That's a hard and loaded question.

3. How do you deal with someone in a position of power who wants you to fail?

Prove them wrong with quiet determination. You can stick a finger up to them later.

4. What do you have that you cannot live without?

Friends. Books. My phone and laptop.

5. When you close your eyes what do you see?

Bright light.

6. What sustains you on a daily basis?

Friends. Books. Walking. Writing. And a daily almond decaf latte. Fake coffee - does you good.

7. What are your top five personal values?

• Above all else, be kind.
• Laugh first, cry later. 
• And this too, shall pass. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass. 
• Loyalty knows no boundaries.
• Keep to the budget.

8. Why must you love someone enough to let them go?

If you love them enough to put their happiness above your own, you know you can let them go. It's a hard lesson to learn, but letting go is about boundaries - theirs and your own.

9. Do you ever celebrate the green lights?

All the time. If things are a bit easier, why wouldn't you celebrate it - even if it is only a sneaky gin and tonic.

10. What personal prisons have you built out of fears?

It's probably why I'm still single. Deep seated trust  issues stemming from childhood. Next question.

11. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?

Finished a novel. Got another tattoo. Gone skydiving. Traveled the world for a year.

12. Why are you, you?

Because I am me. That's why. I don't apologies for who I am. I am just me. Forged at the school of life and never have I walked the road more travelled. And that has made the difference. Gotta love Robert Frost.

13. If you haven’t achieved it yet what do you have to lose?

Probably nothing - but if you don't try and achieve what you want, you will never ever get there. This question has a defeatist feel to it.

14. What three words would you use to describe the last three months of your life?

Challenging, inspiring, consolidating.

15. Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?  Is it ever wrong to do the right thing?

Yes. Because sometimes you have to do the wrong thing to work out what the right thing is. Same goes for the right thing. I've taken a few big risks, against the normal thinking - they've been some of the best decisions I've ever made.

16. How would you describe ‘freedom’ in your own words?

Being able to eat as much ice cream as you wish and never putting on weight.

Seriously, freedom to me is feeling an inner peace no matter where you are or what you're doing.

17. What is the most important thing you could do right now in your personal life?

Finish those bloody novels. Maybe find a new job.

18. If you could ask one person, alive or dead, only one question, who would you ask and what would you ask?

I'd like to ask Adolf Hitler just what he had against the Jewish nation.

I'd like to ask Gough Whitlam what it felt like to be dismissed from government.

I'd also like to as Scott Morrison when the hell he will stop lying.

19. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Probably writing. Maybe doing some witch work too.


Today's song:

The One Direction Asks Questions

There is nothing as blissful as a sleep in, a long bath and a swim. Joys of the hotel I'm staying in this weekend. It's just diving. Wish I could have another day here. I've been doing a lot of sleeping this weekend. Must have needed it.

Good questions this week, thanks to Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. Name three things you love about yourself.

• That I'm kind.
• My eyes - they're unusual in colour. 
• My daft recall for really strange facts. 

2. What’s the bravest thing you ever did?

Probably take off alone to England when I was 23. I knew nobody, I had a place to stay for the first few days. Best thing I've ever done too.

3. Talk about the craziest night of your life.

There have been a few, but one that sticks out was a night in Mykonos, talking with an American and a Finnish dude, in a gay bar, in French. Somehow I convinced them I was a French Major on holidays from the University of Alabama. I kept this up for a few hours. Mykonos was crazy.

4. Name three things you want in life

• A cat or two
• A house with an open fire and a bath tub
• A three book publishing deal

5. Who’s your biggest celebrity crush?

Other than Clive Owen and Gabriel Macht?  I have to say, Julianne Moore is up there. I'm straight, but she's amazing. Always has been. She's doing well for somebody pushing 60.

6. What’s your most common mistake?

• I often mix up affect and effect
• I think it will take ten minutes less to get to places. 
• And for the life of me, I will tell you hand on heart that my step-father's birthday is on the 23rd of April. It's the 23rd of March. I've buggered it up for over 25 years. 

7. Which three things would you save if there was a fire?

• The animals
• Some photos
• My grandmother's kitchen implements - huge sentimental value in that eggbeater and colander. 

8. What’s your favourite sport?

I'm not really into sport, but I do dib into Australian Rules Football and cricket now and then.

9. Talk about something good that recently happened to you.

I visited Hong Kong two months ago. That was a wonderful break. Would happily go again - there is so much to see and do. Got a new manager at work - she's been a godsend too.

10. Which fictional world would you want to live in if you could?

I'd happily live in Harry Potter's world. All that magic sounds like fun. New York around the time of When Harry Met Sally would be cool too.

11. What’s one thing you can never say no to?

Ice cream.

12. Talk about a childhood memory.

I have a strange memory of a garden party I went to with my mother and sister when I was about five-years-old. It was a very genteel party. My mother's Aunt Elizabeth, who was very old (in her late nineties) was there. There were cucumber sandwiches and hydrangeas. I wore a blue sun dress. It was high summer, one of those very hot, very dry Adelaide days. We were in the Eastern Suburbs. There were tadpoles in the fountain. It's a very real memory.

13. Name five things you find attractive in others.

• Kindness
• A great sense of humour
• Blue eyes
• A just right hairy chest
• Intelligence.

14. Are you good at making final decisions or do you easily change your mind?

I'm generally very decisive.

15. Name three guilty pleasures of yours.

• Married at First Sight - awful, annual bad reality television - only only this. 
• Ice cream
• Anything related to Shakespeare.

Today's Song: