A suitcase question: To share or not to share?

Image Credit

Our lastest conversation in preparation for our trip:

Dh:  I think we could get away with one suitcase for both of us.
Me:  NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!

The last time we shared a suitcase was approximately 17 million years ago.  Well...maybe just 17, without the million.  But a long time.  As I recall it, we were camping (in a tent) and it was torture.  My side of the case was nice and neat and tidy.  His side of the case looked like a bomb had gone off and it just spread across over my stuff.  Every single time he went to the case I had to go back and tidy it up - for my own sanity, you understand, not because I was being all loving and serving or anything so virtuous.  I vowed, then, that we would never share a case again. 

Oddly, this mess thing only happens while travelling.  At home his clothes are put away (not by me, in case that's what you're thinking.  I'm not that nice) and it doesn't hit my radar as something to deal with, because it just isn't there.

Personally, I'd be content with my small case (a bit bigger than carry-on size) and he can take the case the next size up, for his shoes and the coffee he wants to take with us.  I'm not so keen on making the smell of coffee my signature scent.

Do you share a suitcase with your spouse/partner when you travel?  Why or why not?

A Lot of Book Love

I am doing a unit, this semester, on children's literature.  I had to do a little bit of serious advocacy on my own behalf to convince the course coordinator that a fourth year student should be allowed to do a first year elective.  But if you're been reading here for even a little while you'll know books are my "jam" (thanks for that lingo Lego Movie!).  My children often roll their eyes because I am shameless when it comes to drooling over and fondling beautiful children's books wherever I happen to find them.

So this semester I "have to" read all the books pictured above.  Finally - a unit I can just immerse myself in purely for the fun of it.  Oh, there will be academic essays to be done but it'll be so worth it!

I have actually read a number of this already.  "Clancy the Courageous Cow" (top right corner) was written by a Year 7 student for a school project.  Two of the books are illustrated by Shaun Tan and "The Red Wind" is apparently well loved by our library tech and the girl I want Mr Busy to marry.  I want this beautifully gentle, kind-hearted girl for myself and that's the only legal way it can happen.  Mr Busy insists he will not marry her.  I insist that God scoffs at those statements and that he probably will end up marrying her because that's what happens to people who say "I'm never going to marry -----".  We'll see.  They're only 14 so I guess there's time....

In the meantime lots of book love is going on over here.

What's your favourite children's picture book a) from your childhood and b) to read to your children?

Exploits of a Very Hungry Caterpillar

photo credit:  google search for the very hungry caterpillar

Eric Carle's very famous, very hungry caterpillar was my teaching companion today.  'My' Year 6 class have been exploring the use of adjectives along with interesting verbs and adverbs to make writing more interesting.  I love The Very Hungry Caterpillar, so I decided he could help my students really get a handle on how these words can be used to add detail and interest to writing.  I made a PowerPoint of Eric Carle's story and then together we worked through the text and added description and detail.  The kids did SUCH a great job. I was torn between wanting to keep going with the editing and needing to get them writing for themselves!!!!

Our version is nearly finished - we'll do some more on Friday.  The writing the kids did was to rewrite the story (all or part) from the caterpillar's point of view, and to make the piece as descriptive as they were able.  So far their work looks fantastic - I can't wait to see how they finish up with it!

Meanwhile, I had a small group of students working on producing illustrated stories for the Prep's, as their writing was already of a really high standard.  I can't wait to see their finished product as well.  I know the Prep's will love having some new stories to read - especially when they know that the Year 6's have written stories just for them!

I truly am going to be quite sad to leave this classroom and go back to my 'regular' job.  I've so enjoyed teaching over the last three weeks.  It's such a long time until my next teaching rounds - a whole six months!!

I can't wait to see my own students though.  

Where Have all the Books Gone?

My nephew has just celebrated his first birthday and christening.  Being a lover of children's picture books, I decided I wanted to get him a really nice picture book.  You know, something from the CBCA winners list from the last year or two.  There have, after all been some great books.  The Terrible Plop, Isabella's Garden, Can I Cuddle the Moon and The Flying Orchestra are the ones that come to mind immediately.  I love the stories.  I love the pictures.  I especially love the ones written in rhyme, because that is my weakness in children's fiction.  Dr Seuss, Lynley Dodd and Mem Fox are always going to give you some good rhyming reading as well as great pictures.

Miss Mischief and I headed off to see what we could find.  What we discovered is that there are no bookshops at all now, at Fountain Gate.  Only Kmart, Target and Big W sell books in any quantity, but children's literature is not high on their list of titles to be up-to-date with.  I was devastated at this discovery.  I ended up buying Baby Wombat's Week ~ the updated version of Diary of a Baby Wombat, which I have on my shelf and adore.  A quirky story about a baby Aussie wombat and infuses some basic literacy and maths concepts in a tangible way for little people to understand.

I wonder though, where does one go to actually look at and feel and buy books like the ones I was after?  If we can't go to a shop anymore, how to you run out the day before a birthday event to pick up the story you had in mind for the special little person in your life?  Do good bookshops exist anymore.

All these questions reminded me of the Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks movie You've Got Mail, where Meg's character owns a children's bookshop.  I want one of those 'just around the corner' from me!  A quirky little shop brimming with beautiful children's books.  Surely that's a peek into Heaven?

The Secret Life of Authors

Throughout the life of our Book Club, Rel has managed to organise many an email interview and the occasional telephone call to some of the authors of the books we have read.  On Friday night we received answers to the questions we had emailed to Sarah Sundin, author of 'A Memory Between Us'.  Sarah reiterated a long-standing observation we've had about authors.  They have a secret life.

This secret life was revealed for the first time when we spoke with the very fine, gentlemanly Charles Martin.  When asked how he developed his characters he said it was a bit like meeting them unexpectedly as you come around the corner in a supermarket.  Odd....a little strange, even.  Sarah, and many other authors, have told us that their characters do unexpected things.  They say things the author didn't intend them to say.  They do things the author had no idea they would do.

The very pragmatic ones in our book club, me included, find this just a little bit weird.  Surely, we think, that the author is the one with the pen in hand, or the computer keyboard in their control.  Surely the author decides what characters do and say.  Yet, according to the authors we've had contact with, they seem to have little control of these surprising and fiesty imaginary people.

I've come to one conclusion over this.  While I might find this phenomenom rather strange, it obviously takes a very special person to be an author.  If this is the type of imagination authors have in order to produce their very fine works, who am I to shake my head?  I am the recipient of much enjoyment thanks to the strange workings of these unusual minds.

So if you see someone in the supermarket chattering or muttering away to an imaginary person.  Don't be alarmed.  It's probably an author having a conversation with the character in their book, trying to convince them to do as they're told.

Of All Things Book-y

I have some book-y news to share. One of my favourite holiday activities is to get into some good books.  It is really the only time I get to read with any efficiency anymore so I take advantage of the opportunity while I have it.  I read lots of good books, but three of them stood as worthy of pointing out.

Firstly, Chris Fabry's newest release, 'Almost Heaven'.  I love Chris's writing.  Beautiful prose, brilliant imagery and well-developed plots and characters are hallmarks of his work. 'Almost Heaven' was all I anticipated and more.  A surprising twist or two really 'made it', for me.  In this book, there are two layers to the story, one being that of the guardian angel sent to be with the main character, Billy Allman.  The angel's observations and insights added a dimension to this story that added depth and richness.  The second thing that delighted me was the appearance of Natalie, otherwise known as 'June Bug', towards the end of the book.  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her blossom and take wing under Billy's guidance.

The next two books are by author Tom Davis.  My BIL handed me these books while we were staying with them last year, and I notice that one of them earns a place on his top 10 picks for the year.  After reading these books, I understand why.

'Scared' is the first book in a planned trilogy, in which photojournalist Stuart Daniels becomes famous on the back of overwhelming tragedy.  Set in Africa and focusing on AIDS orphans, Tom transported me to a time and place that broke my heart.  Tom's writing is masterful.  A perfect mix of beautiful prose that describes the horrors faced by those living in countries facing crisis.  This book is not for the faint-hearted.  It is confronting and revealing, highlighting the plight of children who become orphans because of disease and disaster. 

In similar fashion to it's counterpart, 'Priceless' continues the story of Stuart Daniels.  This time, set in Russia and focusing on the sex slave trade.  Equally heartbreaking, confronting and revealing, I shed my fair share of tears for the plight of these girls and the tricks used to lure them into the dark world they become trapped in.

'Scared' and 'Priceless' are both fiction works based on events that happen in reality, and as such, the plight of the characters in each novel distressed my tender heart.  Despite this, Tom brings hope.  He shows that one man (or woman!) can make a difference.  Even when the ocean of tragedy is overwhelming, one small drop can turn a tide.

Finally, Rel has posted my review for 'No Distance Too Far' by Lauraine Snelling here.  It's a great read.  An inspiring story of holding steadfast to God's will, especially when the future seems to be so unclear.

Chris Fabry & Glenn Williams talk Parenting, Drugs & Alcohol

Chris Fabry

Glenn Williams

I have just listened to a superb interview between author and radio host Chris Fabry and Glenn Williams, both of whom I have a deep respect for.

I have read Chris's adult fiction books for the purpose of reviewing them and recommended 'June Bug' as one of our book club selections for this year.  His writing is authentic and engaging and brimming with topics that are worthy of discussion.  I just heard his new book 'Almost Heaven' is nearly on bookshelves and I can't wait to read it.  Chris's personal story is incredible and the circumstances surrounding his family's health problems added weight and credibility to 'June Bug'.

Glenn has authored a couple of parenting books and has extensive experience in working with young people in all manner of circumstances from youth pastor to youth worker to psychologist.  He has recently stepped down as COO at Focus on the Family and is starting a consultancy firm that supports not-for-profit organisations.  He has been heard on Melbourne's Light FM over the past few years offering parenting advice, tips and encouragement. I recently reviewed Glenn's newest book "Talking Smack:  Who's talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol if you're not?".  I have recommended this book to all of the Year 8 parents in Our School as 'required reading'. 

This morning when I was checking out Glenn's blog, I noticed he'd tweeted about doing an interview with Chris about his book, "Talking Smack".  Of course, when you discover two men like this having a conversation, you need to check in and have a listen.  And so I did.  Glenn's interview with Chris can be found here.  You need to click on Hour 2 (on the right hand sidebar) and their conversation begins at around 11 minutes in, until the end.  So make sure you have some time!  If you have teens, I would encourage you to listen to this interview together.  If you have younger children, Glenn has some great insight and encouragement about talking to them about drugs and alcohol.

Thanks to Chris and Glenn for sharing your discussion with the wider world!

Whisky Obsession

I've developed a bit of an obsession about whisks over the last few months.  I think it only fair to lay the blame squarely (and affectionately) at the feet of Nigella Lawson.  After all, it is because of watching (and re-watching!) episodes of her shows that I decided that a particular kind of whisk might be useful.   What I discovered, however, is that the 'magic whisk' is an incredibly difficult item to get your little hands on.  I have searched kitchen suppliers from Big W to House and even spent a fair amount of time in the US looking for this elusive whisk as well.  I managed to get a little tiny one that only measures about 15cm from top to bottom.  And I adore it.  Unfortunately that just led to me needing wanting a more practically-sized version, like this one below.

Last week I took Miss Mischief shopping so that she could spend a Borders gift voucher.  So while she searched for the perfect book, I indulged my love of cook books and drooled a little over the very newly released "Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home".  In it she named this particular whisk, and I have finally found an Aussie supplier and placed an order.  There will be no suffering the need for unwieldy silicon-coated whisks for me.  Nope, I've found the real thing!

I can't wait to get my parcel in the mail!  And then I'll have to do some whisking.  Pancakes for breakfast?  Scrambled eggs, perhaps?  Maybe a little marinade mixing.

* * * * * * * * * *

A side note about "Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home".  I balked at the $65 price tag for this albiet hefty book, at Borders ($59.95 online).  A few keystrokes brought up my favourite online booksellers and revealed a far better deal there.  The Book Depository has it for $31.14 and Amazon has it listed at $21.  Both are hardback prices.  The Book Depository is in AU$ and includes free worldwide postage.

The Christy Awards

At the very beginning of our holiday, a mere three weeks ago, the Christy Awards for Christian Fiction were presented. I finally found a list of the winners here. My only disappointment? The books I'd read did not win. None of them! And yet the books I read were magnificent and worthy of an award. So I can only imagine that the winners were a cut above in some way that made them stand out even more.