Since arriving back from holiday, I have: new glasses; made salsa verde (thumbs up); rejuvenated my herb garden (read: replanted everything except the flat-leaf parsley, which is the hardiest plant I've ever known); joined a gym; had a great haircut, maybe even my favourite yet; had a catnap most afternoons.
I read some books over the summer break. The Year of Living Biblically (A.J. Jacobs) was quite good, but I had expected more. It was getting tedious by the last chapter, and then it ended abruptly. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver) is still accompanying me wherever I go; I've found it a good book to read in fits and starts, which suits me. The Post-Birthday World (Lionel Shriver) was excellent – this was probably the only fiction I read in 2007, and it was great. A bit heavy on the similes, however in all, a well-constructed plot. What a clever woman.
Lined up are: Towards Aotearoa (David Eggleton); What I loved (Suri Huvstvedt); a selection of Peter Gossage's picture books (thanks to my staff discount at Reed/Raupo); and re-reading Franny and Zooey (J.D. Salinger). That list will keep me going for awhile – for the last few months of 2007 I only seemed to read for the 10 minutes before I fell asleep. I remember a time in my life when I would devour a book (or more) a day; I could read my way through whole library shelves over the summer holidays. I guess that has to change when there are bills to be paid.
Goals for this year include: staying out of hospital; continuing my everlasting search for clothes that look good and keep me warm; refining my recipe for caramel slice until I reach the ultimate confection; find a permanent job in publishing. This year I am also looking forward to seeing my name in print again (more than once, actually – more information when the books are published), inviting friends from Dip.Publ for dinner, night classes, and finally working out how to use the rowing machine at the gym without hitting my knees.
Finally, below are assorted photos from our holiday over the festive period.
Happy 2008, everyone.
***
I read some books over the summer break. The Year of Living Biblically (A.J. Jacobs) was quite good, but I had expected more. It was getting tedious by the last chapter, and then it ended abruptly. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver) is still accompanying me wherever I go; I've found it a good book to read in fits and starts, which suits me. The Post-Birthday World (Lionel Shriver) was excellent – this was probably the only fiction I read in 2007, and it was great. A bit heavy on the similes, however in all, a well-constructed plot. What a clever woman.
Lined up are: Towards Aotearoa (David Eggleton); What I loved (Suri Huvstvedt); a selection of Peter Gossage's picture books (thanks to my staff discount at Reed/Raupo); and re-reading Franny and Zooey (J.D. Salinger). That list will keep me going for awhile – for the last few months of 2007 I only seemed to read for the 10 minutes before I fell asleep. I remember a time in my life when I would devour a book (or more) a day; I could read my way through whole library shelves over the summer holidays. I guess that has to change when there are bills to be paid.
Goals for this year include: staying out of hospital; continuing my everlasting search for clothes that look good and keep me warm; refining my recipe for caramel slice until I reach the ultimate confection; find a permanent job in publishing. This year I am also looking forward to seeing my name in print again (more than once, actually – more information when the books are published), inviting friends from Dip.Publ for dinner, night classes, and finally working out how to use the rowing machine at the gym without hitting my knees.
Finally, below are assorted photos from our holiday over the festive period.
Happy 2008, everyone.
***
Trip to Auckland Zoo, 27 December
Guess the city!
Hint: Festival of Lights
Need another clue?
That's right – Sunny New Plymouth.
Jeremy and I spent a night there on our way home from Auckland.
It was really great; the Govett-Brewster Gallery was fab. The above photo was taken from this rock/mountain we climbed up. I'm surprised it wasn't blurry, because I had jelly-legs; there wasn't much between me and a 50-metre drop to the ground...
Kowhai Park in Wanganui
My dream house
