Doris Lessing wins Nobel Prize for Literature

I am delighted Doris Lessing has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. She is the 11th woman to win the prize since it began in 1901. Her novel "The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five" is one of my all time favourite novels and it quite transformed me when I read it in my early 20s. I have only read a couple of other novels by Lessing, but this is a good reminder to read some more!

Big Day Out and holiday stuff....

Tonight I am feeling so very tired. I have to stay up or wake up to attempt to get 'Big Day Out' tickets for my son. We have a little Christmas traditional at stake here. The event has sold out in Sydney, so I need to be on it. 12.01am - is the time the tickets go on sale. Blah!

I booked some flights for my holidays last night. I'm going West to stay with Jane as soon as school closes. Well actually the next day! I'm excited. We've planned a road trip across the Nullabor, so it should be a great adventure.

My friends have been awesome lately. They are always great but I appreciate the way they have stayed in touch and showed a lot of care for me. I have been missing Andy plenty, yet can't complain because he's stayed in touch too.

So tonight, I'll be watching mega episodes of 'Gilmour Girls' and keeping up for the beginning of my Christmas shopping. Blah, it's too early really to even think about that frenzy.

BTW, Jaycee asked about gifts for teachers in a comment last month and I noticed this great post today on one of my favourite blogs Zen Habits:30 Frugal Gift Ideas to Show you appreciate Someone. I looked over the list and rather than reinvent the wheel, I reckon there's some great things listed there. Especially the homemade food stuff. I've had a few students over the years bring in homemade food for me. I've loved it every time and Christmas being what it is with extra visitors and celebrations, there's always room for extra food!

New Moon October 11, 2007

The new moon this month is in Libra. A perfect time to set intentions and goals about relationships. Libra is about relating. Seek balance and harmony as you set your goals for this lunar month. For more information about this months new moon, check out Planet Waves.

Miss Numerella, is a new blog I have been reading lately and todays post, "Make a Wish" mentions the power of all the ones in todays date . Tomorrow will be even more so I imagine!

Moments of Pleasure

Tonight is massage night. I have been having a massage once a month since July. I have enjoyed every one of them and am looking forward to tonight's pleasure.

My Kate Bush CD came in the mail today. I now have all her CD's and this latest one, "Never For Ever" was the first Kate Bush album I bought so I am enjoying it and flashing back to being 16. I worked in a record shop and would listen to Kate Bush as frequently as I could. My favourite tracks were "The Wedding List", "Army Dreamers" and "Breathing". I loved them all in the end after hearing them over and over!
The title of this blog is a Kate Bush song as shown in this YouTube video. So after my earlier post this month on the imitations, here is the real thing. Enjoy!

I am up to season 5 in 'The Gilmour Girls'. Last night I watched episode 11, when Luke created an ice-skating rink on Lorelai's front lawn to reconcile her with snow. Such a romantic moment. I am loving their relationship.

So whilst I am missing Andy,(Postman Pat in Hobart), I am filling my life with some simple pleasures.

Mercury Retro Starts Oct 11th 2007

All my favourite astrologers are talking about the upcoming Mercury retrograde period that starts Friday 12th Oct in Australia and continues through to Nov 2.

When Mercury appears to be going backwards in the sky it is a time when communications can become tricky. Mercury rules all kinds of communications related activity.

The current mercury retrograde is discussed quite fully in this article by Rob Tillett on Astrology.com. If you want to learn more about Mercury Retrograde in 2007 and all retrograde planets, writerinthewindow.com has dates and simple explanations.

Back to School

I'm actually looking forward to returning to school. I've been a bit of a hermit these holidays and it will be good to catch up with my friends and to see the kids.

The last term is usually a very quick and frantic term and I feel quite prepared and rested and recovered from last terms pains. I am planning some trips for the next holidays because I don't think I could do another holiday totally at home like this. I have spent the last two breaks virtually at home. My home is in order now. I feel free to take off again next chance I get.

Kate Bush Covers

My brother Tim, (the musical one) directed my attention to the latest version of a classic Kate Bush song, "Wuthering Heights" by Josh Pyke. I have it on myspace. It's not bad. I think her songs are awesome in themselves and enjoy different versions of them.



Placebo's version of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'. The video is an interesting compilation of fans. There's a live version of them singing it on YouTube, if you are interested.

This artist also has a great version of one of my favourite Kate songs. I like what he says at the start of the clip also.Maxwell sings "This Woman's Work"

There are more, but some are not so good. I am patiently waiting for my 'Never For Ever' CD to replace my scratched LP.

Haircut

It's a song by the Waifs. I like it. The song and my haircut. I have cut it all off short. Not with the same spirit of contempt as the song. I don't feel like that at all. I'm not angry, just sad.

I had an enjoyable visit from June today and we laughed about hair. Hers is long at present and she was commenting on how much attention she gets from men and attributes it to the long hair. I know when my hair has grown long, it's always been the men in my life, partners, son, father, pa who have balked at the suggestion of getting it all cut off. I think it's funny, cause my hair grows long, when I am neglecting my appearance.

Andy has a job in Tassie now, so I accept he's not coming back soon. Damn it!

Sifting Through Memories

I have spent much of these 'at home' holidays, on improving my home. When my daughter moved out, my son claimed her room and lets just say the transition was quick and rough. Things have been shoved and tucked away and as a result out of the four rooms upstairs, only one has been fit to be in. I have a lot of storage space up there too, yet it has been very poorly utilised.

I have spent today sorting through the 'stuff' my daughter has kept during her 18 years so far. Her dad dropped in to see my son today and declared she had a similar stash at his place! She also has another 'home' in Melbourne with all the important stuff she needs.

I have discussed this sorting out with her and she agreed that she didn't really need to keep every assignment and workbook she had filled in the 13 years at school. I have also culled some of the things I know she wouldn't want. So we have boxes of karate memories, travel memories (she has been to US, Italy and NZ, as well as around Australia), cards and letters (who knew kids wrote to each other so much and in such a variety of ways!), photo's, important school stuff (certificates, school captain badges, photos, awards etc), soft toys, journals and diaries and performance stuff (music, drama, debating, choir).

There was so much, I didn't really have time to read her diaries and letters as I always feared my mum would when I moved out of home. I did reflect though on how much she has achieved in her life. She's awesome!

The room is empty now and the boxes are labelled and taped up and sitting in one of the storage areas. I wonder when/if she'll ever look at it all again. I just couldn't get rid of it all. I don't feel as sad as I thought I would, but it has been months since she left, so perhaps that's why it took so long.