Books

Have put quilting aside for books for one month. I am in Melbourne right now and the Carnegie library is my second home. I have so many lists of books I would like to read (all from book bloggers sites). I have also been lucky that the library has practically all of them so my job right now is to diligently go through the whole lot.

I was very disappointed because I first went for Michelle Moran's Heretic Queen and Cleopatra's Daughter and both were out and were only coming in mid December when I would no longer be here. Luck was on my side however and Heretic Queen appeared and today Cleopatra's Daughter. I am so glad because I entered over 20 competitions for these two books and never won! I also have read an extremely interesting book which has not been reviewed on any of the blogs I do read - Leaving India by Minal Hajratwala. The book covers a topic that is very common both amongst Sri Lankans and Indians and amongst all people who emigrate and make another country their home. It echoes feelings and experiences undergone by anyone who has formed part of a diaspora in a different country. The writer is very down to earth, very expressive and portrays perfectly the difficulties undergone by children whose parents live in another world - culturally, spiritually and expect their children to live in both worlds the new and old with equal balance and excellence. I would love someone out there to do a review on this book which I feel is really good.

Weather in Melbourne is erratic. From two days of being hot, hot, hot we went down to a mild cool day which was wonderful. Coming from hot and humid Sri Lanka I dont want to face hot weather in Melbourne as well, today was rainy and dismal but it has become bright and sunny and I am glad because there is a whole lot of laundry out there!

Back to the books - Cleopatra's Daughter and also Pride and Prescience (just to strike a balance!)

Books and more books

I am buried under with books from the local library and am hoping that I
can get through my list fast in order to accommodate the balance books in
my list. I am in the middle of The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran - this was a lucky find as it had just been returned and with only a single copy - really good luck. I also have Elizabeth Chadwick to read and have also thought of trying to get some Jane Austen fan fiction to sort of lighten things up a bit!

The weather has been very hot for the last two days but a completely different kind of heat from Sri Lanka. Over there its humid and everyone sweats it out. Here its a kind of very dry heat which saps all your energy and
makes you feel as if you are something akin to dessicated coconut!

Other than the library havent gone out anywhere as just enjoying being around my three children and being absolutely domestic (which I enjoy in small doses).

Hope the heatwave breaks soon. I heard someone muttering about scattered showers but whether its wishful thinking or actually going to happen I dont know.

From Melbourne

I have been in Melbourne just a couple of days and have found my way to my local library which is a dream. I do wish Australians (and others) would not take for granted so much of what is available to them and not grumble when something even small goes wrong. Coming from Sri Lanka I do so appreciate the facilities available at the library, the local council who has made such a good effort to keep the area where we live so clean, and so green with the planting of so many trees on the verges so that even though this time of the year is hot and sunny, you do get patches of shawdow whilst you walk and at the same time it adds so much greenery which is sop pleasing to the eyes.

My quilting is put on hold though I do love to read the blogs but of course my reading goes on at quite a pace. I try to squeeze in as many books as possible when I am here and right now am on the second book. The first was The Way we Were which was light reading but extremely enjoyable. The one I am now on is historical - and I cant for the life of me remember the name of the book. Its about Catherine de Medici and I know the title has something of the queen in it but I cant get it right now. A fascinating book of a very strong woman who is so very protective of both her husband and children and will do anything and everything to protect them.

Thats it for now.

Up up and away!!!!

Decided on the spur of the moment to go visit the children in Melbourne and leaving on Friday. I am so looking forward to this as it has been quite a few months since I saw them. Most parents here who have children studying abroad will see their children just once a year during Christmas vacations and I think I am truly blessed as I see them at least twice a year and when I do go to Melbourne, I hang around for a month at least. Weather in Melbourne is not very enticing as its
becoming really warm and I like to exchange our hot, humid weather for some cooler weather. Strangely this is the first time I am going to Melbourne in hot weather so lets see I how I weather that!!!

I have found some fabulous book bloggers and have been enjoying reading their reviews and ideas on books so very much. One of them chasing bawa is based in the UK is really very good and of much interest. Another Savidge Reads again a UK based blogger is very interesting to read. On a more personal note I won another book William's Wife which is a real treat for me and
another prize winner Julia and Julia is fabulous reading. One book blogger who ran a contest and
from whom I won a book was kind enough to send me a second book along with the prize winning book when she heard about the high cost of books in Sri Lanka. I thought that was particularly generous of her, when I look at the high cost of postage for books from the USA to Sri Lanka.

On the quilting side I finished my brother's quilt and I do hope he likes it. I have started hand quilting the quilt I started for my second daughter. Its a log cabin design in shades of red and
pink and looks a bit flamboyant, but I think she will like it. This will now be put on hold till I return but I do hope I can finish it in time for Christmas.

My blogging may be put on hold unless I am able to get computer time at the local library in Melbourne where I am a member. Looking forward to my visit and catching up with friends there as well.

Weekend over

The week and weekend went by so fast - but at last I got the photographs of the quilt
and table runner sets that I had done posted. I still have not learnt how to do it and
totally depend on my son doing this for me!

The week in the book blogging world has been very good. I have won two books this
week and am delighted. One is in a CD format and for me this is a first. The other one
is a book that is just published and has been in heaps of competitions and I never thought
I'd win that one as there are many people entering these contests. The book is Beat the
Reaper and the one on CD is a very intriguing sounding account from Kabul, Afghanistan.
The book I am really eyeing is Cleo's Daughter by Michelle Moran and despite entering
over 20 contests for this book no luck as yet but I have not given up hope as there are
still several contests going on for this book.

As I mentioned before books are prohibitively expensive in this part of the world but this
last week I was in luck. The shop which sells used books had a very good selection and for
roughly 20 US dollars I got almost nine books and practically all of them have been best
sellers/reviewed amongst book bloggers and maybe just one of them is something I just
liked the look of and picked up. I finished one by Rosie Thomas - light reading, the sort of
book you can read and pick up later but am now starting the rest. I was also able to pick up
from another book shop again second hand, a whole lot of books including a couple of Shakespeare. I have been wanting to read some classics for sometime and here they were
just waiting to be picked up.

On the quilting side, am in the middle of a simple Sunshine and Shadows design of blocks,
very easy to put together for a little girl for Christmas. Pictures will be posted. I have also cut
out and am in the process of putting together a quilt for my very fussy brother who I hope
will like the final product! I generally like to have two or three projects on the go at the same
time and do bits and pieces from each one as and when I find the time.

Sadly my son is not coming down to Sri Lanka this month but both girls will be here fairly soon.
Cant be helped though it was a real disappointment for me. Trying to cope as best we can.

Hindus all over the world celebrated Deepavali as we call it the Festival of Lights. We also celebrate this festival in our island country. To everyone out there Happy Deepavali. Let light
and joy enter your hearts and minds. Till my next posting!

Cheers!

Christmas Gifts Done

Gift for Little Boy

Table Runners

Table Runners

Christmas and children coming home

I know its a long way off for Christmas but its something great to look forward to specially when all three children are hopefully going to be home for Christmas. My son is coming home on vacation this month and will be staying with us for a looonng time which is wonderful and the two girls returning very early in December for a shorter stay!

We have had very unusual weather in this part of the world with heavy rains and gale force winds in some parts of the country. In the southern area in a district called Galle a tree had fallen on a house killing five inmates and in a very sad incident in Kurunegala a bomb went off in a van killing a 12 year old school girl. This was really very tragic. The bomb had apparently been intended for the van driver and had been allegedly done by someone who wanted him out of the way on a personal vendetta. The bomb had been fixed to go off when he started the ignition. This man was a van driver who picked up school children and dropped them off at school - something like a school run. In Sri Lanka private vehicles do this as a business as everyone does not have cars and upto 20 children at a time travel in these vans to and from school. This particular day had been a very rainy day and instead of the van driver going to each house as was the norm, some children had been brought by parents to the van drivers house and had got into the van from his house. The little girl who died was one of those who was sitting beside the van driver. Eleven people injured totally and for what.... At the time it happened we really thought it was a terrorist attack once again and we were surprised as this area is not one where such attacks take place normally. What sadness for all the families involved.

On a brighter note my sewing is coming along very well. I have done table runner sets (sets as with matching coasters) for Christmas. I am now on my third set (I have to do about six in all) so still some way to go but its coming along nicely.

On the book reading side, I have come across a blog today which I find very good. Please go across to it and have a look. Its www.stepandtonyinvestigate.com - its a bit different to other book blogs but you need to go and have a look yourself. I have not been buying books new recently as prices are prohibitive but I picked up a Joanna Trollope from the book stall near Commercial Bank, Fort from the man who has a rather ecletic selection of books! Paul Coelho was at Rs 600 I felt a good buy and reasonable at that. I have found another second hand bookshop in Wellawatte and will post on that once I go and have a look. If any Sri Lankan readers find other good sources of books please post details here so that we can share the good fortune. On a nice note, I won a book known as The White Queen on a blog Planet Books and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. Michelle Moran also very kindly sent me bookmarks as well as a personally autographed bookplate which was very nice to receive!

Till the next time! Cheers!