The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs

I had great notions about working through my stack of books this summer in an elegant, lazy fashion; imagine my lovely hammock, a long, cool drink, and casually reading another book every few days. Well, I've finished my first, but in quite different circumstances. Being sick in bed has had only one advantage: quality reading (and sleeping) time!

I saw The Friday Night Knitting Club (2007), by Kate Jacobs, in an airport bookshop earlier this year and added it to my 'to read' list. It's a classic tale of a group of women, who would normally have led very different lives, being brought together by a common interest, each seeking something different. One thing I like about crafts or other activities is the way they often seem to draw together an eclectic group of individuals, very much like the friends we have made through dancing. I hope to do the same thing with my yet-to-be-started ukulele orchestra.

Well-written, The Friday Night Book Club is an easy, pleasant read. It sometimes threatens to create caricatures of a few characters, but generally they are well-rounded, warm and believable. I will look forward to following up with the sequel, Knit Two (2008), which is set five years after the first story ends.

Super Size Me

Tonight, I finally watched Super Size Me (2004), Morgan Spurlock's documentary about his attempt to eat nothing but McDonald's meals for 30 days. While Spurlock acknowledges that it was never recommended, nor suggested, that consumers eat McDonald's for every meal of every day, this was nevertheless a fascinating experiment.

The segments on the teenage girls who were trying to sue McDonald's for becoming obese were truly mind-blowing; their parents are either very opportunist, or their lawyer even more so. Who lets their child become like that?? While I agree that the power of advertising makes some people more vulnerable than others to certain products (just look at the influence of cigarette and alcohol advertising over the years), there comes a time when individuals have the ability to make choices for themselves. This goes for parents, too.

A couple of key words and phrases kept resonating throughout this documentary. The first is: personal responsibility, ie when are people going to start taking some? The other word is: moderation. Our bodies will largely forgive us even the worst of punishments we can inflict upon ourselves for a while (drugs, alcohol, over-exertion, food - or lack thereof) but, eventually, enough is enough. Why don't our brains catch up with this message and stop people before it's too late? Or is it just easier and more convenient to blame others for our woes?

Christmas roundup

So, the big day has come and gone, and summer remains here in Wellington. (Well, perhaps not all of today, but we had summer yesterday and it was great!) It has been a busy few days and nights.

This morning, my sweetie and I were talking about New Year's resolutions; neither of us make them. One reason why I started the 101 goals in 1001 days project is that I believe one can make changes in their life at any time. I also like the time frame of 1001 days; long enough to achieve some medium term goals, enjoy some short term goals, and also start working towards some long term goals at the same time. So, here is a quick roundup of the past few days:

• I got my purple ukelele and am now on my way to goal #92. It has already had the desired effect; everyone who has picked up my ukulele has done so with a smile on their face. I've managed to retrieve the four guitar chords I learned about 12 years ago and translate them to the ukulele. I'm nearly ready to start my orchestra! ;-)
  
  
• My sweetie bought me a double Mexican hammock for Christmas. He has put it up in his backyard between the garage and house and I spent an hour yesterday lying in the sun reading a book. Absolute bliss.
  
  
• I made two batches of chocolate brownies and they both went down a treat. Yum!
  
  
• I was running late with my Christmas baking, so my sweetie ended up making the mini Christmas puddings to take to our friend's on Christmas Eve. He certainly knows how to impress a crowd!
  
  
• I now have a big pile of books to read over summer, after a library visit on Christmas Eve, a Christmas present, and borrowing a few more from my sweetie's family. I have only just managed to scrape by with goal #1 this year; hopefully the summer holidays will help get me back on track.
  
  
• Despite all her planning and preparation for my nephew's first Christmas, including cooking up a storm, Mum unfortunately missed it due to a terrible stomach bug. She was sent home from work on Christmas Eve, staying there for a few days and unable to eat or drink. My brother and I now both have the same bug and it is NASTY! I haven't managed to get up at all today except to be sick. :-(
  
  
• The Boxing Day sales were crazy beyond belief! Not a shopper, my sweetie and I were amazed at the crowds which had gathered at the shops - busier than before Christmas, even! Admittedly, we also joined them briefly, but were home as soon as we could after buying my bike (see below). So much for a recession ...
  
  
• Instead of just riding a bike (#94), I went one better and bought one. I got an amazing deal from Super Cheap Auto - a brand new bike with disc brakes and suspension for $NZ169. Knowing that there was limited stock at each store, we were the first customers there on Boxing Day. All that remains now is to find a purple helmet (yes, it does need to be purple) and I'll be able to start riding daily. Well, that's the theory ...
  
  
• There is talk of having Christmas next year with family on the Chatham Islands. We'll see ...
  
  
• Goal #48 - see all of the above. There are many things I have to be happy and thankful for (apart from being sick), and I am!
  

Breakfast at sunrise

Yesterday was the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, and the summer solstice. Today, summer well and truly arrived. It is the perfect summer's day today: warm, sunny, clear sky, with the gentlest breeze. I love the time around dawn, when the promise of a new day breaks and all is quiet and calm while the world is bathed in glorious colours. Unfortunately, I'm not a morning person, and thankfully neither is my sweetie, so I don't often get to experience these moments.

This morning, my sweetie and I woke up at 5am, packed up a picnic breakfast, and drove across town to watch the sunrise. Wellington is special in that you can see the sun both rise and set over water, and only a ten minute drive away from each other. We knew we had to be there by around 5.45am to catch the sun coming up over the south coast. Today's goal had a bit more significance, though, and I had someone special to complete it with: #35 - Watch the sun rise.

We were celebrating watching the sunrise (kind of) exactly one year ago, except last year we didn't get up early for it. Instead, we hadn't made it home from a Christmas party the night before. Let's just say that Santa was good to me in 2007 and I got the best present for Christmas: my sweetie!

I was very spoilt (again) this morning; these were hiding in my sweetie's car overnight:

I have now finished work for the year. I have a project to complete once someone sends me the content, and will potter away at it gradually, but I am looking forward to the next 2 1/2 weeks like you wouldn't believe. I went to the library this afternoon and am now armed and ready for the holidays. We are going out for dinner tonight. Life is good.

Happy anniversary, sweetie. xxx ooo

Jumping in puddles

We had another great weekend away. This time, it coincided with my sweetie's final motorsport event for the year. We left in the race car on Saturday afternoon and stayed with friends of his in Marton. (Yes, Marton.) They bought a lifestyle block a few months ago, with plans of renovating the house, planting a vege garden, and raising some cattle. We were introduced to their ten calves, hand-raised from four days old and four of whom had names, therefore probably won't be destined for their freezer. Ahh, country life.

Sunday morning and we were up early(ish), heading to Feilding(!) for the first of the day's events to begin. I know what you're thinking: how could we handle the excitement of two small rural towns in one weekend? ;-)

Both events were held at Manfeild, on different sides of the park. The first was an autocross, which coincided with the rain that threatened overnight. And so it rained. And got sloshy and wet for a bit. At least it was relatively warm and not too windy.

In the afternoon, the event moved to the track on the other side of the park. That's when the sun started coming out sporadically. When the rain finally went away, it left some huge puddles that were begging to be jumped in and sloshed through. How could anyone resist a sight like this? And what better way to let loose the inner child in us all?


And so I did it: #33 - Jump in a puddle. I also sloshed, skimmed, and stomped a bit for good measure. Next time I'll wear gumboots and make a bigger job of it. Running jumps, here I come! ;-)

What crappy Christmas gift are you?

... cos it's the season for them.

You are a Christmas sweater!

Over the top, colorful, and totally flashy. You're not afraid to be a little tacky.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Wow, tacky and flashy! Not everyone gets called that on a Monday morning ... :-P

Go on, try it for yourself and let us know your results. Ho &%$# ho!
http://www.blogthings.com/whatcrappychristmasgiftareyouquiz/