If only our clothes could talk!
The Secret Lives of Dresses!
by Erin McKean.
This is simply a glamourous read, with all the charm, simple sophistication and class of a vintage or retro dress.
Dresses, which collectively become a character in this book and tell the stories of their owners, with wistful or vibrant, melancholy or joyous emotion.
A range of feelings that Dora traverses as she comes to terms with love and loss and friendship and family.
Shhhh … A 5 star secret on the barrier reef!
The Qualia Secret…
It’s touted as Australia’s ultimate luxury resort, attracting high profile celebrities and stars, the elite of the business world and of course the wealthy, all seeking seclusion and privacy.
But here’s a sneaky way to enjoy the extravagance of Qualia, the $1500.00 a night (approx) premier accommodation on Hamilton Island, in the middle of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and perhaps hob-nob with world-famous socialites WITHOUT checking in.
Umm…but there IS a catch.
La Vie Parisienne (Paris Life)
La Vie Parisienne (Paris Life) By Janelle Mc Culloch
Dramatic, lust-filled romances! Disastrous french villa renovations! Life-changing career moves!
In the same vein as other travel memoirs (think “Eat, Pray, Love” or “Under a Tuscan Sun”) La Vie Parisienne is a tale of a woman traveling to France in search of well….something soul-soothing.
In this case, for Aussie girl, Janelle McCulloch, there were no high-level temptations, flirtations or decorations, but like meeting a entertaining friend everyday for coffee, I looked forward to reading on whenever I had time.
Janelle describes her escape to Paris, as an opportunity to “look for love and the perfect lingerie.”
TITS … Will Travel!!
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| Cradle Mt |
Room
Room by Emma Donoghue
Like an exercise addict- starting is the challenge but once you have, it’s enjoyable, makes you feel breathless but exhilarated and suddenly you’re obsessed – such is ROOM.
It’s a profound and wondrous story told through the eyes and words of a child born to a woman held hostage by her abductor (and the child’s father) in a small room for years.
Author Emma Donoghue unwraps her story like a child who’s afraid of a present: slowly, timidly then faster and more furiously until you’re left wide-eyed and amazed.
This is one of those books, that while you may find it a bit bemusing in the beginning will have you thoroughly and completely hooked before you realise and you’ll be putting off dinner and even talking to others until you’ve finished. It will also make you have pause about a the power of motherhood.
A stunning, provoking but entertaining book.
The Mother of all Travel
The Shelly Beach Writers’ Group
The Shelly Beach Writers’ Group by June Loves.
The Truth About Boracay
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| BEFORE |
One of the first things you face when you get off the “Banca” (a wooden, double-armed outrigger boat) onto the tiny port built on the beach at BORACAY is an old, off-white, rusted-through sign, imploring visitors to be “honest and trust-worthy”.
Countdown to France!
A few dilemmas. Not huge problems just topics of travel conundrums. Can you change into pj pants for the sleep-leg flight? Is it etiquette for my husband to be wearing long-legged boxers in a public cabin even if it is late? He will still probably have to walk to the toilet at some stage. Maybe if they are designer?
Also a 32 kg limit for business class means you can pack that extra pair of undies…but for the last flight from Nice to Rome it’s a 20kg limit. Will it mean I shop less to save the luggage calories or do I bury my head in sand over paying extra weight?
I’m sure more problems will pop up to be solved..
SAILING LESSON 3
Magic and mayhem on the bay for our 3rd lesson. Again our instructor was Mike who, as we learned this week, is about to split with his long-time partner and sell his house. Not that, that information had much to do with our lesson but I think I have retained more about our teacher than I have about how to sail. The day was a beauty, almost cloudless, a light breeze that picked up out of the harbour, pretty much what you’d imagine when you picture perfect sailing conditions, if you weren’t actually a sailor. This week J almost capsized us. She was on the till or tiller (can’t remember the correct term) and was in charge of a jibe. She turned the boat, slipped and kept the boat turning instead of correcting and we were up on the side almost vertically. Mike launched himself to the other side of the boat to put some weigh on the up side and we laughed hysterically. It was even funnier when he screamed at us to “stop laughing”. Apparently you can’t laugh until the situation is balanced again. I don’t know if that one is in the rule books though. But I reckon I’ll remember it even if I forget to follow it. Soon after lunch J became sea sick and we headed in. So all in all a memorable day.
This week was also my last french lesson for the year…I am for the first time in my life going to repeat a year. Maybe I could follow in school’s footsteps and request same sex class next year to see if I improve.
Reading at the moment…FREEDOM by Jonathen Franzen…A look at modern day love marriage and relationships apparently. It’s a bit of a bizarre take on that compared to my experiences but I am really enjoying it. Maybe because it makes me think my life is blessed!
Drinking ….usual sav blanc
Karryn Wheelans 