2021 - Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets!

[Carolyn]

Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

I can see a range of Star Wars and Mandalorian costumes in their future!

[Carolyn]

Diana wrote: "Happy first day of Spring. Its a glorious day here today. 23 degrees, sun shining. I've been out for a long walk admiring some of the neighbourhood gardens."

It is a gorgeous day today. I enjoyed my allocated hour of walking this morning and wished I'd been wearing a T-shirt rather than long sleeves.

[Leonie]

Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

I can see a range of Star Wars and Mandalorian costumes in their future!"

Well...there was this helmet I made for the dog...

https://i.imgur.com/0HF71ma.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oeA6zjr.jpg

[Krystal]

Diana wrote: "Happy first day of Spring. Its a glorious day here today. 23 degrees, sun shining. I've been out for a long walk admiring some of the neighbourhood gardens."

Was a perfect Spring day to start us off! :)

[Diana]

Leonie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

I can see a range of Star Wars and Mandalorian costumes in their future!"

Well...there..."

That is really cool.

[Dale]

Yesterday our lovely local librarians dropped off two bags of books . One for dh and one for me. Eight books in each. Will be interesting to see how well they have chosen according to our usual borrowing habits. So thankful that our library is doing a Doorstop books again.

[Helen]

That is so good Dale

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "Yesterday our lovely local librarians dropped off two bags of books . One for dh and one for me. Eight books in each. Will be interesting to see how well they have chosen according to our usual bor..."

Such a great idea Dale!

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "Dale wrote: "Yesterday our lovely local librarians dropped off two bags of books . One for dh and one for me. Eight books in each. Will be interesting to see how well they have chosen according to ..."

Indeed it is Helen and Brenda,

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back."

I was just going to ask had you heard from the Phrynne... That's rather pathetic to not answer your queries properly!!

[Dale]

Phrynne wrote: "My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back."

That’s very sad for you and all library patrons in your area Phrynne.

[Carolyn]

Leonie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

Well...there was this helmet I made for the dog......"

That's priceless Leonie! He wears it well! Looks like the cats might need one too...

[Carolyn]

Dale wrote: "Yesterday our lovely local librarians dropped off two bags of books . One for dh and one for me. Eight books in each. Will be interesting to see how well they have chosen according to our usual bor..."

Good on them for doing that! Hopefully some of the books will be good choices for you :)

So annoying that your library is not doing anything this time around Phrynne! Reading is one of the few things people can enjoy right now and it must be really hard for people who rely on their libraries for books.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I agree Carolyn - I don't know what I would do if I didn't read, and have plenty of books to read!!

[Diana]

Phrynne wrote: "My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back."

That is very poor. Most libraries are doing something so they wouldn’t have to look far for a model.

[Marianne]

Phrynne wrote: "My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back."

I count myself so lucky every time I look at the library website and see that another of my reserves is marked as "on loan" because it means it's on its way to me in the mail. What my library does, and Dale's, there are plenty of possible methods of getting books out to library members. What is your council doing with the rates you are paying, Phrynne?

[Leonie]

Diana wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

I can see a range of Star Wars and Mandalorian costumes in their future!..."

The dog did require bribes to keep her helmet on!

[Leonie]

Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I have no idea what any of our cats would do. Maybe I should try them out..."

Well...there was this helmet I made for the dog......"

That's priceless..."

I originally planned to put one on a cat, however there was some resistance. Significant resistance.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Marianne wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "My library service is still notable for its complete absence. I have complained and just got a form letter back."

I count myself so lucky every time I look at the library website a..."

It is odd because I remember praising them in the last lockdown where we requested books online and they dropped them off at our homes. This time nothing! And obviously it is a time when many people need books more than usual. I am lucky to be able to buy them but what about those who can't?

[Carolyn]

My library did 'click and collect' last time where you could select your books online and pick them up form the library entrance but this time time they aren't doing it. I have been getting ebooks online but I can't imagine that suits everyone. Also there are long queues for newer books.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Our ebook service is working of course but it has no where near as many books as the library and as you say Carolyn there is a lot of competition for the new books,

[Krystal]

I've been listening to audio books at work to pass the time and it was fun to start with but now I'm taking a break from them and have discovered True Crime podcasts as an alternative! I've never been a podcast listener but it's such morbidly fascinating stuff. No worse than listening to a crime novel, surely??

[Carolyn]

There was a message on our local community message board from a local MP (Jo Haylen) to say that the NSW Health minister has just signed an approval to allow council libraries to do click and collect for people wanting to borrow books. So it looks like libraries weren't allowed to do this before now in this current lockdown. Good news anyway for all these in Sydney hanging out for a library fix!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Oh that is good news Carolyn! I hope it applies to all libraries in all the lockdown areas! Thanks for sharing :)

[Carolyn]

It should apply to all areas in NSW Brenda, although I think it's still up to individual councils as to whether they want to do it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well fingers crossed that all of ours join in!!

[Carolyn]

🤞🤞🤞

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

It would be nice.

[Marianne]

Searching through some stuff for a photo of Dad, I come upon my passport: expired 22 December 2020, LOL, not going anywhere that I'll need it anytime soon, so no rush to renew, I guess!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I think you can still renew within 2 years of expiry Marianne, so you don't have to go through the 'applying' rigmarole. I found that out when ours expired and was most relieved :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

They do say that if you are planning to go overseas then get your passport application in early. Apparently a very large part of the population has let their passports lapse and there will be a mad rush for new ones once travel is allowed again.

[Diana]

2 days of holidays - 2 books read. Don’t think I’ll be able to keep up the pace but not a bad start.

[Krystal]

Phrynne wrote: "They do say that if you are planning to go overseas then get your passport application in early. Apparently a very large part of the population has let their passports lapse and there will be a mad..."

Mine is good til 2025 ... I wonder if we'll be allowed to travel as normal by then!?! XD

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Krystal wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "They do say that if you are planning to go overseas then get your passport application in early. Apparently a very large part of the population has let their passports lapse and the..."

My (optimistic) husband has us booked for mid next year to visit our family in the UK. Fingers and toes crossed:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Krystal wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "They do say that if you are planning to go overseas then get your passport application in early. Apparently a very large part of the population has let their passpor..."

Oh I hope you can go by then Phrynne!!

[Helen]

I have my fingers crossed for you Phrnne

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

If not the airline guarantees to keep rolling the tickets over until we can go:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "If not the airline guarantees to keep rolling the tickets over until we can go:)"

Well that's one good thing at least!

[Leonie]

Phrynne wrote: "If not the airline guarantees to keep rolling the tickets over until we can go:)"

That's excellent. Mind you, I suspect if they didn't, then no-one would book! 🤷‍♀️

[Krystal]

Phrynne wrote: "If not the airline guarantees to keep rolling the tickets over until we can go:)"

I hope you get to go by mid next year! But good that you can keep rolling them over!

[Carolyn]

Fingers crossed Phrynne! 🤞

[Trish]

Definitely a trip to look forward to Phrynne..we certainly all have time to plan!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just received an email from my library that they'll be starting a Click & Collect service from the 27th September! Yay!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Nothing still from mine:(

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Hopefully you might get an email soon 🤞🤞

[Diana]

Getting books sorted for my street library this morning and the unit shook.
Yep - fires, floods, pandemic and now an earthquake.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow Diana, hope it wasn't severe!!

[Diana]

Brenda wrote: "Wow Diana, hope it wasn't severe!!"

Believed to be the biggest earthquake since European settlement here in Victoria.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good grief!! That's definitely scary!