2022/2023 - Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets! Showing 251-300 of 1,215

[Sharon]

Yes very sad to hear about the passing of Margaret Lynette Sharp. Rest In Peace Margaret.

[Marianne]

Brenda wrote: "Sadly, Aussie author Margaret Lynette Sharp passed away in a Sydney hospital yesterday after a short illness. Rest in Peace Margaret."

Very sad indeed.

[Marianne]

In almost 65 years of living in Australia, I have never needed to interact with Centrelink. Today, DH and I went in with documents, fear and trepidation to apply for a Commonwealth Seniors Card.
Verdict: helpful, friendly and refreshingly easy.
Now we wait...

[Helen]

Marianne wrote: "In almost 65 years of living in Australia, I have never needed to interact with Centrelink. Today, DH and I went in with documents, fear and trepidation to apply for a Commonwealth Seniors Card.
V..."

That is good Marianne, I had to ring them today and was on the phone for 2 hours and 38 mins to let them know something and the two Ladies I talked to were lovely, I think they got it done fingers crossed :)

[Helen]

Wishing all of the Mums everyone who is a Mum to anyone a very Happy Mothers Day today I hope you all have a great day, mine will be quiet as our granddaughter who lives with us has covid :( so out mothers day celebrations have been put off til later in the month and I will spend the day reading :)

Have Fun

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bad luck Helen - thanks! Happy mother's day to all Mums out there :)

[Carolyn]

Happy Mothers day to all the Mums and Grandmas out there! We have a lovely sunny day for it here in Sydney. Hope it's the same around the country.

We're just back from a lovely holiday in Adelaide and Kangaroo Island so I plan to spend the day unpacking and relaxing (maybe some reading!) Hubby is going to roast a chook for dinner with our two boys this evening.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Oh lovely Carolyn - that would have been a delight. Did you drive or fly? Enjoy your roast chook tonight!!

[Kate The Book Addict]

Hello all, I’m Kate. Nice to meet you. Happy Mum’s Day to all my sweet and precious Aussie friends from the US!! Getting together with friends for breakfast this morning. Looking forward to a day of gardening at my new home because it’s not so hot here this morning in Tennessee (but it’s about to be sweltering with summer coming) then plan on doing some reading on the screened porch. Maybe sneak in a bike ride. Quiet day. I grew up in Florida and miss the lovely beaches. Anyone have any fun vacation plans coming up?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Hi Kate. Our mother's day is drawing to a close, and I hope you enjoy what you have planned.

[Diana]

Hi Kate,
Have a wonderful day. I have 13 weeks long service leave at my job and I’m hoping to go to France. I’m doing French lessons right now. I want to see a few textile and fashion museums and visit a school in Provence where our students correspond with their students.
I’m not a mum and my mum has passed away but I had time with my sister today and she’s one of my favourite mums.

[Kate The Book Addict]

Brenda wrote: "Hi Kate. Our mother's day is drawing to a close, and I hope you enjoy what you have planned."

Hi Brenda, and thanks so much! 🌸
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day

[Kate The Book Addict]

Diana wrote: "Hi Kate,
Have a wonderful day. I have 13 weeks long service leave at my job and I’m hoping to go to France. I’m doing French lessons right now. I want to see a few textile and fashion museums and ..."

Diana, your trip to France sounds AMAZING!! I love you’re learning French, too!! I haven’t been to France in decades but wish I could go with you!! Sounds like you have a great itinerary planned. How many weeks will you be there?
Sorry about your Mum passing but I’m so glad you got to be with your sister.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kate wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Hi Kate. Our mother's day is drawing to a close, and I hope you enjoy what you have planned."

Hi Brenda, and thanks so much! 🌸
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day"

Thanks Kate, I did :)

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Oh lovely Carolyn - that would have been a delight. Did you drive or fly? Enjoy your roast chook tonight!!"

We flew to Adelaide and took a hire car by the ferry to Kangaroo Island. Masks were compulsory for both so seemed relatively covid safe - fingers crossed!

Finally got to see my Aunt who turned 100 in November (we had a family zoom call to her then since she couldn't have a party), saw my cousin (who's visiting her from England) for the first time in 30 years and spent a few days with friends who now live in the UK and are back visiting family in Adelaide. It's starting to feel like life is getting back to some sort of normal.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Oh that sounds really wonderful Carolyn! Lots of memories made :) Yes, it's great that 'normal' is coming back.

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Oh that sounds really wonderful Carolyn! Lots of memories made :) Yes, it's great that 'normal' is coming back."

'Normal' with a lot of mask wearing, hand washing and avoiding crowded areas!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! True!

[Krystal]

Diana wrote: "Hi Kate,
Have a wonderful day. I have 13 weeks long service leave at my job and I’m hoping to go to France. I’m doing French lessons right now. I want to see a few textile and fashion museums and ..."

That sounds like it will be an amazing trip!

[Krystal]

Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Oh lovely Carolyn - that would have been a delight. Did you drive or fly? Enjoy your roast chook tonight!!"

We flew to Adelaide and took a hire car by the ferry to Kangaroo Island. ..."

Sounds wonderful! Definitely good to be able to see loved ones in person again!

[Marianne]

Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!

[Diana]

Marianne wrote: "Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!"

I'm pre polling as well as I have a stitching retreat on the weekend of the election.

[Diana]

FAN GIRL MOMENT!
We have a literature bookmark design competition each year here in the library. This year a student submitted a design based on Trent Dalton's Love Stories. As one of the winners, I sent an image of it to Trent on Instagram. He responded saying it had made his month and he would send a personal message to the student.

[Helen]

That is awesome Diana

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Marianne wrote: "Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!"

We did postal and it's gone :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Diana wrote: "FAN GIRL MOMENT!
We have a literature bookmark design competition each year here in the library. This year a student submitted a design based on Trent Dalton's Love Stories. As one ..."

That's wonderful - the student will be thrilled!

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!"

We did postal and it's gone :)"

Marianne wrote: "Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!"

Krystal wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Oh lovely Carolyn - that would have been a delight. Did you drive or fly? Enjoy your roast chook tonight!!"

We flew to Adelaide and took a hire car by the ferry to K..."<

Same here postal vote. Already acknowledged as received. No way we were going into little booths to vote with covid germs around.

[Dale]

Diana wrote: "FAN GIRL MOMENT!
We have a literature bookmark design competition each year here in the library. This year a student submitted a design based on Trent Dalton's Love Stories. As one ..."

That’s great Diana.

[Dale]

Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Oh lovely Carolyn - that would have been a delight. Did you drive or fly? Enjoy your roast chook tonight!!"

We flew to Adelaide and took a hire car by the ferry to Kangaroo Island. ..."

Glad you got to see family, Carolyn. Kangaroo Island is a lovely place.

[Carolyn]

Dale wrote: "Glad you got to see family, Carolyn. Kangaroo Island is a lovely place. "

It is Dale - a lot bigger than I expected. I'm glad to report the vegetation is mostly recovering from the bushfires - not so sure about the wildlife.

[Krystal]

Diana wrote: "FAN GIRL MOMENT!
We have a literature bookmark design competition each year here in the library. This year a student submitted a design based on Trent Dalton's Love Stories. As one ..."

Oh that's so cool!

[Leonie]

Marianne wrote: "Did a pre-poll vote: that's over with now!"

Me too. All done and dusted yesterday.

[Krystal]

Mabel🍎💜 wrote: "Anyone ever started reading a book and at some point the penny drops, yep, Ive already read this before, hehe change the covers of the book so often, that must be the culprit or its just not memora..."

When I'd go book shopping with my mum, she'd often bring something over and be like, 'this sounds interesting, doesn't it!' and I'd go, 'mum, you already read that one.' Haha. I started using Goodreads to avoid that exact situation myself!

[Krystal]

Mabel🍎💜 wrote: "Krystal Doesn’t hurt to read the book again. Might be memorable the second time around hehe I never have that problem with movies thankfully. Always a silver lining."

Haha I figure if it wasn't good enough to stay with me then it's not worth a re-read XD

[PattyMacDotComma]

Mabel🍎💜 wrote: "Anyone ever started reading a book and at some point the penny drops, yep, Ive already read this before, hehe change the covers of the book so often, that must be the culprit or its just not memora..."

I often forget titles of what I've read, so I find myself interested in a book and then discover it on my shelves. Thank you, Goodreads and my digital Calibre library for keeping track for me!

[Carolyn]

Before Goodreads, I used to forget which books in a series I'd read and find myself picking up ones I'd already read. Now I just have problems when the titles get changed (grrr!!)

[Niamh]

Good morning all!! Hope you're safe and well!!
After almost 2.5 years of being careful, I have fallen victim to the pandemic. Other than the super obvious of reading, anyone got any tips on how to get through the next 7 days of isolation?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bad luck Niamh! Rest, take it easy and yes, read :) I hope it doesn't hit you too hard!!

[Diana]

Sorry to hear that Niamh. If you are well enough reading and doing craft would be my suggestions. Get well soon!

[Dale]

Niamh wrote: "Good morning all!! Hope you're safe and well!!
After almost 2.5 years of being careful, I have fallen victim to the pandemic. Other than the super obvious of reading, anyone got any tips on how to ..."

Get well soon and hope the symptoms are not too bad Niamh.

[L.C.]

Anyone excited about the borders opening and welcoming cruise ships again into Australia? Thoughts? Feelings about ship board tourists visiting again?

[Trish]

Hope your symptoms are mild Niamh, rest up and hope you can still enjoy your reading as I remember finding it difficult to concentrate.

L.C. I wouldn't be keen to go on a cruise yet..having said that, must admit have only been on a 7 night and a 2 day cruise as not my preferred way to holiday. Also used to work in customer service for one of the major cruise companies and not sure feel comfortable in going back.

[Niamh]

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone!! My symptoms so far have been pretty mild compared to others, but one of them is a pounding headache, so haven't really felt like reading a lot so far. Been splitting my time between tv/movies, crosswords (again, headache preventing much progress) and a jigsaw puzzle

[Tui]

Can any of you Aussie readers recommend to me some books about Australian animals, written from the point of view of the animal? I'm curious about your wildlife. I loved the Silver Brumby stories when I was a kid but now keen to get to know your endemic animals like roos, dingoes, snakes, koala, wombats and all the rest. All those animals I'm never likely to meet in real life from over here in NZ. To me these animals are currently just flat touristy-type images in my mind. I'd love to see them brought to life the way she brought those brumbies alive and made them real.
I once did go to Aussie, despite normally avoiding all international travel. My grand-daughter had just been born and I was carrying her in a front sling and came face-to-face with a large black red-belly snake. The only snake I've ever met. I nearly died of shock but the snake couldn't get away fast enough and had no urge to kill me or bite me. I'd like to read about encounters like that from the snake's point of view.
I'd write it myself but coming from a person with zilch experience of snakes it would have no authenticity.

[Thomas]

A lot of Australia's snakes are deadly, but few will bite unless provoked or startled. The one exception that I know of is the Tiger Snake. I once tried to scare one away from the house by thumping the ground with a shovel and it turned around as if to say ‘Who did that?’ and came after me!
I decided to go inside and have a cup of tea.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I bet you enjoyed that cuppa too Thomas :)

[Thomas]

Brenda wrote: "I bet you enjoyed that cuppa too Thomas :)"

Yes. I certainly did!

[Krystal]

Tui wrote: "Can any of you Aussie readers recommend to me some books about Australian animals, written from the point of view of the animal? I'm curious about your wildlife. I loved the Silver Brumby stories w..."

FireWorks features Aussie animals!

[Tui]

Krystal wrote: "FireWorks features Aussie animals!"

Thank-you Krystal! I will check it out.

[Tui]

Thomas wrote: "I once tried to scare one away from the house by thumping..."
OMG! You're braver than me.