Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets! Showing 7,851-7,900 of 26,036

[Michele]

It looks like we will have light snow here all day today - thankfully we are over the worst of winter and it does seem to be warming up most days - a balmy -4 today. After living with snow for 2 months now, I am really looking forward to spring!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michele wrote: "It looks like we will have light snow here all day today - thankfully we are over the worst of winter and it does seem to be warming up most days - a balmy -4 today. After living with snow for 2 m..."

Wow the difference being on the other side of the world makes!! I can imagine how much you're looking forward to spring...like us with autumn:)

[Michele]

Brenda wrote: "Michele wrote: "It looks like we will have light snow here all day today - thankfully we are over the worst of winter and it does seem to be warming up most days - a balmy -4 today. After living w..."

After living on the equator for 6 years, I am looking forward to enjoying 4 seasons, rather than two - hot and hotter!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michele wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Michele wrote: "It looks like we will have light snow here all day today - thankfully we are over the worst of winter and it does seem to be warming up most days - a balmy -4 today. ..."

Must be about time for another visit to Australia Michele:)

[Michele]

I will be there in March Brenda, and I can't wait!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michele wrote: "I will be there in March Brenda, and I can't wait!!"

Oh wow, that's not long away Michele!! How long will you be able to stay for? And are you going to visit anywhere else apart from Melbourne? How exciting!!

[Michele]

I will be in Melbourne for just over a week Brenda, spending time with family and friends, not long enough, but it never is no matter how long I stay

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michele wrote: "I will be in Melbourne for just over a week Brenda, spending time with family and friends, not long enough, but it never is no matter how long I stay"

Oooh!! That's not long:( Such a long way to come, I thought you'd be here for a month!! Well, all the same, you're coming, so you enjoy!!

[Michele]

Brenda wrote: "Michele wrote: "I will be in Melbourne for just over a week Brenda, spending time with family and friends, not long enough, but it never is no matter how long I stay"

Oooh!! That's not long:( Such..."

Thanks Brenda, I will :)

[Natty]

hopefully the melbourne weather is a little less severe for you Michele, although I have my doubts...lol.... currently not living up to its 4 seasons in one day....

[Michele]

Nat wrote: "hopefully the melbourne weather is a little less severe for you Michele, although I have my doubts...lol.... currently not living up to its 4 seasons in one day...."

I hope so too Nat, I will be there towards the end of March, so fingers crossed the weather will be nice

[Tracey]

Hope you have a wonderful trip home Michele :) I know Melbourne can have an odd reputation weather wise but I loved living there, even if it wasn't for very long. There's just so much to see and do that poor old Brisbane looks like a poor cousin in comparison ;) I shouldn't really say that - Sth East QLD is a wonderful place to live if only you have air-con during the summer lol

[Margaret]

Tracey wrote: "Hope you have a wonderful trip home Michele :) I know Melbourne can have an odd reputation weather wise but I loved living there, even if it wasn't for very long. There's just so much to see and ..."

Queensland has so much going for it!

[Michele]

Tracey wrote: "Hope you have a wonderful trip home Michele :) I know Melbourne can have an odd reputation weather wise but I loved living there, even if it wasn't for very long. There's just so much to see and ..."

I do love coming home to Melbourne, I guess it is true that there is no place like home! You are right about SE Qld, we lived there for 3 years and definitely needed the air con!

[Margaret]

Michele wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Hope you have a wonderful trip home Michele :) I know Melbourne can have an odd reputation weather wise but I loved living there, even if it wasn't for very long. There's just so m..."
We need the air con here in Sydney, too. I guess you heard about our 46 degree day?

[Margaret]

Michael wrote: "46 degrees O_0 bugger that and here i was complaining about 38 yesterday. Wowsers thats almost a mild day compared to that."

Well, it happened a few weeks ago: today was only about 28 or so....Still, the February humidity is tiring.

[Tracey]

Man we're really starting to cool down in my part of heaven. We've had quite a few rainy days in a row with temps dropping into the low twenties - I've actually pulled out my robe of a night time :)

And you're totally right Margaret - QLD is a wonderful place to live and where we're situated there are a lot of really lovely weekend getaway locations close by so I really shouldn't complain :)

[Adhityani]

Has anyone read this essay by Hilary Mantel in a recent issue of London Review of Books on the royal family in the UK and the media hype and politics surrounding their bodies (look and function)? http://www.lrb.co.uk/v35/n04/hilary-m...

This essay was highly controversial as she was perceived to have taken a dig at Duccess of Cambridge Kate MIddleton, calling her plasticky, precision-made and man-made, welcomed into the royal family to breed in manners and that caused an uproar on social media.

But after reading the rather long piece of writing, it was clear that Mantel's criticism were directed towards the public and the media and how their expectations and portrayals have sort of reduced the royals to mere objects... Thoughts?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I was disgusted with her Dhitri! How does she think she has the right?

[Adhityani]

I have mixed feelings about this article... I, too, like millions of people, adore Kate Middleton--I don't think she's plastic and dumb; on the contrary, I think her ability to get the media on her side shows how media savvy she is.

But I understand her point in that the relationship that people have with the British royalty is not a healthy one-the way we obsess about their appearance and looks, the rigid tradition encasing (or caging?) them and the way we just wait for something to go wrong in their lives. But then again isn't that the relationship we have with celebrities and public figures, too, in a way or another?

As a fan of HIlary Mantel, I was disappointed about her choice of words and line of argument... she's certainly not doing herself any favours by bashing Kate because she's not getting the debate she was hoping to provoke!

[Margaret]

What has motivated Hilary Mantel to say these things?

Kate is a mother to be, and on that score alone deserves respect.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I am surprised she said anything at all. She should probably stick to what she is good at - writing superb books!

[Ian]

Very odd comments. Maybe it's the Irish in her (through her parents).:-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ian wrote: "Very odd comments. Maybe it's the Irish in her (through her parents).:-)"

Maybe it's a publicity stunt!

[Margaret]

Brenda wrote: "Ian wrote: "Very odd comments. Maybe it's the Irish in her (through her parents).:-)"

Maybe it's a publicity stunt!"

My thinking too, Brenda.

[Ian]

Having spent so much time in Henry VIII's court, she probably thinks she's entitled to comment on the monarchy.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Well said Ian!

[Ian]

Just found results of a Goodreads survey on The Digital Reader. Very interesting. Did they appear somewhere on the Goodreads site?

Of special interest to authors: "When they finish a book, 83% seek out other books written by the author, while nearly as many look for similar books (75%). But when it comes to picking a book to read, nothing compares to word of mouth. A trusted friend was the single leading reason that members bought and read books, with reviews, samples, and buzz not even coming close."

I have long believed that word of mouth is a key factor in a book's success.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/201...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

An open letter from John Birmingham to the thief who stole one of his books from Dymocks yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/b...

[Elaine]

Brenda wrote: "An open letter from John Birmingham to the thief who stole one of his books from Dymocks yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/b......"

I read that Brenda. It was great. Is it true or just a ploy to get us to read his book? Cause now I want to read it!!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I think it's true Elaine...but then I guess I wouldn't really know for sure. But I think it's great anyway, and it could quite easily be true!

[Dale]

Interesting way to respond.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "Interesting way to respond."

I think so too..better than ranting! It should make him feel guilty!

[Dale]

Have to say I have never read any of John Birmingham's books

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've only read one, and didn't enjoy it...didn't finish it. He Died With A Felafel In His Hand

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "An open letter from John Birmingham to the thief who stole one of his books from Dymocks yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/b......"

That's a great article :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "An open letter from John Birmingham to the thief who stole one of his books from Dymocks yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/b......"

I thought so too:)

[Tracey]

Two very diverse pieces of writing and it struck me at how easy it can be for any writer to completely polarize an audience in the space of a page. I think it proves the old adage that 'the pen truly is mightier than the sword'. Also made me think a little about my own writing - not my books but my blog posts, FB posts etc. I couldn't help wondering how much/if any offence I may have caused through an ill thought out written opinion. Absolutely we have freedom of speech - it should be the first principle of a civilized society - but I did think we should all maybe just do a quick re-read before we press publish. It's so easy in the digital world to 'have your say' and yet, as these two completely different posts proved, people react very emotively to the written word..... Just me wondering out loud :)

[Sharon]

yes, they were both very emotive pieces.

[Adhityani]

In another news... Debut author gets 7 figure book deal... Her fantasy series is dubbed the "female" version of Game of Thrones... Hmmmmmmmm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dhitri wrote: "In another news... Debut author gets 7 figure book deal... Her fantasy series is dubbed the "female" version of Game of Thrones... Hmmmmmmmm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02......"

Wow!

[Leonie]

Brenda wrote: "Dhitri wrote: "In another news... Debut author gets 7 figure book deal... Her fantasy series is dubbed the "female" version of Game of Thrones... Hmmmmmmmm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20..."

And wow again!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Oh dear - American fans of Game of Thrones appear to be upset!
I hate being told what is going to be the next most popular book by a publisher. We decide that not them.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Oh dear - American fans of Game of Thrones appear to be upset!
I hate being told what is going to be the next most popular book by a publisher. We decide that not them."

You are definitely right Phrynne!

[Ian]

Dhitri wrote: "In another news... Debut author gets 7 figure book deal... Her fantasy series is dubbed the "female" version of Game of Thrones... Hmmmmmmmm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02......"

Inspired by Barack Obama! Now if I wrote a book inspired by Julia Gillard do you reckon it might get me a seven figure advance?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha!! I doubt it very much you two! lol

[Tracey]

Awesome deal. What I call 'lightning in a bottle' guys. Every now and then someone comes along with the right idea, the right tone at the right time and bingo - jackpot. I'll just offer my congratulations and keep writing just in case one day I catch lightning in a bottle myself ;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

There's a good article about Katherine Howell in the SydneyMorning Herald today.

[Dale]

Shame I don't get the Herald. Actually never buy any newspapers.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "There's a good article about Katherine Howell in the SydneyMorning Herald today."

I read that one Phrynne...she's such a great writer. I love her books...thanks for sharing the link:)