Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets! Showing 19,901-19,950 of 26,036

[Dale]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I needed to share this beautiful story about 5 year old Josiah - there are so many bad stories out there; this is not one!

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015......"

I agree Rita, it shows what a great job of parenting is happening there.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

The Casual Vacancy
8:30pm Mondays from May 25 on showcase

The three part mini-series premieres exclusively on showcase Mondays from May 25 at 8.30pm only on Foxtel.

[Marianne]

Ooh, I think that would make a great mini-series!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Marianne wrote: "Ooh, I think that would make a great mini-series!"

It said that J.K.Rowling left the premiere in tears...of joy, because she was so happy with the adaptation and the way the new ending was handled.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/1...

http://www.astra.org.au/pdf/news/The_...

[Juliette]

Leonie wrote: "Juliette wrote: "FINALLY the earth's stopped moving!
(No, it's not what you think :)
Last Tuesday's earthquake held my guide hostage in Kathmandu for a week. Blocked roads, landslides and contin..."

Thanks Leonie, his village is crumbled but they have a plan. Aussie & international donations are helping to rebuild.

[Juliette]

Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Yep, it was the one downside to swapping to the AU site."

That's why I stick with Book Depository - they..."

RitaSkeeter, where did you popup from? Haven't seen you on Goodreads before. lol Love the name. From Tassie, huh? Fab.

[Juliette]

Brenda wrote: "I needed to share this beautiful story about 5 year old Josiah - there are so many bad stories out there; this is not one!

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015......"

Hi Brenda, you posted regarding my Nepalese guides village, now I cant find the post. Never mind! Yes, hope everything does stay settled in Nepal.
Thanks!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Juliette wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Yep, it was the one downside to swapping to the AU site."

That's why I stick with Book De..."

Rita's a long time member Juliette:)

[Dale]

Juliette wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Juliette wrote: "FINALLY the earth's stopped moving!
(No, it's not what you think :)
Last Tuesday's earthquake held my guide hostage in Kathmandu for a week. Blocked roads, landsl..."

That's good to hear.

[Regina]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Juliette wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Yep, it was the one downside to swapping to the AU site."

That's why I s..."

Lol. You are a cracker Rita!

[Suz]

I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She spoke so engagingly, with a lovely natural way about her.

She spoke of 12 'moments' of her life, mostly good ones, and I'd like to share a couple with you. She spoke in a way that touched all the senses, she recalled special moments of her life where she remembered sights, sounds, smells etc. Everyone loved it, you could just tell. She called these 'sparks' which she referred to many times, not just with memory but relating these back to her books. You had to be there, but I wanted to tell you a little.

She was meeting with her publisher and asked a girlfriend what she thought they'd be looking for. She suggested promotablilty and reliability. She can remember the smell and exact location of the bus stop as she did a quick last minute pedicure! She recalled the smell of the nail polish remover. She was at a cafe with her toddler daughter after getting a phone call that her book debuted at no. 1 on the NY Times best seller list. She would normally order yoghurt and muesli, this time she ordered french toast with maple syrup. That smell of the syrup she always associates with finding out that news, and whispering softly in her daughters ear 'mummy is a NY Times best selling author!!' and kissing her on that soft little spot on a small child's cheek.

She finished up with saying that not all of our memories will be good ones, but she hoped we'd all cherish the special ones.Or words to that effect.. My eyes watered up!

I asked a question, she answered many happily and openly, I had a quick chat with her and got my book signed, and explained to her that the non reader girl friend of mine here is now a reader but it's hard to find a book that stacked up to Big Little Lies !

I'll post a pic when I learn how to do it, I'll go and follow the how to instructions in the thread ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow Suzanne! That sounds fabulous:) Sounds like everyone had a lovely time and that she is a great speaker. What nice memories for you...thanks for sharing:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Glad it was so special for you Suzanne! And for your "non reading" GF too, hope she's a convert now ;)

[Dale]

Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She spoke so engagingl..."

Sounds like a great time Suzanne and good to see an author heading out to Western Sydney for events.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Another batch of home made tomato sauce done and dusted:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "Another batch of home made tomato sauce done and dusted:)"

Well done you! You need to sit down for a good read now Brenda!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Another batch of home made tomato sauce done and dusted:)"

Well done you! You need to sit down for a good read now Brenda!"

Definitely doing that Jools :) Thanks!

[Marianne]

Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She spoke so engagingl..."

Sounds great!

[Juliette]

Brenda wrote: "Juliette wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Yep, it was the one downside to swapping to the AU site."

That's why I s..."

oh! OK thanks Brenda. Still trying to navigate my way around. Need a Tomtom, i think!

[Juliette]

Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She spoke so engagingl..."

Suzanne, great post.
I admire someone who can write and talk!

[Suz]

Check out 702 abc Sydney radio. TEDxSydney sounds amazing. So much going on including Charlie Teo and many more. Just heard about a refugee who is advancing in orthopedic robotics, whilst dealing with racial discrimination witihin his field. Here in Australia. Worth tuning in.

[Faye]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Anyone else ever dither over whether or not to buy books??!
There are two books I really want, but are quite pricey by Kindle standards. Added to that, I won't have time to fit them into the schedu..."

Yes I dither but now I mostly buy secondhand from the op shops (you would be amazed at some of the new books that get taken there) but the library is great and if it is popular they will always have more than one copy so the wait is not long. If it is something I would read in a couple of days like James Patterson then I definitely borrow from the library. Someone told me that they used to buy a lot of books - what they did for a while was borrow the book from the library then put the money they would of spent if they purchased the book away - she is a lot richer now.

[Veronica ⭐️]

The debate is now over on the Vegemite chocolate. My daughter brought home a block and we all had a try. I had one square and hmmm it wasn't too disgusting but do I want anymore. No!! My daughter had three squares and said she felt quite ill afterwards. Everyone else commented much the same and the remainder of the block has been sitting in the kitchen untouched. So I wouldn't bother buying it. Your $2.50 would be better spent on a kindle book.

[Marianne]

Good to know, Veronica! I wouldn't have spent the money, I agree, better spent on a book, but as someone else did, and you have shared your experience, we are all the wiser.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

But everyone's tastes are different Marianne :) It's interesting to hear the opinions of others (thanks Veronica) but I will still try it:)

[Dale]

Absolutely pouring here and has been raining all night. Hope it's not hanging around too long.

[Noelene]

I'm one of the people who donate brand new books to charities. I never really keep any books new or old. Once I read them I pass straight onto a friend and if she doesn't want them they come straight back to me to be donated. If she reads them they get donated straight away. I liken my books to going to the movies. An experience for the time there which I absorb and then move on to the next adventure. The only books that are kept at home are work related, the recipe books or the books I am about to read.
I spend very little on books as I continually swap with with a friend who buys lots of new releases, win books or buy once a year from the lifeline book sale. PS not even a member of the library. Average spend on books a year would be less than $50. Perhaps that could be a challenge a whole year's reading for less than $50 and no borrowing from the library allowed :)

[Noelene]

I'm lucky that none of my friends own kindles or have intentions to own kindles so I have a wealth of paper books to choose from. Often when we go to morning tea we do a book exchange. Our lifeline book sale starts today and runs for 3 days. I usually end up with about 20 for about $20 - $ 30 so that will last me to the end of the year with the books I generally win ( 38 in the past few months) and swapping with friends. i have never run out of books.
Can't get into the kindle - bought myself one and used it twice, lent it to someone who desperately wanted one and said I never wanted it back. Have been doing this for the last 3 to 4 years. The only time I read blurbs is when I am entering competitions or when I go to the booksale looking for new authors to try.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

I'm with you RitaSkeeter, and I can't see any good reason why I should deny myself the real pleasure of a new book...even an ebook. They give me so much, and in return I like to think we are helping to support a lot of authors and the book industry. Also Lifeline and many other charity groups ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I agree also Jools as without the readers and their support we wouldn't have our fabulous authors and new books to read :) Can't beat a new book by my favourite author I don't think ;)

[Dale]

Noelene wrote: "I'm one of the people who donate brand new books to charities. I never really keep any books new or old. Once I read them I pass straight onto a friend and if she doesn't want them they come strai..."

I couldn't imagine not belonging to a library.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I had the author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs of Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café "like" my review, and email me to thank me for the review as well:) She also said she's available to connect for events and to let her know as she's sure we could set something up:) As she lives near Boston I'm not sure that's possible, but the thought is lovely:) I was pretty tickled by her email anyway!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "Noelene wrote: "I'm one of the people who donate brand new books to charities. I never really keep any books new or old. Once I read them I pass straight onto a friend and if she doesn't want them..."

Me either Dale - libraries need our ongoing support as well!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It is Rita:) I've got a pretty big smile on my face:D

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "I had the author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs of Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café "like" my review, and email me to thank me for the review as well:) She also s..."

That's lovely Brenda! It's nice when the author acknowledges your review because you know they appreciate it and that its helping them.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I really appreciated it Jools...a very very small percentage of authors do that so it's great when it happens:)

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "I had the author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs of Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café "like" my review, and email me to thank me for the review as well:) She also s..."

That's lovely Brenda.

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "I had the author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs of Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café "like" my review, and email me to thank me for the review as well:) She also s..."

That's fabulous Brenda!

[Carolyn]

Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She spoke so engagingl..."

Loved your post Suzanne! I managed to wrangle a day off work yesterday and spent a wonderful day at the Sydney Writer's Festival. Lianne Moriarty was one of the sessions I went to. She was fabulous and I could have listened to her all day. She talked about all her books and mentioned the Maple Syrup story. Also about meeting Nicole Kidman who has bought the rights to Big Little Lies and will be making it as a three part series. Yay! She also said the deadline for her next book is mid 2016 so something to look forward to.

[[deleted user]]

Exciting news - my cousin had her second baby girl this afternoon. Her name is Azalea, and she is very very cute :)

[Carolyn]

Congratulations to your family! Azalea is a lovely name :)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Carolyn wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She sp..."

Ooh lucky you Carolyn! I can picture Nicole Kidman in BLL, she fits the part of a kind of "Stepford Wife" really well.

[Carolyn]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith..."

I don't know if Nicole Kidman will be in it. I assumed not because she'll be directing/producing or whatever. She would be perfect though!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Carolyn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met [author:Liane Moriarty|32..."

Yes, I think she would understand the requirements of the roles.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I had the author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs of Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café "like" my review, and email me to thank me for the review as we..."

Thanks Carolyn:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Melissa wrote: "Exciting news - my cousin had her second baby girl this afternoon. Her name is Azalea, and she is very very cute :)"

Congratulations to your cousin Melissa. What a gorgeous name - the Azalea is a beautiful flower:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith Library. She sp..."

What a great experience for you too Carolyn:)

[Faye]

Donating books to charity is great, once I had a huge clean out of all my books (I never re read) made $700 and donated the money to my favourite charity - they were very happy

[Sally906]

Veronica wrote: "The debate is now over on the Vegemite chocolate. My daughter brought home a block and we all had a try. I had one square and hmmm it wasn't too disgusting but do I want anymore. No!! My daughter ..."

I just bought one and put out for the whole office to share - NOT ONE person liked it - I personally found it to be unpleasant. Wasn't salty like vegemite is - just left a horrible taste in my mouth.

So a quick vote around the office is 15 thumbs down.

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I must tell you guys about the Sydney Writer's Festival event I went to last night with my 'non reading girlfriend'. We met Liane Moriarty at Penrith..."

Yes it was Brenda. My first time at the festival and I really enjoyed it. One of the best sessions I went to had Michael Robotham, criminal lawyer Sarah Hopkins and SMH crime journalist Kate McClymont talking about secrets from the crime scene. Kate McClymont had some great anecdotes about criminals and informers that's she's met.

I also went to hear Michael Connelly talk about his Harry Bosch books.Brenda might be interested to know that there will be more books about him after Harry retires. Connelly said he might develop his new female detective Lucy Soto further with Harry acting as her mentor. He also wants to go back and write about Harry's time in Vietnam and as a rookie cop in 70s LA.

They also announced that the first series of Harry Bosch will be on SBS in July so that's something to look forward to!