#9 never let me go

Kazuo Ishiguro
This is one of those books that appears on lists of the top 100 books you should read, was short listed for a Booker prize, people rave about etc. But I have to say I didnt find it that great. its not that it was bad, but kind of ho hum. I guess it kind of makes you think about what it really means to be human but it was neither eloquently nor elegantly expressed so I didnt find it overly thought provoking. I'm sure the matter of fact tone is intentional to try and make it more sinister, but I guess it kind of seemed like young adult fiction to me. Also, I hate that style some authors have of always pre-empting whats coming or suggesting and implying a shocking revelation later- its always an anti-climax.

on a related note. I'm thinking of not bothering with these book posts anymore. I imagine they're pretty boring and I think dont make any sense to someone who hasnt read the book 'cos I cant be bothered recounting the plot. Also there are several books I've read recently that never end up here 'cos I forget to blog them

#95 extra curricular

The joys of now working for the public service mean that I no longer feel guilty about leaving the office by 6pm like I did in academia (as long as I've done my 7 hours 36 mins). This is also to do with the fact that since the job is still relatively new I dont have loads of deadlines and way too much work do to before them like I did in the last year or so of my last job. (what I should (and do) feel guilty about is blogging during work time, but thats another post, and it wont be regular, really). So now I'm leaving by 6 and I've filled the direct time after work with useful stuff. Mondays: German class, Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Yoga, Fridays: random socialising ranging from work Friday night drinks to catching up with my sister, and soon to come to Thursdays: training to become an English tutor for refugees (once training is over this will be replaced with being a English tutor to refugees. Yay!).
This last one has been a bit of a slog. I've been trying to get into some regular volunteer work since I moved back to Melbourne in May, and its taken til now to get sorted, who would have thought it was so hard to become a volunteer?! but I guess its fair to say I'm a bit picky, since I work full time and dont really want to commit to volunteer every weekend, I needed something that can be done in the evening (but not Friday evenings) and I'm not really keen on working with the elderly or disabled, asking people for money, or doing work that I think amounts to free labour for some organisation that isnt really a community group or charitable organisation.
The other problem being that strangley enough a lot of the refugees that need help with English live way out in unsavoury suburbs in the sticks, but a solution has been found and though it may mean hanging around in Footscray at night, at least its close!

#56 little miss sunshine

This movie was lovely. Very much a feel good flick, in contrast to my last post. Although it was probably a bit of a 'fun-filled caper' movie at the time it didnt seem too cheesy or over the top, so i really liked it.

#56 samson and delilah

I forgot to mention I went to see this movie a while back. It was very good, but rather confrontational and a little difficult to watch - I did find myself squirming for probably the first 45 mins, largely I was thinking because it felt like nothing was happening in the film. The idea that the nothing much was happening for the young people in the film, every day the same, also made me feel uncomfortable and restless. I guess it was also that inherent guilt someone like me- middle class, white, urban, left-ish type, feels when confronted with a representation of the reality of Australian indigeonous communities. I always feel helpless because I dont know what I could do to improve the situation, and also because if I did do something, would it help?

#59 Yoga

Since I'm now going to yoga classes twice a week, this is my new hobby. I never would have imagined Yoga would become a hobby of mine - the first time I tried it I thought it was a total crock and couldnt stop laughing. Although thats probably because it was just an informal thing with a friend trying to teach a group of us and she kept going on about chakras and chi, and I basically thought she was full of it. But the teachers I have now are sensible and concentrate on the physical part and make it fun, but also useful, challenging and relaxing, yay! and its helping me achieve #49 - almost there.

#45 eyebrows

This isnt really related to task 45, its a pretty far along the line of the tangent where skin improvement relates to facial beauty relates to eyebrows. but it was on my mind, and I'm in a procrastinating mood.
I may have mentioned that moving back to Melbourne has reconnected me with a lot of old friends. Upon seeing one of those friends again I felt that something seemed not quite right about her face, like when you see someone who always wears glasses without their glasses or someone who always has lots of eye make-up on with none. But it wasnt any of those things. It took me some time to figure it out, but finally tiny dots of regrowth gave it away - it was down to over-zealous eyebrow waxing. and not the usual height of eyebrows but rather the length, so that her eyebrows are now much too short and hence make her eyes look small or something. This observation led me to wonder why, why would you do it? I admit I have never waxed my eyebrows and this is probably a terrible thing to many women. I could probably look much better if I did (I've seen those before and after eyebrow wax pics of famous people like Madonna, Brooke Shields and Sarah Jessica Parker and could see they looked much better after). but eyebrows are such a defining part of one's face, and surely the natural shape is likely to suit you (maybe I can just say that 'cos I'm not so hairy and have never had to deal with a monobrow)? but what if you get it wrong like my friend. Eyebrow regrowth is very unattractive. I get the feeling that once you've done it there's no going back.
but at least she hasnt gone to waxing them all off and then drawing them back on somewhere else, eek, what are those people thinking?

#61 The Laurel

So the idea of this item was to eat at the local pub, being the Caxton 'cos they supposedly had good meals and there were special deals for local residents. but we never really got around to going to the Caxton, and now we dont live there anymore. It didnt really seem that appealling when you got there (total bogan pub) and instead we went to other local pubs who had better deals such at the Transit hotel. Anyway, now that we are in Melbourne I can change it to eating at one of our new local pubs, which seem like much better places that the Caxton, the closest one being The Laurel. On Tuesday I ate there with my Mum and sister. Maybe its just me but it seems quite a funny thing that Australian pubs have a bistro menu and then a counter meal menu which is much cheaper despite coming from the same kitchen (and sometimes being the same meals), but has to be eaten in the bar area (instead of the bistro area). Anyway Tuesday at the Laurel is $10 counter meals and $5 pints - bargain. The bar area is not entirely atmospheric but not too bad really - I probably would have been perfectly happy with the atmosphere if my Mum wasnt there. Surprisingly the vegetarian pub food was not lasagne or pasta (its always lasagne or pasta) and it was pretty good and even had fresh vegetables in it.
Thursdays has even cheaper pints ($4) and prizes and all within stumbling distance of home - I think we'll be back (minus Mum).

#91 gossip free

wow, I finally achieved this - didnt think I ever would but this open plan office malarky is proving to be more and more beneficial to me. I really dont know why I get drawn into celebrity gossip anyway. I hate celebrities and celebrity cultutre, but thats the problem - I seem to have this semi-concious desire to wind myself up and annoy myself by reading about stupid things those people do - perhaps it makes me feel superior? I do like the frock pictures though.
Only problem will be I wont know anything next time I go a to a trivia night.

back again

yes, I am back and blogging again. But, I dont want to make too much of a fanfare about it since I am doubting it will really become a regular thing again. Basically this is a form of procrastination for me which means I do it at work, but the whole open plan office thing at my new job makes me less inclined to do it sinCe everyone can see I'm wasting work time. Of coruse I could do it at home, but when I get home the last thing I want to do is turn the computer on.
Maybe I will finally become more productive and as such be in the office more reasonable hours and fit more worthwhile things into my life other than work.

#73 home

its kinda cheating, but I have moved back home to Melbourne and as such this one is automatically achieved. Its been wierd coming back. As partly anticipated it didnt take too long for family over-dose. I'm also working in the same building as a few of my old friends from high school which is particularly wierd. It kinda feels like stepping back in time 10-15 years to that life you had way back then, and you're not sure thats really a good thing.
and yet having those friends and family close and being able to easily see them and be reminded of the genuine (I think) relationships I have with them (its so much different tothe friendships formed in adulthood) is great. and, Melbourne is such a great city - if only it wasnt so bloody cold!