Category: reading

August 2024

The wind has been a lot this week.

I enjoyed ‘Praiseworthy’ and when I first got the audio, I wasn’t sure I would get through the length. It was worth it. I listen when I go to bed so I listened to this book twice, feeling like I had missed bits. I intend to reread.

“We have no problem recognising the benefits of physical exercise, Wright observed. Isn’t mental exercise just as important? We are an affluent country with a good education system; there is no reason why readers shouldn’t be able to come to grips with a work of literature written, as she put it, “at scale”.”

James Ley Deputy Books + Ideas Editor

(from The Conversation, Books + Ideas Newsletter)

I love this blog. The two blogs Euan Semple referred to, sent me into hours of reading. This post is relatable to me.

https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-bad-therapy-or-cruel-world-how-the-youth-mental-health-crisis-has-been-sucked-into-the-culture-wars-232519

This thought-provoking article has me wondering about how to make a change in the way I see the lives of young people. I have had a real shift in my ideas about using technology at school.

“His focus on smartphones has been widely reported. But his equally important emphasis on the cultural preoccupation with protecting us from harm has received less attention.”

May 2024

I love glass jars! They are so useful. https://www.trendwatching.com/innovations/peeling-labels-off-kraft-mayonnaise-jars-reveals-what-they-can-be-used-for-next (source:https://www.trendwatching.com/)

https://aeon.co/videos/closed-captions-suck-heres-one-artists-inventive-project-to-make-them-better (source: https://today.design/)

This is an issue that haunts me as a public school teacher. That our society has less space at the top for our kids. https://theconversation.com/weve-come-a-long-way-on-gender-diversity-but-what-about-class-how-networks-of-private-school-privilege-dominate-australian-society-226959

https://theconversation.com/jane-goodall-inspires-generations-of-conservationists-we-need-her-education-program-in-schools-228365

What a great market. I would love a market with a focus on recycled homewares. https://www.trendwatching.com/innovations/ikea-hosts-flea-markets-at-european-stores-to-keep-good-things-going (source:https://www.trendwatching.com/)

2021 Festive Season

Happy birthday David Bowie.

I had the best Christmas day. My daughter and son-in-law hosted a beautiful lunch and our family enjoyed being together with food in the garden. I was enthralled by my grandson and was in bliss watching how he navigates his backyard and extended family. It was the best day ever. On Boxing day I visited my son’s new place and enjoyed a stay with him and my son-in-law showing me around their new neighbourhood and home and enjoying more delicious food.

I’ve spent a little time working on my new place, which still hasn’t settled, so I haven’t done anything major yet. It’s been good to be in the space and I’ve changed my plans a few times due to noticing more.

I’ve been listening to a lot of astrologers and have found out there are many systems, which has set me back a little as I try to work out which is most relevant for me. I have relistened to the Mystic Medusa rant on Saturn in Aquarius “Imagine if we had basically highly qualified public servants whose role it is to enact the will of the people.” That was in reference to technology that could allow the people to vote on each issue. Saturn in Aquarius sounds promising and then it will be followed by Pluto in Aquarius.

I watched a 6 season series on ABC Iview called Stella, a BBC production. It’s a lighthearted comedy about a community and there were so many beautiful scenes in it.

I listened to an old lecture from Margaret Atwood from 1994. I have no idea how I came across it, to be honest, but still gold. She has a brilliant sense of humour.

I’ve consumed a heap of other media as well. In between sitting outside watching bees buzz around on my unmown lawn and catching up for coffees and chats with friends. I’ve continued my daily practise learning Portuguese on Duolingo.

I’ve made some progress on the book about The VRI experience and completed my first interview this week with a past staff member. There is still so much to do. Time is strange because I often felt like things weren’t happening fast enough and I wasn’t doing enough. Looking back though, a lot happened, more than I realised.

I’m very grateful for my own experience of 2020. As far as the new year goes I am looking forward to Chinese New Year on Friday 12th February. The year of the Ox sounds better than the year of the Rat.

Guard your joy at this time.