Sunday, November 20, 2011

Professional Developement Program

After all of the planning the CLS Professional Development Program is under way, with 26 staff from regional public libraries in Brisbane for the week. From as far afield as Julia Creek, Hughenden, Winton, Quilpie, Cloncurry and Charters Towers. All very exciting with lots of discussion and debate as result of the morning sessions already. Add bonus was Suzy from Riverbend Books supplementing my Christmas reading list. The mailing list for Riverbend will show a spike in new members after today.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The hare with the amber eyes

This is the February recommendation for book club....has 94 holds on it at the library. Ho hum, so decided to find out a little more for myself.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/06/book-review-de-waal-memoir-japanese-netsuke

My initial reception is that I will find something of interest in reading it....I did after all bring a little wooden mouse on a walnut back from the Shanghai Museum. Pity it isn't genuine netsuke....or the Chinese equivalent. I do like it though. Will let you know what I thin about Edmund de Waal's book when I get hold of a copy.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society


Well done to us....we finally got book club up and running. Not only did it go well, we excelled our expectations which is wonderful. 5 out of the 6 invitees made it. We dined on chicken, exotic salads and potato bake - none of us being brave enough to try the Potato Peel Pie, which from all accounts is pretty dire. No need for such authenticity in our little group. Thank goodness for that. Most of us had re-read the book specificially for book club discussion and discuss it we did. A fun night was had by all, with lots of laughs, some learning and much discussion. Other titles and dates have now been booked in, so it looks like our club finally has wings.

We even have a name now too: CHARLES Chapel Hill and Reservoir Literary Exploration Society known amongst friends as Charlie's Angels.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Stephen Wiltshire at SLQ

Can't believe how excited I am to hear that Stephen Wiltshire is going to "draw Brisbane" from a base at SLQ. For those of you that can I encourage you to come and see how incredible this guy is. Saw a doco on him some time ago and never forgot the impact. This truly is a world class event, happening on our doorstep. A TED event no less.

Check out the details at

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/calevents/general/exhibitions/wiltshire

Then make sure you come and observe this special event in person. I'll be there.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The First Grader


http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/movies/thefirstgrader/first-grader-trailer.html



This has to be the pick of current movies. At times so heart jarring I couldn't watch, at others the courage shown made me truly remember what it is to teach and the beauty in learning. A truly beautiful film, that not all will see, but those who do will remember it for a long time. The message it delivers is heartfelt.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Kingaroy


Am now in Kingaroy. The drive from Brisbane was beautiful with the countryside quite different from that I have traversed of late. Very green and much softer. Not sure that "soft" is a word used too often to describe landscape, but it suits, so for the moment will suffice. Not as much wildlife or livestock, but a couple of quaint little townships passed through. It is easy to see how when a by pass road is put in place some of the little rural villages are impacted. The other point of interest was that although Tarong Power Station and a mine were signposted, they must be located far enough off the road to be out of view. As for the fame of Bethany - the landholding of the Bjelke Petersen family, there is Bethany Rd, "to" Bethany and Bethany Bed and Breakfast signs. That said, while peanuts are well in evidence I have not yet been offered a pumpkin scone. Not a bad thing in my book.

I am beginning to get a feel for life in regional Queensland and would like to think that if the need ever arose I would not only fit in, but would thrive as a countrygirl. That said, it is easy to develop a fondness for some regional communities versus others. Goondiwindi rates as the most picturesque community I have visited so far, but Winton, Hughenden and Charleville all had elements I could relate to. My benchmark for being able to live somewhere remote seems to have developed into the basic requirement of having a bakery and a library. When you consider that I can cook quite well and that I always have a mountain of books on hand this is interesting. It must be more about the sense of place and heart within the community and perhaps this is why the library being the hub of the town and the smell of fresh baked bread appeals.

Murmuration

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/slideshow/mobile/?slideshow_id=195760&back=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/murmuration-starlets_n_1072687.html

Not sure whether this is technically classed as a collective noun, but you have to love the descriptive feel when you say this word out loud. It truly does capture the feel of the movement of the action underway. Something tellsmme this would be a close to silent manouvre too which just adds to the mystique.