Monthly Archives: November 2007

Books

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khalid Housseini’s novel to follow The Kite Runner is also set in Afghanistan and traces the period from the Soviet invasion through to the rise and fall of the Taliban. He grew up in Afghanistan but now lives in California – since about 1980 – so plainly didn’t experience this first hand. He is now doing some aid work.

I found this book interesting for a couple of reasons – the story itself is charming – love story, overcoming incredible odds, that sort of thing – but also the story of Afghanistan is so interesting itself. We talk glibly about how they have been torn apart by wars for years but this book brought it home.

I remember meeting a woman from Kabul in 2002, I was doing a series on Muslim women in Perth and how their lives had changed post 2001. They came from all walks of life – Malaysian upper-class, Western women who had converted, women from Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states, women who wore veils, women who didn’t – it was a very eye-opening series for me – anyway I remember chatting to this lady who had gone to university in Afghanistan and she described Kabul as this very cosmopolitan, vibrant city; women who worked, beautiful gardens and public buildings. A far cry from the grey, bombed out, dusty city we see in news bulletins today. From the oppressive regime of the Taliban, where women were not allowed to work, or go to school, or even walk the streets without a male relative escort.
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It’s not a hard read, although the images are sometimes graphic. I read it in about two nights so certainly hard to put down.

I agree with the Guardian reviewer about his view of Afghanistan – he certainly doesn’t challenge the western view and he is full of hope about it’s future.

House, Modern Life

Organised!

My larder My Larder

It has been a while since I organised my larder. Maybe years? Certainly it hasn’t been properly cleaned out since 2005.

Shocking I know.

There is something internally cleansing about taking everything out, throwing out the sunflower seeds reduced to dust; re-discovering empty tupperware containers named brown rice and self-raising flour; finding the old jar of cloves – use by date April 1996!


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The oldest thing in my larder

I walk around my house and end up back in the kitchen, just staring at my organised shelves and feel good about myself.

To think! This could happen every week! I could tidy up the linen cupboard, the wardrobe, the kids’ wardrobes, the cupboard in the laundry, the back room! I could write a menu plan! Hang on. That’s taking things too far.

For now I will simply rejoice in my organised, clutter-free larder.

Books

Miss Webster and Cherif

This book by Patricia Duncker was a gift from The Poshi for my birthday. It’s a story of lonliness and friendship, of old age and youth.  I enjoyed it.

In many ways I thought it was a bit like Of Mice and Men – bear with me… it’s probably a long bow.

Here she is, this old woman, an ex-teacher pushed out of the school into retirement, alone. She breaks down and finds herself after a long recovery in Northern Africa where she is completely out of her comfort zone.

Post Traumatic Stress mouthsofthesouth.com canadian pharmacy for viagra Disorder (PTSD) can occur at any age. Copulation is not a burden – It is ruling over the lifting and viagra doctor rigging industries since 130 years. Rhytidoplasty in Costa Rica – Rhytidectomy – History The first face lift was done in Berlin in 1901 by the inventive cosmetic surgeon cialis generika 10mg Eugen Hollaender (1867-1932). Over the years, sildenafil citrate has proven to be a safe and buy viagra in usa effective treatment for people of all ages. There she meets the mother of Cherif and the premise of the book – the friendship between Miss Webster and Cherif is set up. As in Steinbeck’s classic although the friendship at first seems one-sided the equality of the relationship becomes clear. Each are lonely in their own way. He is away from everything he knows, she is a grumpy old witch at the end of the terrace row. Well, she is.

What they give each other is the friendship of equals and it is not until the end of the book that they realise how important that friendship – much more than a landlady and lodger – is.

An interview with Patricia Duncker.

Dippity, School

Peer pressure to change schools

My Junior Poshi is 10, grade 5. There are five girls in her class at the local public primary school which is on the same block as we live. In other words, she doesn’t have to cross a road to get to school. It’s a great little school and we’ve been happy to send her there. She got into PEAC which has been fantastic but now things have changed.

The other four girls are going to a very expensive private school around the corner next year. It started with one and now all the rest have followed. Now, JP is booked into this school in year 8 and I’ve never been a big advocate of private schooling in primary school – I just don’t think it’s good value for money and besides I think mixed classes are good.

However, I can’t leave my daughter as the only girl in a small class at the local primary school. I don’t think that’s fair. She’d be miserable with all her friends gone…
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So here’s my choice: (a) Leave her where she is, (b) Send her to another government primary school or (c) bite the bullet, pay the fees and send her to the private school.

What would you do?

Fashion Victim

I am a skittle

  • Average tits
  • Slim waist
  • OK tummy
  • Big thighs
  • Chunky calves

    • Sounds attractive doesn’t it.  Well Trinny and Susannah haven’t given up hope!

    Wide legged pants (check)
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    Flared skirts to the knee or longer (hmmm)
    Low leg bathers????

    My fellow skittles are Meryl Streep and Sharon Osborne.

    Well we’ll see.  I’m not sure I want to be a skittle…

    Books, From the net

    Book helpdesk

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    TV

    Quick one on Idol

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    And so it is Matt and Nat… good.

    Bridge

    Stop the presses!

    PartnersThe Physicist and I tonight kicked butt. Yes my friends we won tonight’s session in the final of the Bridge Association of WA Mixed Pairs with a massive 62.1 per cent… Ooooh baby! And we weren’t playing numpty-heads. No, we had some very good players agin us.

    Of course we needed about 80% to win the final overall but our score did get us into the top half, which given our poor effort on the first night wasn’t too bad.

    The board of the night was board 24 where The Physicist earned himself a Double Beer Card in Defence. What is she talking about? Well, as I understand it if you win the contract by winning a trick with the seven of diamonds (the beer card) as your final trick you have earned yourself a beer. It’s a tradition that grew from youth bridge apparently. In WA if you set the contract in defence – it’s worth two beers.

    So the hand…

    Dlr W Nil Vul

    The Physicist QT3, 864, AJ752, 98
    North 5, AK75, T95, KJ762
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    South K9, 92, KQ863, AQ53

    The bidding goes: Pass – (1C) – 3S – (4D) – 4S – (Pass) – Pass – (4NT*) – Pass – (5D) – Pass – (Pass) – X – all pass

    4NT = she reckoned it was show your best minor, he reckoned he’d already shown no interest in diamonds so thought it was ace asking.

    Down 3 for 500+ and a top. And The Physicist gets that last trick with the 7D. A double defensive beer card = 4 beers.

    Sweet.

    Anyway that’s the last of the serious bridge for a while. I’m off to buy another charm for my bracelet in celebration!

    Blogging

    All Women Blogging Carnival

    Hello!

    It is my pleasure to host the All Women Blogging Carnival created by Leigh, once again. This week we have a HUGE line up with blogs to sample from around the world and on a great variety of subjects.

    Are you ready?

    Here we go then!

    All for Women presents Sisterhood of the travelling Bra posted at All for Women. If you haven’t signed up yet – join the ride.

    Melissa presents Saving Money But Losing Touch posted at A Penny Closer.

    Dana presents So, how do I plan to socialize my children? posted at Principled Discovery.

    poetloverrebelspy presents Do Vacations Spoil Everyday Budgeters? posted at Less Than a Shoestring, saying, “Our values travel with us when we travel: if you have already accepted and practice strict budgeting measures at home, there is no reason why you can’t follow the same on vacation.”

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    Madeleine Begun Kane presents What Will I Be When I Grow Up? posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

    Jenny presents Family Chef in Training posted at the so called me.

    Micellaneous Mum presents The Great Christmas Card Challenge – harking the start of NaBloPoMo posted at Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum, saying, “Inviting all women to join my Christmas Card Challenge. I’m up to 32 so far – let’s double it!”

    Heather-Jane Steeley presents Die Young Stay Pretty Magazine · About the magazine posted at Die Young Stay Pretty Magazine.

    sommer presents Cleaning can make you look old? posted at A Shade of Green.

    GrrlScientist presents Going Home Again: How Migrating Birds Detect The Earth’s Magnetic Field posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Is it possible that migratory birds can actually SEE the Earth’s magnetic field and use it to find their way home?”

    Alexandra presents Holiday Gifts For Every Women posted at Be Beautiful.

    Tina presents A monumentous acheivement posted at Country Stitchin’, saying, “missed the last few carnivals. Hopefully back on track now”

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    Bonnie Smith presents How to Immediately Gain Control of Your Emotions posted at Love Yourself, Love Your Life.

    jaki presents My scar posted at Scar Tales, saying, “This is a new blog, please share a story and become part of a new writing/art project.”

    the baglady presents Would You Ever Sell Your Eggs? posted at xynny.

    Christine presents My Teenager’s First Job, Teens and Work, Self-Employed Teens, Teens working For Themselves posted at Me, My Kid and Life, saying, “My teen’s first job working from home. Teaching our kids about self-employment and creating an income online.”

    The Career Counselor presents The Gender Pay Gap: The Real Culprits and Solutions posted at ask the CareerCounselor.

    Christine presents Cinnamon and Honey Crepes posted at Me, My Kid and Life, saying, “Healthy eating!”

    WhatWorksForUs presents Absolutely NOT posted at What Works For Us.

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    GrrlScientist presents Are Family Responsibilities Holding Back Female Scientists? posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Even though it is clear that family obligations do hold women back, I think “the problem” is more overarching and subtle than this.”

    Erica presents Papers are in order posted at Mom’s Journal.

    paidtwice presents A Target Shopping Strategy That Worked posted at I’ve Paid For This Twice Already…, saying, “Thanks for hosting!!”

    Louise Manning presents Remembering the fallen posted at The Human Imprint.

    mountainmama presents Careful What You Wish For…: Remembering Jack… posted at Careful What You Wish For….

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    Megan presents Christmas Sale posted at Imaginif…, saying, “Not only is Imaginif having a two Australian protective play books for the price of one Christmas sale BUT the Aussie Christmas song is FREE. Check it out. I LOVE it. Thanks to aussie woman blogger Lisa Harman for doing this for me.”

    Liz Fuller presents Holiday Lists Your Customers Will Want to Check Twice! posted at More Than WE Know, saying, “Want your customers to keep you top of mind this holiday season? Try these alternatives to traditional holiday cards.”

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    That concludes this edition. Be sure to submit your blog article to the next edition of All Women Blogging Carnival which will be hosted by the lovely Jo Beaufoix.

    TV

    Fashion flashbacks to the eighties

    Natalie in a body stockingThis Sunday on Idol, was it just me or did you think the stylists took inspiration from the nineteen eighties fashion wise.

    First Natalie singing Ray of Light wearing what appeared to be a body stocking?! Either that or a very high g-string. I was surprised Kyle managed not to comment!

    I’m not fussed on the song but it sounded alright to me. I didn’t pick up her nervousness and thought she sang it really well.

    (that said I was distracted half-way through by my daughter telling me she could see worms in her poo! Quite frankly anything would have been a relief after that!)

    Carl’s first performance I missed because I’d raced out to the chemist to pick up some worm tablets for everyone. No I didn’t buy the chocolate ones. I just get too disappointed in the erky chocolate flavour. It just doesn’t taste right to me. Groover said Carl did alright though. And he sounds okay in my headphones as I type this. He needs some dance moves though and not the one he didn’t quite land.

    I saw Matt singing It’s Too Late as I was changing the duvet covers and pillowcases of my kids’ beds. I don’t like the song much but Matt did well. Sounds great in the headphones.

    Part 2

    Natalie Chicken FeetNatalie’s second song by Pink was great I thought. Bit more serious. But knickerbockers!? Yes it’s back to the eighties for the second time. Kyle went on and on about her little bootlets – he called them chicken feet. I liked them. What do you think?

    She nailed the song.

    Go Natalie!

    Then we come to our THIRD fashion flashback to the eighties. I refer of course to Carl’s leather tie. A red one no less in his second song.
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    I remember my boyfriend in the eighties had two. A pale pink tie which he used to wear with a black shirt. (sharp eh?) And a black tie which he wore with a black and pink checked shirt. (oooh baby!) I can remember grabbing hold of the black one at roller skating and snapping it. The things I did for fashion, people!

    Car; Leather TieNow where were we… oh yes the leather tie…

    Meh.

    I thought he sang this just a tad too low. He was a bit breathy a bit all over the shop. The high note at the end was AWFUL.

    But the judges didn’t pick up on it. In fact did they say anything?

    Yes Marcia we know you love Carl… anything else?

    And then we were ready for Fashion Flashback Number Four!

    Which was… the Boy George hat. Yes yes I know Dicko tried to make it sound like a Peter Doherty look but the smokescreen didn’t work! “Matt is what Peter Doherty would look like if he’d just say no.” Or something like that. Look, he’s 17 and a good boy. Goes to church regular as Monty Python might say.

    Matt's hat George's hat

    He was good but I wasn’t that keen on his song choice… anyway he’s a cert for the final.

    This week it’s between Carl and Natalie – and without Mark’s big push can Natalie do it? I sure hope so.

    Go Natalie! (oh yeah… I said that.)