tablecloth material

Well I didn't exactly have the Boxing Day Blues but I wasn't up to much today. I did manage to get to Spotlight first thing and pick up some specials in the fabric department. It was really hot though and their aircon hadn't really kicked in so I was feeling a little seedy by the time I left. I did manage to buy some good lengths of seersucker in cute prints so I was happy. When I was little and my mum used to sew clothes I was particularly disdainful of seersucker (or what I called "tablecloth material"). Now though I'm looking forward to sewing with it. Perhaps I am more mature? I did manage to finish off my easy dress that I started on Xmas Eve. I bought some 6 dollar a metre material just to try it out. It turned out well and I made a tie out of the same fabric to wear with it instead of a belt as the pattern suggests. Here it is at various angles. (I really must get a full length mirror)

Then I ate lunch and slept for a solid two hours. It was fabulous and I woke up feeling much better. I even made a cup of coffee. And then I sewed some more. This is one of my standard tops that I had cut out last week. This was the third time I had tried the pattern and I have just about got it sorted out now.

I went for a walk in the late afternoon with my Mum. It was a bit hot still but not too bad. Now I just have to watch Doctor Who and that's Boxing Day. Tomorrow may be movies, sewing, reading, sleeping or some combination of these activities.

this is my life at the moment

I think it's time I stopped starting every blog post with an apology for my lack of regular posting. That's just how things are at the moment.

 Work is busy, full of restructure-induced change, angst, sadness at loss of quality staff, intermittent fury at what appears to be a lack of interest from senior management in assisting our unit into our "brave new world", beautiful students who bring great joy and enthusiasm into the classroom, and some amazing colleagues who inspire me on a daily basis. So you know, swings and roundabouts. I'm not going to write about it anymore here because (1) you wouldn't believe half the things I said because they are so ridiculous and (2) it just makes the stressing worse. It's time to accentuate the positive. (You can thank me later for the ear worm).

 I was devastated by the conclusion of Homeland last Sunday night. Claire Danes is simply amazing and I can't wait for Season 2. If you didn't watch it you missed out on one of the few quality dramas to come out of the US in the past little while. Yes I know, that's a big call, but it's my blog and I'll say what I like. Once again I was destroyed by the ending of the Donna Noble story on Doctor Who. I've continued to watch the repeats now that Matt Smith is in the Tardis but I'm really sorry everyone. I just prefer David Tennant and that's all there is to it.

 On the reading front, I finally finished Claire Tomalin's biography of Dickens. I thought it appropriate that I read something about Dickens given his birthday year and all. How would I sum him up? Contradictory. One word. That's all you need. Now I am reading 31 Songs by Nick Hornby. I'm only up to song 13 or 14 but it's really making me think about making my own list of songs that express my life, my values, my belief, how I see myself in the world. Music eh? Pretty amazing stuff.

 My piano students continue to visit me each week. These are hours of delight as I attempt to guide them to develop their skills, to think about music as a form of communication and expression, to build their confidence, to encourage them to enjoy playing the piano. If they go away happy, and are happy to return the following week then the basics of my job are done. Anything after that - exam results, eisteddfod performances, - are simply bonuses.

 And I'm studying. Studying. Writing assignments. Writing reports. Learning about libraries and information science. There is more about this on my other blog. I wish I had more time to devote to it. That would mean not working which is not really an option. Not if I want to eat, have clothes, and maintain a shelter. So, I work in bursts and plan ahead. This is my life at the moment. It's going to be a big year.

Laden with books

Yesterday morning I went to our local book sale and in the above photo you can see the results of my restrained purchasing. For instance I didn't even look at the fiction tables. Instead I confined my browsing to non-fiction, and a feeble attempt to get to the dvd/cd table where buyers were intent on not letting anyone get anywhere near the offerings. I did manage the reach in and grab a copy of Spellbound from under their noses. Other than that I spent about 15 dollars and picked up two books on grammar - one old, one new - Hazel Rowley's biography of Christina Stead (in hardcover), a biography of Lewis Carroll, the major works of Swift, something called The Bronte Myth, A Roland Barthes reader, the Collected poems of Garcia Lorca and something called The Faber book of Pop which looked chock full of fascinating essays. I also found a huge book of piano music that I already own, but it was sitting all lonely on the random junk table for only 6 dollars so I had to buy that too. Sadly, I had not adequately prepared for secondhand book buying so at that point I had to stop as I couldn't physically carry anything else. Next time I shall take some bags for today my arms are hurting.

love on the dole...with a phd

I couldn't resist this book as I passed the second hand shop this morning. Looks like a corker of a "sparkling new comedy from Thames TV" (1980). The write-up on the back tells us:

He's a highly-qualified, lightning witted, ultra-bright freelance layabout. His girlfriend Fran wants him to settle down to the pursuit of fame and fortune but Shelley's too buy for that.
He's sending up the labour exchange, running rings around the bank manager, running an urban guerilla war where his brains are a secret weapon.


Sounds hilarious...no?

But wait there's more...it's got a wikipedia entry and apparently was produced through to 1992.

uses of literacy

In Brisbane for four days over the long weekend I was delighted to find a secondhand bookshop in south brisbane where I picked up a copy of Richard Hoggart's Uses of Literacy. I have been keen to read this ever since John Hartley published his Uses of Television inspired by Hoggart. Quaint cover....