<brrrrrrrrrr & sigh> It's the first day of winter!

It's great! I buy (a lot!) of books at normal pre-loved price - usually around $6 -$7 ( Oz dollars)
Then, when I've finished them, I take them back & swap one for one at 60 cents per book. It means I never pay more than 60 cents for each new book, just keep exchanging them.
The good thing is that this shop seems to have a deal with publishers/reviewers. I've often picked up a brand new book that I've had my eye on for a bit. It's also an inexpensive way to try new authors. No great tragedy if I decide that I don't like one & decide not to finish it.

Aaaaaaaaahhhh ... More soup ideas! But I must stop making such big quantities. One can't eat the same soup, day after day, & not become "soup sick"! Nor can my freezer take much more.

Winter...BAH!!!!!!!!!!

The weather is magnificent here, crisp and sunny - but these clear blue skies mean it's c-o-l-d at night. And, as Lil K notes - we'er all in denial - our houses are just not built for cold weather.

It must be colder this year - poor Possum is feeling the chill more than usual.

One good thing - sailing on Sydney Harbour is fantastic in winter! The winds are good, and there's fewer boats about. Now, if only I knew someone who has a boat.

Only a couple of weeks to the solstice, and then summer is coming - although our coldest weather is not here yet

margo

Sailing on Sydney Harbour! <sigh> That sounds SO superior to winter in Melbourne! (For those of you who don't know, Melbourne is further south than Sydney - ie closer to the Antarctic! Melbourne is famous for its insane, unpredictable weather, but we breed a superior type of person. It's because of all that introspection & in-depth discussion, in winter, INSIDE!)

Sounds like New England.

Yep - winter is nice in Sydney generally, until the winds come in August.
Usually, days just like today - just magic, and fantastic outside, with appropriate clothing.

But those August winds - yeccchhhh!!!!!!!!!

Sydney or Melbourne, littlek?

Joseph O'Connor (Sinead's writer brother, who hates her) wrote an absolutely brilliant piece on Melbourne and Melbourne conversation. I don't have the time or the book to copy it, but I will.... it's so wonderful.

Oh, I once made the stupid mistake of coming to Melbourne in the middle of August... I like the town, but I'll never go in August again.

Melbourne, of course. But, we get lots of snow and it's prolly even colder here. It's the unpredictable weather and insane recluses in need of diversions that sounds familiar.

That's interesting, Drom ... What was the gist of what he had to say?

You've been here? When? Why?
But Melbourne in August? A very foolish move!

By the way; the book thing sounds fantastic! We have nothing like it here , I wish that we did. What's the bookstore called? Is it a general thing, or only for certain customers?

I've been there quite a few times because I love your strange weather and unusual conversations! That time, I was visiting a friend whom I met at postgraduates' school. She had moved to Melbourne and said, 'would you like to come over?' Yes, but I was adamant to get there quickly, so I said that August would do!

As for the recap; it defies pigeonholing... basically, he's on a tour promoting his last book, and he bumps into some very unusual people everywhere...

No, just a dusty little shop I discovered on one of my many "economy hunts" many years ago. The same deal for everyone. Trouble is there are so many books in there! I've spent hours at a time sorting through the good, the bad & the already read. I think the profits go to charity.

You've just given an idea to me... I should bring this fabulous idea to Armenia! It is, though, the perfect plan; I'm surprised there's no such thing in England....

Ah, I see! My sympathy to you, my dear. I gets to you about half way through winter, I know .... <sigh> So after all this, it will be officially summer for you tomorrow, littlek!
(pssst ... You are allowed to talk about your pleasure at summer. I promise not to get too jealous, now that I know that you live in the Melbourne of the northern hemisphere! )

Yes, the fact that it has so many good books seems almost an accident ... no doubt because of the participation of publishers/reviewers. But this attracts keen readers, who in turn sell their good, read books there ... & the whole thing just snowballs ...

I'm trying to figure out an alternative to walking to keep fit on wretched weather days .... Nah, not the gym! Too expensive & dislike the culture.

According to the time on the latest posts from up north it's after midnight. So has your summer now officially started?
(Actually, it's kinda scary that it's June, already? Where the hell did half a year go? )

Oh, what a nation of fricking sooks!! Sitting around all summer bitching, bitching, bitching about the heat! (Hint: that's why they call it Summer!). Then the first cool day of the year, out comes every piece of warm clothing, on goes the heater and it's moan, moan, moan about the goddam cold! F'krissakes!!

I don't know how the brave nation of pioneers turned into this country of jelly-spined wusses. Imagine how it would have been.....

Burke & Wills: 'Look, we ran out of milk suitable to froth for capuccinos. How can anyone go on in those conditions?'

The Anzacs: 'Bruce here got some really nasty gravel rash and I got a splinter in my hand trying to climb those hills. They just aren't safe. Back to Sydney?'

The Western Front: 'Strewth. Some-one could get hurt around here. We're all taking some time off to chill'.

Kokoda: 'Ok, I'll drink this warm beer, but there's no way I getting out into the bush. You don't know what could be out there'.

Polar expedition: 'It's freezing here! And I didn't bring anything to read! And the showers are too cold! And the lattes are never dusted with cinnamon!' 'Shut the f@ck up MSOlga, or you can swim home!'

Feeling cranky today, Mr Stillwater?