Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Walkabout.

We awoke to a fresh and beautiful morning of sunshine and sea breezes today. So, it was time for everyone in the caravan part to attack the laundry with vigor, open up their annexes to air them out and hit the town with our money in our pockets to spend, spend, spend!

And that's exactly what I did once the initial morning showers were over and I finished talking about books to neighbour of ours who loves to get into the discussions with me about them. We perused through my 'Reading List' books that I keep each year; and I showed a new-comer to the van park my book of books and she was amazed at what I've read over the last decade or so - even more so at the number of books I've had my nose in this year.

But once the day cleared up and began to warm up, I thought it was time I let my feet do their walking around town. I firstly walked along what used to be the Pacific Highway (and is Tweed Street), crossed it and walked into 'Clem's Cargo'. This place is full of picnic baskets mirrors, tables, chairs, dummies, metal work, books, boxes... the list goes on. It's also full of crap too. But I won't go into exactly what kind, just that it's useless to me. But I did buy three books while I was there; one of them being a hard cover of a Stephen Lawhead book called 'The Grail'.
Pretty cool seeing it's out of print!
I then checked out whether or not the Vinnies was open across the street; but I read on the door that it wasn't until next Monday. Bummer! So, I visited the Vinnies on another street where I bought my shell the other day; and that was closed until next Monday too! It's not exacty what I was hoping for, but I guess I'll have to wait until I get home to purchase more coin purses from a second-hand shop.

Well, I walked along Fingal Street, past the Bakery, Community Noticeboard, Police Station and Brunswick Heads Primary School and to the post office to check out their postcards; but they didn't have a big variety. So, off to the newsagency I went and bought about ten of them; all very beautiful and glossy and beautifully photographed. I returned to the post office, wrote on them and posted them off and bought a bottle of water.

By this time, all the cafes were open, the Brunswick Hotel was well and truly in to it Lunchtime Rush and I thought it would be a good idea to head on home. I had checked on my e-mail at the 'Network Video' store's broadband internet and so I didn't need to check it again. Anyway, I walked back towards Park Street, walked down it and crossed to a shop called 'Whatever' where I normally can purchase pretty much anything in the way of notebooks; but none of them were in my price range. Besides, I knew the markets were coming to town... I may get something cool there instead.

I thought to get out my camera on the way past the closed-up fairgrounds and went and took some photos of the place and their new flags they have up, the South Arm of the Brunswick River (which is really a creek) and
then I chatted to some people who had the most friendly Labrador. His name was Ralph, but being only 18 months old and blind was his only handicap... well, he was the most friendly darling thing I had come across. They had a smaller dog called Ruby who was a sook, but she was also a sweetie. They were on their way to Byron with another lady and let the dogs out for a stretch before continuing.

I walked through Memorial Park where the markets are going to be (and they have marked out where each one is going to be with paint already)
and dawdled around the front of the 7-Wall beach; instead of taking Mona Lane. This takes me to the Caravan Park, but it also takes me to the riverfront walk where there's a gravel walk. It's nice and shady and pretty too. I often take this way to get back from a walk in town.
When I arrived back, I was invited to have crab sandwiches with Mum and Dad. Gotta say, they were delicious!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Drive to Bangalow!

I opened the mail online today hoping to hear from a friend I had been organising a meet-up with from Bookcrossing.com and found there was nothing from her. So, I tried the site itself and found a thread she had put up yesterday for me and Mum. As I read that she wanted to meet in Bangalow today, she asked if we could meet her at the post office there at 10:30am... it was around 9ish and pouring rain! So, seeing I was mostly ready, there was just Mum to go.

Soon enough, we were off and took it easy on the wet roads; as visibility was dreadful! Who needed speed cameras when there was rain? We made it there with plenty of time to spare, and we even found a parking spot too close to the post office. Mum and I stood outside the Bangalow Post Office and looked around; then I decided to go inside and find some postcards to send off to my friends. While in there, I spotted a plush, stuffed full-sized crocadile on top of the PO Boxes! It as so cute, I asked if I could photograph it; and the ladies let me. Isn't he cute! I bought my postcards and Mum looked around the place and we still hadn't run into MooMoo1977 from Bookcrossing. So, I thought to go outside to wait again while Mum kept looking around the Post Office. I saw a young lady matching the description that MooMoo gave me and I walked up and asked her her real name and she said yes and she was so pleased to meet me. Mum came outside and after initial introductions, we were looking around for a place to eat.

'Utopia' was the place we found was quite pleasing to the eye; not to mention our tastebuds! We ordered our delicacies and chatted before they arrived. I ordered the Rum'n'Raison Bread'n'Butter Pudding, Loey Pumpkin Scones and MooMoo a Chocolate Brownie... and were they big serves or what! Even though I'm a small eater I devoured my large serving of Bread'n'Butter Pudding... and it tasted just like it did when Grandma used to make it! I swear! Mum had a taste and she was amazed - but not surprised - that I was eating it all. Once the sweets and coffee was all drunk, and we had given each other books, (I gave MooMoo a copy of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde and she was over the moon about it as it was on her Wish List. She offered up a large number of books that covered a lot of subjects; and Mum and I walked away with about four books each.) we decided to take a walk around and look at some shops; as none of us had been here for a some time.
'Abracadabra' is a big shop full of all kinds of things from toys and masks for kids to fans, coin purses, cloth bags and incense for the alternative
types. There's everything and anything you'd ever want to deck out your home to look gorgeous and most of the time you'd put it all in your back yard. I bought three little coin purses to add to my collection; aren't they just the most beautiful things? We asked around for an Op Shop and were told where it was. However, once we walked there, we found out that it wouldn't be open until the New Year... bummer! Oh well, we thought it as time to go anyway. So, Mum and I walked MooMoo to her car and said our fairwells; promising to meet up again next Christmas hopefully.
Now, that's something I'd love to do!
Mum and I kept walking around and found a place called 'Heath's' which is a warehouse at the end of a driveway off the main road. This place has everything and anything you'd ever want in the way of junk and trash and treasure. I found a book on Fred Astaire and Mum bought it for me for around $15! It's a hard cover and absolutely gorgeous!

Soon after that, we decided it was time to come home. Tonight, there's a Trivia Night at the Brunswick Heads Bowls Club. I may yet go to that for the fun of it. Until my next entry!

Monday, December 28, 2009

First Day Out.

It began to rain at 1am this morning; and that deluge caused everyone to want to take off to the loo! It was funny; but true. However, we awoke to a dreary wet day here in Brunswick Heads, which started out cold and warmed up quickly. As breakfast was being eaten, we heard that this rain that had come down overnight was all over the New South Wales and Queensland border. So, this got me thinking about whether Mum and my friend could me that meet-up in Bangalow from Lismore; where the rain was getting really bad, as she hadn't replied to my e-mail from yesterday. So, I e-mailed her again and suggested meeting up at a place, but she sets the time.

Today, we decided to do some shopping in Mullumbimby (Mullum for short) and so got ourselves ready and drove there in the rain. This little inland town is very laidback and hippy-like. There's a quiet and free feeling about it and I love visiting it. Mullum has always felt like this to me; even when I was young. And last year, I was thinking of moving here in the next few years; but decided against it.
On the main road is a huge health shop where you can purchase pretty much anything you want in the way of muesli, vitamens, fruit'n'veggies and organics as well. It's a big shop and I love going into it when I do get out to Mullum at this time of year.
Then, there's the Book Barn which used to be a bank as it has a vault without a door on it. This place has a massive variety of books where you can find pretty much whatever you wish to read on any given day or month or year. I'm a yearly regular here every Christmas; and love to bring home my share of either classics or collectables. And just look at the ones I found there!
Unfortunately, I didn't take the camera with me on this adventure, so you'll have to bear with me and put up with pictures from Google this time around. Sorry about that.


Seeing a lot of the shops were closed around Mullum this time - as today was a public holiday - Mum, Dad and I drove to Ocean Shores. This is about five minutes before Brunswick Heads; a little community over the mountains where everyone does their shopping. I had to buy a notebook and a few other bits of food for this week; nothing big.
On our way in to the shopping complex, we spotted cute little Jack Russel tied to a bin. We saw the same poor little guy on the way out when we came out an hour or so later; so Mum told one of the trolley guys about him and he said he'd get a bowl of water for him. Isn't that horrible when people forget about their pets; even when the weather is sultry, it's the heat the can get to them.
Ocean Shores is a lovely place. It's a lot quieter than it is here in Brunswick and a lot of holiday-makers go there to get away from everything. We've had a look around there, but have always come back to Brunswick Heads.

While there, we did some shopping and came back to the van. I wish I had taken my camera with me... bummer! There's always tomorrow; no matter what happens.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

We Arrived!

It was late when we left Brisbane on Christmas Night (25th, December) and so Mum, Dad and I arrived here in Brunswick Heads at around 1am Daylight Savings Time. After we quickly unpacked the car, we all went to bed; exhausted!
At around 5:50am, a heavy shower of rain woke me. It was wonderful to hear it on the roof of the annex; but for a moment, I was a little disorientated because I almost forgot where I was...hehe. Well, it seemed that everyone wanted to head to toilets; then we all snoozed until around 8am. Me? I was up at around 7:30am... I couldn't wait to get myself out and about to see the caravan
park. So, grabbing the camera and leaving my folks to sleep in, I took a short walk around in the early morning and took a few nice photos of the place before it rained again about an hour or so later.
I came back from my walk around the front and catching up with a few of the people I knew from years of holidaying here, to find Dad was up and eating breakfast and my little bird (Stevie) was singing in the annex. We decided to try her outside; and she absolutely loved it! So did all the little kids... so she's going to be put outside every day; so long it doesn't rain.

As the day wore on, we all became very tired from the lack of sleep from
the night before; and so Mum and I slowed down. We had a late lunch and I started reading my two books I chose to bring down with me (Under The Dome by Stephen King and Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) and got around thirty pages of each one read!
Dad put his new boat in to the river and I went and had a ride in it. It's a lot quieter than the last boat he had; not to mention more comfortable. He loves his new boat and has been out in it twice a day since we arrived.
Well, by the afternoon, we had some more rain - not much - and read some of our books, had some laughs and caught up a little with everyone. Then, Stevie was let out in the caravan after I made sure the door was locked; and she felt better for it! What a darling little bird I have! She's just been given her Christmas present of a fruit-holder. It a metal holder that skewers fruit and and keeps it off the floor. She still not sure what it is; so we'll have to let her get used to it. For dinner, we had fish and veggies. The fish was flathead and whiting; locally caught fish by Dad. Not too bad and very fresh!

Keep you eyes peeled for my future blogs of my Holidays here at Brunswick Heads.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Happy Holidays!

As you can see from the picture I've put in the main title, I'm off on holidays soon. And this is the place! Isn't it lovely? It's called Brunswick Heads and it's on the Far North Coast of New South Wales here in Australia; and a it's a pretty little place too. My family has been holidaying here since I was little and we were supposed to travel further each year, but it didn't quite happen. We found this little town and kept coming here each school holidays as we found friends and planted down camping roots and formed traditions and all the rest of it.

I saw the town grow and shrink in a way too. When I was young, there used to be 20 trawlers that went out through the bar into the deep sea. They'd come back with a fresh catch each time at night. It was fantastic just watching them. Now, though, only two trawlers go out and come back. It's kind of sad to see that so many of them went out of business.

Brunswick has a large pub on Mullumbimby Street. It's been there since the 1940's and it's a popular place on New Year's Eve; along with the Christmas Carnival and Woodchop Festival. Then, there's fishing competitions for the young kids and other activities for the children to do during the public holidays that the church puts on at the primary school on Fingal Street. It also keeps the parents from going mad in the caravan parks trying to keep the kids occupied in such a small space. However, I love going down there for a good reason. It's by the ocean; which I don't get to see very often. Also, it gets me away from the Big Smoke for a while and I breath the fresh ocean air for a little bit. I live on a main road and a noisy kind of area; and so Brunswick being such a quiet little place, I love the sound of the water, kids running around, the boats roaring up and down the river and being able to walk or cycle in the town on a bicycle to look through a second-hand store and pick up an out of print copy of a book I may not find in a big city.

What I'm going to do while I'm away in Brunswick is keep you posted every couple of days on what I get up to. It could be buying a little something or doing nothing much. There'll be photos of the place, what I've purchased that day and places I've been; and I'll report it all here for you to come on my holidays with me so you feel like you've been there too!
So, happy holidays to you! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah and I'll see you all when I begin recording my time there around 26th or 27th, December, 2009.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

This Year - A Quick Look at 2009!

Well, I'm about a week from going on holidays; and I thought to write this post as an end-of-year thing for all of my followers out there; and my family. I have had an absolute ball doing my thing here on Blogger; even if Google hasn't been all that crazy about two of them. Anyway, I've been up to so much and learnt to much too that I don't know where to begin - and the beginning is a tough place.

Early in the year, my old computer that had been my faithful companion in this little office died and I was traveling to and from my parent's house every day for about four months until my Dad bought another - faster - computer for himself. Then, we had the chore of moving my stuff off my old computer and onto my new one. Thank Goodness I backed up on usb flash drives! I wouldn't be a good writer if I didn't! He was amazed how organised I was on a computer compared to my house.

During the year, we lost a few good people in the movie industry. This included writer/director John Hughes who died at the young at of 60 from a massive heart attack. Then, not so long ago, we lost the biggest heart throb of them all: Patrick Swayze. This man made pottery classes sexy, ballroom dancing popular and being a rogue FBI agent incredible! I watched his final works while it aired on free-to-air television here after he passing and found it very hard to know that he was no longer with us.

Meanwhile, over this year, I started up a blog that became one of the best things I had ever taken on. I began doing book reviews on books that I had read over my lifetime from my childhood to now. And like anyone who was learning, I took baby steps and fell over a lot; however, now I feel as though I've been doing this forever! And I'm finding it more fun and enjoyable the more I do it. The blog is called 'My Reading List' and it covers an array of books and titles with official websites of all the authors I
talk about for you to venture into; so I've done the hard work for you. And that's not all, I have other blogs that I have worked on about art, my collection of coin purses (yes, I collect them impulsively. I can't help it when I walk into a charity store, I must look for them) and this blog right here.

I'm also a Bookcrosser - a very active one.
And this year, I organised what we call a Love Bomb for my Mum. This is where one Bookcrosser secretly gets others to send them pressies and parcels for another Bookcrosser to surprise them on their birthday or anniversary. And this went off brilliantly. My Mum kind of knew what was happening, but didn't expect to see so many presents; or have me take photos and make a photo album about it. She also got me to be the photographer at her and Dad's Wedding Anniversary party too; and I made an album out of that too. They were absolutely thrilled about it. Before the party, we had the most horrendous dust storm hit Brisbane City! It had traveled from South Australia to the Eastern Seaboard; coating the ACT, Sydney and Brisbane. It was horrible and it got in everywhere! And Dad had caught a dreadful cough from it that he couldn't shake.

Then, when my birthday came around, I found Mum (who is also a Bookcrosser) had gone and organised a Love Bomb for me. What took me 6 months to put together only took her 3 weeks; and I received around 21 parcels for my birthday! It was an absolute blast! Soon after my birthday, I met up with two interstate Bookcrossers here in Brisbane. It was so much fun; as they had never been to Brisbane before. So I took them to the Pancake Manor and then to 'Archives' bookstore on Charlotte Street. Both of them had never been to a bookstore so big in all their lives; and put it on their 'must do again' list for when they returned to Brisbane.

November was busy as Movember came around again and my brother took part. He grew a stash to raise money for Prostate Cancer Foundation and Depression in Men. Unfortunately, I couldn't donate this year, so I'll be giving to the cause next year. But he said at the end of the month he was the one who raised the most money in
his group. I also had a very sick little bird on my hands on Melbourne Cup day. We took her to the vet and it turned out that she had a Bacterial Crop Infection which is brought on by stress. So, I had to leave her overnight at Greencross Vets; which I hated, but it was for her own good. Then, off I went to my volunteer work where I won with the horse Shocking! Not too bad if you ask me! Other things that kept me busily writing away here on my blog include meeting Wally 'The King' Lewis at Epilepsy Queensland's 40th Anniversary. He stayed to give autographs and pose for photographs with people; including me. I also went on the Logan Art Gallery's Christmas Outing to Redland Bay with Mum. It was hot day and we all had a lovely time at the Redland Bay markets where I picked up 5 coin purses for under $25.00, went to an art opening (which was overcrowded and well-catered for) and then we were off to lunch at the Grand View Hotel. What a day! Also, last month, I won 2 cds from Brisbane's most popular radio station: Triple M. There was Bon Jovi's 'Full Circle' and Powder Finger's 'Golden Rule' that I didn't expect to win! I had joined their Music Jury last year online and answered their quizzes all year and won these two; just when I was thinking of buying the Bon Jovi one for myself for Christmas as a treat! Thank you Triple M! You guys are wicked!

This month, on Bookcrossing, we began our HGG (Holiday Gift-Giving Season) in a major way. This actually started in October; but it builds up big around now. This is where you give pressies to people across the globe but you don't expect anything but a heart-felt thank you in return. It's all about being kind and generous. Well, I found a great way of thanking people. In October, I created a thank you blog for all my birthday presents so that all my Bookcrossing friends could see what I had received and from whom. So it wouldn't stagnate, I morphed this blog into the 'Gift Giving For All Occasions' blog where I thank people for sending me presents for Christmas, birthdays, prizes I've won, Easter, Halloween Swaps... anything really where I'm totally surprised by their kindness; so they know I'm truly grateful for their generosity. Also, they know it arrived in one piece too! I also go into the 'Thank You' thread on Bookcrossing and let them all know about the blog on a regular basis to remind them that their goodies are all there for them to look at if they want.


So, there you have it... my year of 2009. I hosted a lot of things on Bookcrossing, posted off many bookrings/rays and had a lot of laughs too. I also brought my late-Grandmother's piano into my house (it was left to me when she passed away around a decade ago) and now I'm learning to play it. Now, I'm looking forward to next year!
There's going to be so much more fun and games and enjoyable things to talk about too! So, stay tuned; as you never what's going to be here on The Book Craze!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Summer Heat Here At Last!

For the last few weeks, Australia has been sweltering through some of the hottest days; and Summer hadn't officially arrived as yet. And now it has, I dread to find out what is going to be our Summer! Yesterday, I had to go out shopping and was off early. I picked up a parcel from the post office and found when I got home that in it was a box of chocolates! Yep! I had let some gorgeous Belgium Chocolates melt in my trolley for three hours without knowing it in 35 degree Celsius heat! Quickly I took a photo of them for another blog I manage and then toss them in the freezer as fast as I could! Then, in the air conditioned comfort of my office, I sat all afternoon and wrote, read and stuffed around; only going downstairs to see if my little bird was okay and to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

Yep, yesterday was an absolute stinker! From all weather reports it was almost 40 degrees Celsius out on the Darling Downs and at Ipswich! So, that would make it around 37 degrees here in Logan City! Wow! What a day... and there's January, February (our hottest month of the year) and
March to come yet.
So, my air-conditioner will be getting a nice little work out over the next few months. And all the while, I've got a tub underneath it to collect the water for the potted plants; and to feed the possums at night.
Last night, I heard the possums running around the roof. And this morning, I found Lilly-Pilly leaves in the tub by the door; evidence that those poor little guys are looking for water around the place. So, I'm leaving that tub out for them to drink out of and cool themselves off in, in this heat.

So, if this is our Summer Days, what's Christmas Day going to be like for us? Me? I'll probably be sitting under a fan at my parent's house or in that air-conditioning at my Aunt's house; not wanting to leave.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Christmas Shopping

I love to go Christmas Shopping. I know that sounds nuts, but I do. However, it's because I am so organised about it that I cram it all into one day that I love to do it. I make sure I take along my blue shopping trolley, a good bag that carries my money, list, umbrella, any medication I may need, hand sanitiser, tissues and my cards for purchasing. And best thing I arm myself with is a good nights' sleep the night before and a pair of very good walking shoes; namely my cross-trainers.

My secret is to have a Christmas Account at the bank. You begin it the year before and put in a certain amount of money each fortnight. Then, by Christmas you're not scratching for money to buy pressies; nor are you trying to think about who wants what. Well, I normally ask what they want well in advance and try to figure out exactly what they need; and then do a 'dry run' about a month in advance at the shopping center of my choice; figuring out exactly which shops I'll be 'hitting' (shopping at) and then when the day arrives that I'll get the Christmas Account money out, I'll just go to those stores and pick up those goods. Easy-peasy! I don't have that much stress around this time of year.

Christmas Shopping - for me - is done on the first week of December. There's none of this running around a week before the big day - or even on the night before. No, no, no. That's just not for me. I'd rather have a few last minute items to pick up, wrap and fix up, then I'm ready to kick back and enjoy the surprised looks on the family's faces when they open their pressies on Christmas Day (better known to some as 'The Orgy of Greed' Day... but I try not think of it that way!). I enjoy giving to the people I love and I try to buy for certain people each year. Last year, I bought for my Mum and Dad, a cousin and my bird. This year, it's my immediate family. Next year, it'll be something entirely different.

Yesterday, I also did a few other things while I did my Christmas Shopping. I got my hair trimmed and met up with a friend I normally e-mail each week. We hardly see each other and it was wonderful to catch up. We had plenty of laughs and she saw what I bought everyone; and thought that Dad's boxers were going to be a hit!
We ran into all kinds of people trying to sell us something. There was one guy who was selling hair straighteners; which also put curls into your hair too. He had a spiel that he had prepared and I humoured him and let him straightened my hair a bit. But then, he said something that let on that he wasn't a hair dresser. He told me that my hair was full of split ends. I almost began giggling right there; and the only person who stopped me was my friend Susan who was also trying not to laugh. We just looked at each other with a smirk on our faces and he kept talking. In the end I did not part with $200 for a silly straightener I'd never use; but it was amusing that he did not notice that I had no split ends.
Susan and I hung around for another hour, picked up something at the chemist and had our photo taken with Santa. Then, I bought one of those cool 'I Love Brisbane' T-shirts (there's a green heart where the word 'love' is) for around $20. I just love them! But time raced away on us and she had to pick up her two girls from school and I had to catch the bus home before all the kids got out of school (and kids on buses aren't my kinda thing!). So, we said our goodbyes and went our ways.

Once home, I unpacked my trolley and wrapped each present; and now they are all under the tree awaiting the great day where they'll be unwrapped. Well, all but one. I'm currently knitting a scarf at the moment for my brother's girlfriend and I'll be finishing it in the next few days or so. All it'll need is some lovely glass bead and it'll be done. I think she'll love it!
So, once this Christmas Season is over, I'll be saving up for next year's 'Silly Season'... and only time will tell what I'll be purchasing for everyone!