food for the mind....

“A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way” ... Caroline Gordon.

and I think "The Zookeeper's War" by Steven Conte takes us to that world.

It's 1943, wartime Berlin. Vera (an Australian and the central character), zookeeper and wife of Axel Frey, the director of the Berlin Zoo, are trying to keep the animals alive and maintain a semblence of 'normal' daily life as the conditions become harsher and more heartbreaking.

The story moves in and out of the main characters' lives and that's where we learn what enticed Vera to travel to Berlin when all were gearing up for war.

People's fear and dawning awareness that no-one was really safe no matter who they supported was starting to take it's toll. Constant vigilance was a necessity - informers were everywhere - it didn't take much to get you 'noticed' by the gestapo - even Vera's Australian accent was bringing her more and more under suspicion as an enemy alien. It was a desperate fight for survival - rape, death, destruction, bombs falling all around them, rationing, the heartbreak of the animals dying from starvation, disease, bomb damage... and amidst all this her passionate but dangerous affair with Martin, an Ostarbeiter.

It's moving, it's sad, it's brutal - a poignant picture of ordinary people during an extraordinary time trying to maintain a vestige of hope when all around is in decline.

But most of all, it was 'un-put-downable' - not bad for a first novel!!!

It's one of the recommended books on the State Library's Summer Reading List, and this year the criteria is that they're either set in Victoria or written by Victorian authors.

The Reading Victoria blog is worth having a look at too - it's being posted to by all the authors on the list over the next few weeks...

yet more illness and sadness...

one of my mother's oldest, dearest and closest friends - Alison (aka aunty Al) is ill and receiving palliative care at home... she's part of my extended family - if it wasn't for her and me mum I wouldn't be here now, having contracted pneumonia when I was born... the hospital sent me home to die... I couldn't be laid down so 'aunty Al' and me mum took rotating shifts for a number of weeks to keep me upright and alive (and we're talking keeping me upright 24 hours a day!!!)

She's had a long battle with many illnesses - I saw her in hospital earlier this year but she's never really been well for years... I spoke to her the other day and she just didn't seem to be with it at all... my heart goes out to Jenny (her daughter and my childhood friend)...

this is Jen, with me dad at me brother's wedding way back in the early 70's...unfortunately I don't have a picture of aunty Al so will have to check me mum's stockpile of photos...

we've drifted apart over the years, different lifestyles, living in different areas, but that doesn't mean we haven't kept up with what's happening in each others lives - and we're always there when needed - we're 'family' (and family to me doesn't mean blood - the nurturing environment makes the family - blood ties really mean very little in the scheme of things - just because you're related by blood doesn't mean you automatically like someone - most of the closest people to me aren't related by blood, but are more important to me because they've been there for always, regardless of my 'follies'!!!)

unfortunately my partner doesn't understand that - his comment to me the other day when I told him it's not looking good for Aunty Al - he feels sorry for her but what the fuck is my problem? why the fuck am I so upset... it's not like we're close... blah, blah, blah... so much support!!!! but then he doesn't even bother to ask how my mother is (and of course aunty Al's illness is really going to impact on her)...

then there was the 'bombshell' he dropped the other morning when I was leaving for work... he's 'going away' for 6 months and he'll be RENTING OUT HIS ROOM...

going away - fine, still paying his share of the rent - fine, but renting out his room (what, they wouldn't be using the kitchen, bathroom, etc. etc.) - not fine... I was shaking and distressed by the time I got to work... thanks Sailor Lil for your shoulder to cry on (literally) and the cuddle you gave me when I really needed one... a friend indeed!!!!

thought we had a commitment when we moved in here... we signed the lease for 12 months... regardless of anything we were committed for that time at least because neither of us could afford to be left in the lurch - that was spoken about before we signed the lease... and accommodation's hard to come by when you have animals, 3 actually - 2 dogs and a cat - hence this house - animals were welcome... apparently commitment means nothing... the animals mean nothing...

guess if it comes to it we'll just have to live really frugally, me and the 'kids' - the house isn't exactly cheap - nearly $1700 per month... then there's all the other bills - but no stranger will be moving in here!!!

just what I need - more crap, more stress!!!!

feeling slightly betrayed... and very depressed...

okay, while I'm being a tad sad, here's some music I listen to when I'm down - no, I won't 'burden' you with Barnsie - here's the Badloves... enjoy...

timely reminders....

It's sad that there's yet another 'ribbon' day coming up - WHITE RIBBON DAY - November 25th (Tuesday) - International Day for the Elimination of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN...

"White Ribbon Day - History

White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women...." to read more go to the White Ribbon Foundation of Australia.

shameful isn't it that violence is still so brutally perpetrated against women in all countries under all political and religious systems...

and coming up to that major commercial time of year the Age had a very timely article on it's front page...

"Backyard puppy factories just waiting for the next bitch on heat

Carmel Egan
November 23, 2008

Belinda Russo, an animal management officer at Lort Smith Animal Hospital, holds three puppies she says were dumped by backyard breeders.

SHE is a dog with no name who lives in a bric-a-brac jumble by her master's back door. Her owner appears surprised when asked her name and seems to pluck "Suzy" from the air. A small, grey-and-white crossbreed with matted hair, she doesn't respond to Suzy. She snarls and squabbles with her litter of hungry pups over a bowl of dog pellets..." read more here.

I wrote about this cruelty 12 months ago now - nothing ever changes - my babe Allie was a brood bitch in a puppy factory and almost died at the age of 4 - you can read her story by clicking her picture and read more about puppy factories here..

and so many people think of animals as the perfect xmas gift without thinking beyond the gift giving time... let's not forget - COMPANION ANIMALS ARE FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR XMAS!!!!

and on that note - it's just a quick post today - it's only a short weekend for me as I'm working tomorrow (normally my day off!!! - but I do get a day off in lieu) - I'm going to an all day seminar (so at least I'm not dealing with the public!!) at the museum called Collections and the Web with a big emphasis on Web 2.0 stuff... I'm really looking forward to it - but now I'm going to check the yummy Greek style baked vegies in tomato sauce I've got bubbling away in the oven and smelling wonderful... so it's ciao for now.

Public service sucks bigtime!!!!

well, makes you sick at the very least!!!! They're a sharing lot, the public - especially when it comes to their insidious little bugs!!! I've been 'laid low' for the last three days with a horrible gastric bug... I won't go into that though, suffice to say I felt like fucking crap!!! I guess there's a bit of stress happening too... me mum's just been 'officially' diagnosed in the later stage of chronic kidney disease - that's after 12 months of being ill since her not-very-successful, debilitating keyhole gall bladder surgery - part of the problem with her kidneys now!!! oooh, think there's a bit of anger there as well - we're talking about power of medical attorney stuff at the moment... she doesn't want dialysis at her age - guess I'm the one she trusts to enforce her decision if she can't - but I'll think about that tomorrow....

I received a postcard yesterday - you really have to wonder about the postal services... it was from my friend Steph who was travelling in Italia way back in june and july... dated 15/7/08!!! You have to wonder where it's been all that time - did it go on its own journey around the world?? was it sat in some mail house somewhere?? or was it just in a neighbours house waiting for them to re-direct it??

Anyway thought I'd share it - I was a tad taken aback at receiving something with the leader of that misogynistic, anti-gay, roman catholic church adorning it (and they're big on adornment!!!) - then realised it's coming up to that dreaded 'can't get away from christmas carols' time of year so thought advertising maybe - until I read it and realised who it was from...

(I found 2 different meanings for grande testa - big head or mighty loaf... both seem apt!!!)

and, on that note, I'm going to make the most of being out of bed, feeling better and seeing the lovely sunshine out there I think it's time to enjoy the garden - it's looking good - especially after the rain we've had - that's a wonderful sight and sound... we might not hear it too much more!!! It has been a pretty productive little patch this year - lots of spinach, parsley, coriander, onions, lettuce, carrots - there's something about being able to walk out the back and pick enough food if not for a meal, at least part of one... the tomatoes and beans are taking off, beetroot and zucchini have just been planted, the herbs are looking good - the grapefruit and peach tree are looking wonderful - can't wait to see what sort of peaches - everything just looks alive!!!!!

Here's a bit of a collage of parts of the backyard at the moment... if you look hard, you can just make out 'thereheis' in the bottle brush -you get a picture of Loudle (aka Louis and lots of other names) because he just happened to be in the yard at the time - of course there's no just sitting on the ground for a poodle!!!! and the old girl, well she was inside under the bed - that's another thing - she's doing a lot more lying around, sleeping... she's gettin' old.... a picture of her next time!!!

a lazy weekend... but oh so enjoyable!!!!

I'm glad to say no 'trick-or-treaters' came to my door on Friday night - I didn't have to disappoint any kiddies... but what a tragedy in America - a 12 year old boy shot and killed... it's such a frightening place... yet an interesting time politically - an historic time?? we'll know tomorrow...

on that note - 4 days off - in a row!!! I've done nothing, or done a lot this weekend... depends on your interpretation...

finished reading one book...

As darkness falls, by a new Australian author - Bronwyn Parry - she describes it as romantic suspense - I'd call it psychological suspense with a bit of erotica and romance thrown in... there's abduction, a hurt woman (emotionally, mentally and physically), a hurt man (emotionally, physically and mentally), a serial killer (of course!!!) a lot of time together, and a dog named Finn... I enjoyed the story and the depiction of the Aussie bush!!!

started reading another one...

Damaged goods, the third book in June Hampson's Daisy Lane series, set in England in the 1960s during the Kray Brothers 'reign' - you get the picture of the type of people and time it's based - killings, pay-backs, violence - I enjoy her writing too - it's written in real sorta like cockney like way a speakin' luv... so it mightn't be 'everyone's cuppa tea luv'... but I'm comfortable with it.

oooohhh, certainly has been a slack loooong weekend... all of the domestic stuff that had to be done got done (it's amazing what you can make yourself believe doesn't need doing!!!!)

Did a lot of dvd watching the last couple of days too - watched some Torchwood, some Weeds, and some old (Basil Rathbone) Sherlock Holmes - it's been sooooo slack - grouse, because it's going to be a busy weekend next week...

of course, I've smoked a lot of dope, eaten a lot of munchies, drunk a lot of tea and coffee - and enjoyed every minute of it!!!!

I think my body and my mind have needed this time off... there should be more of it - I am oh so getting past working all the time - I've been in the workforce since 1970!!! even to be able to cut down by one day a week would be so good!!!!

dream on woman!!!! it's back to the real world tomorrow!!!!!!