Reading with my laptop...or Why it takes so long to read a sentence.

So, I'm reading a book, on Kindle. An historical fiction novel.

Thing is, I read three words, or perhaps a paragraph and I have to pick up my laptop.  Just now I settled into a big chair with footstool and cup of tea and read

"The court always spent the long Christmas feast at Whitehall, so John..."

So I googled Whitehall and found that the Palace of Whitehall was, in its time, the largest palace in the world. Larger than Versailles.  I then read that it burnt down in a fire in 1669 or some such and that only the Banqueting House still survives.

Of course I checked out its position on Google Maps and its entry in Wikipedia.  In Wikipedia there was a very enticing old map of the area so I clicked on that an noticed that one of the yards inside the palace was Scotland Yard.

Intriguing.

Did you know that Scotland Yard was the street on which the main entrance to the Metropolitan Police station was situated. Hence the name.

Scotland Yard, of course, is no longer there.  It has outgrown various premises many times and as early as 1890 was renamed New Scotland Yard.  But I digress.

Oh, and look at that ... Inigo Jones who designed parts of the Palace of Whitehall also designed the Covent Garden buildings.  Where is Covent Garden again in relation to London?  Oh, yes over there.  Ooh and look at the painting of Inigo Jones.  What is it with men in the 1600s and beards?  Couldn't find any razors?

Well while I have Google Maps up I wonder if I can locate Princes Gate Mews in Kensington?  Stayed there once with the relies back over 20 years ago.  Look there it is.  I wonder if it has street view?  Yes!  And look there is the mews flat I stayed in.  Fabulous.

So, where was I?  Oh yes, back to the Kindle to finish the sentence.

"...was able to leave the royal gardens at Oatlands dormant under a thick frost, and go home to Lambeth..."

I wonder how far Oatlands was from Lambeth...

Swan River, 8am

This morning was forecast to be heavy rain so it was a lovely surprise to see a stunning morning on the Swan River for the official opening to the Rowing season at Blossom's school.

The girls have been rowing together for a month now and this morning, after a tough session of time trials, they rowed in to an audience of proud parents.

If only all mornings were like this on the river!

Things I Find Fun

This photo is here just for fun.  Freshwater Bay, Peppermint Grove.

Inspired by Fairlie and The No. 1 Melbourne Ladies Bookclub I am reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project.  Gretchen's blog was one of the first I started reading five years ago but as I got into more serious endeavours, such as working in an office, I stopped reading.  Which is why I am finding her book so important right now.  In my earnestness to move back into the corporate world I stopped having fun.  Maybe, maybe, I never really was one for fun anyhow.

Any how, I have had cause to think about what I find fun, rather than what I think I should find fun.  Here is my list so far.  It's been such a long time since I really thought about this that I may need to come back to this from time to time.

Here are my first two.

Maps.  I love all sorts of maps.  Especially ones that relate to something I'm doing or reading.  I am just as happy reading a street directory as I am reading an old map of London.  In fact I will often just pull out the street directory and start flipping through it. For fun.

Walking around the streets, just looking.  I love to familiarise myself with an area by exploring the streets. What types of houses are built here? Who lives/lived here? What makes this street great or horrible?  I love walking as long as the walk has interest.  When I go on walks from home I try to take different routes each time.  Routine is my enemy; it gets me down.

It comes as no surprise to me that I love the idea of Geocaching.  Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt which combines "orienteering-lite" with a scavenger hunt where you come home with the thrill of the find but, usually, no prize.  I could seriously get into it but I fear that friends would start to back away slowly...and there's no fun in that.

Five Years

early morning over Mosman Bay, Perth, Western Australia

Today I've been blogging for five years.

In that time I've

finished post-graduate study
started seven blogs, one of them private
stopped writing to four of them
written at first regularly, then intermittently,  to three of them
opened two twitter, one fb and one LinkedIn account
been a stay at home mum
been a part-time worker
started working full time
turned 40
spent lots of money on potions for my face that I know won't make a difference
spent some money on clothes that I'll wear for ever
spent more money on clothes that I never wear
lived in three different homes
in three different suburbs
in two different states
one of those houses was for six months while we renovated so maybe it doesn't count
seen my daughter graduate from primary to high school
had my son start at three different schools; all of them excellent
listened to clarinet, piano, trombone and drum practise
ferried kids to soccer, ballet, hockey, swimming, tennis, cricket and karate
renovated a home
moved interstate 6 months later
learnt to crochet
re-ignited old knitting skillz
done loads of cool stuff that will come to mind later and I think "crap, I should have put that on the list".

and

met lots of wonderful people online...and then in real life.  Thank you bloggers for being such a wonderful community and for sharing your lives with me.

Blogging is a very important creative outlet for me.  I feel am yet to find my own blogging voice and style, I think; but when I do it will probably start here so stay tuned.

I shall not wear black shoes like all the other mothers

If you were to peer into my wardrobe you would be drawn into its inky darkness.  Little Black Dresses? Check.  Black shoes? Check.  I am drawn to black clothes.  It is hard not to be.  I think I look better in black than most other colours  and there is something so beautiful about floaty black chiffon tops.

But enough is enough.  Wearing black everyday is dreary so this year I made a New Year's Resolution to not buy any black clothes or accessories.

It is proving quite good for the wallet.

Is it just me or are all the most beautiful clothes made in black?  The shops are full of colour this year but it seems so bright and jewel-like.  If I am to venture into colour I imagine that venture being somewhat more pastel.

Anyway my resolve has been sorely tested of late.  My favourite Mary Jane black work shoes are looking a little tired and my trusty long black cardigan (which looks fabulously corporate when I need it or casual when I don't) has developed holes.  The horror.

I tried to convince myself that these were basics, like underwear, and that of course I could replace them with black versions.

But then I remembered the movie Chocolat where Vivien's daughter whines: "Why can't you wear black shoes like all the other mothers?"  I don't remember what Vivien's reply was but it was something along the lines of why be like everyone else?

So I decided that my black Mary-Janes were no longer basics.  When I stumbled over these red Mary-Janes I decided Red was the new basic, and I feel fabulous wearing them with every corporate outfit I own.

Now to find a sassy long cardigan, that is not black.