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Showing posts from June, 2015

Quote Auden and Carry a Big Stick

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tick. I tend to save many many things -- names of intriguing books, links to interesting videos or podcasts, poems, images, words, etc. -- and then sometimes return to them, as my interests in certain fields wax and wane, and then other times I forget why I saved a particular item. For example, the poem If I Could Tell You by W. H. Auden. It's been floating in an email of To Do items, but I can't remember what the connections are. Perhaps it's linked to the fact that I'd like to read at least one poem per day, but this doesn't always happen. Rather, I think part of it was quoted in a novel I read last year or the year before (possibly Josephine Tey or Agatha Christie). Anyhow, here is a quote: If I Could Tell You ... If we should weep when clowns put on their show, If we should stumble when musicians play, Time will say nothing but I told you so. ... The winds must come from somewhere when they blow, There must be reason why the leaves decay;

Mini Reviews of Smoke and Occasional Soulmates, ROW80 Check In, and WRiTE Club

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ore mini reviews! I've been catching up on some beta reading, but I did finish my short story! Now I just need to edit it... In the meantime, I've recently read two intriguing books about relationships: Occasional Soulmates by Kevin Brennan These days, since I have to read on a screen in the evenings (baby in the room!), I tend to judge books by whether they hold my interest despite the annoyance of holding up my iPad and reading on a screen (I'm sure a dedicated eReader would be easier, but I don't need another device in my life and I still don't like the pause that comes when swiping from one page to the next. I especially don't appreciate the random things that happen, for example, the Kindle app recently updated and the fact that I've read most of the books in my Kindle library was erased; they all look new and unread now). Occasional Soulmates definitely held my interest. The voice and the locations are very specific and well-drawn. I

Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen (Rivendell)

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hoto day! Nearing the end of the current round of ROW80 and my words have slowed to a trickle. The main excuse is travelling! Next week might be a photo post as well. Hope you all enjoy! Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen (otherwise known as Rivendell ) Interlaken: the Catholic and Protestant churches, an old monastery, and roses: Heritage apple tree Views of Interlaken: Selecting a Swiss single malt! Train to Lauterbrunnen: Lauterbrunnen, Tolkien's inspiration for Rivendell, from his trip in 1911: Decommissioned bell from 1472 Kitty Site of the Last Homely House East of the Sea Back in Interlaken: Investigating a cow... Our hotel As if my own photos aren't enough, here's one from Shari Blaukopf , since I haven't shared her lovely watercolours in a while: Ho