April turned out to be quite a busy month, with Easter, ANZAC Day, and an Australian history essay to get done somewhere in between. So the reading was a little steady, however I did manage to read … The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan Eden … Continue reading April Reading Update
Australia
March Reading Update
March has come and gone and I cannot believe that it is April already. Where has the time gone? March turned out to be a very busy month. Since late February I have been back into the study mode and that puts a big dent in my reading progress. This semester I am studying Ethics … Continue reading March Reading Update
Book Review: Where the Trees Were by Inga Simpson
Last year as part of my studies, I completed a creative writing unit called Writing About Place. We conducted roving workshops in the natural and urban environment, explored personal essays and short stories about the importance of place and were required to select two texts to review, as well as write our own fiction … Continue reading Book Review: Where the Trees Were by Inga Simpson
Big Red Bash #7: Signs for the Times
I know. It's been a long time between drinks. I had intended for this post to be out some time ago. Then life happened. A bunch of assignments, a sudden death in the family, a sick kid... But here we are finally at the end of our outback adventure and as I promised last time, … Continue reading Big Red Bash #7: Signs for the Times
Big Red Bash #5: Lining Up in Birdsville
So far, on our Big Red Bash adventure, we have followed The Adventure Way, been sobered by the tragic tale of Burke and Wills and the Dig Tree, and been quietly impressed by the revival of the Betoota Pub. After four days of travelling the outback roads of Queensland, we rolled into Birdsville - two … Continue reading Big Red Bash #5: Lining Up in Birdsville
Big Red Bash #4:Betoota – Ghost Town
The word "outback" brings to mind visions of an open barren landscape, sparsely populated, dotted with the ruins of abandoned homes and towns. Yet the journey into western Queensland has been anything but solitary. All along the way, we have been part of a long convoy of caravans and trailers, many heading to the … Continue reading Big Red Bash #4:Betoota – Ghost Town
Big Red Bash #2: The Adventure Way
On the first day of our outback adventure, Dan woke up very excited. He knew what was happening and he couldn’t wait to get going. As soon as breakfast was out of the way, he was in the car, quick as a flash, sitting in the back with a huge grin across his face. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Big Red Bash #2: The Adventure Way
Inclusion – Side by Side
Like many other proud Australians, our eyes have been glued to the television screen to cheer on our athletes competing at the 21st Commonwealth Games, here in Queensland, on the Gold Coast. The Commonwealth Games have a long history and have many things in common with the Olympic Games. Since the first games in 1930, … Continue reading Inclusion – Side by Side
Putting Out Fires
We're in the middle of one of the hottest Februarys on record. Here in Toowoomba, we're reaching temperatures of around 36°C which isn't too bad, as long as you don't have to go outside. But out west, where my husband Paul works, the temperature has been hitting 42°C. That's hot. Especially in the middle of … Continue reading Putting Out Fires
Living on the Downs 