Colleen McCullough

[Gannon]

Maud, if you organize a trip to Norfolk Island, let me know when you are going. I can meet you there and we can go and crash Colleen's house. We can all have tea and scones(don't know why I am going on about scones all the time). Maybe Fran can come too.

Wow wouldn't we make some threesome marching up Colleen's drive demanding tea & scones .... she'd probably throw the typewriter at us

Hahaha, I have a feeling that that typewriter is long gone.

[Fran]

Maud, if you organize a trip to Norfolk Island, let me know when you are going. I can meet you there and we can go and crash Colleen's house. We can all have tea and scones(don't know why I am going on about scones all the time). Maybe Fran can come too.

Wow wouldn't we make some threesome marching up Colleen's drive demanding tea & scones .... she'd probably throw the typewriter at us

Hahaha, I have a feeling that that typewriter is long gone.

Even if the typewriter is gone I bet Colleen would have no problem finding another 'weapon'

[Gannon]

Wow wouldn't we make some threesome marching up Colleen's drive demanding tea & scones .... she'd probably throw the typewriter at us [/quote]

Hahaha, I have a feeling that that typewriter is long gone. [/quote]

Even if the typewriter is gone I bet Colleen would have no problem finding another 'weapon' [/quote]

Yeh she would probably start throwing books at us. I just hope that she does not pick her hardcover Rome books, those things could really do one of us a real injury.

[Fran]

Wow wouldn't we make some threesome marching up Colleen's drive demanding tea & scones .... she'd probably throw the typewriter at us

Hahaha, I have a feeling that that typewriter is long gone. [/quote]

Even if the typewriter is gone I bet Colleen would have no problem finding another 'weapon' [/quote]

Yeh she would probably start throwing books at us. I just hope that she does not pick her hardcover Rome books, those things could really do one of us a real injury. [/quote]

You bet .... and you suffering from the heat wouldn't even be able to run

[Gannon]

Fran, Fran, Fran, don't get me started on the heat. I am going to the beach today and I am going to stay in the surf all day. I will only come out to put more sunscreen on. I am trying to figure out a way to read a book while I am in the water. It's 8 am in the morning here, and it is already close to 30 C.

[Maud Fitch]

LOL, LOL, you guys make me laugh so much. I have a beautiful mental picture of the three of us taking cover behind a Norfolk pine to escape the Colleen McCullough bombardment of assorted items. Actually her husband seems a delightfully diplomatic kind of man so he'd probably have a word in our ears and politely tell us to nick off.

Yesterday I visited the Henri Matisse life drawing exhibition at the Gallery Of Modern Art and was enchanted. Have always been a closet fan (after Renoir) and saw his very involved-in-the-world range of artistic talents. After meandering through the gallery, I entered the 'Drawing Room' where a French-style cafe and classy art studio had been set up to allow guests to try their hand at drawing. Not real nudes but Rodin statues and still life objects.

Heat, don't talk to me about heat! Today it was meant to be 38 degrees celsius but by 10 o'clock it was already 40 degrees celsius on our outdoor thermometer. The budgies are gasping, the gumtrees wilting, the bitumen bubbling and our air-con blaring. Will be glad to go back to work tomorrow!

[Gannon]

LOL, LOL, you guys make me laugh so much. I have a beautiful mental picture of the three of us taking cover behind a Norfolk pine to escape the Colleen McCullough bombardment of assorted items. Actually her husband seems a delightfully diplomatic kind of man so he'd probably have a word in our ears and politely tell us to nick off.

Yesterday I visited the Henri Matisse life drawing exhibition at the Gallery Of Modern Art and was enchanted. Have always been a closet fan (after Renoir) and saw his very involved-in-the-world range of artistic talents. After meandering through the gallery, I entered the 'Drawing Room' where a French-style cafe and classy art studio had been set up to allow guests to try their hand at drawing. Not real nudes but Rodin statues and still life objects.

Heat, don't talk to me about heat! Today it was meant to be 38 degrees celsius but by 10 o'clock it was already 40 degrees celsius on our outdoor thermometer. The budgies are gasping, the gumtrees wilting, the bitumen bubbling and our air-con blaring. Will be glad to go back to work tomorrow!

Haha, I think if we were really nice to her, she would let us in. Especially if we lied and said that each of us had come all the way from Ireland to see her. How is your Irish accent Maud? Mine is pretty bad we may have to leave all the talking to Fran. You and I will have to pretend to be mute, bring plenty of paper and pens so we can write down questions for her. This is getting better and better she may take pity on us and give us some rare books.

I would love to have seen the Matisse exhibition even though I am more of a Picasso fan, especially his cubism. also I am a big fan of Dali's surrealism.

You want to know something really funny about this heat. Normally our little dog runs out bounces up and down barking at the delivery man who delivers my books. Today she was so hot she was barking at him while lying down. She was sprawled out on the ground, she was so hot and tired she could not even lift her head off the ground while she barked at him. The postie was laughing his head off.

I hope your budgies, gumtrees and bitumen are ok, I think this heat is going to last a few more days yet.

ps I should put this in the rant thread but I went down to the beach today and what happens, the air conditioning in my car stopped working. I mean it had to wait for the hottest day of the year to stuff up on me. Ahhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrr

[Fran]

If you two don't stop giving out about your lovely weather I will report you both to the Toast Marketing Board ..... it's 10 degrees C here and we think we're having a heatwave.

[Maud Fitch]

If you two don't stop giving out about your lovely weather I will report you both to the Toast Marketing Board ..... it's 10 degrees C here and we think we're having a heatwave.

Geez Louise, that wouldn't even register on our temperature gauge.....

[Gannon]

If you two don't stop giving out about your lovely weather I will report you both to the Toast Marketing Board ..... it's 10 degrees C here and we think we're having a heatwave.

Geez Louise, that wouldn't even register on our temperature gauge.....

Mine broke the other day, it was too hot, it just gave up the ghost poor thing.

[Maud Fitch]

If you two don't stop giving out about your lovely weather I will report you both to the Toast Marketing Board ..... it's 10 degrees C here and we think we're having a heatwave.

Geez Louise, that wouldn't even register on our temperature gauge.....

Mine broke the other day, it was too hot, it just gave up the ghost poor thing.

Now we are facing torrential rain and flash flooding.
The humidity is high but the garden is lush and turning an Emerald Isle green.
On a belated note, happy Australia Day!! We still have a damp flag fluttering off our front balcony.
Did you cook snags and prawns on the barbie and eat lamingtons?
Most of the day, I wore the silly free hat which came with the Courier-Mail.
(PS: Do you think Colleen McCullough would side with the idea of it being renamed 'Invasion Day'?)

[Gannon]

Howdy howdy Maud, I am always glad when I see a post from you.

I hope that you are ok with all the rain and are not in any trouble with flooding. Your garden sounds beautiful. I am really lucky with flooding as we are on the range and flooding never gets anywhere near us. Its a good thing too as it would probably take me a week to pack up all the books and move them to higher ground. One of the advantages of the ol e-readers I suppose. It is heart-breaking watching people losing everything in these floods and it disgusts me when insurance companies refuse to pay up on claims. I really hope you are safe and sound.
Happy Australia day to you as well, hope (just off topic the "p" button on my laptop is broken and I have to press it really hard for it to work, it is driving me crazy ) you had a fantastic day.
Its funny you should bring up "Invasion Day", I have just been watching the footage of Gillard and Abbott being herded out by the police and riot squad to the safty of their cars. I think it is a bit of a "mountain out of a molehill" situation. The footage and pics make it look really bad but I don't think they were ever in any real danger.
I would not be surprised at all if Colleen was in favour of "Invasion Day".
I just realised that I did nothing at all for Australia day, I did not even wear the silly hat in the Courier, although I would have if I knew about it.
I have just finished the second Sherlock Holme's novel "The Sign of Four". I must tell you I am loving the Sherlock Holmes books. I can't believe it has taken me this long to read them. I am now just starting the collection of short stories "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" I think the thing I like about them the most is the relationship between Holmes and Watson. I missed the second movie with Robert Downy and Jude Law when it was at the cinema, I am eagerly awaiting it to come out on dvd. I had no idea that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived such an adventurous life.

My signed first edition, first printing of "The Night Circus" turned up the other day. It was funny because I have been watching and waiting for it to come and the day it arrived the postie went to the wrong house, across the road, and I thought oh crap and went back to reading, but he had made a mistake and soon I was unwrapping my pristine first edition. If you have not read it, once again I strongly recommend it. I think Erin is going to turn into one of my favourite authors if she keeps writing books as good as Circus.
I must admit(and it sounds very sad) but I love the anticipation of waiting for a new signed first edition. I like to always have one in transit. At the moment it is "Ship of Rome" by Adam Stack. It is the first book in his Masters of the Sea trilogy. It has been a long time since I have read a "Rome" book. With Fran reading Simon Scarrow, it has made me want to return to my favourite genre. This trilogy is about the naval battles between Rome and Carthage during the punic wars. It sounds great.

Once again we are on the eve of the weekend. I have said it before, I hope you have a wonderful weekend, stay away from the flooding, remember if a road has gone under do not attempt to cross it. If we lose you to flooding I will not be happy so stay safe and happy reading.

[Fran]

OMG I hope you are all safe & dry (well dryish!)
I've been a bit scarce here this week as I've had a kinda busy week but the weekend is almost upon us & kick back time approaches.
Stay safe you two & happy reading

[Gannon]

I have noticed you have been a bit scarce this week Fran. Good to hear that you have time for a break. Kick back and get back into reading Simon Scarrow backwards. I am safe and sound from the heavy rain and storms and I hope that Maud is as well.

Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading.

[Maud Fitch]

@ Gannon. I always love catching up with your news. And agree with your comments. Also, I'm so jealous of your first edition signed copy of "The Night Circus". However, I'm glad you are back into you Roman reading. Had to laugh when I read about your sticky keyboard. I've been having the sme prolem but I thought it was the typical tropical humidity.

@ Fran. Good to see you back, we need your eruditness! Yes, I am high but not really dry, more damp. The ants are sneaking into the budgie cage and finding nooks and crannies in the house. Wishing you both a happy weekend of reading, too.