Dear Book Fairy…

I swear I buy books instead of crack or at least that’s what it seems. I didn’t realise until yesterday, when I wandered past the bookshop near my house after celebrating an all clear blood test, randomly went in and came out with Spiral, which is the second book in the Japanese Ring trilogy (the movie with Naomi Waits is based on the first book), and The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I also have big intentions of going back and buying Sepulchre by Kate Mosse (I read Labrinyth while I was overseas…at least I think I did.

And if I could afford it (which I absolutely can not), I would also buy:

The Almost Moon – Alice Sebold (if you haven’t read Lovely Bones you should, it’s a fantastic if slightly depressing book)
The Yacoubian Building – Alaa Al Aswany
Havana Red – Leonardo Padura
The Ghost – Robert Harris
The Shakespeare Secret – J L Carrell
Shakespeare – Bill Bryson
The Wolf of Wall Street – Jordan Belfort
New Europe – Michael Palin

And don’t even start me on what I would do if I got let loose in Merchant of Fairness (the most wonderful second hand bookshop in the world).

I am such a simple creature really. Get good news = buy a book. Get bad news = get one large bottle of tequila and a straw.

Soundtrack

Courtney has got me all nostalgic after reading her blog about music triggering memories. There are certain songs that instantly conjure up certain events for me, both good and bad.

Leave Your Lights On – Santana: Year 12 was not my most favourite of years, and every time I hear this song I am immediately walking up a street in East Launceston at 6am. It was after the cast party for our school production and I was just so tired. I decided not to wait at the house for my Dad to pick me up so I walked up the road a bit to wait. It was raining and I had a bunch of flowers.

High – Lighthouse Family: This song was playing in the car the day Janina and I were driving home from Launceston after doing Christmas shopping, and we were belting it out going over Tamar Bridge. It was raining that day too.

Rocketman – Elton John: I listened to the Greatest Hits on my ipod when I caught the overnight train from Munich to Paris when I was overseas. It was comforting listening to this song in the hour before dawn and watching the scenery go by. I had absolutely no idea what country I was in or what language I was meant to be speaking.

Helter Skelter – U2: I must have been six or seven when this album came out, and years later when I heard it again this song reminded me of my Dad playing the Rattle and Hum album one really sunny day. I didn’t remember the rest of the album, just this song.

Everything’s Not Lost – Coldplay: I used to listen to this album constantly, and for some reason this song is forever associated with a train trip. I was coming back from Euroa, it must have been spring because the wattle was out. It’s another comfort song.

Beautiful Day – U2: All That You Can’t Leave Behind was the album that made me remember how much I loved U2. Every time I hear Beautiful Day I remember catching the bus home after my final exam in year 12 and the overwhelming feeling of relief that it was finally over.

Run – Snow Patrol: This is my coming-back-from-overseas-and-not-wanting-to-be-back song. It’s from the day I moved my stuff from my old house in Northcote, and I sat at the train station completely miserable.

I’m sure there are other songs, but these ones probably are the most evocative for me.

TV Rejoice!

As much as I hate Mondays tonight will make it all worthwhile.

7.30-9pm: So You Think You Can Dance
The only reality TV show I have the stomach for.

9pm-10pm: Good News Week
It’s back! After 8 years! Paul McDermott! The Incredible Shinking Mikey Robbins! Huzzah!

10pm-11pm: Supernatural
A show I enjoy for its riveting plotlines, and not because the guy who plays Dean is %$*&( Hot.

And by the way…

Dear Tim Burton,

I read this morning that Lindsay Lohan wants to play Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Now you and I know that you are far too intelligent and wonderful and generally great to pay attention to anything written in the papers, but just in case…You have been warned.

With much much respect and genuflection,
Briony.

Travellin’ Through

I had big plans for a whole lot of writing to get done this weekend. Sadly it all fell part when I remembered I had not yet watched Long Way Round, which I got for Christmas from my brother. If you’ve never heard of it, its a documentary made by Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Boorman. They ride their motorbikes from London to Magalan in eastern Russia, fly to Anchorage and then ride through Canada and the USA before arriving in New York.

It is the most amazing travel documentary I’ve ever watched. Watching the two of them ride maybe 30 kilometres a day through Mongolia, through parts of the world that have never been mapped was completely awe-inspiring. I felt it every time either of them came off their bike, or got bogged down in mud, or thought that they weren’t going to make it. I’m not sure though if I only felt that because it took me back to when I was travelling on my own. It’s not quite the same as riding a bike through Eastern Asia, but I could completely relate to the feeling of falling down the rabbit hole and not really understanding whats going on.

I miss travelling.

In the beginning, the universe was created.

The drought has ended and I’ve started writing something. I’m not entirely sure what it is but I’ve written two pages already and I haven’t had a violent allergic reaction to it which can only be a good thing. At least, I haven’t started ranting and raving about how crap-tacular it is and

Word has filtered through that there is going to be a 10 year reunion for the class of ‘98, and its got me thinking. Mainly about how 90% of the people going to the reunion are people I never had any intention of seeing again, but also about what would have happened if I hadn’t moved away when I did.

Facebook is the tool of the devil by the way. And FYI, I don’t need some crappy application that makes me spam my friends to find out what my shagging anthem is or what disney princess I am, or what kind of mother I will be, dammit.

(I will be a hilarious mother, I am clearly princess Jasmine and my shagging anthem is none of your business. Just so you know)