Pre-Christmas ramble

My self-imposed book buying ban is continuing (except for a cookbook which doesn't count). I've been very disciplined & haven't even been tempted. Of course, it does help that I'm still buying books for other people as Christmas & birthday presents so bookish packages do keep arriving. I'm also still doing a lot of rereading (I was withdrawing an old copy of Gaudy Night at work the other day & sat on the floor reading my favourite bits for quite a while so I really need to read it again from the beginning very soon) so it's just as well I'm not bringing any more books into the house that will actually be staying more than a few weeks.

However, just because I'm not buying books doesn't mean I can't be tempted by bookish merchandise. I do love a good bookish coffee mug. You can see my collection of book-related mugs above (click on the photo to make it larger. From left to right - Penguin Room of One's Own, Folio Society, Librarian, Slightly Foxed, Susan Hill's Long Barn Books & two more Penguins, Persuasion & Wuthering Heights). You might think I have enough coffee mugs. Well, I thought I did too. These are only the book-related ones, I have a lot more... Then, I saw these. Virago are producing three coffee mugs featuring Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier & Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. I'm sure you don't need three guesses to decide which one I've ordered.

Speaking of Barbara Pym, I was reading one of those roundups of favourite books of the year in the Age on Saturday morning. I'm very sceptical about these articles, especially when authors are asked their favourite reads of the year. (Not as sceptical as I am about the articles asking politicians what they're going to be reading over the summer although the article in Sunday's Age wasn't as overly worthy as some I've read. One politician, Richard Di Natale, leader of the Greens, even said he wouldn't be reading but playing with his children) Most of the books chosen by the literati are serious worthy tomes, usually award winners or published by friends of the writer. In a small literary market like Australia, it doesn't do to upset someone who will probably be reviewing your next book. Very occasionally someone breaks that mould & this year, it was Helen Garner, one of my favourite writers. "Books that got me through pneumonia by provoking fits of uncontrollable laughter were, first, Barbara Pym's A Glass of Blessings and Excellent Women, then three Charles Portis novels, Norwood, The Dog of the South, and his 1968 masterpiece, True Grit." I haven't read Charles Portis but Pym would definitely cheer me through pneumonia.

Speaking of Helen Garner (I told you this would be a ramble), I've recently discovered a new podcast by two of Garner's most devoted fans. Well, it's new to me but it's been running for just over a year. Australians will know Annabel Crabb & Leigh Sales as political journalists (Crabb mostly in print & Sales as the anchor of the 7.30 current affairs program). Annabel Crabb also presents a TV show called Kitchen Cabinet where she visits politicians at home. They cook her dinner & she brings dessert & she interviews them about their life before politics & how they stay sane while they're in politics. It sounds light & fluffy but often the audience learns a bit more about the politicians when they're having a conversation rather than delivering a 30 second soundbite. It's also fascinating to see who can cook & who has obviously never picked up a lettuce before. Annabel Crabb has just published a cookbook, Special Delivery, which has some gorgeous recipes for cakes, puddings & desserts as well as other dishes (that's the cookbook I've just bought. I couldn't resist the Roasted Strawberry & Ginger Cheesecake recipe). Their podcast is called Chat 10, Looks 3 (a reference to the song Dance 10, Looks 3 from A Chorus Line. I know nothing about musical theatre so I was completely mystified until I listened to the first episode & all was explained). Crabb & Sales talk about books, musical theatre (Leigh Sales' passion), cooking & whatever else they feel like. I've listened to a few episodes now & I'm really enjoying it. They're intelligent, witty, funny women & they sound as though they're having a ball recording the podcast.

The photos of the girls under the Christmas tree aren't great but I spent ages sitting on the floor, throwing their favourite toys under the tree to entice them into camera range so I was determined to share them. Just so that you don't forget that it's summer here, this is Lucky enjoying a mild evening last week snoozing in a sunny patch on the back porch.

Lastly, I'm trying out a new feature on Blogger which allows me to highlight a featured post. I thought I'd choose a post from the same time in a previous year. So I've begun with my review last year of Anthony Trollope's collection of Christmas stories, Christmas at Thompson Hall.