Aussie Readers discussion

Done! Learn something everyday! Come on down all Perthites and other Western Australians!

Take a look at State by state roundup.

Just saw that Otis Chandler (our friendly creator of Goodreads) marked this as a great video. Sort of Oprah flash dance video meets your local library bookworms but it's very cute!:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6D9ji...

Thanks again everyone, & Jan, no I wasn't there, I entered the written section, will get over there one day though.

Scary about the Qantas engine failure! I don't know how those massive 380 planes stay up anyway... Looks like a flying building!

David wrote: "Thought I would quickly drop in to let you all know I was awarded another commended place, this time in the Cervantes (W.A.) bush poetry competition. yep! I'm happy (-:"

Velvetink wrote: "David wrote: "Thought I would quickly drop in to let you all know I was awarded another commended place, this time in the Cervantes (W.A.) bush poetry competition. yep! I'm happy (-:"

Great work!"

Excellent, David. No wonder you are feeling chuffed. Laurel

Thank you Laurel (-:

My Regency romance, Substitute Bride, has a new cover. The cover was designed by Wendy Laharnar from a painting by Edmund Blair Leighton who was an English painter of historical genre specializing in Regency and medieval subjects. EBL was born in 1853 and died in 1922. He exhibited at the Royal Academy for over forty years. His painting, A Favour, seemed what I wanted for my new cover and suits the personality of Emma Napier, the heroine of Substitute Bride. The book with its new cover can be downloaded from Smashwords, Kobo ebooks, Apple ebooks, Barnes & Noble. The print book should be available in two three months.

I just posted an award winning poem in the sunburnt country page, written by my mate Terry.

Mandy wrote: "Scary about the Qantas engine failure! I don't know how those massive 380 planes stay up anyway... Looks like a flying building!

"

They were still picking up huge pieces of it that had fallen over an Indonesian village. Scary really, to think a huge chuck of metal could hit you on the head out of nowhere.

The chance of something hitting you on the head from nowhere is very small. Qantas has a good track record compared to all other airlines. This will hopefully will be a Get out of gaol free card for Qantas, spur them on to improving maintenance which has been slipping.

Oh yes I know that, but some wreckage fell on an Indonesian school injuring 2 kids and their teacher.

Velvetink wrote: "Oh yes I know that, but some wreckage fell on an Indonesian school injuring 2 kids and their teacher."

I didn't realise that people had been injured.:( I'll have to watch the news tonight!

Mandy wrote: "Velvetink wrote: "Oh yes I know that, but some wreckage fell on an Indonesian school injuring 2 kids and their teacher."

I didn't realise that people had been injured.:( I'll have to watch the ..."

It was on late night SBS news last night. I was really surprised at the amount of metal pieces people in Indonesia were shown with, (some had taken some home to keep!)), when you look at the plane itself doesn't seem like too much of a hole. But apparently here was quite a lot.

Nooo! Gail please think of another nickname! That makes me sound like a goody two shoes.;P

Hee hee hee hee.

Whah, our home computer died... dead as...no life what so ever.

Actually it's not a bad thing really, it was a bit of a dinosaur. Unfortunate we can't really live without it, unfortunately we won't be about to eat for the next month so we can afford to buy a new one.

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Whah, our home computer died... dead as...no life what so ever.

Actually it's not a bad thing really, it was a bit of a dinosaur. Unfortunate we can't really live without it, unfortunately we w..."

Lots of sales on at the moment I've noticed Gail..Dick Smith have some good sales on laptops. We do definitely need our computers, don't we!! Looks like baked beans on toast for awhile..:)

I've been checking around Dick Smiths, JB Hi Fi, Harvey Norman etc. I think a laptop is the way to go. It is amazing how cheap they are now.

Not sure we'll be able to afford baked beans, vegemite perhaps, it spreads further. :D

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "I've been checking around Dick Smiths, JB Hi Fi, Harvey Norman etc. I think a laptop is the way to go. It is amazing how cheap they are now.

Not sure we'll be able to afford baked beans, vegemit..."

:):)

I'm feel your suffering Gail, I receive some strange looks when I mention to people that even $100 for something is waaaaayyyy out of our reach at the moment.

It's Remembrance Day today the 11th November. It marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year Australians observe one minute silence at 11 am on 11 November, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. So no matter what you're up to... At 11am stop for a minute and remember. Read more about Remembrance Day here.

What's 'schoolies' - ? (from another thread here)

After their final year of high school our students generally let loose for one week after school breaks up. Mostly it's centred aroud the Gold Coast in QLD. (Correct me if I'm wrong guys! I'm from Qld so I could be biased.) It's a rite of passage that we all go through. I have lots of schoolies stories from when I was there!:)

http://www.schoolies.org.au/

'The poppies might be wilted and trampled by the throng,
but the memory of our fallen will live on and on and on'

David J Delaney ©

Lest we Forget.

Here now is the full poem.



Heroes of Gallipoli

The poppies might be wilted and trampled by the throng
But the memory of our fallen forever will live on
Their spirits free and roaming distant pebbled sand
Safe within the bosom of Mustafa’s mother land.

Still can hear them marching, through the city to the quay
Fight for King and country, in a place that’s called Gallipoli
These brave young Australians and volunteers by the score
Leave behind their loved ones to fight on a foreign shore.

Sailing far across the great expanse of sea
What’s about to unfold, no one could foresee
Training for some time under Egypt’s clear blue sky
Waiting for the orders to which they must comply.

Sunday the 25th a day that history recorded
ANZAC tenacity and valour so rightly was applauded
Turkish troops were ready, positioned themselves quite well
From their hilltop advantage, they gave our blokes hell.

Continuing to move forward with the enemy overhead
As our troops fell, the pebbled beaches turned to red
Some called it a battle; we know it was a slaughter
Many a brave man will never hold his son or daughter.

Nine months of fighting, with no strategic gain
Over eight thousand dead and many more in pain
They died fighting for freedom and democracy
Albeit by the hands of political diplomacy.

Evacuation was ordered; retreating slowly from that shore
Eleven nights it took, no loss of life was the score
Ever so quiet like actors in a pantomime
Most successful operation of the war, t’was regarded at the time.

That Sunday in April, the ANZAC legend was born
Now every year we pay tribute, salute and mourn
For these young men, called “The knights of Gallipoli”
You’ll forever be remembered right throughout our history.

“The poppies might be wilted and trampled by the throng
But the memory of our fallen will live on and on and on”

David J Delaney
05/02/2009 ©

Carmel wrote: "Ha you were to quick Mandy!!"

Great minds think alike Carmel!:)

Hello guys am new here :)

Max wrote: "Hello guys am new here :)"

Hi Max! Big welcome to the group. Hope you find some discussions/books you like!:)

Because my home computer is dead and I haven't had a chance to replace it yet. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back Monday.

Oy. Looks like trouble waiting to happen. But probably usually minor. Gotta push 'em out of the nest sometime I guess.

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Because my home computer is dead and I haven't had a chance to replace it yet. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back Monday."

My computer has recently been showing signs of definite old age - slow, slow, slow. Fortunately I'm expecting a little extra cash at the end of the year which will definitely be funding a new computer - I CANNOT live without mine - although I do periodically threaten to throw it out the window. It's a kind of love/hate relationship lol :)

Carmel wrote: "David wrote: "Here now is the full poem.
Heroes of Gallipoli.."

Love your poem David:)"

Thank you Carmel & a huge welcome to all the newies (-:

Don't know if this counts as self-promotion or not. If it does, please give me a cyber kick, Mandy!

Anyway, I blogged today on Heroines With Hearts (British site) about the difficulties I had researching The Pirate And The Puritan (wr/as Mary Clayton) in the days before I had a computer and before Google existed.

And yep, I made a couple of mistakes. Well, a couple I now know about...

Good for a giggle, anyway. The link is:

http://heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com/

Monya (aka Mary)

Tracey wrote: "Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Because my home computer is dead and I haven't had a chance to replace it yet. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back Monday."

My computer has recently been showing sign..."

Gail and Tracey - my heart goes out to you both! I've been without my computer twice and suffered withdrawals. I kept thinking, this is crazy, I'm missing an object that was science fiction to me not so many years ago!

But the lucky part is my No.2 son is an I.T. professional and fixed it for me. In fact, he started me on the whole merry-go-round.

Hope you're both back in action soon!

Monya (aka Mary)

Monya wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Because my home computer is dead and I haven't had a chance to replace it yet. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back Monday."

My computer has recently be..."

I keep a spare lap top for emergencies so I'm doing ok but I really prefer my PC so I can't wait to get the new one

yes, I'm glad we don't have schoolies here...

I guess I'm curious - who pays? I think it'd be difficult for me to give money to my son so he can go off and try to get into mischief. Otoh, I see the 'socio-biological' kind of justification for the tradition, and I wouldn't want him to be left out. Do rich kids have more fun than poor kids? Sorry for the nosiness - I went to the website you linked and didn't really understand it much.

Once in a while I try to pretend my computer is broken, so I can catch up on reading or housekeeping, but since everyone in the family has their own it doesn't work so well.

Cheryl wrote: "yes, I'm glad we don't have schoolies here...

I guess I'm curious - who pays? I think it'd be difficult for me to give money to my son so he can go off and try to get into mischief. Otoh, I see ..."
Cheryl not all kids are that interested in Schoolies. In fact many of them see it as rather juvenile. Through my nieces and their young friends there seems to be a trend to book a group holiday overseas somewhere like Bali - personally though I'm not sure that's such a great idea either. I know kids mature faster these days but I still don't really think it's a great idea. Just my opinion though and no one really listens to dinosaurs anymore :)

Cheryl wrote: "yes, I'm glad we don't have schoolies here...I guess I'm curious - who pays? I think it'd be difficult for me to give money to my son so he can go off and try to get into mischief. Otoh, I see ..."

Parents pay. The tradition is all about the first week or two after you finish highschool. It's just fun Cheryl to go away with your friends independantly for the first time. To experience freedoms and a last fling before the responsibiities of work or university propel you into adulthood.

It can be as expensive or cheap as you like. We went with a group of about six in a big caravan (belonging to one of the parents) down to the the Gold Coast for the week. Cost next to nothing. Lots of kids work in their breaks to save a bit of their own money for schoolies. As Tracey said some wealthy parents send their kids away to Bali etc. Other kids borrow their Dad's tinny and go camping on one of the offshore islands which costs nothing. But it's not about where you go. It's a rite of passage. I have really fond memories of Schoolies. I love the tradition.

I'm sure she'll have a ball Carmel!:)

No such thing as Schoolies when I did attend school, the closest thing to it I suppose was an end of year dance, but a couple I was not allowed into because of the lenghth of my hair, we finished school then straight into the workforce, can't see the sense in going out to get blind drunk for the sake of getting drunk, but, thats me.

It's been a few years since my daughter headed off to Port Macquarie with a group of friends to celebrate Schoolies but I can reassure Carmel that the kids had a wonderful holiday and all returned home safely and in one piece. I must say I found surviving Year 12 to be a traumatic experience that had put a strain on our usually happy co-existence and I was glad to see her relax and let her hair down :o)

Carmel wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Oy. Looks like trouble waiting to happen. But probably usually minor. Gotta push 'em out of the nest sometime I guess."

Are you talking about the schoolies comments Cheryl? My ..."

Carmel - the kids you see on T.V. getting into trouble at Schoolies are very much in the minority. I've had six granddaughters and two grandsons survive the experience so far with nothing worse happening than sunburn, loss of sleep, and a headache or three. Oh, and a small tattoo...

I finished school (only to Grade 10 level) in the 1950s (oh my now I do sound an oldie). I sat for my last exam on the Monday and started work on the Friday. I think it's great they get the chance now to celebrate. Best thing they can do is stick with a bunch of their friends. Don't worry, they'll survive!

Oh how interesting to read all your thoughts about this rite of passage - thank you so much for sharing! Here's hoping sunburns and tattoos are the worst *any* teen gets! :)

Carmel wrote: "I'd prefer her to come home without ink though:)..."

LOL!

Monya wrote: "Don't know if this counts as self-promotion or not. If it does, please give me a cyber kick, Mandy!

Anyway, I blogged today on Heroines With Hearts (British site) about the difficulties I had rese..."

Wonderful stuff, Mona. I'm so glad you blogged this. It mirrors some of what happened to me when I wrote my first book, Substitute Bride, a Regency romance. This was before computers and Google. We lived on a farm in an isolated area on the south coast of WA. The libray was a few books in a room at the Shire offices. I chose to write Regency because I loved Georgette Heyer and owned some of her books. I knew I could use them as reference books for my Regency. Strangely my Regency still sells better than any of my other books and recently has a new cover. Laurel

Don't forget either David and Carmel that what you see on the news at the 1% of troublemakers who can't help but cause problems wherever they go - most kids go to Schoolies and just have a good time, a bit of a break and enjoy the atmosphere.

Laurel - so glad it brought back memories for you too! I lived on a farm as a teenager but it was only 9 miles out of town. I worked in an office there and could get to the library. Thank goodness. Also did a correspondence course on writing, at night by the light of a kerosene lantern. Probably why I needed glasses a few years later!

I love Georgette as well. Happy to hear she provided you with inspiration. May your writing continue to be blessed with success.

Monya (aka Mary)

Good one Carmel.......I thought they would be more worried about another snake LOL!!

Don't you just hate it when you find a crap in your wall? ;p

Seriously though, Carmel, I hope they catch the snake. Bit scary to have a brown snake in your midst.

Years ago I had something similar happen - I saw a baby dugite slip in under the linen cupboard frame 10 minutes before I had to pick up the kids from school. I was beside myself so I did the only thing I could do ... I emptied an entire can of Mortein into the gap he'd crawled into. When we got back 20 mins later it was dead on the tiles outside the cupboard! Much to my surprise. (Poor snake.)