Aussie Readers discussion

Brenda wrote: "And yes, we're home again after just over 2 weeks away! So nice to have instant and reliable internet! lol"

Welcome back Brenda :)

It is always nice to be back to your own home and bed after a good vacation.

Welcome back to your own bed and your own everything else, Brenda! Going away is nice but coming home....

Yoo hoo, Michael, I have a book shop alert for you while you are in Melbourne. You simply must visit Book Affair; it used to be in Flinders Lane and cover four floors and I spent many a lunchtime lost in there and used to come back to work late - one of the perks of being a manager! It's now situated in Elgin Street Carlton; here's the link : http://bookshops.com.au/shops/3269

Here's a Google Map for you: https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Fr...

You can walk there from Franklin St via Lygon St in 25 mins.

And while you're in Carlton, you just have to visit Readings: http://www.readings.com.au/carlton

I spent a large period of my working life in Melbourne City and could go on and on about bookshops there. I miss that!

Since I've had my Tempur mattress, I am hard pressed to spend the night anywhere else as other mattresses pale in comparison. But at the hefty price of just under $5k, you'd expect a great mattress - which it is!

Julie, https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2..., is my go-to person for any techno difficulties which I have!

@Bette lol! Julie has a motto about when techno things go wrong...when in doubt, switch everything off for a few minutes and then start again. If that doesn't work, press everything and pray! ;D
Usually the former works :)

B the BookAddict wrote: "Yoo hoo, Michael, I have a book shop alert for you while you are in Melbourne. You simply must visit Book Affair; it used to be in Flinders Lane and cover four floors and I spent many a lunchtime l..."

These are vital links for traveling book lovers Bette, I wonder if we could have a thread which lists...by city...recommended bookshops for traveling members. What do you think?

Yes, what a good idea, Julie! Do you want to set one up?

Now I've made myself really homesick for Melbourne:( Where I live now, we have only one new bookshop and that mainly caters for younger readers and being in the country/coast, they seem to favour rural romances, romances or vampirey stuff - none of which I read. :( :( :(

B the BookAddict wrote: "Yoo hoo, Michael, I have a book shop alert for you while you are in Melbourne. You simply must visit Book Affair; it used to be in Flinders Lane and cover four floors and I spent many a lunchtime l..."

Too late for Michael Bette..he goes home today :)

Thanks guys, had an excellent and most comfortable sleep :)

Happy 50th Anniversary of Decimal Currency Day to all of you old enough to remember......

And happy Valentine's Day to all lovers out there - young and old!

I went to Kaz Delaney's launch of her new book, The Reluctant Jillaroo in Scone yesterday. A lovely launch, and I'm rather looking forward to reading it, as she chose to set it in the Upper Hunter, around Scone.

Two of the local year sixes had early copies, and helped in the launch. They were wonderfully well spoken, had read the book and enjoyed it, and made very thoughtful presentations, and it was a lovely way to do the launch.

That's great Leonie:) Love Kaz (Kerri) she's such a nice person! I agree, the book sounds interesting and set in the Upper Hunter would make it more so for you, and any who know the area!

Leonie wrote: "I went to Kaz Delaney's launch of her new book, The Reluctant Jillaroo in Scone yesterday. A lovely launch, and I'm rather looking forward to reading it, as she chos..."

Sounds lovely, Leonie.

Brenda wrote: "That's great Leonie:) Love Kaz (Kerri) she's such a nice person! I agree, the book sounds interesting and set in the Upper Hunter would make it more so for you, and any who know the area!"

She is lovely! She did a wonderful writers' workshop for our festival last year, despite being only a few weeks away from knee replacements, and it was so nice to see her again.

I know she's had a very slow recovery with some unforeseen problems so I hope she's 100% now:) A gorgeous, genuine lady!

Brenda wrote: "I know she's had a very slow recovery with some unforeseen problems so I hope she's 100% now:) A gorgeous, genuine lady!"

She's getting there, is my impression :) Moving much better than in October!

That's good to hear:) Thanks!

Watching Coast Australia with the family this evening; currently learning the history of Darwin.

Sounds like fun Michael:)

Melissa wrote: "Watching Coast Australia with the family this evening; currently learning the history of Darwin."

Enjoy Melissa!

Melissa wrote: "Watching Coast Australia with the family this evening; currently learning the history of Darwin."

That's where I live!!!

Wave to the camera Sally - check her out Melissa:) She's that gorgeous chick with Sally906 on her head;)

Sally906 wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Watching Coast Australia with the family this evening; currently learning the history of Darwin."

That's where I live!!!"

It looks like a lovely city, Sally :)

Brenda wrote: "Wave to the camera Sally - check her out Melissa:) She's that gorgeous chick with Sally906 on her head;)"

Oh, oh I think I can see her. She must be the one on the patio with all the books ;)

LOL! That's her! And the glass of wine in her hand;)

Brenda wrote: "LOL! That's her! And the glass of wine in her hand;)"

Yep that will be me!

LOL

Hehehe!!!

Michael wrote: "Having just got back from Melbourne, one of the highlights other than the brilliant Aussie Readers members meet-up, was last nights entertaining ghost tour. Starting at 8:30pm at McKillop Street's ..."

Glad you enjoyed it overall Michael. Did you see any ghosts? Did it feel eerie? Maybe it would have been more fun for you if you had company. If you come back Mish and I will come with you...that's if you're willing to do it again. Does sound like fun. :)

Michael wrote: "I think I could do it again Elaine. I would love to go with you two. As for feeling anything, I did a few times and felt quite uneasy. :)"

I remember the ghost tour at Port Arthur was pretty eerie and although we didn't really see anything it did feel like there was definitely something there. Especially in the old jail. We'll try and plan it for when you come next time. I'm sure Mish would be in on it too.

Michael wrote: "That's great Melissa that you are learning about our great country. :)"

You have a fabulously interesting country, Michael.

Marianne wrote: "Happy 50th Anniversary of Decimal Currency Day to all of you old enough to remember......"

Yes, I suddenly remembered it, and came here to see if anyone had commented about it...

Michael wrote: "Having just got back from Melbourne, one of the highlights other than the brilliant Aussie Readers members meet-up, was last nights entertaining ghost tour. Starting at 8:30pm at McKillop Street's ..."

Hi Michael, I'm so glad you enjoyed the ghost tour and the Haunted Bookshop. I wasn't sure whether to mention it or not when you were asking for sites in Melbourne to visit, (not knowing you and unsure whether it would be up your alley so to speak) but really glad you enjoyed it. The tour highlights some great historical facts about Melbourne and is definitely different to the regular tourist haunts.

Did you make it to the Domed Reading Room at the Library?

Margaret wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Happy 50th Anniversary of Decimal Currency Day to all of you old enough to remember......"

Yes, I suddenly remembered it, and came here to see if anyone had commented about it..."

I was disappointed there was absolutely NO MENTION of it in the ABC news last night. I guess the people putting together the news are all too young to remember.....

Really glad you had a good trip to Melbourne, Michael, but you need to come for longer next time. The tour of all the old rail tunnels under the city is really interesting and a little bit eerie too. Amazing to think all of that under the city. And then you must go round and see all our wonderful historic buildings, go to Luna Park which is now 104 years old. Not to mention the State Library and our Museum where you can see the wonderful preserved Phar Lap ( I love Phar Lap). And a 30km trip out of Melbourne to see the beautiful Dandenong Ranges where your truly grew up. And we have so much more, you better come for ten days! A few of us can share the task of being your guide on separate days!

After all this touring, you'll be set to return the favour when one of us visits SA:)

Elaine, the ghost tour of Port Arthur was definitely spooky as way back as 1980, and that was even before that weirdo let loose. We stayed in the Youth Hostel which was the old Governor's House and you can imagine there'd be a few ghost prisoners, moaning vengeance, roaming the halls there. I was seriously spooked and things definitely did go bump, or rather rattle (of chains), in the night. The warden there really enjoyed his job on the tour of scaring the s*** out of you. The Isle of the Dead was so uncommonly quiet it was supernatural. Also The Rock, where they chained prisoners to the mercy of the sea, was eerie and one imagined the cries of the doomed sentenced to end their days there.

But as ever, Nature had a few sterling places of wonder to balance against the horror of the prison; Remarkable Cave is just that, remarkable, a humongous cavern which fills each tide. I'm not sure that is open to the public anymore. Some photos at this link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attrac...

Today on Coast Australia they are featuring Adelaide ... Hi Michael :)

Sounds like a great show Melissa - very informative for non Aussies:)

Brenda wrote: "Sounds like a great show Melissa - very informative for non Aussies:)"

The scenery is beautiful, Brenda. I would love to visit Australia :)

We'd love to have you Melissa:) You'd have many, many guides in all different parts of our country!

Michael wrote: "I think I could do it again Elaine. I would love to go with you two. As for feeling anything, I did a few times and felt quite uneasy. :)"

I'm up for it :) It sounds like fun and I don't mind being spooked!

Hmm...We're meant to get snow on the Mt today..lol...But now it's raining..so perhaps it'll happen.

Crazy Laura!

Oh Michael!!!

Michael wrote: "You would be most welcome Melissa. Hope you enjoy learning about my fair city. :)"

It looks like a gorgeous city, Michael. I shall have to visit it one day on my grand tour of Australia to meet all of the Aussie readers :D

Michael wrote: "Nice new title Brenda. :D"

I like yours too Michael.

B the BookAddict wrote: "Elaine, the ghost tour of Port Arthur was definitely spooky as way back as 1980, and that was even before that weirdo let loose. We stayed in the Youth Hostel which was the old Governor's House and..."

Bette it sounds like you had some great adventures when you were in Tassie. First Queenstown and now Port Arthur. I agree with you there is definitely something not of this world going on in that place. We didn't get off at the Isle of the Dead but went across to it on a cruise. I would think there are definitely some lost souls still wandering around there. Port Arthur is beautiful but at a price. I kept looking around thinking what a prime spot to have a prison community. It really was an amazing place.

Elaine wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Elaine, the ghost tour of Port Arthur was definitely spooky as way back as 1980, and that was even before that weirdo let loose. We stayed in the Youth Hostel which was the..."

I have heard of Port Arthur. I didnèt know that it was a prison town.

Melissa wrote: "Elaine wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Elaine, the ghost tour of Port Arthur was definitely spooky as way back as 1980, and that was even before that weirdo let loose. We stayed in the Youth Hoste..."

I mean didn't --- Laptop loves going French Canadian on me.

Michael wrote: "Unfortunately it will always be remembered for the tragic events of 1996."

A sad remembrance indeed. However, every country has its scars, Michael. I am sure those events do not detract from the beauty of the area and the country of Australia.