Worzel Gummidge

I'd never heard of Worzel Gummidge or Barbara Euphan Todd before this book came to the top of my 1001 reading. Which is a bit surprising I suspect. Worzel Gummidge started his life as a character in what was meant to be a one-off  BBC childrens radio play (The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook Farm) in 1935. Clearly he was very popular as this became the start of a ten book series. Worzel Gummidge was the first Puffin book published in 1941. 

Twelve year old Susan and her brother ten year old John have been sent from London to a farm in the village of Scatterbrook to recuperate from whooping cough. 

In December last year I read Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes (see my review) which was also written in the 1930s and all three of the main characters also contracted whooping cough and had a country recuperation, which made me wonder if there was a particularly bad outbreak of whooping cough in England in the 1930s, but I couldn't find any reports to back this up. Of course whooping cough was a persistent threat at that time, children and their parents would be very familiar with the illness. 

Whooping-cough had left them cross and quarrelsome. They weren't allowed to go near other children because they were still infectious, and all the grown-up people of the place were too busy to be bothered with them. 

A perfect recipe for an adventure. 

They couldn't spend much time in the lofts because the dry hay-dust got into their throats and made them cough. They weren't allowed to play in the farm kitchen except on soaking days, because Emily said, 'Fresh air is the best doctor.'

So each morning John and Susan are bundled up into the winter clothes and set outside for a "nice brisk walk" and only to come back for lunch and dinner each day. Soon they meet Worzel Gummidge, a perfect companion for the probably-still-infectious. Worzel is a scarecrow with a face made from a carved turnip who comes to life. Worzel is a bit BFGesque in some of his sayings, although of course Worzel predated The BFG by some thirty years or so. 

'I heard you argufying.'

The child and Worzel have some gentle, wholesome, 1930s rural adventures and scrapes- there is missing laundry, a village fair and stealthy nocturnal outings. 

All the old ladies from the almshouses were swooping down on hats and petticoats. They jerked their arms in and out of coat-sleeves. They jostled one another, flapping and chattering like the seagulls that follow the plough on windy March mornings. 

Worzel Gummidge became an endearing TV series in the late 70s, early 80s- starring Jon Pertwee, forever famous as the third incarnation of Dr Who. I'm not sure if it was ever shown in Australia, I presume it was, I don't think I ever saw it, I wouldn't have been much interested at the time. 

306/1001

10 Great French Novels To Learn French For All Levels

I can't remember where I came across this list. Facebook probably, isn't there where we find everything these days? And I can't remember if I found it in 2015 when it was first published, and have just come across it again now, or if it's all new to me. 

Either way it's a fun list. I'd love to think that I would be able to read even ONE of these books in French, but I despair of both my ability and my free time (or lack thereof). You never know perhaps it  can be a list for my dotage- like most of these lists actually. 


1. Le Petit Nicolas - René Goscinny (well I have read it in English at least, see my review)

2. Mon Père est Femme de Ménage - Saphia Azeddine

3. Le Petit Prince - Antoine Saint-Exupery

4. Ensemble c'est Tout - Anne Gavalda

5. Que sais-je sans toi? Guillaume Musso

6. Où on va, papa? - Jean-Louis Fournier

7. La petite fille de Monsieur Linh - Philippe Claudel

8. L'étranger - Albert Camus

9. Les Ames Grises - Philippe Claudel

10. Voyage au Pays des Arbres - J.M.G Le CLézio

0/10 in French
3/10 in English at least. 

I haven't heard of any of the others. It would be an intriguing project to try and read a book in French. I have a bilingual book, that I've been meaning to read. One day. 

Dreaming of France is a wonderful Monday meme
from Paulita at An Accidental Blog  

Buddhism for Break-Ups

Meshel Laurie is well known to Australians as a comedian. I've seen her on the tele a bit, but a number of years ago I suppose, back in the Spicks and Specks days, although I think she is on The Project a bit now, I just don't watch that all that often. And because I don't pay that much attention to things I hadn't realised that she was Buddhist, so initially I was a bit surprised on seeing the title Buddhism for Break-Ups.

I'm not a religious person and I've never really paid much attention to Buddhism (or any of the other major religions to be honest). I was more interested in the Break-Up side of things from this book. I'm just starting to emerge from the end of my marriage 18 months ago, and thinking about all sorts of things. Mainly about ways forward. Mine wasn't a particularly awful break-up in the scheme of things I suppose, but it was my break-up and it was awful enough. I have come to wondering why marriages breakdown but relationships break-up... is that meaningful? I'm not sure.

Meshel's break-up was different to mine, but there were some similarities. Meshel's marriage broke down after 19 years, a similar time frame to me. She is frightfully honest about the details of her despair at times. Crying in the shower. Kicking the washing machine.

I was reminded of Anna Karenina's famous opening line

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

No, I haven't kicked the washing machine -yet, but there were certainly days when I could have. Days when maybe I should have. 

Buddhism for Break-Ups aims to help us show ourselves the kindness we would show others, and turn a break-up into a breakthrough. 

As far as Buddha is concerned, the end game is not happiness, but peacefulness. 

Which is interesting given the modern fixation with being happy. It's what we all strive for, one of the big reasons many marriages breakdown, and the subject of countless books, articles and TED talks. But Buddhism is there to tell us that peace "lasts longer and is more helpful to more people."

I did learn quite a lot about Buddhism along the way. I'm not about to start chanting or meditating or anything, but it's interesting to know a bit about how 10% of the world think, pray and act. 

Buddha realised that it's unrealistic to hope for security, reliability and same-ness, let alone assume we're entitled to them. These ideas are contrary to the reality of life, which is insecure, unreliable and constantly changing. 

Change is certainly a major part of a break-up. "Leaping into an unknown life" is very threatening. Suddenly we have an unknown future, with an unknown future self.

We have an opportunity to redefine ourselves and move towards the person we want to be and the life we want to live. 

We do indeed. It's something I need to work on more. Noone else is in control of my emotions. Anger can only hurt me, and the antidote to anger is patience. 

Mindfulness is a Buddhist concept and Meshel tells us that we won't achieve mindfulness by colouring in! I have bought some books, but not really used them. Although I did some colouring in while waiting in a cafe one time and that was pretty good, actually quite restful.

Intention is everything in Buddhism. 

Buddhists try to approach people with Emptiness, with a blank slate, to see how that person really is in that moment. Which sounds fine in principle, but what does it say of learning and experience? Impermanence and Karma are both rather fascinating to ponder. I didn't realise that Karma is a swirling force over millennia involving cyclic existence, and not just a right back-atcha kind of thing.

Meshel is a comedian though as well as a Buddhist, and a mother of young children, so it's reassuring and perhaps inevitable to see that she leaves her final words to that other philosophic master, Dr Seuss.

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. 

This is the second book I've read recently after reading an excerpt in the Sunday papers. And also my second read for AWW2017. There is much to think about here, and actually I think I can see myself reading Buddhism for Break-Ups again. It's here at the right time for me. 

You can listen to Meshel Laurie discussing Buddhism for Break-Ups with Wendy Harmer here. 

http://australianwomenwriters.com

Versailles Treasures From The Palace Gift Shop

Last week I showed you my recent visit to the magnificent Versailles Treausres From the Palace exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia. Every major exhibition has its own gift shop and of course Versailles is no exception. Except what a gift shop. Best. Gift shop. Ever. I totally wanted to move in. 

And why not? It has everything a girl needs. 

Something to drink. 

I do love some bubbles.
Especially a whole wall. 

I also love Lillet, but they didn't have any rouge.
Lots of other untried tipples too...

I could drink out of pretty cups.

There's plenty to wear. 

And there's heaps to do while I lounge about in tulle and tiaras. 

Some jigsaws. 

Naturally there's lots to read. 

I wouldn't go hungry either.

 I could burn some Lacroix candles and indulge in some luscious soaps and perfumes.

And dash off some notes on the OTT Lacroix cards.

When I did need to do something else I could pop down to NGA Play, where I can have some Versailles themed fun. 

The NGA had remodelled quite a bit since my last visit with lots of new features. I really do want to move in.

Saturday Snapshot is a wonderful weekly
meme now hosted by WestMetroMommy

Dreaming of France is a wonderful Monday meme
from Paulita at An Accidental Blog  

A Year in Books 2016

Yes, yes, I know that's it's nearly half way through 2017 already, but I haven't had a chance to look back at my 2016 reading just yet.

I had a bad reading year last year. I only read 79 books. 11, 075 pages. Almost half the 20, 061 pages I read in 2015.

And I was really bad at rating the books I actually did read on goodreads last year too. If I'd done more ratings I think there'd be more books here. Still I managed to give 7 books 5 stars.

Reckoning. An extraordinary memoir from Magda Szubanski.

The Minpins. A re-read of one of my very favourite Dahls.

Cyclone. Jackie French's retelling of Cyclone Tracy for a new generation.

The Anti-Cool Girl. Is actually a cool book.

And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. A powerful anti-war ballad.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 1/4 Years Old. Oh so naughty grandparents in a Dutch nursing home.

Charlie and the War against the Grannies. A silly, funny debut from Alan Brough.

7 out of my 79 reads were five stars.

3 Aussie books

3 Adults reads

3 Picture books

2 Nonfiction/memoir

3 Female authors

4 Male authors

5 New to me authors

Rather predictable to have Roald Dahl and Jackie French make an appearance I suppose. Lets hope it's a better reading this year, although I'm already 8 books behind my goodreads target! And it's still February...

Versailles Treasures From the Palace

I've visited the Palace of Versailles quite a number of times. On my first trip to France in 1998 we loved Versailles so much that we went back several times. At that time the fountains only ran on a Sunday afternoon so we had to go back to see them in operation. We even spent our last night in France staying in Versailles, the town, not the palace sadly, and had a magnificent dinner at a restaurant overlooking the palace gardens.

I returned to Versailles in 2010 and again in 2013. But Versailles is so vast that there are still areas I haven't been to as yet, and it's a magnificent spectacle each time. Each visit is equally memorable and  there's always something different, and I'd still like to go back to see more.

So last year as soon as I saw an ad for Versailles Treasures From The Palace at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, I did a sharp intake of air and knew that I would be going. What I didn't realise then was that it would turn into a family road trip to celebrate a special birthday, but I'm so glad that it did. Most of us had been to Versailles before in 2010 and 2013 and so it was special for all of us. The exhibition is magnificent and we had a great weekend of celebrations as well.

It's a beautiful exhibition. Breathtaking from the very first things you see. 

A 17th century gate
Gilded iron

Bust of Louis XIV 1665-66
Jean Varin or Warin

This was an amazing rug from the passage way between The Louvre (back when it was a royal palace) and The Tuileries (back when it was a palace). Huge and spectacular, this was just one rug of 93 carpets made to line the Grand Galerie linking the two palaces. They were never used though and remain in beautiful condition.

Carpet from the Grand Galerie du Louvre c 1682
wool and hemp
Charles le Brun designer
Atelier de la Veuve Lourdet, weavers, Paris

The French love a reliquary. 

Queen Marie-Thérèse's reliquary, 1665-74
gilded bronze, silver, paint on vellum

Vase with boars and Janus heads 1665
bronze

There were even sections of parquetry from Versailles! Who would think of ripping up the floor boards?

Armchair for Madame de Pompadour's residence at Crécy c 1745
Desk of the dauphin, son of Louis XV 1745

Even functional household objects got the Versailles treatment. 

Barometer 1773-75

There are several rooms that celebrate the magnificent gardens of Versailles. The engineering and plumbing innovations that had to be done to create the fountains that are still unrivalled anywhere else in the world with 17th century equipment and knowledge is incredible. There is a interesting short video displayed as well as artefacts, paintings and recreations of the gardens and fountains- it's an innovative and beautifully displayed. 

I've long held the notion that anything can be art if it's displayed just so.

Keys for turning on the fountains
late 17th-early 18th century, forged steel
I saw these in use in 1998!

One of my favourite part of the exhibition was a recreation of The Labyrinth that was installed in the gardens in the 17th century. I'd never heard of the labyrinth before, perhaps not surprisingly as it was taken down in 1774 and replaced with the Queen's Garden. 

Originally conceived by André Le Nôtre in 1665 as an undecorated maze, the crossroads of each path were furnished in the 1670s with 39 fountains decorated with 330 painted lead animals illustrating classical parables. These new additions were inspired by the publication of Jean de La Fontain's Fables 1668, dedicated to Louis XIV's six-year-old heir. 

 Only 35 animals have survived, and there were four or five presented here in a reimagined maze.

Etienne and Jacques Blanchard
(Fable XI)
The Monkey and his little ones

Much was made in the press before the exhibition about the inclusion of this magnificent sculpture. And rightly so, just getting Latona and her children to Australia was a tremendous undertaking. The statue had to be broken up for transport. But then to see it in place in the exhibition was astonishing. It was surrounded by a gorgeous audiovisual experience to recreate the experience of seeing the fountains at Versailles. It certainly did. I was moved to tears and sat watching it for some time. 

Latona and her children 1668-70
Marble

There was so much fascinating detail and objects that you don't see on a visit to Versailles.

Marie Antoinette's Harp 1775

A register of the menus served to the king in 1751

I was particularly keen on this trio of jam pots. 

Three jam pots and platter 1784
Royal Porcelain Factory of Sèvres

Versailles Treasures From the Palace is on at the National Gallery of Australia until April 17.

I might just go back. And as a member of NGA I already have my golden ticket... If for no other reason than that I totally missed the orange blossom perfume. 

Dreaming of France is a wonderful Monday meme
from Paulita at An Accidental Blog  

Saturday Snapshot is a wonderful weekly
meme now hosted by WestMetroMommy

Hating Alison Ashley

Hating Alison Ashley is an iconic Australian childrens book. Released in 1984 I've only been aware of it for the past few years I guess. Erica Yurken is in Year Six at Barringa East Primary School. She's witty and a bit of a hypochondriac. 

The sick bay was my favourite place at school. It was exciting to lie hunched up and pretend that your appendix had burst when kids stickybeaked in through the window. And also, it was the best place in the school for gaining classified information. 

Barringa East is a disadvantaged area in suburban Melbourne.  So it's a bit of a surprise when Alison Ashley shows up one day because of a change in school zoning. Alison Ashley is a bit too perfect, and she's perfectly easy to hate. 

She was wearing this soft blue skirt, and a shirt the colour of cream, with not a crease or a wrinkle nor a loose thread anywhere. Expensive-looking plaited leather sandals. Long, pale gold hair caught back with a filigree clasp, and tiny gold roses, the size of shirt buttons, in her ears. Her skin was tanned and each cheek had a deep, soft dimple. Huge navy blue eyes, the colour of ink, fringed with dark curly lashes. She was the most beautiful, graceful, elegant thing you ever saw in your life. 

So easy to hate. Then she opens her mouth.

She turned out to have a reading age of 14.6 years. She knew all the rivers of northern New South Wales in perfect order. 

Erica is used to feeling pretty superior at Barringa East, and she doesn't like the feelings that Alison Ashley stirs in her. 

My feelings of inferiority swelled into dislike, and the dislike into absolute loathing. 

All by lunchtime! Hating Alison Ashley is just as funny as when it was written more than 30 years ago. It's truly deserving of classic status. I believe that Hating Alison Ashley is still taught in Australia high schools, which is a bit of a shame, not that it shouldn't be still taught, it should. But I think it's much more suitable to kids in upper primary. 

I'm really glad to have read Hating Alison Ashley at long last. Sure, some of the references may be a little dated now, but it's really very few, and over thirty years down the track but the characters are timeless- we all went to school with Barry Hollis, the school bully, and with Alison Ashley. We might even have been Erica Yurken.

Shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year 1985

There are play and movie versions of Hating Alison Ashley- I haven't seen either. 

305/1001

http://australianwomenwriters.com