The Book of Love* - Part II

I am joining in with somewhere along a winding path to count the number of books I read in a year.

6. Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay

 sourced at google images

I LOVED this book. It was a beautiful story, beautifully told. There are 2 intertwining stories that are told in alternating chapters. One of the characters is a journalist who is investigating something that happened in 1942 called the Vel' d'Hiv', in order to commemorate the 60th anniversary. The other character was a child at the time of the Vel' d'Hiv', and the story is about what happens to her and her life. The point at which the two stories come together is really well done. I read it in a day, and found it compelling.

7. Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

sourced at google images

I was inspired to read this book, which was written in 1988, after seeing a series of documentaries on TV last year, by the same name. The book is about a journey to see a number of endangered animals in their natural environment, and the efforts that are being undertaken to conserve them. The Doco was a revisiting of these animals to see where they are up to now. Loved the doco, loved the book.

8. Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less - Jeffrey Archer

sourced at google images

I was encouraged to read this one by my M-I-L. She proclaimed it to be the best book she had ever read. I was sceptical - of course - and found it a little difficult to get into at first. When the scene had been set and the plot really got going, I was hooked. This is the story of 4 men who get duped out of some money, and the very clever way they get the money back.

9. Stolen - Tess Gerritsen

sourced at google images

 10. Candelo - Georgia Blaine

sourced at google images

11. Third Strike - Zoe Sharp

 sourced from google images

But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything

*The Book of Love - Peter Gabriel

Can't find my way home*

I hope this is not the case after the house auction today!

for the second time in 6 months, our rental house is begin auctioned. By 2pm this afternoon we should know if we are staying here or if we have to start packing to move. I have my fingers crossed for stay, but you never know.

Whatever happens it will be good to know, and begin to plan for the next phase whatever that may be.

 

But I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time, oh no
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home

*Can't find my way home - Eric Clapton

Suggested by The Mindful Music Therapist.

Rambling Ways*

After a great beginning to the year, with a new attitude to work, and some goals for the year, I feel like things have come to a bit of a halt. LOOK OUT HERE COME THE RAMBLINGS!

My new attitude to work has been going well when I am there, so that is a start. I made a goal to decide what to do about work, and after some soul searching, and some changes made to my working week, I pretty much have that sorted. It is a good place for me to be at the moment, so I am staying put for now.   Through this process I have reminded myself about, and become clearer about, the things that matter to me at work.

These things include a supportive team; the ability to work with patients in a medium to long term way; flexibility of working hours/days to suit my sometimes changing needs, to name a few. Anyway, the positives far outweighed the negatives of the job. The people stuff I was struggling with has been mostly manageable which in itself is great. So when I write it, it seems like a good place to be.

In the last month, I have had to have - what equates to - nearly 2 weeks off work (not in a row), and this is very frustrating, as I lose my momentum. So I am feeling a little rudderless at the moment. I have not been blogging, and I have been trying to find some routine around study, but I realise that work forms part of my stability.

It is so easy to lose the way. Why is this? Why is it harder to find again?
I will ponder this while I acquaint myself with ontology and hermeneutics!!

These Rambling ways of mine 

they get me in trouble all the time

*Rambling Ways - Sara Tindley

Grateful*

To my beautiful partner for the beautiful flowers

I've got a heart that can hold love
I've got a mind that can think
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink
But I can't stay depressed
When I remember how I'm blessed

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

*Grateful - John Bucchino

(With Love) From me to you*

I Carry Your Heart With Me - E.E Cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling 

 i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

From:

 music loving

coffee loving

me

To:

 bath loving

 cat loving

 coffee loving

 nature loving

you my love. 

If there's anything that you want,
If there's anything I can do,
Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.

*From Me To You - John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Another Brick in the Wall*

 

We don't need no education

We don't need no thought control...

... all in all it's just a-nother brick in the wall  

*Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd

I have begun my studies again! Yes I am placing my own "brick in the wall". Yay me.

After 6 months leave of absence from my PhD, I am officially back in business as of the 7th Feb. However, I am beginning this week, to get my ducks in a row. I had a great meeting with my supervisor last week, that cemented my ideas, and gave me a clear direction to head off in, on my continuing journey. 

We certainly "don't need no thought control" which is the great thing about PhD study. I got to pick an area that I am interested in and ultimately, I hope I can make a contribution. If you follow me on this journey of part time PhD - which will take years and years - you will, over time, get to know more about community, connectedness, music therapy and community cultural development, than you might ever have thought of, or wished for. I hope that you enjoy!

It's a journey where I fully expect to...

 at times float away...

at times feel like I'm drowning (even though I'm an excellent swimmer!)...

at times lie down wishing never to get up again...

do lots of reading...

procrastinate...

follow the road where it leads.

I am recommencing with the same level of excitement I had at the beginning of this journey, and I believe I am in better shape physically as well as organisationally than I was 12 months ago. Fingers crossed this remains true.

So I'm off to begin my ontology and epistemology. I bet you're hooked now, and waiting with baited breath...