Spring Time Tea

It's been a delightfully spring filled weekend... time for gardening, reading, knitting, remembering Greece and sipping tea. It's the anniversary of my time in Greece with friends, and I remember this fondly. This morning my memories were joined by lemongrass and ginger tea while I was sitting on my garden deck knitting in peace, while my partner sat at little further away in meditation. The dogs played with butterflies and lizards, and the kookaburra did a fly-by checking out the new diggings in the garden for worms. this weekend I've planted a new bed of carrots and radishes, planted a tub of spinach and cucumber seedlings, and I've weeded, fed and mulched a new section ready to plant up for the Christmas feast (which I must plant soon). I currently have a generous supply of lemons, leeks, lettuce, snow peas, celery, radishes, rhubarb, and spinach. I also have plenty of Chinese gooseberries, little balls of fruit wrapped up in a Chinese lantern. Today I'll be baking the gooseberries into jam, and lemons into pudding.

This weekend I have also been enjoying, I think for the first time, reading 2 books. I'm reading a Christian novel called 'The Shack' on my PDA, and I'm reading the first of my Japanese literature challenge books, 'After Dark' in paperback. [Reviews to come]. I'm finding that there are times when the eBook is really handy, like sitting on the poorly lit veranda on a warm evening, but then there are times I want to flip the pages of a real book. I've had the chance to do both this weekend.

Here's to friends around the world, fabulous places to meet, and may we meet again, often.

Speak

It was selected at Bookclub , I think the genre was 'adolescent literature', and I found it a captivating read. A story about a young girl and her journey of self discovery through a school year. I think it was my story (minus the tragedy) which is why it was something I couldn't put down. BookBath gives a great review for this novel.
I joined Bookclub with a group of friends to challenge myself to read. Since joining several years ago, I've been on my own personal self discovery journey. Repeatedly I have been the biggest fan of the literature for young people. This book is added to the list that includes Phillip Pulman's 'His Dark Materials' Trilogy. Perhaps I like these because I didn't read during my youth and they take me on journeys I wish I had then.

Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome

A co-production with The Bell Shakespeare Company, A Shakespeare Commentary, By Heiner Müller. Translated by Julian Hammon. John Bell is Titus Andronicus, Imperial Rome’s greatest military commander.

I wouldn't normally promote the use of violence for anything. This production challenged almost everything within me. Violence, dramatic use of violence, rape and murder, and the only really prop used in the production was blood, and lots of it.

I appreciate the company of my sister, whose outbursts of laughter at the 2nd and 3rd murder of the same actor, reminded me that this was simply drama. I felt the production was pulled together by amazing talented actors and directors, and I was in awe of the skills on stage.
I was not privileged to have the chance to study Shakespeare at school (concentrating on music instead). So as an adult I have taken the opportunity to see Shakespeare through local productions (usually including friends) and through the Bell Shakespeare Company. I know Bell often provides his own interpretations on the productions, which means I see quite a different perspective on the classics.
I felt Anatomy Titus, was true to key Shakespeare characteristics, including an all male cast, minimal use of props, someone going mad, and the full sense of the word 'tragedy'. I really dont see myself reading much of this work, (it would take me too long), but to see a 2 hour production is a great way to get the sense of these works.

Tea at Brisbane Botanic Gardens

I've been away from my garden for over a week now, so it was a great joy to spend some time this afternoon with my family at Brisbane Botatnic Gardens with a lovelly pot of english breakfast tea. It's strange for me to say, but I was feeling a little homesick for my garden, my partner and my dogs. Tea helps.
I've been thinking about the whole idea of 'ethical and intentional living' and how I find that aspects of my life are often seperated from other aspects of my life. I find it a huge struggle to make the connections sometimes. But thinking about the concept of intentional living has prompted me to think more about a holistic view to my life, and daily routines. As I return home this week, my challenge will be to follow through on some intentional decisions, and make the connections between work, home and spiritual life.
I am proud to say I have finished my frist book since starting this blog. I read Kathy Reichs 'Deadly Decisions', and really enjoyed the escapism. I like how she uses bits of french in the text, it challenges me. I was a little disappointed that Andrew Ryan didn't feature too much in this storyline, as in her other novels, but I suspect this was an earlier novel. Kathy does a reasonable job at describing enough of the details for setting scene, mixed with good action scenes to keep me involved in the story line. Now, I am working on a totally french novel, and a christian novel called 'The Shack'... more on them later.
It's thyme-for-tea!
T