People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.

– Dale Carnegie

I often think that I should have more fun in my life.

   I do enjoy writing as you can get completely immersed in the process but it is a solitary occupation. For this reason I like attending Writers’ meetings and helping others with their writing projects.

   I read in the Listener (6 April), about an author, Elizabeth Strout, who said she didn’t enjoy books in the same way she used to as a teenager so that got me thinking. I think I’m still OK with reading. I’m enjoying Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver and Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple, Bloomsbury 2013, and The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin and along Blueskin Road by James Norcliffe. Looking forward to reading Kate Atkinson’s Life after Life and The Elegant Garden (this is waiting for me to collect it at the library though I will probably have to wait a lot longer for the novel).

   I think coffee and/or a glass of wine with friends might be one of my favourite things. We are lucky to have a great cafe here with a sea view and outside tables. I wish the Council would close the road to traffic though as sometimes a delivery van parks directly outside or a huge campervan on the other side completely obliterates the view. Also the historic ship Echo on Shelly Beach has been upgraded. Current owners have cut a hole in the side for easy access and over winter will be opening the ship up on the opposite side and building a platform out over the marina. This should be popular on summer evenings.

   Yesterday (22 April) was the last day of the Cruise Ship Season. There were 2,500 passengers on Radiance of the Seas here in port from 1.00-9.00pm. Many would have gone by bus to Marlborough wineries and places like the Omaka Museum. Others enjoyed the town. Next season there will be 15 cruise ships visiting. See the Port Marlborough website for details when they are posted.

Salmon farms update

   On Monday those parties that appealed the decision of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), as regards setting up four new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds have been called to the High Court in Wellington. The session will not be open to the public. For details of who will be attending see Marlborough Express, 19 April, p.4.

Rats

According to the radio large numbers of rats are emerging after the long dry summer followed by the rain and cooler temperatures. My cat caught a huge rat the other day and proudly displayed it at my feet. I quickly closed the French doors so she didn’t bring it inside. I will have to go to the supermarket to buy Talon before it sells out.

Vinyl

 
Did you hear that vinyl records are making a comeback? I still play mine. I especially like the classical records with the crackles and the physical action of having to get up and turn them over to play the other side.  
 

E-book Singles

   In my blog last week and at the talk I gave at Bookchat I mentioned a book by Kathleen Jones that I consider to be the most definitive biography of Katherine Mansfield’s life to date. Here’s some news:

   Bridget Williams Books in Wellington has just launched a group of New Zealand E-book Singles and they've included a stand-alone chapter from Katherine Mansfield: The Story-teller, by Kathleen Jones which deals with Mansfield's last days and her death at Fontainebleau.
It's called 'I think . . . I am going to die' and it's available from BWB in all e-book formats or from Amazon.
   BWB describe it as:
'This moving, beautifully written chapter from Kathleen Jones’s biography Katherine Mansfield: The Story-teller (2010), describes Mansfield’s last days and death at a chateau near Paris, the centre of a spiritual movement led by the mysterious Russian philosopher-mystic Georges Gurdjieff. '
For more info, please go to: http://www.bwb.co.nz/books/i-think-i-am-going-to-die

[Note: Above item was copied from a Katherine Mansfield Society e-news item. These short items of interest are sent out frequently to Society subscribers]

Google glasses and watches

   I am not sure about the watches that you will be able to wear on your wrist that connect to your smart phone and tell you when you are receiving an email or a text. This sounds like an anti social activity to me. Apparently you still have to use the phone to make a call. A radio programme I really like listenig to is 'This Way Up' on a Saturday afternoon on Radio NZ National. It follows on from Kim Hill's programme (after the news at midday).

Boston

   Boston people must be feeling relieved that police have caught the brother suspected of being responsible for the bombings during the marathon. It is reported that he can’t talk and can only write down answers to questions. Have you seen the photograph of the other brother's wife, described as an 'All-American girl' who had been 'brainwashed' by her husband.

Gluten free porridge and Anzac biscuits

   Most of the year I have muesli for breakfast but in winter I like something warm. I have discovered a newish product: Good Health Rice flakes. They make a lovely porridge in the microwave. For one serving put 1/2 cup of rice flakes into a microwave dish with ½ cup of milk or water/milk combined. (I have a small glass bowl with a lid that I use for cooking frozen peas and so on). Cook on High for 45 seconds, stir and cook again on High for 45 seconds then let stand for 2-3 minutes. You can also cook it in a pot on the stove but microwave dishes are easier to clean. I add cranberries or goji berries, milk and yoghurt and dark brown sugar.

   This week I am going to make Anzac Biscuits. I always used to make the recipe from Lois Daish that appeared in the Listener when she was writing the recipe column. I substitute rolled oats with rice flakes but sometimes it’s hard to get the mixture right because they absorb moisture differently.  This can also depend on the temperature in the kitchen .The biscuits either crumble or are very crunchy. Still I will persevere and try the recipe from Joan Bishop’s cookbook, A Southern Woman’s Kitchen. (I will replace the rolled oats as I don’t think they are gluten free though some people might be OK with them.). Any advice welcome. I often make a 'Health slice' which is a similar recipe. This also has varying reults. If it's too crumbly I just use it as a topping for or apple and bluberry crumble or feijoa crumble at this time of the year.

   I am fortunate to own a copy of the above book. I took it out of the library then went to lunch with a group of Poet friends. I couldn’t finish my salad as it was a generous serving so I asked for a small container to take it home. When I got home I discovered that the balsamic dressing had gone all over the book tinting many of the pages a light pink. I had to pay for a replacement copy and was given the damaged book in return. Still cookery books don’t stay pristine for long and it’s a reminder of an enjoyable lunch.

Literary events:

I’m only including the events I am tempted by and some of which I may attend. For fuller coverage of upcoming events the NZ Society of Authors is developing a Calendar of events on its website www.authors.co.nz to replace their current ‘Death by deadline’ section, a phrase I have always loved. Note If I knew more about the design elements of blogging I could put this information into a box of some kind rather than just tacking it onto the end (or the beginning like last week).

24 April, 10.45am. A short story by TOS Branch committee member, Lindsay Wood, will be broadcast on Radio NZ National.

3 May, 6-8pm: Marlborough Museum and Blenheim Bookworld are hosting an evening with long-time owner of Tan’s second-hand bookshop in Scott Street in Blenheim. Tickets are available from Blenheim Bookworld (selling fast). Contact: 578 1712 or email info@marlboroughmuseum.org.nz

15-19 May: Auckland Writers and Readers Festival www.writersfestival.co.nz

17/18 May: author and poet James Norcliffe is taking a weekend poetry workshop in Blenheim. 16 participants are needed for it to go ahead.  See flyers in the Blenheim and Picton Libraries or to register contact: dotscot@kinect.co.nz (Note: only one ‘t’ in Scott).

25 May: AGM, Top of the South Branch of NZ Society of Authors in Nelson @ 2pm at the Hearing House.

7-9 June: AGM, NZ Society of Authors, Dunedin. See latest New Zealand Author for registration details.

14 October: 125^th anniversary of Katherine Mansfield’s birth. Wellington author and tour guide, Kevin Boon, is organising a weekend of activities in Wellington including a day trip to Picton.