Hello Pip-Life

:: What I’ve Been Doing

March 4, 2015

Hello kittens!

How are you going? I’m going okay. Having a bit of a weird week, but I’m soldiering on. My horoscope told me that this was going to be such an awesome year, but I am born on the cusp of Pisces and Aries, so maybe I’m reading the wrong one?!

Have you been doing A Year Of Australian Writing? Or even a little nod to trying to read more Australian things? I have been loving sticking to local writers.

So far this year I have read:
Joe Cinque’s Consolation by Helen Garner
Lost and Found by Brooke Davis
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

and I’m currently reading:
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (via Audible) and
When The Night Comes by Favel Parrett (via Kobo – except the kids stole my iPad charger, so it’s dead and I am needing to keep reading it!)

The only one of these that I struggled with was Big Little Lies. I think it was because I listened to it on Audible… I didn’t really LOVE the way it was read.  Still, it was a bit of fun and I am looking forward to watching the TV series (hence, I wanted to read the book!) Honestly, I admire anyone who can write a book (even if it’s read annoyingly later on Audible!)

Burial Rites, on the other hand, is bewitchingly compelling via Audible. You must listen if you haven’t yet. It’s so amazingly great.

burial-rites

I have paused on my granny square making this week, because I am making a blanket for Rin! I don’t know if I can get it finished in time for her birthday, but I am going to try. Do you know what? The blanket is BLACK. ALL BLACK! Do you know how hard it is for me to not work in colour? It’s so hard. Like so, so, so hard. Still. Sometimes it’s important to show you care by giving something that the other person will LOVE, not that you love. Basically, I’m making a black crocheted blanket as a supreme act of love.  Rin loves simple, neutral things. Black, grey, white. She is the opposite of me in the colour stakes.

Also, I was reading about coffee pods. Remember how I used to like them? I changed my mind. Late last year we stopped using them because they are a bit too wasteful and not good for the world. We now use a drip filter system. Here are some more reasons why this deserves your attention. (Thanks for sharing this, Tricia!)

The best estimates say the Keurig (coffee) pods buried in 2014 would actually circle the Earth not 10.5 times, but more than 12.

If you are a pod user, would you consider rethinking your approach? For the good of the universe, and all?

I have been reading about this island that’s full of cats with great interest.
And also about the sad fact that greyhound adoption has dropped off recently (due to a recent expose on the racing industry).

Tonight, we are having Chicken Soup for dinner. It’s my fave and everyone around here has been feeling tired and peaky due to various things: viruses, overwork, migraines, double shifts. Chicken Soup can fix all that. Imagine BEING Chicken Soup. Like, really, you’d feel so proud of yourself for all the good work you do.

What are you guys up to?

x pip

 

24 Comments

  • Reply Rose March 8, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    hellooooo pip!
    I’m always big on reading antipodean writers and really loved burial rites when I read it particularly because of Hannah kent’s amazing talent for immersion in the story to the point where the olfactory, tactile and visual became so real… This book by such a talented young author came out at roughly the same time as an equally youthful Eleanor cat ton scooped up the booker with the luminaries. Be interested to know what you all think of this read especially those with an interest in astrology. 🙂
    The 52 hellos are going brilliantly with number 11 sent. I have had two awesome snail mail letters back from people I have never corresponded with before…it is such a wonderful idea and I’m so grateful that I found it..
    Lots of projects on the go. A pair of socks for my daughter, a couple of blankets…. And still I keep finding more delights to make. ah, always busy!

  • Reply Chloe March 7, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    I’m doing a year of Australian writing – I’ve discovered a world of reading I knew nothing about and I love it! I’m devouring the books, reading more than I’ve read in years and I’m really enjoying it. I’m going to add Burial Rites to my reading list. Thank you for the introduction to Australian literature!

    • Reply PatrickC March 8, 2015 at 4:06 PM

      Chloe,

      I’m so pleased that you are exploring Australian writing. I recommend to you my favourite novel. Its called “The Shiralee” its set and written in Post WW2 NSW and tells the story of a man who is a rouseabout and is also a single dad to a young daughter (The Shiralee – Australian slang for a burden) It is a book that will stop you in your tracks. It was written by the late D’arcy Niland. The husband of the female author Ruth Park. I would recommend her Poor Mans Orange series as well.

  • Reply Kirsten March 6, 2015 at 10:25 PM

    Hi Pip, I’m born on the Pisces Aries cusp too and I get a bit confused on which one I should follow. I’ve been really weird this week too! I have never been a fan of the wastefulness of pods. I invested in a good coffee machine years ago and apart from the grounds there is little waste and great flavour. I grew up with a drip machine and just love the smell of coffee in the house.

  • Reply Rosie March 5, 2015 at 9:50 PM

    I read Burial Rites last summer and absolutely loved it. It was so captivating. It also gave me seriously wanderlust for Iceland.

  • Reply Ashley March 5, 2015 at 12:51 PM

    I have to say that saddens me about Greyhound adoptions. They are such lovely dogs! My family adopted one when I was younger and she was lovely. Here’s to a better week!

  • Reply Trish March 5, 2015 at 11:22 AM

    Oh I’m so glad you shared the coffee pods article xx … I think sometimes people just don’t think things through, but when they do they usually do the right thing. Also, I would like to concur with the above and add you definitely are the personification of chicken soup!

  • Reply Jo @Countrylifeexperiment March 4, 2015 at 9:28 PM

    Coffee pods have been on my radar for a while – they are just so wasteful. I teach kids hospitality, and we talk about the environmental effects of the industry, and coffee pods are an issue that is becoming more prominent! Love that you are encouraging people to consider alternatives!

  • Reply Isabel March 4, 2015 at 8:46 PM

    Hi Pip!
    That is great to crochet in black when it goes against your instincts…definitely agree with thinking about what other people would like most, even if it’s not your cup of tea.
    I love Helen Garner – recently re-read the First Stone. She is just so very Melbourne, that when you are away, you feel like you are home reading her books. Also loved Burial Rites (how amazing is Iceland) but couldn’t get into Lost and Found for some reason.
    I am in China – it’s freezing here – but have been rugging up and eating noodle soup and exploring my new hood. And thinking about what to make next between Chinese studies, and if they have wool in China and how will I get my hands on some.
    Thanks for the update from Melbourne!

  • Reply PatrickC March 4, 2015 at 8:25 PM

    I agree about the coffee pods for two reasons. The environmental one and the coffee itself is second rate its like a syrup. The best way is the old fashioned Cafeteria (Italian Percolator) or if you must then a Gaggia espresso machine. I love my Cafeteria. Its an 8 cup and is almost 40 years old. So each morning I grind my beans in my old hand grinder its around the same age as the Cafeteria its good contemplation time takes about five minutes and the smell is beautiful. Assemble the machine pop it on the stove and pretty soon that familiar burble starts. I like a long black most mornings so I fill my old stoneware mug with half the pot no sugar and usually no milk. Beautiful way to start the day.

    If you live in Melbourne the best “bought” chicken soup you can have is the Chicken Pho from I love Pho at 264 Victoria Street in Richmond. Nothing comes close to this amazing Vietnamese soup. It warms the soul and the ambience of this restaurant that is family owned and run is fantastic. Really good value for money at $9.00 a serve, which is a really good size.

    Thanks for sharing your stories with us.

    Cheers,

    Patrick

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes March 4, 2015 at 8:37 PM

      Oh hi Patrick! Welcome to my blog. Thanks for sharing your coffee story – we have a cafeteria too, but I am really into the drip filter at the moment, I think because my Mum used to make it when we were kids. I think I’m getting all nostalgic about that! Your coffee ritual sounds like a great start to the day. There really is nothing like that first, quiet cup is there?

      I haven’t been to that Pho place but I am going to try it out! We usually go to a different place on Victoria St… but I am keen to try somewhere new! Thanks for the rec!

      x

      • Reply PatrickC March 4, 2015 at 9:25 PM

        No worries Pip,

        I’m pleased to recommend it. It has a bug red love heart on its windows.

        Isabelle mentioned Helen Garner, I cannot speak highly enough of her first novel, Monkey Grip. If you lived in Melbourne in the late 70’s you will recognise so many things, even the reference to the late night jazz program on what was then 3LO (now 774 melb) it was Ian Neil and Ralph Rickmans Music to Midnight. It is a desert island read I cant be without it. If you haven’t read it, you must. Then after you read it try and find the movie staring Noni Hazelhurst and Colin Friels. Its breathtakingly brilliant.

        • Reply Meet Me At Mikes March 5, 2015 at 6:42 AM

          Monkey Grip is one of my favourite books!!! (the film is pretty fab, too!)

  • Reply Jo March 4, 2015 at 8:20 PM

    the cat island will give me nightmares- I’m chronically allergic!
    Loved burial rites on audio – fantastic. You are so right about narrators though – can make a book great or average!
    The audio of Cloudstreet is fabulous – and Stephen Fry doing the Harry Potter series – genius !

  • Reply Elflyn March 4, 2015 at 8:03 PM

    Hi Pip,
    It might be that the story about greyhound adoption numbers falling is a little misleading…….
    This is a post on their Facebook page from ‘Friends of The Hound’ a Greyhound rescue and re-homing group.
    “This story doesn’t make any sense to us at all!! Since the Four Corners story we have received 28 adoption applications and 38 foster carer applications as a direct result of the Four Corners story!! The response from the public has been overwhelming and we are being flooded with offers of help and support!!! Thank you everybody for your support!! These dogs are innocent victims and need your help!!! Let us all please continue to be their voice!! ”
    If anyone has been thinking about adding a dog to their family, please, please consider a greyhound they make fantastic family pets. Right now is just as important as ever to rescue a grey.
    Sorry off my soapbox now 🙂
    I hope the chicken soup does its job.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes March 4, 2015 at 8:35 PM

      Oh how weird re the ABC story vs the Greyhound Rescue update! Very contradictory. I love greyhounds. We had a playdate with a greyhound called Mary on Friday and she was just so beautiful and gentle and couch-y! x

      • Reply Elflyn March 4, 2015 at 8:59 PM

        Ha 🙂 couch-y is right. There is a reason Greys are described as a ’60km/hour couch potato’

  • Reply Nicole March 4, 2015 at 7:15 PM

    I hope that the chicken soup helps you and your fam feel better. I’m glad you ditched the pods. I used a percolater for years. I’ve recently received a hand me down espresso machine. It’s awesome. I think they’re quicker than pod machines too. I love my morning coffee ritual.

  • Reply Reannon @shewhorambles March 4, 2015 at 6:14 PM

    Oh Pip I LOVED Big Little Lies! For the first time in a very long time I read a book in 2 days! I just HAD to know the ending. I didn’t know it was being made into a TV show. I’m excited about that 🙂
    I’ve only heard good things about Burial Rites so it’s in my list x

  • Reply Lisa March 4, 2015 at 5:42 PM

    I loved Burial Rites. I read it in paperback, as I can’t concentrate on Audible, but I gobbled it up. Wonderful read.
    As for coffee pods – finally, some one agrees with me 🙂

  • Reply Michelle March 4, 2015 at 4:32 PM

    I love that chicken soup recipe – thanks for the reminder! I hope your week gets better Pip x

  • Reply Sue March 4, 2015 at 3:40 PM

    Oh Pip, you ARE chicken soup!
    You absolutely are. Love sue x

  • Reply Ashley March 4, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    Oh boy, I could use some chicken soup too. I’m not feeling sick but just super fragile. Very sad about my bestie’s cancer diagnosis but having that weird guilt thing that happens when you feel like you shouldn’t be reacting so strongly to something that is not actually happening to you- it almost feels like it is. I should be strong but I just want to curl up in a ball and cry… a lot! Meh! Chicken soup would be great. I’d love to hear about how other people have helped their friends through cancer. Have you ever written about that?

  • Reply katiecrackernuts March 4, 2015 at 2:47 PM

    Nope. I am a Pisces too and I am well in it this week. Well in it.

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