Learning to look

Today I started a new job. Actually a job within a job, a tandem job. Mostly I work in books for teenagers, but from today I'm working on an exhibition of picture books. 

The exhibition will be in late 2010 at the State Library of Victoria. (They like a nice timeline in Exhibitions.)

So for one day a week for the next six months, and then on off until the end of 2010 that's my second gig, mon deuxieme bureau. 

Now, the world of picture books looks pretty genteel against the rough and tumble of YA. We'll see.

Please hold

I don't want to make this blog a grumble-fest, but here goes. 

Three Australian airports in the last month, three completely different wireless *services*. In Melbourne, you pay. In Brisbane it's free. In Sydney, you go via Optus or Telstra, or some weird and complicated thing of the local airport corporation involving rejigging modes of reception or something...  

But the idea of being at the airport, popping open the laptop and logging on at Sydney, forget it. Hey, it's only Australia's busiest airport, the one where you are most likely to be delayed.  

As it happened, a woman who was phoning through text changes for a Telstra advertisement, while working on her laptop, let me use hers for a bit. Maybe it had something to do with the outburst I provided when I realised I would not be going online during the ninety minute wait for my delayed flight. 

Still, it could have been worse.

Is this the greatest family cookbook yet?

Take a bow, Tessa!

Last night my French class gathered for a Bastille Day dinner. We all brought something for the meal. My task was the soup, vichy soir, or leek and potato soup. (While we were in Paris, Iris developed a real taste for it.) So it was Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros down from the shelf and on with the makings. Although her influences in this book are mostly Italian, there is a lot of room for flexibility. But that requires, I think, sound recipes to begin with.

As I was the first course (that's how it goes for soup), I felt just a teensy bit under the pump. Some of those attending are seriously good cooks and dine at restaurants I can rarely afford. But thanks to Tessa's guidance it was smiles all round and we were underway. Coq au vin and tarte tatin followed, plus cheese and truffles and a round or two of The Marseille.

A good night all round, with a little help from friends.

Screw Loose

Chris Wheat is a teacher in the western suburbs of Melbourne. He is also the author of Screw Loose, the funniest book I have read in a very long time. Equal-opportunity offence. No minority group (or anyone) comes out untouched, but all done with a smile...

This book took me by surprise. It maintains its lightness throughout: no moralising, no lessons learnt, no lectures. But a lot of laughs.

Hello

So, here we go. This blog is dedicated to the things that blow back my rapidly thinning hair. 

And occasionally the things that bug me. 

This is one of the former. We were in Paris recently and missed them by a few days. Darn.