Gleeful Smiles

So happy to see that Book Depository still keeps their cardboard boxes for packaging!

Max Schneider

Secret Friends

Must take a break from reading Sonja Van Wichelen's 'Religion, Politics and Gender in Indonesia' for uni studies. 


Still waiting for my massive 6-book-package from Book Dep to arrive even though it has only been approximately 7 days. One can still hope, yes?


[edit: content erased because I chose to let go]

Midnight Moment

 I feel like
I don't have enough time
Time is running out
The clock is never stops ticking and I hope I am using each minute wisely and to its full potential.


Was quite hesitant to hang out after a meeting tonight but because I don't drive, I have no say. I won't lie though, it was a lot of fun. I'm glad I was there. 


The assignment is completed. I don't know how over-achieving it will be, but it is done. 


It's 1:31am and I'm counting my blessings because a great friend reminded me to.

Seeking Devotion

When You stand,
The tall trees and mountains bow.
When You speak,
The fiercest of oceans is still.
And I see the sinner seek devotion,
The lost become chosen,
And I fall to my knees.


&;

Sleep Studying

I think that's me sleeping.


[edit:] I couldn't find my Pods this morning. I think I sleep-eat. Explains several things really.

Miles Franklin

I thought I ought to make use of the Oz-Lit subject I am currently undertaking this semester and review the many books I am going to read over the course of 8-9 weeks. 

My Brilliant Career - Miles Franklin
Firstly, I thought Miles Franklin was a man, just like how I thought Christos Tsiolkas was a woman. I really am terrible at guessing genders. 
[finished assignment 1]

I'm not going to lie, the cover of the book really bugged me. I couldn't understand why the cover looked so oriental to me but had a Caucasian girl looking confused in what looked like an Asian top to me. But the book did get to me. It was slow to begin but when my mind opened up to it and wasn't as cynical about it anymore, I could not put it down. I needed to know what happened to Sybylla Melvyn, the protagonist and I needed to know who this mysterious Harold Beecham was. I liked how each chapter was at most, five pages which made it easy for me to track my reading progress because I hate ending my readings in between chapters or pages. I finished it off with a final reading of approx. 4 hours. 

I must have missed the memo on Miles Franklin being a feminist and with that, the novel did not end conventionally as I wished. There was little resolution and again, embedded meanings within texts. Hence why it is in my Oz-Lit syllabus. That being said, despite the ending being different, I really do appreciate the skill invested into this text.


The character of Sybylla was frustrating but also captivating. Her naive and unconventional thoughts irritated me to the ends of the earth but her strong-headed personality in standing up for what she believed in proved courageous and enlightening to me. Again, I'm going to be honest in saying that I was so surprised by the significant growth of Sybylla as a character that I feel almost inspired to write a novel even though discovering this technique isn't exactly a pot of gold. Rather addictive, I feel.


Do I recommend it? Yes
Would I read it again? No
Out of Five? Three point Five

Being Used

I felt like I was someone holding a light yesterday.

I don't like my Thursday classes. It's usually quite mundane and not much happens. There is little joy in the class, I think.

But this week's topic was 'Politics and Theology' and my attention was on the lecturer and nothing else. "Today's tute will be interesting," knowing the level of scepticism and 'atheistic' thoughts that would be unveiled.

I pray throughout class and conversations that take place hoping that if God permitted me to speak on His behalf, my representation would justify His glory. My brain runs at 200km/hr waiting for the right chance and finally a door is opened. I didn't say much and didn't leave many with their jaws dropped, but I have faith that the little that I said, God can stretch to the driest deserts and deepest seas. 

It was a joy and a privilege to be part of God's team.

Joy Packages

All hopes of finishing readings have gone out the window when MD found this little package at my doorstep tonight.

Guilty Pleasures

Dreams Written I

There was a man, a clean-shaven well-dressed man. Last I remembered, eye-candy too.


I was with someone whom I can no longer remember in the car and I realised a third female is in the car with us. I do not know who she is or where she is from but she is scared and is trembling. Female B turns up the heater and the car begins to heat up significantly. I'm not sure I like it but Female C seemed like she needed it.


The scene cuts and suddenly I'm walking up flights of stairs to this white wooden door. I miraculously I pick the lock and inside is a simple office, of greys and whites. There are three people there and I wonder why they all look so serious. I am confused but I distract myself with some sort of purpose I had there.


The clean-shaven man comes out and I feel my heart racing. My eyes express an amount of shock I know he sees and I begin to panic. He paces towards me amidst all the people around me and my natural instinct is to run. I don't know how I did it because I'm not usually a runner, but it brings peace to my mind knowing that I can run this fast. 


I feel like I flew down those flights of stairs and into the car with B and C. "Go! Go! Go!" I scream and we sped off from there. Everything now 'makes sense' in my head. I now knew who that man was.


We had reclaimed Female C's smile for her and he was the one that took it from her in the first place.

Bright Eyes

I remember the time you drove all night,
Just to meet me in the morning.
And I thought it was strange,
You said everything changed,
You felt as if you just woke up.
And you said,
"This is the first day of my life,
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you.
But now I don't care I could go anywhere with you,
And I'd probably be happy."

&;

"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

Thank you Lord for friends I can encourage, friends that know I love them when I correct them, and friends who trust me enough to rebuke my ways out of love.

Pandan Cups

Late night baking with MD yesterday for church refreshments.

I'm not gonna lie, it didn't turn out amazing. Martha Stewart, tell me why the mixture was so dense :(


While waiting for the cups to cool, managed to have a very very nice midnight chat with the females of the house. 


"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." 
Desmond Tutu 

My Sight

I spent some really good time with Him last night.


Dissected what He said and pushed myself to understand it better and deeper.


*** 


Just woke up from an unexpected one hour nap. But I don't nap.
I don't think I feel very good now.


Reading an e-Book doesn't make me feel any better either, but I don't really want to buy it and destroy it with annotations anyway.

Musically Displaced

I feel like I belong to some other time or music-generation. 

Olinda, VIC

Shopping Investments

Pay day usually means a few things:
1. ASOS
2. Work clothes
3. Food splurges


However, I have realigned and redistributed my moolah this fortnight focusing on building my growing collection of novels and old DVDs. At the moment, my bookshelf is very Christian/Australian Literature/Classic Literature-esque and hopefully by the end of this year, I will have my own Christian Literature section and a larger Classic Literature collection. I am scouting books on BookDepository already and in my Wish List are among many else, Madame Bovary, Don Quixote, Ulysses and To Kill A Mockingbird (I've read it before but I seem to have lost my copy!). I've spent a good hour just window-shopping on BookDep. and I'm really excited to tick off books that I will buy soon. Something about lists.



In terms of DVDs, I've got some of my two eyes watching eBay for some bargains.

Okay, I bought the Singin' in the Rain DVD already. 

Sheer Brilliance

Music Legends

Easing my headaches with Chet, Nat and Gene.

Market Shopping

Camberwell Market on a rather earlier morning.

In love with vinyl records at the moment but I promised I won't buy any until I get my hands on a gramophone. 

This one was playing for awhile in the morning to some lovely 1920s swing jazz which definitely placed a smile on everyone's faces.

A young woman served after me bought the Les Miserables and Sound of Music records- I am filled with utter jealousy.

Coldplay's Parachutes album was first to tempt but I cleverly waited it out and in return, was rewarded with Les Miserables' Original Soundtrack- perfect!

Total spent today: $13 (cardigan+skirt+CD)

Freshly Pressed.

Fresh canvas.


I know it's March, but here's to a new year, a new start.


I'd be interested to know how you found me.


Say hello when you can.


I love sun-dried tomatoes.