Christmas is almost here...

I'm not really back from my blog/online hiatus but I did want to wish all of my bloggie friends and their families a Very Merry Christmas. May your festive season be safe and filled with love, laughter and precious time, making cherished memories with loved ones. For my friends who will have an empty place at their Christmas table this year I wish for you peace and healing. May precious memories of times past comfort you in your grief.

I am not sure why but my Christmas spirit is sadly lacking this year. Those who know me well will know that this is most unlike me. I'm a Christmas nut and usually celebrate Christmas with joyous abandon! I hope to come back to blogging refreshed and renewed in the New year.

I haven't been very active in my time away but seem to have kept busy nonetheless. Mr B had another surgery and has recovered from that well. Fingers crossed that nothing further will go wrong.
I have been dealing with the usual end of school year things with both my children and organising them for next year as well as sorting some extra support for my son who has had some difficulties this year.
It all sounds very simple when written down in a few sentences like that but it has been very time consuming. Playing telephone tag with various school staff etc has become tiresome and tedious but I think we are finally sorted. Now I am in the midst of book lists and uniform lists. What fun NOT! Lots of medical appointments to attend etc. Lots of WAITING around!

I have also managed some reading and would recommend any of the following books for those who love a good thriller/crime story.

• The Wreckage by Michael Robotham
• Doll's Eyes by Bari Wood
• Acid Row by Minette Walters
• The Retribution by Val McDermid
• Chill Factor by Sandra Brown   *romance as well as murder

My Christmas decorating this year is very simple by sheer necessity. All my trees and decorations are packed away in our shed behind furniture and boxes from where I moved in with Mr B. Unfortunately they are inaccessible without completely unpacking the shed and that is not going to happen anytime soon! I did keep out a small white feather tree that I bought last year and have decorated it with a single silver bead garland and it looks quite pretty, if very plain. My teenagers are getting money for Christmas so I just have to find a present for Mr B and my gifts are done. (Well ok being mum I will buy at least one small gift to go under the tree for the kids) Food will be a simple affair as Mr B still doesn't have his teeth and is on mostly a liquid diet. I haven't even been able to find the spirit to write cards this year. I am listening to Carol's as I type this and hoping to engender some kind of enthusiasm for the coming weeks.

I am still stopping by and reading my favourite blogs from time to time and I hope when I return to writing I still have some friends who will come back to read me.
Meantime from our house to yours -
MERRY CHRISTMAS & A SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR

 **Thanks to Karen at Graphics fairy for the santa image. The Grapics fairy

Just like the pied piper....

After 'mortgaging my house' to the scrapbooking shop yesterday I found the nearby op shop a calling to me! I was helpless to resist of course. This particular op shop is a little further afield than my usual but whenever close by I like to call in as they usually have some good books if nothing else.
Yesterday was no exception.

The first book to catch my eye was this lovely old Reader's Digest gardening book. Although tatty around the edges I was thrilled by the slipcover. When I saw the price of $1 that sealed the deal.

The book is filled with lovely old illustrations like this page pictured above.

Next to catch my eye was this old version of Arabian Nights. One peek at the flyleaf pages and I just had to bring it home with me!

A bargain for $2 and the whole book has pictures like this right throughout.

Next to catch my eye was a couple of Enid Blyton books, one of which has a lovely dustjacket. They were $2 each.

Then I found two wonderful vintage children's storybooks that just had to come home with me!

This one is filled with funny little ryhmes and the other ...well one look at the cover and I was in love with it.

I ended up paying $1 each for these treasures! The one with the little girl in red on it was perfect and had a $5 sticker on it (I would have paid the $5). When the man at the counter was sorting through my little pile of things he looked at it and said "That's not right, that's not one of ours, we don't use stickers" and to my horror he pulled the sticker off (tearing a piece of the cover in the process...he tore a strip right off). I could have cried! However for $1 I wasn't going to complain.  He was a little rough and actually damaged another of my purchases as well but I decided to buy it anyway. (explanation to follow)
The last bookish bargains I got were a small bundle of Little Golden Books for 50 cents each. I found some classics like Eloise Wilkin's Mother Goose, Tootle, Bambi, Handsel & gretel and a couple of others to add to my small collection.

I don't often buy things that hang on walls as we have very little free wall space in our home (too many bookshelves LOL) but this little plaque was calling my name and at $1 I wasn't going to leave it behind. It is made of tin and covered with some kind of plastic?

I love the little poem and that is the sunshine glaring on the photo not a camera flash! I took this pic outside this morning. The man behind the counter was a bit rough I mentioned earlier, well he was sliding my purchases around on the counter and he must have slid this little tin plaque over the top of my final purchase because it was perfect when I picked it up and when I sat it on the counter. When he was packing I noticed some damage to the foil. *sad face I think the corners of the tin plaque on the back must have rubbed against the face of the foil picture.

I'm not sure when these foil pictures were popular. 1950s? Later? I fell in love with the fairies in this one anyhow. I think I've done all the op shopping my purse can bear this week.......but you never know, that 'calling' is very strong!

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

The Book fairy ....and treasure hunting

I think the book fairy has been looking after me this week! I am an avid reader and collector of books. In particular I collect vintage children's books with a sub collection of Christmas themed books.
I visited a couple of op shops this week and found some really lovely treasures. Sometimes my local op shops are a bit overpriced but I did get some bargains this time around.

This lovely old hardback Christmas book was sitting on a table all by itself. Priced at a dollar I snatched it up quick smart! I love the vintage illustration on the cover.

Next I found The Poky Little Puppy and a couple of other hardback golden books for 50 cents each. I think they are from the 1970s era. Lovely condition!

Next a baby and toddler treasury of stories. I usually wouldn't have looked at this probably but it was a hardback in beautiful condition for just $3.

Then I came across this book.... The Enchanted Dolls House is just gorgeous! The hard cover is velvet embossed and inside there are 4 different pop up houses from different eras in time. Each of the pages is filled with little pop ups, lift the flaps and other surprises. It is just charming and I know as a new book it is quite expensive to buy. How could I leave it there for just $3? I do hope I have grandchildren some day!!!

Next I came across a 2 book set of Readers Digest Illustrated Dictionaries. Gorgeous condition, beautifully gilded and embossed covers for the bargain price of $5 each. I snatched them up quickly lest someone else lay eyes on them. On top of all this I was given a 10% pensioner discount at the checkout as they were having 'pensioners day'.

Move along to op shop number 2 which is my regular op shop but more expensive than some of the others I visit. I often spot treasures I would love to buy at this store but often leave things because I think they are asking too much.

The first item to catch my eye in the shop was this darling little cup and saucer. It was in the locked china cabinet so I knew it would be a higher priced item but I had to bring it home as it was so sweet. It cost me $15 and is stamped made in Czechoslovakia. It is smaller than a normal teacup but rounder so I'm not sure if it's a demitasse cup or just smallish because of the shape. I don't know much about china and usually just buy pieces that I think are pretty.

More books! Another thing I collect is quotes and sayings and I pick up any of these little quotation books whenever I see them. $2

They had $3 on this little lovely. It's a small book approx 6 inches by 6 inches and of course the cover caught my eye. Inside there are lots more lovely pictures and interestingly the history of lace!

More yummy vintage illustrations! I think they had $1 on this one. I have never seen a book so cheap in this particular shop before!

You just know I wasn't going to leave this one behind right? $1

This one perhaps not quite so old but I vaguely remembered having read this as a child so picked it up as well.
I've spoilt myself considerably this week with a few ebay purchases which I will share later and a few more books for the home library from book depository. At this rate by the time our extension is built we will need a new library wing added to the house! ;)
I have had problems with leaving comments this week so to my regular blog buddies I apologise. I have visited and in many instances tried to leave a comment but Blogger was not co-operating! Lets hope the Blogger gremlins are gone again soonest!

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

I'm a little bit naughty...

I stopped at a local op shop this morning. I really shouldn't have. I have no excuse.....
These are the treasures that jumped into my arms and said buy me!

Two pretty Royal Vale trios. At ten dollars each I had to bring them home!

Three orphaned plates at $2 each. The gilt trim is a little worn in places but I don't mind if they are a little shabby. They must have been well loved in a former life. I am getting a bit of a collection of orphans together now.

A boxed set of 6 lovely wildflower place mats. These were $6.99 but too pretty to leave behind especially as our current placemats are nearing the end of their lives.

It is always a fatal mistake for me to go anywhere near the book section but I go there anyway LOL. I found this how to crochet book for $2.99. I want to learn how to crochet so I guess I have no excuse now! The book is full of fabulous clear illustrations along with instructions.

Finally for $3.99 I picked up this book about life on the goldfields of Australia for Mr. B. One of his lifelong interests has been gold prospecting/ metal detecting and I thought he might find this interesting.


I did have to leave behind a fabulous not quite complete set of china. I just didn't have enough money to bring it home with me. **sighhhhh  There was a large cake plate, 8 small cake/sandwich plates, 6 saucers and 5 cups. They were embellished with a dainty rose pattern and gilt trim. All for just $10. I'm betting someone will buy the set and sell it for twice that on ebay. I Soooooooo longed to bring it home but I really didn't have the money(no not even $10 ) and am fast running out of room here to store or display things. Despite being a little naughty and comfort spending money I really shouldn't ought to have my found treasures bought joy and sunshine to my day!

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

The Lock Artist...

I picked up a copy of  'The Lock Artist' by Steve Hamilton a few months ago. A new author to me and 'sold' as a crime novel. I found this book to be so much more or perhaps it is just my personal traits and interest in psychology and social issues that gave me a different perspective.

The main character of the book is Michael and he is narrating his story. Michael has had something so traumatic happen to him as a child that he is mute. Michael cannot speak but what he can do is open locks and as he shares his story we discover how this talent comes to dominate his young ,life and leads him to dark places.

I felt like a real voyeur at times watching Michael's life as described by him. The book jumps back and forth to different time's in his young life and Steve Hamilton has done a masterful job of making Michael's character come to life in a believable way. We watch as Michael is led further and further into crime, he meets a girl and falls in love and inevitably ends up in jail.

The story kept me up long into the night longing to read just a little more of Micheal's story. I wanted to know what had happened to him as a child that left him without a voice. I wanted to know what happened with the seemingly doomed relationship with the girl he fell in love with. It is a haunting story, gutsy and gritty. It left me feeling Michael's longing for understanding and of course we do eventually discover what trauma he suffered as a small child. It ties in beautifully with the story and makes many things totally understandable.

I thought the Lock Artist was a very different type of crime story and recommend it as a terrific read.

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Tokyo Hostess...

Probably not a book I would have bought brand new I picked up my copy of 'Tokyo Hostess' by Clare Campbell in a local op shop recently. The book takes a look at the murders of  three young women from the Western world in Japan. Interspersed with the facts (and it seems at times some speculation) of what happened to each of the women, Lucie Blackman from the UK, Carita Ridgeway from Australia and Lindsay Ann Hawker also from the UK, the book delves into the mysterious world of hostess clubs and the seedier bars and clubs that apparently abound in Japan. (I can't say for certainty as I have never been there) If half of what the author has written in this book about the nightlife and sexual norms of the Japanese it is certainly a thought provoking read. I should point out at this time that hostesses are not prostitutes and are not expected to have sex with clientele according to the author and all I have read on the subject.

I found it a strange book to read, at times it was a fascinating look at a culture I don't know much about, at others a little drawn out almost to the point of boring. What kept me reading was I wanted to KNOW what happened to the man who killed these women. (In the end it was two seperate murderers and I'm not really sure why the author included the killing of Lindsay Ann Hawker) The book was incredibly sad and as a mother it pulled at every emotional heartstring I have. My heart goes out to the loved ones of these lost girls.

I should post a disclaimer here that I do have a bit of an interest in Japanese culture. My ex husband met a woman in Japan and after our divorce they married. My daughter is very interested in Japanese culture, speaks Japanese and probably will visit there at some future time. After reading this book I'll be making sure she is aware of the dangers of trying to make fast money in places such as the hostess bars. Everyone says Japan is generally safe but I'm a mother and it's my perogative to worry about such things!

wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Land of the living...

I've been busy reading the last week or so and thought it time for another book review. I'm working my way through a pile of books picked up at my local op shop. Todays selection is a novel called "Land of the living" by Nicci French.

I've read several of her books and enjoyed them all. Nicci French has the knack of writing in a style that keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the very end of the story. You WANT to know what is going to happen next. In this book the central character Abbie wakes in a dark place. She is hooded and bound and has no memory of where she is or how she got there. Her captor feeds her and talks to her and promises to keep her alive....for now! He tells her he will kill her eventually....like all the others.

We follow Abbie's efforts to keep herself alive and desperately trying to remember her life before the nightmare she now finds herself in.
I can't tell you much m ore about the plot without spoiling it for you but there are enough red herrings and plot twists and turns in this book to keep you siting up well into the night!
A damn fine thriller with a surprise ending.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

**photograph borrowed from google images - hoping the owner won't mind.

Lasting Damage...

I just finished reading Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah. I haven't read any of her books before but on reading the teaser on the back of this novel I just had to add her to my reading list.

"It's 1.15am. Connie Bowskill should be asleep. Instead she's logging on to a property website in search of a particular house: 11 Bentley Grove , Cambridge. She knows it's for sale ; there is an estate agent's board in the front garden.
Soon  Connie is clicking on the virtual tour button, keen to see the inside of 11 Bentley Grove and put her mind to rest once and for all. She finds herself looking at the scene from a nightmare: in the living room , in the middle of the carpet, a woman lies face down in a huge pool of blood. In shock , Connie wakes her husband Kit. But when Kit sits down at the computer, he sees no dead body, only a pristine beige carpet in a perfectly ordinary room".

I really enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing right to the end. The twists and turns of the plot are interesting and the characterisation of various family relationships will resonate with many readers.
Whilst not a book I will keep I will happily look for more by the same author and pass this on to friends to read and enjoy.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Half price Tuesdays...

I discovered my local op shop has half price Tuesdays today! Who knew? This could be great or it could be the beginning of very bad things! Last week I was dropping off some unwanted goodies to the op shop and I saw a lovely vintage mirror hanging on the wall. I resisted temptation and did not go in to ask how much it was.
That mirror haunted me all weekend. Monday came and I considered calling in to the op shop to see what the price was. I resisted once more!

Today temptation got the better of me and I decided to call in and see if it was still there and how much they were asking for it.The mirror was still there and the price was reasonable I thought. I carried it to the counter and the lady said to me "We have another out the back if you would like that one too". So I found myself looking at a second mirror. When the lady told me it was 'half price Tuesday' and I would get 'two for the price of one' that sealed the deal! Two lovely old  mirrors for $30. I was thrilled to bits even if I have no idea at this point where exactly I am going to place them. They are both different but roughly the same size. One is oval shaped and the other a rectangle.

I should have left then but I made the fatal mistake of putting the mirrors in the car and returning to browse the books on offer. I came out with a nice armload of assorted books for the princely sum of $21.00. Some of the books were even hardbacks. So lots of sunshine in my shadows today! Doubtless my local op shop will see me back for more 'half price Tuesdays'.
wishing you sunshine in yours
Helen

The Slap

I finished reading The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas this week. I was disappointed with it. Some parts of it were enjoyable and entertaining but on the whole it left me with a dissatisfied feeling. I had problems with the book on two major counts. One was that it almost seemed to me that the author was trying to be politically correct creating a mixed bunch of ethnic backgrounds for the main characters. I know we live in a multi cultural Australia but I just found the idea of such a range of ethnicities being present in such a small group of friends to be somewhat beyond belief. I admit to growing up in the country so perhaps I just don't know what it is like to live in suburban Melbourne.

The other thing I took issue with was the frequent, in fact I would say overuse of one of the very worst swear words. (in my opinion) I am not talking about the 'F' word either. I'm not a prude. I read women's erotica and have even written some myself. I understand sometimes such words are used for the power behind them. However in my opinion in this instance the coarseness was grating and used unnecesssarily and much more frequently than I would have expected. I wondered to myself how many unsuspecting readers picked up the book only to be totally horrified by the use of the 'c' word on the very first page. (and thereafter)
My advice would be if you think you might like to read this book borrow a copy from your library first. I certainly was not enamoured of it enough for it to earn a permanent place on my bookshelf.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

the probable future...

The probable future by Alice Hoffman is possibly best described as a haunting story. It will stay with you long after the final page is turned. The story is based around three generations of the Sparrow family. Each woman in the Sparrow family inherits a magical gift when they turn thirteen. The story is part magic, part history, part romance, part tragedy. Intertwined is a very cleverly written study of the complexities of human relationships, especially those of family and also those who live in small towns.

Stella is the youngest member of the Sparrow family and on her thirteenth birthday discovers her gift. She can see the probable future of people around her. Stella sees when and how people will die. Asking her charming but irresponsible father to intervene to prevent a young woman being murdered results in her father becoming a suspect.

Stella and her mother Jenny end up back in the family home with grandmother Elinor.We see the struggle between each of the generations of women as they come to terms with love, loss, dreams, family history and each other. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you more. Just go out and read it for yourself. A guaranteed good read!
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

Saving Max...

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten first attracted my interest when I read a review in "Good Reading" magazine. The reason it caught my eye was because one of the main character's, Max, has Asperger's syndrome. I have two children on the autism spectrum so am always interested to see how characters with autism are portrayed in books.

The book kept me interested from start to finish and whilst some of the plot seemed a little unrealistic to me on the whole this was an excellent book and I would highly reccomend it as a riveting read. I have asked myself if the book would have been so riveting if my own children did not have autism and I believe the plot still holds as a fabulous read.

The basis of the story is how far will a mother of a child with autism go to protect her son when he is accused of murder? The plot contains enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages with baited breath to find out the end result. I'm not going to spoil the book by sharing the ending here but I will say that there were totally unexpected elements in the plot line that kept me guessing to the very end.

I was not surprised to read that Antoinette van Heugten has a child with autism as I felt she did a good job of portraying some of the characteristics of a child on the autism spectrum. If you choose to chase up "Saving max" I think you will enjoy it although part of the plot does cover some distressing and disturbing areas of human behaviour.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows and happy reading
Helen

A jolly good read!

Looking for a great book to read over the holidays? I was recently given a copy of "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton. Reading the blurb on the back of the book I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea but I thought I would read a chapter or two and see if it engaged me. My usual reading of choice consists of psychological thrillers, fantasy and science fiction. This book is part mytery, part romance and ....something undefinable.

This is no longer a new book, I believe Kate Morton has a new title out. (mental note to follow that up)
The Forgotten garden enchanted me from the start to the finish. This was a novel I did not want to put down and I was positively devastated when it had to end with the final page of the book! (and yes there were tears)
An apparently abandoned child on the eve of war, family secrets, an inheritance and a forgotten garden all combine to make this a totally entrancing and intriguing story that will bewitch you to the very last page!
It's a difficult book to categorise but it doesn't really matter. It's a jolly good read and I say you won't be disappointed if you pick up a copy. Happy reading!
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

I found Kate's website:
http://www.katemorton.com/

Santa needs a wee!

I love books, I love reading. I collect Children's Christmas picture books. Today I wanted to share a delightful children's book that I recently added to my collection.
The proper title of the book is "Father Christmas needs a wee" by Nicholas Allan.
It's a counting book with a funny story. We follow along as Father Christmas goes from house to house, on Christmas Eve, drinking all the various beverages left out for him by excited children.
Eventually the inevitable happens and.....Father Christmas needs a wee!
Preschoolers will love the rhyming text of this adorable book as well as the funny story.
The ending is just too cute and the illustrations charming!
I highly reccomend it for children aged 2-5 but the preschoolers will get most from it.