Greta & Valdin

I loved this book and, since I’ve finished reading it, I find I’m missing the characters. They seemed so real I’d like to know what they’re up to now. I don’t remember having that experience with any other book I’ve read – except where it’s part of a series and then you just wait for the next book to come out. The two main characters named in the title are brother and sister sharing an apartment in Auckland.

The family gatherings in the book were often funny and revealed aspects of the people and relationships which you weren’t expecting. It was good to have a list of characters at the front to refer to and sort out how everyone was connected and who was who, especially where nicknames were used. I like the names – and their origins add another layer to the story.

I thought this book was a fantastic achievement particularly for a first novel. The young author uses colloquial language appropriate to the age group of the main characters and that added realism and charm. I borrowed the book from the library, but if my book shelves weren’t so full I’d be tempted to buy my own copy.

Goodbye old bathroom

The bathroom renovation began yesterday. Now the room is a shell of its former self, but like a museum piece with its lathe and plaster walls. The rotting floor joists have been replaced. The discard pile is increasing – even all that rimu panelling which it isn’t practical to save, sadly.

A variety of wall surfaces revealed
Rotten joists
New joists begin to go in
The old lathe and plaster walls
The rimu panelling is going
A growing pile for dumping

Meantime, Felix is pretty much unperturbed by the noise made by the builders.

Here’s a nostalgic look at what the bathroom looked like.

Primped and preened

There’s Mum with her new haircut, and a pedicure underway. There was a ‘gel pedicure’ on offer with colour, but Mum requested just a cut and file, thanks!

When I came back to collect her, there were two other customers one on each side of her. One had foil on her finger tips – waiting for some nail work to cure, I suppose, while she had a pedicure. She was young, with lovely olive skin and no need to go to so much trouble, in my opinion. I look sideways into these ‘beauty’ salons as I go past and wonder at the expense and effort of manicures and eyebrow enhancements. And what is it with the false eyelashes young women are wearing lately? And how can you do anything useful with long, lacquered nails? Who is it for, anyway? I haven’t noticed men being impressed – unless drag is their thing. Perhaps it’s just for the women’s own amusement; a happier thought than suspecting it’s due to a crushing lack of confidence.

Some of my happiest times as a young woman were spent tramping in places like Rakiura Stewart Island, and the walks around the South Island. You relied on your fitness and appropriate gear to keep warm and dry. No mirrors or make up for days. A wonderful freedom with life in perspective.

Divertimento

Named for the orchestra put together by Zahia Ziouani, this rather wonderful film, based on a true story, is about a young woman who aspires to be a conductor. As you would expect, she faces many challenges.

Apparently only 6% of conductors are women and 4% of them are French. I’m reminded of our own conductor, Gemma New who is principal conductor of the NZSO. Last year’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall was conducted by American conductor Marin Alsop. Finnish female conductor, Dalia Staveska, also featured.

This review commented that the film is “quite moving” – we found it very moving. It is in French with sub-titles which adds to its charm and, as you would expect, there is lots of wonderful music.

Tomatoes in July

This morning I used the last of the tomatoes from the garden. They went into one of our favourite winter soups. I’ve never had tomatoes last so long into winter. I had to finish their ripening on the kitchen window sill and quite a few had to be thrown out when they rotted. The rest have been lovely.

And here’s the recipe. It’s a Jo Seagar recipe from a very old North and South magazine. It’s nice to substitute fresh tomatoes for tinned.

Little blighters

Here are some photos of the ants ‘tightrope walking’ along the clothes line. I’m quite impressed that they can walk upside down and I’m trying to suppress a grudging respect for their tenacity and teamwork. Scrolling down the page of magnified pictures of ants on the Landcare Research page has pretty much done that for me. And the National Geographic Kids ‘10 cool facts about ants‘ informed me that the biggest ant colony ever discovered was 3,700 miles wide! It was in Argentina, but now I’m imagining what might be growing under my roof – and floor. Blitz day tomorrow.

Ant highway

Funambulists

I came across this word for tightrope walkers the other day. I’d forgotten about it until I discovered ants in washing hanging on the line. How the heck…? Then I looked closely and could see lines of ants walking back and forth along the clothes line from where it was attached by a hook to the house. The ants were heading in, and out, from under the eaves. I was tempted to title this post “Ants in your pants”.

The term ‘funambulist’ seems appropriate because I’m beginning to get the sense that ants are having fun with me, driving me crazy. The builder who came to scope out the work in the bathroom says they are everywhere. Even in his dog’s food bowl.

I have quite an arsenal of anti-ant weaponry. The tube of gel proved useful today to put in one or two places along the clothes line. The aim is that the ants carry it back to the nest and, bingo, no more ants – well, eventually anyway.

Anti-ant arsenal

What to read next?

I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation after completing the 17-book Abbot Agency series by Veronica Heley. I follow a number of series and read them as they are published, whereas this series came to my attention when 17 books had already been written.

What next? I feel inclined to read a ‘real’ book, not a digital one, for the feel of the cover and the pages. Perhaps I will try the new series by Holly Jackson. Or, on my Kindle app, the latest Isabel Dalhousie (Alexander McCall Smith) or the latest V.I. Warshawski (Sara Paretsky). Perhaps there’s a new Falvia Albia out (Lindsey Davis). These series can transport me from London to Edinburgh to Chicago to Ancient Rome. I’m spoilt for choice!

Sand dollar

My friend and I often see sand dollars on the beach. Usually they are broken. This morning, a broken sand dollar seemed to have a tiny starfish, about 15mm across, inside it.

I have discovered that a sand dollar is a type of starfish, or part of the species called echinoderm which has five-part symmetry, and what you can see inside this one is its eating mechanism. They are dead by the time they wash up on the beach – a bleached exoskeleton – which is why you often see fragments rather than the whole thing.