Tuesdayal's Visit

Last week, Tuesdayal visited Brisbane for a conference.  However, we kept on missing each other to catch up on the Bookcrossing front.  So, seeing she had a few things for me, she posted off in the mail the things she had for me; and today, they arrived!  

I'd like to thank her very much for sending this little, old glo-mesh purse to me.  It's very old and will be added to my collection; however, it's in such a bad state I may not be able to use it.  So, it has been put away to keep it safe and to keep it from it falling apart.  Thank you again, Tuesdayal.

Book Label Exchange!

The Bookcrossing Label Exchange is under way again!  And today, I received two lots in the mail!  On a day where the rain clouds had covered our blue skies, they really brightened my day.  

The two that showed were in two average sized envelopes.  One was from Heartthumper in the USA.  Now, she and I have swapped all kinds of things before; from labels and Christmas cards to gifts.  And so, Heartthumper and I are old Bookcrossing friends.  And I thank you very much for sending me these lovely labels from where you are; and I love the old-style card too, it's so very retro! 

The next one was from a first-timer to the Label Exchange; and so I was thrilled to receive a lovely envelope filled with a gorgeous postcard, labels and a recipe for a Raw Blueberry Cheesecake from Mystical Warrior.  Yummo!  Must try that out one day! 

Thank you both for your labels.  I will be posting mine off after next week; as my money has been a little tight lately.  Thank you again.

Romance Prize from Across the Miles

I'm on a blog called 'The Romance Bandits' and there's about 16 managers who are all writers who write romance novels.  Now, that's a lot of managers for one blog!  And they are lovely people who have a brilliant sense of humour!  I found this blog during one of my many searches to make my other blogs fun and interesting; and to do this, I search my followers' blogs.  I know this sounds menial, but it works.  You never know what you may find.  Anyway, I commented a few times on some of the topics they talked about and the next thing I knew, I had won a book from one of them!  I was thrilled and contacted her to redeem my prize.  This was a few weeks back; and I only today received the prize.  When I pulled it out of the envelope here at home, I read the cover of the romance novel and found little sticker on the front:  'Signed by Author'.  Now, this was a little detail I had missed when I first had a quick look at it at the post office in my excitement of it arriving!  How very cool is that?  I have a signed edition of this lovely romance novel!  Now, I don't read romance very often - and usually have to be in the right mood for it - and so, now I have a book to read when that mood strikes.  When that will be?  I'm not sure, but this book will be here waiting for me when it does.  Thank you, Donna MacMeans for this book I will get to reading it whenever my romantic mood kicks in. 

Birthday Parcel from Birthday Buddy Arrives!

On Bookcrossing, I have a Birthday Buddy.  We are lined up with them each year and if we're happy with them, we keep in touch and send each other gifts each year on each other's birthdays.  It's a lot of fun and I look forward to this time of year each year as it's a great give and take thing.

Well, today, I collected my parcel from the post office, but didn't open it as I had to get myself to the bus stop to get to my volunteer work.  Once there, and before it poured rain, I pulled out the cake for the day (before I found out that there were already two other cakes in the fridge) to share with the other volunteers.  Then, I pulled out my parcel and opened it at the front desk with my partner volunteer who worked with me today.  She was amazed that I received a present from somebody who was ultimately a complete stranger; and yet, we were so generous to each other.  I said that was main idea of Bookcrossing; it's a trust thing and it putting your trust in other people.  She loved it that there were so many good books inside such a small bag; and loved the coin purses, saying that my devotion to collecting them was wonderful!

So, I must say a big thank you to froggirlwendy for sending me the most wonderful present of five books, two coin purses, writing paper and inspirational quote and a lovely card (which will join the one on the piano from Mum and Dad).  I can't wait to get into reading these ones over the next few months - or better still over Christmas!  Thank you again, and happy reading!

Parcel Influx

After such a long time without receiving a parcel for me - and the only parcels arriving were for Loey - I received three parcels today in the mail and one envelope.  This crowded my little PO Box; so there was a blue parcel pick-up card there amongst one parcel and the envelope.

Once I received my larger parcels, I couldn't wait to get home, and opened the two parcels inside the post office.  And I found one book titled 'The Bee-Loud Glade' by Steve Himmer; which is a book I volunteered to read for a book discussion on Goodreads.  I began reading this one on the way home and read up to page two.  It's beautifully written.

The other two parcels were from Bookcrossers.  One was a RABCK (a generous giveaway from a Bookcrosser who had a book up for grabs) titled 'Jumping the Queue' by Mary Wesley and the other parcel was a birthday gift from Sfogs containing two books titled: 'Shadowlight' by Mike Jefferies and the other?  Well, I'm not supposed to tell... it's a secret on Bookcrossing and so I better keep it that way until the bookring is finished.  But I have to read that one too.  So, I have a lot of reading ahead of me.  

Thank you all for sending these books through the mail to me.  I really do appreciate it.  It's great they made it before my birthday; as it's made my day all the more special.

Mum's Care Package

Recently, we've had a family member who's fallen ill with Cancer; and my Mum has been looking after him.  Her brother is finding it hard to deal with all the doctor's appointments, shopping and looking after his household chores.  So, Mum's been doing those things for him; with the assistance of Dad doing some yard work for him too. 

I put out the word on Bookcrossing to put together a Care Package for her - to show our support - and the members have pulled together like you wouldn't believe!  I thought to put here the list of people whose parcels and items that have arrived in the mail thus far.  It will be added to as each one arrives.

Badgerjim - Postcard - 25th, August

Dove-i-Libri - envelope - 31st, August

Hammu - small parcel - 5th, Sept

minesayn - envelope - 5th, Sept
stringofpearls - small parcel - 6th, Sept
Phoenix-Flight - envelope - 7th, Sept
Italianowen - medium parcel - 9th, Sept
Hakkalina - medium parcel - 12th, Sept
Footymadgil - medium parcel - 13th, Sept
Nakipa - medium parcel - 19th, Sept (opened by customs; nothing removed)
MerryMari - postcard - 20th, Sept
Ossie Fry - small parcel - 22nd, Sept
jmsmom - card/envelope - 27th, Sept
judygreeneyes - postcard - 27th, Sept
Buffheart - postcard - 30th, Sept
Jean-Sol - medium parcel - 10, Oct
 

'Anything Goes' Book Baggie Returns!

For the last few months, I haven't received anything in the mail or sent anything away.  So, seeing I've been unfocused and not receiving anything, this blog has been left alone for some time.  

This morning, after a week of no mail in my PO Box, I opened the little black door to find I had lots!  And right there on top was a blue parcel pick-up card!  Now, I knew what it was and am pleased to say that the 'Anything Goes' Book Baggie that has been away for its rounds around Australia has returned to me from Tasmania.  And just look at all those wonderful books inside it!  How good are they?

The Pencil case didn't have as much as I thought it would inside it, but that doesn't matter, it's supposed to be a fun thing to have a go at.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't; and this time it didn't.  Maybe next time it will.  

Thank you all for taking part in this book baggie.  I'll be doing another one next - as always - so keep your eyes peeled for when I put up that notice!  Until my next post... Happy Reading!

Neighbourly Kindness

This morning, on my way to the post office, I walked past one of my neighbour's houses where I saw their Grandmother, Betty, sitting out in the car port having a smoke.  As usual, I said good morning and she called out to me, "Just the person I'm looking for!  We have some books for you!" and gestured to a massive bag next to their side door.  I walked up and looked inside it to find it was filled to the brim full of books!  I was amazed at how kind she was being!

I counted 21 books as I laid them out to photograph them.

I asked if she was sure and she said that they actually came from her daughter - Lisa's - workmate who has moved house and did out her bookcase and gave these one to her.  Lisa brought them home for Betty to read, but her eyesight isn't good and she can't read the small print unfortunately.  So, she thought to give them to me.  How kind and generous this was of her to think of me when she didn't want these; and yet didn't wish to throw them out.  Thank you Betty for your generosity.

Celebrating 50 Years of Janet Frame's Work

Today, I went to the post office and found two pick-up cards.  One was from Nivea (this was something I was expecting) and the other was something I wasn't.  I picked up the book and opened it to find a beautiful new book slid out of the envelope and into my hands.  It was wrapped in a green paper bag and still had the price on it (I didn't really notice how much it was; and automatically took it off).  It was a book which had been on my Wish List on Bookcrossing since 2009; 'Owls Do Cry' by Janet Frame, a writer from New Zealand whose only work I have is her biography - 'Wrestling With the Angel' by Michael King - and what a tome of a book that is!  It's so densely written, I've found it hard to read. 

However, this book was also a part of Mission Bookcrossing - a game I'm playing on Bookcrossing -and I'm happy to say that I'm still active in the game; seeing I got the answer to my clue right!  

Thank you Izzy5000 for sending me a brilliant book to read... I can't wait to read to get into it this Winter.

Winter Reading Raffle Prize

This time, this post isn't here to thank somebody or a few people for something.  This one is to show off what is up for grabs for my Winter Reading Raffle on Bookcrossing of Aussie and NZ BCer's.  

And doesn't it look great?  The scarf is hand-knitted and long and gorgeous.  I'd keep it myself; if I didn't have so many in my wardrobe from the last few years of knitting scarves... yep, I just keep on knitting them and putting them away!  Now, I just love giving them away because I love to knit!

There's a lovely mug there with a small tin of Milo and a few good books to get into over the colder months here in the Southern Hemisphere.  Now, the books there aren't necessarily the ones that are going to be in the box when you open it... no, it's just something to make it look good.  So, when one of you lovely people open the box, the books may be totally different.  So, if you'd like to join in - and you're an Aussie or NZ Bookcrosser - post your name on the list in the RABCK forum on Bookcrossing and you'll be added into the draw!  Good luck!