Tag: writing

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Random thoughts

The Hunger Games

Hubby and I watched the movie Saturday night. I enjoyed it, and so Sunday morning saw Kmart $36 richer, as I bought the trilogy and started reading. 3am Sunday morning, I finished them. Very readable – not so much as Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, but very readable nonetheless. It’s not that often that I read past midnight.

I found the ending (of the trilogy) rather too rushed, though. Some of the character’s stories (for example, Caesar Flickerman) never reached closure, and this was a little unsatisfying. But everything was ended (perhaps a little too suddenly, for my tastes) – reminding me of the (again, too quick) ending to Francine Rivers brilliant ‘Voice in the Wind’ trilogy.

But on the whole, a well written series. And unlike quite a few of the movie reviewers, I felt that the film was indeed quite an accurate portrayal of the written text. Yes, of necessity, some aspects were left out. Some aspects of Book Two (i.e. the rebellion in District 11) were included in this first film. Some were changed, i.e. the background behind the MockingJay pin (which will of necessity then be left out of the second movie – but then again, those characters were also left out, so I guess that’s no biggie anyway) but then again, perhaps the film series will elaborate on some aspects that seem glossed over in the novels. The three finger kiss / salute, for a start. The ‘blood-smell’ on President Rose’s breath / the status of his health, etc etc.

So – that’s my take on it. What’s yours?

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Bloxham Marketing family anecdotes Life More about me Random thoughts Technology Work

Been busy…

So I’ve found the time to blog for Bloxham Marketing today – which has meant that I’ve had less time to write a post here, on my personal blog. Because I’m trying, in-between helping Miss 4 make a rocket ship (see left)

and supervising Mr 2 on my iPad (see right), to organise Mr 2’s entry into  the Early Childhood Developmental entree at Tullawong Primary College. So I’m going to cheat a little, and paste that entry below.

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Image-based promotion

Posted on March 12, 2012 | Leave a comment | Edit

Over the past two weeks, St Paul’s has had a poster campaign running at Morayfield Shopping Centre. We used the same posters that we had up over the Christmas period last year – and I’d like to credit the record number of enrolments the school received, to these posters. Well… it may not have been to these exclusively, but nevertheless…!

And last week, I was inspired by @connectyou‘s post on the new Covers for the Facebook Page Timelines – to be rolled out on the 30 March, but which are able to be ‘published’ beforehand. So yesterday, I got busy. Evidenced by three cover photos. Check them out!

Caloundra Christian College:

St James Lutheran College:

And last but not least… St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School:

So – what do you think?

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And now all I need to do is create Cover photos for the Bloxham Marketing page – and for my personal one too, of course!

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More about me University studies

And we’re back!

Today is Monday the 27 of February. Very many years ago now, my younger brother was born. He’s now a freelance computer programmer based in London.

This time last year, I commenced my third semester in my Masters in IT, majoring in Library and Information Science. (I had started in July of 2010, and had also taken a course over the 2010-2011 Summer Semester). So I had completed three in my first semester, one over the summer, and was about to take two more. Six total, of twelve.

Source: Uploaded by user via Worldtraveller on Pinterest

Unfortunately, the way that the LIS is structured is that 5 core courses, of those 12, are Semester 1 only offerings. Which means that even if I wished to, I would never be able to complete the entire degree within the usual 3-semester time-frame. Which is a bit of a bumma.

As it stands, I’ve now done 7 total – 2 of the Semester 1 offerings, all of the Semester 2 offerings – and have 3 core (Sem 1’s) to go, 1 elective, and the practical course, left. The trouble is, I can’t take three courses in one semester any more (Hubby’s decree) so there’s no way I could finish this degree this year and keep my marriage.

So. I’m in for one (and one only!) course this semester. Might do the elective in Sem 1, and the final two cores (and the last of the practical this time next year. It seems a very long-drawn out process for what was meant to be a three-semester degree!

Never mind. I start today, “Online Information Services” under the brilliant @katiedatwork, and am super-excited to get another course under my belt…

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#blog5daysAustenese

#blog5daysAustenese – Day Four

Having a day with few commitments before me, my plan is to spend my hours writing. In the formation of sentences, the reworking of ideas, the addition of punctuation and the correcting of grammar.  Not only for the continuation in this #blog5daysAustenese journey, but also in the creation of articles for work, both mine and my clients’.

I have often pondered, in my leisure hours, upon the many and varied writing stiles. This challenge, for example, was conceived with the idea that I had recently been so immersed in reading Austen‘s novels that, when I wrote (sometimes even when I spoke!) I found it difficult to refrain from her stile. My preference was to use vocabulary which, although still understandable, required effort to comprehend, being no longer in regular usage. I also found it fairly easy – and interesting! – to write in a stile that, for the most part, made liberal use of overly long sentences comprising significant numbers of embedded clauses. Verb usage at the beginning of the sentences quickly became an idea that, although foreign at first, became more familiar in practice, as was wont to happen.

Perversely, the difficulties presented themselves when moving away from blogging in Austen’s stile, in occasions when a modern tone in my writing was required. I was surprised – nay, shocked! – to discover that it was here, wherein the true nature of the challenge made itself felt. The difficulties with which I struggled to write in a modern stile were a sight to behold. Indeed, I was both astonished and confounded to ascertain within myself a penchant for the writing of long sentences, and the use of vocabulary quite different to mine own.

Hence my decision to pen my blog early today. If I am to achieve, successfully, the tasks before me, which of necessity require a modern stile of writing, the difficulties in the adoption of same that I have noticed, will need to be taken into account. So here ends the fourth of five entries written in the stile of Austen, and I look forward to penning my fifth and last, tomorrow. Til then, dear readers!

Point to note – although I found it rather difficult to continually spell the word ‘style’ with an ‘i’ rather than a ‘y’, it is consistent with Austen’s spelling during this period. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused!

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#blog5daysAustenese random scribblings

#blog5daysAustenese – Day Two

Having the unusual distinction of three family birthdays fall within a seven-day, I have then leisure to consider the import of ‘countdowns’. Counting the days that must be lived, prior to a forthcoming event, can be abundantly effectual. Not only have they the ability to elevate eagerness and enthusiasm prior to the big occasion, they also provide innumerable opportunities for the teaching of mathematical concepts to young receptive minds.

Saturday last witnessed the birth-day celebrations of my husband. Entering his 40th year was marked with his favourite diversions; fishing, napping, and dining with close friends. The following day, our middle child, often referred to as ‘Miss 3’, became ‘Miss 4’ and spent the day smiling profusely and announcing her successful acquisition of another year. And finally, our “Miss 6” will become our “Miss 7” this forthcoming Friday. Each of these days has been studiously counted-down-to by infant fingers excitedly marking off the days in our family almanac.

Twelve months ago, this blog witnessed my scribblings on this topic although it does not appear to me as though a year has passed. Reflecting on this perception, I see that it is entirely possible that the exercise of ‘counting down’ may be its intimate connection. By continuously focusing on future events, enjoying the moment may be superceded by the prospect of future happiness, thus rendering the present of lesser importance, possibly to such a degree that fewer memories are retained, thus rendering the passage of time to feel faster than in actuality.

My summation is that, should we seek to be wise, we should treat in an even-handed manner the conflicting desires of valuing and cherishing the moment and viewing the future with an excess of sensibility. Would you agree, gentle readers?

CC Image courtesy 4rank at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcharlton/1799065990/lightbox/

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#blog5daysAustenese random scribblings

#blog5daysAustenese – Day One

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an educated person with a love of reading, an interest in the pursuit of learning, and a possession of both time and opportunity in the form of a blog, must be in want of a writing challenge. The exploration of their writing prowess then finds its culmination in the subsequent compositions, and the responses of readers by the means of comments below the blogs.

Inasmuch as today, being the 16th day in January, marks the commencement of such a challenge, it behooves me to welcome my friends into this five-day season of Austenese blogwriting. I warmly congratulate you on your courage, your bravery in the face of probable ridicule, and your willingness to see a challenge through to the end. Of your determination to attempt the composition of sentences, the structure of which is markedly different to our own, I heartily applaud.

Lovers of Jane Austen everywhere, I raise before you these participants, and commend their efforts to you. Your comments, as a consequence of reading, appreciating, and approving of their work, will inspire them to even greater achievements in this challenge, and therefore are greatly desired by all involved. As each participant will be composing their thoughts on their individual blogs, these links, should you click them, will lead you to the correct destinations:

@jobeaz, blogging at Macaronic

@Girlwithshoess, blogging at Justgirlwithshoes

@kalgrl, blogging at Feral Librarian Tales

@jzgarnett, blogging at Randomly Yours, Julia

And finally, a word to our detractors. Each name you see before you is not, as may be reasonably supposed, a lover of Austen’s writing. Indeed, at least one finds the work of Jane Austen to be so far from pleasant as to call it horrid. It can be assumed, therefore, that in this #blog5daysAusten challenge, you the readers have greatly the advantage of us in this respect, that you are able to comment profusely, whereas we the writers have only our works to recommend us. I would entreat you, therefore, to be gentle in your criticism, or rather, join us in the task ahead and proudly hold your own head high in the challenge. More participants are readily welcomed. Simply comment below your intention to join, with a link to your blog, and compose five posts in the style of Jane Austen. Having tweeted your publication of each post using the hashtag #blog5daysAusten, and following other participants writings, there is nothing left to do but to enjoy the journey!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Bad to the bone…

Of all Jane Austen’s novels, Lady Susan is the one I like the most. Her main character, the recently widowed Lady Susan, is far more Thackery’s Becky Sharp than Pride and Prejudice’s Jane Bennett, and she comes far closer to succeeding in her conquest of a man ‘determined to not like her’ than Henry Crawford did with Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, when the situations were reversed. It is also completely different in style, being almost completely written through letters.

This is the only Austen novel I have not seen a film version of. Which is fine, as I think a screen adaptation would ruin it.

And that wraps up my week of Austen summaries. Tomorrow marks the beginning of #blog5daysAusten. Should be rather interesting!

See you tomorrow, dear readers!

 

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Persuasion

I think it’s important to be a person of conviction. To know what you want, to know who you are, and to hold on to that. “This above all, to thine own self be true” etc etc etc.

That being said, I also think that to be unbending is a fault. To not take into account the whole concept of truth being relational- to not respect someone who is trying to sway you from your opinion by “speak[ing] the truth with gentleness” (to quote God rather than Shakespeare, as it were); to not be persuaded by a close friend when they are tactfully disagreeing with you – is also a sign of foolishness rather than wisdom.

Anne Elliott allowed herself to be persuaded from a strongly held opinion, in Austen’s “Persuasion“, and it formed the premise for the novel. Rather than marrying Frederick Wentworth, the man of her choice, she allowed herself to be convinced that she should reject his offer, and then spent the subsequent years in regret and anxiety, until, (as all good love stories do,) they were reunited and lived ‘happily ever after’. “Persuasion” is, in a way, the detailed story of Emma‘s Harriet Smith and Robert Martin.

Conviction. A good thing – but if we all had it, there would be fewer novels written, I suspect!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Emma. How wise you are.

Ummm… I think!

I quite like this one. It’s light-hearted. It’s cute. It’s a good way to spend a few hours of down-time. It’s superficial enough that you don’t expend much energy investing in the novel, but the characters and plotline are meaty enough to feel as though you’ve spent your time justifiably. Good enough reason, in my *book*!

Admittedly, it’s a little unrealistic (to me, at least!) that Mr Knightley falls for a girl sixteen years his junior – but then again, perhaps not. I’m not a guy, and I don’t live back then. (Lucky – I don’t think WordPress was around at the time!) And I smile each time I think about Emma considering herself ‘wise’ at the grand age of – what was it? Early 20’s or something?! Ha! (I’m 37 and still “invariably silly”!)

The recent film starring Gwyneth Paltrow was just as light-hearted as Austen’s novel. The Casting Director made some excellent choices – I particularly enjoyed Toni Collette, and no, I don’t think that it’s just because she’s an Aussie. I loved the addition of the ‘archery’ scene, which was probably rather unrealistic but made for good visual imagery. Plus it allowed for the addition of the line, “Try to not kill my dogs.” Which was a cutesy sort of line, aimed at getting a laugh, and perfect for use in the trailer. What I didn’t like so much was the emphasis on Emma’s thoughts when talking with Mrs Weston regarding her brother-in-law’s advice to Mr Knightley. Although it made for good trailer footage, “I love John!” “I hate John!”, I have to wonder if the reason for the emphasis on the scene was to GET that footage, specifically FOR the trailer. It did seem just a little forced…

All in all though, enjoyable. And that’s a wrap!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Six days til #blog5daysAustenese

So I started this ‘countdown week’, yesterday, with a list of the (very game!) participants in the #blog5daysAustenese challenge, and my take on Jane Austen’s writing, finishing with my thoughts on Sense and Sensibility – the novel, as it related to the latest film version starring Emma Thompson. Hugh Grant, Kate Winslett etc etc. So day two in the countdown means a move to the second book (from front to back in my Penguin tome, I mean, not actually second in chronological order of her writing!) – Pride and Prejudice.

I love this book. And I really don’t care much for recent TV / mini-series adaptations. Reason being – they’re created SO well, that it only takes one little scene to completely ruin the entirety. In the 1996 (yes, it really was THAT long ago!) BBC production with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (seriously – has he aged at ALL since then?!) the offending scene was the one depicting Lizzy’s deepest mortification. Being discovered by Mr Darcy whilst touring Pemberley. In my humble opinion, the novel portrays her as being thoroughly humiliated by this discovery. But the BBC’s decision to have Colin Firth take a dip in the lake on the way to his house completely destroyed this, by placing him in almost as embarrassing a position as her.  In my mind, this decision utterly ruined the series for me, and it was only recently that I could watch this scene without cringing at the thought of what they had done.

Equally cringe-worthy was Darcy’s speech at the conclusion of Universal Picture’s 2006 version, starring Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, etc etc. I mean – seriously??!!! I canNOT for the life of me imagine such a character, as upright and correct as he, to say, “If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you – you have bewitched me, body and soul. I love, I love, love you, and never wish to be parted from you, from this day on.” HUH??!!!!! You have absolutely GOT to be kidding!!!! MAJOR cringe!!!

Other than that scene, the Universal Picture’s scriptwriter had written a very clever script, with excellent segues and clever choice of absent characters. But it is also this point – the cringeworthy script choices – that we’ll be attempting to *better* next week, when we, also, write in super-long sentences.

Join us… if you dare!?? LOL