Hi everyone. Remember me?!
Such a long blog hiatus I am having. Not intentional, I assure you. I write posts in my head quite frequently, usually while I’m driving or standing in my greenhouse potting up seedlings, far from a keyboard.
Life is super-extra-stupidly busy for me at present, mostly in a good way, though I am definitely missing having reading-writing time. Not to worry (she says optimistically) – things will eventually settle down.
I’m not reading at anything like my preferred rate at present, but a few books have been niggling away, demanding mention. Which is all they shall get here at present – a bare bones mention, so like-minded readers can perhaps do a bit of follow-up on their own.
At the Top of the Mule Track by Carola Matthews, 1971. In the late 1960s, British teacher and writer Carola Matthews was spending half her year in England with her parents, and half her year in Greece, mostly on a remote island. This book is not a travelogue (as I had assumed it to be when I picked it up a few weeks ago at a used book store in 100 Mile House, B.C.) but rather a personal memoir incorporating philosophy, societal observation and self examination in roughly equal proportions. I enjoyed it immensely. The author’s tone is frequently wry and mostly unemotional, but it works so well in her context, which is looking around at her Greek neighbours, and back on her own life-so-far and in particular at her struggles with completing her previous book, The Mad Pomegranate Tree (“An Image of Modern Greece”), published in 1968 to some acclaim.
Oops! Look at the time! I had hoped to include a few more titles, but that shall have to wait till later. I need to fly out the door shortly, so will leave it at just the one. For now.
Cheers! Hope you are all having a good spring wherever you are.
Leaves & Pages 
Glad you’re still here. Or rather, there. And still busy and doing at least a little reading. (And apparently walking into used bookstores.)
I just keep checking in with you every week among my Tuesday blog list.
Pot long and prosper.
So good to hear your voice again! Yes, let’s hope that things will eventually settle down.
Glad you’re doing ok!
The Carola Matthews sounds like a lovely read. So glad you’re back. I stopped in the other day to see if I’d missed a post…
Still checking. I hope your life is good-busy. Take care.
Hi Susan. So great to see you pop up on the comments notification!
Yes, still here! All is well. Just wrapped up an extremely busy nursery season, and trying to get myself back into some sort of “normal” groove. Measuring my reading in just a few pages a day through the thick of things, I was. This self-employed stuff – wow! My husband’s little joke, “Hey, work for yourself, choose your own hours! Which 12 of every day do you want to work?!” Which has more than a nugget of truth in it…
Anyway, now back to a hopefully more manageable level of busy, which I hope will include reading and blogging. I miss you guys!
Hope all is well in your world, and that you are having a lovely spring and now summer. Despite our “interesting” weather across Canada – seems to be a lot of unsettled weather everywhere…the “new normal”?
Glad to hear it’s going well. This past week of ever-increasing temps has me sitting on my deck for long hours with books and cold drinks, chasing the shade. Very lazy. Next week: grandkids and cottage. Not so lazy.
Sorry to bother you but I am trying every possible string trying to find my old friend, Neil Aitken who is an author on Gabriola. Can you help me!
Thanks, Ron in Penticton.
Hi Ron,
So sorry, I don’t know Neil Aitken personally. I did do a quick search and found R. Loomis – 250-247-8685. I believe Ruth Loomis is/was Neil’s partner. Also a M. Aitken is listed on Gabriola – 250-247-9177. Perhaps it might be worth calling, see if anyone can tell you more. Good luck!