Emily Cat 176

 Back home this week.  Australia's premier poetry prize is named after this poet and l can understand why. This is a melancholy poem. The sadness is real and it is very well written.  Hope you enjoy 

 I have a Patreon account now. If possible can you help me support local arts here in Melbourne.. Thank you for all your support.  patreon.com/Emilycat176 

 Recently l saw 2 films in the space of a few days.  Very unusual for me but l was happy with both films. I spoke about Ocean a few weeks ago and today I'm going to talk about The Salt Path. Firstly l have to say that l didn't know this film was based on a true life book. I had never heard of, or seen, the book so l was going in with no preconceived ideas. Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs play the lead roles. The film starts with them both hiding under the stairs from bailiffs who have come to reposes their farm. A business deal has gone bad and the couple are left losing everything and becoming homeless.   While hiding they spy a book about treks in England and both decide to walk one of them to Lands End. They have a tent and very little money.  Moth has also been diagnosed with a very serious illness.   The film is about the walk and the people,  and acts of kindness,  they meet. It is also a book about homelessness. I'm so grateful to ha...

I finished listening to Jane Eyre this week. That book had so much more in it. I knew the basics of the novel, but, was surprised at how complex, and involved the story was. I am now listening to Wuthering Heights and, so far so good.  I also found this book at the op shop.  I've never read any of her books. Have you read any?  I looked for it on borrow box but there are none of her novels in there and this presents me with a problem.  I see a lot of interesting booksbut don't actually read much these days. Most of the reviews l do are audiobooks.  It's the same as reading; it's just someone else reading it to me. There are several reasons why l prefer audiobooks. As l have mentioned before l don't drive and travel by public transport.  My hearing is bad and l use hearing aides and have done for the past 8/9 years. My aides are connected to my phone and borrow box is an app on my phone so l hear the audiobook through my hearing aides.  I don't need any...

My first Swedish poem.  I hope you are enjoying them all.

Last weekend l travelled down to a church in Frankston.  It is a church that often has musical events and fund raising events for their organ repairs.  This was one of those events. 3 young, and very talented performers.  Siblings Naomi and Joshua Walker and Nyah Andersson.  Joshua played both the pipe organ and piano. His sister Naomi played piano and Nyah played the oboe. Can l just sat now how talented they all were. I have to make a confession, l much prefer piano to pipe organ. Joshua played both and has a preference for the pipe organ.  He's already playing in some of the big churches in Melbourne.  He has so much talent and is a wonderful piano player. If he chooses to pursue a career in music l think he will go far. Naomi played the piano and is currently studying a Bachelor of music at The New England university.  She is a very talented performer too. In fact, they are a talented musical family.  Nyah was so good too. I love the woodwind ...

 I am finally reading Jane Eyre. This is a classic but l have never read it before.  Can you believe it. All the books I've read and am only now getting around to Jane Eyre.  I'm sure many of you have already read this book. I'm late to the party. From reviews I've read it is classified as Gothic melodrama and it is that and so much more. Let me know what you think of Jane Eyre. 

It's Wednesday and that means poetry.  Today l have a German poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. I believe that poetry is a universal language and you can find wonderful poems in so many countries.  I know that I'm enjoying my research.  Next week I'm thinking of maybe looking at Japan, or maybe Czechoslovakia.  What would you like to hear? Can you recommend any poets from your country.  Let's start a conversation. 

I saw this film/documentary on Friday.  It was very confronting.  Now, l  will admit that l am a vegetarian who is fast becoming a vegan but, l do accept that other people are not.  You may be asking yourself why l am telling you that about myself when I'm talking about a film. It's because this film lays bare the damage that over fishing , and big trawlers do when they rake their nets along the seabed.  Whole ecosystems are left baren like moonscapes. There is no hyperbole or graphics used. Cameras were mounted on nets and showed exactly what happens when they use them. The film also shows the magnificence of the world below. It also talks about solutions that include sustainable fishing. It really was a wonderful film/documentary. If you get the chance to see please do. Can l also say thank you to David Attenborough for all that he has given to the world over his very long life. He's 99 years old now and, as he says coming to the end of his life his wish is th...

 I have said before that l mainly listen to audiobooks these days and often l listen to more than one at a time. I dip in and out depending on my mood. Recently l borrowed a book from borrow box by M C Beaton. I was expecting a cozy English mystery and it has been all that and more. For some reason l thought these books were written in 1920s and had been written by a man. Boy, was l wrong.  M C Beaton is one of the pen names of Marion Chesney. She was Scottish and began writing the Agatha Raisin novels in 1992.  A spoonful of poison came out in 2008. That explains the modern phrases l was hearing.  Marion Chesney 1936-2019. The latest book to come out is the 35th in the series and was published in 2024. Of course, Marion didn't write this one; R W Green did. Yet another case of someone else using the characters created by a deceased aauthor.Its a trend these days to continue on with characters long after the author has died.  So that's my story about M C Beaton....

I am reciting poems from all over the world and this is the first poem from Bolivia.   As you can see Donald the Cat had other ideas and just had to make an appearance.  If there are any countries you would like me to look at let me know. Poetry is a language all around the globe and l never want it to die out. That's why l recite a poem every Wednesday.  Hope you enjoy.

 I went and saw an exhibition by Yayoi Kusama recently. This exhibition has been so popular and was coming to the end of it's run. I went on one of the final days and it was still crowded.  This is what l saw as soon as l entered the  door A personal message to my city. It put a smile on my face. This is a photo of the artist as a young child.  She grew up in Japan,  left and lived in America for a time before returning to live in Japan after her father died.  Can l say how much l liked her work. She uses a lot of dots along with very interesting art forms. She is also known for her collection of pumpkins. Just think of the patience needed for the piece below. It was an impressive body of work and l could have shown so many more photos.  There were also some short films too. The dots were a repeating pattern, but, l never tired of looking at them. Yayoi as she is today.  She is in her 90s now and I consider her a living treasure.    ...

I received 2 book recommendations this week. I was talking to someone who told me about what they had been reading.   Now, l admit, l don't read much anymore. I bought 2 books with me as l started this block of house sitting and l have to admit that l haven't even looked at them. It has been a busy week and l am doing different travelling. It is so much easier to listen to audiobooks rather than carry around books that get heavier and heavier as the day progresses.  Tomorrow is the last day for this first house, but, l am coming back next week so l will leave these books here. Hopefully I will read them.. Now, back to the recommendations.  They were for 2 books by different authors.  Charles Todd is one and l have to admit that l haven't heard of him before.  The book is called A fatal lie. The other book is called The ghost orchid and it is written by Jonathan Kellerman.  It got me thinking; I've never read any of Kellerman's books. I've heard the nam...