Powerful German novel... Great recommendation!!

I have just finished reading an amazing novel written by German author Bernhard Schlink (shameless plug for work... Find it here on the One Card Network http://sapln.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/murraybridge/search/results?qu=the+reader+bernhard+schlink&te=&lm=MURRAYBRIDGE). It is an intriguing story that starts out forbidden romance but then becomes so much more complex. It was a great recommendation by a colleague at work (thanks Belinda!!) whom I had told in passing that I was looking for something quick but really interesting to read.

One of the themes touched on by the book is the after affects of the Holocaust, especially how the guilt and emotion of this crime is being dealt with (or not) by the generations of Germans that have come since the conclusion of WW2. I have also read Schindler's List, Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas and The Book Thief, a trio of similarly powerful books about the same period of history, but The Reader, in my mind is the only one of these novels that has really addressed that feeling of guilt.

When I was overseas (soooooooooo many lifetimes ago) I was lucky to have the chance to stay with a German family in Berlin for a week. Prior to staying with this family though I spent a few days as a backpacker in a hostel. It was election time and there were posters everywhere for the various political parties and independents that the citizenry could vote for. One party that caught my mind was the Nazi party... surprising to me that they were still going... I spoke with some Germans that I crossed paths with and discovered their English was good (much better than my Deutsch) and we discussed the elections. Their comments regarding the Nazi party were that this was a small and unpopular group who still had the same very narrow views of what Germany as a country and people should aspire to be and that there was very little chance of this party even holding a single seat.

I thought it also interesting that when I stayed with the Jonker family for the week it was the palace of the princess, the art galleries and even Checkpoint Charlie that I was recommended to see. Nothing to do with that darker side of Germany's history.

The Reader was a wonderful, quick, but very different story for me. A novel that took me back to Germany (a little) but more than that it challenged my view of the country, the people and what they have gone through...

Revenge of the Electronic Device!!!

How did our lives get so submerged in electronic devices? Just attempting to do my tax and can't open the file from last year becuase I've deleted the software... My son is chucking a wobbly because I told him he can't use the iPad and I'm trying to recover from a late night watching of all things 50 Shades of Grey (please don't judge me!!). I have so many great books to read but I seem to have allowed myself to be sucked into a reliance on digital devices... Home, Sponge Bob... All watched at home with the kids and Paper Planes is planned for tomorrow as part of our (library) School Holiday Activities... What ever happened to good old fashioned craft activities (simple fun)...

Is it time we pulled the plug for a week and reconnected on a personal/people level? Or are we all now too reliant on our phones, tablets... Surrounded by PC processors... It's the Revenge of the Electronic Device!!! Any the greatest irony??? I'm blogging about it all on a laptop with my Google blog account... Aaaaaaarrrggggggg!!!!!

Winter Has Snuck Up Upon Us

Where has 2015 gone? The sweet months of Summer and the stranger ones of Autumn have seemingly whisked by me. The kids seem to be growing up and up at a quicker rate (could it be the moisture in the air?) and already the heater is going, the extra blanket is on the bed and I am very envious of anyone with a fire place.

We are almost half way through this year and I have posted only about half as much as I had in 2014. I'm suffering from blogger's guilt...

The middle of the year may have snuck up upon us all, but now that it is cool at night and even colder in the morning rug up and enjoy the crisp coolness of the frosty season of Winter.

I have so many things to celebrate now that June and July are upon us... So many wonderful years of marriage to my gorgeous wife... So many years of my own to reflect upon and muse over...

I'm so glad then that Winter is here and the celebrations can begin...

Remembering Them 100 Years On...

ANZAC Day is a day to reflect... We raise a glass not only to those who have fallen in battle but also to those who lived through the horrors of war and survived, reliving those horrors for the rest of their lives...

I admit that I have never worn the army greens, born arms in the name of Australia. I don't know what it would be like to stand side by side with other Aussies and Kiwis facing a common enemy. I have no clue what it would have been like to land upon that famous Turkish beach with the bullets whizzing through the air around you... All I know is that I am thankful for the sacrifices of those men that century ago and just as thankful to all of those men and women who represent us on any warfront anywhere in the world.

So far from home
So far from friends
A day at the beach
Is this the end?

Brothers beside you
Bullets fill the air
Orders to claim the next ridge
Will we make it there?

So hot... Chaos
Orders make no sense
The ANZAC spirit drives us on
Leap the barbedwire fence

How many mates?
Which bullet was meant for me?
How much longer before it comes?
Death's day by the sea

I hope that your ANZAC day was a thoughtful one... A day of quiet reflection... A chance to pause for a moment and wonder how, why, what if... A moment to be proud of those who raised their hand so long ago and proud of those who still raise their hand today...

The Greatest Show on Earth

We have recently had the pleasure of taking our three little ones to a few performances marketed at families, Disney On Ice, movies like Home and Big Hero 6. Nothing compares to Lennon Brothers' Circus. The kids were so excited as we drove along Port Road in Adelaide and spotted the big top on the horizon. I must admit my own inner child also did a bit of a leap of joy! That was just the beginning...

To be sitting a mere meter away from where the lions would stroll into the centre ring, to see a young man with so much spark and confidence (and what looked like a severe lack of common sense) tackle the Ring Of Death and almost lose, to see tiny donkeys leap over a camel's head, not to mention the acrobats twisting themselves about.. So eye opening... Such amazing performances each and everyone...

Yes I am proud that we took Master 9, Miss 7 and Miss 5 to see such a truly amazing performance. I cannot remember if I ever saw a circus as a child... Though I would be surprised if my Dad and Mum never took my brothers and I to one. What I hope is that this experience I have shared with my kids they will have the chance to create again when they have kids of their own...

Let the magic live on...

The sad passing of a wizard of wit

It is with great sadness that I discovered today of the passing of one of my all-time favourite authors… The great wizard of wit, Terry Pratchett has been claimed at last by Death after a long battle with that horrid illness Alzheimers disease.

Author of the Discworld series Sir Terry Pratchett caused me at thirteen to cry with unstoppable tears of laughter as I read (and thankfully understood) his opening quip concerning the creation of new planets… referring to the process as ‘the big bang theory’. I was utterly hooked by the first paragraph of A Color of Magic, and have loved this man as an author ever since.

I lost my mother to Alzheimers disease while she was in her early sixties and it broke my heart when I heard that my favourite author was destined to suffer the same fate. I have been amazed by how Terry has used his profile however to try and influence how govenments and the world has looked at tackling such a cruel killer.

I am yet to feast upon the latest works by this great man and look forward to more tear causing laughs as I return to Anhk-Morpork and reunite with much missed friends. Pratchett had the ability to see the world differently, quirkily, he saw the soul of the world around him and the funny side to seemingly everything.

We have lost a fighter who proved that the pen (or keyboard) was indeed far mightier than the sword and that by laughing at ourselves we could learn so much more...

I feel like Rincewind as I stumble to find the right words to express my feelings of shock and loss... I guess I will never get to buy you that imperial pint of ale Sir Pratchett... Never get to see you live and hear you speak... Never shake your hand... Your stories are all we have now from which we can enjoy your wisdom and wit.

Fare well Sir Terry Pratchett... Rest in peace... The world is a much sadder place without you...

Our baby is growing up too fast

After the insanity of January and February combined it has come as a real shock to finally realise that our youngest is not Miss 4 any more. In one swift blow Miss 4 has started school and over a blur of a long weekend she has celebrated her 5th birthday very much in style...

Saturday we celebrated with two wonderful families and a highly entertaining trip to the Hahndorf farm barn (www.farmbarn.com.au/).
The staff there were all helpful, friendly and entertaining.
It was such a great time and enjoyed most definately by the birthday girl.

Then came the Monday... so NOT a holiday... 14 kids all running around, stopping only for a moment to
play pin the plat on Queen Elsa and pass the parcel (both games requested by our beautiful daughter.

Now I breath a sigh of relief that you are only 5 years old once.

What a way to celebrate!