#BFC wk 2 I finished my first book but I didn‘t go to pilates as I was away at a Professional Development course in reading and working memory which was fantastic. Afterwards I went to the op shop not far from the school & got all of these goodies for under $20. This wk I went over my minimum of yoga and stretching sessions, I kept my wine drinking in check & went for my walk so I‘m definitely on the up. I commented on 10 individual posts. 42 +10=

My motivation for my #BookFitnessChallenge is myself. I‘ve always loved exercise endorphins & seem to have a need to exercise everyday or I go a bit nuts. I turn 40 next year so I want to look and feel fantastic at my big bonfire birthday party & to grow old disgracefully. This picture was taken in 2014 on a pole dancing cruise around the Pacific Islands that I went on with my precious girlfriends. I want to do one to America soon. @wanderinglynn

Well on my way to meeting my goals for #BFC this week. I‘ve gone to yin yoga twice already plus gone for my walk while listening to my audio book at the same time. I walked to the little free library up the hill and picked up the tagged book. This picture is of the park I walk through on the way back down. It‘s my favourite. The sunsets and sunrises have been gorgeous lately. Yay for me!

#BFC #wk1 It‘s Thurs in Oz & I don‘t think there will be anymore exercise to be done tonight so am updating you now @wanderinglynn I‘m happy with my alcohol intake this wk. Only 1 blowout in the first week is pretty good me thinks. I didn‘t have any added sugar. I stretched for 2 hrs. I commented on the posts of others 18 xs. No books finished this wk but have started an audio and a hard copy. I posted about the #BFC x2. I have a total of 42 pts.

Latest scores from my building‘s book exchange. I heard Meg Wolitzer speak at the Sydney Writer‘s Festival so I am looking forward to her one. There must be at least one other avid reader in my building as the other book is an ARC of a book I wanted. I love the cover. Of course the author is a dancer who teaches adults ballet so now I am following her on Litsy. It‘s the first book I‘ve opened that mentions Litsy. Woo hoo!

This arvos walk home from work. Off to yin yoga tonight with the step daughters too. Keeping up with goals to a certain extent. May have gone over the wine limit last night. @wanderinglynn

Enjoying this library book in bed with a cup of camomile tea before the start of a long day #poemsbeforephones

Happy Mother‘s Day fellow mothers. At a reasonable hour our bedroom door slid shut and a note that said ‘Do not exit this room‘ was left behind. No problem kids. I‘m happy to stay in bed reading while you get all my gifts ready and your father gets me a cup of tea and makes me Swedish pancakes. They took me on a picnic to Stanley Park which is a gorgeous old homestead up the road. #iwokeuplikethis #lmpbc #Groupx @thegreensofa @Sarz @BecH @suvata

Sunrise this morn on my way to work. No earbuds when it‘s dark! SAFETY!
GOALS: I‘ve changed them @wanderinglynn just to be a pain.
Recommended alcohol intake Mon to Thurs with 2 rest days during the wk. This will be the hardest part for me
Stretching for 2 hrs per wk
Yin Yoga twice a wk
1 pole dancing or pilates class per wk
No added sugar to food I can control
Listen to audio books when walking
Finish 4 books of any type
1x30 min walk per wk

Who is with me? Head over to @wanderinglynn for all the information.

I was super impressed by Adélaïde. Despite English being her 2nd language she was the most entertaining speaker at the Syd Writer‘s Fest. I saw her x2. Once she spoke on witches & embracing female power & her second talk was on her traumatic childhood. She even dealt with a heckler in the audience with grace. I can‘t wait to read her book that she signed for me. @Miss__astrid & I spotted her numerous xs over the weekend enjoying the fest herself.

On my way home from the Sydney Writer‘s Festival. It was...
I discovered new authors, relaxed, caught up with friends, bought too many books, ate, drank and learnt lots, even things about maths, Kate Bush and Princess Di. Pictures to come.

Revenge of the fifth in Australia but May the fourth be with you anyway.

Sydney Writer‘s Festival Day 1. My first time attending when it is at the Carriageworks. I must say I prefer the Walsh Bay venue better than this one as it is a little too busy. Not enough loos or places to eat but plenty of great books and their clever authors though.

Book of the year so far. Kind of resembles my book of the year last year which was Tin Man and also for #LMPBC Everybody really should join up next round. Would have missed out on some wonderful reads if it wasn‘t for these Aussie ladies.

Super excited about the new bookshop that has opened up today at the old train station close to my apartment. It has an exchange where I got the tagged cook book and I also purchased one of these blind date books for a swap. There is a coffee shop nearby too. @BecH @Miss__astrid

ANZAC Day is a huge deal in Australia. Here I am after rising early to organise the kids to march with their Scout group then in the evening consuming a very nice 2010 bottle of Darenberg Shiraz as captured by my partner when he finally came to bed at god knows what hour after playing two up all day. I am loving your pick @Sarz #LMPBC @suvata #GroupX

Happy Easter everyone. Here we are yesterday enjoying family reading time in the hammock and well deserved champagne time for the adults of course.

Thankyou @Sarz I think my step daughter may have stolen my pen but don‘t worry I will get it back. The pencil case is hilarious and I am keen to to try the turmeric tea especially xo @Avanders

I stay at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo in Sydney every year for my birthday. This is one of the many reasons why.

Thanks for the b‘day wishes everyone. I‘m still partying. My birthdays are notorious for lasting a month. The hotel I‘m at has 2 copies of this stunning book. Do you think they would mind if I stole 1? I ❤️the designers featured. Plenty of Moët yesterday arvo, Opera on the harbour last night. Travelling home from Sydney today for a holiday in Port Macquarie with my little family. So much to look forward to. Will spam more hotel book pics later.

My first day at Newcastle Writer‘s Festival was today. Even though it‘s in my hometown I sadly haven‘t been for years. I totally stuffed up the timetable but still saw some great talks and got some books signed.

Pasta and a poem. I tried to do #poemsbeforephones @monalyisha I wasn‘t always successful but I have definitely read more poetry.

Want a reminder that your life is actually pretty good and you really have nothing to complain about then you should definitely read this book. Having a lazy day today finishing this off and cooking a roast #LMPBC #GroupX

A weekend without the kids meant a late Sunday breakfast of bacon & eggs followed by hrs laying on the beach reading. The water temp was perfect. Afterwards we shared a bottle of wine with caramelised onion and mushroom risotto that my partner Stew said was in the top 3 meals I‘ve ever cooked for him, an arvo sleep then a harp performance in the bar below my apartment. A wonderful weekend. I live for holidays. I started this on audio but switched.

#Fridaynightbookclub in Oz is actually #Saturdaymorningbookclub I‘m reading in bed by candlelight to start the day off slowly before I go for a walk up the hill to vote, beach time then get my hair done in preparation for my partner taking me to a harp performance at Bar Petite tomorrow night. I‘m very lucky to live right above great restaurants in the middle of the city but also have a view of the beach. This book is required reading for school.

Got this gorgeous book from the library this afternoon. It has a section on how to live with books.
Book Club tonight. Yay! Yet to finish the book though. Meeting is at the pub.

Don‘t read this one on the train on the way to work. So beautiful and so sad. Should be required reading for people who are against Human Rights and will not accept refugees in their country. It‘s illegal not to.

Spent the morning down the Main Street with the girls. Got these bargains for $6 from St Paul‘s Thrift Shop. Now we are scooting home before it pours.

Some #Litsylove heading your way guys. How cool are Australia‘s author stamps?

Everything was half price at St Paul‘s Thrift Shop yesterday.

This afternoon my first round of #Litsylove will head overseas plus one for my pen pal.

1. Pole dancing, yoga, taking long, luxurious baths, walking, writing, pilates, ballet, burlesque, travel, attending festivals and markets, eating out at restaurants, motor bike rides, cooking, watching movies, swimming, going to the opera & surfing. 2. Literature & thrillers. 3. 3 chooks. 4. Yep. 5. Tea, journals, books & wine but the wine never seems to last. 6. I‘ve most of my #LitsyLoveletters written up. Just have to get to the PO. Next week?

Today‘s windy audio walk of half an hour. #LitsyWalkers #statue @DarcysMom @kaye

Today was a better day. I‘m back into #LitsyWalkers again. I walked to the Little Free Library and I picked up the tagged book & a couple of self help ones as I‘m in a bit of a rut at the moment. I made the discovery today that I can gift books on Audible so if anyone wants Where the Crawdads Sing let me know. Also had a score at my building‘s book exchange this morning. I got a bag of books which nearly caused me to miss my tram. #green

I do love me a book about arty farty stuff. Thanks @thegreensofa @BecH @CarolynM @Sarz #LMPBC @suvata

Thankyou @jenniferw88 for my #lonelyheartsclubswap I haven‘t seen a bookmark like these that show the exact line you have read to. They are great. I am using the sticky notes for my #LMPBC already and I will be sure to let you know what I think of the book xo

Thankyou @TheWordJar for my lovely #justabookswap package. I just finished writing on the 1st gmorning page as I intend to treat it like a diary & I‘m enjoying the other interesting book in bed with a cup of tea. It looks like it‘s going to be a great beach day here & my cousin and his girlfriend are visiting so lots of cooking. Last night I made them curried sausages & quinoa with naan. He had 2 helpings! For breaky I‘m thinking beans & eggs.

Happy Valentine‘s Day to me! Aren‘t I a lucky girl? Thanks for the books I desperately wanted @Rissreads You have a lovely collection of gift cards don‘t you? I will try out the other fun stuff this weekend. You have spoilt me rotten ox

Any Aussies up for a round? It will be my third time. I have loved having my comfort zone expanded. My favourite read of last year was read because of this Book Club.

#LitsyWalkers today I had a transfer of duty travel training one of my English as a Second Language students so bonus walking time to get to the bus stop to meet him. This one is an Australian native flower I was lucky enough to see on my walk for @kaye bingo.

On to my second #LitsyWalkers audio book. The narrator Caroline Lee is usually good but sounds exceptionally nasally this time. Maybe it‘s because the last audio book had such great voices for most of the stories. Using this picture for red in your bingo @kaye

Only got three days to finish this audio book and with a busy weekend coming up I can‘t see it happening. I started a new story on the short walk to school this morning. #LitsyWalkers @kaye @DarcysMom

Keeping on top of my #JB. These letters arrived yesterday and the day before and they were in the post the next day. Go me!

#LitsyWalkers A gorgeous Sunday evening walk after yin yoga class to work off the bottle of wine I helped to drink at lunch. This is a bizarre audio book but I enjoy it.

Tonight I am attending a talk by Nigella Lawson at my local theatre. I‘m very excited. I love her food, body positivity and the fact that she has midnight feasts.

This is the creek I walk along on the way to school everyday. I only get under 10 minutes of audio walking in provided I don‘t get interrupted by all the elderly people that walk the same track. #LitsyWalkers @kaye (Happy birthday) @DarcysMom

My pilates class was cancelled this afternoon so I went for a walk up to Shepherd‘s Hill and listened to another average story in this tagged book. It was a bit depressing but I could just be in a mood. Some good one liners though #Litsywalkers @kaye @DarcysMom

Not loving it so far. Bit too clunky. Back at school today so a drink is in order. I live for holidays. 73 days until the next one. @suvata @CarolynM @thegreensofa @Sarz @BecH #LMPBC #GroupX

The 3rd story in this audio book is the worst so far but still interesting to hear what the female author thinks goes on inside the brain of a middle age man. Today I‘m excited to step back in time and listen to Double J an Australian alternative radio station replay the Hottest 100 of 1998. The year I left high school! It‘s my last day of school holidays before I go back to teach Special Education at High School. I plan to pack a lot into my day.