WeekEforEphemeral

Over on Bluesky Sheena, a Glaswegian living in Northern Ireland, curates a weekly photographic challenge.I have been participating in these challenges for a couple of months It gives me an opportunity to dig into my rather large snapshot archive and share a few images to the weekly theme related to a letter of the alphabet.

Last week's theme for the challenge was #WeekEforEphemeral. As someone who is obsessed with Family History I have a great collection of family treasures that could wear the Ephemeral label. 

We lined up for tickets in New York

When I announced the impending arrival of Baby Number 4 my mother gave me this.

Goodbye Plaster Cast. Thankfully it was ephemeral

Can't think why I saved this paper napkin from a past family Easter celebration.

The waves that roll in at our place on Lake Macquarie are short lived.

A Community event to welcome servicemen home to Canowindra Australia. My Dad's invitation.

Here's my Son's Christmas Wish List from the eighties.

One of the fun activities at Rootstech in 2017 was an opportunity for attendees to have a caricature drawn. Here's mine.

Twice visited, happy to go again.

A Birthday Telegram from 1951. Who were Stephen and Terrence?

My last post for this theme - The mother was pleased that lipstick didn't last.

WeekDforDark

Over on Bluesky Sheena, a Glaswegian living in Northern Ireland, curates a weekly photographic challenge.I have been participating in these challenges for a couple of months It gives me an opportunity to dig into my rather large snapshot archive and share a few images to the weekly theme related to a letter of the alphabet.

Last week's theme for the challenge was #WeekDforDark

My first image was taken on our last cruise in June.

Sunset somewhere in the Indian Ocean

A Dark and Delicious Sundae from the Lindt Cafe in Paris

A Dark Contribution from Ireland

I've read some dark books

Coal - Murmansk, Russia

Storm rolling in - Sydney Harbour, Australia

Looking out - Hercules Cave, Tangier, Morocco

Black Sand Beach - Reynisfjara, Iceland

My Backyard - Carey Bay, Australia

Slave Cell - Stone Town, Zanzibar

After Dark - Shanghai, China

Dark Headgear for Dark Times - Hooge Crater Museum, Belgium

Someone in Marken,Netherlands doesn't like tourists

Devils Island - Former French Penal Colony, French Guiana

Robben Island, South Africa - where Nelson Mandela
 was imprisoned for 18 years

At the end of a Dark Week giving thanks for lovely lights that illuminate dark spaces

Four Behind Schedule

I now find myself four books behind schedule in the 2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge. 

What should I do? Change my goal or plug on? I am now ignoring longer books in an effort to catch up thereby denying myself some very good reading experiences. I've also read a couple of titles that aren't in the Goodreads database. I submit their bibliographic details to the volunteer librarians but they are overwhelmed with requests. As a former librarian I could perhaps apply to become one of these volunteers and add those missing titles to the catalogue.

We've still five months of the year remaining so I'll try to read more (and pull back on my French lessons?) and assess the situation again in September.

My Books Read in July

Of the eight books I attempted in July my standout was A Mudlarking Year by Lara Maiklin. I have been following Lara on Facebook for several years and have been captivated by her adventures on the Thames. From the book I not only learnt about Laura's personal life and history, I gained an insight into London lives in earlier times.

I love detective/murder/thriller novels so was pleased to read my first book, Nowhere to be Found by Louisa Scarr, it won't be my last. I'll also seek out more titles by Sarah Clutton, it was interesting to see the use of DNA in the story.

While I was looking forward to Noni Hazlehurst's biography I found it tedious. I read 47% of this book and now have an understanding of Noni's views on politics and the environment. While the people and places in this work are familiar I just didn't have the commitment to read all the fine details of Noni's professional engagements.  I kept on thinking if the book was another performance by an accomplished actor,. It was a Did not Finish.

WeekCforCurves

Over on Bluesky Sheena, a Glaswegian living in Northern Ireland, curates a weekly photographic challenge.

I have been participating in these challenges for a couple of months It gives me an opportunity to dig into my rather large snapshot archive and share a few images to the weekly theme related to a letter of the alphabet.

Last week's theme for the challenge was #WeekCforCurves. I had a selection of pics in my archives tagged as Curves so finding images for this theme wasn't too onerous.  Following are some of the snaps I shared.

I kicked off with a post taken in my backyard at Carey Bay.

Sailing on Lake Macquarie, Australia

Refreshment between Cape Town and Johannesburg

St Pancras Hotel, London

Mumbai, India

Bridge in Kristiansund, Norway

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Regent Seven Seas Splendor - At Sea

By the Beach - Cassis, France

Opera House - Oslo, Norway

Villa D'Este- Tivoli, Italy

Bollards at the Barbican - Lodon

Water Play area in Curry Reserve, Camden, NSW.
 Named for my convict ancestor, Patrick Curry

Seafood from Australia

A Curvaceous Door in London

I need now to go hunting for Dark images for next week!