20 Something Snaps - Ciao Roma

Settled comfortably in the Guardian Hotel, Rome. Started off with a Cappuccino in the hotel courtyard while we waited for our room to be ready.

 

Once we were settled in our room we took a stroll around our neighbourhood prior to hitting the tourist trail tomorrow. 

Flexible

Just wish my neck was as flexible as this chap who landed in the backyard this morning.

Look right

Look left

A Royal Occasion

While reflecting on regal matters this morning I remembered attending, back in 1981, a 21st birthday celebration for one of our young neighbours, Kathryn. She had decreed that all guests at the event wear fancy dress.

It so happened that another neighbour, Rosemary, had a fancy dress hire business and offered to dress us for the occasion. Rosemary who decreed that we should go as the Royal Couple, Elizabeth and Phillip, dressed us accordingly. The function venue, Keiron at Waverley, with its chandeliers, flocked wallpaper and starched tablecloths provided an appropriate environment for the occasion. 

This morning I dug into our photo archives and found a couple of snaps from the occasion. 

The Royal Wave

eVersion

I'm trying to cut down on luggage!  

I have a hard copy of this book on my shelves but it's rather heavy. Thanks to the Libby app I have been able to borrow an eversion of a later edition from Hornsby Library. 

Hope we don't get lost with this available on my phone!

 

Next job is to replace my Italian dictionary with an eVersion.

Junee Gem

Our recent jaunt to Canberra and Wagga Wagga was to catch up with some old friends but, while we were in the area, we managed to visit a few local towns. 

One unplanned visit we made was to the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory which is housed in a five storey, abandoned former flour mill. 

Front of the building

Side view

After sampling some of the products in the shop we gave our credit card some exercise with a few purchases to take on the road. 

Temptation

Our Haul

After making our purchases we wandered through the onsite restaurant (tempting but we had already had lunch down the road in Cootamundra). We visited the areas where the licorice and chocolate are manufactured and watched, through the huge glass windows, the magicians making the delicious treats. 

Next door to the Factory there is the Classic Car Garage that we didn't have time to visit. We will put this on the agenda for our next visit to the area. 

Cars awaiting restoration for the Classic Car Garage??

Reading Challenge Progress - August

 On the 27th December 2021 the Goodwill Librarian launched on Facebook her 2022 reading challenge. I made a hasty decision to join this challenge. 

Each month I will report my progress in reading books that fulfil her criteria. I will add a link to the Librarything entry for each criterion I tick off.

Following are details of titles I ticked off in August. With only three more categories to conquer I am confident that I will complete this challenge.

You can see the full list of the challenge criteria here.

27. That's a one hit wonder The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wild
https://www.librarything.com/work/1527/book/222492589

28. About nature  Brompton Cemetery : brimming with stories, buzzing with nature, Souvenir Guide
https://www.librarything.com/work/28631207/details/222350206

36. About sports Maisy learns to swim by Lucy Cousins

https://www.librarything.com/work/13409333/book/223058806

39. By an author who shares your name Peace at Last by Jill Murphy
https://www.librarything.com/work/571765/workdetails/222352687

42. Written by two authors The Bookseller at the End of the World  
https://www.librarything.com/work/28059668/workdetails/222268664

This is not a full list of the books I read in August. The remaining titles can be seen on my Librarything or GoodReads accounts.

Fields of Gold

 Driving past the the canola fields near Illabo, NSW, we are stunned by their glory.