1000 Fields of Roses

Yesterday we went to the big annual Lifeline Bookfest, which is still ongoing – finishes Monday 27th January at 6pm. Friday night goes until 9pm, and there are bands as well! There are $1, $2.50 and high quality sections, and games, DVDs and stationery are included in the mix. I got some books to add to various series I’m collecting, and some cool stationery items as well.

I didn’t really look at the high quality section, and only skimmed the $2.50 section. I had somewhere to be at 2pm, and it tends to become a bit of a blur when you look at every table – there are a lot of books! I’m happy with my small haul, though 😀

In other news… there’s been some lovely rain, although not as much as we’d like. Our yard has been unmowed for a while, so there’s been tufts of grass, but it wasn’t until I sat on the patio that I realised that I can no longer see the planting boxes…

The rain (actual or threatened) has also brought out the ants, and I’ve found them in unwanted places. That includes my comfy chair – it’s hard to relax when you get bitey ants randomly roaming through your clothes… I vacuumed everything I could find, but I think it’s just that our chairs are on the ants’ pathway. I haven’t had any so far this afternoon!

The birds are singing.
There’s a breath of air that feels like a possible storm.
I’m feeling comfortable in myself – and I’ve just had some (raw, organic) cheesecake.

This is the sort of summer I can cope with!

At least, I will be… 😀

The Lifeline Bookfest is on again, just up the road from us. We went down before school let out, so there weren’t loads of people there yet. The starting time had been changed from 3pm to 9am, which meant we could browse a bit longer, and the quality of the books were good – there seemed to be a number of folio quality editions of children’s classics, and lots of good quality cookbooks. That was reflected in the price – it costs more at the Lifeline Bookfests than at the Library book sales. I had told myself I’d only get a few books, and only if I really wanted them… it’s hard to refrain from buying all the books, but I managed.
Here’s my bargains!

Two of the nice editions of children’s classics. I had thought I didn’t have “Heidi” (I knew I had “Heidi Grows Up”) so bought it – turns out it’s “Pollyanna” I don’t have. This is a better edition than the one I had before, though. The other book is by the same author of “The Wind In The Willows”. I don’t know this book – it will be fun finding out about it!

This appears to be a sort of bite-sized version of philosophical ideas, explaining the ideas that shaped our thinking over the centuries. It’s salutary to remember that what we take for granted hasn’t always been around…

I enjoy the Spot What books 🙂 The other book is by the author of the “Wreck This Journal” books, but perhaps weighted more towards writing than art.

A book for my Babe, to have a giggle 🙂

A more modern edition of an Australian classic! Pretty sure there was some sort of law that we had to have one of those cakes at our birthday party when I was a kid… I do have the original version (the one with the train cake, or the swimming pool cake), but this is very pretty.

The entire second series of Fame for $5! I already have the first series. My Sweet Bean found the other DVD, and thought I might like it. Reckon I’ll enjoy watching that.
So much serenity…

They also had a pile of soft toys over by the checkouts. I’ve not long finished the Gish Hunt, so I couldn’t resist a sock monkey!

So, I have a choice of reading/watching material tonight…after I’ve finished the library books that are due back soon.The Bookfest will be open tomorrow and Sunday, from 9am to about 4pm. Go grab some bargains!

It’s been a busy weekend. Yesterday I went to the markets, which meant an early start. After that I took the train to South Brisbane, where the Lifeline Bookfest is on at the Convention Centre. It’s on for just over a week – go and buy books! There’s a $1 section, a $2.50 section, and a High Quality section with varying prices. I hadn’t been for a few years, so I was excited to get there this time. It can be a bit daunting – books are laid out on tables and tend to be in some sort of order (there are different genres) but there are SO MANY!! You need to have a good amount of time to browse properly.
I spent more than I’d planned, but was happy. Went out towards South Bank, stopping to revive with an iced coffee on the way.

Had a look at the South Bank markets. Enjoyed the shade under the bougainvillea arbour.

I thought about going in to Brisbane, but standing for hours looking at books, then dragging them around in a shopping trolley wore me out a bit. Got home and laid out my bounty…

On the left there is a t-square – I found it under the stationery table in the $2.50 section. The elbows up the top belong to Sweet Bean, who had started reading soon after I unpacked (The complete scripts for Fawlty Towers). There were quite a few books I would have bought, but I was trying not to spend too much.
Also on the stationery table were these. I thought I could use one and give the other to Sweet Bean – we both have a streak of perfectionism, and I thought this might help…

I was so pleased to have gone.
Also pleased to get home.

There’s still time. Go and buy books!