This month's icebreaker on collections, especially home libraries*, resulted in the sharing of original ideas for physical, electronic and memory libraries. A library of ‘dad jokes’, was one that could be especially useful for the grand-fathers amongst us. Yet no library would be comparable to Delfina’s.
'Catch up' tales related to 'Time Travelling' and 'Travel' followed. A revisit to his old classroom of fifty years ago, led Neville to recount a nostalgic tale of one of his favourite teachers, ‘Nick Cave’s dad’. David delightfully detailed a walk through Japan with his two sons, offering salutary advice to always check your boots for comfort prior to embarkation. Neville disturbingly, led us into the labyrinth of his post-retirement dreams/nightmares.
On this months theme 'My Brilliant Career', Carmyl shared with us excerpts from an irregular column she wrote for the local newspaper under the pseudonym of Mrs Hinchcliffe, who argued and bargained with God, in anticipation of the merged Uniting Church. Meanwhile James introduced us to the 1% club as he tracked his illustrious career from military aviation to his unexpected success as a sales representative. Max reminisced with stories of his Big Blue Bin and Bev surprised us all in sharing her brief career as a film producer and editor. (Such hidden talent, although her online production and editing of our contributions, suggested this was an area of historic depth).
Looking through a different lens, Ray chronicled a short, less than brilliant career as an insurance salesman early in his working life which led to a change of direction and public recognition as a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Delfina entertained us exposing her short career as Secretary of the Italian Chamber of Commerce. Without typing or other basic secretarial skills, she was surely employed on the basis of her wit and charm. On the other hand Heather H. exposed her ‘brilliant’ career trekking from Veterinarian nurse to HR Manager and Phil shared his pleasure in deciding not become a truckie, like his dad, to start his career as an electroplate apprenticeship and which circled back to truck driving.
Our final theme was 'Rebellion' and John entertained us with a story of a foreign rebellion on U.S. soil at Camp Ockanickon. John’s not insignificant role in this rebellion was reflected in an Aussie flag flying proudly beneath the British and US flags. And Barry reminded us of the importance of righteous rebellion against injustice and inequity.
Topics for July 15, a very early third Monday this time, are:
‘My Gap Year’ Write about a time when you took, or circumstances meant that you took, time out from your ‘regular’ life or veered off an intended path for a year or so. What happened? What did you learn from doing so? (Member’s Choice Topic – Bev Morton 2022)
‘My ( …. )’ As we go through life the beginnings and endings of 'life stages' can be marked with events. Looking back over your life, think about an event, the stage it marked, and the results, hopefully fruits of this transition. (If you have been in the class for some time, pick a life stage which you haven’t written about before).
Graham Jensen
'Catch up' tales related to 'Time Travelling' and 'Travel' followed. A revisit to his old classroom of fifty years ago, led Neville to recount a nostalgic tale of one of his favourite teachers, ‘Nick Cave’s dad’. David delightfully detailed a walk through Japan with his two sons, offering salutary advice to always check your boots for comfort prior to embarkation. Neville disturbingly, led us into the labyrinth of his post-retirement dreams/nightmares.
On this months theme 'My Brilliant Career', Carmyl shared with us excerpts from an irregular column she wrote for the local newspaper under the pseudonym of Mrs Hinchcliffe, who argued and bargained with God, in anticipation of the merged Uniting Church. Meanwhile James introduced us to the 1% club as he tracked his illustrious career from military aviation to his unexpected success as a sales representative. Max reminisced with stories of his Big Blue Bin and Bev surprised us all in sharing her brief career as a film producer and editor. (Such hidden talent, although her online production and editing of our contributions, suggested this was an area of historic depth).
Looking through a different lens, Ray chronicled a short, less than brilliant career as an insurance salesman early in his working life which led to a change of direction and public recognition as a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Delfina entertained us exposing her short career as Secretary of the Italian Chamber of Commerce. Without typing or other basic secretarial skills, she was surely employed on the basis of her wit and charm. On the other hand Heather H. exposed her ‘brilliant’ career trekking from Veterinarian nurse to HR Manager and Phil shared his pleasure in deciding not become a truckie, like his dad, to start his career as an electroplate apprenticeship and which circled back to truck driving.
Our final theme was 'Rebellion' and John entertained us with a story of a foreign rebellion on U.S. soil at Camp Ockanickon. John’s not insignificant role in this rebellion was reflected in an Aussie flag flying proudly beneath the British and US flags. And Barry reminded us of the importance of righteous rebellion against injustice and inequity.
Topics for July 15, a very early third Monday this time, are:
‘My Gap Year’ Write about a time when you took, or circumstances meant that you took, time out from your ‘regular’ life or veered off an intended path for a year or so. What happened? What did you learn from doing so? (Member’s Choice Topic – Bev Morton 2022)
‘My ( …. )’ As we go through life the beginnings and endings of 'life stages' can be marked with events. Looking back over your life, think about an event, the stage it marked, and the results, hopefully fruits of this transition. (If you have been in the class for some time, pick a life stage which you haven’t written about before).
Graham Jensen
*Reflections on Home Libraries (and other collections)
Umberto Eco (pictured above), who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries: "It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion. “If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the ‘medicine closet’ and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That’s why you should always have a nutrition choice! “Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity”.
Optional Writing Task Write about a collection you have which includes being able to choose ‘the right …. for that moment’ When did you start the collection, how did it grow? Give an example of some examples of when you have chosen from it for the moment….What decisions do you or have you faced about its future?
Optional Writing Task Write about a collection you have which includes being able to choose ‘the right …. for that moment’ When did you start the collection, how did it grow? Give an example of some examples of when you have chosen from it for the moment….What decisions do you or have you faced about its future?
