It’s been quite a few years since I have attempted university studies and I admit I’m excited about starting an Arts degree at Macquarie Uni (through Open Universities) at the beginning of March.

Last week I ordered the text book for my first subject, Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice by Chris Baker, which surprisingly arrived at my doorstep only two days later. Unfortunately, in the place of the laid-back Arts degree text book I was expecting, I received a book filled with some rather large words and an intimidating number of topics and subtopics.

Panic set in as I wondered what on earth I was getting myself into.

After ten and a half years at home with at least one child fulltime, I’m left wondering whether I’m still able to function mentally on a level that involves discussions with words of more than 3 syllables. Some days it’s a miracle that I can even remember my own name, how am I supposed to intelligently compose an essay on topics like ’subject positions and the politics of representation’ or ‘The institutions of modernity: the dynamism of capitalist modernity’.

I feel like Dorothy walking fearfully through the enchanted woods near Oz. ‘Isms’, ‘ists’ and ‘tions’. Oh, my!

I can relate to Seraphim’s recent post at Oh, the Possibilities where she discusses loosing her ability to turn off her mother-brain. Opportunities to discuss subjects that aren’t in some way related to children and family life can be few and far between for a stay-at-home mum and when the opportunity does present itself, it can be quite difficult to refocus.

I’m psyching myself up for an interesting few weeks as I try to kick start my long neglected brain and switch into university mode. I’m not sure whether it’s possible, but I’m willing to try and I’m looking forward to challenging myself with this course.  

Wish me luck.

Title: Jasper & Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle
Author: Kevin Rudd and Rhys Muldoon
Illustrator: Carla Zapel
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 978-1-74237-329-4
Suitable Age: 4 – 6

Summary (Allen & Unwin website)

Follow the adventures of the Prime Minister’s pet cat and dog, as they try to avert one disaster after another during Australia Day celebrations at The Lodge.

It was a special day at the Lodge. There was going to be a party. A big party. Abby the dog was there. Jasper the cat was there. But … so was a scruffy little dog.

The Prime Minister receives many letters and emails from children asking about Jasper and Abby, and he often tells his friends, colleagues and staff stories of the antics of his family pets. Having heard these stories, Rhys Muldoon – who has been friends with Kevin Rudd for many years – encouraged the Prime Minister to write a children’s book.

Proceeds from this book go to The Centre for Community Child Health, at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Comments

You know, the word “kerfuffle” just isn’t used enough in modern literature.

There were quite a few questions raised when Jasper & Abby was published. How does a busy Prime Minister find time to write a children’s book? Just how much did Kevin Rudd contribute to the book and how much was penned by well-known Australian actor Rhys Muldoon? How does a small fluffy brown dog called Chewy manage to bypass the security systems of what should be one of Australia’s most secure buildings?

For me, the more significant question is this: How did K Rudd and Rhys get photos of my parents’ dog Chewy so they could put him in their story? Hmmm? I wouldn’t have thought my Mum and Dad would have made it onto the ASIO watch list, but I guess you never know. Parents can be strange and mysterious people, so I guess anything is possible.

I can’t access an illustration of Chewy from the book, but for those of you that have access to a copy, I’ve included a photo of my parents dog Chewy so that you can compare. What do you think? Should we be claiming a percentage of the royalties? Maybe we’ll just join the authors in donating our share to the Centre for Community Child Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

This is a cute story about an Australia Day celebration almost sabotaged by a feisty brown dog that gets loose in The Lodge, the residence of Australia’s Prime Minister. Fortunately, Kevin Rudd’s pets Jasper the cat and Abby the dog are on duty and save the day. Kids will enjoy the chaos and this is a nice Australian story that avoids relying on all the standard cliches of koalas, kangaroos, bush rangers and gum leaves.

If you have a copy, I’d love to know whether you think my parents’ dog Chewy is the renegade dog of the story. My kids think so, but my husband isn’t convinced. What do you think?

I know I should probably just let this one go, but I bought some awesome books in January and I can’t move on to my February list until I tell you about them.

Thanks to Cindy of Cindy’s Love of Books for this weekly book meme that I have morphed into a once a month list of my book purchase indulgences.

After receiving some great books for Christmas and with a ridiculous number of books still waiting to be read, I had promised myself that 2010 would be a year of minimal book purchases. That resolution lasted until January 4th, when we arrived in Canberra to visit with friends for a week. All of the books listed below were purchased as we visited different tourist attractions around Canberra.

National Art Gallery of Australia

Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne & Beyond: Post-Impressionism from the Musée D’Orsay

Almost Famous Daisy by Richard Kidd

Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt

Collection Highlights from the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas

National Museum of Australia

Land Nation People: Stories from the National Museum of Australia

The Watchmaker Who Saved Christmas by Bruce Whatley

Parliament House

Billy Hughes: Wartime Australians

Australia’s Government Explained – Elizabeth Masters

Dismissed: Whitlam, Fraser, Kerr and the Story of 1975

Title: Mummy and me Cookbook
Author: Annabel Karmel
Publisher: DK, 2008 (47 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-40532-880-7
Genre: Children’s Cookbook

Summary (from DK website)

Get cooking with your child and make tasty, healthy food with child nutrition expert, Annabel Karmel.

Cooking and eating together are great for encouraging kids to eat healthily! Annabel Karmel shows how you can create all kinds of lip-smacking finger food with your child that’s good for them, too. Step-by-step photos show you (and them) exactly what to do and will help your child develop basic cookery skills: from weighing and counting to mixing and rolling, while you take care of the sharp knives and hot ovens.

From munchy oat bars and lettuce boats to perfect party treats, this is food that’s yummy and good for any size tummy. Whatever you cook up, it will be as much fun to make as it will be to eat.

Comments

With dishes that are both simple to prepare and visually appealing, Annabel Karmel’s cookbook for kids will delight any budding chefs. There are instructions for holding a cooking party including invitation ideas, party games and foods such as mini-pizzas and cookies that can be made at the party.

Recipes include a list of ingredients, preparation and cooking time, how many/much the recipe produces, and clear step by step instructions accompanied by photographs of each step. Karmel is based in the UK, however the ingredients and recipes are reasonably generic and should be appealing to most children in other countries.

Basic cooking techniques are explained and a list of basic kitchen utensils and equipment are also listed with photographs. There are some recipes requiring the use of a stove top (eg to melt chocolate) and an electric mixer.

There is a range of recipes for meals and treats, offering both sweet and savoury dishes suitable for meals and desserts.

Recipes include:
• easy cheesy bread rolls
• mini Caesar salad
• mini pizzas
• chicken dippers
• salmon fishcakes
• meringues
• banana muffins
• peanut butter bear cookies
• iced cookies

With a few exceptions, such as the meringues, recipes are healthy or healthier options for favourite treats. The emphasis is on enjoying time spent in the kitchen and involving children in food preparation. The illustrations feature young boys and girls, which may limit its appeal to younger children and girls, as school-aged boys might find the layout and appearance too babyish.

I purchased this book as a gift for my 5-year0-old niece, who loves it.

Related Links:

• Annabel Karmel website – recipes, general nutrition information for children, competitions and forums as well as a details on Karmel’s other cookbooks
• Review of Annabel Karmel’s Complete Family Meal Planner at Suite101.com.

Title: Lauren Luke Looks
Author: Lauren Luke
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2009 (205 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-340-99784-0
Topic: make-up application, celebrity looks

Summary (Hachette Australia website)

‘I just love colour! I have always been excited by colourful make-up and the endless amount of different looks you can create with it. I love the way it can bring out the best in everyone.’

Lauren Luke is an internet phenomenon. Her make-up tutorials, filmed in her bedroom have attracted a staggering 36 million [and counting...] hits on YouTube. Growing up, Lauren had a tough time at school and began experimenting with makeup to fit in. And so began a lifelong love affair with cosmetics and the art of transformation. One day she decided to share her passion with friends online and became a sensation.

The great thing about Lauren is she is just an ordinary 27 year old woman – but arm her with a glittery eye shadow and a shimmer lip-gloss and she can show you how to show off your best features or recreate a celebrity’s latest look in ten minutes flat. Everyone has bits they love about their face, and other parts they’d rather conceal, and Lauren will show you how to make the most of what you’ve got. Just like sitting down with your best friend for a makeover session, Lauren’s book is brimming with fresh ideas and packed with insider beauty tips and tricks of the trade.

Comments

I’ve mentioned more than once before that I’m a bit of a fashion tragic. My clothing of choice is a T-shirt and jeans and make-up usually involves foundation and lipstick. My hairdresser and I have sadly agreed that I am hair-style retarded and we just do the best we can.

Given the above facts, I am able to say with some degree of expertise that Lauren Luke’s book is one that is suitable for women with a full range of make-up application skills ranging from competant down to “highlighter? Isn’t that a type of pen?”. The writing style is encouraging and positive, instructions are given in a clear step-by-step format and the accompanying photographs ensure that even I can understand exactly what needs to be done.

While I may not be racing out to purchase products to turn me from freelance-writer-mum to Katie Perry-clone, there are a range of everyday and more formal make-up looks that appeal to me. Armed with Lauren’s tips, I might even be able to finally overcome my “panda-eyes” eyeliner woes.

As helpful as the make-up tips are, I found this book appealing for another reason. In the introduction, Lauren shares her story of a lonely childhood and self-esteem issues in high school that led to a teenage pregnancy. Lauren’s decision to support herself and her son using her passion for make-up and her own ingenuity is an inspiring one. It is encouraging to read a real-life story of success coming from hard-work, determination and passion. Well done Lauren, you deserve the success you have achieved.

Tips on choosing the correct make-up colours, basic skin care and how to highlight strengths and conceal flaws as well as achieving a variety of looks make this is a great book for teenagers beginning to experiment with make-up as well as any woman who wants to get the most from her appearance.

Related Links:
Review of Lauren Luke at Suite101.com
ByLaurenLuke website featuring Lauren’s own range of cosmetic products

Who listens to the radio? Well, hopefully lots of people were tuned in to ABC Newcastle today to listen to me chat with the super amazing Carol Duncan and Meredith (from Oh, The Thinks You Can Think).

What? You didn’t hear our scintillating conversation? Never fear. Carol Duncan has made the audio file available at Afternoons with Carol Duncan.

There were several issues raised during our conversation that I will no doubt write about in the near future, but the thing that has struck me the most is the way in which the old-fashioned medium of the ‘wireless’ has adapted to new technology.

Firstly, there was the delightful twist our conversation took thanks to some tweets by Jayne Kearney (@indydreaming) and Meredith’s husband. Thanks to their input, which Carol was able to access while we were chatting, Meredith delighted us all with her Chewbacca impersonation. I kid you not. Given the opportunity to share her deepest and most inspiring thoughts with the world via the airwaves, Meredith simply growled like a wookie. You just can’t take some people out in public.

I should mention (because if I don’t, Meredith will be really cross) that Meredith did in fact contribute some very interesting remarks. That’s hardly surprising though. After all, we were there to chat with Carol about our role as bloggers and writers and Meredith is, generally speaking, a rather insightful and intelligent individual.

The thing that really caught my attention, however, was that Carol could be chatting with us and adapting the conversation to feature the input of listeners at the same time. For an ‘old-fashioned’ form of communication, I think that’s quite impressive.

I’m also impressed that Carol could then make an audio file available for download on her own blog at the ABC Radio Newcastle website. Listen live or at your own convenience. Doesn’t get much better than that. No, wait it does. I can also download the file and store it on my iPod, can’t I? Doing that will mean I can play back Meredith’s Chewbacca impression whenever and wherever I want. Now that is truly impressive.

There seems to be a ‘then and now’ concept when referring to technology. ‘Then’ is old and outdated, ‘Now’ is new and functional (until next week when it will join the old and outdated class and be replaced by something even newer and more functional). I loved the experience of being part of something that merges an older technology with something new and dynamic.

Thanks again Carol for the opportunity to chat today. I had a great time.

Summary of Today’s Radio Experience

• Morning tea to give us the sugar boost we needed to get through the afternoon: $10.50
• Parking meter charges to park in Newcastle West at ABC radio: $2.00
• Sitting next to Meredith as she performed her wookie impersonation on live radio: priceless!

Tomorrow Meredith from Oh, The Thinks You Can Think and I will be interviewed by Carol Duncan for the local Newcastle ABC radio broadcast. As we have been trying to work out what we could possibly have to say that might be in any way interesting (aside from telling embarrassing stories about each other), it occurred to us that we have been friends for more than half our lifetime.

We met when we were 12, on the first day of high school. Twenty-something years later, we still get together at least once a week to catch up and often chat on the phone. Back in 2005 we even wrote a cookbook together called Keep the Table Laughing.

Because I’m a kind of nerdy, navel-gazy sort of person, I’ve been pondering why it is that our friendship has lasted so long. I’ve come up with the following list:

Why I Am Friends With Meredith

• She writes notes like “ass/shop/tennis” as a reminder to tell me something, then can’t remember what it means.
• She doesn’t make fun of me (to my face) when I get excited about performing very basic technical tasks (like working out how to sync my Outlook calendar with my iPod).
• She also obsesses about completing the word association web on iAssociate.
• She can be easily (and cheaply) bribed with a cup of coffee and the assurance that I don’t have any other friends as funny as she is.
• She knows when to schunkeln.
• Because in the course of a one hour conversation, we can cover such diverse topics as Alvin & the Chipmunks: the Squeak-el, mommy bloggers, Christian fundamentalism, post-impressionist art, the Australian political landscape, geeky iPod apps, whitegoods, German folk music, grocery prices and colouring your lady bits.
• She always buys me the perfect gift for my birthday. I still have my Famous Writer Magenetised Finger Puppets stuck to the fridge – Tolstoy, Dickens, Shakespeare and Woolf.
• She also thinks that it’s awesome that Floyd from the band in the Muppets was pink. Think about it.

What do you value most in your friends? I know all about the loyalty, compassion, encouragement, honesty stuff. What quirky things about your friends make you look forward to seeing them and spending time with them?

Two weeks ago I bought my first iPod. Yes, I know. I’m quite possibly the last person in the world to own one, but I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t one of those “here today, gone tomorrow” consumer trends (yes, Betamax video, I’m talking about you).

I now have a bright, shiny new toy onto which I have downloaded 700 of my favourite songs (along with a whole bunch of game apps that I am hoping will not become mindless timewasters – BubbleWrap app, now I’m talking about you).

It has now become clear to me why avoiding an iPod for so long was a good thing. With all my favourite music gathered into one conveniently portable device, it is now totally impossible for me to avoid acknowledging that my taste in music is not only dated but more than a little bit daggy.

We’re not talking reasonably main stream with a few quirky choices here. Nor am I redeemed by an overwhelming interest in a particular style of music. My preferences are just sadly out of touch with the modern music scene and, with the inclusion of some sentimental German folk music favourites, more than a little bit embarrassing.

Am I the only one out there with an entire iPod full of songs that would embarrass their children and/or partner should word ever get out? Anyone have a dedicated playlist with some deliberately downloaded “cool” songs just in case they need to play their iPod in public?

For the record, I will defend the inclusion of Herzilein by Die Wildecker Herzbuben on my iPod to the death. If you’re ever caught out and need some emergency music to schunkeln to, you’ll be sorry you didn’t heed my words of advice and grab a copy yourself. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Leave a comment and share your most tragic iPod song selections. I need the morale boost and trust me, I’m in no position to mock you.

Title: Parenting
Subtitle: A Practical Guide to Raising Preschool and Primary-School Children
Author: Kathy Walker
Publisher: Penguin Viking, 2010 (262 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-670-07422-8
Topic: Parenting, raising children

Summary (from publisher website)

Does your child have trouble settling at bedtime? Refuse to sit at the table for meals? Ignore you or argue when you say it’s time to turn off the TV?

Expert parenting and educational consultant Kathy Walker recognises that being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs you will ever do but that it isn’t always easy. In this book she shows you how to create a calmer, more nurturing home environment for you and your children, and gives you her top strategies for managing challenging behaviour.
She helps you to understand your parenting style, and the reasons behind your child’s behaviour, and gives insightful tips on:
• setting up and maintaining routines
• promoting self-esteem and resilience
• communicating with your child

Using case studies and concrete examples, Kathy offers advice on handling everyday family situations such as constant fighting between siblings and hassling for the latest gadgets / a new pet / more pocket money, as well as challenges related to school, friendships and separated or blended families.

Down-to-earth and reassuring, this is the must-have guidebook for all Australian parents of preschool and school-age children.

Comments

I was recently chatting with Meredith from Oh, The Thinks You Can Think and Jayne from The Best of All Possible Worlds about the lack of resources for parents of primary school aged children. There are seemingly countless books on taking care of babies and toddlers as well as forums and resources online. Once kids hit puberty, the information is there once again with numerous guides to managing both the physical and emotional changes that occur during teenaged years.

Between toddlers and teens however, the information superhighway seems to morph into an isolated country lane which we travel along hoping that nothing breaks down leaving us stranded.

Not long after my conversation with Meredith and Jayne, Kathy Walker’s book Parenting appeared on my doorstep for review and it is just the type of book we were all saying that we needed.

With a very practical, down-to-earth approach, Kathy helps parents to tackle some of the parenting challenges specific to raising kids aged between 4 – 12 years. Issues include discussing what age is suitable to allow children to have their first sleepover or first mobile phone and how to manage sibling rivalry, requests for pocket money and homework dramas (and lots more). It also offers sensible advice children’s birthday parties, how much time is appropriate to spend watching TV & playing computer games and an appropriate bedtime routine.

The information takes into account different family structures and priorities, helping parents to assess what parenting style will work best for them and their family.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. With three primary-school aged children, it was wonderful to be reading a book that was relevant to what I was going through and the decisions I making with my children.

I appreciated the opportunity to chat with Kathy for my review of Parenting at Suite101. I particularly liked Kathy’s comments about stepping back from the whirlwind of social and extracurricular activities and then speaking positively about this when chatting to other parents at school and other activities to help create a “carpark chat” culture that reduces some of the sense of competition amongst parents and hopefully allows a more supportive and encouraging environment to develop.

I highly recommend this book for any Australian parents with children of this age.

Kathy Walker is an educational and parenting consultant and has further information available at her website at Early Life Foundations.

A few weeks ago I finally took the plunge and enrolled in a university degree. With my youngest child starting school in 2010, I’ve decided to tackle some of the challenges that have been on hold for the past few years.

I have enrolled in an Arts degree with Macquarie University online through the Open Universities website. All far too easy – click here, fill in this field and before you know it, you’re enrolled.

It has been a few years since I last attempted university studies. Although I know several women who have completed uni degrees while caring for their young children, I’ve never been able to find quite the right balance when the kids were young. I clearly remember sitting in a hospital bed the day after my younger son was born completing an assignment that was due at the end of the week and two months later trying to complete a three hour written exam while breast-feeding. Ahh, fun times indeed.

Now that all three of my children are at school, the plan is that I will have time during the day to complete my studies. Whether this will actually work remains to be seen. I am choosing to believe the university when they tell me I will only require 10 hours per week to complete all the necessary reading and assignments. After all, why would they lie to me?

I’m going to keep track of my progress at uni here on Reading Upside Down. The core subject stream for my degree is Critical and Cultural Studies and I’m looking forward to the interesting range of subjects included in both the degree and the range of electives I can choose. I’m starting out with one subject per term and the first subject is Text, Image & Culture which is due to start officially on the 1st March.

Wish me luck!