My book blog

I've been thinking about my book blog a lot recently. The fact that I'm picking up books and reading them is probably one of the reasons why. 

I haven't posted on there in ages. Like, months and months and months. Practically years. 

But I'm writing about it here because I thought, maybe you haven't seen the little link on the side bar of this page where it says 'book blog'. Maybe you have, but you haven't clicked it. I'm not going to ask you to click it because you can do whatever you want. I'm just gonna tell you it's there. And what it is exactly that you might find there. 

I called my book blog Chimneys and Magic, and I don't actually remember why. Maybe Mary Poppins had something to do with it, maybe Alice In Wonderland did. Maybe my favourite children's novel of all time Pepper Dreams had something to do with it. Anyway, there it is. I review books on there, and when I buy new books or acquire them by other means (this doesn't happen often) I like to post about them. Those posts are called "new on my bookshelf" and I have loads of those. Oh, and occasionally I'll do author interviews or host giveaways or document other literary events like the Writers Festival.

This year I'm going to post more. Read more. Review more. Which is more than I can say for last year's efforts. This year my favourite author is coming to the Perth Writers Festival and I'm going to go see her talk about her latest novel and how it's turning into a big film with big actors like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman starring.

I'm going to start soon. 

So look out! Ha. Yes. Look out, world. Here Chimneys & Magic comes. 

Yup, that has a nice ring to it. 

Current favourite TV shows

If you know me, you know I watch a lot of TV. I'm not addicted exactly, but it's a kind of borderline situation. :/

So here's a few goodies I've been loving recently.

Agent Carter

This is a new series based on the character Agent Carter from the Marvel film Captain America. It's awesome because you get to see how (pre-S.H.I.E.L.D.? spy?) agents back then operate, and it's basically an awesome period-spy-crime drama from the '40s. I love period dramas (Downton Abbey and Boardwalk Empire are amongst my top 5 all time favourite TV shows) and I love Marvel and spy shows (Chuck also makes it into my top 5 list too). If you're a fan of the Marvel cinematic universe and are perhaps a little bored of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, you should check out Agent Carter (but you probably already have and don't need me to tell you!).

The 100

I believe this show is in its second season and oh boy, this second season is 1000x better than the first. The first season was great, don't get me wrong, but all of the character developments and worldbuilding that was established in the first season has given this show the foundation to make the current season fly. The 100 is a sci-fi show on the CW and it's also dystopian. There's so much involved I can't even begin to describe it, but the characters are flippin' awesome and the story and writing just make this show epic. Plus, there are some really talented Aussie actors leading the cast. The 100 this season has been blowing me away week by week and each episode has been jam packed with action and excitement. 

Parks & Recreation

Easily one of my favourite TV comedies ever. So good. So funny. Best cast. The only thing that can compete with Parks & Rec is Community. Anyway, Parks & Rec is in its final season (ultimate sad face) but so far Season 7 has started off really well. Watching all the behind the scenes videos and deleted scenes on YouTube sometimes actually makes me tear up (especially that new one about April/Andy over the seasons). It took me a long time to get hooked onto this show because the first season is just so darn crap, but thank goodness I was persuaded to give it a third chance (and also thank goodness the first season is only six episodes) because it's so charming and hilarious and endearing and I love the cast so much.

The Challenge

This show for me is more of a guilty pleasure. It's an MTV reality competition that gets contestants from past seasons of The Real World (and other MTV reality shows) to compete in physical challenges for money. What I love about it is seeing these physically strong and fit guys and girls compete week to week in epic challenges (I'm a super competitive person myself). The final challenge is always super long and requires a lot of endurance. What I don't like so much is the attitudes of the contestants a lot of the time. They party a lot, get drunk, talk trash about each other and things get nasty fast. Thank goodness Laurel isn't in the current season is all I'll say about that.

Performing for a Star

Last Friday, my band was hired to play for a 30th birthday party. It went pretty swell. The girl (whose name was Star) found us on Gumtree. Our ad is now taken down (and thank goodness, because my sister posted the advert with the title that had "acoustic" spelt as "accoustic"). 

smh doesn't even cover it.

It was our first proper paid gig and we worked pretty hard to cover as many of Star's song requests as we could in the limited time we had (we learnt something like 10 new songs in 10 days). 

Thankfully we had our friend James be our sound guy for the day (without him we'd have been pretty darn screwed) and gourmet hot dogs and toddlers with balloons were involved at some point too. 

We performed quite a bit better than I expected, but to be honest my expectations were not as high as usual. Basically because when you're in a band you need to rely on people other than yourself which is pretty difficult for a perfectionist with efficient work ethic. Not to sound rude or anything. 

Oh and also when your administrative band member tells you the date of the gig is the 30th and suddenly oh crap it's the 23rd, things in your head might start to go haywire. We even had one band member (Deb) absent and had to find a replacement (Davina). Thank God she was an excellent replacement.

Our swan song I Will Wait went over really well. Yay for not messing up the chords. And also yay for mumford and sons.

This was our set list (we didn't do Somewhere Over the Rainbow):

And this is me:

Something Sound

I made a facebook page and youtube channel for my music a while back. i never posted anything because i never really worked on anything or wrote anything to its completion. but today i posted a little video update just on my facebook page because i was feeling that way inclined.
it's just a rough little practice/jam snippet of tori kelly's treasure.
I just called it "dark room fairy lights feeling down something sound".

i've actually been in a band these past several months, so i have been working on music, just not my own individual stuff. we've had a few gigs here n there, but i kinda feel like i should focus on my own creative endeavours more (especially song writing, composing and storywriting).

I'll try n post here on this blog a little more. blogging seems to be an outlet i've always had growing up since my teen years but i dropped it. i think i may as well pick it back up again.

Anyway, here's the vid.

if you're interested, click for:
my music facebook page
my youtube channel (music)

Love song

Yesterday I was on YouTube looking for some Worship with the Word sets from IHOPKC, and I clicked on one that was led by Zac Dinsmore (I wasn't really familiar with him) and when I heard the first few lines of this song (which I assume is his) for the first time it really touched me and gave me such comfort in the revelation of my Father's love for me and just how attentive and caring He is to His children. The nature of God's love is inexplicable and He is our Abba Father and His love is eternal and immeasurable. It's just amazing to think about it.

The song begins at about 1:12:24 of the set, and I recommend you listen to the song before seeing the lyrics below, because music is so powerful for moving the heart and soul. 

My life don’t mean much to the world but, it means the world to You

My song isn’t sung by the world but You’re teaching angels the tune

My prayers aren’t heard by the world but You hush heaven when I talk to You

My life is just dust to the world but You gave Yours so I could be with You

You saved my life when I needed You

I don’t know why You want me

I don’t know how You love me

It don’t make sense that You fought for me

So forever I will sing

You can have it just take all of me

You won it bleeding on a tree

So come and take me completely

'cause You won it on Calvary

Have a blessed day :)
x