April-May 2005 Book List

I'm reading a few interesting books at the moment -

1. The Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchens.
Not for the faint hearted that is for sure.

2. Managing Stress by Derek Roger
Absolutely superb - get a copy if you can.

3. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Did you know you are actually asleep most of the time?

This book is a New York Times Best Seller.

Very very interesting.

We basically are ruled by our egoes and live life unconscious.
To wake up is to be in the actual present moment, no thoughts about yesterday, or tomorrow going on, no self-talk, just a clear mind and giving your attention to what you are actually doing at any particular moment.


Take this test - count the number of things you have never noticed before on your way home or to work.

I counted 20 the other day.

4. Lyra and the Birds by Philip Pullman
Great bedside book to read whenever I want, it's a real story-time story.
Love it. Can't wait for the next installment.

5. The Listener
The best column these days is Jane Clifton.

Sitting at home in front of the fire

It's dark, the fire is going and I'm feeling a bit like shit.

Seems my trip to the big smoke last week has caught up on the old girl, cough in hand, heady, eyes bulging, in need of lots of Panadol and Lemsip.

My trip to the capital of NZ was great, but next time will definitely not take the "4.30am get-up for flight" option.

The old girl just can't handle it these days.

Working from home has its benefits - roll out of bed, run around in boxers and fleece, make cup of tea, cook-up porridge and then read the paper.

No traffic jams, no quick dash around the house to do the washing, make lunch, or mega sprint races with other fellow workers down Lampton Quay.

I prefer the ease-into-the-day process, tuning in the ever favourite Morning Report and bird calls.

I'm been cooked pizza and chips tonight after a very hot and yummy lentil curry emerged last night from the kitchen.

The evening prior was a new soup called Celery Soup after this was recommended to us by good friends. I must say this was delicious and are seriously considering looking at doing a soup book for the girls by the boys for the future.

It could be a cyber-book like Nigella - add your own recipe and a talk-back show!

This past week has also seen the last of the Christmas-made Plum Duff stocks coming to an end as I packed one up for my Wellington friends who I knew would love it.

The only way to have a Plum Duff is in true old-fashioned style - boiled in a steamer like Gran used to do, and finished with cream or custard, depending on your taste.

The family are wandering around the big UK at the mo, all seems to be going well.

AN INTERESTING READ....

Please visit http://www.dowethics.com/risk/ to try out the Acceptable
Risk Calculator for yourself, and for text, photos and video of the
London announcement.

Contacts: Erastus Hamm
Vikram Banarjee