Melbourne BookCrossing Convention 2014

I have been neglectful of reading for pleasure and in my BookCrossing activities, since my studies consumed all possible free time. But knowing that the International Convention was coming up, I had my eye on the schedule, in addition to my own travel commitments, and they managed to pair up a little to allow me to touch base with the old crew. Even if it was just for an evening.

I happened to be in Melbourne as the Convention was getting started, and managed to attend the Thursday night pre-event event before needing to head off and prepare to go to work again.

The event was a showcase of quirky Melbourne, being Barefoot Bowls. Held at the Thornbury Bowling Club, as I arrived the rest of the attendees were spilling out of a mini-bus after their day trip to the Yarra Valley, and the unpredictable Melbourne drizzle started. Loads of familiar faces, and some new ones, I was greeted like a long-lost member, and quickly pulled into the fold.

The bowls were taken seriously at the start, with a coach from the Club invited along to teach us the ways to roll and the tips for competitive sparring. Once out under the lights and light rain, our group proceeded to just have fun with the big game of bocce, with a lot of laughs.

Dinner was impressive, with kangaroo skewers to show off the Aussie fare to the International guests among the group, as well as a full BBQ. A tower of old-school cupcakes had been made for the event by one of the Club’s long serving members, which was so cute!

Attending this pre-event of the main event, with a small section of the attendees, reminded me of the community around the Melbourne group, and has sparked a desire to reignite my love of reading and book littering again!

Wine, Thermals, Cook and Cow

On Sunday afternoon I joined a little mini bus load of BookCrossers for a winery tour of north Canterbury, about 45 minutes outside of Christchurch. Again, a collection of accents, new and old friends on the bus, including Lil, who I met in Japan on my way over to the UK.

Our first stop was The Mud House, overseeing the sweeping mountains behind the views of the vines, we tasted the full selection of whites and reds. Down the road was the second stop, Waipara
Springs where we were served yummy food platters as the tastings were brought out to the table to us. And the third was Torlesse Winery, a little boutique winery, where we were taught bits and pieces of wine knowledge as we sampled.

With the end of the Convention, Mum and I then headed for a full meal at Dux de Lux, before we called it a night on our stay in Christchurch.

This morning we arranged our shuttle out to our not-so-central hire car pick up, to start our roadtrip down the centre of the South Island. Driving down two hours ot Geraldine, we stopped for lunch and a driver swap, before driving down further through green, green plains, with the brilliant orange and yellows of Autumn, to Lake Tekapo.

Looking over the aqua blue lake, with a backdrop of mountain ranges, we found the thermal pools of Alpine Springs. Taking a dip in the hot 40C heated pool, with the cold, crisp air all around you, and the trees to one side, and the mountain range and Lake in front of you, was heaven!

Back in our little car eventually, we were watching the mountains around us, highly anticipating Mount Cook. Wrongly calling it several times, as we approached another lake and a heavily cloud shrouded area, we just knew it would be under all that fluffy stuff! Sure enough, after stopping at the Information point, the gruff lady in there informed us that the mountain we were hoping, with it's trace of snow at the top before disappearing under clouds, was not Mount Cook. We could just see the very bottom of Mount Cook, over the far corner of the Lake.


Another couple of hours driving through the mountain ranges, we have arrived in Queenstown. So far, it's a little tourist town around a lake, with a mysterious lit point above us....we have the feeling we'll be surprised by our surroundings in the morning! Dinner tonight was at The Cow, right in town for pizza and pasts, before studying up our stay here for the next couple of days.

BookCrossing in Christchurch

After wrapping things up at work for a week away, and giving myself a jab for the flight, I hopped on the Skybus out to the airport to meet up with Mum, and check ourselves in to our flight to Christchurch. An hour delay on Jetstar, and then just a 2 hour and 50 minute flight, the Clexane may have been excessive...but it certainly laid my mind at ease as we flew.

Getting in pretty late, we taxied to our accommodation very close to town, the City Court Motel, waking up our hosts for our key. Friday morning we got up ready to explore on our free day in Christchurch, walking into central Cathedral Square and taking in the Chalice. Having brunch at the Cathedral Cafe after walking into the church for a peek, Mum and I then studied the bus maps to find our way out to Lyttelton, and to the Gondola.

Riding up Mount Cavandish in the little swing capsule, reminding me of my trip in Switzerland, Mum and I went through the Time Travel exhibit before taking in the views from the observation deck - looking over Lyttelton Harbour, and over the city sprawl of Christchurch. Venturing out into the crisp and fresh air, we walked out to the volcano rim for a 360 degree view of our surrounds.

Back into town we made our way to Cathedral Grammar to register for the 2009 International Anniversary BookCrossing Convention, picking up our goody bags, and gaining our bearings of our base for the weekend. Friday night we had a formal, cultural welcome in Maori for the opening of the Convention by one of the local BookCrossers, ice breaker games, and a chance to mingle in with the group.

People from all over the world were here for the Convention, with accents and stories a plenty. Saturday morning, after a wee little sleep in, Mum and I found the City Release Walk through town, stopping off at many places for creative and crazy releases. We also took in the ye olde Provicial Buildings, the Arts Centre and precinct, as well as the amazing Autumn colours and leaves around town.

Stopping for lunch at the markets in the cultural precinct, I ducked across the road to look at, and listen to, the Dyslexia Discovery Exhibit.

The afternoon session was the full on BookCrossing section of the weekend, with a guest speaker talking about Janet Frame, a speaker on the history of the book, the presentation for the next International Convention in Amsterdam, and vote for the 2011 Convention, and a live cross to BookCrossing central in the US, and a glimpse at features preparing to launch for the site. Mum checked out the Christchurch Casino for much of this!

Dinner and the traditional trivia night followed, with Mum and Andrew on the Rainbow Warriors team, and Megan and I managing to find ourselves on the Dracula's Little Helpers team, answering questions all night on all sorts of topics. Our two teams managed the not come last...but close!!

Today we have met the group of BookCrossers for the last official part of the Convention, the Sunday Brunch. With some 60 Aussie and New Zealand, Irish, English, Dutch and Austrian accents filling the room, all talking about books, releasing, travel, and the growing gathering traditions, it's fascinating how one little website idea has grown into such a community.

Intimate BookCrossing Meet Up

Last night I attended my first BookCrossing meet up in many months. We met at The Brandon, in Carlton, after a poll on the group site.

The Melbourne group has dropped off over the winter months, and last night it was a tiny dinner with Michelle, Megan and Andrew, Kris, and I.

The food, as always there, was great. I had the fish of the day, and an extra serve of veggies. Plus my mid week beer!

A couple of books were swapped, discussions about forthcoming BookCrossing events, past travel stories, and ways to bring people back to Meet Ups were all bantered around the table.

Australian BookCrossing Convention 2007

This weekend, after months of planning and lots of work, was the 4th Australian BookCrossing Convention, in Melbourne. Being part of the committee that put this event together, much time was put into ensuring that the interstate and international guests had a good time, and experienced the weekend of expectations, to mingle with fellow BookCrossers.

Friday night we had pizza, and an author talk. Shane Maloney, creator of the Murray Whelan series of political satire and crime, spoke to us about character development, transformation into living personas, the effects of his characters on fans, and the occasions where going along with the notion that he is Murray has been to his advantage. He had also completed some research into the BookCrossing of his books, and related BookCrossing as an authors’ way of keeping his eye on his books, like a parenting role. Funny and charming, Shane was a hit!

Saturday morning had us walking around in groups around the city, releasing books and taking in some of the sights. Meeting at Reader’s Feast, who had sponsored us very generously, we listened to Mary tell of setting up a bookstore, developing relationships with bookbuyers and authors that would come in, and also of changing people’s lives through books. After this, the walk I led walked up to the State Library, before making our way to Carlton Gardens, one of my favourite spots in the city thanks to my daily walks to work through here, and then we trammed around to Federation Square to meet up with the other walks. We hastily put together a flash mob idea for a bulk, eye catching release in the city, and filed to Southbank, to leave a cluster of books along the ledge near the food court.

Many of us then had lunch in Southbank, with a group of us heading to the Blue rain café. Here at lunch I met a couple of the Melbourne BookCrossers I had been sending and receiving books from for quite sometime!

The evening was the traditional trivia night, with groups of BookCrossers going head to head, for knowledge and wit. The tables were randomized, and thus I sat with Queenslanders, New Zealanders, Western Australians, and Melbournians. And we had a ball! Our tables, named Wombles due to our mascot from Brisbane, we actually managed to come last! Thought we were so smart too! But had a great time meeting a new group, all of whom BookCrossing names have been familiar for years.

The Convention was based at Mary Kehoe Community Centre, in Albert Park, and getting here in Sunday morning to meet the caterers for brunch proved to be a challenge due to the Melbourne Marathon. Bronwyn and I made it eventually, and set up for the final event of the weekend. The Table of Temptation, set up from the beginning of the Convention was still well stocked, albeit with some doubtful quality.

An exhausting weekend for committee, and attendees alike, it was great celebration of a group of people into reading, passing on good books and recommendations, and leaving books out in the wild to serendipity.

Bookcrossing and Book Launch

On Tuesaday I attended my first offical Melbourne Meet Up for BookCrossing, since being away.

We met at The Brandon, in Carlton, for dinner and red wine, and the usual book swapping. It was great to catch up with Megan and Andrew, who I haven't seen since I have been home.

Last night, Michelle, Bronwyn and I went along to Shane Maloney's new book launch for Sucked In. Following Shane Maloney at the moment because he is the scheduled speaker for our Australian BookCrossing Convention this year, in Melbourne in October, we thought we could pop along and show some support, and start to learn about the books he writes.

We needn't have worried about the support aspect, as the Trade's Hall Paddy's Bar was packed with people for this event! We rubbed shoulders with media personalities, and politicians alike, soaking up the free drinks, and awaiting the launch.

Having not read his previous books, we were amused by the opening and official launch by in character (for the novels) Mick Malloy, before hearing a politicised and controversial, but very funny, introduction by the man himself. Surrounded by flags and slogans from Unionists, the atmosphere was jovial and much admired of this author.

Looking forward to hearing him speak for us in October, but I certainly need to read a volume or two of his work!

Footy and BookCrossing

Last night in the hunt to find somewhere to watch the opening Hawthorn match of the season, Jenny and I headed into the city. Only on Foxtel this week, the quest to find somewhere to view the game was harder than it sounded.

Eventually finding the match on screens at the Turf Bar in the city, we settled in at the bar for dinner, a bottle of wine a piece (one per half between us, I mean!), and an eventual loss to open the season. Not surprising, and it's early days! Catching up and chatting about all that is going on in our worlds was all good. We eventually made our way to Carlton and coffee and cake at Brunetti's, before calling it a night.

Today I have rejoined the ranks of the regulars for our Melbourne BookCrossing meet ups. A brunch meet up today, at Kaleidoscope Cafe, was a chance to have breakfast, catch up with the old gang, and swap some books.

A BookCrossing Catch

Last week I heard back from my 35th BookCrossing catch! Very exciting to hear that someone has found a book you have released, and that they will read it and pass it along.

This book was released at the Eureka Stockade here in Ballarat last Wednesday, and was picked up by a local! The new member journaled it on the same day on which I released it, and says that they will read and release it again.

Most of my BookCrossing catch success has been while I have been traveling. I have had catches from releases in Adelaide, Darwin, Bangkok (which found it's way to Germany!), and Edinburgh.

My most impressive catch, however, was a book that I caught myself when I was in Phnom Penh. The book was registered and released by a BookCrosser from Laos, and I managed to track it down through the Go Hunting pages. I found it, journaled it, and then read it on my way to Tokyo. In Tokyo I released it in my ryokan...where it was found, journaled by someone from Venezuela, who says they left it in Peru! I wonder where it will show up next!

A little Glaswegian

After finishing my book in the gardens at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, I released it at the Edinburgh International Book Festival after the Fringe show that afternoon. I then wandered around more of the New Town of Edinburgh, before boarding a train to Glasgow.

Just at that point where the sun goes down and the sky is that blue colour, I was raced through the Scottish countryside. Lush green hills, and at one point we passed a lake where we were at just the right angle for the sky blue colour to be reflected back like glass. One of those awesome train travel moments.

Arriving in Glasgow, I walked through the streets to check into the Victoria House Hotel for the night. After a full buffet breakfast the next morning, I walked through the pedestrian streets of central Glasgow.

Finding the Glasgow Cathedral by accident (I kinda lost my way there for a bit!), I then walked down to Glasgow Green and the People's Palace. The greenhouse style of the Winter Garden was quite warm after being caught in the rain outside, before walking through the history of Glasgow. (More photos)

A walk along the River Clyde, before lunch at the 13th Note, which is an OBCZ. More walking through this worker's town, before getting a bus out to the airport and my flight back to London.

Football, Books and Food

Monday was filled with anticipation all day for the big match, and my workplace, who are somewhat anti-flexitime, made special allowances for people to watch the World Cup. Australia's first match in the tourament, the first match for many years, was against Japan, and fell at 2pm on Monday. The big screen set up in one of the meeting rooms (as it is right now for the England match), and we were allowed to take time out to watch. How funny.

Given the offer, there was only about 6 people who took them up on the offer. But we certainly made enough noise for the whole building when the Aussie goals were scored! After a tense first half, how good was the last 10 minutes! Hee hee.

Tuesday I managed to attend only my second BookCrossing Meet-Up in London, after being a good attendee back in Melbourne. A chance to chat and swap books, and meet new people.

Last night was another installment of the WBBS nights, which took up to Goldhawk tube station, and to an Ethiopian restaurant in that area. Ordering a selection of dishes for the group, the food comes out in little dishes and is then distributed on a huge pancake for the whole group. Then it's dig in with fingers, tearing bits of the pancake and scooping up the assortment of curries. Was very yum! And cheap!

Back to BookCrossing

Now that I am settling into work, the weekly routine, and living in London, I have finally attended my first London BookCrossing MeetUp last night, since moving over here.

I have missed the regular meets that I attended back in Melbourne, and not having been to a group since the core Melbourne gang came to me in Ballarat, and a catch up in Tokyo, I haven't had my act together till now.

The group in London usually meets at the Stamford Arms, which is also an OBCZ - very dangerous!!

Quite a large group meets up for this monthly gathering, with a core roup of regulars. There were quite a few people there for the first time, and also loads of expats in the group. Americans, Italians, and another Aussie, of course!

As usual, I ended up taking away the same number of books I took along, so no gains there for me, although I always seem to find books I have wanted to read for ages in the stacks piled up on the tabels!

Agencies and artifacts

Being disappointed that work wasn't lined up for me upon my arrival back to the UK, I was starting to dismay about it all. I have started the agency trail that most people on arrival to London follow, and plastered my CV out to anyone who will take it. Now that any planned trips have come and gone, I can now look for some more solid work, and forego flexibility for decent pound!

I have gotten a couple of calls already, and sat through an interview yesterday morning for one such agency. But I don't know. I mean, I did get the junior HR chick - but I am still not sure what kind of work they would send me out to! The differences in terminology and service provision between Australia and the UK is going to be tricky to navigate. We'll see what comes up.

Yesterday I also caught up with Lyn, who is stopping over in London for a bit of a rest after her big South American adventures. We met for a beer and some lunch, and an exchange of BookCrossing books, and then joined a London Walks tour for the British Museum.

The tour was two hours of highlights of the museum, which meant that our guide walked us to the most famous piece in one of the rooms of the 13 acre collection, told us about it, told us about all the other interesting things in that room, and then led up to the next one!! Just showed us that you could spend weeks in there! The centre of the building, with the roof joining the Reading Room with the rest, is quite gorgeous.

Despite both being mortified at the amount of looting these collestions represent (no wonder some of the ancient ruins are in place anymore - they're in museums!!), we got to see the Rosetta Stone, which was the piece that helped crack the Egyptians' hieroglyphics. Quite amazing. Among other wonders and ruins, we also viewed Ginger and the Lindow Man. Wow! So facinating!

Now, Active have since come up with the goods with a 4 day assignment, out in the sticks. Apparently I need to cheer this client up and take him to the pub - life's hard!!

Hanging out and catching up in the 'Rat

All week I have been hanging out in Ballarat, mucking about with the girls, and catching up with friends. At times it has felt like the last 6 months has just vanished, and that I have never left. But then there is news and stories to catch up on. Has been fun.

After convincing Jessie to wag whatever she had to do on Monday, her and Noodles come back to Ballarat with us after the footy. They took me out for coffee at Bibo on Monday afternoon. Katie took me out for brunch at Europa on Tuesday. Jane came down from Melbs on Wednesday night, and we got to catch up over dinner at Chat For Tea. And Andrea and Dean took me out to the Phoenix Brewery last night. Have been able to catch up with people, and go to my favourite places too!

On Tuesday night Michelle, Megan, Andrew and Amanda came up to Ballarat to have a mini-BookCrossing Meet Up. How exciting. Was so great to catch up with the gang. Have missed my monthly Meets. We went to Gee Cee's for dinner, some book swapping, and lots of chat!!

Have got to have all the foods I have been missing, and craving for, too. Real fish and chips (I don't know what the British are thinking!!??), a proper McChicken (!!), KFC chips (hello!! Chicken salt!!). Oh! And a reintroduction with my old friend, James Boags!

Today is Katie's actual 21st birthday. We cracked the bottle of champers just before 12 noon, and then proceeded to meet Auntie Annette, Uncle Basil, Helen, and little Dean for lunch at Oscar's. (More photos.)

The baby of the family is 21 now! How scary, and strange. We are all old now!

Happy Birthday Katie Baby!! Hope you had a great day today, and will have an awesome night tomorrow night!

Temples and giant Buddha, a mini Meet Up, and cool Shibuya

Late this morning I set off from my ryokan for a little place out of the way, recommended to me by Rob - fellow travel addict! Kamakura was about 30 minutes away from the area I was staying, and so after a few train changes, I was on my way to see the big buddha "you can walk into", as Rob had said. This little town out of the city was quite cute, and yet still bustling. After deciding to ditch the scary bus experience, given that I had no idea where I was going, and noone spoke English, I jumped into a taxi. Automatic doors on the taxi, if you don`t mind!! How funny!

I found the Great Buddha sitting with his legs crossed in the middle of nowhere, and yes, you can walk inside - although I really don`t know why!! There was nothing inside! 13.35 meters tall, he was once housed in a temple, but a tsunami had washed that away. He now sits out in the elements, surrounded by the mountains.

The town before Kamakura is Kita-Kamakura, and it is dotted with beautiful temples. Here I wondered around, and finally got a glimpes of the cherry blossoms I picture when I think of Japan (pic). Most of the temples have amazing gardens surrounding them, and these in the mountain are no exception. Tokei-ji also has a cemetary within the grounds, which was facinating. I managed to spot the burial site of Japan`s first gold medalist - in "hop step jump", would you believe!?

An hour back into Tokyo itself, I meet up with a couple of BookCrossers for coffee. It was great to meet some fellow addicts, and also to have a conversation!! I feel like I have been a mute for the last couple of days, merely pointing at things as my main form of communication! Lil and Deb live in Kyoto (from New Zealand and Canada originally), and we got chatting about BookCrossing and releasing, Japan, world travel, etc. They are both teaching English here...earning good money...hmmm...

Upon darkness, I headed for the funky Shibuya, where the fashionable woman come to assemble their outfits! Amazing! The neon and the busy fast-moving pace. And the girls look incredible!

Plans, Stress and Getting Ready

Travel Bug

I am thinking that my upcoming travels will work on curing my travel bug...that I will get it out of my system, and then be happy with growing up, settling down in one place, and all that stuff that everyone else seems to doing already. But the more I talk about that to well travelled people, the less that seems likely!
A recent PM (Private Message through http://www.bookcrossing.com/friend/Hawkette) I received from jackiea in response to this idea, shared a quote from John Steinbeck (Travels With Charley, 1962), has amused me the most...

When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping. The sound of a jet, an engine warming up, even the clopping of shod hooves on pavement brings on the ancient shudder, the dry mouth and vacant eye, the hot palms and the churn of stomach high up under the rib cage. In other words, I don't improve; in further words, once a bum, always a bum.

Looks like I will never be cured!

The Plan

So, off on the 31st. I am going to spend a week in Phnom Penh, to catch up with people there (looking forward to seeing Evie, Luke, Sharee and Cal, Borin, and Nina!), after a night in Bangkok. After that, 2 more nights in Bangas, and then off for a week in Tokyo.
And then, fly to London.
And then, who knows?!? Have got my Working Holiday visa, and will look at finding work when I get there. Hopefully something amazing, fulfilling, and well paying...they exist, right?
But then I also have many play ideas, like the cricket and the tennis, and a trip to Turkey for ANZAC Day, and Oktoberfest, and...and...and... So many things to do and see in that part of the world! Hmmm, so work would have to be super flexible!!! Oh dear!
The orginal plan was to land in Manchester, and set up life there. But at this point, I will search for the most suitable job, and see what happens. I kinda like the idea of arriving with little plan, and letting fate take it's course. Of course, that could mean I will be home in a month with all my money spent...lol.

Preparation
So many things to do. Need to sell the beloved Rav. Need to look at accommodation and travel plans for Bangkok and Tokyo. At work at PINARC I am trying to wrap up and complete handover. And, of course, I need to organise a farewell and catch up with everyone before I leave. Oh! and I'll need to pack at some stage....

Catching Up
Had lunch at Europa today, and caught up with Narelle and Katie. Haven't seen either for ages. Katie is about to become a mum, due in March, which is very exciting!! And Narelle is awaiting news on the outcome of an AYA application... Could have a visit to Hanoi in the next 12 months coming up!