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This has nothing to do with writing and everything to do being a mother. My big sister sent me this You-tube clip which is just the funniest thing I've ever seen - because it's just so true. And it's so me - I think I could play the audio of this one around the house and the kids would just presume it was me (except perhaps for the American accent). Anyway, if I've whet your appetite, go check

Phew! School went back last week and, rather than having more time on my hands with the Murphlets out of the house, I have been busier than ever. Not much time for blogging, when I’m in and out of the house all day long. Today, though, I’ve had a few hours at home and so I’ve been doing some catching up. Have just posted ten new reviews to Aussiereviews. It’s hard to choose a pick of the bunch

Spring has sprung here down under. From the toyroom window I can see Sally’s garden all abloom with bright and beautiful flowers. There are ranunculi, anemones, sweet peas, gerberas, poppies and more all raising their beautiful heads to the sky. Earlier there were jonquils and daffodils, but they’re just finishing, as are the multi-coloured freesias.

Spring is such a wonderful season. People (and toys) no longer moan about the cold (I myself have been known to do this in winter) and it is not yet so hot it could singe your fur. There are birds building nests and people singing. Sally even sang as she did the vacuuming this morning. As if there were some joy in doing the housework!

But I suppose the point isn’t think whether the task deserves joy – but to carry that joy with you whatever you’re doing. Life’s too short to be grumpy and gruff. Whether it’s spring or summer, autumn or winter, we need to find pleasure in here we are and what we’re doing. Otherwise life is passing us by. So what song are you singing today?

Yesterday I ran a workshop at the Corrigin Creative Arts Centre, with the focus being on writing from life experience. It was a smallish group – five participants (plus myself of course) which made for a special day, with lots of sharing of participants’ writing endeavours and their life experiences. As well as me doing lots of talking about myself and the writing life, I lead the ladies through

Well, what a busy week so far – but I knew it would be that way before it started, and with the help of my list (see my post below) I have managed to get lots of things done, in between personal stuff like running Murphlet 2 back to Perth, and attending the younger Murphlets’ athletics carnival (our house won – yay!). I haven’t crossed everything off the list, but I have made good inroads. So

Phew! It’s Sunday, the start of a new week and already I feel a bit overwhelmed by the week. It’s one of those weeks where I have got so much to get through and wonder how I can juggle it all. So, first off, I’ve made a list of what needs doing. 1. Finish edits on two non fiction reading book titles. 2. Mark two batches of assignments for my tutoring job. 3. Finish writing notes for performance

The fifth day of my story sessions in honour of children’s book week. Today I thought I’d have a little fun and read my life story to the other toys. See, Pemberthy Bear isn’t just a story about me – it’s also about all the other toys as well, because they’re all there, in the beautiful pictures that my friend Jacqui painted of us. So, in a week where we are sharing and celebrating books, what better book than to share than one in which we all appear?

Anyway, I had a bit of fun with toys. They were all gathered for story time and I had hidden the book under a cushion before they got there. Then I made them guess which story I’d chosen. I gave them hints. ‘It’s a tale of a beautiful heroine overcoming overwhelming odds,’ I hinted. ‘It’s almost too sweet to bear,’ was the next hint. It took a while but eventually Robbie Robot guessed. Then I read them the story, and they all wondered anew at seeing themselves brought to life in the lovely illustrations.

It really was a lovely story session. It’s wonderful that we all have this book to share and remind us of how blessed we are to have each other. And of course I must admit that I love being the star of the book. How lucky am I to have a friend like Sally, willing to write my story down and share it with the world, and a friend like Jacqui who was able to portray me so beautifully in her illustrations.

I’m a lucky bear!

Next week is Children's Book Week here in Australia. My friend Sally is going to celebrate by rapping my story at Corrigin District High School (among other things). I've asked her to take me along so I can watch. Maybe I'll even join in, if the boys and girls aren't looking at me.

Book Week is a big deal for the children's book community. As well as watching Sally do her rap, I'm going to celebrate by reading as many lovely children's books as I can. Perhaps I'll do some readings here in the toy room. Some of the smaller toys can't read so well because it is too hard for them to held the books and turn the pages - and then the font is too big for their tiny eyes. So, yes, I think it would be lovely if I set up a reading corner and read to them every day. I'll let you know how I go.

What are you doing for book week?

Not content with two blogs (this one and Pemberty’s Ponderings), two websites (my author site and Aussiereviews), last night I decided to have a go at Squidoo, and created a new lens Rhyme Time, which focuses on rhyming books for children. At present it’s mostly a collection of links, but I’m thinking I might also include some reviews of rhyming books. I’m pretty passionate about good rhyme. The

My friend (and official biographer) Sally came back from Perth with a new word for me. Sally had been listening to Erin Brockovich, and according to Brockovich, it’s her favourite word. The word?

Sticktoitive (adjective) tenaciously resolute (also spelt stick-to-it-ive)

Brockovich recounted the story of her mother always using the word whenever she was finding life hard. ‘Where’s your sticktoitiveness?’ her mother would say. Brockovich eventually told her mother to stop using the word – because it wasn’t real. Hah! Her mother made her open the dictionary – and sure enough there it was.

Anyway, as soon as Sally told me this tale I reached for the toy room dictionaries. It wasn’t in the Collins Australian Dictionary, but it is there Websters College Dictionary, which comes all the way from the United States. The word has US origins, which is why it’s there, I guess.

I think it’s a great word and a great way to live life. If Primula had no sticktoitiveness, she wouldn’t have persevered in getting this bear to sing. And if I had no sticktoitiveness, I wouldn’t have mastered the art of typing – keyboards are NOT paw-friendly.

Are YOU sticktoitive? If not, why not try to develop some sticktoitiveness in the areas of your life you find challenging?

With no new Pemberthy sightings for a while, I’ve done some more online digging and found him at more libraries. I love thinking of Pemberthy being available at libraries, where kids can discover him and take him home for a week or two. Anyway, Pemberthy can be found at the Woolgoola and Coff’s Harbour libraries (though the latter is on loan) – these are the burgundy and lime green maps in the

Have just added 11 new reviews to Aussiereviews, again all children's and young adult titles. Though I didn't review it, one of my favourites in this batch is Night of the Fifth Moon, a new fantasy title by Anna Ciddor. I didn't review it for Aussiereveiws because I've recently done so for Reading Time magazine. Anyway, this is a wonderful fantasy offering. For younger readers my favourite from

I’ve been surfing the net and have spotted lots of copies of Pemberthy in libraries. How wonderful! The Bayside Library Service in Melbourne has not one but THREE copies – two in the Beaumaris Library and one in Brighton. And, joy of joys, my search of their catalogue showed they are all on loan. The Brisbane City Library Service has FIFTEEN copies of Pemberthy. The Ashgrove Library, Bulimba

Only three days till the final instalment of Harry Potter goes on sale. The older Murphlets are pretty excited and are trying to convince me that we need two copies so that we can all read it before the ending is revealed online or in the media. Yes, I’ll admit I’m a big fan of the series. I do think I’ll be able to survive post-Harry, but I have enjoyed the series. Back when the first title

I’ve just updated Aussiereviews with thirteen new reviews, all children’s and young adult books. Probably my favourite in this batch was Dragon Moon, by Carole Wilkinson (Black Dog), the final title in the Dragonkeeper trilogy. I was at the launch of the first title at the CBCA conference in Hobart in 2004, and remember Gary Crew singing its praises. He said something along the lines that the

How wonderful – yet another Pemberthy sighting has been reported, this time in Warrnambool where Pemberthy was seen at Collins Bookstore. Thanks so much to Corinne for reporting this sighting after reading about by search in Pass It On newsletter. Warrnambool is in Victoria, east of Melbourne. The new dot is the orange one on the south east coast. Don’t forget to let me know if YOU have seen