2 week NZ itinerary without a car in 2023- Week 1

Since I freshly came back from New Zealand I thought I would deviate from the norm and do a post on my recent trip. I mean, I’ve been benefiting from the shared online itineraries so I might as well contribute one of my own. Plus, this one includes recommendations on gelato. Who can resist that?Continue reading “2 week NZ itinerary without a car in 2023- Week 1”

Remarkable Women in Ancient China (17)- Wang Cong Er

Who is she?  Notable Life Events: Why is she remarkable: Moonlake’s thoughts on her:  She is clearly a capable woman and military commander and with spirit to boot (or at least that is how her suicide is perceived as exhibiting). I don’t have much other thought to add to that. Wikipedia reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Cong%27er

Joy is not a trick

The line is from Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan.  Joy is not a trick. It might not last but nothing lasts. Not truly.  Joy is not a trick. It’s a signal, telling you something is right. Life is good if you are still enjoying something.  Joy is not a trick. Or maybe itContinue reading “Joy is not a trick”

Chinese Lore- A selection of mythical fauna (11)

Qi Tu Physical Description: A bird that looks like a crow except for having three heads and six tails and likes to laugh. Special Properties: Consuming its meat safeguards you from having nightmares and evil. Shen Chi Physical Description: A creature with a human’s head and a beast’s body, only one hand and one foot.Continue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of mythical fauna (11)”

Moonlake’s Movie Discoveries (4)

As I’ve mentioned before, one of my friends had this arrangement with me where we would watch the same movie once every two weeks and then analyse it in terms of the 3 Act structure. That agreement terminated after 3 movies but we watched Matilda, Romancing the Stone and Hunger Games together under that setup.Continue reading “Moonlake’s Movie Discoveries (4)”

Adventures Aboard the Chen Xing- Chapter 24

Jessica came in. “The guard is awake. He’s, uh, pretty upset.” “Guess one of us better let him know his punishment.” I said.  Estella nodded, “I’m kinda busy here flying, so one of you should do it?” Aurora nodded as well, looking over at me, “I’ll go with you and let you do the talking?Continue reading “Adventures Aboard the Chen Xing- Chapter 24”

I’m worse than I thought and also better

The starting sentence is from Knee Sounds by Courtney Martin.  I’m worse than I thought and also better. I thought I could bite the bullet on anything but I couldn’t. Yet, learning that I couldn’t and wouldn’t was important. Learning about choice was important.  I’m worse than I thought and also better. There was alwaysContinue reading “I’m worse than I thought and also better”

Moonlake’s Book Discoveries: March 2023

Fantasy Storm Front by Jim Butcher A lot of the people I know really liked this series so I picked it up. For me, it was okay but I didn’t love it. Not sure whether that was my issue with audiobooks again after a lapse but it’s not really holding my attention despite me usingContinue reading “Moonlake’s Book Discoveries: March 2023”

Chinese Lore- A selection of mythical fauna (10)

Red Ru Physical Description: A fish with a human’s face Special Properties: Its call is like that of Yuan Yang (a type of water bird that always appears in couples). Eating its meat can cure scabies. Ran Yi Fish Physical Description: A six-legged fish with a snake’s head Special Properties: Eating this fish can preventContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of mythical fauna (10)”

Moonlake’s Writing Updates- Mar 2023

As of the time of writing, I’m delving into enneagrams in an attempt to get closer to my characters, an idea I had taken from K. M Weiland (I bought a Humble bundle containing two of her books last year and I recently read them). I’m quite confident that I have my male protagonist peggedContinue reading “Moonlake’s Writing Updates- Mar 2023”