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26 April 2011 by Lesley Dewar 2 Comments

Six Weeks In A Leaky Boat.

Six weeks in a leaky boat was a very popular song by ~~Crowded House~~ Split Enz and with six weeks in the US and Canada ahead of me, it’s very important to be sure that my boat has no leaks. My travel boat that is. Anzac Day got off to a great start. My flight out of Perth to Brisbane was leaving at 11:10pm, not 11:55 as I thought and the last hour of my packing was hectic, to say the least.

My idea of packing my clothes in groups in medium sized plastic bags with their own zip locks worked extremely well, particularly when you can squeeze down on them forcing out the air. The suitcase was a dream to pack and I ticked off the list as I went, so nothing was missed. I doubt that I have enough clothes for six weeks and I can see some laundromat work coming up along the way.

I decided not to take the iPhone at all, because I couldn’t trust myself to not use it and run up a huge bill. Which means I have to buy a watch! I haven’t worn a watch for years and rely on my phone for alarms, too. So many of my photos are taken with my iPhone too – so I am missing her already and I am still in Sydney.

Yes, Sydney. When I arrived at the Perth Domestic Airport for the flight to Brisbane, it turned out that I am booked right through to LAX; should have been there two hours at least before flight time; the flight was closed and Qantas had to reroute me to Sydney to pick up a flight to Los Angeles. I had a window of about 10 minutes to get that – so, I am not complaining about being in Sydney and I will arrive in Los Angeles about the same time – 7:00am on April 26. Flying east and crossing the international date line means that I leave Sydney at 9:30am on April 26 and arrive in LA at 7:00am on April 26.

The good news is that my luggage was booked right through to LA, so I didn’t have to collect it in Sydney. I am taking ten lovely fine bone china mugs decorated with Australian birds or flowers to the US and Canada as gifts for some of my friends. They fitted snugly into a padded chiller bag when wrapped up in a big towel and the ends stuffed with a couple of tea towels, so I hope that they arrive safely and undamaged.

My luggage is all matched – red crocodile skin (fake). Going through screening, the bag with my cosmetics was shunted off to one side, because they wanted to check the aerosols. Hairspray and deodorant. The airport guy was teasing me, walking up and down ignoring my matching computer bag and handbag, saying “does anyone know whose bag this is?” It’s a bit unusual to find anyone with a sense of humour in the screening or immigration area and I suspect it might not be so light hearted when I get to being patted down in the US.

So far, no leaks. The first one was well plugged by some very excellent service by Qantas. Let’s hope we don’t spring any along the way. There the boarding call, so Los Angeles – here we come!

25 April 2011 by Lesley Dewar 2 Comments

From #OZ to The Rockies – via NYC and Miami

Packing….. for six weeks away from home.

So, Nana’s Walkabout is about to take off – in six hours from now. Four small, last minute jobs to do and then –what isn’t done, probably won’t get done!

I am checking off my packing list and trying to keep everything to essentials. On Saturday, Warren and Lisa arranged a small family gathering with drinks and nibbles on the patio – it was a beautiful evening in Perth and nice to share some time with them, family and friends.

I came home with a very lovely, snow proof jacket that will definitely be useful when I get to the colder climes of Toronto, Montreal and the Rockies. Probably won’t need it in Miami or San Diego, though. NYC will be very exciting and with LinkedIn, Twitter MeetUp groups – I have no worries about being on my own for too long and there are dozens of wonderful museums, Zoos and tours to fill up my days. It’s going to be a lot of fun! It’s a big trip from #Oz and I will be meeting many new people and sharing their lives – sometimes for a couple of hours, sometimes for a few days. There will be many stories for this Nana to tell and we are set up for mobile blogging.

My itinerary…… for quick reference

This is a quick check list of where and when I will be in different cities – so, if we can catch up, please just drop me a note. You can connect on Twitter

I am on LinkedIn and Stories My Nana Tells is on Facebook too I would love to meet you in my travels.

Los Angeles – April 26 (Tue) – 28 (Thu)

Exhibiting all day on April 27, at the Women’s Small Business Expo, The Ayres Hotel, 1440 Hindry Ave, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach LA. http://www.womenssmallbusinessexpo.com/
Have booked in a MeetUp at El Cholo Restaurant in South Flower Street, LA (6:30pm April 28) http://www.elcholo.com/asp/site/DowntownLA/index.asp?Location=5
Have pencilled in a meeting with Mike Shields (LinkedIn)
Have pencilled in a meeting with Todd Kramer (LinkedIn)

New York City and Toronto CA – April 29 (Fri) – May 8 (Sun) (family)

Visiting New York with Pauline
Staying with Colin and Pauline in Toronto
Pencilled in a phone call (maybe coffee) with Donna Carrick – connected on Twitter.

Montreal – May 9 – 10 (Mon, Tue)

Sunday May 8 – is Mother’s Day!
Visiting Redpath Museum – especially to see dinosaurs and Egyptian mummies, (just missed Butterflies Go Free)
Have pencilled in a meeting with Sherry and Wendy – Twitter friends from @kiboomu
Will select my accommodation when I get to Toronto
Not too many events seem to be happening in Montreal.

Detroit – May 11 – 12 (Wed, Thu)

Have booked a Meetup with a Networking After Work group on Thursday May 12, at Bailey’s Pub & Grille at 1965 West Maple Road, Troy MI
Have pencilled in a meeting with Stacey L Malcolm, MPA – a LinkedIn friend whose profile includes a link to http://www.soldiersangels.org/
Will select my accommodation when I get to Toronto
Have pencilled in to meet up with Adra Young from LinkedIn

Cleveland OH – May 13 – 14 (Fri, Sat)

Have been booked to give a presentation at The LaunchHouse on Friday 13th May, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/LaunchHouse 3558 Lee Road, Shaker Heights. Joined their Meetup group too and met them through Heidi Cool – LinkedIn friend.
Registered at Marriott Raddison
Have pencilled in a meeting with Andrew Spreigel – LinkedIn friend.

New York City – May 15 – 17 (Sun -Tue)

Booked a MeetUp with NY Internet Marketing Group at McGarry’s Pub & Restaurant, 417 9th Avenue, New York, on Tues May 17, 7:00pm
Pencilled in trip to Statue of Liberty.
Registered at The Jane – which looks like a great place to be based in New York without breaking the bank.
Pencilled in a meeting with Ariel Hyatt – if she is back from Nashville.

Burlington NC – May 18 – 20 (Wed – Fri)

Taking the train from Penn Station in New York to Burlington, NC. I will be a guest of Alona Lewis and her family and friends – and it is going to be heaps of fun. We are friends on Twitter and by email and I am really looking forward to meeting her and everyone else, off line.

tweet from: MiddleAgeGodess (She Who Rules) Oh for goodness sakes.. if you come to NC you MUST get with me.. and Joanne.. and Miriam .. yes.yes.yes… Y’all Come On Down, Ya’Hear !!

Miami Fl – May 21 – 22 (Sat – Sun)

Pencilled in a meeting with Rodrick Walters – The Upbeat Dad – Follow him on Twitter and his friends. Rodrick and his Facebook page is is here
Pencilled in a meeting with Michael McCann – The Mayor of PurpleUmpkin – a LinkedIn Friend.
Will select my accommodation when I get to Toronto

Dallas TX – May 23 – 25 (Mon – Wed)

Planning on getting a good seat at “9 to 5 – The Musical”
Dallas has a great Zoo and a lot of expat Aussies living there – will check out the Meetups and networking event. Looks like there is heaps happening in Dallas.
Will book accommodation when I get to Toronto.

San Diego – May 26 – 27 (Thu – Fri)

Definitely going to the San Diego Zoo. Have had great advice through LinkedIn on the best ways to get around the Zoo, what to see and how to travel.
Pencilled in to get to watch AFL football with the San Diego Lions, if possible, as a visitor on a Friday night.
Looking for a LinkedIn networking group for Thursday May 26, if possible.
Booking my accommodation when I get to Toronto.

San Francisco – May 28 – 30 (Sat – Mon)

Pencilled in a meeting with Mary C Long – a friend on Twitter (@lawfirmPRwriter)
Pencilled in to find a LinkedIn or Meetup neworking event while I am there.
Will definitely find the time to ride a tram, get to the Golden Bridge and maybe take a trip out to Alcatraz.
Will find a bed when I get there. Coming with some flowers in my hair. 🙂

Vancouver CA – May 31 – Jun 2 (Tue – Thur)

Pencilled in to meet Lisa’s two sisters in Vancouver – where they live.
Booking accommodation when I get to Toronto
Pencilled in to do a day tour of the Vancouver Islands – I hear they are very beautiful.
Pencilled in to meet Suzanna Aaring – from LinkedIn

Train Trip across the Rocky Mountains to Jasper and return – Jun 3 – 6 (Fri – Mon) then back to Australia.

It will be trip of a lifetime to do this trip.

We have set up the communications we need to be a mobile office – so with LinkedIn, Twitter, email, Facebook and the website, we are happy that our family and friends will be able to keep in touch with us as much as they need (or want). Social Media – don’t you just love it.

3 April 2011 by Lesley Dewar Leave a Comment

How To Host A Twitter Party

A Twitter Party is fun. The host sets the time, date and the topic.

Everyone who wants to participate will know that the party starts at, let’s say, 6:00pm (PDST) – Pacific Daylight Saving Time on Saturday.

From that time line, you know when to come on to Twitter. Depending on where you are in the world, it might be the middle of the night or the next morning.

There must also be a definite finishing time – usually two or maybe three hours after the start time.

The host of the Twitter Party will be on line the whole time, to help keep it running smoothly, welcome guests and add comments to make sure it goes well.

The party will have its own hashtag, so it’s easy to find the tweets that you wouldn’t otherwise see, because there will be lots of people twittering away that you don’t follow, yet.

It’s a good idea to have a hashtag that you can use more than once, and remember that tweets usually only last a maximum of five or six days.

The Twitterparty should be promoted with its hashtag three or four times on Twitter each day for two or three days beforehand, so twitterers know it is on and will join in.

A Twitter Party can be around anyone of dozens of topics – that will be popular and engaging. Things that come to mind are micro-poetry, pets, holidays, gardens, best wine, funny stories, things kids say.

You will be surprised at what you can say in 140 characters, with a little practice. In fact, practice using 120 – to leave room for comments.

One of the rules of a Twitter Party is no links – when it is just for fun.

If you are looking to have a Twitter Party to promote yourself and others on Twitter, you could have a Twitter Party where the rule is everyone can post their website link TWICE during the whole time of the Twitter Party – which might be going to last three or four hours. There is a chance that some will abuse that rule. It’s up to you to decide if you want to take the chance.

Why would you want to host a Twitter Party? It’s a great way for you to contribute to the Twitter community. You help people to get engaged, join in, break down communication barriers and Twitter shyness.

Why would you want to join a Twitter Party? It is enormous fun. You get to tweet with new people, find new people to chat with and maybe start following. It helps you feel engaged with the Twitter community and let’s you feel more open about chatting on line on a specific topic.

If it is a well run promotional Twitter Party, it is a great opportunity to find new people to look at your offering and engage them in the value of your product or services. It does take a strong host to successfully run a link party.

Be on the lookout for Twitter Parties and give them a try. They are great fun, add to the health and wellbeing of the Twitter Community and you will invariably find one or two special people at the party that you want to meet again.

After all, that’s what parties are for!

21 March 2011 by Lesley Dewar Leave a Comment

LA – Womens’ Small Business Expo – April 27, 2011

Womens’ Small Business Expo in Los Angeles – April 27, 2011.

Stories My Nana Tells is one of the Australian businesses being showcased at Linda Hollander’s Women’s Small Business Expo on April 27, 2011.

Lesley Dewar will be in the company of some great US and Australia women and would love to meet you at this expo. Please let us know if you will be attending. You can send us a message through our Contact Page right here

We are bringing some nice gifts from Australia to give away, too. So, make sure we get to meet you if you will be coming to the Women’s Small Business Expo at The Ayres Hotel in Hawthorne, LA

Lesley is staying on until April 29, when she will fly out to meet her daughter in law, Pauline in New York and then it’s up to Toronto for a week to visit with family and friends.

Connect with Lesley through Social Media

Come and meet her at Stories My Nana Tells or connect on Twitter at @NanaStories.
We are on Facebook at Facebook Like Us Here or connect with Lesley on LinkedIn Connect here

After the Business Expo, Lesley will be staying on for another full day before flying to New York.

7 March 2011 by Lesley Dewar 2 Comments

What Is It That Draws Your Hand And Eye To A Book?

When writing the story Can You Spoil Your Children With Too Much Praise? I was reminded that the book to which I referred was one that I bought in an airport bookshop. Surely, one of the greatest outlets for paperbacks and the occasional hardcover, with our highly mobile population. I browse airport bookshops more often than I buy there, because there are less expensive places to purchase one’s reading.

Popular authors, best sellers, serial stories and novels abound. Colours are bright and even arresting – with titles sometimes greatly overshadowed by the Author’s name, announced in glowing gold. There IS something very satisfying about boarding a plane with a brand new book and being able to isolate oneself within its confines while you fly at 36,000 feet across the planet. It may well be that the concept of flying within the shell of an aircraft is such a strange but familiar thing that it makes sense to escape into some other imaginary world.

On my return from Brisbane in March, I had spent several hours working in the Qantas Lounge before we were called to embark, only to find that a further delay of ten minutes or so would keep us on the ground. I wandered into the newsagents nearby and began to peruse the bookshelves at the back. After all, I hadn’t bought a new book since Christmas!

Since I like fantasy stories and science fiction (Fiona McIntosh, Sarah Douglass are favourites), I tend to bypass the detective stories and thrillers. Robert Ludlam and Clive Cussler are not often on my reading list. My favourite Stephen King book is “On Writing” and when I did read “Under The Dome” the obvious conclusion to the story made it a very frustrating read for me, from the middle of the book onwards. I loved “The Swarm” – translated from the German – except for the last 50 pages which were a mishmash of a conclusion, trying to rationalise a great fantasy story into something that might apply to a current political or environmental landscape.

Historical novels about the Tudors and colonial days are especially appealing – and Phillipa Gregory vies with Jean Plaidy and Catherine Gaskin. “Sara Dane” is a role model and women of strong character are prolific in my library.

Wilbur Smith has become more violent and sex ridden over the years – I loved him when he first wrote “When The Lion Feeds” (1964) and read all his books up to “A Sparrow Falls” (1977) with great relish. “A Leopard Hunts In Darkness” was unreadable, for me, although recently I did enjoy “River God” and may well seek out some more of his Egyptian series.

Having read Robert Ruark’s “Something Of Value” during my second pregnancy, in 1964, I have waded through pools of blood and violence that are horrific but a necessary part of the real story. The Mau Mau uprisings in Kenya are a compelling part of African history, although largely forgotten. “The Old Man and the Sea” is as inescapable as “The Last Whale” – completely different writing styles but both stories that must be read.

Peter Carey’s “Oscar and Lucinda” disturbed me; Kate Grenville’s “The Secret River” was a great companion to “Sara Dane”, although much more recent in its writing, in its interaction between first settlers and Australian aboriginals; Robert Drewe’s “The Drowner” should be compulsory reading for all Australian school children aged 13 and over.

So, which book drew my hand and eye in Brisbane? It was an author new to me, Deborah Harkness and I have fallen into what is clearly going to be a series: “A Discovery Of Witches” is the beginning of a new series of fantasy adventures. I am not surprised that she has has released two non-fiction historical books, one about John Dee and the other about Elizabethan London, both of which I intend to find with some alacrity. John Dee has come to my attention through “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel” by Michael Scott and I love this series.

Since she is an entirely new author to me, what made me choose this book?

A black cover with a swirl of red and a clear title that was easy to read made it attractive. Stories about magic, dragons, vampires, old worldly stuff are part of my favourite genre so the topic was likely to be high on my list of choices. Before deciding to buy this particular book, I looked at least a dozen others and I gradually determined how I was evaluating the book itself, before checking its contents.

Opening a book in three or four different places, your eye and brain quickly begin to form an image of the presentation of the tome. The font, the spacing of the text, the layout of the paragraphs and the quality of the paper on which it is printed. The feel of the book in your hand. Unconsciously, your brain begins to weigh the physical book and rationalise the perceived value of the book in comparison against another. By way of pages, words and the author’s offering.

It was a surprise to me to see how quickly my number crunching brain was evaluating the worth of the book on the physical basis – $$ for $$, which book offered the best value in terms of content. Given that the comparative prices of the books I was checking out were from $27 to $33, there was a very large disparity in the volume of words being offered, based on the physical presentation of the dozen books that I scanned.

Of course, just the fact that one book has more words than another is no criterion of writing quality – but it is a start in deciding whether you are getting a fair number of words for the price you have to pay. The font, the layout, the quality of the paper all add to the ease and pleasure of reading of books and every book must be a physical pleasure to handle and view to make the actual reading smooth and easy.

I bought the book because it met all my instinctive calculations of good value and fair quality. Having read the book (I devour books, more than read them, I think) it was a good decision and I look forward to Deborah Harkness’ next book with great anticipation.

What is it that draws your hand and eye to a book? We invite you to share with us, with your comments.

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