Idoru – William Gibson

Another rollicking good read from William Gibson. I’m glad Phil’s bookshelves led me back to sci fi, and introduced me to this author.

The Amazon synopsis says it all really:

“Set in futuristic Tokyo, rebuilt after an earthquake, this is the story of a rock star who decides to marry a non-existent, virtual reality girl; the bemused American security consultant who has been sent to take care of him; and a teenage fan.”

Buy it: Amazon link

IndyJunior – map your travels

Bryan Boyer’s IndyJunior looks like the holy grail for us travelin’ types!!

“IndyJunior is a fully customizable map which you can use to easily display your geographic location.”

I’m going to have a play and see if I can get it working in Movable Type, using the itinery for H&my trip to India in November.

Shallows – Tim Winton

Another Western Australian novel by Tim Winton. A slimmer volume than Cloudstreet, but with a narrower focus. It’s set in the waning days of the fictional whaling town of Angelus, casting glances back over the area’s 150 years since the first white whalers arrived. Not so much of the mythical here, but a candid telling of the old clashing with the new.

I suspect that it’s based on the real South Western town of Albany, where Hazel and I spent a solemn afternoon at the whaling museum, and a more uplifting few hours visiting the geographical marvels along the coast, which the book mentions too.

Buy it: Amazon link

Ouch Ouch red feet

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes

And Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

As sung by the Teletubbies, here, and as in Bits Of Me That I Foolishly Managed To Sunburn This Weekend.

That’ll be another slathering of moisturiser for me tonight. And tomorrow. And the day after…..

But we did have the most lovely and relaxing weekend at Walton on the Naze. Again.