Perth Words… exploring possibilities.

2015 was the year I submitted my PhD and the year I intended to read ‘differently.’ I wanted to step out of my comfort zone by reading writers I had never read, or had not read for a long time. For several years now, my focus, while reading fiction and memoir, has been to read Australian women, followed closely by Indian and Iranian women. I thought I should make an extra effort to read more books by men, especially men of colour. I decided to make 2015 the year of reading more of the world, particularly because I knew I would be attending the Edinburgh Writers Festival in August.

I started the year by reading four American and one Canadian writer. Teju Cole’s Open Cityis about a Nigerian doctor who walks the streets of Manhattan, seemingly aimlessly, and encounters his past and present lives. A meditation on identity, race…

Wishing Stones

New Year’s Eve is one of the most significant days of the year and I can remember practically of them from when I was very young. That New Year’s Eve party that we had when I was twelve ~ I’ll never know if the midnight kiss was a ‘real’ kiss ~ I’m sure it was. It has to have been. Neil Diamond was big that year but it was posters of  Jimi Hendrix that adorned the walls and looked great through the dim light of the bulbs my brother painted dark red.

Starting work as a Pantry Girl in a Dublin Hospital on a freeeeezing cold New Year’s Eve in 1979 and being ticked off severely for parking my bike in the Reception area ~ what else was I to do with it??

The New Year’s Eve in 1980 which marked the last day that my beloved boyfriend…

I don’t really do New Year Resolutions but one etched its way into my consciousness the other day. I was out at the beach with hard rain belting off my cheeks in the mad wind. I had my head down battling along and when I looked up I saw a parting in the clouds and all of a sudden the whole place lit up for a few moments to reveal a blue sea, golden sand, green fields, coppery cliffs …..

Nature was smiling warmly; that’s the only way I can describe it and it made me feel so good to be there to witness it.

Nature smiles warmly lots of the time. I know I don’t smile half enough BUT I’m determined to try and change that from here on in.

A Warm Smile from Co. Waterford.

I’ve been thinking about all this for a few days now and these…

We can’t emphasis enough how important YOU are to the success of Fight for Rhinos. Thanks to all of you, this is the difference we were able to make in 2015..

*The dehorning of Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center poaching survivors; Dingle Dell and Lion’s Den at a total cost of $1250.00.  This was essential in not only keeping them safe while they’re at the center, but also in preparation for their eventual return to the wild.

Lion’s Den & Dingle Dell photo: Fight for Rhinos

*A total contribution of $3080.00 to Ol Pejeta Conservancy for

• Rhino audit (to carry out an independent verification of all individual rhinos on OPC ($2000 usd)
• Monitoring equipment – 6 GPS devices @ $ 180ea

Black rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. photo: OPC

*Three months of funding to cover expenses of the Black Mambas APU, including food, supplies and miscellaneous expenses (at a total of $2345.00 usd)