34 Comments
Mar 9Liked by prue batten

I am always impressed by succinct writing, it's not a skill I have, sadly.

Hmmmm, maybe I'm channeling my inner mansplainer lol

oh and I wear a lot of black, what does that say about me??

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Oh Kate, I think wearing black and not liking it speaks more of my intolerance toward fashion than anything else. In truth, people should be able to wear whatever they want, colour and style, without comments from aged old ladies.

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Mar 9Liked by prue batten

it's fine to have your preferences and to share them, what an homogenised dull world it will be if we can't share those things, also how will I ever be challenged to think and consider different choices for myself if I live in an echo chamber

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So true.

But me being me, and a rather anxious person, I find an echo chamber often gives me the security of knowing that others might think like me and then I don't have to justify myself.

Just occasionally, and heaven help me, I'll have a conniption and speak out beyond the four walls.

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Mar 9Liked by prue batten

oh yes i can relate to this, when all one wants is acceptance within the tribe, the struggle is real.

I appreciate the sharing of ideas and views, but not when they are accompanied with judgement or condemnation. I also like time to think over and consider how those views may or may not fit into my own life, I have been quite the chameleon all my life, it has not served me well.

I still rarely speak out

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I love that you speak here, Kate.

Also, as a sometimes-chameleon, I feel it can be so damned tiring!!!

XXXX

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Breaking wind. Out of all your beautiful descriptions this is what my 14 year old boy- mind clings to. 😂

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I meant “passing wind.” Hehe.

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Hahaha!

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I've heard "better out than in" my entire life, so funny ...

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I hadn't heard it till I married. My in-laws were a touch more relaxed than my own parents!

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I totally understand this, ha!

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Mar 16Liked by prue batten

It reminds me of when we were courting, my beloved would never pass wind in front of me, and he'd hold it in it must have been agony, when he did go to the loo you could hear him miles away ;)

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Oh Libby! Blessed Jeff. Does he know you've now told the world? XXXX

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Mar 16Liked by prue batten

He does now ;) it still makes me chuckle as to how polite he was trying to be ;)

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I went right there with you, and "better out than in" brought Shrek to mind! 14-yo boy solidarity fist bumps!

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Snicker, snort!

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👊

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These pillowbook entries, Prue, are a deeply resonant distillation of life and of living. A simply breathtaking read.

"A light breeze on the other hand, drifts with fragrances, touches cheeks like the whisper of a memory. It refreshes or cossets and one can turn one’s face to the sun."

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Thank you, Rebecca.

If you haven't already read The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagan, I recommend it. It's such a reflection of the simplicity of all Japanese style.

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That same passage that Rebecca mentions caught my eye too! You've done such a lovely job capturing that style, or at least capturing a style which is elegant and evocative (having not read the original version). I can feel your weariness of the long hot summer so I hope you get some respite from your time inside putting up the bounty of summer fruits to enjoy later in winter.

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Thank you, Sabrina. If nothing else, it's a real lesson in how to use minimal wordage to maximum effect.

Yes, such a long hot summer. Today it's been 33 and at the moment (9PM), it's 26 Celsius. The aircon is chuntering along. Our daughter rang from the city 30 minutes ago and said its 31 degrees. Astonishing and awful. Worse in Melbourne apparently.

Tomorrow 27, Monday 27 and finally down to 21 on Tuesday. The rest of the week should be civilised...

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Oh gosh....I'll be wishing you english-style temperatures! That hot in cities is miserable.

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This is such calm elegant writing! I loved your descriptions as always - and that recipe book in the pic is tremendous.

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Mar 9·edited Mar 9Author

Mum's recipe book, Sue. It's such a journey when I read it - so many memories! Poignant but happy. And thank you for the compliment.

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I half-heartedly collect old cookbooks myself - some of them.are highly entertaining. One of them has 'household hints' at the back including instructions for whitening your husband's spats, lol. What kind of dreadful "reward" would THAT be when all over chores were complete ...

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Memory droplets, tiny gems - each one precious. What a sweet way to approach journaling. I just read the Wikipedia entry on Sei Shōnagon and loved this bit: "She did not invest her time in soul-searching, nor was she searching for the attention or opinions of readers, simply because she did not invest in her writing for others, but only for herself." I have to imagine she was none too pleased when the private book meant for her eyes only found its way out. Good fortune for us! Likewise this lovely, new essay.

Have I mentioned that, more than once, I've written Prue and Pure and thought, "Yes, that's just so." Though I believe we all shapeshift, at times, to do what we must to exist in this world, I see you as someone who is honest on the page, and I really appreciate that.

In my first job out of college I worked with a cranky secretary who felt that young women should not wear black. It wasn't about the color but about "earning the right" or some such nonsense. People are funny.

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Oh my goodness! Thank you.

But really, in the family archive, there are varying descriptions of volatility, tempestuousness, anxiety, being outspoken...

Shape-shifting ... yes... the chameleon that Kate mentions. But always honest.

PS: I do mention in my own pillow book that I have an Little Black Dress and wear it on occasion - which is very rare these days.

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Thanks so much for sharing Prue, I love the idea of a pillow journal x

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A pleasure, Sally. So want to make those muffins when it cools down again. I believe Melbs hot the awful jackpot with heat yesterday and overnight. My sympathies...

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Oh my gosh def not baking weather here this weekend. 39 again today thank god for AC

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“The Pillow Book of Prudence” was absolutely delightful! And very thought-provoking. I hope you’ll gift us with more entries soon!

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I may do some post-surgery. Probably quite a few observations then. ;)

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