quiet paws.

So I have a lot of books, probably too many. I’m currently in the process of trying to cull the collection of any unnecessary, never-turned-to books … a process which has been an interesting experience to say the least. As part of all this book sorting, I’ve been moving books around between bookcases and re-connecting with books which have some sort of significance.

In an effort to gain daily inspiration, I’ve cleaned off the shelf above my computer and put together a gathering of special books which I could never, would never … ever … ever, get rid of.

So here they are (in no particular order of relevance) … Over the coming days I’ll discuss the reasons why these particular books are important to me and why they have earned their place in my bookshelf ‘hall of fame’.

On one particularly miserable and boring lunchtime in Brisbane (of which I experience many), while trying to kill some time before I had to go back to the office I found myself wandering past one of the Antique / Estate Jewellers. I’m quite partial to estate jewellery as it feels like a wonderful way to recycle not just the piece in question, but the memories and experiences that have been associated with its previous lives. Anyway I digress…

In the crowded front window display I noticed the cutest little silver bear pendant for sale. It seemed so ‘me’ and felt so right, but unfortunately even at its reduced price I didn’t exactly have the money to spare for a jewellery indulgence at that time. And so I returned over the next few days to gaze at his cute little face and wonder whether I should just rack another purchase up on the much-maligned and over-used credit card…I decided that it just wouldn’t be wise.

The next week I returned to the store, and of course the little silver bear pendant was nowhere to be seen, he had obviously gone home with a new owner. I was a little disappointed, but if you don’t have the money, you just don’t have the money, simple as that.

I’ve thought about that little bear off and on, and even returned to the store from time to time to see whether he had been returned to sale for some reason or another…but no, I think he was enjoying his new life.

All this changed though when I once again found myself with some time to kill and my legs seemed to carry me back to the Estate Jewellery store. Who should I find tucked away in the back corner? Well none other than a little silver bear pendant. After a short internal debate, I figured that this was destiny (especially as it completed by trifecta of once lost items) – it would be wrong to turn my back on what fate had once again thrown into my path. He is now mine.

With the end of 2007 and the start of 2008 I thought it appropriate to reflect on some of the last things that I did in 2007. So without further ado…the last:

CD I Purchased – Rain on Lens (Smog)

Movie I Watched – The Darjeeling Limited

Dinner – Curry Lentil Pie and Roast Potatoes

Breakfast – Buttered Raisin Toast and Soy Flat White (in a mug)

Book I Purchased – Heart is A Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers)

Book I Finished Reading – One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

DVD I Purchased – Marie Antoinette

Live Music Event I Went to – Nick Cave (Solo) and Grinderman

Chocolate Bar – Fry’s Turkish Delight

Beauty can sometimes be found in complexity, in intricate twists and turns, and hidden messages. In rarer, yet often more stunning fashion, true beauty can be found without so much effort…It simply exists. It shines in an indescribable way and with an unconcerned sense of self.

It is in looking at the true essence of something that we can learn so much about the world and our place within it. As the layers peel away to reveal the delicate inner core, there is a real sense of connection with something fundamental, something real.

Art in all its forms can reveal something pure and unashamedly unique, whether that be in print, image, dance or song. Elmore Leonard does this with words, Bill Callahan does this with song and Andrew Zuckerman does this with photography.

A recent addition to my ever expanding collection of photographic books is Andrew Zuckerman’s sublime ‘Creature’. Often animal photography swings between extremes – from sickly sweet and painstakingly posed, to stock standard portraiture that lacks in style and substance. Thankfully Zuckerman is a freakishly talented artist with the ability to transcend all such problems.

With each animal shot against a startling white background, the uncluttered, unpretentious photographs allow the viewer to enter into a visual dialogue and peer through a hidden window into the creature world. In inviting us into their world, Zuckerman lets the animals simply speak for themselves.

With his collection of subjects ranging from lions, to bears, elephants and leopards, this book is a visual feast for all animal lovers. The detail and clarity captured by Zuckerman is startling and inspirational, leaving the eyes hungry for more. He is everything I would ever want to be as a photographer.

If clean lines and pared back photographic imagery is your thing, then Creature is the book for you. Aside from Creature, Zuckerman does a lot of other pretty amazing things with his photography, so some time spent at his website is well worth the visit.

For some reason I can’t stand wearing a watch on my wrist. I hate the feeling of control or being controlled by something other than my own whims and meanderings. The constant visible ticking by of time reminds me of what I’d rather be doing or how a timetable other than my own is ruling my life.

When I was young I remember how exciting, sophisticated and ‘adult’ wearing a watch seemed to be. The first watch I owned was a ‘free gift’ which came with a purchase from a gift store in the city. It was digital, had a white plastic band and had a picture of two local theme park characters on its face. Oh how I loved that watch…I wore it everywhere, at home, at school and in bed.

Then came the sad day when I looked at my watch and saw that the digital display was no longer visible, the battery had died. Being as it was a very cheap watch, once the battery it came with ran flat, there was no way of reviving it. It was a case of once the watch stopped, it was time to throw it out. I wish I knew before I fell so heavily in love that my lover was so disposable and could leave me so suddenly.

For a while I wore a cheap red plastic sports watch which held little appeal but was still functional. I wore the watch when I needed to for school, but that was about it.

After saving my money for several months I headed off for a day at the local travelling exhibition where showbags were available related to different themes. There were showbags related to My Little Pony bags, Cadbury Chocolate bags, Care Bear bags and Alf bags. Remember Alf? I do. I loved that crazy furry alien. I loved him so much that I bought an Alf watch that year from the exhibition. It was a plush watch that sat on the wrist and the time could be seen by opening his mouth and looking at the digital display held within. I was smitten.

I remember wearing that watch to school and enjoying it for a while, but its size and conspicuousness made be self-conscious. It was also a bit of a target for some of the less nice kids to focus on. I took Alf home that day and put him away in the drawer. He was never worn again.

The next few years saw a parade of nondescript unmemorable watches that I neither recall the appearance of nor retain any significant emotional connection to.

Then for a birthday gift I was given the opportunity to choose a new watch for myself (within a modest price range of course). It was a basic analogue watch with white face, black hands, a black leather band and gold fittings. As I browsed the jewellery store that day I think the watch chose me, so beginning a unique emotional connection. I was once again in love. I wore that watch everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

This obsessive love would ultimately lead to the sad demise of this watch. Against my better judgement I left my watch on the bathroom bench while I was in the shower and so moisture gradually worked its way into the watch face and into its inner workings. Eventually this rendered the watch unreadable and unusable. Another heartbreak in my line of watch lovers.

Once again I found myself on a self destructive path of unmemorable and quickly forgotten watches. This continued for some time until I felt it was time to invest in a decent serious ‘adult’ watch for myself.

I knew just the type I was after. The style was considered all very fashionable that year. All metal band with gold and silver elements, analogue watch with after glow and date functionality. While I had the money to buy it outright, I decided instead to pay if off over a few weeks. After a slow start together we hit it off and while we spent much time in eachother’s company, our relationship never reached the dizzy heights that I’d shared with previous watches.

Eventually though my watch fell out of favour. It just didn’t have the same classic appeal it once had. It weighed heavy on my wrist and the gold and silver metal seemed too showy, too obvious. I only wore it when absolutely necessary for work. As soon as I got home each day, the watch was the first thing to come off. On Friday afternoons it was unlikely to return to my wrist again until the following Monday morning.

I soon discovered that it was all watches and not just this one in particular that I came to barely be able to stand. After so many years spent in a love-hate relationship with my wristwatches I thought it time to try something new. Thus has begun my quest for pocket watch lockets – pocket watches that have been modified to be worn around the neck by women. The picture at the start of this piece is the first pocket watch locket that I have purchased. One side has a beautiful pattern and on the other is an etching of three horses.

I’m hoping that a watch locket will simply be another piece of jewellery and not something which ticks away on my wrist. As always, and ironically, the passage of time will tell whether wearing a watch on my neck is less irritating than wearing one on my wrist. While I may never take to wearing a watch ‘after hours’, I do feel that I may be at the beginning of a new and wonderful relationship. Please don’t break my heart pocket watch…

Continuing on in this themed series come two more suggestions for buyers and sellers to keep in mind when they are trading on eBay.

Failure to Communicate – Timely communication between a seller and a buyer helps sellers to receive the highest possible price for their item and more importantly, builds a trusting relationship between both parties.

While an auction is ‘live’, potential buyers are able to ask questions of sellers to allow them to bid with greater confidence. Typical questions made of sellers include inquiring about combined postage for multiple auction wins, asking about an item’s dimensions, and wanting to know further details about an item’s condition.

If no response to such reasonable questions is provided by a seller or if a rude response is received, it is unlikely that the inquiring eBay member will be persuaded to bid.

Sellers must also remember to inform winning bidders of any delays to posting of their item, or if there are any problems with processing of the buyer’s payment.

Not communicating openly and effectively with buyers and sellers is impolite and simply poor business practice. Sellers and buyers should be on the same communication page, as there is nothing worse than being left in the dark.

Of course sellers are just one side of the eBay communication equation. Buyers too have a responsibility to communicate openly and effectively with sellers they buy from. Once an item has been successfully won at auction, the buyer should contact the item seller and make payment within timeframes described in the auction terms and conditions. If no such timeframes are specified, courtesy dictates that payment, or at the very least contact, should be made within seven days of the auction close. Failure to communicate as required with the seller may mean that you may not receive your item as quickly as hoped (if at all), or it may cause you to receive negative feedback.

Failure to Deliver on Purchase - The eBay community is based on trust between sellers and buyers. Hopefully both parties are interested in doing the right thing and following through appropriately on each sale transaction.

Unfortunately some sellers see eBay as a way to rip people off, taking money from their buyers but failing to send them their purchase (if the item ever really existed for sale in the first place). Feedback left for a seller by other buyers can be a guide to trustworthiness, however some unscrupulous sellers will launch a sudden and unexpected attack on eBay members. Whatever the particular circumstances may be, the buyer is a firm loser. While eBay does have some purchase protection for buyers, this is pretty limited in coverage and may not result in buyers receiving refunds for their unreceived purchases.

Buyers should pay for their successfully won auction goods. Once payment has been confirmed, sellers should send paid items to the relevant purchaser.

At the close of any eBay auction, successful bidders are required to complete their role in the transaction by making payment for their item. By making payment in the right amount and within an acceptable timeframe, buyers are better able to ensure that they will receive their purchased item in the near future.

Believe it or not there was a time before eBay was all ‘business’…where it wasn’t so much about making money as it was about providing an environment for buyers and sellers to meet…where people could sell unwanted goods in a safe environment and where people could grab themselves a great deal…Sadly the eBay shopping culture has shifted and those good ol’ days are seriously under threat.

While of course there are still bargains to be found and great people to interact with, the fun and spontaneous environment of eBay is suffering at the hands of some unprincipled buyers and sellers.

With seller fees continuing to increase, the use of automated bidding on the rise and an undercurrent of rogue buyers and sellers, it pays to be vigilant. We need to make a return to a more innocent time of online shopping by focusing on the community values which first made eBay such a great place to shop.

Leaving Feedback – On completion of an eBay transaction, buyers and sellers are able to rate their overall sale experience by leaving feedback on eachother’s performance. Each individual feedback score combines to create a feedback profile for each eBay member.

Each transaction can be graded by a buyer and seller as being ‘positive’, ‘negative’ or ‘neutral’. In support of this overall rating, further detail about a transaction experience can be left in the form of additional comments. Given that eBay buyers and sellers interact with eachother indirectly, they are reliant on this feedback left by other eBay members to trust that transactions will proceed as expected.

Whether an experience has been good, bad or indifferent, eBay members should leave feedback for buyers and sellers they deal with so that the community can be better informed. In times gone by sellers would leave feedback for buyers once payment was received. However after some buyers took advantage of this and failed to reciprocate good feedback, sellers now normally wait until buyers leave feedback before doing the same.

When an item has been received in good order, the buyer should leave positive feedback for the seller. In turn, given this positive feedback the seller should followup with positive feedback for the buyer. Neutral feedback should be left if a purchase experience has been below par, but not devastatingly awful. Negative feedback should only be considered as a last resort as it leaves a lasting bad mark against an eBay member’s profile. Failing to leave feedback altogether is just downright rude.

Leaving feedback is a fundamental courtesy which should be upheld by sellers and buyers to maintain the friendly community environment.

Bidding in Strange Amounts – Once a starting price has been set by a seller, bidders are free to enter the maximum amount they wish to pay for that item. Bidding is then open to all bidders until the auction end time. Until then bidding increases until the bidder who entered the highest maximum bid wins the item.

Entering strange bid amounts such as $5.37 or $9.33, is just a sneaky way to try to win an auction. While bidding in such amounts may win you an item it will do more to frustrate sellers and other bidders than prove how clever you are. Until the day that one cent pieces come back into circulation, buyers should bid confidently in amounts that equate to legal tender.

Bid increments in real amounts simply make logical sense and help to ensure that if you win an item you win on the basis of fair play.

There are some rules in society which we all generally accept. For instance road rules are by and large accepted by all who travel on our roads. Sometimes we may leave the ‘road’ area to drive into car parks to facilitate other activities we enjoy such as shopping, going to the movies or eating out.

You may feel because you have left the traditional road area and entered a car park area, that driving rules such as stopping at stop signs and following directional arrows no longer apply. This is a common mistake.

Just because you have exited from the road, this does not mean that the same rules governing your driving behaviour do not apply. If an arrow indicates that you can only drive in a certain direction, than that is the direction in which you must travel. If a give way sign requires you to check and wait for other traffic, then wait is what you must do. If a stop sign requires you to stop, then you need to stop.

Even if you spot a parking space just nearby which would require you to go against these road rules, you should resist temptation. If you can only get to a parking space by breaking the rules, you should look for another space.

It is a well known fact that car parks can cause the blood pressure to rise and lead to a build up of rage in the driver. This is understandable and sometimes unavoidable. However some of this stress could be alleviated by knowing that all drivers are doing the right thing and following the road rules as we all commonly understand them to be. This would lead to less angst, fewer accidents and less incidents of car park rage. Quite simply a more harmonious situation for everyone.