Website

Thanks to the kind donation of time and resource from Dan at That Computer Guy – Dan has volunteered to prepare a specific site for Camino 4 Cancer along with the donation of hosting the site over next few months, thanks Dan for being part of the team, check him out at  http://thatcomputerguy.net.au/ 

The website itself is starting to come along and we hope to have it up and running in the next 3 weeks so that the online donations can start rolling in.

Cancer Council Endorsement

The cancer council responded within a matter of days in relation to our endeavour to complete the gruelling 1,247 kilometres trek across Spain and on to Portugal, we have submitted a formal proposal and await a further speedy response, thanks Melissa for your help – appreciate you keeping the red tape to minimal levels.

Celebrities

We have invited Christina Applegate, Olivia Newton John and Ronan Keating to becoming involved with the promotion of our event, you may be aware that these celebrities have had their own personal challenges in respect of this disease and have worked wonders in setting up foundations and research facilities to continue the fight – great effort guys don’t hold back. If anyone has any contact with any other profile people that would like to be involved in supporting the venture please put them in touch with me contact@bookblog.com.au 

Personal Stories/Guest Blogging

As a guest blogging initiative we would like as many people as possible to contribute their own personal battle victory or encounter with this disease. Your story may be of comfort to others or help challenge the community to make donations – you can remain anonymous or had a personal reference. Alternatively if you wish to submit an article in respect of cancer which you would like to share with the world please do not hesitate to do so and we will post it on the site to reach as many people as possible.

Training

Well……..Easter is always full of yummy chocolates and warm toasted, mouth watering, waist bulging hot cross buns. What can I say, I enjoyed it all! Now the toll has to be paid. I have started my new eating regime – I considered that if I was going to be raising funds for cancer it would be a good idea to alter my eating patterns and become more healthy in my outlook to food (red wine I so miss you already – I know I can still have a couple …but in moderation). I am now working out 3 times a week on the weights in the gym and 3 times a week pounding the pavement in my runners, phew reminds me I’m a little tired today.  Anyway starting statistics ….. mmm feel a little self conscious but anyway opening weight is 78 kilograms of good solid me…target 6 kilograms less than what I am – unless of course the muscle is heaver lol.

Planning

Started my first book in relation to the Camino – not much to say yet – but seems like a long way to go and man those blisters are scary.

Volunteers

Anybody who has time to be a volunteer to help with the venture, you are welcome. If you are a business I will endeavour to plug your business as much as possible.

There are many things to do – some can be as little as 5 minutes a day to promote our event – all shapes sizes and desires.

Thanks so far to the following people:

Dan – That Computer Guy

Therese

Selina

Pauline

I need somebody to design me a funky T Shirt for the Camino 4 Cancer which I can merchandise and also give more identity to where we are going – please contact me via contact@bookblog.com.au

That’s all for now – Good Times – Dave Hibbins – book blog – book reviews and fund raiser

Why? Aside from my commitments with the day job (have to pay the bills), my writing work, the degree I’m studying part time at university, charity work for murder victims, blogging, family commitments, holding up my side of the bookshop, Spanish classes and author events I just don’t have enough to do?!. The why is more than that, I am using this spiritual passage of growth to raise minimum of $ 100,000 for the Australian Cancer Society. Too many families, too many children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters suffer from the effects of cancer. I want to help and this is the way that I have chosen.

When? I have booked my tickets and will arrive in France on 15th March next year and have reserved a little over 3 months to complete the journey.

I will be paying for all of my own out of pocket expenses so every dollar that I raise goes directly to Cancer research and does not become lost on the way. Working on an official endorsement etc by the Cancer Council to ensure that everyone has the assurance to donate etc

I will be blogging about my training, planning and fund raising over the next 350 days hoping to share the journey and the milestones.

If anybody has any experiences they want to share about fundraising, general lunacy or walking the Camino please comment here or seek me out on twitter @bookblog1.

You want to come and help - feel free to do so - happy to have thousands of walking companions. Otherwise please circulate the event to as many people as you possibly can so that we can start getting  those donations rolling in.

If this does not help, think about the following, and I mean really think about it. Yesterday I was listening to the radio on the way to the day job - a local station on the Gold Coast Sea Fm. They broadcast the plight of a family here on the Gold Coast - the father has a rare form of cancer which he started suffering from - I think about 8 years ago. Recently his son has also started suffering from the same disease. Incredibly sad and also it is seriously not right. Listening to the bravery of Dad on the radio talking as a matter of fact about his experiences to date and then imagining how I would feel to see my son about to suffer from same insidious affliction. It would tear me apart. These stories are repeated from town to town, city to city, state to state and from country to country. As a human race we have had combat with many types of nasties, some we have been successful at researching and defeating others we are still trying to find the right strategy. One thing is certain by pulling together we can defeat diseases; look at the successes we have already had in the past. It is possible.  Victory will take money and resources though. So help me, and by doing that, help us all fight the good fight. 

Good Times

David Hibbins bookblog - book review extraordinaire

This novel (Reunion) is set in Melbourne, Australia and is about the journey of four friends whose friendship has withstood the trials of life after university. Four friends are brought back together via a new foundation created by one of the friend’s husbands. Emotionally charged and packed full of elaborate plot, and more twists and turns than fighter pilot has in a dog fight. Essentially though, it is a story of relationships and the frailty of us humans that go to make up those connections. 

Parties: I’m not sure how everyone else feels but I have this problem of age, it seems each time I celebrate a birthday I am also reminded that this passing of time does not allow me to celebrate all night like a teenager, well at least when I try it takes me a day and a half to recover. Famous words - “I’m never going to do that again” seem to be popping out of my mouth all to regularly lately. Anyway Happy Birthday again to James and Katherine you are both wonderful people and hope that you  enjoy many more fantastic  times - just not at the Grand Hotel at 2:30 am in the morning (with me anyway).

I finished a couple more book reviews on the weekend - most importantly the review for Mr Rosenblum’s List. I read this book a couple of weeks ago while on holiday and it added that special ingredient to my time away that will be treasured. Natasha Solomon again I say - Great Work! Give me more.

Okay, thanks again for taking time to send me emails and comments about the blogging experience - I do have quite a few reviews to post from our contributors and will work this content management site out this week so that I can do same.

Good Times.

David Hibbins - bookblog - appreciating the written word

After spending my two weeks abroad I have put together more information and had more funny and um…troubling experiences to add to the E-book - so keep your eyes out for the final version - at only $ 1.95 per copy it is great value, have a laugh at my expense, and for those that are going to Thailand there are some great helpful ideas for you.

Nearly time for the April newsletter - I will be distributing that very soon - please feel free to email me any details that you would like included in the future.

I have a lot of new book reviews to be published to the website, given the global economic times I am working through how I actually get these published on the website (without using the greatest website person in the world) using my content management system - fingers crossed I don’t crash the site for the rest of the year.

Talking of book reviews I have been reading some good information in the Good Reading Magazine, it is a very worthwhile read - they also write reviews (nearly) as good as I do (sorry Good Reading authors but what can I say – I’m good….). Can pick up a subscription through the website or simply go to isubscribe.com.au

Emerging writer’s festival in Victoria is rapidly approaching - the organisers are looking for sponsors for the event in the form of exclusive author sponsorship programs - which come attached with some great benefits.

I have also been plugging away at the teaching degree which has been supplemented with my endeavour to learn the Spanish language before and I emphasise - before  - I go and walk the Camino in 2011. If you have ever tried to learn a language, aside from the steep curve you would probably agree that it is like gaining another soul, and sometimes just as confusing as having a second soul….

If you would like to become involved as a guest blogger on the site please drop me an email and we can work something out.

Good news our email contact list is now up to 506 people – please have your friends and everyone you know who has a passion for books or writing sign up to the website – I want to try and have a contact list of 1,000 people by Christmas.

Good times and enjoy the weekend

bookblog.com.au the most exciting book blog

David Hibbins

The weather here today on the Gold Coast is just wonderful - too good to be spending it indoors, be lovely to head down the beach.

I heard that a couple of Kiwis have spotted a saltwater crock here on the coast, with all the drownings and water related accidents that are occurring at this time of the year its another added to the risk list.

Still working my way through Control Stress by Paul McKenna, i will post a review on the main website when I’m finished but on the whole it is a good educational read.

My heart goes out to the children who lost there parents on the beach down at Ballina  - i heard that they are putting together a fund to help them through this time - please make a contribution if you can 50 c from everyone adds up to a lot of money to help them get through things.

Again i remind my readers encourage your friends to submit reviews to the website - chance to win some money and have your thoughts can be published (you can also request that it be anonymous)  for all to see.

There are so many sites that record book reviews in search titles but they do not seem to have any reviews on them - and when they do the reviews are not really that helpful to decide whether or not to read the book - seems all they want to do is sell the books and not compile an informative review.

Thanks again to my followers - please help me build this site into a community book review website so that we can reach as many people with our reviews as is possible.

Regards

bookblog - Dave Hibbins - Book Reviews and Premier Book Blog Site

Couple of pointers that i have learned so far.

Physical signs of stress

• Stomach knots
• Excessive anger
• Fear or irritation
• Inability to focus
• Insomnia

Paul explains in his first couple of chapters why we experience stress and why we should deal with the stress in our lives. So far the book is quite easy to read and it comes with a handy CD to get an immedialte start on improving your life.

Paul McKenna explains that controlling stress will help you feel better, live longer, enjoy a stronger immune system have increased stamina and improve your decision making processes. The book costs $ 34.99 at Angus & Robertson and is a bargain - anything that can provide all of those things without resorting to drugs has to be good.

If you don’t want your performance, relationships and enjoyment to suffer make sure you take time to have a read of this book or talk to anyone about your stress levels.

Talking of stress levels - this week has been interesting for me - back to my day job as a financial controller, holding my commitment of writing at least 200 words every day (except Sunday) , gym, running, University and family life is have all been taking there toll as a try to get back in the groove.

I hate to live in the future but i have another Thailand trip on 15th February - two weeks of research and holiday - cant beat it - don’t forget to keep an eye out for my Thailand book in next 4 weeks - its only $ 1.95 but will keep you interested form the startto the finish with some interesting facts we found out and some funny accounts of our experiences, both good and bad.

Have a great day everyone and enjoy life - it only comes around once.

David Hibbins - Bookblog - Book Reviews with passion

When thinking about busy lives it makes me think of the young kids that were involved in the accident in Victoria over the weekend, my heartfelt sorrow goes to all of the families that have been impacted by this disaster - and i send out a global wish for all people to slow down on our roads - life is too important to waste it on the wrongside of a telephone pole. Don’t forget to give your family a kiss and a hug goodbye each and every-time they go away - you never know when things will change.

I am currently reading two books - Control Stress by Paul McKenna and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - one is part of research for my current novel and the other part of my Literature Degree - but really am enjoying both books and learning a thing or two along the way.

I look forward to the weekend and picking up a book that is purely enjoyment.

Looking forward to getting some good reviews on the website - please don’t forget to email me any book reviews - even if it is only a couple of lines and also just say hi and tell me what you are reading at the moment.

David Hibbins bookblog

Good luck to all for the year ahead.

I commend Pat for her work because she clearly writes for the enjoyment of writing and a look forwar to seeing this reflected in her work.

Avid Reader provide a valuable service to the art with the particpiation in these launch programs and meet the author nights, so if you are in West End please drop in and say hello to the team and buy a book to hlpe the cause - tey have plenty on the shelves to choose from - and for a book person the trip into the shop is like a trip into a fantasy world - only you can touch and feel.

In the ext couple of weeks i will be releasing a new e-book which will be available on the website for download - a short story that will keep you enthralled from start to finish - my turn for you to give me feedback - please keep your eye out for this.

Thanks again for reading my book review and please recommend bookblog to all your friends - help me to build a new world.

David Hibbins - Bookbog - Book Reviews - Appreciating the Written Word