Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

When I was a kid we lived in an old farmhouse. The bathroom was quite tiny and contained a bath, a hand basin and a shower. The shower didn’t get much use because, quite frankly, it was yucky! Mice used to come up the drainpipe to get inside the house and it was really dark in there. Of course the dark gray paint probably didn’t help much.

Fast forward to our time in England. We only had a bath that we had to share. Bathing was a quick experience and not exactly relaxing.

In our house we have a bath and two showers. I’ve never had a bath, and I think we’ve lived here for seven years now. Mr. Munro likes to have a bath now and then, but we mainly shower and get to have one each. I love my shower, and I usually stock it with my favorite lavendar soap that I purchase from the local farmers’ market or some Lush soap (expensive but nice). I have a bottle of vanilla shower gel from the Body Shop and will sometimes venture into citrus territory. And yes, I’d better admit it now. I have long showers and enjoy every minute, not suffering a shred of guilt at the waste of water.

They say about 15 – 25 gallons of water is used during a five minute shower. (WikiAnswers) And a normal bath contains around 50 gallons of water, which means showers are more economical if you’re trying to limit water usage or have a budget.

Which do you prefer – a bath or a shower? Do you normally have a bath or a shower? What are your favorite must-have products? Do you have a rubber duckie?

Mr. Munro is on the injured list at the moment. He jammed his finger in a shipping container after a fumigation yesterday and is feeling miserable. He has to go for x-rays tomorrow but meanwhile has it strapped and the doctors have given him drugs. I feel so sorry for him but there’s nothing I can do. He didn’t sleep well last night. Hopefully some of the drugs the doctor gave him will help with that tonight.

The Body Shop has a mega sale on body butter. I’m a huge fan of their body butter and have purchased a large supply to last me for the entire year. I use it in lieu of perfume and have, in times of desperation, used it to tame frizzy hair. It works like a charm. Does anyone else like body butter?

I went to the local mall today and saw a billboard sign. The text captured my attention rather than the product it was advertising. I think it was alcohol of some description. Anyway, the text said: would you rather walk in on your parents or have your parents walk in on you?

An interesting dilemma. I know which I’d choose. I’d rather have my parents walk in on me. Some things just sear to the eyeballs, and I reckon this is one of them. I’d rather it wasn’t my retinas imprinted with the scene!! What about you?

The writing has been going pretty well. I’m almost 15,000 words in on my sci-fi romance. It’s always fun working on something new, and this time I even have a synopsis. It always helps if I know the direction I’m writing, but it’s never set in stone. I like to make stuff up as I go along, which sometimes means my synopsis ends up very different from the completed book. I also have this point mid-way where I wonder if I’m ever going to get to the length I planned, if I have enough plot. Somehow, it all works out. Don’t ask me how because I can’t explain it at all!

I mentioned the scavenger hunt I’m doing with Rainbow Reviews last week. I’m also participating in the Sultry Summer scavenger hunt, which closes on 30 June 2008. There are some great book prizes. Go on. Join the hunts. You have nothing to lose, although I bet your to-buy list will lengthen.

I love Body Shop’s body butter. Each year they have a sale where each tub is around $10 off. I thought I’d missed it so was very excited to receive an email informing me the sale was on during June. I went shopping in the weekend and brought six tubs to stock up the cupboard. My very favorite is the Brazil Nut butter, and I was aghast to hear they’re discontinuing this particular one. I’m going to have to buy some more. Evidently it’s popular in New Zealand, but not so much everywhere else in the world. People, have you no sense?????

I’m blogging over at Danger Zone today – Dr. Livingstone, I presume?