Monday, August 29, 2022

Like a virgin, touched for the very first time (Madonna)

 

The first 12 - 18 Korma Ave. Royal Oak, Auckland, 1971


Wie geht's?

Warning for the fandamilly - this one's about music and records...

That grainy photo above was taken by me over fifty years ago. It shows my record collection at the time.

I thought I'd recreate it for you and talk about the distance of time.


First albums - 50 plus years later in Hawke's Bay 2022

Last week, I found myself in Hamilton on school biznis. After searching Record Shops Near Me on my phone I visited Tron Records. Of course, right!

While there I noticed a sign the owner had put up saying something like, 'Some of these records are 50 to 60 years old, so please consider that as it relates to quality'. That was the basic message and it got me thinking.

Doh!! Of course they're that old! And of course they will be! Miraculous that some of the records from that time are in near mint condition really.

My record collection goes back 50 to 60 years as well. 

The black and white photo of my first records (above) has a few that I've lost along the way and the singles outnumber the albums because they were cheaper and much more available to my early teenage budget which came from pocket money and returning glass pop bottles to the corner dairy on Pah Rd. That's also why there were some budget albums and compilations in the mix.

But I still have the majority of them:

  • Santana (Santana) - 1969
  • The Cowsills (All Time Hits) - 1970
  • Headband (Happen Out) - 1971
  • Led Zeppelin (III) - 1970
  • The Beatles (Hey Jude) - 1970
  • The Monkees (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd) - 1967
  • The Hollies (Reflection) - 1969
  • Various (Loxene Golden Disc 1971) - 1971
  • Various (Solid Gold Hits Vol II) - 1971
  • Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (Greatest Hits) - 1969
  • Cream (Swlabr) - 1970
  • Small Faces (Biggest Small Faces) - 1972 (not in that original photo but acquired shortly after it)

I notice that those albums pretty much cover my core musical taste (I can hear Jacky say, "What taste?") that exists still: harmonic pop songs, hard rock guitar, country rock, blues rock. 

It was a nicely representative collection of cities (San Francisco, Liverpool, Manchester, London), and countries (New Zealand, England, America) as well.

In terms of distance - there isn't any really. Although I'm roughly 50 years older, I am still in touch with that teenage Wozza. I haven't changed much inside myself and certainly my interests haven't changed at all.

Listening to those records now takes me instantly back to my bedroom at 18 Korma Avenue and my Garrard SP25 Mk 3 turntable (yes, I still do listen to them from time to time, but the Garrard has long gone).


50 plus years of additions to the first 12

In other respects - it's some 50 years later and I am another, very different, experienced Wozza (husband, father, grandfather) and the collection has had 50 years of additions and subtractions.

Those first 12 though remain a very special touchstone back to my 13 year old self.

Love and peace - Wozza

Thursday, August 25, 2022

No time for a gentle rain. No time for my watch and chain. No time for revolving doors (The Guess Who)

Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

One of those weeks, I'm afraid - full on - it zipped past me, whipped out a hand and cuffed me on the old noggin and left me flailing and sprawling in the dust - cream crackered.

A series of days filled with stuff that I needed to do for others; I can always tell because I always realise at some point that I haven't blogged for a spell. Nor have I responded to many personal emails.

Me time is what I'm talking about. Got got got got no time. For me.

Didn't help that I slept on after this morning's alarm (always set for 4.30am Monday to Friday) which meant a pressured start to my day instead of 30 mins to do this blog. Doh!!

Ah well. Meh. So a few days slip by. 

The good news - blogging does eventually re-enter my consciousness and hey presto - this post.

You will be relieved to know, oh blogosphere, that I have resolved to write something more sagacious next time this blog rolls around.

Love and peace - El Wozza

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Baby, you can drive my car. Yes, I'm gonna be a star (The Beatles)



Wie geht's?

Big week in transport news - the new Purdmobile (a.k.a. a Mazda CX5) has arrived! 

I hadn't quite realised how much I missed driving my CX5 until I got back into one on Tuesday.

Quite frankly, it was a real relief. I'd been driving rentals or Jacky's car and I felt tentative while doing so. Which I only realised when I received my new version.

After an initial weird feeling, I felt much safer again. This is the car that helped save my life so in hindsight it was natural that I'd feel great being back in familiar surroundings.

Yes folks! I love my new car (pretty silver colour too btw).

Love and peace - Wozza

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Don't pass me by; don't make me cry (The Beatles)

Photo by A n v e s h on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Me?

It's been six weeks since my NDE and people can still surprise me by asking how I'm doing. 

Well, I'm still getting over the seatbelt crush on my sternum. It still twings when I get in and out of a car, when I tighten the belt on my trousers, and when I put on my seatbelt I know why I still feel it.

Aside from that, and my nose injury which continues to remind me of July 5, I'm really feeling fine physically. Mentally as well. No PTSD. Although I still get a flash from time to time of the moment of impact.

Behaviourally, the NDE has had clear repercussions for my driving. It's not like I was speedy pre crash, but I did get impatient with drivers going slower than me and I'd get agitated and itchy to pass them. Now that I stick rigidly to all speed limits and cars mount up behind me and eventually pass me by, sometimes in risky moves, I am much more patient and philosophic about the craziness of driving. 

New Zealand drivers on State Highway 2 from Takapau to Hastings are dumb as a bag of hammers. Just to be one car length ahead of me they will risk their safety (and mine). Invariably, ahead of us will be a truck (there's always another truck on the highway) or someone else driving to the speed limit. The gain is arriving at a destination a second or two ahead of me.

There's nowt so queer as folk.

Thanks for asking.

Love and peace - Wozza

Monday, August 8, 2022

His name was Trigger and he pulled the fastest milk cart in the west!



Wie geht's?

Pets! They burrow into your heart - lodge there for a while and then depart (ripping your heart apart as they go).

We had to say goodbye to Trigger (pictured above) this week - the little pony we bought for Asher a few years ago. His quality of life had deteriorated (feet issues) and so we had to make a hard decision.

Not for the first time. Sadly the life cycle for dogs and cats and horses is a relatively short one compared to human beings.




I could have this wrong but dogs and horses are the hardest (you never really own a cat) because they give love unconditionally and they are so dependent on humans in domesticated situations.




So - the lesson here? Love them while they are with you and love them enough to say goodbye when the time comes.

That's all well and good, but it still hurts like crazy!

Love and peace - Wozza

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

How long is one's life?



Wie geht's?

In the Sutra of 42 Sections, the Buddha asked his disciples, "How long is one's life?" One of the monks replied, "A few years", someone else said, "A few days". Another said, "A single day", and another answered, "Between meals!" Finally, the Buddha said, "Life is one breath away".

Love and peace - Wozza