Makes it kind of quiver down in the core 'cause you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before, and now you're stumblin', you're stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night (Tom Waits)

Wie geht's?

All roads lead to memories of England this week.

First I happened across McVities Digestives in our local New World foodmarket. Now if anything is going to make me nostalgic for times in England - that's it right there! Two digestives with Olivani in the middle! Woah Nelly!! So good.

Secondly, I'm reading Ian McEwan's Saturday (thanks to Julie for the loan). Named so, because all the 'action' takes place on one day - the main character's Saturday comings and goings around London. It's excellent. Ian McEwan is a talented writer.

Thirdly, I walked into the second hand bookshop in Waipukarau looking for more books by him (they didn't have any) when I saw this large print of a London street scene with a red double decker bus featured. It's a print I've seen before in IKEA (made in Poland of all places). So - interesting how it came to be in Waipuk! After some haggling I walked away with it.

It's now on the wall in Asher's bedroom. Looking super fine!

Tirrah Chuck. Love and peace - Wozza

Life's a flutter (The Unthanks)

Weird.

A few days ago I was in London - cold outside and loving it - about 5 degrees - walking to Upper Street along the busy north London streets - dodging other pedestrians - checking for dog poos on the street - thinking about traffic and what gallery we may be visiting via Angel - enjoying an English breakfast tea and apricot danish at Caffe Nero.

As I write, it's a few days later and I'm in rural New Zealand - stinking hot outside (and inside) - about 31 degrees today and hating it - teaching English classes - thinking about the 40 minute drive back to Waipukurau after work - enjoying a mocha from Bay Expresso on the way.

They could be on different planets rather than opposite ends of the same planet.

I like both but the difference being: when I'm in NZ/Waipukurau I miss London and all it has to offer; when I'm in London I don't miss NZ/Waipukurau.

Love and peace innit - Wozza

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London (Ralph McTell)

I love the anonymity of walking London's streets.

I'm not a big crowd person but if I can hide in the anonymity of a big crowd I'm okay. More than okay!

As Frédéric Gros says about the stroller in A Philosophy Of Walking: 

He melts into the mechanical mass, but voluntarily, to conceal himself there. After that anonymity is not a constraint that crushes him but an opportunity for enjoyment, enabling him to feel more vividly himself from his private internal vantage point. Since he is hiding, he won't experience anonymity as oppression, but as opportunity. Amid the dense,  gloomy solitude of the crowd he carves out that of an observer and poet: no one can see what he is looking at. He is like a wrinkle in the crowd. the stroller is out of synch, a decisive maladjustment that without excluding or distancing him, abstracts him from the anonymous mass and makes him singular in himself.

I think he sums this feeling up brilliantly.

This is exactly the feeling I had again last week, while in Oxford St and Westminster Abbey watching the illuminations that Boris Johnson had shouted the people of London.

There was most definitely a crush of people but being out of synch and in myself was a definite advantage to me as I watched. 

These couple of photos by SWMBO capture that perfectly.

Where's Wozza?

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm gonna keep on walkin', till I find my way back home (Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee)

Still reading Waging Heavy Peace (slowly- it's so good!) and ole Neil's a keen walker. I love Neil Young - he's so funny, and wise!

Anyway he's a keen walker and I miss walking. Except I think he means hiking. I'm not so much a hiker but I love walking. Are you keeping up?

So... this post is going to celebrate some of my favourite walks.

Place: Leigh-on-sea (Essex) - the walk from our place in Western Road to the shops (Fives! I really miss Fives - one of my favourite record stores) - beautiful gardens and views.

Place: Leigh-on-sea (Essex) - the walk from our place in Western Road to Rayleigh Castle - beautiful views of the Thames estuary.

Place: Dubai - specifically The Dubai Mall - I loved walking around it, visiting the Virgin Mega Store and the great bookshop close by.

Place: Doha (Qatar) - from our place down past the Souq Waqif, along the corniche to the City Centre Mall.

Place: London  - the embankment - war memorials, views of the Thames, the London Eye, Westminster, St Tommys, the Cathedral. Sometimes we'd do the Charing Cross - Mall - St James' Park to Westminster walk and that was amazing as well - squirrels. I miss the squirrels!

Place: Taupo (NZ) - the Lion walk with the kids from the Taupo house. A loop that took in a Rainbow Point ice cream.

Place: London - from Leicester Square tube station to Covent Garden and Fopp (I really miss Fopp - another of my favourite record stores)

Place: Wuxi - the botanical gardens after biking there from our place. Spectacular gardens.

Sadly, even though we live out in the beautiful Central Hawke's Bay countryside, we currently have no regular walks around us. Our place to Otane shops does not appeal. 

This is a real pity. I love to walk!

Love and peace - Wozza