Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are and doing things as they ought to be done (Josh Billings)

Photo by Thom Milkovic on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

The end of this week sees the start of a study break. The last two weeks have been really challenging in terms of maintaining my energy levels.

That said, I did manage to go for my first lengthy walk during the last week. As I've been getting physio on my left Achilles for the last six months, any lengthy walk hasn't been part of my routine this term.

Over those six months, the lack of walking has had an effect on my fitness (physical and otherwise), so getting back into it just before the study break was huge for me. 

The fact that I can walk and let go of thinking while I'm at school allows me to sort things without effort. Katrina, a colleague at Woodford in 2013, suggested the walking at lunchtime idea to improve staff fitness. Walking out of the school gates and heading up a beautiful suburban street (Kopanga Rd) was definitely an awesome way to spend the odd lunchtime.

Now I find myself across the road from Woodford House, at Iona College, and freakishly, I can use that same walk again to get some fresh air and some non-thinking time.

In the meantime, I'll be beating a regular path to Takapau's Kintail honey factory for two weeks.

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm bringing you the weather from the satellite jigsaw (DD Smash)

Senior students are on exam leave, with only Year 9 and 10 students still at school, so we've entered that vaguely twilight zone/ false dawn period for a month. Until the Christmas break starts in early December.

It feels a little unsettling having all of this preparation time suddenly, and staff are commenting on how slow the days/weeks are going. We're all used to a high-pressure environment with very little time available each day/week to mark and prepare, and now we have a low-pressure system coming in from the Tasman Sea and hovering over Hawke's Bay.

The upside to all this is having time to go for a daily walk.

Normally, I struggle to get time each day to refresh/ meditate via a walk but lately I have been able to walk into Hastings' CBD to do errands - things like stationery supplies, books, check out the library and get a coffee.

This is quality time and has many benefits for me personally and professionally. I have good ideas while out walking which often translate into better lesson ideas and outcomes for my students.

I'll make the most of this while it lasts.

We should take wandering outdoor walks (Seneca)

Wie geht's?

I'm with Seneca!

Walking is good for many things. When I walk I am more aware of my surroundings, and more conscious of my thoughts and my breathing.

Recently, we watched She Said - a movie on Netflix (highly recommended btw) about two New York Times reporters investigating Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse of women, Woodward and Bernstein style. There is a lot of walking around involved and an important moment is when Ashley Judd (appearing as herself) makes a key decision after going for a run.

In the past, if I've felt stressed or overwhelmed, I've taken a walk. If I've had a tough problem to solve or a key decision to make, I've taken a walk (Nietzsche says that it is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth).

If I've needed to clear my head or had to make an important phone call, I've taken a walk.

Apart from that, it's about the only exercise I can do these days (running days are long gone), Jacky and I have good discussions on our walks, and I have found that it frees up my back pain quite well too.

I have certainly missed doing it on the painting days of late, and winter weather makes it a bit more difficult to be motivated to put on my walking shoes, but those are only barriers if I let them be.

Love and peace - Wozza

Long distance runner, what you standin' there for? Get up, get out, get out of the door (Grateful Dead)

Photo by Arturo Castaneyra on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

A recent toe injury has disrupted my pursuit of a 10,000 step-a-day goal.  

I stoopidly dropped some wood on my left foot's big toe while working inside an empty chimney breast, stoopidly, without shoes on my feet.

At the best of times, collecting 10,000 daily steps is harder than you'd think. On a work day, I need to walk at lunchtime and do another meaningful walk to get to that goal. My youthful female colleagues concur with that as they also need two lengthy activities to get to their goals. 

Most work days I don't make it. Usually it's close - around 8,000 to 9,000.

Weekends are easier as I'm explained before, as Jacky and I have got into a good walking routine. Or we had done.

Yes, my stoopidity has set me back. For a week I struggled to put a shoe on, and even had two days off work.

This last week has been slowly but surely better and, although my pace is off, I did do my first 10.000 step day on Friday.

We have one week left of school and then we head overseas, where I'll do a lot of walking. Hopefully I won't be hindered by the injury.

Love and peace - Wozza

Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain (Gerry Marsden)

Tukituki River on the right.

Wie geht's?

The joy of walking has been a topic for me a few times before.

The study break has given me a great opportunity to walk with Jacky. I cherish those moments.

At work, I walk around the Hastings' Mitre 10 Sports' Park each lunchtime. Or, at least, that's my aim, weather and meetings allowing. I enjoy that - it's a chance to appreciate life while taking a break from work and getting exercise. My current record is 21 minutes around the park. But it's no where as good as walking with Jacky.

Paradoxically, living in the country doesn't allow for much walking. Generally, roadsides are dangerous with cars travelling at speed, and there are often no tracks or footpaths. We do walk to the local Four Square in Takapau but that's not very far away and various dogs line the route.

So, most days during the break we have driven the 12 minutes to Waipukarau to use the walking/cycling track beside the river. We've tried both directions and settled on a 30 minute there and back to the area by the recycling centre. 

Our pace matches well, although Jacky can walk faster than I can. Her top speed is my slow jog! So, like much in life (and marriage), we compromise and settle into a great rhythm and zip along nicely. 

With the study break now finished, it's back to lunch time walks and the cross trainer when I can, until December.

But, I'll miss our daily walks.

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now I'm telling you (The Beatles)

My new walking shoes

Wie geht's?

Want to know the best way to stay healthy? The best advice comes from Hsing Yun:

Eat less. Walk more.

Right on maan!

I'm embracing this by cutting down on the cinnamon donuts from Little Frimley Kitchen (note well: cutting down, not giving up - I'm not insane) and walking at lunchtimes around the Hastings' Sports Park with other staff.

Feeling healthier already!

Love and peace - Wozza

I take your entrance back... can't let you roam inside my head (Pearl Jam)

Westfield's Stratford City Mall, London, with SWMBO's happy place!

Monsieur Gros in his book A Philosophy Of Walking says 'one always walks in silence'. Specifically he is talking about walks out in the country where the cutter of city noise is left behind and where 'all is calm, expectant and at rest'.

Recently, during our holiday break in norf London we've been taking the superb London Overground service from Canonbury to visit  the Westfield mall at Stratford. 

As you'll see from the photo, it's quite big - spread over four floors - there are over 30 places to find food alone.

Mr Gros would hate it! We went before Christmas - dumb dumb dumb - and it was a mad cacophony of noise and thousands of shoppers. We've been a couple of times post school getting back in session and it's now a manageable place to visit. 

Still, he wouldn't like it! Chatter is all pervasive - a wash of murmur that grows as more people arrive during the day.

Gros on chatter - chatter deafens: it turns everything into nonsense, intoxicates you, makes you lose your head. It is always there on all sides, overflowing. running everywhere, in all directions.

Hard to argue with him but I don't actually mind it too much - voices become largely indistinguishable - everything blends and after a while the brain just accepts it and blocks a lot of it out. Then the only thing that comes through are the ones with louder voices close to you. Some English people have piercing voices!

On our first visit (before Christmas remember so PACKED) a women started yelling close to us after we went from Marks and Spenser's to get to Zara. She was pushing a stroller with a couple of other kids in tow. 

Clearly her boyfriend/ husband, whatever, had done/said something she didn't like. Very loudly she started telling us all about it, passionately and LOUDLY shouting ' you're a f-ing wanker, a f-ing wanker. Everybody - there's a f-ing wanker in the mall!' And then she really let him have it. 

We did our best to slink away - hard given the relentless press of people and attendant body spam.

Clearly Christmas is a stressful time!  Remind me never to go to a large city mall before Christmas day again, okay. Instead - a long walk in the country sounds just the ticket.

Love and peace - Wozza

London calling to the imitation zone (The Clash)

Some of the many things I love about living in London are the book deals and the number of book stores (yes - still) and the walking to the book stores!!

Recently SWMBO and I have been doing a lot of walking! A LOT OF WALKING. We are averaging about 10 kilometres a day and that has taken us to some wonderful places, both new and older haunts. Many of these places involve stores SWMBO loves AND I can usually find a nearby bookstore! Huzzah!!

On one recent excursion I found A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros in a Foyles store (an excellent 3 books for 2 deal).

It seemed to be appropriate. It's a thoughtful look at, yes, walking. I've bookmarked quite a few pages so far. Some of which I want to address in the blog.

For instance: I loved his mention of Hindu philosophy which distinguishes four stages on the journey through life.

The first stage is the pupil/student/disciple. In the second stage the man becomes the master of the house, married, responsible for a family.

The third stage is where I'm at. 

This stage, that we call the current empty nest years, is the afternoon of his life - it's a 'withdrawal to the forest' stage where he becomes a hermit 'in which through contemplation and meditation he familiarizes himself with what has always lain unchanged within us, waiting for us to awaken it: the eternal self, transcending masks, functions, identities, histories.'

[The final stage of the journey is as a pilgrim - dedicated to travel and endless walking which 'illustrates the harmonization of the nameless Self with the omnipresent heart of the world'. Sounds pretty cool huh.]

I love this idea of awakening things that have lain dormant inside me. There is a real peace attached to that idea and finding them.

I think my recent longing for familiar touchstones of my past is part of this: the return of vinyl; Star Wars Episode 7; The Trigan Empire; London; Arsenal; Disneyland...I could go on.

The phrase 'my happy place' is often used now - it lies within! I'm enjoying exploring it!

Love and peace - Wozza