I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be (Joan Didion)

Photo by Vicky Sim on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

The unexamined life is not worth living, according to Socrates, but the examined life isn't a snap either.

Polonius' advice to his son (Be true to yourself) and the Oracle at Delphi's advice (know thyself) are all well and good but knowing yourself is not a breeze.

As Ryan Holiday says, self-awareness is rare and is a pursuit that takes a lifetime.

From time to time, I attempt to explain who I am in this blog. Here's another chapter in that on-going quest.

Ryan suggests some questions in his book Wisdom Takes Work to help work yourself out.

• What are your strengths?
• What are your flaws?
• What do you like? What do you hate?  
• What are the patterns you picked up in childhood?
• How does your mind work? Why does it work that way?
• Who are you, really?

Now I'm not about to answer all of those now, but I'll have a go at them one at a time.

First up: my strengths.

This is interesting because when I've asked others what they think my strengths are, I get surprising answers. Sometimes things I didn't think were my strong points.

For what it's worth, here are my four cents worth:

1. I knew what my purpose in life was from an early stage. I was twelve when I focused on teaching as a career. I have never deviated from that idea, even when a series of failures could have derailed me. This could be called stickability or naive and blinkered. Those all describe me.
2. A clear moral purpose. I learnt early on how right and wrong worked. Sometimes from doing dumb stuff I got to understand what was wrong. My parents were always there as an example of what was right, they still are. I was a lucky boy and they guide me still - what would Graham do? What would Dulcie say?
3. Emotional intelligence. I remain calm, believe everyone is doing the best they can, and I seek first to understand.
4. A reader and a listener - that describes me well. I loved reading from an early age. I still have a few books in my possession that were my favourites as a toddler. My early memories are often around mum taking me to buy books in Remuera, visiting the Onehunga library, or charging through the colours of the SSR readers at Royal Oak Primary. That love has stuck with me - I am always reading at least one book - most often two. Those quiet times reading probably helped me to become a better listener. It's a key skill and I practise it as much as I can.

Next time - my flaws. I'll aim to keep it down to a top 100.

Love and peace - Wozza

It's a family affair (Sly and the Family Stone)

Wie geht's?

Part two of some recent snaps from the whanau get together at Maple Grove, Palmerston North and Wellington. Special times with a special bunch of people. Warning - super cute geekids ahead!

Love and peace - WNP

Wear your love like heaven (Donovan)

Wie gehts?

We're back at Maple Grove after a week away, first in New Plymouth and then with the whanau in an Air BnB in Wellington, where all the grandkids (the cousin crew) turned up. Because we're all distributed in a variety of countries, these are special times and it's great to spend time with these remarkable people.

These days everyone has a phone, so, luckily, everyone has a camera to document these times. Here's a selection from the beauties taken during the week from a variety of people. They show some lovely family moments, captured forever.

Love and peace - Papa

So just look at them and sigh and know they love you (Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young)

Fanfa is always aware of the camera.

Wie geht's?

The long-awaited fandamly reunion with Purdettes arriving from 'Stralia and Denver happened this week. It marks the first time that we've ever had the four grandchildren together in one place. Very special!

The g-kids - Billie, Asher, Ivy and Poppy

Love and peace - Wozza

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm possible' (Audrey Hepburn)

Wie geht's?

There were some seismic shifts in the football world this week as the 'Round of 32' played out in thrilling fashion and the Earth tilted slightly off of its axis for a split second with some huge results.

A few key teams like England and Belgium squeaked through after falling behind, but huge players like Germany and the Netherlands exited the tournament via penalty shootouts. Shock horror!!

All of the tweaks to the FIFA World Cup have worked out brilliantly so far. The time wasting and feigned injuries have been largely sorted, two players have been sent off for aggressive acts (covering the mouth while dissing an opponent), VAR is better integrated into games, long-range shots and therefore goals have increased, and the sheer onslaught of games has dramatically increased the daily highs and lows of tournament football.

I'm lovin' it!

Love and peace - Wozza

Floating down, the sound resounds around the icy waters underground (Pink Floyd)

Wie geht's?

As mentioned on Jewels for the Thirsty's 581st edition, this week was really messy. It meant a break in routine, with (shock horror) some days going by without any blogging activity, I had to lean into that situation, then I got a cold and had to take a day off school.

That's never easy either - it's stressful trying to think of relief lessons when your nose is running like a tap. Because I left my school device on my school workspace I had to do relief lessons on my phone. Eugh.

Anyway, the week has gone by in a kind of spacey mad surreal way. A few days in Hamilton with the out-laws while the minister of defense was in hospital (he's back home in New Plymouth as we speak) added to the surrealistic tinge. Then a fuzzy head thanks to the seasonal cold which bizarrely lasted about three days.

All things considered, last week sets me up well for the last week of term ahead. Hopefully, with a clear head, Wow, reality! What a concept.

Love and peace - Wozza 

I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah. Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit (Queen)

Wie geht's?

When I looked at the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, I didn't put a ring around Group J's first round game between Jordan v Austria as essential viewing, but I aim to watch as much of every game as I can. So, I tuned in when I got home from school.

Oh my! What a game that was! End to end attack and defense right from the first whistle. It was a magnificent game between two equally matched teams who were both desperate to win. It ended up 3-1 to Austria but that score line tells you nothing about how exciting the game was.

For me, it was easily the best game of the tournament so far (all the teams have now played a game). Jordan were magnificent in defeat. I'll be cheering them on in their next game fersure.

Compare that to the much-vaunted Portugal side with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on the field for the whole game. It was very disappointing. For much of the game he ambled around offside, in the penalty box, waiting for a chance that never came. It was like his team were playing with ten men for the whole game.

So, no Ronaldo goals (yet?), while Kane, Mbappé, Elijah Just, Haaland, and Havertz scored two each and Messi three in their first game. 

Age catches up with us all.

Love and peace - Wozza