Oh a happy old world, give and take a bit - that's what you make of it (Barclay James Harvest)

Sunrise over Conwy Castle in Conwy, north Wales

Wie geht's?

It's the final day of 2018. Always a time for looking back and looking forward.

If you had a choice to be any day of the year you'd never choose December 31: no football, the party is elsewhere because new year's day is already happening in other time zones, and everyone's thoughts are about how drunk they're going to get that night. Or something.

It's not a good day to be a day.

2018 was a huge year of transition for us - selling up, finishing jobs, saying goodbye to loved ones, and heading off on another quixotic adventure to the other side of the world.

At our age. But as Ronan Keating says: life is a rollercoaster. Just got to ride it! 

That about sums up 2018.

And so to 2019... 

Happy new year everyone. May it be a happy old world in 2019, give and take a bit.  It's what we make of it, after all.

Love and peace - Wozza

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?", "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.", "I don't much care where", "Then it doesn't matter which way you go.” (Alice and the Cheshire cat)

Llandudno's promenade

Wie geht's?

Llandudno is a lovely spot in north Wales. You can read about it here, and here.

We've just spent Christmas here, at Llandudno Bay Hotel - one of those Victorian places you see facing the promenade. 

Why? Bill Bryson - that's why.

He's been a reliable guide over the years.

Right now, I'm listening to the cars hiss by my window while the waves make land in their rhythmic relentless way.

Perfect. 

It's still dark outside - just finished talking to Jade in NZ, and getting ready to head back to England via Conwy, Betws-y-coed, and Ludlow.

This is what it looked like in the daytime two days ago:

Love and peace - WNP  

Feliz navidad, prospero año y felicidad (José Feliciano)

Wie geht's?

Happy Christmas everyone!

In the run up to Christmas, we enter a time of the year chock full of celebrations: after Jade's birthday (28 November) we quickly have Adam's (11 December) and then Keegan's (19th).

Then, before you know it, it's Christmas. 

If you're looking for that late gift for a fan of sixties/seventies pop music, go for Roger Daltrey's autobiography - Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite. It's stunning!!!

I'm really looking forward to the term break (starts later today) and the chance to immerse myself in it without feeling like I should be doing something else.

Love and peace - WNP

Look who's coming round the bend - it's Santa and his reindeer friends

Wie geht's?

Who's that coming around the bend? Not Santa in his supersleigh! Why it's Wozza in his Christmas jumper!!

A very Merry Christmas to all of you Wozza's Place readers out there in the outer reaches of the blogosphere. 

Love and peace - Wozza

I can hear music, sweet sweet music (The Beach Boys)

Wie geht's?

Not gonna make any apologies about the musical themes to recent posts.

Having the new turntable, and therefore quality sounds for my vinyl, has reinvigorated me.

Music for me is like the LOML's need for a horse fix. recently, she was finally able to get her riding back on track with a visit to a local riding stables. She was beaming!

It's important.

My life feels seriously diminished without music - whether it be blasting some Def Leppard in the car, being amazed to Bod Dylan's outtakes from Blood On The Tracks on my ipod, or grooving at home to The Four Tops and The Supremes (yes, current listening pleasure is being provided by their 1970 album together - The Magnificent Seven). 

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. Deeply ashamed this week to be an Aucklander. Rest in peace Grace. 

Here come old flat top - he come groovin' up slowly (The Beatles)

Wie geht's?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Very true.

Last night, I unpacked my new turntable - Edwards Audio Apprentice 77, new Denon amplifer, new Dali speakers, and new copy of The Beatles' Abbey Road.

Combined, it's a thing of beauty. I watched it do it's magic throughout side 1 before I figured the neighbours above and below might be getting a tad twitchy.  

Oh, and Come Together still sounds like pure joy.

Love and peace - Warren Ono Purdy

Don't ever let anyone steal your dreams (Dexter Yager)

Wie geht's?

Walking towards The Emirates on the weekend, I spied a HiFi shop on Holloway Road. Bartletts HiFi to be precise.

With LOML egging me on, I walked out with some great new kit - Denon amplifer, Edwards turntable and some classy speakers. 

So, now I needed to find a vinyl copy of Abbey Road. My quirky ritual for any new stereo set up (moving house for instance) is to play my vinyl copy to test the sound.

Can't beat that moment when needle hits vinyl and Come Together rolls out its magnificence.

Chaldon Books and Records had a second hand copy for 30 quid but I figured - new stereo equals new copy. Luckily, yesterday, Fives on the Broadway in Leigh-on-sea had a fresh, remastered edition for 22 pounds. 

Back of the net.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. The Arsenal walloped Spurs 4-2 in the afternoon to cap off a perfect day!

Xúxú

JMP - party girl!

Wie geht's?

'Steady' was what my grandfather (I called him Deedoo) would say to me from time to time.

He meant, slow down. Or, go gently. The Chinese version of that is beautiful [take a listen here].

After three months of living in the UK, I'm yet to get fully in my blog groove. But xúxú.

These things take time. Like giving birth.

Three years ago in dog years (28th of November 1991), a momentous event happened, as we welcomed Jade Michelle Purdy to Planet Earth.

As she is expecting her first child in April next year she will soon know first hand what an amazing transformational moment that can be.

Pure joy.

Happy birthday DLG. 

Love - dad

This is a modern world (The Jam)

Wie geht's?

A few posts ago I mentioned the ipod situation.

It's a classic (pun intentional) case of brand obsolescence.

My ipod Classic's battery is giving up the ghost. After turning down the offer to queue to make an appointment to talk about it at Stratford City Mall, I decided to buy a replacement and transfer my music files.

Not so fast. The ipod Classic is no more (rather unfortunate name then, huh Apple).

Seems Joe Public doesn't use them much now - all bright shiny phones and Spotify.

What they could and did sell me was an ipod Touch. It appears to be an iphone apart from the fact you can't use it as a phone! But I can store music on it. Wahoo.

Now the problem centres on how I can retrieve stuff from my ipod Classic and put on my ipod Touch.

Not straight forward and I am still to master that. Instead I've loaded my new CDs from FOPP and HMV onto it. My new vinyl, hopefully, to come after I've transferred them into MP3 files.

Complicated. 

As you know, Occam's razor is deep in my DNA and all this faffing about is wounding my soul.

Hey ho.

Love and peace - Wozza

Sugar Magnolia blossom's blooming (The Grateful Dead)

Wie geht's?

Caterham's high street, like most high streets from what I can see, has a profusion of charity shops and that means loads of quality DVDs and CDs on offer.

Problem is that many of the DVDs are available on Netflix. But once in a while I come across an interesting one that probably isn't.

Magic Trip (Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place) was gobbled up for a quid!

Of course, I had to watch it when the LOML was otherwise engaged because it was mos def not her cup of Kool.

But I loved it - Ken Kesey (of Merry Prankster/ Further/ One Flew Over...fame) was left of centre and so were his mates: Neal Cassady comes across as a complete nutter; Jack Kerouac severely a fish out of water; Allen Ginsberg a star struck kid and the Grateful Dead as acid head doodlers.

So yeah, I guess there's an element of truth to the film - these people existed and the times were what they were.

Given my love of the beat poets and the Dead it was great viewing.

Love and peace - Wozza

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim (Jim Croce)

Wie geht's?

You alright?

Some things you can mess around with.

Dr Who can become reincarnated in a woman's form.

The 4th plinth at Trafalgar square undergoes constant change.

But other things can't be altered.

The Match of the Day theme is untouchable, for instance.

Two minute's silence, is another example.

Armistice day, a.k.a. Remembrance Day was yesterday.

We were on a train heading in to London Bridge when 11.00am happened.

Two minutes silence seems like such a small demand.

Last night we watched the highlights from the ceremony at Whitehall on BBC2 and that was followed by Peter Jackson's extraordinary film, They Shall Not Grow Old.

A very emotional, humbling experience.

WNP

You're the apple of my heart, but now, the time has come to part (Badfinger)

Photo by Julie Johnson on Unsplash

Wie geht's?
Comment allez-vous?
'Sup?

Apple smapple!

I'm over my Apple product bromance. It's sad but true.

Let me explain.

Tech issues consumed my weekend. First my ipod's battery died a while ago (still goes on an ipod dock but dead as Julius Caesar otherwise). Plus my iphone battery was a step away from critical failure.

Long-time readers will remember the search for a heater in the middle east and the search for a watch (also in the sandpit). The search for new tech was compressed in time but no less stressful.

Figuring it has an Apple store, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, Zara, Foyles and HMV, we decided to trek into Stratford City Mall.

Bad bad mistake.

Mistake 1 - no HMV!!! Goneburger. 

Mistake 2 - West Ham United were playing at home so there were 60,000 fans milling around the mall adding to the thousands who normally spend their Saturday milling around the mall.

Mistake 3 - the Apple store was mad mad mad. People everywhere. Noise of people and noise of some trendy techno junk booming out. The twenty somethings dressed in natty tight fitting black Apple monikered apparel were friendly to a point. I was told I'd need to queue to make an appointment to talk to some other twenty something techie dressed in natty tight fitting black Apple monikered apparel about my dead ipod (no thanks) and they didn't have the iphone I was interested in buying.

You know - the slightly less than current and cheaper than the latest bright shiny one.

All this came after we'd queued in Vodafone to buy one there (they didn't have it and sent me to the Apple store on the top floor).

The Apple people suggested I go to the Carphone Warehouse (on the lower ground floor).

I did mention there were 60,000 Hammers fans and the normal thousands of mallsters present didn't I?

Eventually I made it down the escalators to the Carphone Warehouse. They made it a hat trick of stocking only the latest iphone (which is now using Superbowl style roman numberings...pleeeze!!!!).

So, by default I saw a slightly older and cheaper Samsung S7 on their racks and bought that.

Boo hiss Apple!! Not cool!

The ipod? I'll save that story for next time chums.

Love and peace - Wozza

Of the eagle's plight, we know that nature's balance is undone (Beach Boys)

Wie geht's?

A well reasoned, articulate post on Brexit that doesn't bore the pants off you all is still brewing in my bonce. It's a WIP (like Brexit itself).

In the meantime, I've been feasting on Where Eagles Dare - yes, the Richard Burton/Clint Eastwood movie from the late sixties.

Geoff Dyer's book (Broadsword Calling Danny Boy) was the catalyst to return to this totem from my youth.

I found the film at HMV: a two for ten pounds deal (my other choice being Kelly's Heroes - another film from my pre-teenage years - which, incidentally, didn't retain the glow of nostalgia as well as WED).

The book is a treat and the film was as I remembered it (except for the scenes where Eastwood takes on the whole German army in the castle's corridors and emerges without a scratch seemed longer in my memory).

Clearly that bit and other scenes in this capture and escape caper influenced George Lucas and Star Wars (Eastwood = Han Solo in the Death Star).

Except for everyone speaking English (a glaring feature this time out), it's all great fun.

Love and peace - WNP

Rescue of the Princess (John Williams)

Tree of life tapestry laid out on our bed

Wie geht's?

My recent post from France was a little jaundiced and sounded a bit like I was suffering from little Englander syndrome (an English person who thinks England is better than all other countries).

Even though I'm not English - there's nothing like a convert, is there?

After we got back to England I confess to giving myself a good talking to and addressed the need to accept alternative nationalities more wholesomely.

So I went to Wales (not Coventry) and had my equilibrium restored via a return visit to Tintern Abbey.

We found this awesome tapestry from the TA gift shop - a visual reminder of TA's beauty and meditative spirit.

I should have been more accepting of French hospitality (Verse Toujours was great and served up beautiful food), the cultural variety of French Underground signage and be more accepting of all the loved up Parisians who were drawn to the opposite seats in trains like magnets.

I also got this awesome Star Wars poster with a bulked up Luke and busty Leia - hilarious!!

Sorry France. Sorry Paris.

Love, peace, Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité - Wozza

In France (Frank Zappa)

Wie geht's?

Or more appropriately, given I am beaming into you from Paris: Comment allez-vous?

Let's get right to it - France is weird. Alien weird.

Apart from the obvious - language barriers, insane driving on the wrong side of the road and people who look like supermodels, there are all the little weird things.

Pedestrian crossings are a guideline and green you-can-walk lights are a sign that motorists can run you over (extra points).

The LOML and I spent yesterday going to and coming back from Paris Disneyland.

Give me the London Underground EVERY TIME! The signage in the Paris equivalent is mind numbingly bizarre. It took us all day and many journeys up and down stairs to figure out that an arrow pointing downwards and an arrow pointing upwards mean the same thing: walk straight on.

And Disneyland? On the whole it was a positive experience but given it's American culture transposed onto a French town it's a little like entering an alternative universe.

Being in France the park's no smoking signs are routinely ignored and smoking is not limited to the smoking areas (smoking areas???).

Various Disney guards wonder around telling off little kids from climbing on things but absolutely ignore all the smokers. And don't get me started about the vile vapes - what a rotten invention they are!

I'm pretty sure Walt would not be impressed at the sale of alcohol at food outlets as well.

Apart from that, the millions of people, the lengthy waits, queues for food, the backpacks hitting me as I sat, the strollers used as weapons to carve through crowds, and the continual body spam - on the whole it was the multi-sensual experience that we'd been looking forward to for a while.

The sky was a brilliant blue, the rides we went on were fantastic fun, the food was great and the parades were joyful.

Not quite the happiest place on earth though - that place is in Anaheim, Los Angeles.

Love and peace - WNP

Every one of us has got to choose between right and wrong and givin' up or holdin' on (John Mellancamp)

Wie geht's?

Reading The Choice (Edith Eger's autobiography) was a sober experience. I finished it on the weekend and that in itself was an emotional moment.

Finishing an autobiography is a weird feeling. There are many things to reflect on and The Choice is going to linger for a long time.

Operation Finale on Netflix was next on the list for us - the dramatised movie about Adolph Eichmann's capture in Argentina. Ben Kingsley plays Eichmann deftly.

Although the movie was a tad slow to get going, once Eichmann is captured, there is a mixture of revulsion and fascination (in a can't look away kind of way) to Kingsley's portrayal of a monstrous human being.

I guess there is truth to the film's premise - that the Israelis insisted Eichmann sign an agreement to be tried in Israel, but it's a dramatic stretch and a half.

The most dramatic bits centre on various characters battling with the urge to kill Eichmann once they've captured him. It was a minor miracle he survived to stand trial (and then was hanged).

During the film, I couldn't help think about Edith and her family. Her forgiveness seems super human given her context. 

Love and peace - WNP

Red lights, green lights, strawberry wine (Paul McCartney)

Photo by Nik Lanús on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

What's that phrase about men being from somewhere, Jupiter?, and women being from elsewhere, Pluto?

For the second week in a row, I'm away from home, in Warwick for work. 

Living in motel rooms.

Last week was a two day residential for induction, this week is another two dayer - this time a Head Teachers' meeting.

Last week I was on my own and hardly unpacked my case and the room hardly looked lived in; this week, LOML has accompanied me.

Different story - case was unpacked, clothes hung up (on hangers) and into drawers! Shoes lined up! Toilet bag packed up after each use!

You get the picture.

Love and peace - WNP

When I needed you most I couldn't find the language (Dave Dobbyn)

Wie geht's?

As a newly arrived Kiwi (New Zealander) in England I am, at times, still struggling to find the right term for British things. Recently, when talking to some students I said that I was a Kiwi - they thought I was calling myself a piece of fruit!

As a way of answering, "You alright?" I usually have no idea how to respond. However, the other day I found myself saying, "Box of fluffy ducks, thanks" to puzzled looks.

Today I struggled mightily with the British term for an on ramp - you know - the side road that feeds onto the highway ('motorway' in England, 'freeway' in America).

After floundering away for a good five minutes, I was asked if I meant a sliproad?

Oh me, of my. What's a Kiwi bloke to do?

Love and peace - WNP

Pass notes #2

Wie geht's?

Age: 61 (today in fact)

Appearance: grey hair, different glasses, but essentially the same simple guy

Disposition: Happy, content, positive, thirsting

Where: Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom

What are you doing there? Living. Soaking it all up. I may never pass this way again, according to Seals and Crofts, so I'm enjoying every day.

But why England? I'm me here. I belong. I can't really describe the feeling beyond that without getting all mystical and misty eyed.

Okay, okay. I think I get it. Have there been any messages from friends and relatives so far? Indeed there have. Ross rang yesterday, cuz Christine sent me a gift from Bury (I'm waiting for LOML to wake up before I open it) and Jade rang yesterday as well. Plus there are my crazy friends (GK and Simmsy), my mentor (WOH Gibbs), former colleagues, relatives and friends who got in touch via Facebook - marvelous for birthdays and the like!

Righty-ho, enjoy your day Wozza: Chur bro.

Don't say: When do you intend to grow up and settle down?

Do say: Forward!

Love and peace - Warren Ono Purdy

Good times never seemed so good (Neil Diamond)

Wie geht's?

This post was going to outline my views on GB under the spell of Brexit, or the LOML and my visit to the state rooms at Buckingham Palace.

But our friends, Patrick and Randy, knocked those two aside with a phone call around 2.30pm on Sunday. They were at the Emirates, in a director's box, and had a spare ticket!! Did I want it?? How soon could I get there? 

The 4.00pm kick off meant I had to get my skates on. 

A walk to Caterham station and the resulting replacement bus service to Purley, a train to Victoria, the tube to Highbury Islington and a brisk walk to the Emirates saw me catch the last ten minutes of the first half and all of the second.

Typically these days, the first half of Arsenal games can be tactically astute and steady (okay, boring). Such was the case yesterday, but two quick goals in the second spell had us up man-hugging and joyous!!

At one point, as I was basking in the north London sunshine at Emirates with us up 2 nil, I said to Patrick that this is as good as life gets. And I wasn't kidding!

Love and peace - Gooner Wozza

Pass notes #1

Wie geht's? I'm well, thanks for asking. You?

I'm into 49 UP: Ya wot?

49 UP, it's a series of documentary films: Is it about a really tall building's lift getting stuck?

No. It's an old Granada TV programme that first aired in 1964: I thought Granada just did Coronation Street, so they did and I'll tell you no more so I will.

Apparently not. Although there are similarities as this chronicles the changes every 7 years of 9 people: So it started as 7 UP (ha ha!)

Actually it did. Then 14 UP, 21 UP and so on: Yeah, I get it it - until 49 UP presumably.

Indeedy - it looks like that was the last edition. And it's wonderful. As I was also 7 in 1964, it really resonates: I've just googled it and there's a 56 UP as well which will rip your undies. It looks pretty cool - you'll need to get it. How do you know about it anyway?

Up until 28 UP, I watched these in New Zealand and loved them, then I lost touch until the lovely shop assistant in HMV ordered the box set for me: Good old HMV. Just you watching?

When I explained the premise to Jacky she poo pooed but she quickly became hooked to the unfolding drama of real lives being exposed every 7 years - we're currently watching 35 Up: Jacky poo pooing? Really? 

Do say: We don't change - the person we are at 7 is who we really are. The rest is just tinkering and fluff.

Don't say: Has to end at some point.

I'm walking around the world, here we go (Talking Heads)

Photo by Matt Jones on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

House shopping continued this week.

We returned for second viewings on two properties and have discounted both. SWMBO nixed the first one, and I found the second one too small, too cold and too noisy. Otherwise it was lovely and would have suited Jerry.

Second viewings are essential. We should have done that in the past really but la de da.

The problem with house shopping is that fatigue can set in at some point. We've probably now viewed ten properties - three of which we walked away from after 30 seconds.

We are learning though. Some Estate Agents are better than others shock horror.

The big national real estate chains are bad news - overly motivated by profit margins and sales targets rather than establishing an honest relationship with customers (us). 

The one offer we've put forward so far followed the estate agent's advice and we didn't even receive a counter offer from the vendor. Clearly we were being used as a means for jacking up the price.

So we'll be avoiding Bairstow Eves from now on, people.

All up, we need to get something soon before a more jaundiced world view upsets our apple cart further.

Jerry is waiting patiently (sort of).

Love and peace - Wozza 

I've been driving all night, my hands wet on the wheel (Golden Earring)

Wie geht's?

The shock of the new! Driving conditions in England can be demanding.

It's all coming back to me as I slowly readjust to the language (dual carriageway, lorries, straight on, etc), the narrow roads, the patience required, the incomprehensible descriptions of better routes by friendly colleagues, the awareness of parked cars, the narrower than narrow roads, double decker buses, the double flash of lights indicating give ways, the even narrower than narrow roads, and the round abouts (although the roundabout from hell in Purley still gives me heart palpitations).

It's only a five minute drive from Caterham (where we live) to Kenley (the school) but it's still enough for me to long for the trains that we use on the weekend.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. absolutely brilliant end of summer weather so far - warm enough but not too hot, rain on my first day greeting students, blue skies. Loverly.