Happiness runs in a circular motion (Donovan)

Photo by Almos Bechtold on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

So, turns out I didn't quite portray Jacky's 'I'd love to be more like you' quote as accurately as I could have.

My bad. I often hear what I want to hear. And it turns out I didn't quiiiiiite get the tone right this time 'round.

Rather than, 'I'd LOVE to be more like you', which is what I heard, it was more '(LOL) I'd love to be more like you, but...'

Apparently, she REALLY meant that she wished she could be like me - as in - all Follow Your Bliss with blinkers on, except she's not built that way.

Cool, I thought as she laughed and explained all this after reading that previous post - she's picked up on my use of Joseph Campbell's Follow Your Bliss!

So, as you were - normal transmission will be resumed after this short break...

Love and peace - Wozza

Happiness can dispel worries (Hsing Yun)

Photo by Nine Köpfer on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Sometimes serendipity sneaks up on me unawares.

Recently, someone very close to me, okay, yes - the Light of My life - in a stunning admission, said that she wished she could be more like me!

Okay - steady on! Come again?

She meant: able to be more carefree, more go-with-the-flowish, more considerate to the cosmic order of the universe and trusting of her maple leaf. Okay, that last one - not so much.

We were in the Purdmobile, pootling to our Albany lock up for the umpteenth time when her frank admission caused me to swerve the car uncontrollably! 

Fishtailing wildly I heroically regained control, screeched to a halt in the middle of the highway and eyes popping saucer-like, mouth open like a three day old dead hapuka, choked out a strangled reply: whaaaat?????? 

Regaining Purdmobile momentum while ignoring the melodorious tootling of nearby cars, we discussed this state of affairs for the next few kilometers and even though she knew she couldn't change her nature and do any of those cosmic Wozza things - she knew that she wanted things to be different. It was a cry for help!

And that's a start folks!

Coincidentally, this entry rolled around in 366 Days of Wisdom for the 21st of July, which I offer to her here, even though she will poo poo it, and for others out there who want to be more Wozza-like:

There is actually no problem in this world; the worries are created by one's own imagination. Depression is trouble one seeks for oneself, as Buddhist teachings on meditation say:"No one binds you; it is you who bind yourself!" So too with depression; no one wants us to be depressed; we ourselves look for worries! 

There is a recovery route for depression. the recovery route is through wisdom and good sense.  

The following are some suggestions: 

1 Uplift your optimistic disposition 

2 Comprehend the reasons behind all the details of any undertaking 

3 Let go of worries by maintaining a carefree mood 

4 remove misgivings and doubts from your character 

5 Extend your positive services 

6 Adopt a very cheerful and honest attitude in your conduct in society

You're welcome.

Love and peace - Wozza

If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me? (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Wie geht's?

If you're following our pilgrim's progress towards the one way ticket to London's Heathrow on August 9, you will be keen to know that we are currently in Nu Zild's provincial heartland saying farewells to sundry in-laws.

First stop Taranaki - New Plymouth to be specific (pictured above), where conveniently most of SWMBO's close relatives reside, and onwards to Manawatu (Palmerston North): home to our youngest daughter (she wants me to tell you she's our favourite - which I've done but all my children are favourite something orruthers).

I haven't seen my in-laws for a while so I was amazed how good everyone looked. Really. Considering SWMBO's mum and dad are approaching their eighties, and given the lifestyle they have led, they are pretty hale and hearty! Looking good guys!

Her sister, Mabelle, is also fit as a fiddle and on fine form. As she eloquently and elegantly pointed out - my parents aren't around any more - so I should spend time with hers!

SWMBO, Jade and her bridesmaids (Karli and Georgia) are off bridal gown shopping today - my advice that no good decision survived a committee of four - went unheeded.

Never the mind. 

Home on Saturday and the count down of remaining school days begins in earnest from Monday.

Love and peace - Wozza

Running as fast as they can, Iron Man lives again (Black Sabbath)

Wie geht's?

While dismantling my mum's old iron wrought (an old in joke) table and chairs in a light drizzle this morning after a frosty start, my mind turned towards the vagaries of my sentimentality.

Some things, like this table and chair set mean a lot. Other things, like my grand mother's tapestry table...meh.

I can remember when we bought the iron wrought furniture and where we had them positioned outside the back door at 4 Ramelton Road. Outside my bedroom actually (the one my parents had sound proofed!).

Mum loved this table and chairs and we used them a lot in those late seventies Auckland summers. Expertly, she made some cushions for it (still being used incidentally).

It appears in photos from that era and, Zelig like, it has endured.

Time moved apace and dad had them outside but unused at his Maygrove Village semi-detached abode. When he passed away in 2009 I took custody of the set and we have used it in our various Nu Zild locations since then.

Unlike the concrete mixer we have found space in our lock up for the dismantled set. A few of the nuts and screws were a little rusted up but generally it was easy enough to dismantle.

A quick water blast and it's now safely tucked away for the meantime, for future unpacking and continued enjoyment. 

Love and peace - Wozza

They call me the breeze, I keep blowing down the road (JJ Cale)

Mid shake down

Wie geht's?

Well, it's started. The pack up/ storing phase has begun.

Hiring a space to lock-up our precious possessions was stage one, then with the help of a colleague (thanks Jeff), the transporting of records, books, bedroom furniture, fridge and John Lennon figurines began.

Scary watching your worldly possessions slowly taking up a 3 x 2 metre space and realising I should have been more ruthless with the CDs!

More than a jigsaw, my brain has gone into full on Tetris mode - slotting pieces into lock-up places.

We've rented a space at a National Mini Storage facility in Albany. It's huge! Filled with...who knows what!!

Stuff! Most probably stuff they don't need, or in all likeliheed, want.

People are strange.

We've aimed to avoid the traps we fell into last time - thinking things may come in handy later. So we've gone for a minimal approach.

And, it feels good.

Less is more.

But I can't help wondering about some of those CDs.

Love and peace - Wozza

And the craic was good (Van Morrison)

Glastonbury Tor in Somerset

Wie geht's?

A colleague recently posted about early morning rituals and routines. I don't see a distinction between the two myself but there you are. 

One of mine is to read each day's entry in Hsing Yun's 365 days of wisdom.

Today it said: being without worry is the best form of happiness; excessive desire is the greatest suffering.

Ironically, my desire is wanting to be a pilgrim; so much it hurts. I've conquered a few of the Beatle related pilgrimages (New Zealand to Abbey Road - tick) but a few,  more spiritual ones, remain slightly out of reach.

Heading off to live in England soon should help get over the tyranny of distance (Nu Zild is soooooo looooong away from anything).

For what it's worth, here's my want-to-do pilgrimage list:

The Camino de Santiago (a.k.a. The Way of Saint James)

Glastonbury Tor to Stonehenge

Wye to Canterbury

The Rydal Water Walk (a.k.a. the Wordsworth walk) in the Lake District

Downpatrick to Coney Island (as outlined in the Van Morrison song)

This last one was added following a reminder via Thom Hickey's wonderful blogpost on Van's song.

Watching this and especially listening to Van's delivery makes me yearn to get started!

Love and peace - Wozza