Got a feeling inside (Can't explain) (The Who)

Leigh-on-sea holds a very special place in our hearts.

We visited it again yesterday - just mossied around: had a look at the redevelopment of The Grand; remembered staying there in 2004 and wondered if we were some of the last people to do so before it fell into disrepair - now looks like it's being turned into apartments; bought lottery tickets at the co-op; speculated on what we'd do if we won the lottery (buy a place in Victoria Rd and retire was the simple conclusion); wandered along The Broadway; rummaged through the racks in Fives (didn't buy anything though which was a shock); had tea and scones at our usual place (a bookshop and tea room combined close to Marine Parade); posted parcels for Jade's baby shower; gazed in estate windows and wondered about what could have been in 2019 if only...

Love and peace - WNP

P.S. When we returned to Caterham it started snowing so we went out for an evening stroll in pretty idyllic conditions. A perfect end to a special day!

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling traveling, traveling, traveling - looking for something, what can it be? (Joni Mitchell)

Wie geht's?

Joni Mitchell appeared on the latest Mojo cover (awesome picture from the Hejira era), so that meant returning to her seventies albums as I read about her life and songs in the main article.

This quote leapt out from an interview:

You have to pull the weeds in your soul when you are young, when they are sprouting, otherwise they will choke you (Joni Mitchell).

I went back to it a few times as I continued to work through her early albums (what a stunning bunch they are too - Hejira, Blue, Clouds and Court and Spark continue to dazzle - just sayin').

The wider context of that quote was:

I think men write very dishonestly about breakups. I wanted to be capable of being responsible for my own errors. If there was friction between me and another person, I wanted to be able to see my participation in it so I could see what could be changed and what could not. That is part of the pursuit of happiness. You have to pull the weeds in your soul when you are young, when they are sprouting, otherwise they will choke you (Joni Mitchell).

Love and peace - Wozza

Now I'm stepping out this old brown shoe (The Beatles)

Photo by Josh Edgoose on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Footwear.

With all the varying sizes available you'd figure spotting people wearing the same shoes would be a thing.

But I never see it. 

Am I always looking around for people wearing the same shoes? Of course not.

But invariably, as I'm riding London's underground network, my eyes travel around the shoes in my vicinity on the train.

I've yet to see people sharing the same footwear. Huh! Why is that?

I have no idea.

But, the staggering, almost infinite, variety of shoe choice means there are billions of individuals out there expressing themselves on a daily basis.

Woh! I like that.

Love and peace - Nerraw Ydrup

There's something not right here. I feel cold, death (Luke Skywalker)

Wie geht's?

The dark side within (a chapter of The Dharma of Star Wars by Matthew Bortolin) has an interesting take on that scene in Empire Strikes Back that I've often puzzled over.

After a Yoda training session Luke looks into a creepy dark cave. Yoda tells him it's 'a domain of evil' and that Luke must go into it!

Whaaat? But Luke is a curious young guy and so he ignores Yoda's advice about taking a weapon and in he goes.

Everyone knows what happens next in the cave - Darth Vader 'appears', they battle and Luke 'wins' only for the Vader mask to disappear and reveal Luke's own face!!

Whaaat???

This is deep stuff. Wot's uh the deal?

Well the deal is, that Luke has to confront the dark side in that cave. 

As Matthew explains:

The dark side is all the suffering in life: it is frustration, hatred, anger, and all the negative feelings and thoughts that come from within us. By going into the cave Luke is penetrating his own nature on a quest to recognise himself and the source of his difficulties. Yoda knows that if Luke can confront what lies within with courage and compassion, he will do much to overcome whatever hold the dark side has on him. But Luke makes the same error many of us make in our lives: he mistakenly believes his suffering comes from somewhere outside of himself. In this case, Darth Vader is the apparent source.

Love and peace - Adson Purwa (Jedi master)

When the routine bites hard (Joy Division)

Wie geht's?

First week back at work after a two week Christmas break and it's a struggle to get back into those early morning routines.

Family issues, the tyranny of distance, a winter cold, Brexit dramas and suddenly having to move to a new flat next week have compounded the stress.  

And then there's this Guardian report on air quality in London's Underground. No shit Sherlock!

C'mon!!! Snap out of it!!!!!!

Love and peace - Wozza

All I want is the truth now (John Lennon)

Best Brexit cartoon I've seen so far.

Wie geht's?

In our world, it's a new year but a familiar headache is coming 'round the bend: Brexit!!

I feel a succinct open letter coming on.

Dear British parliament:

For the love of God, please please please PLEASE end this whole business with a decision as soon as humanly possible.

All we want is the truth!

Love and peace - Wozza