There's a mockingbird singing songs in the trees (Barclay James Harvest)

Wie gehts?

Been looking out of the front window at the view a lot lately.

Luckily, it's a great view!! Of trees and sky (no sheep yet though Adam).

And the squirrels are endlessly fascinating as they make their way from one tree to t'other, across what LOML calls The Squirrel Highway. 

The view this morning - weird clouds at daybreak

Love and peace - Wozza

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Yesterday's page (February 23) from 365 Days With Wisdom by Venerable Master Hsing Yun succinctly summed up my life of the last 7 months:

Things happen when all the conditions are ready. Things end when all the conditions cease.When all the conditions are ready, everything goes smoothly. When all the conditions are not ready, everything fails.

Love and peace - WNP

P.S. Something for you to mark on your calendars: the LOML and I return to live back in New Zealand on March 22.

We been riding, we been riding upon a railroad, singing someone else's song (James Taylor)

Photo by Pau Casals on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Since returning from Vienna, we've been riding the rails, pretty much on a daily basis.

I'm going to miss the trains when we return to NZ and get a vehicle again, but in the meantime, with four weeks to go, I'm enjoying being without a car and using public transport.

First up is a ten minute walk to Caterham station; during the week Southern branded trains are regular (and reliable), so it's a 50 minute journey to London Bridge. We take up a double seat, I sit facing backwards and LOML likes to face the direction we're heading. Is there a metaphor in there?

At London Bridge we transfer to the London Underground and go deeper under the world (I love this - another metaphor?) - then it's a choice between the Northern line to Bank then Central line into central London, or further north to Angel and Upper Street, or else it's the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf then Dockland Light Rail to Greenwich or...the combinations are many!

The longest we ever have to wait for a train at any of the tube stations is 2 minutes. That's pretty remarkable.

Here's to you, rail network!

Love and peace - Wozza

You know you're so mystifying, can't believe it's true (The Kinks)

Wie geht's?

The British love to shoot themselves in the foot, right?

One word - Brexit.

Another couple of words: Sunderland, Nissan.

Great story from The Guardian about a city who voted 61% to leave the EU but who are faced with Nissan abandoning them as a result. A must read. What the heckfire????

As we visited the beautiful city of Vienna, Jacky and I wondered why of why the UK would want to turn its back on being connected to such a wonderful city. 

It's clean, well looked after, the people are pleasant and helpful, the buildings are amazingly well preserved. Clearly austerity measures aren't in place here.

For us, it's brain dead stuff - the British mentality to withdraw into its own island and make it infinitely harder for themselves is utterly bizarre.

I don't get it!

Love and peace - Wozza 

Oh, promises, promises, my kind of promises can lead to joy and hope and love (Bacharach/David)

Wie geht's?

Today, we're off to Vienna to see the Spanish Riding School. 

About six years ago, I'd promised the LOML that we'd go as a way of providing a goal, something to look forward to, while she went through her treatments.

Time to deliver on that promise.

Love and peace - Wozza

The lights are turned way down low; let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (Dean Martin)

Wie geht's?

Me? I'm doing okay given the circumstances: proper winter weather of late has helped. These are the views from our flat in Caterham.

Looking towards Harestone hill

 Early morning chill, includes our loaner
car from my former employers

Back garden next door

We'll miss all this, I'm sure, after we return to Nu Zild in late March. 

However,  I prefer to think of things we are moving towards: a third winter in a row; becoming a grandpop; Jerry; and new challenges (somewhere in Aotearoa).

Love and peace - Wozza