So eat eat eat you eat eat eat you eat eat eat eat eat eat (Patti Smith)

Wie geht's?

I was panicking.

For the first time in I can't remember how long, I had nothing to read.

The last books I brought with me from England have long been read and the two cheap Warehouse finds are also done and in the recycling bin. 

I checked Mabelle's book case while staying there recently but the bodice rippers and Jodi Picoult novels did nothing for me. 

It was a real problem - thanks to being recently in the UK, I'm a few months ahead in my music magazines and waiting for NZ to catch up. That is a pain.

So, I asked Jade for help. She came up with a pile of books for me to check, and that's where shortlisted the books in the picture above come from.

Night School is one I read recently but I can reread Lee Child books pretty effortlessly. Those Feet is a book I gave to William and saw in their bookcase. Both those came with me to the Hawke's Bay.

That leaves the Picoult novel (still not my thing - it went straight back into her collection), The Woman In The Window - which I started reading and also put back as the central character wasn't likeable at all, and Eat Pray Love.

As it didn't appear to be written for me (the front cover says: 'EPL has been passed from woman to woman like the secret of life'), I started with some trepidation. 

I shouldn't have worried - and I'm wondering why it's marketed at women exclusively - I'm 104 pages in and still engrossed in Liz's wacky post divorce/ post rebound travelogue to Italy and elsewhere. I haven't seen the Julia Roberts film version so maybe that helps (?).

Why wouldn't men like this story? It's a great insight to one person's resolution of their mental health issues and that should surely touch a universal chord.

Blokes - don't be put off!

Love and peace - Dulcie Purdy's eldest son

I been in the right place, but it must have been the wrong song (Dr John)

Wie geht's?

This week contained a marriage milestone: our 35th wedding anniversary (coral, apparently) and found us and a few of our original wedding guests, spookily, back where we started from, in the church where Jacqueline Smith said, "I do", on April 21, 1984.

The occasion was a rosary service for Patrick Cameron's much loved mum, Maureen, who had recently passed away after a long productive life.

Coincidentally, that service was conducted at St Joseph's Catholic Church in New Plymouth on April 21, 2019, which explains why we, along with Patrick and his husband Randy, friend Karina and his assorted relatives were congregated there.

Weird feeling for me being there. I could easily recapture the 35 year old scenes with my brother and father and close friends in attendance.  

Not only that, but being an Anglican, means I have no idea what is going on during a catholic service.

Strange, right, how we find ourselves in the right place at the right time but singing the wrong song.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. Spookily part2: Jade's in-laws (hello to the Hodge family) were also married on April 21, 1984!! Although not in the same place obviously.

Reflections of the way life used to be (The Supremes)

Wie geht's?

Me? Box of fluffy ducks.

While the LOML has been engaged in horse activities with her friend during the last few days in Hawke's Bay, I have been revisiting some old record shop haunts. 

Napier is well stocked with a quality record shop in Just For The Record. When I went to visit, they had moved location, but I tracked them down, and was very happy I did.

They had a copy of an album that I owned in 1969 but stupidly sold at some point along the way. Not only that but it (The Hollies' Reflection) only cost me $15 and was in mint condition (unlike the average copy I'd seen last week in a Hastings' shop for $50).

So, I can warmly recommend Just For The Record.

The actual album is a weird one: it comes from 1965 and didn't have any hits on it, and then was re-released in a stereo version in 1969. Which was when I came across it as an impressionable 12 year old. It entered my world because it was on a budget label and I was keen on the pop sounds of the Hollies.

It's so good to have an old friend back in the collection.

Love and peace - The Wozz

Our mum - she's so house-proud, nothing ever slows her down and a mess is not allowed (Madness)

Wie geht's?

As you can see, Wozza and the LOML have a new base!

The next chapter starts soon! This is the post grandson, return to NZ, settle in Central Hawke's Bay, finally have a stable life chapter.

The house we've purchased is an early 1900's villa set in three acres of flat land (on the Takapau plain) with loads of trees and oodles of olde worlde charm and ambiance.

For the last 12 years, it's been lived in by an old couple who have had a Bed and Breakfast business in the house. Prior to that, I'll need to visit the local historical society! Search will centre on the house name - Maple Grove.

Maple Grove is big: four bedrooms with three reception lounges. As well as chicken coop, woodshed and double garage, it has an outbuilding with laundry, workroom and sleep out (which will become my music room - Abbey Road Four a.k.a. ARF).

Equi-distant between my job and Palmy means we'll only be an hour to Jade, William and Purdy-Hodge junior.

So, here's to the next chapter!

Love and peace - the Wozz.

Hours are like diamonds, don't let them waste (The Rolling Stones)

Photo by Shawn Lee on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Two weeks may be seen by many as a reasonable period of time. Or it can be over with quickly!

That's how long we've been back in NZ for. And we tend to pack a lot in!

In that time we have bought a car, celebrated our grandson's imminent arrival with a family baby shower, we have visited and stayed with relatives in New Plymouth and Waipukarau, and we have viewed and subsequently made an offer on a house in Central Hawke's Bay, after I got a job in Hastings.

I know, we could have fitted in a few more things, but we're only warming up!

Love and peace - the Wozz.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze (William Wordsworth)

Wie geht's?

Our return to Nu Zild has been a great series of catch ups with family so far, in Palmerston North, New Plymouth and now Waipukurau.

Tuesday night saw us enjoying the company of Mabelle and Gavey babe for a shared date night pizza (Joe's Garage - mmmmm) and a movie: the new Nu Zild film, Daffodils.

We had zero expectations and were pleasantly surprised. The La La Land style musical, has a load of classic NZ songs propelling the story which was, for me, on the flimsy side. But still, even though I'm far from being a musicals fan, it was enjoyable and the chemistry between the leads was obvious. Just a pity I felt like knocking their heads together at times - some dumb decisions!

All up, a great night out! Recommend you give it a burl!

Love and peace - Wozza