“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?” (Alice in Wonderland)

Bookshelves in the background at 18 Korma Ave.

Wie geht's?

While reading this pretty cool article about why some people read, and others don't, I quickly flashed back to our house in Korma Avenue, Auckland in the 1960's.

Not for the first time, and it certainly won't be for the last time, I thanked God for allowing me to born into a home run by Dulcie and Graham Purdy.

There are many, many reasons why, but check this bit from the article:

Why some people grow up to derive great pleasure from reading, while others don’t. That why is consequential—leisure reading has been linked to a range of good academic and professional outcomes—as well as difficult to fully explain. But a chief factor seems to be the household one is born into, and the culture of reading that parents create within it.

Number 18 Korma Ave contained some impressive built in book shelves. I love that idea - that permanence of a place to put the books.

Many times I would gaze through the shelves, looking at the spines of the Doctor At Large, Hammond Innes, Alistair MacLean books, and many others while growing up. 

The culture of reading was important in our house - as I know it will be for Asher at Jade/William's place.

During the weekend, I collected all the books for children I have in my collection (some are mine, some are mum's, others I've accumulated) and put them in Asher's room at Maple Grove. 

Ready for him. 

Love and peace - Wozza (far left in the picture taken by dad, with my brother and the Adsetts - Lucy, Jack and Dulcie)

People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation) just because we g-g-get around (The Who)

Wie geht's?

Recently, I helped my mother-in-law celebrate her 80th birthday.

Thanks to Pat (Great GM), Brian (Great GD), Jacky (their eldest), Jade (her youngest) and Asher (her son), the event was memorable for bringing together four generations of the Smith branch. Photo evidence above is Exhibit A.

Generational connections are special. I treasure a photo I have of four generations of my father's line - with my Great Grandfather, Grandfather, father and me.

I'm sure Asher will come to look back at the photo above and wonder about who we all were (really), what we were doing, where we were.

Lovely to think of those connections stretching back - not a long way, in the grand scheme of things, but far enough. 

There may or may not be any Great Great GM/GF photos so this is as good as it gets for a while.

Love and peace - WNP

The Dutchess of Kircaldy always smiling and arriving late for tea (The Beatles)

Wie geht's?

This is the one about how Wozza met the Mayor of Hastings Disctrict Council.

I was alerted to the fact the THE MAYOR was visiting our school during a Science Roadshow visit.

Okay, I said. I'm happy to meet her.

When the time arrived, I looked around the crowd for someone wearing mayoral chains - figured that would probably be the Mayor.

Sure enough. There she was.

Oh oh. 

Luckily, I found our Office Administrator, also in the crowd.

What's her name? I whispered.

Sandra Hazlehurst, she whispered back.

Phew.

I approached the Mayor, chatted away (the Wozza charm turned up a few notches). She was very nice. And charming back. She even knew my name.

She must have been wondering, what am I doing here? 

She had some other engagement, probably with people who could potentially vote for her, and so, she left.

Left me to wonder about how the office of Mayor has changed. Why it's no longer such a big deal. Why they still have that chain (apart from making them stand out in a crowd - what's it for?). 

All seems weirdly archaic. And English. All that pomp and ceremony which Nu Zilders don't actually do.

We're very egalitarian.

But anyway. Enough musing.

Bottom line: she came, I was charming, she left.

Love and peace - Wozza

Shoures soote (Chaucer)

Photo by Nikhil kumar on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Spring is back which so far means a lot of rain, fluctuating temperatures, rain, blossoms, wind and more rain. And we live in the Hawke's Bay. On the other side of the Ruahines and the rain shadow!!

Still, that's spring right?

In the northern hemisphere of Chaucer's time:

Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour...

(When in April (September for us) the sweet showers fall that pierce March's (August's) drought to the root and all, and bathed every vein in liquor that has power to generate therein and sire the flower...).

So it ain't like it's a new thing.

Anyway...

Had to go to the dentist today: first of two crowns. My dentist (Dr Nick, age 33) is great. 

Was talking to colleagues at school about it earlier in the day and reminiscing about the dark days of primary school and going to the murder house (link takes you to a previous post on this subject). 

Appears we all called it that!! How was that possible - in pre internet/the-world-is-a-village days???

Even different generations called it The Murder House. 

What scars! Poor dentists! 

Anyway - we were chatting while my crown was being made , and Nick alerted me to this film by Peter Jackson. Called - yes, indeedy, The Murder House!

This is getting spooky!

Love and peace - Woz

Tell us more Mr Science (Elaine)

Wie geht's

The Science Roadshow hit town yesterday and my campus was hosting it for the Hastings area.

As I watched a presentation by two lively young science guys that featured some fun chemical reactions for the students, I, of course, thought of Graham Purdy - Pharmacist.

He would have loved it. And understood it far far better than the two young guys.

I thought back to when I was about 8 or 9 and asked for a chemistry set. After getting it I played around with it a bit but it didn't take.

At M.A.G.S. I attempted chemistry during my two School Certificate years, 1973-4, and that was an utter disaster.

Chemistry was not for me!

Isn't that weird. That I would be interested enough to ask for, and get, a chemistry set but then develop zero interest in it.

Zero, zip, nada, zilch.

Funny old life innit.

Love and peace - Wozza

Okay, I'm gonna take the suit, and the shoes, and the hat (Kramer)

Wie geht's?

Meet Ray. 

He was a character from Seinfeld's The Statue episode. You remember - the psycho cleaner, boyfriend of the kooky Russian writer, Rava, who kinda steals the statue that Kramer has to get back by pretending to be a old school cop.

Got it?

Ray is also the name I gave to Jerry's would be canine companion. An Aussie cattle dog. But then Ray, true to Seinfeld namesake and Aussie battler stereotype, went all batshit psycho and attacked two other dogs at the vets (after having a spat with Jerry and being put in his place) so Ray has been returned to the dog ranger, from whence he came originally.

Poor Jerry.

The search for a companion goes on.

Love and peace - Woz