The January day was drawing to its close: the increasing chill of evening was nipping the still air and a blood-red sunset was rapidly dying away (Ivan Turgenev)

Wie geht's?

Books read:

• Fathers And Sons (Ivan Turgenev)
• Showdown At Yellow Butte (Louis L'Amour)
• Glory Days: from gumboots to platforms (Dr Glam) 

After dispatching the Louis L'Amour pretty quickly, my appetite for something meatier returned, so into the Turgenev I dived!

Having now finished it, I'm still wondering why it's called Fathers And Sons. 

Although it's clear that Turgenev is making a point about generational differences between youth and the old order - sons replacing fathers, the plot lines are anchored around the sons - Arkady (rather than his father - Nikolai) and Bazarov (rather than his father - Vasily) and their relationships, both with each other and women they come across as they criss cross between various residences.

So, rather than Fathers And Sons, a more honest title would have been Sons, their Woman, and their Fathers. 

Nothing much happens until Bazarov steals a kiss from Nikolai's partner (a servant girl who has a son with Nicolai), witnessed by Nikolai's brother, Pavel. That , of course, given the times, means a duel between Pavel and Bazarov - the only bit of real action in the story so far.

The end of the story is tragic for Bazarov (sorry for the spoiler, but chances are if you haven't read it, it's unlikely to be read now) and happy for Arkady who puts his nihilistic tendencies aside to marry and more-or-less take over his fathers' farm.

Next up: the New Zealand music scene in the seventies - Glory Days: from gumboots to platforms, with our guide Dr Glam (a.k.a. Ian Chapman). Should be a hoot!

Love and peace (from my bubble inside a bubble at Maple Grove) - WNP

He waka eke noa (we are all in this together)

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

That simple German phrase (how are you?) is very apposite right now.

For some time now, I've been using it as a welcome on these posts in honour of my much missed friend - Margo Buchanan-Oliver. She always wrote that on letters/cards/emails - whatever - always opened with that phrase. Her first thought was to ask after others.

With Nu Zild on lock-down to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it seems even more important to be kind, to reach out to others - especially the loved and dear ones, but also strangers and even estranged family members, to consider the effects of our actions on others.

The human race is a selfish one generally, so this is a good wake up call, albeit one paid with a heavy price.

At my work (OneSchool Global, NZ) students, parents, teachers and support staff are now working from home, and the new arrangements have paradoxically brought us closer together.

For one thing I have a window into everyone's home via zoom😆

Social media platforms and the internet have been a godsend. Speaking personally, staying connected has never been as important as it is right now.

Love and peace and stay safe - Wozza

You can make the mountains ring or make the angels cry (The Youngbloods)

Photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Community is important. It can be an amazing force for good, and it cause huge problems. The current focus on a global pandemic is producing new concepts to us all: self-isolation (and the disregard for it) and social distancing are two.

People appear to be struggling with both because, as a species, we crave community and social interaction.

Having to isolate ourselves and distance ourselves from others is foreign to our nature. We want to connect to others.

I'm currently in Gisborne, visiting my other campus and, turns out the hugs and handshakes are too natural a greeting to avoid. I'm here, connecting with Gisborne staff and students because we are a community of two campuses. I also believe that until otherwise instructed, normalcy is important.

However, given the current climate which tends to breed paranoia and fear (that person sneezed!), it feels a little weird being here, in a hotel room, far away from Jacky.

Remaining connected via my phone and computer is great though, and makes me wonder what this would have been like in the time before internet and cellular phone networks arrived.

The good news is we will come out of this, life will change but it will go on - until the next pandemic. The good news is that this event has paradoxically brought us as humans closer together. The good news is the internet keeps us connected. The good news is we will learn lessons from this whole event.

I hope you, my family and friends, and any random blogosphere readers out there, are all safe, and remain that way.

Love and peace and a virtual hug - Wozza

Nothing is real (David Copperfield, John Lennon)

Wie geht's?

Books bought:

• Glory Days - from gumboots to platforms (Ian Chapman)
• A Tale Of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
• Kidnapped (Robert Louis Stevenson)
• Robbers' Roost (Zane Grey)
• White Butterfly (Walter Mosley)
• Mojo (Feb. 2020)
• Beat Instrumental (August 1969)

Books read:

• David Copperfield (Charles Dickens)
• Mojo (Feb. 2020)
• Beat Instrumental (Aug. 1969)

As indicated on my Jewels For The Thirsty blog yesterday, having finished David Copperfield, I'm feeling a little culturally bereft.

Once into the swing of Dickens, his characters come alive and it's like I've been living in 1850, sneaking peeks at David's journals as he writes.

Now that I'm done, I miss them.

Nick Hornby says he struggled reading things for a while after finishing his copy, and I get that. So, my solution is to go bang up to date with the latest Mojo. 

That and an old music magazine from England - Beat Instrumental from 1969. I bought it for the interesting article on the then 20 year old Rory Gallagher. Interesting because, even then, he's holding his battered guitar!

The Beat Instrumental and all of the books bought recently come from the Little Red Book Shop in Hastings, all except for Glory Days - that was a free copy from a stall at one of our favourite coffee shops, in Waipawa.

After that, I'm not sure - I think I'll go for one of the westerns - Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour. That should provide a nice change of pace before I launch into Turgenev's Fathers And Sons.

Love and peace - Wozza

Baby, you're a star (Prince)

Wie geht's?

This post unashamedly spotlights the stars of the show - William and Jade.

Here is a selection featuring my favourite shots of the bride and groom heading off on their own mystery ride.

Love and peace - Father of the bride

Reunited, and it feels so good (Peaches and Herb)

Wie geht's? 

Apart from those wonderful Fantastic Four group shots from my previous post, I thought I'd highlight some of the non-posed shots of the four this time around - two each!

Keegan 

Adam

Samantha

Jade (and Asher - not fooled by the lady with the knee bends!)

Having these four together in one spot is rare, so we always make the most of it. 

Next reunion for the Purdettes is in 2022, for Jacky's 6oth birthday.

Love and peace - Abu Keegan