Is this a blessing? Or is it a curse? Does it get any better? Can it get any worse? Will it go on forever? Is it over tonight? Does it come with the darkness? Does it bring out the light? Is it richer than diamonds? Or just a little cheaper than spit? I don't know what it is but it just won't quit (Meatloaf)

Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

The one pm news conference, broadcast live on TV One, is back and is now woven into the fabric of our lockdown days.

The desire to hear news first, to be up to date is a modern phenonomen.

Because of fibre and fast internet and 24/7 news, people like to be the first with news. Gone are the more relaxed days of newspapers and TV's evening news, when it took a whole day to find out vital information. Now we need to know the instant a decision is made.

And then we need to spread it about to others. It's a weird human thing - the need to be first.

Thanks to our phones and notifications - we can all be first.

Unfortunately that can not be said of Arsenal F.C. at the moment.

Arsenal F.C. have made their worst start to a season in my lifetime. After spending up large in the transfer market, we now find ourselves bottom of the Premier League. Three loses. No goals scored.

As Meatloaf says - Does it get any better? Can it get any worse?

Well yes to both and with Spurs on top of the table, and us bottom, it just got worse; the gulf has never been wider between the two rivals.

It's a tragic/comic situation. It's a slow motion train wreck - happening before my eyes. One of those things that you just have to keep watching in morbid fascination.

Love and peace from a suffering gooner - Wozza

Here comes the sun, and I say it's all right (The Beatles)

View from the music lounge after I do my first zoom of the day

Wie geht's?

Ongoing extentions to Nu Zild's Level 4 lockdown mean that we're all continuing to work from home and because of some internet issues in the outer rim of Maple Grove's vast complex of out buildings, I've moved my base of operations into the main house.

Specifically, the formal music lounge at the front of the house.

It has the advantage of being where the modem is located, has my UK turntable/CD player/amp/speakers, gets the morning sun streaming in the windows (great on frosty mornings like today), and has a lovely view of the front garden (pictured above).

The only downside is the sun streaming in the windows onto my screen for early morning zoom calls.

When we moved in to Maple Grove, I redecorated the room and Jacky removed all the curtains.

Since then I've not minded especially as I'm normally at school during the week and weekends don't find me in the music lounge (mainly because Jacky insists on closing its door because there are no curtains to keep the warmth in and it's f f f frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrezzing!!! Chur JFP).

Anyway, because of the needs must situation with the zooms I ordered some roller blinds from Briscoes (taking advantage of their 50% off sale). Unfortunately we'll need to go down an alert level before they deliver them (no click and collect option sadly).

In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the sunrises in all their glory and greeting zoom participants during this part of the day with a squint.

Love and peace - Wozza.

Lost in the moment of what he needs. Are you there, can you hear me, are you there (Edie Brickell)

Wie geht's?

It's been a loooooong week.

Nu Zild went into Level 4 lockdown suddenly on Tuesday night following the reporting of one case of Covid 19 (Delta variant) in the Auckland community.

Level 4 (the highest level) is a big deal - aside from essential workers and workplaces, everyone in Nu Zild stays home. The single case has become 20 with more expected. 

The good news is that they have isolated the source and there was a very narrow window between the contact (which came from NSW in Australia - chur bro!) and the person getting tested. Plus, so far, it's only limited to Auckland.

On Monday, I picked up my new work vehicle - a brand new white Mazda CX5 to replace my old black Mazda CX5.

It's nice to have a new car, don't get me wrong, but I'm not a car guy, so, Jacky, and my work colleagues, were way more excited about it all than I was.

Growing up, dad bought new cars at regular intervals so, luckily, it quickly lost its novelty value for me. Plus, unlike my brother and 90% of other males, I really don't see the fascination of fancy cars, nor do I care how they work. I'd rather not own any and just use public transport (like when we lived in England).

Far simpler. Less is more.

Anxiety and worry are my main feelings around new cars. Driving this one is nice but it's not a comfortable experience yet. I worry about stone chips, other vehicles dinging it in carparks, all sorts of minor concerns, and the new car smell is a constant reminder that I need to nurse it along for a while. 

We owned a new car once and I won't do it again. Not only the instant depreciation but all those small worries about an expensive investment kept me on edge.

At the moment things are fine - I can't drive the new car anywhere!  It's sitting in the driveway - also waiting for Level 4 lockdown to be lifted.

Love and peace - Wozza

Highest branch on the apple tree, it was my favorite place to be. I could hear them breaking free but they could not see me (Crowded House)

My private universe from 1957 to 1973

Wie geht's?

During a zoom meeting, I caught myself making a self-serving comment to a colleague the other day (I've since apologised to him).

Possibly you can relate - you blurt out a comment without giving it due diligence and regret it later. That's the brain for you.

In this case, I beat myself up for a few days - wondering why. Over that now - never-the-less I will learn from it!

When you're a child things are all about you. You are the centre of your universe, so the self becomes central to our thinking.

Growing up, my universe was limited to a few well known streets around Greenwood's Corner/Royal Oak, a central suburb in Auckland.

I went to kindy, then Royal Oak Primary then Manukau Intermediate - all within walking distance from our home; lived in Oak Street and Korma Ave. (mislabelled as Korma Rd. on the map); played behind our home in Monte Cecilia Park; rode bikes around the Sanitarium factory; played football at Seymour park off Pah Road and tennis at Waiata club up in Fernleigh Rd.; doctors, dentists, chemist, dairies, bookshops for my comics at the big roundabout - all were within my Royal Oak universe.

These days, after world travel, four children, a long lasting marriage and the benefit of experience, my universe has grown a tad.

Still, as Genzaburo Yoshino says in his book (How Do you Live?) - Even among adults, the human tendency to think about things and form judgments with ourselves at the center remains deep-rooted.

Love and peace - Wozza

Sitting still is essential to the journey (Robert Fulghum)

Wie geht's?

This next sentence is painful but required; I need to set the scene.

On the weekend, after I'd harrowed the horse paddock and while Jacky was fooling around with the horses, I found myself sitting outside in my zen garden, in the sun, listening to music through the open windows of my music room, and reading a book (Less by Andrew Sean Greer).

I'd just boiled the jug, had enjoyed my cup of tea and was enjoying the moment when I glanced up from the book and saw the shadow from the tea cup, and was aware in that instant that I was fully relaxed and, yes, content.

It was just a brief moment in time when that simple moment hit me. And it was good. 

I grabbed my camera from the music room and took that snap above to remind me for later times when I'm in a pensive mood.

That's all I need, from time to time - moments like that.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. That quote in the title - I know I've read that in a Fulghum essay but when I searched for it I came up blank. Still - it's a great quote!

Because you're mine, I walk the line (Johnny Cash)

Ellesse Andrews before the tears started

Wie geht's?

The Olympics 2020 coverage on terrestrial TV has been completely absorbing.

The drama and the emotion has been pouring forth from Tokyo and other locations in Japan on a daily basis. 

Jacky and I have been glued to the coverage - no Netflix (a backlog of good shows and films should have built up hopefully), and no music when I get home - just straight to the TV. I know! No music!

The highlights have come thick and fast. Last night was capped off by another gold for the phenomenal Lisa Carrington, a Bronze for men's shot put, two silvers for NZ in the cycling and Ellesse Andrews' brilliant 'I can't stop crying' interview.

I know how she feels - I've been welling up regularly!!

We live in a crazy world. The daily grind, covid-19, lockdowns, full on weeks!

But isn't it great to know that elsewhere on the planet a bunch of people are fixated on person bests, world records, medals (where second and third both really matter), and peak performance. Seriously.

And how great is it that the vast majority of NZ's medal haul has gone to women at their peak. I'm thinking not only of Lisa, but also the Black Ferns, Ellesse, Emma Twigg, Kerry Gowler, Grace Prendergrast, Caitlin Regal, the women's rowing 8, Hannah Osborne, Brooke Donoghue, and Dame Val Adams. What a great list!  

On TV, there's a Toyota advert on high rotation stating, 'Start Your Impossible'. I love that idea. Clearly the women have really embraced that idea and provided valuable role models for the next generation.

Love and peace - Wozza

You're looking very chic today, Irene (The Photos)

 

Wie geht's?

The birthday girl looks radiant! Happy birthday Irene!!

The picture with the Queen's card captures the Irene I know and love - the twinkle in the eye, and that knowing smile. 

God bless you Irene!

Love and peace - Warren and Jacky with The Purdettes