Hard act to follow, you're a hard act to follow (Split Enz)

Wie geht's?

These days, given two amigos live in Auckland and I'm in Central Hawke's Bay, it takes something special to reunite the three amigos in a non-virtual world. Our love and affection for Tim Finn and his songs is one such reason to get the band back together.

Auckland's Civic Theatre holds special memories for us growing up. I've seen more movies than I can count in that wonderful location. The effort and expense to maintain this glorious picture palace is well worth it.

That was the venue for Tim and his band on the final concert on his six city tour, and it was well worth all the effort (and expense) on our part to get to it.

Two amigos (GK was downstairs with his brother)

The Split Enz songs were great opening crowd pleasers - I mean, how can you go wrong opening with the one-two punch of My Mistake and I See Red?

The band and the song selections were mostly on point (although I could have done without Ghost Girl) and Tim's voice was mostly the force it has always been, albeit a bit more ravaged by time (especially so on I Hope I Never).

The reviews I've read have been really positive. My slight quibble would be that I'd have liked some more solo Tim Finn songs but that's just me.

We left the scene happy campers. Kevy secured a signed poster for us both and GK's brother risked life and limb to grab a set list. 

Overall, this great Civic experience added a new selection to the memory banks.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. thanks to K and AM for hosting us, and thanks to JFP for the great photos.

We're captive on the carousel of time, we can't return, we can only look behind from where we came and go 'round and 'round and 'round In the circle game (Joni Mitchell)

 

Wie geht's?

Repositing this entry from July 28 2022 as dad passed away on September 21, 2009

This post is dedicated to Graham Purdy (26 July 1928 - 21 September 2009) because without Graham's world there would be no Wozza's world.   Funny how time passes. It's been an unbelievable 43 years since John Lennon was murdered. It's been 40 years since my mother passed away. It's now been 14 years without dad and those moments remain raw wounds. Rather than settle into a depressed mood, though, I'd prefer to be upbeat. As Groucho Marx said,

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

So I'd rather commemorate Sept 21 with a celebration of a great life via some pictures of father and son(s) and grandad (or as he signed himself - Deedoo II) for our children. First though - some context:

This was Graham's world as four generations of Purdy are captured here by dad's clever organisation and automatic shutter release in the 1960s. Left to right - William Nugent Purdy (his grandfather), Graham Nugent Purdy himself, Christina Amelia Purdy (his mother), Warren Nugent Purdy (his first son), Harry Purdy [a.k.a. Deedoo] (his father), Dulcie Mary Purdy (his wife), Ross Graham Purdy (his second son). We are pictured on the steps at his parents' house in Reimers Ave, Auckland (a.k.a Rochdene).

Dad with 'the boys'. This was taken, also by automatic shutter release, on a holiday in Tutakaka, east of Whangarei (which is north of Auckland).

GNP and WNP. We often stopped off for lunch in Hamilton Gardens (Purdys love routine - we were taught by a master), at a great spot by the Waikato River. Clearly we were well organised - picnic lunch with thermos of tea.

As a teenager I often attended family holidays to Te Rangiita (Taupo). This was taken on one of our last fishing trips together as a family. Pretty soon I would outgrow them and start some family routines of my own with Jacky.

Deedoo II and the gee-kids (L to R: Adam; Samantha; Jade; Keegan) in the nineties at Mickey D's in Auckland.

One of the last father/son photos I have. Thirty years apart - we were so very different, yet so very alike.

Dad loved the Marx brothers so here's a parting thought from Groucho:

The first thing which I can record concerning myself is, that I was born. These are wonderful words. This life, to which neither time nor eternity can bring diminution - this everlasting living soul, began. My mind loses itself in these depths.

Love and peace - WNP 

Maybe down in Lonesome Town I can learn to forget (Ricky Nelson)

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Me? You find me unwell. Sore throat, runny nose unwell. Two days and a half off work unwell. I've taken three covid tests and it's not covid but it sure feels like the first time I had it - febrile, sore throat, runny nose, no energy.

Full disclosure: I am not a good patient. I go downhill and take a while to bounce back.

There's something about being sick at home that takes me back to childhood. You're not really supposed to get sick when you're an adult, it feels surreal being off work. But when you're a kid it goes with the territory. And it happens a lot.

I especially hate sore throats. I hate that feeling of knowing it's going to be painful the next time I swallow. Yes, when unwell, I'm basically a baby.

The only advantage I can think off is having naps in the middle of the day and reading books (as a kid it was comics - I haven't changed much).

During the current bout I've finished two and started three more.

So, there's that.

Love and peace - Wozza

The thing is these days there is too much choice. When I was younger, you were grateful with what you were given (Arthur Pepper)

Wie geht's?

The 'charms' in the clever title of this book refer to some items on a charm bracelet that Arthur Pepper finds in his late wife's shoes.

The pictures on the cover are of the charms - a tiger, an elephant, a heart and so on.

Basically, by deciding to track down where the charms have come from, Arthur heads off on a series of unlikely adventures to find out more about his wife's past before he met her about 40 years ago (Arthur is about my age).

That period before you meet your spouse is an interesting one and it's ripe for intrigue and mystery.

Phaedra Patrick writes well, which is a welcome thing after the sometimes clunkily written rock autobiographies I've been reading lately.

But what I really wanted to focus on here is the array of covers for this book. I'm always been a keen student of the various graphic designs chosen for later editions. 

The one pictured up top is the orange cover of the edition I'm reading which cost $3 from The Little Red Bookstore. 

They've tried various colours (like the blue/greeny one below)  but I like the orange. The choice of font is a key aspect and, again, I prefer the one I'm reading.

Here are a few of the other ways they've tried to catch the buyer's eye:

 

The live action one doesn't work for me. Not only is Arthur bizarrely cut in two on a weird sofa, but the picture frames and images inside them are too obtuse.

The travel luggage one is slightly incongruous to the story (it gives the impression that it's a bit of travel writing) but I like the colours and the vague sense of adventure.

The one with the landmarks indicating India, Paris and London correctly hint at exotic locations that figure in the narrative, but again - travelogue rather than fiction is the impression I'm left with.

So I'll stick to the top image - even if the cartoon Arthur is not how I picture him.

Love and peace - Wozza

Oh, my old man's an All Black, he wears the silver fern (The Howard Morrison Quartet)

Don Clarke, All Black legend.

Wie geht's?

I don't write much about rugby or the All Blacks on Wozza's Place, do I?

Truth is, although supporting our national team is in our DNA, I'm just not a fan of rugby. 

When I was a toddler, I was in awe of the ruggedly handsome, manly, Don Clarke, and told everyone that I wanted to kick a ball like him. I guess he reminded me a bit of my uncles who I adored, so hero worship landed early. But it didn't last.

Instead, I took myself off to Seymour Park and joined the Eden Football Club, aged 4.

At Primary school I was a normal sporty Kiwi kid, playing football and rugby, But the rugby didn't last.

Now days, I don't watch any rugby games on TV apart from when the AB's play and even then, I'm not going to make a special effort to tune in. 

There are just too many weird rules, too many interruptions. Nothing flows. All glaringly obvious after watching the high tempo, highly skilled, FIFA Women's World Cup.

But now New Zealand's attention has turned to the latest edition of the rugby world cup, happening in France.

We (of course 'we') lost to the French team this morning in the opening game. France, as hosts, will be a team expected to do well, but so are the AB's.

I happened to draw France in our office sweepstake so I'll be keen for them to go all the way. NZ will still qualify for the knock out stages, but on this morning's showing, I wouldn't expect them to necessarily make the final. Too many mistakes and too little dominance of the opposition. They don't strike fear in an opposition like they did in Don Clarke's day.

A France v New Zealand final would be super cool though. We shall see.

Love and peace - Wozza

Love is promise, love is a souvenir, once given, never forgotten, never let it disappear (Tears For Fears)

Asher, a happy footballer this weekend!

Wie geht's?

A special birthday post and welcome to the world to our second grandchild!

September 2, 2023 arrived and so did our new granddaughter - Poppy Mae. 

A daughter for Adam and Ashleigh in Melbourne, Australia, is a momentous occasion. In a few years time she may be curious about where we all were and what the Purdy side of her family was doing when she joined the whanau.

So, here's the skinny...

For a start, Poppy, your mum and dad were up all night and pretty busy dealing with your immanent arrival in Melbourne. Like all new parents, they were understandably exhausted, elated, emotionally drained, excited beyond belief, nervous, and worried, while dealing with headaches and the post birth situation.

Your paternal grandparents (Jacky and me) had a fitful sleep in Takapau, New Zealand, with our phones beside us, waiting for news. We woke to the great message from your dad - 'it's done!'

Uncle Keegan, meanwhile, was in China, not sleeping, like Adam, but messaging through the night, waiting for news.

Aunty Samantha was in Nevada's Black Rock desert, finishing up attending the Burning Man Festival and sitting out a big storm that hit the desert. At the moment she's stuck there with Andrew - waiting for the all clear to leave.

Aunty Jade and your cousin Asher were tucked into their Palmerston North beds, dreaming of football (last 'game' of the season was waiting for him when he woke up), and their new niece.

When your dad and uncle/aunties were born I liked to document what was happening elsewhere in the world - important stuff like what Arsenal were up to, movies that were showing, music chart action and so on.

These days the internet takes care of that, and by the time you are interested in this stuff, who knows what technology will be available to you.

But, for old times' sake - indulge me as I do a brief run down:

• In world news, apart from that big storm in Nevada: the war between Russia and Ukraine continues with a counter-offensive by Ukraine; the Pope visits Mongolia; a typhoon hits Hong Kong; and in New Zealand, we are in election mode with the usual political jabs and feints being played out. 
• Arsenal weren't in action over the weekend, but they are currently unbeaten at the start of the new English Premier League season after four games having beaten Manchester United this morning 3-1.
• Oppenheimer and Barbie are the big movies playing at the moment (Barbie just finished her run), Oppenheimer is ending today in Waipukarau.
• Music charts don't actually exist like they did in 1986 when your dad came along but Kylie Minogue releases new music this week and Royal Blood are top of the album charts.

So there you go, Poppy - welcome to the world little one! 

And, by the way - 'love is promise...once given never forgotten' as Tears For Fears sing in Advice For The Young At Heart. You're special, and one of the lucky ones, because you will be loved unconditionally for the rest of your life by all members of the Hope and Purdy families.

Love and peace - WNP