I''m not thinking straight, why did I have that wine cooler last month? (Ned Flanders)

Metal band - Okilly Dokilly

Wie geht's?

James Acaster's second book, Perfect Sound Whatever, is a treasure trove of obscure and, by me at least, unheard music.

Brief context: James broke up with his partner in 2017 and found solace in the music of the previous year when things were fine. He eventually became obsessed with collecting a huge number of albums that were released in 2016. He writes about them, and his life at that time in Perfect Sound Whatever.

Okilly Dokilly is a metalcore band (pictured above) and their 2016 album was Howdilly Doodilly. Yes, if you didn't already get it from the picture, the band name and the record - this is a group dedicated to celebrating all things Ned Flanders from The Simpsons.

When I had a listen to it on Spotify I was very pleasantly surprised. What a great racket!

That's the tip of the Acaster iceberg as he explores the music of 2016, what he decides is THE GREATEST YEAR FOR MUSIC OF ALL TIME.

His book manages to walk the tightrope of hugely private disclosures by a person who feels suicidal at times, and hilarious stories of that same person's misadventures, plus his wonderful summaries of the pivotal albums of 2016.

Took me about 1.75 seconds to decide to buy it in a Melbourne book shop a few weeks ago, and I haven't been disappointed.

Love and peace - Wozza

I wish I was in Wellington - the bureaucracy, the suits and the briefcases along Lambton Quay; the harbour city capital, the lights beside the sea (The Muttonbirds)

Wie geht's?

Jacky and I had a terrific four day weekend in Wellington recently (Hawke's Bay Anniversary plus Labour Day).

I managed to grab a few hours in Slow Boat Records in Cuba Street and came away with a clutch of vital additions to the collection. The Goo Goo G'Joob blog will have the details in due course.

Wellington is a big city by NZ standards, and big cities have more of everything. Yes, record shops (three) but also more food outlets, more stark contrasts (I rode in a lift with some Hooray Henrys posing as HSBC bank heavies -  and then saw a number of homeless outside when I exited the building), more sirens, more nice people, and more crazies wandering the Cuba Mall.

Some highlights that aren't Slow Boat related: burrito at a Mexican food stand underneath Willis Street; walking along the harbour; Unity Books has great displays and an excellent selection; helpful shop assistant when Jacky bought some shoes; quirky little magazine store when we got slightly lost on a walk that still had large numbers of back issues of Mojos and other music mags.

Some lowlights: being overcharged by the crazy Mexican; the  churro I bought on the harbour walk; over-priced books at Arty Bees.

All in all - a great couple of days to unwind and get some retail therapy.

Love and peace - Wozza

In your night light, burning brightly (Masters Of Reality)

Wie geht's?

Recently, while we were in Melbourne I was keen to buy Asher a toy from David Jones' toy department.

When my brother and I were young (starting from when we were about 7 and 9 respectively) we went on a few trips to Sydney with mum and dad. I guess dad would be having business meetings sometimes, but we'd all get the train into the city centre from Kings' Cross and David Jones was a prime destination for us. Even when I was a teenager.

Yes, people dressed like that to shop in the sixties.

The Auckland CBD had Farmers, Rendells and George Courts in 1966, but that was chump change compared to Sydney's David Jones.

We started with hot wheels and matchbox cars and by the time I was a teenager, records! Some great memories, and so I was keen to tap into that experience and get something for Asher.

We settled on the kitset dinosaur for age 7+ for him to put together. Asher (4 and a half), with some key directions for his mum, ended up with this beauty. Looks great, Asher!

Love and peace - Papa

Well, the hardest work that ever I done Is plowin' a field of rye; the easiest work that ever I done was eatin' chicken pie (Ry Cooder)

Photo by Jessica Kantak Bailey on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

This one's about being a pollotarian (poultry but no fish or meat) or a pollo-pescetarian (poultry and/or fish but no meat).

Jacky has been a pollotarian for a long time. 

After a discussion with my sister-in-law I decided to give up meat. But I can't yet give up fish or chicken. Samantha's fully committed example is an inspiration, and Geezer Butler's book contributed to my decision. 

And, it's not a great hardship, I'd have to say. I used to love hamburgers but I don't actually miss them. I loved pepperoni pizzas and I do miss them but hey ho.

What's next? Well I could easily go full pescetarian but that wouldn't be fair on Jacky so this middle way will suffice for now.

Love and peace - Wozza

Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true (Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs)

Wie geht's?

September second will be a hard to forget day for both Adam and Ashleigh in the years to come.

Purdy babies turn out to be cute as all get out and Poppy Mae, in the flesh, fulfils that maxim to a T. 

She clearly combines features of both of her parents - lovely long fingers and nail beds (well done Ashleigh) and Adam's blue eyes. Also thanks to Ashleigh, Poppy dodged the Purdy nose.

We've now returned home safely to Nu Zild with some great memories of Melbourne, of Adam and Ashleigh's lovely home in Sunbury, and of the beautiful Poppy. It was also great to catch up with fellow grandparents - Trish and Linnie, and, as an added bonus, I now have some new vinyl to play!

Quite the trip.

Love and peace - Papa

People so busy, make me feel dizzy (The Kinks)

Wie geht's?

After driving to Wellington, getting a plane to Auckland and then a flight over the ditch, I'm beaming in to you from Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria. 

Jacky and I are visiting to see our new grandchild - Poppy who lives in Sunbury with her lucky parents. While here, we're staying at a hotel in the CBD by Flinders Street Station with a lovely view of the Yarra river (a kind of a mini Thames).

Like all big cities it has its good and bad. We got an Uber from the airport to the CBD and it reminded me of driving in LA with Fanfa, or even Auckland's motorway. The many homeless and signs of urban graffiti are sad to see, as they are in all big cities.

But then you have the vibrancy and energy of big cities - the sights, sounds, and (yes) smells that come from large congregations of people and buildings.

We took a walk yesterday around the streets and across the river and enjoyed the stark contrast of our quieter life in Central Hawke's Bay. 

There was a beautiful sunset over the Yarra River, and a stillness in the air as we ended our first day of the trip. Good signs those.

Love and peace - Wozza