Poi E whaka-tata mai (Patea Maori Cub)

Wie geht's?

Keegan's birthday is on the 19th of December. A big un too, this year - his 40th! That's him fresh home from Westown Maternity (New Plymouth) in 1984. Back then he weighed 8 pounds.

His origin story is here.

As it states in that post, I compiled media stuff from the week he was born in '84. Here is a random selection:

• The horoscope for those born this week - count your blessings, rather than your grievances.
• Gremlins and Cannonball Run 2 were on at the movies in New Plymouth. 
• It was raining in NP on 19 December 1984.
• Everton were top of Division one this week (hard to believe) and Arsenal were 4th.
• Billy Joel's An Innocent Man was the top album and Poi-E by the Patea Maori Club was the #1 single.

Happy birthday Keegan! Suggest you fire up the popcorn maker and watch Gremlins tonight to celebrate.

Love always - dad

I feel fine (The Beatles)

Wie geht's?

I'm fresh from watching The Beatles '64 on Disney+. It's a new documentary produced by Martin Scorsese and the current keepers of the Beatles flame (Sean, Paul, Olivia and Ringo).

Unashamedly, I got very emotionally involved as I watched because it touched on some core memories - of joy, wonder, love, shock, appreciation.

Memories I have written about before - especially around my reaction to the fabs appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

The documentary starts by putting The Beatles 1964 tour of America in context with a series of clips about John F Kennedy. He was assassinated on November 22, 1963 and The Beatles world tour reached America in August 1964.

I certainly remember the assassination, as the shock waves rippled their way to 18 Korma Ave., Auckland, New Zealand. A paper clipping was kept and the funeral images are seared into my brain.

The Beatles '64 world tour started in Denmark in June and went to The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, England, Sweden and back to England, before heading to America in August. Thirty concerts during those three months. They worked their socks off!

The documentary just concentrates on the American part because they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show twice and the world was never the same again.

As one interviewee says - the world was darkness, The Ed Sullivan appearance happened, and the light went on.

I loved the interviews, both archival and new.

Paul in '64 disagrees when an interviewer, trying to sum up the Beatles influence uses the term 'western culture'. Paul says, "It's not culture, it's a laugh".  

What I noticed again and again in the film were the smiling faces of the boys and their audiences, all the people having a laugh.

The Beatles unleashed a torrent of joy. One interviewee says the music touched her heart. She says, "I could relax".

I definitely felt that as I watched as they, impossibly young, performed on Ed Sullivan and in Washington, and reflected on how fate led me to the lounge at 18 Korma Ave., to watch their original appearance.

The awe is still there and I'm so grateful that my time on the planet has intersected with John Paul George and Ringo.

Love and peace - Wozza

Song for Adam (Jackson Browne)

The males of the family

Wie geht's?

Adam's birthday celebrations are today's order of business.

The 11th of December 1986 seems a while ago now in some ways, but in other ways it's permanently in my brain in full focus.

Here are the facts: 

• Born in National Women's Hospital, Auckland at 10.28am, Adam Lennon Purdy was an 8 pound plus bundle of energy right from the off. With deep blue eyes and a killer smile to boot. 
• His horoscope for the week gave good advice - 'be versatile, keep things simple'.
• Top of the pops was Walk This Way - Run DMC.
• Arsenal F.C. were leading in English Division One on 38 points.
• Jacky, Wozza and Keegan were proud as punch!

Join with me in a rousing happy birthday to our special little guy.

Love - dad

You're the cream in my coffee, you're the salt in my stew (Colonial Club Orchestra)

Wie geht's?

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of dance bands from the 1930s and 1940s, as you do when prepping music selections for parents who were teenagers in those years. I'm speaking about Kevy's dad, Greg's dad and my parents - both of whom belonged to the Auckland Swing club (their membership pin, which I wear on a suit, is pictured above).

Dance music of that era conformed to a pretty strict formula. My parents were both born in NZ and they gravitated towards American swing bands. Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller were my parents' favourites. 

On the other hand, Joe Simms and Harry Knowles were originally from Blighty and they were more inclined towards British dance bands who 'typically played melodic, good-time music that had jazz and big band influences but also maintained a peculiarly British sense of rhythm and style which came from the music hall tradition'. 

So, my Spotify listening this week has been built around Billy Cotton and Jack Hylton, with a side order of Benny Goodman and Woody Herman.

Ironically, this was music I couldn't wouldn't shouldn't like when growing up and while I still don't understand it, I certainly have enjoyed exploring the genre and expanding my listening repertoire.

Again, what hits you between your ears and stays with you throughout your life, comes down to the era of music you happen to become a teenager in. Up to that point you are forced to listen to the music of your parents' generation. For me it's the early 1970s, but for Harry Knowles, born in Kent in 1922, it's the mid-thirties; for Graham (1928), Dulcie (1930) and Joe (born in Manchester 1930) it's the early forties.

All of them were teenagers (not that the term existed) within that dance band/ swing era.

The week ahead focuses on Harry Knowles. You can track our progress here.

Love and peace - Wozza

All I am, and all that I was ever meant to be, in harmony, shining true and smiling back at all who wait to cross. There is no loss (Kansas)

Wie geht's? 

I am fond of telling people that I have lived a charmed life. That doesn't mean I have mastered the embrace of Amor Fati (a love of fate). But I aim to, even though it's tough sometimes. Especially when loved ones depart from our lives.

This week on our current Wander to Wozza's Music Club playlist (WTWMC - Loved Ones) the three amigos are celebrating my mum - Dulcie Mary Purdy (a.k.a. Dulse). She was born in April 1930 and passed away in November 1983. She was the greatest mum ever - yes, I know, but she was. Trust me.

I still own most of the records that are my five selections for the week. I inherited them when dad passed away in 2009. They mean a lot to me.

In the spirit of Amor Fati, I am determined not to be sad this week. Instead, it's a musical celebration of a great person in my life, someone who set me up well for what was to come.

She wasn't well educated, in the sense that she finished her formal schooling before secondary school to get a job and support her own mum, but in many ways her values and the things she learned and passed on were invaluable to me.

See - a charmed life!

Love and peace - Woz

Cap on head, suit that's red, special night, beard that's white (Bob Dylan)

The me I see in my head

Wie geht's?

Second post on Jade's birthday...

Movember is almost done and dusted. Phew! Just one more day to go.

It would be fair to say that I wasn't looking forward to participating in this (Angel is très persuasive) and I persevered only because friends and family supported me and donated to the men's mental health cause. I feel really good about that bit and that my comparatively insignificant personal sacrifice has had a significant outcome. 

I was also mildly interested to see what a beard would look like, because I've never grown one. Jacky has never been a fan and I've never pushed it. So, this was an opportunity to let my freak flag fly for a month. Cool.

  

The Movember first me

 

After the initial week of feeling self-conscious to the max, I got more used to it over the month, but never felt entirely comfortable. The reality is that having facial hair is just not me. It feels different, I look different, and eating and drinking is uncomfortable.

End of Movember!

 

The funny thing is that Jacky has spent this week trying to persuade me to keep it. Whaaat? Bizarro World. 

Sorry, Light of My Life, but I'm done.

I was toying with the idea of having a poll to see what others' thought (should it stay or should it go?) but that would be disingenuous. 

I can't wait for the end of Movember.

Love and peace - the momentarily hirsute Wozza

She's got style, she's got grace, she's a winner. She's a lady, Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady (Tom Jones)

Wie geht's?

It's a special day on Wozza's Place - enough to warrant two posts today.

First up - it's time to celebrate Jade's 33rd trip around the sun.

Hope the day at work and solid parenting goes well today DLG!

Love - dad

Well, the real thing come and the real thing go (Rickie Lee Jones)

Wie geht's?

Big week approaching, with Jade's 33rd birthday coming amongst fevered preparations for the wedding of 2025 between Fanfa and Drew in Denver. Put a ring around May 2 (see what I did there?)

Life can be measured in landmark moments like these and the older I get the more precious they become. They are certainly finite.

Arguably an even greater landmark moment next week is that it marks the fourth and final week of Movember. Will the beard stay or will it go? The anticipation level is set to sky high.

Teaser photos next post - promise!

Love and peace - Wozza

Some days I think it's all a dream (Elton John)

Wie geht's?

Music is one of the best prompts for linking back to memories and people from our past. 

As I've mentioned before, the three amigos are currently doing that Spotify playlist of things our loved ones like/liked (four of the nine are alive and well). 

It's proving to be quite an emotional experience for us, especially as we consider our parents musical tastes, because we are tapping into some precious memories from our youth.

For me, it's a nice convergence of the past into the present. I suspect they would have loved the Spotify playlist idea and the technology around it. And I'm sure they would be touched at our on-going effort to honour them all via our musical memories.

It can be a tad overwhelming, if I close my eyes and think about those moments. Must be the clouds in my eyes.

Love and peace - Woz

P.S. I'm into the third week with the beard for Movember. Remember, you can support me and men's mental health via this link. Thanks in advance.

My infatuation with the study of animate nature grew rapidly into a fully-fledged love affair (Farley Mowat)

Wie geht's?

Just got back from my daily walk into Hastings, which included a browse at The Little Red Bookshop, where I picked up a copy of Farley Mowat's Never Cry Wolf.

The story and the images from the film have had a powerful effect on me over the years (I can remember teaching this film in the 1980s).

The film is on YouTube if you are interested, and you should be, because it is brilliant!

While teaching it, I did see the film a few times, but that was over 30 years ago. So, it's pretty incredible that I can close my eyes and see images of Charles Martin Smith alone on the ice, hear the wolves and feel the chills and thrills he experienced.

I don't recall teaching the book that the film is based on, so I'm really looking forward to reading it and seeing how it differs from the film.

Life on the edge in Wozza's World.

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm bringing you the weather from the satellite jigsaw (DD Smash)

Senior students are on exam leave, with only Year 9 and 10 students still at school, so we've entered that vaguely twilight zone/ false dawn period for a month. Until the Christmas break starts in early December.

It feels a little unsettling having all of this preparation time suddenly, and staff are commenting on how slow the days/weeks are going. We're all used to a high-pressure environment with very little time available each day/week to mark and prepare, and now we have a low-pressure system coming in from the Tasman Sea and hovering over Hawke's Bay.

The upside to all this is having time to go for a daily walk.

Normally, I struggle to get time each day to refresh/ meditate via a walk but lately I have been able to walk into Hastings' CBD to do errands - things like stationery supplies, books, check out the library and get a coffee.

This is quality time and has many benefits for me personally and professionally. I have good ideas while out walking which often translate into better lesson ideas and outcomes for my students.

I'll make the most of this while it lasts.

It's a wonderful wonderful life (Black)

Photo by Elijah Macleod on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

As I pointed out in a recent post - the three amigos (some good sorts I've known for around 50 years - they're growing on me - we might end up being friends at some point in the future - these things take time you know) have another Spotify playlist on the go and this time you may actually be interested in following it! Shock horror probe!

The premise, you'll recall, is that each week we focus on one of our loved ones (our spouses and parents) and choose songs we think (or know) they might like. 

First up was a Jacky week (the first 15 songs) and then GK's mum - Joan (who is incidentally the only one of our parents still around). 

Jacky's week made for a challenging start. She is a tough audience. Joan is up this week and I really hope she likes our choices.

You can find the playlist here. Happy listening!

Love and peace - Wozza

She had a kind heart, though that is not of much use when it comes to the matter of self-preservation (Penelope Fitzgerald)

Wie geht's?

Discovering a new favourite author is one of the great joys in life!

Before heading to Brave (a Hastings' wine-bar for an end-of-week drink with colleagues), I waltzed into The Little Red Bookstore and soon spotted a book called The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.

Everything about the book appealed to me - the setting (a seaside town in Britain), a fascinating cast of characters, the cover, and the heft of the book - light and airy but with a 'short-listed for the Booker prize' tagline on the cover.

The first thing I skipped to at random was a lovely description of the town:

The town itself was an island between sea and river, muttering and drawing into itself as soon as it felt the cold.

And the main character, Florence Green, is perfectly described:

She was in appearance small, wispy, and wiry, somewhat insignificant from the front view, and totally so from the back.

It's the kind of book that rewards repeat looks (I am finding I am skipping back to reread passages because the writing is so good and I've glossed over things).

Penelope Fitzgerald is a new one on me and I'm kind of wondering how I've continued to miss her until now (she passed away in 2000 aged 84). 

She appears to have lived a fascinating life (Hermione Lee has written her biography), and I love the fact that she was still a teacher, aged 70.

She wrote nine novels (The Bookshop was her second, published in 1978) and I'll be tracking them all down, post haste!!

I think it's fair to say that I am smitten!

Love and peace - Wozza

You can go ooh-wakka-doo-wakka-day (Gilbert O'Sullivan)

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

The three amigos (me, Greg and Kevy) are preparing for our latest Spotify playlist by researching the musical preferences of our immediate loved ones (spouses and parents).

Luckily, the three of us have a spouse each and two parents each. Greg is luckiest of all because he still has his mother, Joan, around.

The idea is that we each supply clues about what each loved one enjoys/enjoyed. From those clues we each choose 5 songs we think they will/would have liked.

No easy thing!

By no means are each of our targets compulsive/obsessed music fans like us. Only one of them is/was an actual musician - that honour goes to Kevy's dad.

So, the research is taking me WAY out of my musical comfort zone. And so far that only includes our first two loved ones: Jacky and Joan. BTW, this is a good thing!

Finding 5 songs for Jacky was straightforward for me (less so for GK and KS), but Joan is a dilly of a pickle.

As Greg tells us - Joan finds a lot of our rock'n'roll collections appalling! For her, artists like The Seekers, Nana Mouskouri, Roger Whittaker, Trini Lopez, Harry Belafonte, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ray Conniff, Herb Alpert, Peter Posa, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Mike Curb Congregation and The Carpenters had some appeal. 

I suspect the trick is going to be finding the intersection points between the loved one and me as I navigate my way through those Spotify best of lists.

I'll post the link when we kick into it!

Love and peace - Wozza

Blue is the colour, football is the game

Auckland F.C.

Wie geht's?

In praise of Auckland F.C.

Apart from being my birthplace (my mountain is Maungakiekie), Auckland is also the place I played a lot of football (I represented Auckland in youth grade football teams while playing for Eden F.C. and Mt Albert Grammar).

Auckland City is also home to Nu Zild's largest population and some of our teams like The NZ Breakers, The Warriors, and the Auckland Blues.

Sadly, an A-League football team hasn't managed to sustain itself in Auckland.

The Football Kingz (1999-2004), morphing into the New Zealand Knights (2005 - 2007), were both based in Auckland and both failed to establish themselves.

Now we have Auckland F.C. and my hopes are high. I have never been able to embrace the Wellington Phoenix (which grew out of the failed Knights), so I felt a dose of pride when Auckland F.C. kicked off their season with a home win at Mt Smart, recently.

I even decided I needed a replica shirt!* Go Auckland F.C.!

Love and peace - Wozza

It's eerily similar to Rochdale F.C.'s kit.

There's something mystic in the soul connection (Fat Freddy's Drop)

Many are called, but few are chosen.

Wie geht's?

I time travelled back to 1975 yesterday.

Monday afternoon October 21 2024 found me in a staff meeting after school. Four Year 12 students were interviewed for the Head Boy 2025 position. They did really well but I couldn't help that déjà vu feeling.

October 2024 and October 1975 overlapped in my brain and I flashed back to when I was among a bunch of lads being interviewed to be a prefect at Mt Albert Grammar for 1976.

I don't recall the specific questions, but I distinctly remember waiting in the room beside the upstairs staff room (Ron Hemus' room) with the other guys. 

We were individually called up and had to enter the inner sanctum of the staff room. Seated in the middle, the questions were tossed to us by Morrie Hall, the Headmaster.

Now here I was, October 2024, sitting in the staff room at Hastings Boys' listening to four guys giving prepared statements on a variety of questions to the staff, which included me - 49 years after that distant event.

Life seems strange and those numbers make no sense to me. No sense!

Love and peace - Wozza

There but for fortune (Joan Baez)

Wie geht's?

Joan Baez' autobiography - And a Voice To Sing With came out in 1987. I came across it in Arty Bee's for $16 a few weeks ago. Back of the net!! 

I didn't know it existed. But it does. And it's wonderful. The front cover has a pull quote from the Washington Post - A prose voice of rare timbre...a book worth devouring. 

That's no idle boast. She writes as well as she sings!

How about this:

We lived in a beautiful little house across from an open field of hay which was piled into small hills after it was cut. There is a picture of my mother and father straddling their bicycles in front of that field, young and smiling, the sun in their eyes, the wind blowing wisps of hair from my mother's braids, and across my father's forehead.

Wonderful.

Loads of revelations and I've only devoured 100 pages so far. Seems the whole world has been mispronouncing her surname all these years.

As she points out - it's not Buy-ezz, it's more like Bize.

She explains that she gave an interview to Time magazine and explained the correct pronunciation but it still came out wrong and has been pronounced Buy-ezz ever since. Eek.

The book is great - I appreciate her talents even more.

Love and peace - Wozza

What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever (Mary Jo Putney)

Wie geht's?

Mary Jo Putney's quote came to mind as I watched a documentary on NZ musician Martin Phillipps recently. It's called The Chills; The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps. Martin passed away a few months ago.

He is seen in the documentary trying to sort out his toy collection. It's vast and, at the time, he didn't want that burden to fall to his relatives after he passed away. It's pretty sad - not that he collected the toys, that he knew he didn't have long, so he felt that compulsion to provide order to his collection.

He looks and sounds very childlike as he's engaged in this deeply personal exercise. I really felt for him. It was heart-breaking because he was emptying the deeply precious items from his life, but he was also being pragmatic.  

Like everyone, I have a number of books and items from my childhood that I keep. I even have things from my mother's childhood. I couldn't bear to part with any of them. However, they are things that would not have much significance to anyone else. As Martin knew - someone else would look at his collection and dismiss them, but to him they had real significance.

So, while we are here, they remain as an important tangible connection to our past.

I wonder where Martin's toy collection is now.

Love and peace - Wozza

Above the blue and windy sea, when I come home to you, San Francisco your golden sun will shine for me (Tony Bennett)

Wie geht's?

Some great sport happening for me at the moment, and I'm not just talking about Arsenal F.C. in the Premier League.

Being on holiday on a Monday means a chance to overdose on NFL games. There were some beauties this week - some really close games that went down to the last seconds.

The San Francisco 49ers played the Arizona Cardinals in the crazy heat of Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and Brock Purdy was awesome throughout the game, except for the last minute and a half, when he threw an interception.

That means after 5 games the 49ers have won 2, lost 3. Shock horror!!

Steelers (3 and 1) up next versus the Cowboys (2 and 2).

Being a fan of the 49ers is natural, given my love for the city by the bay (and Brock Purdy is the star Quarterback), but Steeler love goes way back to last century - living in Wakefield and the Sivak family. 

Come on Steelers!!

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. Boo hiss - the Steelers also lost in the last minutes of their game (17 - 20). Although neither of my teams looks like Superbowl contenders, it was great to watch those games, and I'll be following their progress closely.

You're beautiful, that's for sure (Nelly Furtado)

Pretty in pink before WOW arts

Wie geht's?

We've had a terrific trip to Wellington to celebrate my birthday (like my kids, I forget how old I am now). 

It's always a great trip to Wellington - Slow Boat Records, Unity Books, and this time we also managed to see The World Of Wearable Arts extravaganza - helpfully on all this week at the TSB Arena.

Windy Wellington never disappoints.

Glad I took the trip, ate the cake, and bought the vinyl!

Love and peace - Wozza

Back then long time ago when grass was green (George Harrison)

Wie geht's?

This fantastic book was a gift from Jade, Chris and Asher. Yes, I may be an easy person to buy for, but still...

Around this time of the year (end of September, start of Rocktober) I always manage to get some fabulous Fab related items.

Even though I don't have a Beatles inspired tattoo (never going to happen) the lure of The Beatles never fades (unlike a tattoo).

So, thanks for keeping the streak going Jade! Love the gift!!

The only other one I have related to the 1964 tour of New Zealand is Eight Days a Week by Graham Hutchins. When We Was Fab (an echo of George's hit - When We Was Fab) is a much bigger book and full of great photos and exhaustive commentary on the Australian/New Zealand part of the 1964 tour.

It goes top of the to-be-read pile!

Love and peace - dad

Dread naught (Winston Churchill)

 

Wie geht's?

This quote from Winston Churchill (written in the early 1930s) has been making me smile all week.

Nature is merciful, and does not try her children, man or beast, beyond their compass. It is only when the cruelty of man intervenes that hellish torments appear. For the rest - live dangerously; take things as they are; dread naught; all will be well.  

I find it oddly reassuring. We don't get more than we can handle in life. Lean in - take things as they come - the future's not ours to see - dread naught, it doesn't change anything if you do - and finally - all will be well.

That quote just makes me feel good - hence the smile.

Love and peace - Wozza

To thine own self be true (Polonius)

Wie geht's?

I have lived a sheltered life. A charmed life. A privileged life.

This I have always known, but being back in the classroom, teaching some English again, has again confirmed that belief.

Especially when students reveal details of their past in writing exercises.

In stark contrast: I had two parents who loved each other, loved me and showed me the way; I had a crystal-clear idea of my bliss from an early age (since the age of 12 I have never had a plan B); I met Jacky and we've been married for 40 years; I have four children who worship me (ha ha - even if they are unlikely to read this blogpost); my rock solid integrity is challenged daily (I won't look the other way) and I have always had a purpose in life.

Actually, on that integrity one - phones are banned in school but, teenagers being teenagers, they all have one. My deal is that if I see it, the student gets a warning that if I see it a second time I will confiscate it.

I was challenged on this recently and I said, "Sorry but I can't ignore it or pretend I haven't seen it. I need to do the right thing". A different student heard me and said, "Wow sir, I've never heard a teacher say that before! That's impressive. You're my idol!!" (I may have added the idol bit).

I had mixed feelings hearing that, but as Polonius says to Laertes - To thine own self be true.

Love and peace - Wozza

He blazed a pick white liberty trail through history's hall of fame (Fess Parker)

Harry S. Truman

Wie geht's?

Ryan Holiday's book Right Thing, Right Now is a rich source of inspiration. While discussing concepts emanating from stoicism, he returns many times to the example of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of The United States of America.

Ryan is certainly a fan. Truthfully, and shamefully, aside from his signing off on the two atomic bombs and that sign on his desk (The buck stops here), I've never thought of Truman much or read about him. But I'm going to change that after Ryan's descriptions.

Truman wasn't a successful businessman, but he was honourable and a man of integrity. He toiled away in obscurity as a senator, but he was honest.

As Ryan notes, "it's one thing to try to keep your hands clean, it's another to manage to do it in a den of thieves."

Truman drew ethical lines and respected the code. It was, for instance, unthinkable for him to be late.

In many ways, it seems, Truman was an ordinary man, but after FDR's stroke, he became President. And I need to know more about him. Not the condensed bios online and not the glossed over ones that centre on his years as President.

To do him justice, I'll need a visit to the Little Red Bookstore, I suspect.

Love and peace - Warren N. Purdy

The eagle laughs at you, just barely walking (Jackie Lomax)

Trees on the right are by the river (magpie in there somewhere)

Wie geht's?

This one is about a magpie that warns me off his patch with a succession of strafing runs.

One of my weekend walks is along a stop bank beside a local river. On one side is pasture land and on t'other - stands of trees.

For the last 5 or so walks I've got about halfway and suddenly seen a magpie sitting high up in the branches, watching me keenly. He has then dive bombed me repeatedly and swooped down, close to my head. Even me flailing around with a stick hasn't deterred him. 

Each time, as I've turned around and walked away, he's given me one final attack run before flying off.

It's pretty scary and I must look like a madman as I take preventative measures.

I know it's his turf, even though it's a public walkway, so I don't want to report him in case he gets terminated with extreme prejudice.

Anyway, enough! Guess I'll just have to find a different walkway.

Love and peace - Wozza

Do the right thing.

Wie geht's? Cool for cats?

I'm loving a new book I picked up recently - Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday, yes the Daily Stoic guy.

It's terrific.

The main message: 

Do what is right.

Do it right now.

For yourself.

For others.

For the world.

Sounds easy? Well, yes...and, no.

Basically, it involves the line between good and evil, right and wrong, ethical and unethical, fair and unfair.

It involves some key decisions:

What you will do.

What you won't do.

What you must do.

How you do it.

Whom you do it for.

What you're willing to give for them.

The first chapter of the book centres on the example shown by Harry Truman and it held me entranced while I read during my Year 10 class' sustained silent reading time today.

Love and peace - Wozza

Happy dad day!

Wie geht's?

Late Sunday night in Nu Zild post.

Let's not talk about sport this time out - All Blacks lost and Arsenal drew. Boo hiss.

Instead, let me tell you about my Fathers' Day spent marking Year 11 and 12 scripts. Actually, let's not talk about that either.

How about Fathers' Day? 

I did get some lovely gifts from Jade - some home baking, a homemade card (signed a.k.a. The Favourite) and a couple of books. Very thoughtful of her, especially as she was heading over to Melbourne and must have been doing a thousand things to get Asher squared away and herself and Chris to the airport.

Thanks Jade - I really appreciated the thought, and the phone call from Australia, too. That was also very thoughtful as you were busy there with Poppy's party at Adam and Ashleigh's place. Nice to know that you spared a thought for your old dad.

Okay, post done. Marking done. Planning for tomorrow done. Back to school tomorrow. Bed time according to Alexa.

Love and peace - dad

The long and winding road that leads to your door, will never disappear - I've seen that road before (The Beatles)

Wie geht's?

Football season is upon us again, with all the usual hope and expectation. 

Arsenal F.C. (officially, the greatest team the world has ever seen) have started this one well enough - 2 wins from 2, but Manchester City are already seemingly imperious and top of the league on goal difference (amazingly, only Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton and City have 2 wins from 2 games).

Early days, yes, but De Bruyne and Haaland (an outrageous freak of the player) are a deadly combo. I watched them destroy poor Ipswich Town.

Hope and expectation, sure, but the season is a long and winding road.

Fingers crossed.

Love and peace - Gooner Wozza

It's ruinous for the soul to be anxious about the future and miserable in advance of misery (Seneca)

Photo by Dibakar Roy on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Recently, I mentioned to Keegan that I start each day with a passage from The Daily Stoic (by Ryan Holiday) and his reaction was along the lines of - reading the stoics is very popular these days. For instance, his close friends and Adam are reading material by Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus etc.

He's not wrong, but the stoics have been popular for a long time. It's had revivals at various points since 300BC - the current popularity is merely the latest.

Stoicism is about experiencing a well-lived life, so it's obvious why it experiences these revivals, and why it's popular now.

The post title above was today's quote. Ryan's commentary is spot on, too - let the news come when it does. Be too busy working to care.

Love and peace - a very busy Wozza

Again renewed by the vessels of Isis you're ready to fly (Steve Hackett)

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Today was a right-off thanks to a migraine. I would have much preferred to be at school.

Thankfully, I don't get them as frequently as Jacky does - this is my second for the year, which is about right.

When I was younger, I got them a lot, starting when I was about 15. I remember the first one pretty distinctly still. I was playing football, and I suddenly couldn't see the ball or the players clearly, thanks to jagged lines in my right eye (it's always my right eye).

An eye test showed I needed glasses (I had to keep playing without glasses until I got contact lenses in my early twenties), and the migraines would be severe and much more frequent than these days. Always started with tingly fingers, then the jagged lines, then the massive headache. A dark room and time were required. Usually, two days later I'd be able to function again.

The trick was always to take some meds as soon as possible and it would help a bit.

These days they are far less scary things. I no longer get the tingling warning, just the half vision. Jacky's migraine meds work quickly but leave me feeling sleepy and foggy for the day (I've now had a sleep, hence being able to write this).

Back into it tomorrow.

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. there are many other migraine sufferers out there - take solace from what my dad, bless him, told me when I was a teenager -intelligent people are more likely to suffer from them. There's no evidence for that, according to Google, but it made me feel better, so I'm sticking with it.

Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes (Cream)

Wie geht's?

I'm in awe at the pursuit of perfection that is Olympic competition. Sport is high drama. Many are called by few are chosen.

The stories of glory and seeming defeat come thick and fast over the Olympic Games weeks - dropped batons/balls/hoops, missed jumps, off timing, human error and so on.

Of course, a lot of focus is on those who have a podium finish - the ultimate symbol of success, and Olympic or even World Records, but I prefer to celebrate any Personal Best (PB).

As the stoics know, in the end, the victory over one's self, the triumph of one's principles is what counts. The satisfaction of not only giving your best but being your best.

As Dame Lisa Carrington says, it's all about a constant pursuit of growth and learning.

So, here's to all of the participants who learnt something about themselves and their skills, who made an incremental forward movement, who bettered their previous best effort. Hurrah!!

My hat goes off to you!

Love and peace - Wozza

Reach out, just look over your shoulder, I'll be there to give you all the love you need (Four Tops)

 

Wie geht's?

Can't beat those Air B'n'B family get togethers!

We've had three so far. First was in Noosa for Jacky's 60th, second was in New Plymouth for Kerry's wedding, and the latest was in Taupo for Keegan and Jennifer's visit.

The photo shows most of the weekend's participants, Chris had to return early for work on Monday.

The chance to relax in each other's company in a house, sharing meals and playing games is a rare one, so all the sweeter.

I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Love and peace - Woz

Come on, people, now it's time to go, go to where a man can dwell (Arlo Guthrie)

Wie geht's?

I'm dipping into Maktub again for this one...

In the Bible...it's God who commands Moses: "Tell the children of Israel to go forward." And only once they have started moving does Moses raise his staff and divide the Red Sea, because only by having the courage to follow a path will the path reveal itself.

This is also the message delivered by Natalie in an episode of Monk, when she says, "Jump and the net will appear". And it's an indirect link to Joseph Campbells' 'Follow Your Bliss' aphorism.

I love this idea, and I've loved the last two weeks of going back to teaching English. One week at Woodford House, and this week at Hastings Boys' High School, where I'll be for the rest of the year. 

Being part of an English department again has proven to me anew what a wonderful bunch of people English teachers are. So helpful, so warm, and so much fun.

This is the current path, and it also explains why we keep failing to win Lotto.

Love and peace - Sir

I know I'll never forget that horrible sight, I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right (Jan and Dean)

Wie geht's?

I've been meaning to write about this for a while. A passage from Maktub made me think back to the night that photo was taken.

There are certain things that are written in our fate, but God somehow manages to get us through them safely. A car accident at this point in your life was clearly there in your destiny, but as you see, everything happened and nothing happened.

Love and peace - Wozza