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