Love when you can, cry when you have to, be who you must, that's a part of the plan (Dan Fogelberg)

Wie geht's?

Feels like Back To The Future at our place in Takapau.

We've been clearing up overhanging trees in the horse paddocks and my thumbs are sore and my body feels like it does after doing this like of work - sawing branches, totting them to a burn pile.

Good news is the process of tidying has begun! Which means the end is in sight!

Picture hanging has been going on for a few days now, more to do, and I've also finished making new shelves for ARF (Abbey Road Four) and sorted out the vinyl.

Next steps are reliant on our shipment from the UK arriving - should be by the end of the week with any luck. 

Pictures to come!

Love and peace  - WNP

Sisters are doing it for themselves!

Wie geht's?

Big sister Fanfa was in Palmerston North recently, visiting Jade, William, and Asher. It was a great visit and we loved catching up!

Speaking of Asher. I loved a recent message from Jade saying, "Asher had a terrible night. Then in the morning he had the audacity to yawn. What. A. Jerk."

Yeah, so, I know how that feels Jade...

Looks like an angel...

...yawn.

Love and peace - Big daddy

It's a family affair (Sly and the Family Stone)

Wie geht's?

I'm sure Asher will love these pictures in the years to come!

Love and peace - WNP

It just might be a one shot deal (Frank Zappa)

Latest reading pile

Wie geht's?

Although my reading output has slowed markedly since school started three weeks ago, the current crop of books is back up to 6 books and is interesting in its makeup. Well, I think so!

Without trying too hard, I've accumulated four female authors and two male. That's pretty cool. Well, I think so!

How's this rad beat poem I've wrote based on those there book titles:

Let's be frank

To keep Frank Zappa, 
the aspidistra by nature, 
flying wild,
you have to throw away 
unopened
the cost of living because, 
all that's left to know about the father of invention 
is lost and gone away.

Love and peace out - Abu Keegan

And my mother's eyes are with me in the chilly winds of autumn (Bette Midler)

DMP, 1976

Wie geht's Jeanette and Patrick?

Mothers' Day has rolled around again in Nu Zild.

Jade's first. LOML's 34th. Dulcie Mary Purdy's 61st.

Although the joy of Asher and Jade's new status has now become a welcome feature of Mothers' Day, there's always a twinge of sadness for me as each one reminds me of what I don't have. 

Not being alone in this is not really a comfort.

Every day starts with me looking at their photo beside my bed and saying hi to both my parents. I miss them both, so much sometimes I ache.

Again - not alone. Again - not a comfort.

Each of us have to negotiate this. Jeanette understands this.

My thoughts were also with our friend Patrick for this one as he recently lost his mother. Before we left London, he gave us a Mothers' Day card to deliver for him.

Sadly, his mother passed away before the day rolled around. But, I still have the card. Unopened. I'll keep it for him. He may want it back some day.

Love and peace - Warana

It's a long way to where I'm going (The Little River Band)

Eastend cafe's entrance, Wairoa

Wie geht's?

Currently, I'm sitting, typing this, in a hotel in Gisborne, New Zealand. The Emerald Hotel. It's opposite the police station. And Burger Wisconsin. I had dinner there about an hour ago. A Great American with fries and a Cola. Tasted great! I'm here in Gisborne on school business. I've never been to Gisborne before. Ever. It's pretty big. It has an airport, apparently. The main shopping street reminds me of Keri Keri or Whanganui. The drive was loooooong from Waipukurau. And twisty turny. Low on traffic volume. High on road work delays. There's always a price to pay. I stopped off at Wairoa for a caffè mocha and a muffin along the way. The Eastend Cafe. The muffin was outrageously good. All sticky topping and berry insides. Mocha and service were spot on too (thanks Terese for the heads up). The road to Wairoa and then Gisborne has some spectacular scenery. In England there would be thousands of people. Shops. Tour buses. Souvenir stands. Fun palaces. But this is Wairoa. It looks depressed. Gisborne is a long way away when you're in Wairoa. So is Napier. But Eastend Cafe is well worth a visit! Turn right before the bridge.

Love and peace - Asher Purdy-Hodge's g-dad

We gonna come together, we gonna celebrate, we gonna gather 'round, like it's your birthday (Sons Of Leon)

Wie geht's?

Apart from being Labour Day (appropriately for Jade), May 1 is my grandson's birthday. Significantly, he shares it with Alexander Hleb, Belarusian footballer, who once played for Arsenal F.C.

My 366 Days Of Wisdom book had this as the lesson for the day:

The abode of fishes is the sea
The abode of birds is the forest
The abode of people is their home

Among the songs playing on my ipod (a.k.a. Radio Wozza) in the Purdmobile as I pootled down to Palmerston North to see the new family were:

• Miracle Of Life (Yes)
• Birthday (Sons Of Leon)
• Autumn's Child (Captain Beefheart)

Smiling down on me as I drove were his great-grandparents. I'm going to enjoy telling him about Dulcie and Graham.

Love and peace - WNP