Fun fun fun 'til her daddy takes the T-bird away (The Beach Boys)

Wie geht's?

The second and final draft post that was found quietly residing in my blog's musty attic. Mysteriously, this flashback to 2011 was never posted!

Very strange, because, as you can tell from the post, I loved working with these people and John's farewell was a terrific get together.

Return with me, then to yesteryear:

This week has been about farewells. The Qatari leadership group, that I've been helping to present to, finishes on Thursday. So it's goodbye to them. 

It's also goodbye from him (my colleague John Lambert). Super Johnny (aka Sterling Moss for his driving ability) has been brill and I'll miss him heaps. He's funny, wise, got great stories, knows everything you need to know about Doha, and has forgotten more about leadership strategies than you've had hot dinners, if you know worrimean).

Without fear, he also belts out a mean version of Release Me to crowded rooms of Qataris!!

We had a farewell dinner for him at his favourite watering hole and recreational centre - the Doha golf club. Here we are in all our glory telling tall tales and true.

Yes that's the Woz on the left - Colin (Al Zaeem) - John (Sterling) - Karin (aka Barbie) - Lawrence (Larry). We're in the no smoking corner. Ha ha!

Love and peace - Wozza

46 steps

Wie geht's?

Recently, I somehow clicked onto a section of the blog and found a few really old drafts of posts that I had never finished!

Here's the first one: a poem of all things. Wohsers!!

Written about leaving Patrick Cameron and Randy Buckley's house in north London a few years ago. Enjoy.

The Shire

And then we finally left,

taking the 46 downward steps,

and leaving Ferntower north,

the house and it's occupants,in peace.

The shire settled back down,to its routines and obligations.

Mr Patel sold one less Guardian a day,

the Paradise fish bar sighed,

The Acoustic, the two hour dry cleaner, and the Tesco Express:

all waved adieu,

as the number 73 heaved itself towards King's Cross 

and the Piccadilly line
and the journey towards Heathrow.

Love and peace - Wozza

Birthday - I would like you to dance (The Fabs)

Wie geht's?

Yes, you're right - two Wozza's Place posts in a row. That's because Jade is 28! Today!!!

So happy birthday to the youngest of the Purdy kids! It's been a big year. A massive year. One we won't forget in a hurry. Jade has taken everything in her stride and continued on her mature and self-assured way.

Love and peace - Dad

Look who's coming round the bend (from About A Boy)

Adam's first - Mt Eden, Auckland 1986

Wie geht's?

Short post this time out - I am attending a meeting of other OneSchool Global Principals in Auckland and it was an early start!

So, this random walk down memory lane to get us in the festive mood will have to suffice. It's that time of the year when kids reveal their secrets to Santa right!

Rituals are good! Looking forward to Asher's first!

Jade's first: Nelson 1991

Love and peace - WNP

Something tells me you're here with me (Train)

Wie geht's?

Have to report a tearful moment in the Purdmobile on my daily commute recently.

Been thinking about my mum and dad a lot of late (see the next post on Goo Goo G'Joob) and a live version of Train's When I Look To The Sky came on Radio Wozza. 

'Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with meAnd I can always find my way when you are here

Never fails to get me.

Then I read this poem today and it happened again.

Briefly Here and there some scrap of beauty gets snatched from this or that: One child’s voice rising above the children’s choir. A few wild notes of laughter passing through the open window of a passing car. That pink handkerchief waved at the parade. The tiny Nile-blue tile broken at the edge of the mosaic —all shining accident and awe. And this last second or two of dreaming in which your face returns to me completely. Not even needing to be, being so alive again to me. Laura Kasischke (2011) Beautiful Laura. Thanks. Love and peace - your eldest.

Let them eat cake (Marie-Antoinette)

Jade, Gavin, G Brian, Mabelle, Jacky, me and William at Salt, NP, for Brain's 80th.

- Wie geht's?

Home again, safe and sound from G Brian's big do.

- Say what? Weren't you in Nu Plimf for an 80th recently?

Ha! Yep - that was the mother-in-law. This one is for the Minister of Defence - the father-in-law: G Brian Smith (Smithy).

- I see, all went well with the outlaws?

Sure did. Asher had a baby sitter and was a perfect grandson. Rest of the crew on deck were well behaved too.

- Got in a visit to Vinyl Countdown, I hope.

Alas, no. Pity, but was good catching up with family and I did buy Springsteen's new album from The Warehouse when Jacky needed to buy a dog coat for Rey.

-Don't say: How is the Ceviche tonight?

Do Say: These pretzels are making me thirsty!

Love and peace - Wozza

I should be on that train and gone, I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone (The Monkees)

Wie geht's?

Box of fluffies - thanks for asking!

This one's about Radio Wozza Wozza Wozza.

It plays on my ipod during the daily commute along Highway 50 to Hastings and the OneSchool Global site. Remember?

Recently I ditched all the music on it from the UK and started again. Aim: all killer, no filler.

So I concentrated on loading all my Greatest Hits albums and then my favourite albums of all time.

Woh Nelly!!! It. Is. Awesome.

But anyway, as I pootled along today a Monkees song came on as I charged downward towards Maraekakaho.

Specifically, What Am I Doing Hangin' 'round, sung brilliantly by Mike Nesmith.




Instantly, and for an fleeting instant, I was back in the Auckland Town Hall earlier this year, sitting with my mates Gregarious and the Kevinator, watching Mike and Mikey.

Sheer bliss; big grin on my face. Did I sing along? Oh boy oh boy, did I!!

Love and peace - Wozza