May the force be with you (Obi Wan-Kenobi)

Wie geht's?

Warning: this one gets a little gushy!

Since being acquired by Disney, Star Wars has become even more of a giant commercial beast with many pros and cons attached. I saw both sides on my visit to the Disneyland Resort (Anaheim) this week.

The set design/staging for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which joins themed areas like Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Frontierland at Disneyland in Anaheim, is amazing beyond words.

Standing underneath a life-sized replica of The Millennium Falcon was a real WHAAAAAAT?? moment. I couldn't help but be awed by the skill and vision of the people who put together the landscape and the authentic props - not that I've ever visited the Black Spire outpost, on the remote frontier planet of Batuu yunnerstan.

The fact that it was raining at the time we were visiting just added a perfect detail to the alien landscape. With many of the people wearing hooded ponchos, it made me feel like an extra in a Star Wars film!

The Star Wars characters wandering the streets of Batuu added a great dimension - whether it be the Mandalorian, R2D2, Chewbacca or storm troopers with Kylo Ren - they each add an effective touch which also suddenly jolts you into a confusing zone of realism. Yes, it was a tad scarey for some (one little kid in a push chair cried as storm troopers and Kylo approached in character).

That's the pro part.

The con (pun intended) is in the type of merchandise being hawked in the shops at Galaxy's Edge. It seems the powers that be have decided their target audience is either those who want to dress up as a Star Wars character (Rey and Lord Vader by far the most prevalent) or else those who want to celebrate the child in their nature (I'm being charitable). I'd call this the Ewok impulse.

T-shirt design was heavily accented towards the young cutesy market too, i.e. not me.

The 'serious' Star Wars collectors (comics, books, models etc) are not really catered for - some busts of Last Jedi era Luke and Darth Vader being the only things I could see that appealed.

Did any of that commercialism detract from my experience? No chance!!

Outside of family reunions in Bury and Brentwood, Galaxy's Edge joins Tintagel Castle and Amoeba Records as the overwhelming WOW moments of my trip.

I absolutely loved it, along with the whole Disney experience.

It is still, and will forever be, the happiest place on Earth!

May the force be with you, always - Adson Purwa (Jedi master)

You really got me (The Kinks)

Wie geht's?

There are so many stories from our adventures in London during the last week but I must share this one about the bookshop on Upper Street. Not a Waterstones, a small independent one called The Book Warehouse, around where the Mountain Warehouse is on that map. 

I always seem to pick up a great book every time I visit, and for bargain prices.

While Jacky nosed around some of her favourite Upper St Stores, I browsed around in the bookshop and found Marc Myers' Anatomy Of A Song. 

The sticker price indicated that it was only 5 quid (reduced from 11 pounds) so, while I did have notes in my wallet, I decided to use the change in my pocket that had built up.

I counted it out for the shop girl, however, I was 60p short - but the shop girl smiled and said, "No problem, that's fine".

Wow. When does that ever happen these days?

So, I walked away with a great book at a great price and a happy face thanks to one simple casual act.

I love Upper Street, Highbury/Islington.

Love and peace - Wozza

Turning and returning to some secret place inside (Berlin)

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Tintagel Castle took my breath away.

Being overwhelmed by an event is something of a rarity for me. But, just like the first time I found Abbey Road and that famous pedestrian crossing, when I approached Tintagel Castle and that bridge to get across, I was utterly gob smacked by the sight.

Then, when I made it over to the ruins, I saw the view north that we've had as a framed picture on our wall for 30 years. I've long imagined the scene, and therefore, have built up a high layer of expectation. That it delivered, and then some, is wondrous. That helps explain my look of contentment.

What an incredible feeling. 

I'll store that away in my wonder compartment.

Love and peace - Woz

P.S. Yep - as the photo indicates it was cold and windy! Perfect!!

Don't know where I'm going 'cause I don't know where I've been (Prince)

Wie geht's?

Being in Dubai for a few days last week reminded me of our times living in Doha and Al Ain.

For instance: the taxi journey to the airport was with a lovely Pakistani driver, who asked me and Jacky where we were from. 'NZ', we said. 'Ar - Kiwis', he said.

Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi taxi drivers in the Middle East love to talk about the NZ cricket team. Their encyclopedic knowledge of players and results always astounds me.

During the journey this taxi driver told me that I looked like Shin Wah.

'Shin Wah?' I said. 'I'm not sure who that is'.

'Yes, Shin Wah. Australian cricketer'.

The penny dropped. 'Arh - you mean Shane Wayne'.

'Yes!' he said - 'Shin Wah. Even your hair is the same'.

'Oh', I said, 'but he was very handsome'.

'Yes', he said. 

'Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!' I said.

Love and peace - Wozza (a.ka. Shin Wah lookalike)

Reality is like a face reflected in the blade of a knife; its properties depend on the angle from which we view it (Venerable Master Hsing Yun)

 

Wie geht's?

Jacky and I are currently in Dubai at the start of our month-long vacation.

Being in a plane from Auckland to Dubai for 17 hours has its moments and repercussions.

As timing would have it, during those 17 hours, we were able to watch the England vs France quarter final live while flying at 35,000 feet in an Emirates A380. 

What a world we live in!

Pity that Tottenham Hotspurs' Harry Kane lost out to Tottenham Hotspurs' Hugo Lloris and therefore football won't be coming home, again, still.

Disrupted sleeping patterns are one repercussion of 17 hours in a plane.

During the flight, we did manage about 6 hours sleep thanks to a sleeping pill, but it's not a very rewarding sleep.

So, at 2.00am on our first Dubai morning we were up watching the final episode of 1899 thanks to Netflix, my computer, and an HDMI cable to our hotel's TV.

Warning - a semi-spoiler is in the next paragraph.

It's been an intriguing 8 episodes but I have to say the final ending really disappointed me. The last episode (The Key) was heading towards a fantastic cathartic ending but then it abruptly deviated into The Matrix territory.

I was left ruing a lost opportunity for the female lead to redeem herself and her prior actions (paradoxically preserving her son's youthful status quo reality via a fake simulation).

Although I ultimately think there is a lost opportunity there, the whole series is mind-bending, mind-blowing and visually stunning. I didn't even mind the dubbing for some characters - even that fitted with the whole reality/fantasy schtick.

So, I recommend you have a go. But maybe not at 2.00 am after a 17 hour flight.

Love and peace - Wozza

The way

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Toward Compostella (Walking the Camino de Santiago) is a terrific book by Hawke's Bay resident, Catharina Van Bohemen.

Serendipitously, I found it a few weekends ago while browsing in Wardini's Books in Havelock North.  Jacky and Michelle had gone dress shopping, I'm not sure where Gavin had headed off too, and I pootled off to browse in Poppy's bookstore - only to find an empty shop!

Are these hard times for bookstores? I don't know - whatever the reason, Poppy's in Havelock North is no more. So I headed instead to Wardini's - a great bookshop a few streets away.

They cater to a wide demographic with young children, teenagers, adults, and niche interests all pretty much covered. I used to buy a lot from them when I was Head of English at Woodford House.

Anyway - I was browsing when I noticed the title - I've long been fascinated by the idea of walking the Camino. Turns out Catharina is a local - a Havelock North resident, which made it interesting for other reasons.

The book is also a beautiful artifact - great cover, lovely design and layout, paper quality is high end, and it's a perfect size - it feels great to hold in your hands!

The dream of walking the Camino like my friend Paul has done a few times was rekindled by Catharina.

One day...

Love and peace - Wozza

Long distance runner, what you standin' there for? Get up, get out, get out of the door (Grateful Dead)

Photo by Arturo Castaneyra on Unsplash

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A recent toe injury has disrupted my pursuit of a 10,000 step-a-day goal.  

I stoopidly dropped some wood on my left foot's big toe while working inside an empty chimney breast, stoopidly, without shoes on my feet.

At the best of times, collecting 10,000 daily steps is harder than you'd think. On a work day, I need to walk at lunchtime and do another meaningful walk to get to that goal. My youthful female colleagues concur with that as they also need two lengthy activities to get to their goals. 

Most work days I don't make it. Usually it's close - around 8,000 to 9,000.

Weekends are easier as I'm explained before, as Jacky and I have got into a good walking routine. Or we had done.

Yes, my stoopidity has set me back. For a week I struggled to put a shoe on, and even had two days off work.

This last week has been slowly but surely better and, although my pace is off, I did do my first 10.000 step day on Friday.

We have one week left of school and then we head overseas, where I'll do a lot of walking. Hopefully I won't be hindered by the injury.

Love and peace - Wozza