London calling to the imitation zone (The Clash)

Some of the many things I love about living in London are the book deals and the number of book stores (yes - still) and the walking to the book stores!!

Recently SWMBO and I have been doing a lot of walking! A LOT OF WALKING. We are averaging about 10 kilometres a day and that has taken us to some wonderful places, both new and older haunts. Many of these places involve stores SWMBO loves AND I can usually find a nearby bookstore! Huzzah!!

On one recent excursion I found A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros in a Foyles store (an excellent 3 books for 2 deal).

It seemed to be appropriate. It's a thoughtful look at, yes, walking. I've bookmarked quite a few pages so far. Some of which I want to address in the blog.

For instance: I loved his mention of Hindu philosophy which distinguishes four stages on the journey through life.

The first stage is the pupil/student/disciple. In the second stage the man becomes the master of the house, married, responsible for a family.

The third stage is where I'm at. 

This stage, that we call the current empty nest years, is the afternoon of his life - it's a 'withdrawal to the forest' stage where he becomes a hermit 'in which through contemplation and meditation he familiarizes himself with what has always lain unchanged within us, waiting for us to awaken it: the eternal self, transcending masks, functions, identities, histories.'

[The final stage of the journey is as a pilgrim - dedicated to travel and endless walking which 'illustrates the harmonization of the nameless Self with the omnipresent heart of the world'. Sounds pretty cool huh.]

I love this idea of awakening things that have lain dormant inside me. There is a real peace attached to that idea and finding them.

I think my recent longing for familiar touchstones of my past is part of this: the return of vinyl; Star Wars Episode 7; The Trigan Empire; London; Arsenal; Disneyland...I could go on.

The phrase 'my happy place' is often used now - it lies within! I'm enjoying exploring it!

Love and peace - Wozza

I can't tell you how much I would like to step into that view (Bill Bryson)

Kindred Spirits - Asher Brown Durand

Wie geht's?

Bill Bryson's two books A Walk in the Woods and Down Under were published together in an omnibus edition called Walkabout. I have read a few of his books before, but not these two, so I gobbled up this edition for a dollar during a closing down sale of a local second hand bookstore in Waipukerau.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is the focus of his Walk in the Woods. During which he writes effusively about the Kindred Spirits painting - which is a heavily idealised view of the woods. The reality of the woods is a different matter.

The description of his walks along part of the AT is a pretty honest one. BB doesn't skimp on the hardships and misery involved at times on the journey, while there is also a wide-eyed euphoric appreciation of the impressive views.

As I read, I couldn't help thinking about my excursion up Mt Tamalpais with Mike Rowbottam and dreams of walking the Camino. 

Hiking along mountain trails, through dense woods, and staying in miserable conditions in cabins with strangers is not my thing. But walking is.

It's interesting reading the book alongside Gary Snyder's The Practice of the Wild. In his essay The Etiquette of Freedom he writes about walking:

Walking is the great adventure, the first mediation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance of spirit and humility.

I'm sure BB would concur.

Back to Synder - Human beings are audacious. They set out to have adventures and try to do more than perhaps they should.

Hence my quest to walk the Camino at some point in the next ten years. It would be audacious but worthwhile in terms of a learning experience.

Snyder again - Some of us have learned much from travelling day after day on foot over snowfields, rockslides, passes, torrents, and valley floor forests, "putting ourselves out there".

I'm halfway through A Walk in the Woods, and BB has yet to share revelations about what he's learned about himself. As I read on, I'll be looking out for some specific reference to that.

Love and peace - Wozza

Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me; where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops - that's where you'll find me (Billy Thorpe version)

Air New Zealand's DC8 service to Sydney in the sixties

Wie geht's?

As you know from that previous post, I have just returned from Australia. Our family holiday in Oz was the first one in some while.

Outside of visiting Aussie airports in transit to elsewhere, the last time I had an actual family holiday there was in 1973 with mum, dad, and Ross.

I know it was 1973 because I bought a slew of albums back to NZ, like Led Zeppelin's Houses Of The Holy.

Prior to that '73 family holiday we had also gone to Sydney in the sixties - 1965 or 1966 (I was 8 or 9, Ross 6/7) and 1968 or 1969 (I was 11 or 12).

Ross and I are vague on the exact dates. In my head we were there 1966 and 1969 as well as 1973 but it could be a year earlier.

Each time we stayed in Kings Cross (sic). I'm not sure why. Maybe the central location or the rail links? Maybe Burroughs Wellcome had an office close by?

My randomly compiled memories of those three trips:

• Flying into Sydney and seeing red dirt and brown grass alongside the runway.
• Getting off that DC8 in 1965/66 and walking across the tarmac and seeing groups of American soldiers on R'n'R from Vietnam.
• Walking around Kings Cross - seeing that famous El Alamein Fountain, dad buying and enjoying Grissini Breadsticks (exotic)
• Visiting the David Jones department store and buying Dinky toys/Hot Wheels and vinyl (Sgt. Pepper's, Deep Purple's Made in Japan, Moody Blues' Seventh Sojourn, Houses of the Holy among them).

David Jones department store

• Catching underground trains (Underground Trains!!!), walking down the slope to the platform and seeing that donut making machine in the window and eating hot fresh cinnamon donuts from a bag. Whaaaat???
• Walking across the Harbour bridge
• A trip out to Bondi Beach
• Boat ride across Darling Harbour to Taronga Park Zoo.
• Visiting the Blue Mountains and the cable car ride, we visited a colleague of dad's at their house on that bit as well.
• Having a special fish lunch with dad in a large restaurant that (I think) was part of a large department store. Mum took Ross (he's allergic fish) off somewhere else.
• Ross enjoying a visit to the cockpit of the plane (pretty sure that happened - to get a stamp or a signature from the pilots I think - different times in the sixties)
• Broken bottles cemented in around the top of a wall acting as an effective deterrent but come on - broken bottles!!
• A bad flight back from that 1973 visit - put me off flying for a long time!
• Wanting to watch The Beatles Yellow Submarine on the TV but mum insisted we were going out for a walk! I was not happy! The Beatles on TV! The agony.
• Eating exotic cereals like Fruit Loops and Cocoa Puffs.
• Watching different channels on TV. Watching cartoons on TV. Whaaaat? (Australia was like Disneyland for us - so many things we didn't have at home in Royal Oak).

Why did all of those distinct (hopefully accurate) memories pop into my head? Apart from the family holiday, I managed to pick up copies of Billy Thorpe's two books. The first of which is called Sex and Thugs and Rock'n'Roll: A Year in Kings Cross 1963 - 1964.

Given we were on a family holiday in Kings Cross at roughly the same time as Billy Thorpe was getting his career started there, albeit in a totally different Kings Cross to that one we were experiencing, it evokes many memories - all good (apart from that flight back in 1973).

Weird really - our totally innocent, NZ, super straight, conservative, nuclear family must have looked incredibly alien to the usual inhabitants of the Cross. I sensed this at the time. There were those soldiers from Vietnam for a start. They weren't there to shop at David Jones and visit Taronga Park Zoo. No sir! I was also aware of adult entertainment happening in the area - hard not to be when The Pink Pussycat and Les Girls are adding to the scenery.

But, we were so young and innocent. The sixties were happening around our family bubble - we weren't immersed in it at all. Seeing men and women cuddling and kissing in public wasn't something we ever witnessed in Auckland.

Although we were at an impressionable age, Ross and I were just kids, enjoying the new-ness of flying overseas in giant planes and experiencing the huge city that we found ourselves in. 

I mean: multiple television channels!! Wowsers!

Love and peace - Wozza

Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain (Gerry Marsden)

Tukituki River on the right.

Wie geht's?

The joy of walking has been a topic for me a few times before.

The study break has given me a great opportunity to walk with Jacky. I cherish those moments.

At work, I walk around the Hastings' Mitre 10 Sports' Park each lunchtime. Or, at least, that's my aim, weather and meetings allowing. I enjoy that - it's a chance to appreciate life while taking a break from work and getting exercise. My current record is 21 minutes around the park. But it's no where as good as walking with Jacky.

Paradoxically, living in the country doesn't allow for much walking. Generally, roadsides are dangerous with cars travelling at speed, and there are often no tracks or footpaths. We do walk to the local Four Square in Takapau but that's not very far away and various dogs line the route.

So, most days during the break we have driven the 12 minutes to Waipukarau to use the walking/cycling track beside the river. We've tried both directions and settled on a 30 minute there and back to the area by the recycling centre. 

Our pace matches well, although Jacky can walk faster than I can. Her top speed is my slow jog! So, like much in life (and marriage), we compromise and settle into a great rhythm and zip along nicely. 

With the study break now finished, it's back to lunch time walks and the cross trainer when I can, until December.

But, I'll miss our daily walks.

Love and peace - Wozza

We should take wandering outdoor walks (Seneca)

Wie geht's?

I'm with Seneca!

Walking is good for many things. When I walk I am more aware of my surroundings, and more conscious of my thoughts and my breathing.

Recently, we watched She Said - a movie on Netflix (highly recommended btw) about two New York Times reporters investigating Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse of women, Woodward and Bernstein style. There is a lot of walking around involved and an important moment is when Ashley Judd (appearing as herself) makes a key decision after going for a run.

In the past, if I've felt stressed or overwhelmed, I've taken a walk. If I've had a tough problem to solve or a key decision to make, I've taken a walk (Nietzsche says that it is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth).

If I've needed to clear my head or had to make an important phone call, I've taken a walk.

Apart from that, it's about the only exercise I can do these days (running days are long gone), Jacky and I have good discussions on our walks, and I have found that it frees up my back pain quite well too.

I have certainly missed doing it on the painting days of late, and winter weather makes it a bit more difficult to be motivated to put on my walking shoes, but those are only barriers if I let them be.

Love and peace - Wozza

The way

Wie geht's?

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

Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are and doing things as they ought to be done (Josh Billings)

Photo by Thom Milkovic on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

The end of this week sees the start of a study break. The last two weeks have been really challenging in terms of maintaining my energy levels.

That said, I did manage to go for my first lengthy walk during the last week. As I've been getting physio on my left Achilles for the last six months, any lengthy walk hasn't been part of my routine this term.

Over those six months, the lack of walking has had an effect on my fitness (physical and otherwise), so getting back into it just before the study break was huge for me. 

The fact that I can walk and let go of thinking while I'm at school allows me to sort things without effort. Katrina, a colleague at Woodford in 2013, suggested the walking at lunchtime idea to improve staff fitness. Walking out of the school gates and heading up a beautiful suburban street (Kopanga Rd) was definitely an awesome way to spend the odd lunchtime.

Now I find myself across the road from Woodford House, at Iona College, and freakishly, I can use that same walk again to get some fresh air and some non-thinking time.

In the meantime, I'll be beating a regular path to Takapau's Kintail honey factory for two weeks.

Love and peace - Wozza

The first meditation

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

This one is about sleep and walking. Seemingly, two distinctly different activities. Not so.

Haruki Murakami says: 'Sleep both calms and provides a discharge for thought circuits...Sleeping is an act that has been programmed, with karmic inevitability, into the human system, and no one can diverge from it, the person's very "ground of being" would be threatened'.

Last night's sleep was restless and fitful. I couldn't get comfortable at all and this morning my back is sore. My 'ground of being' was disrupted and jolted.

The remedy, according to me, is a long walk.

Gary Snyder says: 'Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance of spirit and humility.'

I hear the magpie walk calling me.

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm gonna keep on walkin', till I find my way back home (Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee)

Still reading Waging Heavy Peace (slowly- it's so good!) and ole Neil's a keen walker. I love Neil Young - he's so funny, and wise!

Anyway he's a keen walker and I miss walking. Except I think he means hiking. I'm not so much a hiker but I love walking. Are you keeping up?

So... this post is going to celebrate some of my favourite walks.

Place: Leigh-on-sea (Essex) - the walk from our place in Western Road to the shops (Fives! I really miss Fives - one of my favourite record stores) - beautiful gardens and views.

Place: Leigh-on-sea (Essex) - the walk from our place in Western Road to Rayleigh Castle - beautiful views of the Thames estuary.

Place: Dubai - specifically The Dubai Mall - I loved walking around it, visiting the Virgin Mega Store and the great bookshop close by.

Place: Doha (Qatar) - from our place down past the Souq Waqif, along the corniche to the City Centre Mall.

Place: London  - the embankment - war memorials, views of the Thames, the London Eye, Westminster, St Tommys, the Cathedral. Sometimes we'd do the Charing Cross - Mall - St James' Park to Westminster walk and that was amazing as well - squirrels. I miss the squirrels!

Place: Taupo (NZ) - the Lion walk with the kids from the Taupo house. A loop that took in a Rainbow Point ice cream.

Place: London - from Leicester Square tube station to Covent Garden and Fopp (I really miss Fopp - another of my favourite record stores)

Place: Wuxi - the botanical gardens after biking there from our place. Spectacular gardens.

Sadly, even though we live out in the beautiful Central Hawke's Bay countryside, we currently have no regular walks around us. Our place to Otane shops does not appeal. 

This is a real pity. I love to walk!

Love and peace - Wozza

Jacky came, she went away, deep in the valley I kissed her that day (Exponents)

Jalal is now 700Kms from Makkah (as at the 14th of January). He has about a week of walking to go.
For the full Gulf News story on his progress - http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/bin-thaneya-weathers-odds-to-reach-destination-on-time-1.965514

One of his comments particularly interested me:

"When you live in cities, you realise people don't walk any more. In fact, walking today has become almost an unnatural activity." The more he walks alone in places where no one walks, the more he realises that this is a limited period privilege. 

Having just returned from a shortish walk to my local mall to grab some phone credit and a morning tea, I'd have to agree.
The walk takes about 30 minutes there, 30 minutes back. It's a pleasant waste of time via lots of trees and a good footpath. The temperature is a pleasant sunny 29 degrees. Certainly not a deterrent.

I saw no one else walking apart from a couple of workers with wheelie bins picking up rubbish. I got strange looks from drivers and the taxis all slowed down to check out if I wanted a ride but I saw no other walkers.

Jalal continues to be a real source of inspiration to me. He was held up for two days recently when his walk was stopped by Saudi officials. Luckily sense prevailed and he was allowed to continue his charity walk after two days of wrangles.

Think about this for a while - on a 2,000 Km walk he is stopped 750 Km short of his goal and told he can't continue. Imagine you are him - what would you be feeling? How would you react?

The mind boggles but Jalal, I'm sure, took this in his stride (sorry 'bout that)!

Love and peace - Wozza
                  

Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y'hear? (Flatt and Scruggs)

Fascinations (You may say I'm a dreamer - Chapter 8 - part 2 - moving pictures)

If I wasn't in my bedroom reading, and you were looking for Warren in the early years at 18 Korma Ave., Royal Oak, Auckland, the best bet was to go to the lounge where the television lived.

Our family was among New Zealand's pioneer TV addicts.

As I entered deeper into teenager-hood, NZ television in the seventies expanded into two channels, and colour. Eventually, video recorders were introduced. Then a third channel! 

Oh WOW - I could now record my favourite shows and films over three channels! Technology! Bliss!

But I'm getting slightly ahead of myself.

As a young padowan, I quickly established some favourites. Mum and I loved Coronation St. We watched it off and on and the show just kept getting better so we kept watching. 

Somehow, I could identify with these characters from the north west of England. Albert Tatlock seemed like he was a grumpy caricature of my grandad, Deedoo; Ena Sharples of my grandma. The stories kept going and so we felt like we lived with and knew these people. 

My love of the Street has only waned in the last decade - since we started travelling and the continuity of the show got all screwed up (NZ was behind the UK by years at some points).

I've always loved westerns: The Big Valley; Gunsmoke; Bonanza; The High Chaparral; Alias Smith and Jones. Westerns were everywhere on television when I was growing up. 

It had all started with The Lone Ranger, on the radio, on the TV and as a comic. The Sunday morning requests often played the legend of The Lone Ranger so it wasn't just me hunkered down in the bed at 18 Korma Avenue who was a fan! Then it was a TV show and I was there too with a hearty Hi Ho Silver!

Then SitComs came along like: M*A*S*H*; WKRP in Cincinatti; Taxi; Get Smart; The Beverly Hillbillies; Hogan's Heroes; Andy Griffith Show; Green Acres; Petticoat Junction; Dad's Army.

SciFi like: Lost in Space; Time Tunnel;  The Prisoner captured my imagination in the evening.

Cartoons like: Yogi Bear; Huckleberry Hound; Tom and Jerry; The Jetsons, and animations like: Thunderbirds; Joe 90 were on in the afternoon. I couldn't resist.

In the later evening slots could be found dramatic action cop and detective shows like: Columbo; Ironside; Starsky and Hutch; McLeod; Hawaii Five-O.

But wait, there were also spy dramas like: Mission: Impossible; The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and comedy skit shows like: The Carol Burnette Show; Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Films were also a huge part of the content available to me on early New Zealand television.

Black and white and old films! But did I care? No I did not care. I did not have the consciousness to care. I had nothing to compare things to.

So when the Gangbusters movie or any Marx Brothers movies came on TV we watched them (every time). My dad loved them, so when one came on, we all watched. It was just a thing. 

The thing is - anyone of my vintage will have had the same viewing experiences and instantly recognise those shows and films. There wasn't much choice!

Things weren't much better at the movies.

With no multi-plex cinemas out in the malls, we had to go into town (Queen Street) to see new release films or maybe Greenlane (the Victory) or Mt Eden (the Lido or the Crystal Palace) to catch an older movie.

I have a strong memory of going to the Victory cinema in Greenlane with mum and Ross. Dad met us after work and we all went in to watch a colour print (Oh.My.Gosh. Colour!) of Marx Brothers A Day at the Races.

Apart from the colour aspect, going to the cinema to see a new movie was a real treat. When our birthdays rolled around in October, Ross and I could pick a film and mum would take us into Queen Street to see it.

I mostly picked pulp westerns like The Scalphunters, Villa Rides, Bandolero, or John Wayne's El Dorado.  

It was a great feeling - walking into the Civic or the St James to see a film. First I'd linger by the posters and the showcards advertising the film. Then, a snack and a drink. Buying the ticket. Walking past the ticket collector. Walking into the palace. Taking our seat. Exciteable boy, waiting. God Save The Queen as we all stood up. A cartoon. The main feature.

It was all exquisite.

Going to a movie now is no big deal. The cinemas are more comfortable but lack any kind of atmosphere. Such a shame. 

Unless it's the Screen On The Green, in Upper Street (North London) that is!!

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

Wie geht's?

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

To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream; not only plan, but also believe (Anatole France)

The family is currently spread over the globe, in 4 different countries: Samantha is in the California Republic (SF to be precise);Adam and Ashleigh are in Melbourne; Keegan, SWMBO, and I remain in NZ; and Jade's in Peru! 

Very exciting news! We heard that Adam got a great job in Australia involved in music promotion. Great persistence, perseverance and courage!

Recently, in other exciting news, Samantha produced Creep, a film that won a short film award:



...And, in keeping with the very exciting vibe I've got going - Jade is currently touring Peru with William, on their way to walking the Inca Trail. 

Here's a couple of excerpts from her emails:

1 Went to the Plaza de Armas which was amazing! We arrived just in time for what looked like changing of the guards Peru style. A lot of horses and trumpets. Lots of photos for mum.

We had lunch at the oldest remaining restaurant from colonial times... I do not recommend. Coke was good. Luma cathedral was again amazing.

But the highlight of the day was the San Francisco monastery. The catacombs were airy and our tour guide was brilliant. I think he took a shining to us as we must have looked awestruck.

We also mastered the metro...who needs Spanish!  We were full but he kept making all the stops! I thought of dad a lot during the journey. 

2 We went to Museo Larco which was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
and then we had dinner in the museum restaurant which was a much needed meal... we've been surviving on homemade sandwiches to keep costs low.

Today we have flown to Cusco nestled up at 3399m. Lima was a typical city and I was afraid the whole trip was going to be like it. Boy was I wrong, cusco is gorgeous! History and old buildings everywhere! Very excited to explore!

The flight was smooth and nil turbulence with incredible views of the Andes.  

William is very happy but got puffed walking up a flight of stairs... I was fine (fingers crossed that continues).

So...as I said - exciting! So glad all the preparation, saving, planning, waiting has paid off for the chuldrun.

To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream; not only plan, but also believe (Anatole France).

Love and peace - Dad 

I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now I'm telling you (The Beatles)

My new walking shoes

Wie geht's?

Want to know the best way to stay healthy? The best advice comes from Hsing Yun:

Eat less. Walk more.

Right on maan!

I'm embracing this by cutting down on the cinnamon donuts from Little Frimley Kitchen (note well: cutting down, not giving up - I'm not insane) and walking at lunchtimes around the Hastings' Sports Park with other staff.

Feeling healthier already!

Love and peace - Wozza

Side by side we wait the might (Led Zeppelin)

While watching The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, I was again struck by its similarities to Star Wars.

George Lucas was clearly influenced by the Tolkien fantasies. It was nice to notice how Peter Jackson has in turn been influenced by Star Wars. After the Emperor is killed in Return Of The Jedi, Luke removes his father's mask and says, "I've got to save you'. To which Anakin replies, 'You already have, Luke'. Almost the same dialogue in Return Of The King before King Theoden dies and Eowyn says 'I'm going to save you'. Theoden replies, 'You already did'.

Here are some other connections that I found from a Google search.

Star Wars	Lord of the Rings
Yoda	Gollum (greenish, pointy-eared, raggedy midget with a speech impediment)
Obi-Wan and Luke's lightsabers glow blue. Darth's lightsaber glows red.	Gandalf and Bilbo's magic swords glow blue. The Balrog's magic sword flames red.
Obi-Wan Kenobi	Gandalf
Darth Vader	The Witch-King
Emperor Palpatine	Sauron
Obi-Wan digs Anakin's lightsaber out of an old wooden box, gives to Luke	Bilbo digs his magic sword out of an old wooden box, gives to Frodo
Darth cuts off Luke's hand, which plunges into the abyss with Luke's lightsaber	Gollum bites off Frodo's finger, which plunges into the abyss with the One Ring
Yoda foretells the future, and Luke must decide whether to help his friends or not. Yoda warns that he's seen only one possible future.	Galadriel foretells the future, and Sam must decide whether to help his friends or not. Galadriel warns that she's seen only one possible future.
Darth tries to convince Luke to join the dark side, thereby bringing order to the galaxy	Saruman tries to convince Gandalf to join the evil wizards, thereby bringing order to Middle Earth
Mysterious figure throws back hood of robe to reveal that he's Obi-Wan	Mysterious figure throws back hood of robe to reveal that he's Gandalf
Luke: "I shouldn't have come, I'm endangering the mission." (Because Darth can sense him)	Glorfindel: "It is you, Frodo, and that which you bear that brings us into peril." (Because Sauron can sense the One Ring)
Luke watches from across a chasm as his mentor Obi-Wan duels with Darth Vader using blue and red lightsabers	Frodo watches from across a chasm as his mentor Gandalf duels with a Balrog using blue and red flaming magic swords
Heros are walking through a forest when they're surprised by ewoks, captured at spear-point, then taken to a village in the trees	Heros are walking through a forest when they're surprised by elves, captured at arrow-point, then taken to a village in the trees

I have been fascinated by the concept of the hero's journey for a long time. It's why I love road movies so much.

The hero's journey is a great concept from one of my own great heros - Joseph Campbell. He traces a number of stages in the journey that can easily be related to Frodo Baggins in The Lord Of The Rings and to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars episodes 4 to 6.

1. THE ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history (Luke on Tattoine and Frodo in the Shire). Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress (Luke initially rejects Obi Wan's idea of becoming a Jedi but wants to get away to the academy and Frodo is comfortable with life in the shire but envies Bilbo's previous adventures).

2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change. Luke has to deal with the death of his uncle and aunt. Frodo is left the lord of the rings by Bilbo.

3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead. Sam wants to return to the Shire after they get to Rivendell. C3PO is constantly reminding Luke and others of the dangers ahead.  

4. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.Yoda and Lady Galadriel are the obvious mentors met along the way.

5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values. Frodo makes the decision to take the ring to Mount Doom and thereby creates the fellowship. Luke has to rescue the princess on the Death Star.

6. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World. Frodo uses Gollum as a guide and has to deal with the giant spider and is then captured by the Orcs. Luke has to free his friends and then confront Darth Vader to become a Jedi.

7. APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world. For Frodo it is destroying the ring, Luke must destroy the Death Star. 

8. THE ORDEAL. Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life. Luke confronts himself and learns the ways of the force in the Dagobah system with Yoda. Frodo decides to leave the fellowship and confront his greatest fears - the Ringwraiths, the Witch-King and that giant spider (ick).

9. THE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again. Frodo loses the ring when captured by the Orcs but regains it from Sam. Luke allows himself to be captured on Endor and loses his light sabre but reagains it from the Emperor.

10. THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission. This is effectively where the movies have to end. Frodo chucks the ring into the molten lava and Luke destroys the new Death Star after the Emperor is killed. There is no emotional room after these climaxes for a resurrection.

11. THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. This final test has become a cliche in horror films where the poor hero has to overcome one more final attempt on their life. In most films, though, Star Wars and TLOTR included, the climax is reached and then we move straight to the coda.

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed. Frodo decides to leave the Shire, after finishing his book, and goes off on fresh adventures with Gandalf. Luke has 'saved' his father and is ready for new challenges. Unfortunately George hasn't yet go around to episodes 7, 8, and 9 (they were initally planned).

Phew - a lengthy post this one with it's own coda:

I wrote in the previous post that those movies didn't make me miss NZ and I should have explained why they didn't.

Those Middle Earth (a.k.a. New Zealand) scenes in The Two Towers of misty mountains, snowy ranges, green pastures, rocky outcrops etc are etched into my memories, filled away in drawers labelled 'wonder'. Like William Wordsworth, it only takes a little effort for me to access those files. I carry them with me.

Love and peace - Wozza

Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone, whenever we're together, that's my home (Billy Joel)

This posting will be the final Jalal bin Thaneya update as he reached the end of his mammoth walk from Al Ruwais to Makkah on Sunday.

He's certainly one inspirational character.

Here are some quotes from the last news story in the Gulf News (http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/experience-has-changed-me-bin-thaneya-says-1.974181).

"This experience has given me a different understanding of myself. When I set off on the walk, I thought I was capable but now I am confident," he said. Self-confidence and the belief in one's ability to make a difference in this world, he says, are crucial. Not just for him but for everyone.

As life has it, transient circumstances can deflect your focus along the journey. Look what happened to him: Only a few hours before this, as he neared Makkah, the 50 days of walking were culminating in a disorienting feeling like he had just left an "operation theatre".

Physical fatigue and mental alertness on permanent auto-pilot had taken their toll on him. He couldn't wear sunglasses, he was walking in Ihram and the distance was playing tricks. "It was extremely painful, the last stretch."

His body was running on minimal instinct and his mind was taut with anticipation. But the moment he began his Umrah, the chimera of circumstance vanished like mist on a sunny morning. Such, says Bin Thaneya, is the power of belief.

Now that's writing you don't see everyday. When was the last time you read an article that included the phrase 'chimera of circumstance'?

Jalal at journey's end in Makkah.

Anyway - asant Jalal and enjoy your well earned rest.

Love and peace - Wozza