Senses working overtime #553

1 First week of the summer holidays

If I Google 'Summer Holidays', it's amazing how many images default to beach scenes and 'Summer reading' is all about pictures of people reading at the beach!

My version is without standing water (although a water tank is just visible behind the hedging) and includes Laney and Rey (Jerry unavailable at this time - he will have been wherever Jacky was).

The dead leaves are from a tree that sheds all its leaves in summer and regrows them immediately. The coffee table is bespoke and the rocking chair is comfortable.

2 Reading: John & Paul A Love Story in Songs - Ian Leslie

3 Listening: WTWMC - John, Paul, George and Ringo

4 Watching: Graham Norton Show with Jacinda

5 Reading: Daughter of Gloriavale - My Life in a Religious Cult - Lilia Tarawa.

Reading this to prepare for a unit on cults. It is scary!

Overtime:

It takes great courage to faithfully follow what we know to be true.

Sarah E. Anderson

Senses working overtime #552

 1 Final week at Hastings Boys' High School

A fond farewell to all my colleagues who are now friends! Go well good people! Thank you, good night, good-bye.

2 Watching: Mr. Mercedes

Dark, creepy and weird but strangely different as a crime drama. Based on a Stephen King novel - figures.

3 Listening: James Taylor - Live

A superb live album.

4 Reading: Mojo magazine #381 (August 2025)

5 Listening: WTWMC - John, Paul, George and Ringo

Overtime: Raisa Jimenez

Positive thoughts bring positive outcomes

Senses working overtime #551

1 Early morning vibe at Maple Grove

Today

Earlier in the week

2 Listening: Matthew Sweet - 100% Fun

3 Listening: WTWMC - Christmas Cracker

'Tis the season to be jolly!

4 Reading: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

5 Watching: Doc (season 2)

Overtime: Doris Day

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.

Senses working overtime #550

1 Locked in this week!

N.b. Those are not my fingers (ha!)

2 Watching: Doc (TV on demand)

It has an unusual premise for a medical drama and the ops aren't too gory.

3 Still reading: Our Mutual Friend

Re 'locked in' - I'm now up to page 757. It's divided into four books and I'm now onto the fourth. Hopefully the Jenny Wren mystery eventually resolves itself.

4 Listening: Stephen Stills - Manassas

5 Listening: WTWMC - Tragically unhip

Our guilty pleasure playlist is now complete with eye rollers and awesome tunes (sometimes both at the same time).

Overtime: David Lloyd George

'Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps'.

Senses working overtime #549

1 Feeling this week:

Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

2 Watched: TV on Demand shows

We've been catching up with Graham Norton Show guests (Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and others), Elsbeth and now Doc.

3 Listening: Tay Tay's new one - The Life of a Showgirl

I like this one much more than the previous one (The Tortured Artists Department) which I found too long and not as seminal as Midnights.

4 Reading: Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens.

Closing in on halfway - up to page 382 (out of 1,000)

5 Listening: WTWMC - Tragically unhip

There are now 90 songs to elicit eye roll responses - guaranteed.

 

Overtime:  Selena Gomez

If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.

Senses working overtime #548

1 Cruisey work week

Photo by Jairph on Unsplash

2 Watched: Hunted season 7 (I think) TV on Demand

3 Listened to: Ringo Starr albums

Up to Starr in the Goo Goo G'Joob countdown. Try this live album - Live at Soundstage - on for size.

4 Still reading: Our Mutual Friend and Never (Rick Astley)

5 Listening: WTWMC - Tragically unhip

Overtime: Paulo Coelho

"You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it."

Senses working overtime #547

1 Attending: Senior Prizegiving

2 Watched: A House of Dynamite

3 Listening: Bruce Springsteen - Chapter and Verse

4 Reading: Rick Astley - Never

5 Listening: WTWMC - Tragically unhip

60 guilty pleasures so far.

Overtime: 

Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

Charles Swindell