Senses working overtime #558

1 Wellington mini-break

Love a mini break with my best girl to suss out regular haunts and have tacos at Hot Like a Mexican!

2 Reading: Joan Didion - The White Album

One of my Unity Books' purchases. Finally found some of JD's books.

3 Watching: Swallows & Amazons (TV on demand)

A recent BBC version of a book I loved from my childhood. Lovely version.

4 Listening: WTWMC - Fresh finds

Two weeks done - so 30 songs in the playlist so far.

5 Reading: Truman

I'm really enjoying this biography (reading a few pages each morning at breakfast). Two hundred pages in. I like him and Bess a lot!

Overtime: Anne Baxter

I wasn't afraid to fail. Something good always comes out of failure.

Senses working overtime #557

1 Maple Grove: Wozza vs blackberry (round three)

Hiding in plain sight - that's blackberry's evil plan. This view from the east deck looks benign but on the other side of Asher's playhouse...blackberry gone wild!

My arms tell the tale - blackberry is ahead on points. Tbc.

2 Reading: Life's Too Short - Darius Rucker

The lead singer from Hootie & The Blowfish's memoir. A good fun run down on his life before, during and after Hootie.

3 Listening: WTWMC - Fresh finds

The three amigos make a playlist of artists that have yet to appear in our playlists (we've missed some biggies and some smallies).

4 Writing: Denene Taylor

Denene is a hero of mine - a wonderful writer, a great mum, and a caring human being who has always had a magical glow about her. 

She's also a friend. Like her husband and children - I'm a fan!

After I left Macleans College (waaaay back at the end of the nineteen eighties) she kept in touch with Wozza's World and I'm so glad she did.

Don't walk in front of me, 

    I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me,

    I may not lead.

Walk beside me and be 

    my friend

Albert Camus

 

5 Watching: Robin Hood (TV on demand)

I'm not quite sure why this story gets retold so many times. This latest TV version is okay, but Robin's a bit wet and his anger management/ impulsivity needs some help. Plus, the sex scenes between the Sheriff's daughter and the captain of the guard seem wildly OTT and out of place (gratuitous).

Overtime: Toni Morrison

If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.

Senses working overtime #556

1 Welcome: 2026

Yes, it's a world cup year! Wahoo!! New Zealand will be there this time.

2 Watching: English Premier League

Jade and Ivy visited last week. Ivy and I watched Liverpool play Leeds. Ivy was unimpressed with the football on offer, as Arsenal weren't playing.

3 Reading: Truman - David McCullough

I didn't make much progress with this book in 2025 (only 75 pages). It's not that it failed to capture my interest - it's well written (Truman won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography); it's more about its daunting size. So my goal since January 1st has been to read at least a page every morning in 2026 as I'm having breakfast. 

4 Watched: Outlast (season 2) and Win the Wilderness

Great reality competitions on Netflix.

5 Listening: Introducing Dinah Lee (1964)

A mint copy for five dollars from Vinyl Countdown, New Plymouth.

Overtime: Dolly Parton

If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.

Senses working overtime #555

1 Christmas week...

found us spending Christmas in New Plymouth with my in-laws. Hoping you all had an equally cool yule!

2 Reading: Cultish

  

Continuing to read Amanda Montell's book. I wrote a post on Baggy Trousers about it.

3 Listening: The Beatles Anthology 4

Money (that's what I want) seems an appropriate song to include here.

4 Viewing: Pukekura Park's Festival of Lights

Photos by Jacky

5 R.I.P. Sam Moore

Sadly, the week also included Sam's funeral. The next Wozza's Place blog will post on this tragic event. Gone far too young.

Overtime: For Jacky, happiness is...

As Jade aptly commented - Of course. She'd make a great Noah if the world floods.

Senses working overtime #554

1 Keegan Purdy Day

Birthday boy far right 

The final piece of the birthday puzzle (last one of the year) is also the first piece of the puzzle (our first baby back in 1984).

Yes, December 19 is Keegan Warren Purdy day!

2 Reading: Cultish - The Language of Fanaticism - Amanda Montell

3 Watching: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

We've watched season 1 and 2 on TV on Demand.

4 Listening: The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile

5 Listening: WTWMC - John, Paul, George and Ringo and WTWMC #5 (2025) 

The amigos have completed their final two playlists for the year.

Overtime: Amelia Earhart

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.

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