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

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'.