Senses working overtime #517

1 Second to last week of term feeling

Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash

2 Reading: The Sea, The Sea - Iris Murdoch

3 Watching: Jack Irish (Netflix)

We're currently watching season 2 (of 3).

4 Reading: Courage is Calling - Ryan Holiday

5 Listening: WTWMC - Aussie Battlers

One week to go for this list.

Overtime: James Clear

"Although losing is never fun, there is a certain satisfaction that can be found on the other side of losing — but only when you give your all. To lose with half effort offers no pleasure in the moment and no peace in the long run. But if your ambitions were full and your attempt was genuine, after the sting of losing wears off you'll be left with something resembling contentment. The reward is not always in winning, but in striving."

Senses working overtime #516

1 Week 9 of Term 1

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Some of my students have caught on to the fact that I use weblogs a lot, so this first one is for them. I wonder if they get the subtext and my hope for them in week 10 and 11?

2 Watching: Adolescence

Colleagues at work recommended this UK crime drama to me and it turns out it's also wildly successful on Netflix. It's really good - we watched two episodes last night and, having worked and advised in quite a few UK schools, I can attest to its accuracy. Plus, I've been lied to plenty in my career. It's a real test to 'seek first to understand' in some situations.

3 Reading: Desire - Haruki Murikami

Some of his short stories in a short anthology - good value for $10 from Time Out in Mt Eden.

4 Reading: Lost In Translation - Suzanne Ferriss

This one came from Unity Books. I love the film, and Suzanne's film essay is terrific at exposing the complexities in its production and meaning.

5 Listening: Wozza's Autumnal moods

Overtime: 

Banker and archaeologist John Lubbock on the value of downtime:

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."

(Courtesy James Clear)

Senses working overtime #515

1 Essential item of the week:

 

Yes, I had a head cold all week and two days off work. Bleugh.

2 Autumn

Is there any better signal for Autumn's approach than a head cold? 

Here's a post from 2015 celebrating Autumn to get you in the mood.

Me and Bazie, 2015

The post doesn't have the clip of Dylan and Cash doing Girl From The North Country but you can listen to it here as you read the post.

3 Reading: Penelope Fitzgerald - Offshore

4 Listening: Michael Nesmith - The Prison

Pretty much a perfect record. It's beautiful and certainly suited my mood this week.

5 Watching: 1883 and 1923

Especially loved 1883, both are prequels to Yellowstone.

This article on the Dutton family tree is excellent, too.

Overtime: 

Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest.

Hermann Hesse

Senses working overtime #514

1 The feeling this week: Autumn is coming

Photo by Altınay Dinç on Unsplash

2 Compiling: WTWMC - Aussie Battlers

30 of 90 songs selected - check how we're doing.

3 Listening: Desert Island Discs - Ian Wright

Arsenal legend! I'm a big fan of the BBC's Desert Island Disc series. Wrighty's choices are interesting and he tells great stories.

4 Blogging: Goo Goo G'Joob

Stats for the last six months of my music blog have been insane with 34, 600 views in that time. I'm not sure why - I still do what I've always done - my own idiosyncratic views on the music in my collection. Weird.

5 Reading: Fifty box office bombs worth watching

Overtime: 

Malcolm McLaren’s headstone reads, “Better a spectacular failure, than a benign success.”

Senses working overtime #513

1 The feeling this week:

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

2 Watching: Karen Pirie

3 Listening: Al Stewart - Past Present and Future  (1973)

A recent purchase from Real Groovy's sale bins. Mint condition for $6. Bargain!

According to Al, "My first four albums have been, for me, an apprenticeship. The new album.....is my thesis".

4 Reading: Ryan Holiday - Discipline Is Destiny

Also got this from Time Out Books in Mt Eden (a great bookstore - GK's favourite)

5 Compiling: WTWMC - Aussie Battlers

Yes, the amigos are at it again, this time watch in real time as we compile 90 songs by Aussie battlers (a.k.a. our colonial cousins across the ditch)

Overtime: Balance

Social media consultant Charles Miller on balance:

"Spend a handful of hours a day going fast. Crush a gym session. Do deep work on a project you care about. Spend the rest of the day going slow. Take walks. Read books. Get a long dinner with friends. Either way, avoid the anxious middle where you never truly relax or truly move forward."

Senses working overtime #512

1 Auckland City

Jacky and I spent the week in Auckland. While she had a date with Southern Cross in Gillies Ave., I stayed with my mate Kev and his wife AM in Birkenhead. We had some great views of Auckland's CBD from our early morning walks (see #5 for another view). 

2 Searching: Auckland City F.C. replica shirt

I had a fruitless search for a shirt while there - all sold out until April! Auckland City F.C. need to capitalise on their current success and the lack of shirts is a lost opportunity.

3 Visiting: Real Groovy Records

I picked out a load of records from their sale bins. Some great bargains to be found there, but just great fun spending a couple of hours browsing. The shop was bustling and full of energy.

4 Visiting: Marbecks Records in The Queen's Arcade

This is also a must place for me to visit but clearly the glory days for the arcade are gone - loads of empty shops, the surrounding area is dowdy and Marbecks feels like it may be more of a e-commerce business these days. I bought one album for old times' sake. I loved my time working there in the late seventies/ early eighties and I'll always remember all of the Marbeck family fondly.

5 Walking: Birkenhead

I loved the early morning walks with Kevy around his Birkenhead patch, which takes in the areas around the Harbour Bridge. Excellent views across to the CBD as I indicated in #1.

Overtime:

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Senses working overtime #511

1 The feeling this week

Photo by Upesh Manoush on Unsplash

2 Watching: Cobra Kai - Season 6

A fun, non-stressful way to end each day.

3 Listening: WTWMC Kiwi Pik n Mix

The playlist is now complete - 90 waiata o Aotearoa for your listening pleasure.

4 Listening: Van Morrison - Celtic New Year

After listening to my Van Morrison collection this week I've selected Magic Time to highlight here and the beautiful Celtic New Year (from Later...with Jools Holland)

5 Reading: The McCartney Legacy (Kozinn/ Sinclair) and Scented (Fearnley)

Yes, still chewing through these. They are now competing with schoolwork, blogging, journaling etc, but I aim for a few pages each day in each. Both are enjoyable for very different reasons. I'm in awe of the forensic detail in both (McCartney's life and the smells in Scented).

Overtime: James Clear

"Spend today interpreting whatever people do in the most generous way. See if you feel better as a result."