Senses working overtime #575

1 Groundhog week

A lot of rinse and repeat this week - with not much free time to progress through books (Moonraker/ Bread of Angels) or TV (Person of Interest).

2 Listening: The Who Sell Out

Ahead of its time and yet encapsulates 1967. Appreciating this one all over again this week.

3 Reading: Uncut Take 346

I am not a fan of Uncut (Mojo is far superior) but I'm a sucker for a Beatle cover!

4 Listening: Weirdo - Emma-Jean Thackray

A recommendation from Uncut paid off in this jazz inflected album from 2025. The messages may be as dark (and funny) as the cover image, but the music is joyful.

5 Living vicariously: GK's trip to Blighty 

GK at Doc Martin's digs in Port Isaac.

Overtime: Michael Nolan

There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those.

Senses working overtime #574

1 The working week

Gnarly working week as we navigated our way through choppy waters (junior school reports, a load of marking and a round of school socials for funsies).

2 Watching: Person of Interest

We've finished Season 1 and straight into Season 2. It's got really good!

3 Listening: Blush by There's a Tuesday

Excellent album by NZ alt rock band with Margo the standout track.

4 Reading: Dr. No; Bread of Angels; Mojo #387; Guardian Weekly

Time is tight at the moment. Still going on the Patti Smith and Ian Fleming books and the regulars (Mojo and Guardian Weekly)

5 Listening: WTWMC - First steps

The amigos are up to 60 entries now.

Overtime: Vincent Van Gogh

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brough together.

To be fair to Vinny - he said this well before John Coltrane and others had recorded on the Impulse label.

Senses working overtime #573

This week: items from my phone camera

Something a bit different for my Jewels post this week - a selection of snaps from my phone that were taken over the last seven days. 

1 Sunrise, shine down a little love on the world today:

Sunrise at Maple Grove

2 Reading: The Guardian Weekly

Some of the best journalism and expression of opinion you can find.

3 Family zoom

Top L to R: Jade, Jacky and me in NZ; Drew and Sam Kalicki in America,
Bottom L to R: Adam in 'Stralia and Keegan in China.

Happens each Sunday. It's the only way to gather the fandamly together these days.

4 Saturday walk from Maple Grove to Kintail and back

5 Listening: A Stones-a-thon 

Sticky Fingers turned up real loud.

Overtime: Arty shot

Autumn shadows on the Magpie Walk

 

Senses working overtime #572

1 Back to the brick factory this week

2 Listening: The Shangri-Las - Past Present and Future: Golden Hits of The Shangri-Las

Leader of the Pack is a timeless classic of teenage turmoil and tragedy by the peerless Shangri-Las. The rest of the album is brilliant as well but nothing the melodrama of Leader of the Pack.

3 Reading: Patti Smith - Bread of Angels: A Memoir

4 Reading: Mojo Magazine #386

5 Watching: Person of Interest on Netflix

Interesting take on the vigilante/ do-gooder intervention type of story. According to one critic it is 'transformed from a "crime-fighting show" with an entertaining plot device into "one of the best science-fiction series ever broadcast" '. We're currently halfway through season 1.

Overtime: Mother Teresa

What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.

Senses working overtime #571

1 Lumberjack week at Maple Grove

We had a Maple tree keel over during the cyclone and that's meant a lot of clean up. It was a big tree that was overhanging the driveway so it was a case of needs must. Shame though as it was a beautiful Maple that would have been planted around when the house was built 120 years ago.  

2 Reading: Ian Fleming - Moonraker 

The third James Bond novel from 1955. So good!

3 Listening - The Flirtations - Sounds Like the Flirtations

Recently got this for $10 at JB Hi Fi. It's a superb album from 1969.

4 Listening: WTWMC - First steps

The brothers in arms are back with a playlist focusing on selections from debut albums.

5 Watched: Civil War on Netflix.

One very scary film starring Kirsten Dunst (she is superb in it). This dystopian thriller clearly has Donald Trump in mind.

Overtime: Carl Bard

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Senses working overtime #570

1 This week's weather - Cyclone Vaianu watch

It's due to be over Maple Grove this afternoon. The news this week has been dominated by watching its progress towards us. Cyclone Gabrielle is still fresh in the memory, so the North Island is bracing itself with an abundance of caution.

2 Listening: WTWMC - Weather with you

Seems the appropriate soundtrack to ride the storm out.

3 Watching: Earthstorm on Netflix

An excellent documentary series of four episodes: Tornados, earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes.

4 Listening: The Rolling Stones - El Mocambo 1977

For when it all blows over.

5 Reading: Ian Fleming - Dr. No

I bought a compendium of his novels for $5. It's a great collection - 6 James Bond adventures over its 862 pages. Dr. No is the first one. Fleming is an underrated writer.

Overtime: James Allen

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

Senses working overtime #569

1 Last week of term

Photo by Matthew Halmshaw on Unsplash

2 Listening: The Pineapple Thief - Variations on a Dream

3 Watching: Would I Lie To You 

These are reruns via TV on Demand and I laugh as hard as I did when I first saw them. Lee Mack is a comedy genius. 

4 Reading: The Guardian Weekly

I've started buying these again because of their brilliant reporting using a big picture lens on the Iran War.

5 Listening: WTWMC - Weather with you

This playlist is now complete (it has 1 extra song because member #3 added a bonus selection to the bonus round).  

Overtime: Aung San Suu Kyi

You should never let your fears prevent you from doing what you know is right.