Senses working overtime #538

1 The feeling this week is...

...not the best as I suffered my second virus of the year, leading to the week off school. Unprecedented. I can't recall ever needing five days but I did this time. I kept testing negative for covid but this virus had all the same symptoms. Weird.

2 Spring's emergence at Maple Grove

The Maple Grove tuis love this plum tree's blossom. At one point this week we watched as three of them feasted.

3 Listening: Borboletta - Santana

4 Reading: Mojo Magazine #378

5 Reading: Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami

Overtime: Asher Purdy-Hodge

'Creepy I like teeth because he likes time'.

Senses working overtime #375

1 Peregian Beach, Queensland, Australia

This week my senses have been reinvigorated thanks to a week in Noosa, staying at an Air B'n'B in Peregian Beach with the lions share of my family. Therefore, this week's jewels centre on my week in Queensland.

2 Backbeat Records/ Bad Habit Records

I managed a visit to each of these shops in Nambour on the one rainy day we had. Two lovely owners who loved to chat (The Bad Habits guy even opened the shop up for me specially) and a couple of cool purchases later = smiling. 

3 Lord Asher 

Asher was the undisputed star of the show. Here he is with Mema and Papa, shortly before he took an unscheduled dip.

Mema to the rescue

4 Dolphin Point

Cracker day for a walk to Dolphin Point in the Noosa National Park. 

5 Australia Zoo

We're all big Steve Irwin fans so a visit to Australia Zoo was a must do. Elephants and kangaroos were big hits.

Overtime: And then, time to travel back to regular life (that's my pre-flight from Brisbane, pre- 3 hour drive home from Wellington face)

Senses working overtime #220

1 Horses, horses

Cutest baby photo of the week belongs to young Asher Purdy-Hodge!

2 The 1967 All Blacks

Been reading this during the first week back at school. I'm not really into rugby books but this one was cheap ($8) and I was ten when the team in question was in the news. Yes, I remember the players.

The book is okay but typos and a lack of piercing analysis meant I was as engrossed as I'd hoped.

This review sums things up well.

3 Doc Martin

It's a very old fashioned show in many respects, but Jacky and I have been enjoying it. We're up to season 3 on Netflix.

4 Poetry Corner

Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River

BY ROBERT BLY

I 

I am driving; it is dusk; Minnesota.

The stubble field catches the last growth of sun.   

The soybeans are breathing on all sides.

Old men are sitting before their houses on car seats   

In the small towns. I am happy,

The moon rising above the turkey sheds.

    II 

The small world of the car

Plunges through the deep fields of the night,   

On the road from Willmar to Milan.   

This solitude covered with iron

Moves through the fields of night

Penetrated by the noise of crickets.

    III 

Nearly to Milan, suddenly a small bridge,

And water kneeling in the moonlight.

In small towns the houses are built right on the ground;   

The lamplight falls on all fours on the grass.

When I reach the river, the full moon covers it.   

A few people are talking, low, in a boat

Robert Bly, “Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River” from Silence in the Snowy Fields (Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 1962). Copyright © 1962 by Robert Bly.  

5 Lost and Gone Away - Lynn Jenner

Enjoying this one from NZ writer Lynn Jenner.


Overtime: Red House
Love this version by the G3 amigos - Johnson/Satriani/Vai

Senses working overtime #212

1 It's all about purpose.

2 House warming

We have finally moved into our house over the weekend - hence why this week's edition is late. Sharp intake of breath!

My staff at school gave me this really cool house warming gift. It's beside me as I type - a Meyer Lemon tree and it smells divine!!

3 The mode of transport used this week was interesting.

We're talking a small truck. It was adequate for the moving house job but a real bone rattler. And the Bluetooth didn't work. So I had to rely on radio. Yeech. I fit bits of about 5 different radio station demographics.

Anyway. This came on and I turned it up LOUD and put up with the static as the truck bounced and heaved its way.




4 Failure
Loved this image from some clever person.  

5 Samantha and Asher

Big part of the weekend was calling in on Asher as we picked up gear from Jade and William. Lo and behold - Aunt Samantha is in town! And, yes, Asher is gazing adoringly at his grandad!

Overtime: Great text from Jade today
"Asher was a terror last night. Then this morning has the audacity to yawn. What. A. Jerk."