Senses working overtime #491

1 Wellington

This week was largely spent in our capital city. It's getting a bad press at the moment with less foot traffic in the CBD but while Unity Books are on Willis and Arty Bees, Slow Boat Records are in or near Cuba St mall, I will still have plenty of reasons to visit on a regular basis.

2 World of Wearable Arts

Jacky's thing more than mine but I still really enjoyed the sensual experience.

3 Listening to: Jimmy Buffett - Living and Dying in 3/4 Time

One of my purchases from Slow Boat Records. Try Come Monday.

4 Reading: The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys

One of my purchases from Unity Books.

5 Tasting: Hot! Like a Mexican tacos

Overtime: Neil Finn

There's a certain good fortune in having a moderate amount of success.

Answering the 'How come you've avoided scandal?' question in Mojo magazine #367

Senses working overtime #296

1 World of Wearable Arts at Wellington's Te Papa

During the week Jacky and I travelled down to Wellington to see the WOW exhibition at NZ's national museum, a.k.a. Te Papa. Certainly a visual feast!

2 Christopher Milne

C.R. Milne with Pooh

I'm currently reading his first autobiography -  The Enchanted Places. As A.A. Milne's only son, Christopher Robin Milne has quite a story to tell. He tells it in a pretty oblique fashion which actually adds to its appeal in a curious way. 

3 Burton Cummings

Of course, while in Wellington I also visited Slow Boat Records and Rough Peel Music. It's a rule. 

At RPM I managed to find some bargains - among them two of Burton Cummings' solo records (I'm a big fan of The Guess Who) - a replacement copy of Dreams Of A Child (my old copy was past its use by date) and My Own Way To Rock. $3 each, both in mint condition! Score

Try Break It To Them Gently why doncha.

4 Arty Bee's Books and Unity Books

are also must visit places for me when going to Wellington. I scored four more Anne Tyler novels in the process including Redhead By The Side Of The Road - her latest - first published in 2020. 

5 Pandoro Panetteria

Taste - we love Wellington's version of Pandoro Panetteria for breakfast or lunch.

Overtime: A bit more from the WOW Arts from #1 with the delightful Mrs Purdy in her element.

Senses working overtime # 271

Recently, Jacky and I spent a few days in Wellington. Visits to the regular haunts were must dos:

1 Slow Boat Records

2 Arty Bees Books

3 Unity Books

4 Rough Peel Music

5 DoubleTree by Hilton (where we stayed and can recommend)

Overtime: Selfie time

Senses working overtime #25

My wife and I spent some of last week in Wellington on some personal business. While there we always love spending time in Cuba Mall- not an enclosed mall à la The Dubai Mall, but à la Haight Asbury - as in a street that has interesting stores and very interesting street life. 

Here are five sights sounds etc from my visit:

1 Slow Boat Records - great to see records making such a strong comeback, great to see people in different demographics (i.e. not middle aged white males like me) combing the bins! 

2 Unity Books - I love a great bookshop and Unity Books is that. I came away with an armful recommended by the knowledgeable staff.

3 Graphic Comics - wonderful place to browse and buy your youth back. The source of my Trigan Empire find. These guys will find ANYTHING!

4 Vanishing Point Records - lovely people and a great store. Go see for yourself up the top of Cuba.

5 + overtime

The Mall itself - the sights and sounds from buskers, tai chi exponents, an outdoor barber, the water bucket sculpture, the cafes, the restaurants, the tatted up and pierced, the retro fashion stores, the record stores. Cuba mall is like no other!