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."

Senses working overtime #510

1 The feeling this week

Photo by Ash Amplifies on Unsplash

2 Reading: Scented - Laurence Fearnley

3 Listening: WTWMC - Kiwi Pik n Mix

4 Listening: Wozza - THE ALBUM COLLECTION Part 3

5 Watching: American Primeval (Netflix)

Overtime: 

There are no mistakes, save one: to learn from our mistakes.

Robert Fripp

Senses working overtime #509

1 Activity: Get out now

Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash

2 Reading: Mojo Magazine #372

3 Watching: The Night Agent Season 2

4 Listening: WTWMC - Kiwi Pik n Mix

Now up to 60 songs, 30 to go.

5 Listening: Moby - Play: The B Sides

Overtime: Valentine's Day is coming up

Seth Godin has a warning about buying cheap chocolate.

Senses working overtime #508

1 The feeling this week:

Photo by Raphael Renter | @raphi_rawr on Unsplash

2 Reading: Songbird (The Intimate Biography of Christine McVie) - Lesley-Ann Jones

I'm not one for biographies usually, but Christine McVie (an unassuming superstar) didn't write her autobiography and this is an interesting account of her life. So, it will have to do.

3 Watched: Smother

4 Smell: Blue de Chanel

With a return to school, a return to routines (YAY)

5 Listening: WTWMC - Kiwi Pik n Mix

The end of the third week. Halfway. The playlist now has 45 songs.

Overtime: Christine McVie

"You can only mend the vase so many times before you have to chuck it away"