Listen to Bill Callahan and Friends

In 2020 Bill Callahan and Will Oldham released a lot of covers and collabs that Sasha Frere-Jones dubbed Bill Communication, the best name of anything in that year of years. The songs are eclectic and generally pretty great. Spotify also streams a bunch of singles by Callahan, and helpfully links his artist profile on collaborations with other artists.

I’ve collected all the singles, collabs, and Bill Communication tracks into a Spotify playlist named Bill Callahan and Friends. I’ve been listening to it as I potter around the kitchen this morning. Some of the songs are brand new to me and I am enjoying them very much.

I’m so grateful I can listen to excellent music as I round out a COVID free summer break. If you’re stuck at home, I hope this playlist makes your day a little bit better.

Mt Kau Kau #2

The hill was steep. After several jogs on flat terrain my legs did not like the hill at all when I tackled it a couple of days ago.

The weather…the weather was OK, to be completely honest. Not cold. Not windy. It’s been grey and cool in Wellington since the end of NZ’s first lockdown and that’s relatively comfortable to run in. Fucking demoralising on all other counts but fine for running.

Running with a hat

How’s it sit? Pretty cunning don’t ya think?

I’ve never been much for running in head-ware. Hats I’ve worn have quickly gotten itchy and uncomfortable. I don’t like wearing glasses either, they tend to slip off once I get sweaty.

Until recently the only time I’ve been hold of a hat was the first time I took part in the Wellington Marathon. It was the middle of winter, there was a howling southerly and constant freezing drizzle. I wore a polypropylene beanie and it probably kept me from hypothermia over the 21kms out and back from the stadium.

In September I entered the Rotorua Half Marathon and received a running cap in my swag. I didn’t wear it during the run but I did decide to pack it with my running gear for this holiday, and I put it on for the first jog out to the Motueka waterfront in the last week of 2020.

Reader, you may have guessed that I am converted to hat running. This little cap is light. It breathes. On a cool day, and there have been a couple in the five runs in this hat, the hat provides just a little bit of warmth. The visor keeps the sun out of my eyes. I wish I’d worn this hat in Rotorua.

What is the point of this post other than to show off a photo of myself sweaty and wearing a hat?

I guess it’s a reminder to me to keep an open mind and try out alternatives to the regular way of doing things. What’s the worst that could happen?

If you were ever to film a version of The Wasp Factory in New Zealand then this might be the place to put the Sacrifice Poles. The Wasp Factory was Iain Bank’s first published novel. The narrator is a teenager who has murdered three children and thinks it was just a phase he was going through. Its considered a bit of a ‘nastie’ and had mixed reviews. The paperback copy I own includes some of the negative reviews.

Afternoon at the beach

We went round to Split Apple Rock half way between low and high tides. There were a few families and couples there but wind had come up and there wasn’t anyone in the water.

A shame for them as it was beautiful. I swam out to the rock.

Whenever we’ve been on the boat near Split Apple Rock the driver has poured out that of the many notable NZ locations in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, this is not one of them
A starfish had floated towards shore. It seemed to be heading back out.
A couple got married!