Dr Aleisha Ward
LightNews LightNews
banner
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Dr Aleisha Ward
@nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
1.4K followers 650 following 2.6K posts
NZ Jazz Historian; Lilburn Fellow 2017; Professional Teaching Fellow Music at Auckland Uni. Come for the music, stay for everything else. Opinions definitely my own! She/her
Posts Replies Media Videos
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Unintended (?) consequences of actions:
Banner from the University of Auckland library results page stating: Due to the implementation of US tariffs and subsequent halt on deliveries by postage providers, the Library will be temporarily suspending the requesting of physical items from the United States for the purpose of interlibrary loans. Please be aware that this may impact the availability of some interlibrary loan requests. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
September 3, 2025 at 2:48 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Meanwhile, this is the scale I've used since 2021. Most days it's 1-2, but there's always something. Pain meds don't even come into it until Van Gogh.
A pain scale using different artists's works beginning with Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring as 1 (I feel a twinge now and then) through to Dali's Soft Self Portrait as 10 (Not. Even. Human. Any. More.)
April 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Happy 2025 everyone!
Photo of the moment the sun peeps over Rakino and Rangitoto Islands. The foreground is of a calm ocean, with a cliff and pohutakawa tree to the right. The sky is still mostly indigo, with pink edges to the cloud bank, the horizon is a glow of yellow, orange and blush pink. Image is of the sun rising above Rakino and Rangitoto islands, the foreground is the beach with a stone water break wall mid-frame and a cliff and pohutakawa tree to the right. The sky is a lighter blue now, and the scattered clouds are a mix of grey, white and shaded with pink and orange. Looking at the sunrise over the ocean through a harekeke (flax) bush with Rakino and Rangitoto islands in the background, and the Tor to the left of frame with some boats anchored in the middle of frame. There are a few people scattered in the foreground watching the sunrise. The sun is over the horizon now, again looking out over the ocean at the Tor, Rakino and Rangitoto. There is a man carrying a small child standing in the shallows looking at the sunrise and a kayaker in the mid-frame (in front of some boats) having a morning paddle.
December 31, 2024 at 7:07 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Meri Kirihimete e te whānau
Image is a pohutakawa tree with vibrant red blossoms
December 24, 2024 at 8:22 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Bringing this back from the other site:
Tweet from Danial Abraham back in 2018: In an age of performative cruelty, kindness is punk as fuck. Be punk as fuck.
November 6, 2024 at 8:39 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #206,199! I'm guessing a good portion of formerly NZ Tweeps are the 100 and 200,000s
September 17, 2024 at 1:26 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
A fiery sunset picture with clouds illuminated by the suns last rays, all allow with reds, oranges, pinks and some shadowy indigo. Taken from a bus window.
July 18, 2024 at 8:27 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social

If you see this, quote post with a famous landmark you've seen.
Photo of the Riff Riff Statue in Hamilton
May 25, 2024 at 5:36 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
The pink roses that live on my deck (and delight me by flowering in winter as well thanks to the deck being sheltered and a sun trap)
March 16, 2024 at 10:32 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
This is what she's seeing when she logs in (screen shot from her mobile app, but she says it's the same in the website).
February 9, 2024 at 8:27 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
My day in a nutshell: reference checking and writing an op ed about that Tina Turner lyric at Waitangi (will definitely let everyone know if/where I get it published)
Image is of a pile of books (bottom to top: Chris Bourke 'Blue Smoke'; Georgina White 'Light Fantastic'; J.M. Thomson 'The Oxford History of NZ Music'; Bruce Johnson 'The Inaudible Music') framed by a vase of crocheted roses on the left and a dictionary on the right.
February 6, 2024 at 8:47 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
A couple of panorama photos from yesterday morning's sunrise photo session that I'm quite chuffed with (after editing out the acres of sand, because perspective)
Photo of a beach with cliffs covered in greenery to left and right in the pre-sunrise light, with the moon hovering above a pōhutukawa tree on the foreground left, while the light gold dawn glow lights the scene just right of centre. A panorama of a beach with cliffs covered in greenery to left and right and a small islet on the left at sunrise with scattered fish scale clouds covering the centre of the sky. The sun is peeping through a cloud bank on the far horizon causing the clouds to glow gold, pink, and purple, and there are a few yachts moored in the bay.
January 1, 2024 at 9:59 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
First light 2024. Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou.
Photo of pre-sunrise at a beach with a boat ramp in the foreground and an islet (The Tor) and Rangitoto Island in the background Photo of sunrise looking over the ocean with a yacht in the centre of the picture Photo of sunrise looking over the ocean with eh sun reflecting off the water, with yachts to the left of centre and a silhouetted photographer in the centre of the frame Photo of sunrise from a rocky outcrop with rock pools in the immediate foreground that reflect the light and the cloudy marbled sky. Rangitoto Island is in the background
December 31, 2023 at 9:28 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Sending much aroha- these are neighbour cats who believe they live at my place: The grey tabby (left) is Sammy, who fell in love with my old cat Lucy and still visits and the tuxie (right) is The Scamp, who uses my place as an escape from some active young kids at home.
A grey tabby cat called Sammy flirting about on a purple yoga mat. A black and white tuxedo cat called the Scamp who has made himself at home on a bed.
December 31, 2023 at 4:12 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Last morning of 2023- making the most of the sunshine while it was here (swim not pictured)
Picture of a beach with a cliff covered in greenery and islet in the background, with the water at about half tide and a sunny blue sky (it was hot!) Picture of a beach with Rangitoto Island in the distance and cliffs to the distant right of the picture Picture of trees, including a pōhutukawa tree in full blossom hanging over an estuary with sunlight shining on the water
December 31, 2023 at 2:26 AM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
You might want to try some neuroplasticity techniques to help calm your brain. I was recommended this website (neuroplastix.com ) by my pain doc when I was recovering from CRPS and it really helped me. Meanwhile, have some pics of not my cat, The Scamp making himself very much at home
The Scamp: a long black and white tuxedo camp making himself at home on a bed looking directly into the camera The Scamp playing with a yellow Duckie catnip toy and getting the catnip zooms
November 21, 2023 at 8:56 PM
nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
Something hinky might be going on- this is from just now:
September 20, 2023 at 1:03 AM