These books were good enough, but not brilliant. Havard and Lambert Books 1–5 by Pippa McCathie. 📚
My biggest problem is the author uses the technique of hiding information from the reader, like this example (one of many):
“Do you mean you know who–”
“Not know, but I have a very strong feeling about it.”
“So, who do you think it was?”
Fabia told her, and Bella didn’t pour scorn on this idea either, but she did say, “I really don’t think that’s very likely, Fabia.”
No onion in my meals please
We visited Acropolis Cafe, Bar And Grill in Whangārei for dinner last night. The environment is lovely (and unusual, being out in the 'wilderness' of the port).
I enjoyed the chicken element in my souvlaki wrap, and the others enjoyed their meals.
My meal was very much spoiled though by containing raw onion when I'd had a protracted prior discussion with the server about making sure there was no onion in my food.
Rather than replacing my dish when I pointed this out it seems they simply removed the onion from it and brought back the remains. I was disinclined to eat what they brought back to me.
I was disappointed and definitely unimpressed by the service at Acropolis.
Most people at Barge Park today, including us, were walking dogs. Then there were a dozen or more doing something different.
We encourage you to bring along your own miniature pony or you are most welcome to hire one of ours. All the miniature ponies competing will have to pass vet checks throughout the event to be able to continue as their health and welfare is of utmost importance to us.
It was a gorgeous and hot day at Ruakākā beach today. A few people were swimming.
Taranga (Hen), Marotiri (Chickens) and Taturu (Sail Rock) lie on the horizon of Te Ākau (Bream Bay). In the distant far right is Hauturu o Toi (Little Barrier Island) New Zealand's first nature reserve.
An exciting time today as we saw our new house for the first time "in the flesh". 🏡
We didn't know it had already been insulated and today it passed the inspection that allows gib board to go up next week.
We flew over our new house as we came in to land at Whangārei. It's in the green area in the bottom right quadrant of the photo. 🏡
Threading through the top half is the Ruakākā River flowing from right to left. The riverbank walk is only a couple of minutes on foot from our place.
Yay. Boarded our plane to Whangārei, taxied, sat, returned to terminal, engineers fixed a small problem but noticed a complication. Now we’re sitting in the terminal again.
Mountain rises above the clouds in central North Island.
Sunrise above the clouds.
After leaving the house at 5 a.m. airport eggs on toast was not only welcome but very delicious! 
Energy Farm goodness at Ruakākā
It's very heartening to read about the positives of the new energy farm underway at Ruakākā.
Renewable innovation: The Ruakākā Energy Park | New Zealand Infrastructure Review:
Wetland restoration and enhancement
An existing wetland on the project site will be protected, ensuring that it remains a valuable habitat for native bird species such as the bittern and dabchick ducks. A new native habitat, including a new wetland, will be created on another part of the site, improving ecological outcomes. This new wetland will help to cleanse stormwater from the energy park and wider catchment before it flows into the Ruakākā River, delivering significant environmental benefits.
Native planting and landscape improvements
The perimeter of the BESS [battery energy storage system] has been planted with eco‑sourced native species like cabbage trees, kōwhai, harakeke and pittosporums. This planting effort, undertaken in partnership with local hapū Patuharakeke, not only improves the visual aesthetics of the site, but also creates a natural habitat for local wildlife. Biodegradable hemp/wool matting has been used to retain moisture, and irrigation will support plant growth during the first two years.
This morning the bricks were half way up the wall on our new build. By the end of the afternoon the photo from our builder's rep shows a lot has been done. 🏡
This photo from the south.
Favourite typo in a book I'm reading (my emphasis):
Fabia got out pickles and took a cucumber from the vegetable wrack and handed it to Dilys.
Vegetable wrack
conjures up images of wilted lettuce, aged mushrooms, sad celery …
Our building company rep sent a photo of bricklayers hard at work this morning on our new place. 🏡
This is a view from the east.
I guess once the brickwork is complete the house will be 'weathertight', triggering another progress payment.
Our government: protectors of profit above all else! 🤮
Forest & Bird Says National Parks Not Game Parks:
“The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to Wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park – home to unique and much-loved endangered species such as kākāpō, kiwi, kea, pīwauwau rock wren, and whio blue duck.”
Our appalling government has cancelled overnight outstanding claims to get equal pay for low-paid women — Government’s political gamble backfires as backlash to pay equity reform grows:
Hundreds of people turned out … to protest the government’s fast-tracked changes to pay equity laws. … Many protesters expressed outrage not just at the substance of the legislation but its speed – introduced on Tuesday morning, passed by Wednesday night.
They're unravelling our democracy and our country strand by painful strand.
In the cafe we visited yesterday an older woman was sitting nearby. She wore about 4 or more gold bejewelled rings on each finger.
Anyway, that led me to dig out a couple of inherited rings and try them out. They must have been either Mum's or my grandma's engagement and wedding rings, I guess.
One of these things is not like the others …
This sign amused me while I was eating brunch across the road.
We visited Kowhai on the main road in Ōtaki for brunch. I had a very delicious French Toast with vanilla mascarpone, maple, raspberries & caramelised pear. Plus a little dab of pink candy floss. 😁 The cafe itself is clean and pleasant. Would happily go back again.
OK, Netatmo wind gauge, you seem to be hallucinating. I think I would have noticed wind gusts of around 170 Kph …
NZ and the space age — I'm angry
I love space. I'm a child of the space age, born just a year or two before Sputnik went up. I've been on and off interested in astronomy since I was a kid. The push into space has brought all kinds of benefits to the people of this world.
This article though has really upset me. Aotearoa is a tiny country and has no business trying to 'keep up' with the big kids. This whole 'per capita' rubbish is so bogus!
NZ lagging behind most comparable countries on space spend per capita | RNZ News:
The government is spending almost 20 times less on space per head than the United States, and half that of the United Kingdom.
The first sector survey in six years shows five out of the seven rival space countries New Zealand compares itself to are ahead on government funding.
And those 'comparable' countries? In what possible way should we compare ourselves to (thanks Claude for the rounded numbers)? :
- United States: 331 million
- Germany: 83 million
- France: 67 million
- United Kingdom: 67. million
- Italy: 59 million
- Korea (South Korea): 52 million
- Canada: 37 million
- New Zealand: 5 million
How about instead ensuring we compare favourably, or even excel at making sure everyone has a healthy place to live, enough food and suitable fulfilling work?