Also on my walk today I met a Red and White border collie who wanted all the pats and and a Siberian Husky friend who wanted in on the chat.
What they say about huskies 'talking' is true. 😁 🐶
On today's walk around Marsden Cove I took this photo of a type of swale that's common in the newer subdivisions in this wider area. This part of the country is marshy by nature and we sometimes get torrential downpours. For example, in March 2022:
NIWA meteorologists say the 103 mm of rain [4 inches] from 4am-5am recorded at Maungatapere near Whangārei on Monday 21 March is a new national hourly rainfall record for a low elevation station.
We don't have fire hydrants in NZ so presumably this knee-high version is a kindness to dogs. 😁
The other day I chatted with a further away neighbour and patted her cute little attention-seeking dog Molly. That didn't stop Molly barking furiously as I passed today. 😒
When I neared the river I could see sheep on the other side.
Further along the river a spoonbill was fishing. 🐦
I've decided to stop reading this Project Gutenberg book I am a woman: 📚
"I Am a Woman" by Ann Bannon is a lesbian pulp fiction novel written in 1959. Laura Landon flees her harsh father and college failure to start fresh in New York City's Greenwich Village. Living with vivacious roommate Marcie, Laura discovers unexpected feelings and navigates the underground gay bar scene with new friends Jack and Beebo Brinker.
It was written nearly 70 years ago and I'm finding the old repressions and culture too uncomfortable.
The team eventually solve this thorny mystery, even though some of those interviewed aren't sharing all they know. A good read — Mystery in the New Forest (The DI Callum MacLean mysteries Book 4) by Carol Cole. 📚
Angus was a photographer, Sunday school teacher and chairman of the local gun club. A man everyone agrees had no enemy in the world.
Marsden Cove views from today's walk.
Today after a routine doctor's appointment at Marsden Cove I walked an almost 5 Km loop around the wealthy area, where boats are the order of the day and even private jetties.
This photo at Mariners Haven.
There are many excellent points in this article; here's one — 'Sky glow': Data centres could threaten Mackenzie's dark sky status:
It's not just vacant land waiting to be developed. It's open space, it's natural quiet, it's dark skies, it's mountain and lake views... Mackenzie feels different, because of what's not here.
It's a splendid and unique part of the country, and it should be left alone.
My walk by the river today was very enjoyable, and included a Monarch butterfly.
There were some very intriguing and moving elements in this book, with unusual goings-on. I enjoyed the read — Watch Them Fall (Detective Clare Mackay Book 10) by Marion Todd. 📚
A body is hauled out of St Andrews harbour. This was no accident – DI Clare Mackay and her team have a murder investigation on their hands.
Superintendent Penny Meakin is more focused on a break in at the salubrious home of local property developers.
We watched Tenzing and it was superb. Highly recommend:
based on Nepalese-Indian Sherpa Norgay's 1953 ascent of Mount Everest with New Zealand climber Hillary.
… Principal photography commenced in Nepal …, with filming on location in Kathmandu and the Everest region. Filming wrapped … in New Zealand.
The two hours didn't feel long at all as we accompanied the climbers on their gruelling climb, interspersed with flashbacks from Tenzing's life.
Today's mail brought a surprise.
I'm happy to do my citizen's duty but really hope the case doesn't centre on violence or abuse of humans or animals.
At least the last page tells me:
Some of what you hear in the trial might be stressful. There is help and support available.
Mind you, the only other time I was called for jury duty I didn't make it through to actually be part of the jury.
Those are weird looking gulls, I thought yesterday as I wandered by Ruakākā Estuary. Then I realised the flock of 15 or so birds fishing, was in fact tākapu | gannets. 🐦
The Pūkeko baby came back! 🐦
What a cutie.
A neighbour down the road has this flock of Cape Barren geese on his very large property. 🐦
A pleasing trip to Ruakākā Estuary today, included watching this spoonbill fishing. 🐦
I enjoyed reading the latest in this series. The victim was truly ghastly — Swamp Shoot by Jana DeLeon. 📚
When the crew of No Place Like Home arrives in Sinful to shoot an episode for the series, most of the locals are thrilled. After all, it’s a chance to showcase their town and maybe get some screen time. Fortune, Ida Belle, and Carter have their doubts that it’s going to be the wonderful event the others are predicting.
But no one expected the lead actor to be murdered.
The most frustrating message on my Kindle!
I bought the book, sent it to Kindle — or so I thought … But apparently no, I still need to download it before opening.
It's not like my Kindle hasn't been connected to WiFi at home for several days since I bought the book. Gets me every time!
The new Blog Audit took a while to run but it proved very interesting. // @manton
I'm very surprised by the many missing alt texts as I've been adding it on blogs for at least 20 years now. A handful will be where alt text isn't required or useful, but not that many!
0546 and I hear the siren. The ambulance station is northeast of us, the fire station southwest. I'm never sure which siren it is, though I usually think it's ambulance.
I just hope it's not on account of some serious accident nearby. 🚨