Big day today. In theory they've started breaking ground at our new Ruakākā property. Meanwhile we just signed all the million forms to engage an estate agent to sell our Waikawa Beach place.
- Nope, not a meth lab.
- Nope, no one died here.
- Nope, no hazardous waste stored here.
- …
We had an unexpected visitor this morning when maybe a juvenile Pīwakawaka | Fantail flew into the house but didn't manage to fly out again.
Luckily I caught it in the corner of the kitchen and took it back out into the great outdoors. 🐦
After I'd gone to bed last night Deb reminded me about the comet so I got up and went down to the beach. Didn't find the comet, but did get to enjoy the gorgeous after-sunset.
A good measure of progress on our clean up, clear up, pack up project to ready the house for sale is how much of a tip the place is. We have boxes of stuff to be given away or packed; cleaning gear and 'stuff' on tables and floor.
We should be ready for the photographer in a couple of weeks.
The small patch of ground cover I planted a few years ago is finally starting to cover the ground.
Washed the car today — just a quick brush with water — but the sun and background make it look good.
It's possible this is one of this year's baby swallows, sitting on our deck railing, having a chat. 🐦
The whole Halcyone series was excellent, and this final book was a good read that wrapped up the story. A Star in the Void: Halcyone Space Book 5 by LJ Cohen. 📚
I'm only sad to have finished this series, so I won't be able to hang out with these characters any more.
Might not look like much, but that Portaloo near the white sign marks the corner of our new property at Ruakākā, and indicates that work is about to start on our new house. 👯♀️
I've spent all day helping a dear friend move boxes of stuff to a storage unit. Knackered now!
I'm guessing everybody has a junk drawer …
Just how many does that 'a' extend to? Currently working through my fourth … 🤭
Found a treasure trove of loyalty cards I never use — they're headed for the bin.
Oh, and what the heck was that cable for?
Half an hour before dawn and there was a mystical ground fog over the paddocks.
I didn't expect to find a hilarious Australian Christmas movie on CBS, but there we are. Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story:
During Christmas, Steph Stool's family dog falls ill, forcing her to return to her Australian hometown. She must deal with family chaos while there, abandoning her holiday plans.
Six planets to line up in night sky | RNZ News.
I sincerely hope the picture heading this article is a faithful representation of what I'll be able to see. 😆
After I do a lot of physical work I don't sleep well. Yesterday I moved half a dozen shovels full of shingle and gravel, spent 10 minutes cutting back flax, moved stuff, and did a bunch of random light tasks. Last night: awake for ages.
Now we've hired someone to do the hard garden work. Hooray!
Yesterday morning by the river mouth at the beach things were very quiet. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
I like the characters and setting in this series but the plotting in this book is a bit hard to go along with. Hidden Agenda: Murder in the Clouds (Gina Santoro Mysteries Book 2) by Kay Hadashi. 📚
There are better things to do in Hawaii on a sunny day than go on a free skydiving trip. Just ask Gina Santoro while she parachutes into a murder mystery she'll never forget!
I was already in bed last night when Deb got me up to look at the rising Moon. So glad she did. 😁
A very handy list for Kiwis: Public holidays 2025: All the dates you need to know (and how to make the most of them).
Coming up:
- Wellington Anniversary - 20 January
- Waitangi Day - 6 February
- Good Friday - 18 April
- Anzac Day - 25 April
- King's Birthday - 2 June
- Matariki - 20 June