September 2025
: Meanwhile, someone was exercising their horse on the racetrack just behind the entrance to the …
: This dreadfully terrible photo of the partial eclipse does show a bite out of the sun at top left. I …
: I came to the beach anyway even though it’s cloudy.
: Woke this morning and remembered: Oh yes. Go to the beach before dawn to see the partial solar …
: A pretty plooty part of the area The Anchorage area of Marsden Cove is where folks berth their often very large yachts outside their …
: The Anchorage Retirement Village Cafe was a good place to eat Great views, good cutlery, pretty good food, not too expensive.
: Deb and I went to the gym this morning and she took a photo (unposed) of me doing leg extensions.
: Got a new phone — iPhone 17 Pro — so I took a photo of the clouds at dawn.
: When I bought my Series 9 Apple Watch a while ago I never got around to selling the S7 it replaced. …
: At yesterday's checkup with the optometrist I discovered this is relevant to me — Dry Eye …
: Taking the opportunity before a routine eye test in Whangārei to visit Otuihau | Whangārei Falls.
: New space observatory opens in South Wairarapa | RNZ News: A new observatory in South Wairarapa lets …
: My iPhone 13 Pro Max is busy updating my Apple Watch so I reached for the tiny iPhone 5 I can't bear …
: Pretty excited that today when I moved a couple of fabric bags that had been left outside I startled …
: Joined a new group today: The Waipū Cove Walking Group. No joining fees, no committee, just a bunch …
: Note to self: New Zealand one of just a handful of countries to see upcoming partial solar eclipse: …
: Kiwis, or folks who know NZ Birds, give Birdle NZ a try. 🐦 Birdle 🇳🇿 15/09/2025 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 …
: A light in the blackout News from 26 June 1940 when dad revealed a “lighting” offender.
: I was sorting through a folder of old papers, hoping to dump some. Now I know why I kept the City …
: The murders continue in Malvern, but Jude Gray notices the things the murderer wants to keep hidden …
: We can see this tree topped hill from our dining room window. It's just across the river and …
: At the gym in Levin I used weights in multiples of 5 kilos. At the gym in Ruakākā weights are in …
: Today I plugged "Marsden Point" into the car's GPS. 7 minutes later we pulled into a public carpark, …
: We're completely prepared for today's power outage … which is apparently next week. 🤦🏽♀️
: Hanging out in downtown Whangarei on a sunny day. It’s so beautiful here.
: With this being nearly 3 weeks away, I bet the tsunami siren test on 28 September will still take us …
: Hah! 109 years ago, the Van Buren sisters completed a 5,500-mile solo ride in motorcycles across the …
: Today's visitor, moments after it started to rain heavily. 🐦 Pukeko crosses the lawn (through the …
: I want to thank Microblogger Patrick Taillon for putting me on to this 2 hour long video — …
: A very satisfying story with pleasing characters and a delightful location. Killer in the New Forest …
: Another good read in this series, though rather gruesome. A Murderous Mind (Naomi Blake Mysteries …
: This 45 minute Howtown debate put forward really interesting points. It is a useful contribution to …
: The Ruakākā Rec Centre gym didn't really work for us so we signed up with Ruakaka | Z 24 Hour …
: A few hundred metres from our new house is a dune lake. Dune lakes are rare ecosystem types on a …
: First there was one, then two, Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦
: By 12.30 today: the guy we thought was coming yesterday turned up at 11 with his bobcat and moved …
: Glad I double-checked the venue for the Meet the Candidates (City Council elections) event before I …
: Three different locals who are moving took away all our packing boxes and some of the mountain of …
: Such an interesting 45 minute video — Sleep, Neurodiversity & The Myths Holding Us Back: Ben …
: A sofa we bought 10+ years ago had some kind of black fabric stapled across the bottom. That fabric …
: You never get too old to rescue puffins: it's part of who we are. Summer Puffling Patrols: Saving …
: DOC director-general Penny Nelson said research showed 89 percent of New Zealanders thought the …
: A westerly breeze on this east coast beach at Ruakākā makes for gentle waves. For the Pacific Wave …
: Woke around midnight with the most excruciating cramp in my left calf. Eventually went back to …
: I've finally retrieved my childhood teddy bear (now at least 65 years old) from amongst the myriad …
: Hah, an excellent turn of phrase: last week Prime Minister Chris Luxon officially identified as …
August 2025
: We drove 5 minutes to the Porthouse Bar & Eatery, where we shared 6 enormous chicken wings in honey …
: There were small deep patches of shells on the beach — such diversity.
: Yesterday late afternoon we enjoyed a walk on Ruakākā Beach. It was sunny and warm, and with the …
: I’d already read book 1 of The Maybridge Mysteries — three gripping cozy murder mysteries by …
: Hmmm, I checked my Micro.Blog profile and discovered I follow loads of people — Micro.blog - …
: Today I enjoyed an exploratory 6.5 Km bike ride around Ruakākā. It took me past the NIWA research …
: Uh oh. I think living here is going to cost more than we budgeted for. 🤣
: After weeks of not going to the/a gym we finally got back to it today. The gym at the Ruakākā …
: This was a surprise. Yesterday, as part of signing up to a new medical centre, I had a 30 minute …
: So, it turns out our fancy new dimmer switches have firmware updates and an app.
: US post suspension: 'It seems very strange to not be able to send a package': New Zealand Post …
: A view across the Ruakākā Racecourse from the southwest corner. It's been a bit rainy.
: At the mouth of the Ruakākā River, standing on the north shore.
: In a minor triumph, I have found the charger base for the vacuum cleaner!
: Meanwhile, it turns out we have our very own White-faced Heron outside the back door. 🐦
: A dawn walk at the beach took me to the sandspit on the north side of the Ruakākā River mouth, a …
: No photos yet, but so far the birds I've spotted around here are: Mynah (they don't live as far …
: At Taupō the other day we stopped to charge the EV and grab a bite to eat. I've also been thinking …
: Delicious Roasted Chilli Paste chicken — A well balanced sweet and spicy dish, stir fried with …
: We paused on our way to Whangārei at the junction of SH1 and SH15, where I took this photo looking …
: Stayed with whanau in Putāruru overnight. Today we go through to Whangarei to stay at a friend’s …
: We took a short break on the shores of Lake Taupō.
: We spent a comfortable night at Aspen Court Motel in Taihape. It was warm and had space for both …
: As a naturally early riser, I realised the best time to charge up the EV was at 5:30 in the morning. …
: It seemed moving day would never reach its conclusion, but we're now ensconced in a motel in …
: Hmmmm, moving day is involving an awful lot of waiting around. We might get away before dark.
: We had quite the farewell sunset tonight.
: We went to Cobb and Co in Levin for lunch. They actually have a Seniors menu with 2 courses for $35; …
: Ahhh, the delight of a cuppa at 2.30 am, otherwise spent stressing about how our garage stuff will …
: Moving house: there is always something else to be cleaned …
: Cat's new career as a detective is developing nicely as she solves a decades old murder with almost …
: Mid packing — after an interruption where they spent ages trying to get the van unstuck from …
: The chaos before the packers arrive. Today we have three classes of goods: we take them personally …
: Our neighbour up north has sent an inspirational photo, saying the photo doesn't do the view …
: The concept of Death Of A Ghostwriter (Wye Valley Widows Book 1) by Gaynor Torrance was interesting: …
: We don't actually leave for a few days but I decided just before sunset on a sunny and relatively …
: It's pretty chilly this morning.
: Our racist government Our government’s latest attempt at racism by removing Māori words from books for kids makes …
: Another very big milestone with our new house today. 🏡 At 11 am the building inspector visited for …
: There's a big list of items the movers won't take that we need to either dispose of or take in the …
: I eventually realised that Ellie's infuriating inability to stand up for herself in Book One was …
: Chlöe Swarbrick, one of our excellent politicians, in her Green Party AGM Speech 2025: human beings …
: It was quite a crowd yesterday in our little house, with 14 people crammed in over drinks and …
: Clean, tidy and rather empty. Waiting for guests for farewell drinks.
: For me, the scariest part of our move north is the 1 to 2 hour drive along the motorway through …
: It's a random photo kind of day, like this one of Oshi and Sasha from December 2018. 🐶
: In today's Northern Advocate (07 August 2025) I was struck by these two articles. Different …
: We weren't expecting these landscaping rocks in the garden, but they're a very nice addition. 🏡 …
: The Joy of Tech doesn't always resonate with me, but this … We are better than this!
: Sad news today when I heard my little dog friend Willow passed away yesterday, aged almost 15. 🐶 …
: I've been taking MyComplete mushroom pills from Flowstate for ages now. After pausing recently I …
: Will Harlow gives good tips in this 15 minute video. Implementing many has helped me sleep better. …
: One of these rocks is not like the others … I needed to fetch something from Deb's zendo …
: It was a milestone moment this morning when the Op Shop truck took away a bunch of mainly larger …
: Well! The dirty truth about what's in your socks: Your socks might say more about you than you …
: 5 light links 03-Aug-2025 Recycling single-use medical devices; Encouraging girls and women into sports; UK Harvest Mice get …
: As we look to moving 600 Km north from Waikawa Beach to Ruakākā we can expect more sunlight. Times …
: Turns out it's breeding season for the Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel. 🐦
: Our new house is nearly done. 🏡 Just as well since we move in soon. 😆 The deal included basic …
: Hmmm, on the south side of the river mouth, but not too far from our new home … Sources …
July 2025
: We decided to go upmarket on the light over the kitchen island in our new build. 🏡 Months ago a …
: A small success at the gym today. I use a leg curl machine similar to the one in this video: Lying …
: Roughly 10,000 Km away there has been a huge earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula: …
: Hmmm, the builder's photo of the Family Room on our new build is interesting. The space is 3.6 …
: OneNZ (Internet and phone provider) have *generously* waived the fee for cancelling Internet with …
: Beautiful light at dawn this morning. A view through the bedroom window, past the garage, to nearby …
: Things are coming together very quickly as our new house is in the final stages of being built. 🏡 …
: I've been watching videos about food forests on the YouTube channel Byron Grows. We're going to have …
: I smiled as I picked up Eight Miles to Death (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 8) by D.B. Borton …
: The Canada Geese round here need a bit of practice in Vee flying. 😆
: I've been drinking more milk lately and mentioned to Deb my concerns about the small mountain of …
: Another super cold morning with heavy frost then a blue sky day. Deb drove us into Wellington for …
: More photos from the builder, who tells us carpet is going in next week. We have a fancy letterbox, …
: I heard a funny story yesterday. My sister's 79 and once a week drives to the supermarket and …
: Big tick: On the very first page of the Te Tai Tokerau Regional Accessibility Strategy (PDF) is a …
: Awake at 0232 pondering on identity and how it's altered by a death in the family. And feeling …
: Thanks to a huge High over the country yesterday and today we've had the hardest frosts I think I've …
: I'm boggled. I just created a web app in 3 minutes … with Claude doing all the work. It's not …
: A quick iPhone snap never does it justice but there was a gorgeous golden sliver of moon low on the …
: Turns out my brother, who I hadn't actually seen or spoken to since Mum died back in 2013, died …
: The other day I watched an interesting video which then led me to Hanging Exercises for complete …
: On the rare occasions I get Bracket City out without mistakes, hints or outright revealing answers I …
: A series I seem to enjoy more with each book. Seven Deadly Sins (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 7) …
: I did a 5 Km beach walk at dawn, and took a photo of the 'lake' the sea leaves behind where the …
: This morning for the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society I thought I'd take a wide view. 🌊
: That was unexpectedly fun to see NZ's own Rhys Darby in the role of Wedding Planner on Star Trek: …
: This 23 minute video from Howtown is excellent The poison that made half the US a little dumber: …
: A dozen of these messages overnight. I get them all the time, but not usually so many at once. I …
: I'm always happy to buy and read books by Cari Hunter, such as The Stolen Girl. 📚 Detective …
: Cool! Orcas Appear to Be Sharing Their Prey With Humans—but What Does It Mean?: The researchers …
: This poster is on the window of our gym. It makes me chuckle. When I do things with weights I …
: Moments after I hung out the bird food the tauhou were eating their way through it. 🐦
: Pīwakawaka | Tirairaka | Fantails are notoriously hard to photograph in flight as they flit, dart, …
: Our new house has a posh al fresco area on the east and north corner. 🏡 I digitally removed a worker …
: Little spotted kiwi found on New Zealand's mainland for first time in 50 years | RNZ News: …
: A brutalist approach to roads Our government is right on track to cut everything back to the bone for the people in order to hand …
: Tl;dr — today's headlines: death, doom, destruction and chaos. (So, what's new?) 😵💫
: One of the things we're really looking forward to in our new house is the pantry with plenty of …
: The builder sent us a swag of exciting photos today as our house nears completion. 🏡 The kitchen …
: I jumped into this series with the last available book Body at the Doctor's (DI Jordan Carr Book 9) …
: Wow, I joined a mailing list and look at this first email: it's clean, clear, uncluttered. …
: Last week the tilers were busy working on our new bathrooms. 🏡 This photo was slightly surprising. …
: We went in to Wellington today for brunch with half a dozen old friends at The Lab. It has high …
: Will Harlow talked (32 minutes in) about a Deload Week — 15 Mistakes That Stop You Gaining …
: This is an interesting 16 minute video — Rebuilding Mum & Dad: See Frailty Reversed Through …
: I finally hung some bird food in the olive tree by our front door. Sparrows and Tauhou are enjoying …
: This is just up the road from Waikawa Beach. I love driving past all these flags! Ngāti Tukorehe to …
: As a romance this was an OK book, but it could have done with a good editor to tighten up a few …
: Excellent news today that we've sold the house we're living in at Waikawa Beach. We had an …
: I enjoyed this, though I wasn't so keen on the spy / intrigue element. Dead Silence (Naomi Blake …
: Our new build in Ruakākā is nearly done. This week the kitchen's going in, electricians are doing …
: Today I made a tasty Simple Mushroom Barley Soup. I'd never heard of baby bella mushrooms but …
: A curious use of the words "may" and "some". I would have thought "will" and "all" would be more …
: Via a friend — New Astronaut Camp for Girls Named After Star Trek Actress Nichelle Nichols, …
: I really want to upgrade my M1 MacBook Pro As the machine ages, lack of RAM and free hard drive space are causing glitches; Apple Pay has never …
: Two excellent word games that are new to me: Waffle: Rearrange the letters into the correct words, …
: In a dry spell within several very rainy days I finally did my part for the annual New Zealand …
: 5 light links 04-Jul-2025 A flock of goats helps get rid of weeds and unwanted species in a city park; Teaching kids how to be …
: I'm enjoying this series more and more. Six Feet Under (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 6) by D.B. …
: I made a very delicious Broccoli, Cheddar & Spinach Frittata for lunch. I made half the recipe, left …
: This article links to an excellent 16 minute documentary about women claiming their indigineity, …
: Nice tip from Daniel: On a Mac: Select any number of files in the Finder Hold the option key and …
: Hmm, our safe NZ has become a bit more dangerous — New venomous spider makes New Zealand home: …
: The fence on the south side of our new house has been finished. 🏡 There will eventually be one on …
: A friend came up by train from Wellington to meet me at Paekakairiki for brunch. Then we walked …
: Brilliant comic from Tom Gauld on grammatical voices for use in scientific writing | New Scientist: …
June 2025
: Seems it's fungus season. This basket fungus is past its best.
: For this morning's dawn beach walk I entered by a different track, then paused to take in the sweep …
: There was a degree of friction for me while reading this book. It was partly slightly awkward …
: I've enjoyed others in this series but this one just didn't gel for me. Shee McQueen: Bloodlines …
: I generated a random date and looked in my photos. I came up with this picture from March 2018 of …
: Deb and I drove to Wellington to clean out her office — books and bookshelves, cushions, …
: It was probably someone on Micro.Blog who linked through to this, but now I want to encourage others …
: An enormous loss when we move will be the (lack of) views. 🏡 Here we look over paddocks or greenery …
: Joss Fong and Adam Cole do such a fabulous job in their Howtown videos. Love this one about …
: Good news at Waikawa Beach — At-risk Waikawa Beach footbridge to be replaced | The Post …
: I'm enjoying this series and the wit sometimes makes me laugh out loud. Between my daughter Franny …
: The painters have been at work inside our new build at Ruakākā. 🏡 This photo from the builder …
: I was feeling very blah and 'untethered' this morning so took a brisk 5 Km beach walk at dawn: …
: I had no idea there was a women-only labour camp in Nazi Germany! This was a very interesting ~30 …
: The archaeological research (PDF) I was looking at the other day reveals that around 150 years ago: …
: Research ahead of big projects adds to the store of our local knowledge The Meridian Solar Farm project has revealed a bunch of native birds, including bittern, can be …
: First visit to Wellington in a while and everything's so quiet — almost certainly related to …
: How many people can be the parents of one child? A case in New Zealand of a throuple all being listed as parents has been appealed because apparently …
: This was a bit of froth I got for free — Death by the Dunes: A Pelican Shores Cozy Mystery by …
: Imagine the nightmare for word-processing software if this hadn't settled down: Like the Greeks, the …
: I wasn't entirely gripped by Death at Dark (Martha's Vineyard Murders Book 2) by Raemi A. Ray. 📚 a …
: This was a worthwhile 7.5 minute watch from Minute Food, a useful channel — The secret …
: We went sightseeing today along the newly opened Te Ahu a Turanga | Manawatū Tararua Highway: The …
: We visited Nanyang Flavours in Shannon which now opens for lunch. For $15.50 I had an extremely …
: LOL, our builder said the painters are working on the inside of our new house and wouldn't let him …
: Why Puanga is the star of this Matariki: Māori ways of marking time are inherently place-based, …
: Hmmm. Colonisation via timekeeping — Why Puanga is the star of this Matariki: With …
: I guess the fact that this was book 22 in the series shows that I enjoy this author's work. Murder …
: This random find has been a very relaxing 3.5 hours accompaniment this morning — Black Cats …
: Sunrise this morning was OK.
: There was a decent frost this morning. Looking south, towards the paddock with the neighbour's …
: Popped in to the supermarket, which was busy with lines at every checkout. Then I realised it's …
: Hmm, this is the part of the country we're moving to in a couple of months … The future for …
: My initial reaction was that the businesses that destroyed the habitat should be paying for this …
: I'm seeing more and more of this on things that come out of Australia — acknowledging the …
: Oh yeah, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — every episode a gem. 😁 S01E07 (Those Old Scientists): …
: I totally expected to toss this bit of fluff aside in disgust within a page or two but actually read …
: A few days ago when looking for something enjoyable to watch I landed on Season 2 of Star Trek: …
: Luckily before we firmed up dates with the moving company we checked with the builder for our new …
: In the southeast corner of our new property is an attenuation tank 🏡 : Stormwater attenuation is the …
: I found this way more gripping and enjoyable than I expected — A Chain of Pearls (Martha's …
: 5 light links 12-Jun-2025 Couple honoured for having fun (tracking asteroids); Kiwi kids win major awards at US Science Fair; …
: Femicide — Invisible victims: How Colombia plans to support kids orphaned by femicide | Al …
: Abandoned this free book because it was all a bit silly and it annoyed me with its carelessness (eg …
: I'd never noticed before, but Google Maps does something clever. I checked a driving distance for a …
: Cat Caliban goes further afield in this enjoyable story — Four Fatal Elements (The Cat Caliban …
: Our new house build is inspected at certain progress points. Yesterday was drainage. The report we …
: Booming space industry could hurt ozone layer's recovery - NZ study | RNZ News: The ozone layer is …
: As the clear nights and frosty mornings of winter bite down it became clear we don't have enough …
: While sorting out the firewood shed I came across this white blob under some pieces of pine. Closer …
: In the local good news department: The Brokenwood Mysteries returns: The reliably charming local …
: Wow, this is just a very mild cold, but I cooked and ate shepherd's pie for lunch then crashed for …
: This was a good read. I enjoyed and kept reading it while developing a cold, even though I really …
: I will miss glancing up from the kitchen bench and seeing this view through the bedroom window.
: After cleaning up for today's Open Home we enjoyed a delicious pizza at the Old Courthouse Eatery: …
: I have a strong suspicion I'm coming down with a cold. Meanwhile, to the southeast, more snowy …
: Hah! Looking through some old emails and found this from March 1997 with my first ever domain name …
: We knew it was darned cold this morning, but seeing the nearby snowy mountain tops from the main …
: I'm using the iCab browser for some research and often want to capture the page title and URL for my …
: Interesting article — What's protein, why do we need it, and how do you get more?: The average …
: This was a good 17 minute watch, NZ MP, Willie Jackson at the Oxford Union Debates. One fun moment, …
: The books in this series are ones I really enjoy. Murder At Mount Ida (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery …
: A bit rough out there today. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
: Yay. This cafe has just opened only 7 Km from our new house. Sounds good. Oregano Eat and Drink One …
: I watch all the Will Harlow videos and do at least some of the exercises. The ONLY Exercise You Need …
: Heavy edits on this photo from the builder of our new home. I lightened shadows, straightened the …
: Met a friend at Lock Up at 52B Marine Parade, Paraparaumu, for brunch. The toasted cheese gem (no …
: Another build update for our new house. 🏡 I think the photo from the builder shows Gib stopping and …
: Spotted from / at the supermarket car park today. 🤣 Bonus supermarket activity: I got to pat a …
: Another in an easy reading series I enjoy — Killer at the County Show (The Malvern Mysteries …
: A simple but delicious fried eggs on toast at Cafe 66 in Ōtaki. We decamped there during our Open …
May 2025
: Detectives Leo and Shan make a good team against a sweltering Yorkshire summer in Fire on the Fells …
: Hmmm, tailor-made suits — Shane Ave Suits (my emphasis): In designing your suit, you will have …
: The builder on our new house tells us: 🏡 This week all the Gib fixing has been completed and now the …
: It's a good thing it's not Dotterel nesting season. Last night's tide seems to have been unusually …
: 16 Authors I like 16 authors whose books I’ve enjoyed since July 2022. Mainly, but not exclusively, murder …
: Gorgeous colours this morning at the little lake just near our house.
: Two podcasts I've just discovered that I'll probably subscribe to: Women of Steel with Miriam …
: 5 light links 28-May-2025 Native jumping spider; Wind-powered cargo ships; Video of a scrap between tuatara and takahē; huge …
: Glanced up from messaging a friend to see this splendour.
: Hmm, two author interviews I've listened to in two days now … This morning: Interview with …
: If you're having a bad morning, afternoon or evening, Jason Kottke has you covered: These are owls …
: After a false start a couple of years ago, I finally read and enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries: All …
: We just bought new Eufy P2 Pro smart bathroom scales. This device tracks 16 essential body …
: Three for the Kill (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 3) was another lightweight but entertaining …
: Looks like the builders have put up all the gib on our new build. 🏡 Photo by the builder, as usual. …
: Yup, that worked last night.
: Finally went for a dawn beach walk again. The view across the little lake was good. Although mainly …
: Well, this is unusual round these parts: today both high and low temperature forecast are 16/16C …
: Putting up gib board continues at our new build. 🏡 The builder was standing at the front door to …
: I enjoyed reading the Library ebook Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi. 📚 This was a creative and …
: How cool — NZ wool being used to make eco-friendly caskets: Low-emissions caskets and urns …
: From the Whangārei District Library I borrowed the ebook of The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish. 📚 A …
: Today's random interesting fact — What Would You Win in an Elizabethan Lottery? | History Hit: …
: When we returned from our visit up north I found this delight in the letterbox. My thanks to @jean …
: I enjoyed reading Killing a Stranger (Naomi Blake Mysteries Book 4) by Jane Adams. 📚 Teenager Rob …
: Today the builder sent us more progress photos of gib board being put up in our new house. I've …
: This approximately 25 minute speech on Yale's Class Day by The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, …
: It was so blimmin cold this morning that today I went down to the shed and retrieved the extra …
: When I first glimpsed a black bird hopping along the railing I assumed it was 'our' Blackbird. Then …
: The builders have started putting up Gib board in our new house. 🏡 Photo by the builder. There was a …
: Our Whangārei friends are incredibly hospitable and generous and their house is very comfortable, …
: I love the creativity of the Hundertwasser museum and precinct in Whangārei Basin. This area of …
: We ate lunch at Deluca Cafe (FB link), 6/8 Rust Avenue, Whangarei 0110. That's pretty much opposite …
: Yesterday afternoon we went with our friends to visit friends of theirs in Waipu which is about 10 …
: These books were good enough, but not brilliant. Havard and Lambert Books 1–5 by Pippa McCathie. 📚 …
: No onion in my meals please A poor experience at Acropolis Cafe, Bar And Grill in Whangārei.
: Most people at Barge Park today, including us, were walking dogs. Then there were a dozen or more …
: It was a gorgeous and hot day at Ruakākā beach today. A few people were swimming. Taranga (Hen), …
: An exciting time today as we saw our new house for the first time "in the flesh". 🏡 We didn't know …
: We flew over our new house as we came in to land at Whangārei. It's in the green area in the bottom …
: Yay. Boarded our plane to Whangārei, taxied, sat, returned to terminal, engineers fixed a small …
: 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 The new energy farm at Ruakākā is developing wetlands and planting to support native species.
: This morning the bricks were half way up the wall on our new build. By the end of the afternoon the …
: Favourite typo in a book I'm reading (my emphasis): Fabia got out pickles and took a cucumber from …
: Our building company rep sent a photo of bricklayers hard at work this morning on our new place. 🏡 …
: Our government: protectors of profit above all else! 🤮 Forest & Bird Says National Parks Not …
: Our appalling government has cancelled overnight outstanding claims to get equal pay for low-paid …
: In the cafe we visited yesterday an older woman was sitting nearby. She wore about 4 or more gold …
: One of these things is not like the others … This sign amused me while I was eating brunch …
: We visited Kowhai on the main road in Ōtaki for brunch. I had a very delicious French Toast with …
: OK, Netatmo wind gauge, you seem to be hallucinating. I think I would have noticed wind gusts of …
: NZ and the space age — I'm angry NZ has no business ‘competing’ in space spending. We have real problems of poverty, …
: The removal company assessor inventoried our stuff to be moved; now we await the eye watering quote. …
: This week painters have been working on the wooden parts of the cladding on our new house. 🏡 This …
: Sigh, pillows! After an age of waking in the mornings with a sore neck I researched pillows. Four …
: I want to know who had the job of counting the ants. 🤣 — ‘Ant Gang’ smugglers sentenced in …
: 5 light links 07-May-2025 Little spotted kiwi; Book brigade; Bumper blue penguin season; School lunches show community cares; …
: Ocean near New Zealand warming faster than anywhere else, study finds: A study has found New …
: I'm glad to see this toolkit for women putting themselves forward for public office — Tools to …
: Checking my previous blog posts and found this: Uhhh, so, has anyone beeped Buffy yet? It seems way …
: After Book 2 was such a stinker I almost didn't even start Let the Woman Go (Naomi Blake Mysteries …
: How to watch the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in New Zealand this week | RNZ News: Thursday will …
: Definitely worth reading: The woman braving tigers, crocodiles and pirates in Bangladesh’s mangroves …
: Time for my annual Speedtest check: Down: 114.93; Up: 27.50. Hmmm, on this day in 2023 I posted my …
: After cleaning up for the Open Home today (good news: a couple of bites) we packed a wee picnic …
: Blazing red at sunset tonight.
: Deb and I just finished watching Series 9 of Shetland: Amid spectacular scenery, in an isolated and …
: I hadn't heard of Nocturnal Preserves before, but what a good idea! Why – and how – to rewild the …
: I'm always happy to read another in this series. A Troubled Tide (Detective Shona Oliver Book 5) by …
: Yesterday I made these yummy egg bites with red capsicum, edamame beans, a little minced fresh …
: This week the photos from the builder show they've been working on the cladding of our new house; …
: The wind is only strong rather than the fierce gales hitting Wellington today, but the cabbage trees …
April 2025
: I rewatched Star Trek Voyager S04E25, One: After the rest of the crew is placed in suspended …
: Came upon some really old photos: me as a pupil at Christchurch Girls' High School. I do not recall …
: On this morning's dawn beach walk there were reflections in remnant water.
: It turns out I find romances easier to read when they're lesbian romances. I enjoyed Jones by Gerri …
: This breaks my brain: World military expenditure reached $2718 billion in 2024 Via Sunday’s …
: I do several word puzzles of US origin and every day they reveal just a bit more about how different …
: Feeling a bit meh today after an Open Home with no visitors so found a random photo from my album. …
: Deb and I go to the most excellent 24/7 Fitness Gym in either Levin or Paraparaumu, though they have …
: I didn't like this book at all, and ended up skipping about a third of it only to read an …
: Got up to check out the helicopter flying overhead before dawn — rather unusual, but then I …
: It's quite something when the helicopter pilot flies at eye level straight towards our lounge window …
: I've been watching Cornwall Air 999 - Cornwall Air Ambulance and have two key take aways: I won't be …
: Landed an hour or so ago in the paddock next door. Perhaps it's picnic time … 🤣
: Wow, I had no idea this was possible — Text Fragments Enable Deep Linking on Web Pages. The …
: What a big High over the country does: a couple of days ago it was 29C (about 85F) mid-afternoon; …
: With Easter over I ventured out early to the supermarket today. In the fruit and vege section the …
: This second book was a bit too unbelievable, a bit too glaringly obvious. I didn't enjoy it as much …
: Very readable: The Complete Travelling Cook Mysteries 📚 At just under $2 it made sense to buy this 7-book box set for the two books in the series I hadn't …
: How flu vaccines are created The old way: growing the virus in embryonated chicken eggs. The new way: growing in mammalian cells …
: Woke at 3 am from a ridiculous (and unpleasant) dream. Told my brain the concepts it was playing …
: Two Pied Stilts at the beach today: one doing yoga and the other taking a bath. 😆 🐦
: Speaking as a person who does not live and has never lived in any kind of combat zone, I believe the …
: So many quotable parts in the article about Mae West, but I chose this one. I had no idea Mae West …
: Bit of a headache this afternoon and very slightly concerned about a bit of red in the corner of one …
: Watch the 8 minute video of Hannah Einbinder — it's such a powerful speech. Via Dorothy …
: While cleaning up my hard drive I stumbled on Xena: Warrior Princess, S01E15: Warrior … …
: I do like this author. I can't believe this is already Book 4 of 5. Death in the Hills (The Malvern …
: A tiny group of vocal feminists set back women's autonomy Those in power should not be telling us who we are and how we can be.
: Answer Engines vs Search Engines — AI Answer Engines Are Worth Trying: Search Engines: …
: Abut 700 Km away Ex-Cyclone Tam is wreaking havoc on the north of the North Island (where we'll be …
: In the last 65 days rainfall added about 8,000 litres to our water tank. That covers about 30 days …
: I believe tomorrow the pre-wire of our new house will take place. Meanwhile, here's our front door …
: I almost exclusively use Safari on my Mac and for years have watched TV shows via Safari. Since the …
: I feared A Case for the Winemaker (Ainsley McGregor Book 1) by Candace Havens would fall into the …
: Luckily our Netflix sub didn't cancel when it was supposed to so we got to watch the excellent show …
: The other day I cooked The Best Chicken Soup You'll Ever Eat | Ambitious Kitchen and it was …
: D.B. Borton's Two Points for Murder (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 2) is a fun lightweight book. 📚 …
: Wow, something I'd never thought of, but insurance makes sense — Add Protection from Scammers …
: In the last few days our new house gained windows and doors. I've processed the photo from the …
: Turns out my flu and Covid jabs are a bit harder to get over than I expected. I need to remember …
: This was a lightweight but enjoyable read, that was free when I 'bought' it. A Mid-Summer Murder …
: Two days ago I had my flu and Covid jabs. I expected I'd feel a bit greebly for a day or two, and …
: NASA to launch rugby stadium-sized balloons from Wānaka Airport | RNZ News: Two super pressure …
: Abandoned: The Complete Detective Bailey Thrillers by Kate Watterson. 📚 When it comes to solving …
: Not exactly "news", but something everyone should know about. This will be going on in every single …
: Vaccination status: Flu and Covid shots received Covid : JN.1 variant; Flu: Victoria, Croatia, Austria, Phuket variants.
: Well, we just had a torrential downpour: 10 mm in 30 minutes, with a bit of thunder and a blip of a …
: LOL — Mystery of the missing minutes: Why are TV shows shorter in New Zealand? | The Spinoff: …
: Another good read in the series by Kate Wells: A Body by the Henhouse (The Malvern Mysteries Book …
: 5 light links 07-Apr-2025 Endangered green turtles released; Native lizard enclosure; Art Form That Makes Silent Voices Heard; …
: Here’s the iPhone. Here’s the iPhone With Tariffs. - WSJ (via John Gruber): This is what Apple pays …
: Our new house is coming along. The builder sent photos on a couple of days. 🏡 I had Apple Photos …
: This looks like so much fun. Excited! Season Three Trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
: Deb made delicious pikelets for lunch.
: I really enjoy such timeline adjacencies. Puppets!
: A nide of 5 pheasant chicks wandered around in the rain by my window this morning. Here are two of …
: I very much enjoyed Coercive Power (The King & Midnight K-9 Mysteries Book 2) by D. L. Keur, an …
: Sigh. Things don't change. My emphasis: A local woman’s phone call to Switzerland 20 years ago led …
: The good news started sometime in the night — I heard rain in the gutter. 💦 The forecast …
: I enjoyed this start of a new series by an author I know from the Rina Martin mysteries: Two Little …
: Aargh! I'm at the point in my morning where I go to run the Keyboard Maestro macro I spent ages …
: 5 light links 03-Apr-2025 Charity hospital; Wild horses help prevent wildfires; 60 year old geckos; Kea flock size growing; …
: Our new house is being wrapped. 🏡 This photo by the builder shows the south (cold) side of the house …
: I occasionally spot a hedgehog on our property, and with mixed feelings. They are quite cute, but: …
: Thanks to Virginia DeBolt at Old Ain't Dead I've been watching The Residence on Netflix. I just …
March 2025
: I quite enjoyed The Earth Concurrence (Colonial Explorer Corps Book 1) by Julia Huni. 📚 Not entirely …
: Yesterday was a stunning blue sky day so Deb and I went to Waikanae for breakfast then tried out a …
: Blueberry icecream from Waikawa Blueberries. Yum.
: Whew, that quake started with a sharp jolt and a very loud crack then gave us a really good shake. I …
: Well, well, well. I spotted the photo below with its caption about a new tsunami siren at Ruakākā. …
: I enjoyed Stranger in the Village (The Malvern Mysteries Book 2) by Kate Wells. 📚 I thought I'd …
: Handy link — Export bookmarks [from] Safari…: [Safari File menu] "Export Browsing Data to …
: This morning I enjoyed a thoroughly restorative walk in Waiopehu Scenic Reserve: The remnant native …
: This will be literally just down the road from us — about a 5 minute bike ride — after …
: Hooray! Whangārei to fluoridate water after court dismisses district council’s challenge - NZ …
: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. The video was cut a little short as I was standing too …
: I went out just before dawn for a beach walk. First I walked past Lake Puna o te Ora which was …
: When the Chinese warships were doing live fire drills not far away recently Deb reminded me no-one …
: Another good read in a series I enjoy. Straw in the Wind (The DI Callum MacLean mysteries Book 2) by …
: Based on the sample, I bought The Complete Rain Morgan Mysteries Books 1–5 by Lesley Grant-Adamson. …
: Today Deb and I went to the gym at Paraparaumu instead of Levin. They have HOIST Fitness CPL ROC-IT …
: Unexpected Chaffinch and Greenfinch Claude.ai helped me identify two birds on flax that I spotted from the window.
: I wasn't entirely sure at first, but by the later part of the book I was gripped. Murder on the Farm …
: Cat lovers: this is a very fun 5 minute video. Extreme Cat Hide and Seek with Ralph and Bella | The …
: Two small shakes in a row to keep us on our toes this morning. Both were shallow and only about 15 …
: Every Friday our builder gives us a report on the new house. Now the roof is on, the next payment …
: Invoice time: Trusses & Roof Stood milestone on our new build achieved. 🏡 This builder's photo …
: Less than 2 hours after emailing BBEdit Support I have a helpful response which has solved my …
: Something I very rarely need to do: I contacted BBEdit for support. For years and years I've …
: Woke to the unusual but welcome sound of rain on the roof this morning. Real, proper rain. 💦
: Our new house now has a roof, as the photos from the builder show. 🏡 Across the longrun Colorsteel …
: Physiotherapist Will Harlow makes excellent videos on strength and mobility for the over-50s so …
: A visualisation requirement led me to abandon a Mandarin course A free Mandarin course turned out to be not right for me, with pressure sales funnel techniques and …
: There was a beautiful light at 10 minutes to sunset tonight.
: I watched Still Alice — a very moving and powerful film that I wish I had seen before my …
: It's pretty standard stuff, but Deb and I are enjoying watching the TV show Return to Paradise. Set …
: Such an interesting 9 minute video: Successful season for rare New Zealand fairy tern! 🐦 : Follow …
: One of my go-to sources for how to do stuff on my Mac, iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices has …
: Really interesting 22 minute interview video: How Ibtihaj Muhammad made Olympic history. This was a …
: This was a lightweight and rather enjoyable read which took us as readers in unusual directions. Cat …
: Yesterday I picked 8 Kg apples off my Granny Smith tree — that's about $35 worth. I also left …
: As expected, there were no bids on our house for sale at the auction. Now folks who wanted a firm …
: Tomorrow is the auction where our Waikawa Beach house may not sell. We met with the auctioneer and …
: This morning I pulled a fresh T-shirt from the drawer. I don't generally have black clothes so I …
: This book was not only a good read, but the team of detectives were all people I was happy to spend …
: Our new house passed another inspection today. 🏡 I'm not quite sure what these builders photos show, …
: On this morning's rather brief walk I spotted a Royal Spoonbill at the lake, then two more, with a …
: 5 light links 10-Mar-2025 Fish doorbell; flightless takahē recovery; kākāriki karaka growth; air pollution falling; rare white …
: We also visited the gym where we were alone for a while so I had some fun trying out the various …
: For our third and final Open Home Deb and I took ourselves to Old Courthouse Eatery in Levin for …
: If you're even remotely interested in wildlife or amazing scenery then the TVNZ documentary series …
: This 50 minute podcast episode is just mind-blowing. With AI we may soon be able to translate …
: Work continues on our new house up north. 🏡 This week the roof trusses were put in place. Photos …
: I usually visit Harrison's Cafe and Garden Centre with my good friend J but she's away at the …
: It was so blimmin cold this morning I went down to the shed in the dark and brought up firewood for …
: This morning's dawn beach walk netted me a Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦 And just like on …
: Half a dozen things in our house beep when power is restored after an outage — that's why I …
: Apparently Whangārei offers free parking for the over 70's. I've just spotted this in the Bream Bay …
: We used to have Micro Monday around here, to help community members be discovered. Here are a dozen …
: Another engrossing read from Anna Britton: Close to the Edge (Detectives Martin & Stern Book 2). …
: We loved the film Tinā. 🎥 It should win a load of awards. Excellent story, excellent actors, …
: Every day I check earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions to see what's up in …
: For the last few days this happens once per day. It forces me to restart because I can't connect to …
: As I lay awake in the middle of the night I wondered if animals suffer from insomnia. Is there some …
: Excellent turn of phrase, referring to our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. "Wind sock", hah! : He …
February 2025
: Having enjoyed another series by this author, I was gripped by this book too. Litany For A Broken …
: About a week before we expected it the frames on our new house were stood. The panorama photo from …
: After the near approach of Chinese warships recently I was inspired to try learning Mandarin. After …
: Every day at this time of year a few Warou | Welcome swallows hang out on the deck railing. I'll …
: I guess it depends how you define "people" — clearly "people" do still want to visit the …
: Having already read and reasonably enjoyed most books in this cheap box set, I bought it for Books 5 …
: Our health care in Aotearoa is free, but that excludes teeth. Seeing the dentist always costs a lot, …
: So interesting: Witches of Bucha: Ukraine’s women protecting the skies | Al Jazeera (17 minute …
: Yesterday I thought I was a bit unwell. Turns out a day of resting up sorted me out. Whew. I spent …
: I had thought a rare 9+ hours sleep would be a good thing, but I rather suspect I'm not 100% well …
: At this time of year the stream outflow from Lake Waiorongomai to the sea is dry. In this dawn photo …
: One billion is a huge number. Look at this billion pixel rectangle to get an idea of how infinitely …
: This 1.5 minute video is hilarious. 🤣 Dear English Language. Via: Which word is always misspelt?
: Yesterday I spotted a Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher on a flax spear near the house. 🐦 I haven't seen …
: Hmmm, just a secretive superpower carrying out warlike exercises next door. Nothing to worry about …
: Eeeugh to Aaahhh We have a freestanding oven and cooktop and it's mandatory to have a small gap either side. That gap …
: What's real and what's AI? This 20 minute video I tried to prove I'm not AI from Joss Fong and Adam …
: So worth reading! Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words. 📚 …
: Pained the eye and stunned the ear I've been slowly reading Anne Curzan's Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who …
: Back in November 2021 I bought A Cotswolds Murder Mystery Box Set Books 1–4 (Alex Duggins crime …
: Sharing this because it's a cool good news story. Read it, watch the wee video. Smile. 🐶 Meet Bosco, …
: We now have a concrete floor. 🏡 Now nothing happens for a couple of weeks while the concrete cures. …
: At dawn there were a few gulls and Oystercatchers at the sea edge. Up in the dunes the tiny clump of …
: The raft foundation went in today ready for concrete to be poured this week. 🏡 a polystyrene ‘pod’ …
: Having completed the earthworks not long ago, the builders dug chunks of it up again to install the …
: Today I made Pan-Seared Chicken Tenderloin and it was delicious. Borderline too spicy, so it's a …
: LOL: "unshackled himself from the chains of entry-level intelligence and basic human decency" : That …
: I've discovered that after great physical exertion I just don't sleep well. 😒 Yesterday I washed the …
: The sale page for our house has gone live. Auction scheduled for 13 March 2025. Open Homes next 3 …
: Legal personhood for Taranaki: transformative or tokenistic? Legal personhood oversimplifies …
: Deb made us these delicious, light Drop Scones (Scotch Pancakes). She didn't add any essence and …
: House building always seems to progress in fits and starts. After earthworks were completed, the …
: A few days ago I took this photo of a Pohowera | Banded dotterel. 🐦 There have been too few bird …
: The ingenious NZ-designed hijab breaking ground overseas | RNZ News: A New Zealand-designed hijab, …
: Finished reading The Jeri Howard Anthology: Books 1-5 by Janet Dawson, and enjoyed it in parts. 📚 …
: On Thursday the full moon was setting in the west around dawn. Meanwhile, the inversion layer on …
: Clear skies and no wind this morning so the sea was super calm below the setting full moon. For the …
: After Maique mentioned the 65x24 photo format I downloaded the app and gave it a try. This was …
: Around 4.30 this morning I decided not to wait to get a cup of tea. Strolled into the kitchen to …
: I tried something completely new to me today: a visit to The Cave in Palmerston North. I paid for a …
: Today is house-washing (outside walls) day. So far I've washed the north wall, which is second …
: Much as I don't care for the politics of Winston Peters, he can be very quick-witted and funny: …
: Every day Warou | Welcome swallows come and sit on the railing outside our lounge and watch what I …
: There was this drone with its tail: A few seconds earlier the scene looked like this: Just fishing …
: This solar farm and battery storage facility will be only a few minutes drive from our new house. …
: Whew, we called on Aqua Gold Water Supply 2024 today to add 12,000 litres of drinking water to our …
: It's been a while … This morning I pumped up our bike tires and we did a 10 Km bike ride …
: A really interesting 16 minute video — THIS is Your Brain on GREEN TEA: New (2025) Science on …
: I made this Greek omelet today when my friend J visited. It was delicious, but I was totally unable …
: And then read the rest. 📚 And if you enjoy the freebie, the rest of the series is available as a …
: I really enjoy @Cheri's books. This is a good deal. 😁 📚 Hey, mystery fans! Want a murder-vacation in …
: Yesterday in the supermarket I walked past a stand of Hot Cross Buns. Folks, Easter isn't until …
: Good to know — I've just discovered the Frankie Drake Mysteries Wiki. 🔗 I love the way Frankie …
: DOC 'cautiously optimistic' for New Zealand's rarest bird, the fairy tern | RNZ News 🐦 : With fewer …
: Oops, carelessly fell asleep while reading out in the midday sun. Maybe only 15 minutes, so fingers …
: Things have been so busy I haven't done a dawn beach walk for a while. Rectified this morning. 5.5 …
: Annie makes a lot of sense, as always — I’m gonna keep making shit and I hope you will too: …
: Random bit of fun spotted in a parked car at the cafe where I met a good friend for brunch this …
: The photographer has been and gone and now it's a couple of weeks till the first open home. We can …
: I enjoy this series by Anne Shillolo, and Murder at Hay River (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 4) …
: Tomorrow the photographer will take pretty pictures of our house so we can advertise it for sale. …
: We were near Whanganui yesterday when three large military aircraft flew low and slow in a sweeping …
: We stopped at Main Street Cafe in Waverley for lunch. They had a pleasant garden area. Next door, …
: This puriri tree at Pukekura Park is about 2,000 years old!
: We visited the gorgeous and popular Pukekura Park in New Plymouth: Pukekura Park is an idyllic, …
: While Aotearoa is in the South Pacific, I guess technically both Waikawa Beach and New Plymouth are …
: Two minutes walk from the Devon Hotel in New Plymouth is the coastal walkway and beach. Looking …
: Our friends J & H, keen motorcyclists, have ridden their bikes 510 Km from Whangārei to meet us …
: You’re never in any doubt where you are when stopping at Bulls for lunch.
: I enjoy the Detective Clare Mackay series by Marion Todd. Dead Man's Shoes (Detective Clare Mackay …
: A couple of years ago I didn't care for one of Tannis Laidlaw's books, but I thought I'd give a …
: I usually take my Waikawa Beach photos from across the estuary, somewhere south of the river throat. …
January 2025
: This was such an interesting podcast episode! Lingthusiasm Episode 99: A politeness episode (1 …
: For my own future reference — Hawaiian Language: Hawaiian diacritical marks, ʻokina (ʻ) and …
: Hah, a potential buyer is coming to look at our house this afternoon, in the single hour today when …
: Ugh. Looks like creepy spam. Blocked!
: It turned out today was floor washing day — prompted in part by the full cup of coffee that …
: Wiped myself out today sorting stuff in the grounds and garage, carting stuff around and loading a …
: I apologised to this rather chubby Green and Golden Frog for making it homeless. I'd just removed a …
: What hope does a non-American have when the answer to a puzzle is that 4 words with 3 different …
: Quite a rattle to wake us at 1130 at night. 〜 Magnitude 5.2, 33 Km deep, not very distant. No harm …
: Not the most gripping, but an easy read — An Unfortunate Christmas Murder (The Dinner Lady …
: Yay. Our building company uses a service called BuilderTrend. They started sharing photos of our new …
: Between having guys working in the 'garden' stirring up sand, dust, pollen etc yesterday and a …
: It's turned in to a hot day. We have a painter in the house touching up spots that need it, and two …
: Last night I left the south facing window above my bed wide open to keep the room cool. That didn't …
: The whole hour of this Lingthusiasm podcast episode (#98) is fascinating — Helping computers …
: I was struck by a phrase in an interview (my emphasis) with an Australian woman: I grew up on Bunuba …
: Out of nowhere I thought of Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner and their huge shouting matches, from the …
: Not something I've seen in the skies above Waikawa Beach before now. 😳
: This applies to Ruakākā, where we're moving to later this year — Fast-track legislation stirs …
: I've been suspicious that the Command key on my M1 MacBook Pro isn't working properly — I go …
: The Kuaka | Godwits were resting or feeding near the Terns. 🐦
: I don't visit the beach quite as much at the moment, but this morning's trip brought Caspian Terns, …
: Our house hasn't been this clean and tidy since before we moved in. 🤣 Even though we haven't yet …
: I laughed a lot while watching 2 seasons of Loot on Apple TV: It follows newly single Molly Wells, …
: This New Zealand native bird, the Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris, is one that can only be seen …
: This fabulous map shows where any point on earth is in shade or sun at any given moment. Many thanks …
: Pronouns are interesting. As a native speaker of English I've never entirely come to grips with the …
: Change doesn't happen overnight. Back in the 1970s I lived and taught teenagers in small town New …
: Before they can start building our new house they have to add some height to the building platform. …
: Yesterday started with an extremely delicious strawberry from the tunnelhouse.
: I've long hated Facebook but there were one or two valid reasons to stay on there. With those …
: I enjoyed reading this book set in Australia but written by a Kiwi. The Beautiful Dead (Cal Nyx …
: Ours is not a seaweed beach, but this morning there were clumps like this all the way along. The …
: One of those timeline adjacencies! // @cygnoir@social.lol @danielpunkass
: Big day today. In theory they've started breaking ground at our new Ruakākā property. Meanwhile we …
: We had an unexpected visitor this morning when maybe a juvenile Pīwakawaka | Fantail flew into the …
: After I'd gone to bed last night Deb reminded me about the comet so I got up and went down to the …
: A good measure of progress on our clean up, clear up, pack up project to ready the house for sale is …
: 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'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 …
: Might not look like much, but that Portaloo near the white sign marks the corner of our new property …
: 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 …
: 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 …
: Six planets to line up in night sky | RNZ News. I sincerely hope the picture heading this article is …
: After I do a lot of physical work I don't sleep well. Yesterday I moved half a dozen shovels full of …
: Yesterday morning by the river mouth at the beach things were very quiet. For the Pacific Wave …
: I like the characters and setting in this series but the plotting in this book is a bit hard to go …
: 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 …
: When I planted flaxes beside the driveway I made a big mistake, not thinking about how massive …
: We had a stack of (very heavy) concrete pavers that we kept when our rental property no longer …
: Well, 7 years on Micro.Blog. My move in 2018 away from WordPress was a very good decision. I love …
: Before we can sell our house there's a heap of tasks to do. In the last couple of days I've been …
: I'm not a big fan of the romance genre, but sometimes make an exception for lesbian romance. I read …
: Today we tried out the new restaurant Jamboree at Tatum, where I ate a pretty good: Korean fried …
: Overall a fair read — Gale Force Danger (The Rán Hollander Mystery Series Book 2) by Lakota …
: I mainly enjoyed the movie Good Grief: follows a man mourning the loss of his husband as his two …
: In today's news — smoke is smoky. Large vegetation fire at Whangārei Heads triggers emergency …
: Over Christmas and New Year our fridge freezer started leaking water and storing up ice below the …
: I enjoyed watching the kids movie Luck 🎥 : Set in the Land of Luck, the story follows the unluckiest …
: With this dreary weather the Tararua Range can be quite moody.
: I really recommend this book, on sale today: US$3.10. It's good for all adults, not just us older …
: Something I learned when we sold our Wellington house — there were a million clean-up things …
: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. Waikawa Beach, with a stiff southerly. 🌊
: A good read by an author whose previous books I've enjoyed. Lake Effect Murder (The Rán Hollander …
: I really enjoyed The Six Triple Eight: based on the 2019 magazine article "Fighting a Two-Front …
: Deb made shortbread biscuits today and they are delicious! The recipe for Shortbread Cookies says: …
: We don't yet have a start date for the house build at Ruakākā, but we expect to move perhaps …
: By the end of the 11-book Sister Joan series I was sad to leave this world, though the last book …
: We watched A Remarkable Place to Die: a New Zealand-Australian crime drama series [that] follows …
: Many thanks to Alan Jacobs for putting me on to the most excellent Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most …
: Spotted one of these in the wild the other day and it intrigued me enough to look it up — JPOD …
: In this 10 minute video Will Harlow, a physiotherapist, explains the science of why we lose height …
: Things are getting more complicated in the 4th book of an enjoyable series — Parallax: …
: It's a shame; I've enjoyed doing the Classic Daily Cryptic Crossword - The Globe and Mail lately. …
: Today is different from the other days so far this summer: the rain's coming from the north rather …
: Back in 1998 I owned a Honda Del Sol sports car. We had no garage in Wellington and lived about 140 …
: 2025 is off to a good start, with these strawberries from the tunnelhouse. Yum!
December 2024
: Deb put in a lot of work to make very delicious Lemon Meringue Tarts. Our friend D was supposed to …
: In Episode 1 the whole premise of Ludwig was too ridiculous, but by the end of the season I was well …
: I plan to build muscle strength to walk better and avoid falls When I walk I've noticed I scuff one foot or other approximately every 15 steps. Years of dog …
: It's been a while since I did a decent beach walk, but today I stowed the camera in the backpack and …
: The first story in Rogue Stars: 7 Novels of Space Exploration and Adventure (various authors) was …
: Juxtaposition of the day … Number of lithium-ion battery fires double in four years | RNZ …
: In December 2008 I was in Hawai'i for a few days where I took some not very good photos, including …
: I feel I've hardly noticed any Pōhutukawa flowering this year. This photo is from December 2005.
: Capitalism working flawlessly to separate people from their money. 😵💫
: I was a bit iffy about the first Sister Joan book, but when the chance came to buy 9 books for less …
: At 3.30 a.m. Deb and I decided to have a cup of tea after being woken by wind gusting to 55 Kph (35 …
: Red One was a lightweight and fairly funny movie, with great creativity: On Christmas Eve, a black …
: Christmas lunch was perfect: an appetiser of two bacon, pesto and haloumi bites, followed by roast …
: Who knows whether they're coming or going? NZ Dotterels on the move. 🐦
: When I checked the swallow nest above the zendo door all the little warm bodies were gone, but this …
: A jolly good read — Star Nomad: Fallen Empire, Book 1 by Lindsay Buroker. 📚 Steal a …
: Baby swallow photo, with added baby swallow. 😆 🐦
: Good local news: The Horowhenua Star will be published by ID media, which already publishes …
: Uh oh. This is a road we may be using a fair bit after we move north — : SH1 Whangārei to …
: The system I use to track my reading Hollie wrote about wanting to keep track of reading. I almost exclusively read books I've bought …
: For some reason I don't so often post photos of the Australian coots on the wee lake down the road. …
: OK, compose the picture of the baby swallow on the zendo roof, carefully and slowly depress the …
: At brunch at Floriditas in Wellington yesterday I was looking out on this electronic billboard and …
: It's rare to see BBEdit discounted, but WinterFest 2024 is offering a coupon: BBEdit is the leading …
: Today we visited Wellington for brunch at Floriditas, where I ate Brioche french toast, Lewis Farms …
: Working on a friend's tiny plain HTML and CSS web page. Grr, doesn't work … still not working …
: I wanted to watch something light and fluffy. The Grinch did not disappoint. I liked all of it, but …
: A wee reminder for Kiwis who may have $20 to spare. This time of year family violence intensifies. …
: Thrilled that there were 3 little Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel chicks hooning round on the …
: Not sure about this, but I think the Spur-winged Plovers that hang around the beach have also reared …
: The adventure continues in Dreadnought And Shuttle: Halcyone Space, book 3 by LJ Cohen. Our team of …
: Beautiful and amazing 5 minute video — 5,000 drones light up the night sky in a …
: Well, today's Waikawa Beach news. The driver can't have known there's nowhere to go with a car once …
: Thanks to Collin Donnell for the Image Playground inspiration. This was fun. Our two dogs, Oshi and …
: You may have to look very closely at these photos to make them out. Above the zendo door is a mud …
: Last night around 10 pm a southerly storm arrived suddenly. I went round and closed all the open …
: Someone needs to get on our roof to pull a huge clump of grass from the gutter. Foolishly I went …
: Mars Edit Post Category Counter AppleScript I had Claude help me write an AppleScript and prepare this blog post. The AppleScript helps solve …
: I quite often have good ideas for work someone else can do. 🤣 I've just sent in a Mars Edit feature …
: The Oystercatcher chick is of course getting bigger, and darker, every day. 🐦
: Yummm. The 2-hour Fastest No Knead Rolls, Crusty Rolls | Jenny Can Cook were delicious. After …
: Another good read in a series I enjoy — Critical Traces (The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries …
: The other day Deb cleared and planted one vegetable bed. Today I added mulch and netting to keep the …
: Darn it — I backed the car into a low fence at an unfamiliar location today. Luckily it's done …
: Nice one! When getting nowhere with the lackeys, go instead straight to the boss: The Iwi Chairs …
: Sleep update: Deb left the house around 0430 to drive to Wellington airport for an early flight. I …
: Drat. For no particular reason it was one of those nights where I was asleep not very much and awake …
: We've had our Mazda CX3 for 9 or 10 years now. The other day we received a Rearview Camera Safety …
: Can you even see the two almost microscopic Dotterel chicks? 🐦 One is dead-centre, the other …
: The Oystercatcher chick had strayed further from its parents today. 🐦
: I usually can't bear to read the Government's Press Releases, but this is welcome news … …
: I must have had an effective session at the gym yesterday — all the muscles I worked are …
: A kiwi 'christmas' parade: We still have Santa who comes along with us to celebrate, but we …
: Every couple of days I plug a 4TB drive into my MacBook Pro and use Time Machine to run a backup. …
: This is a slim book in the way a surgeon's scalpel is slim — and equally effective …
: My Granny Smith apple tree is on track to produce a good crop this year. I'm going to miss this tree …
: The corner of the deck railing is the super popular spot for birds this year. This Yellowhammer sang …
: I think this is the same Dotterel chick I took a photo of a couple of days ago. Today I spotted its …
: Cooking Tip: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs: It’s easy to make perfect, easy to peel, hard boiled eggs …
: That was fun, with such excellent and well-known musical pieces — The Magic Flute: a 2022 …
: Today I made this Creamy Body Wash: 50 g hot water 25 g coconut oil 1 tsp xanthan gum 200 g water – …
: Another enjoyable adventure with this young group of friends — Ithaka Rising: Halcyone Space, …
: Look at all that fluff! I think this Barbary Dove was just a youngster. 🐦
: The forecast for the next few days at Ruakākā and Waikawa Beach shows a bit of difference. 🥵 I …
: A month ago Cheri posted a no-knead bread recipe; today I finally tried baking it. Crusty ✔︎; easy …
: Three of 5 well-grown Black swan cygnets on lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦
: I enjoyed the movie Space Oddity. 🎥 Alex is going to Mars — it was a dream he and his big …
: This littlie was hopping / fluttering along the beach. 🐦 Research and a bit of guessing led me to …
: I tried this Vegetable Lo Mein recipe and was very pleased with how it came out. I couldn't get snow …
: OK, this excellent word puzzle is going in my daily puzzle set: Gisnep | Daily Quote Puzzle. Via: …
: The Poaka | Pied Stilt babies can only be seen from quite far away. There are 3 here, between their …
: This Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel parent is keeping a very close eye on me. 🐦 Why? because I …
: Good grief! Hanging out in the public library while my car's serviced. My phone has no signal so I'm …
: Weird notification as I hotspot on my MacBook Pro from my iPhone: Low Battery Do you want to …
: Sand Scarab. Man, that party last night was a blast!
: Recently hatched Oystercatcher sticking close to mum. 🐦
: This little mite hopped away from our front door when I went out. Eventually it found a spot in a …
: Messages from a friend yesterday that I only spotted today 🐦 : Bad news, dotterel eggs are gone, …
November 2024
: While looking for something else I came across my citizenship certificate. Almost exactly 20 years …
: God defend the breast screeners of New Zealand | The Spinoff: After having her first mammogram, Anna …
: Today's Crusty French Bread Rolls went quite well. They are crusty, and delicious.
: The farmer next door was busy yesterday. This morning I got up to see this and thought: rural idyll. …
: Sigh. By the end of next year this will be our Council: Whangārei District Council votes 7-6 against …
: Kiwis : Submission Opposing Treaty Principles Bill: Submission template created by lawyer, author …
: Aargh, between anti-Money Laundering Measures and anti-scam and anti-fraud measures, trying to do …
: I've been benefiting from these books for years. If you use Mac, iPhone, iPad etc do yourself a …
: A shout out to JPs: we had to sign a paper form today and have it witnessed. Our local JP who lives …
: I think someone on Micro.Blog mentioned Derelict: Halcyone Space, book 1 by LJ Cohen. 📚 Although I …
: I was already awake when this little shake came through. Seemed quite long. 〰️ When: Wed Nov 27 2024 …
: New fish rite of passage for Ruakākā: A multi-agency partnership is paving the way for migratory …
: So many documents to sign when buying a house and land package. Luckily we can do most …
: Today's Pacific Wave Appreciation Society photo post. A busy sea. 🌊
: Whale update: most were saved. Most of the 40 pilot whales that were stranded on a Northland beach …
: So sad the whales have stranded; so glad so many people are helping — Rescuers race to help 40 …
: You probably don't want to read the this gripping psychological suspense, The Door at the Top of the …
: Not the best Tūī photos, but it's good to have this one hanging round the garden. 🐦
: Another in a series I really feel comfortable with, and an author whose writing I enjoy. This …
: The other day there was a hawk circling right by the house. 🐦
: I'm thinking a lot lately about what makes identity. Saving this para for future reference — …
: Well, at long last it's official — all signed up for a land and house package at Ruakākā on …
: So interesting! How we developed sign language for ten of the trickiest climate change terms: Carbon …
: This morning's beach walk brought new life 🐦 : a duck and 6 ducklings on the lake 3 Dotterel eggs …
: Another annual eye test completed with my favourite optometrist. She tells me I'm not a danger to …
: In a random cafe on Lambton Quay in Wellington while I wait for Deb to finish work so we can drive …
: A tiny bit of exaggeration there, Apple Mail … I hope! If not, I'm in trouble. 😆
: Maybe 50,000 people at yesterday's hikoi — Was the hīkoi New Zealand’s largest-ever protest? | …
: LOL, local dogs lose access to rubbish bags for rummaging. WE APOLOGISE TO KAPITI'S DOGS IN ADVANCE …
: The hikoi is ramping up at Parliament. Here's a live feed. About an hour till everything really …
: Here's one way Aotearoa has changed in the last decade or more: increasingly Te Reo Māori forms an …
: Big day today with Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti 2024 reaching parliament. Tens of thousands are expected: …
: Outdoor table at The Herb Garden cafe in Ashhurst, Palmerston North. A moment’s inattention is …
: We've had our EV for a whole year now and need to take it in for a service and possible software …
: Another very good read from a favourite author — Echoes on the Fens (Detective Nikki Galena …
: Not quite exactly the first strawberry of the season from the tunnelhouse, but the first I had all …
: It was a couple of days ago I caught this shot of a Pied Stilt with captured food in its beak and a …
: Former PM Jenny Shipley is on the other end of the political spectrum from me, but her comment is …
: OK, rhetorical TV world question: if the victim's hands are tied in front of them why don't they …
: Those, like me, frustrated at not seeing the actual haka I mentioned yesterday, can see it on …
: Anne writes some seriously good stuff, like this: In praise of creating crap: The value of …
: I love that this can happen in our NZ Parliament! Watch: Haka interrupts vote for the Treaty …
: The Pied Stilts must be nesting. Based on last year's experience, if you come within 50 to 100 …
: Maybe I shouldn't post this because there are goosenappers about … But there are so many …
: There were several Caspian Terns on the beach this morning. This new burst of warm sunny weather is …
: I came across an older book I hadn't read from an author whose work I enjoy. This was a really good …
: For a calm, quiet, sunny morning there was a bit of energy in the waves. Kāpiti Island in the …
: We visited Palmerston North on errands today so I had my usual favourite lunch: Chicken Teriyaki at …
: It's been weeks, what with visiting Whangārei then Deb being quite sick and me being slightly below …
: Ohhh, so that's why … How to Tame Sequoia’s Window Tiling - TidBITS: Have windows on your Mac …
: Heavy on the religious minutiae, it was interesting that Sister Joan was able to ferret out …
: This book grew on me as I read more, but it didn't entirely grab me. Blindsided (Grace Smith Mystery …
: Today's Bird World adventure — the flue of our woodburner wears a 'sock' to keep birds out, so …
: Nicely said: @checkervest I still skip! It's best to be yourself, early and often. Lest you fall in …
: Volume up! This little Yellowhammer was singing right outside my open door. 🐦
: A wonderful moment today as traffic stopped to allow a Paradise Duck mama to walk her half a dozen …
: A friend has roped off the Dotterel nest on the beach in an attempt to keep vehicles and …
: Reposted: Yellowhammer through the window. 🐦
: Explained: Why Kiwis don’t know what a proper cup of tea is | Stuff: There are also numerous …
: 6 ways supermarket tea is different to artisan tea | The Tea Curator: The leaves used for artisan …
: Dammit: had a filling at the dentist today — it was quick and easy, but I had two injections. …
: Urgh, I expect today's brain fog, headache, blurry eyes and lack of oomph are hay fever reactions. …
: I have a dim memory from years ago about an announcement for being able to see a transcript or hear …
: This little Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel came within 2 metres to check me out. A friend has …
: This is the view — from south to north — on arriving at Waikawa Beach over the north …
: I actually don't mind at all being awake and drinking tea at 3 am. Yesterday I was tired all day and …
: Little waxeyes were feeding on the small flax flowers — their heads turning orange with the …
: I was just browsing through photos in my album and came across these Warou | Welcome swallows on the …
: Hiatus resolution, glottal stops … what's not to like in this interesting 16 minute video …
October 2024
: By some miracle Deb achieved a same day doctor appointment. Bronchitis confirmed; drugs acquired.
: I really enjoy this series, in part for the very ordinary and likeable characters who work at the …
: Well, colour me surprised! I thought this was a Mexican / Spanish word! Honcho Definition & Meaning …
: One of those nights where sleep and I just weren't good friends … And I've been doing so well …
: Well, I was out for brunch this morning for the first part of the all-day powercut. Back by about 1 …
: The master of all he surveys. 🐦 Peihana | Pheasant on a hill.
: This series has such excellent writing — Cast the First Stone (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 7) …
: I was trying out Nitro for photo editing and this Kuaka | Godwit shone out at me from my photo …
: We no longer have any pets, but this is handy info: Dogs on leash now allowed in Whangārei CBD, …
: A rather facile movie, but I watched it through because the underlying ideas were somewhat …
: Waikawa Beach rain. @JeremyWxBaker
: The crew. 🐦 6 Kuaka | Godwits in a line on the wet sand in front of the waves.
: RNZ broadcasts first Concert for Animals on Guy Fawkes Night | RNZ News: 🐶 In a radio first, RNZ and …
: And, BTW, Claude saved me some hair tearing. Q: I'm using the hex colour below as the background for …
: I agreed to update a friend's (a former client) web page — a simple task. But I'd forgotten …
: This is our resident blackbird who spends much of the day sitting on our deck railing, singing to me …
: I think I'm done with this series: The Bea Abbot Agency Mysteries Books 11–15 by Veronica Heley. 📚 …
: Well, that was fun: the Barbie movie.
: 0850 and I'm as ready as I can be for an all-day power cut. With power off we can't get water …
: Hooray, it's an excellent show: Jason Kottke: Ooh, a preview clip from season three of Star Trek: …
: I always love to see a Spoonbill, and the Pied Stilt is a bonus. 🐦
: On my way to Palmerston North to collect Deb from the airport. Eggs on toast with tomatoes for lunch …
: Kingfisher on a flax spear by the lake. 🐦
: I get the feeling I'm in trouble … 🐦 Weiweia | Dabchick floating on a lake and glaring at me. …
: Unsuccessful comet hunting, but it was alright down at the beach after sunset.
: Spotted a pair of ducks with at least half a dozen tiny ducklings on the lake. Unfortunately, by the …
: I was absolutely delighted when I arrived home from 10 days away to find this postcard from @Odd in …
: We flew over a wind farm just before landing at Palmerston North.
: When nouns verb and verbs noun … New research documents accelerating plant growth At first …
: Mā te wā. Farewell Whangārei.
: A tricky mystery to unravel, and an enjoyable read: Knight On Edge (Jorja Knight Mystery Series Book …
: Our Whangārei friends have a very pleasant and comfortable place but their Internet is really poor. …
: Nice: we've ordered pizza to be picked up from Pizza Fusion nearby, and a live update on the web …
: We're dog sitting for Whangārei friends while they're on holiday. Their house is large, very …
: Yesterday our friend Amanda drove up from near Auckland to visit. We had dinner at Pimarn Thai …
: At 3.30 am I had to let the dogs out for a pee. The bonuses were that I'd already been awake for …
: Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Kiwis have chance to glimpse 'once in a lifetime' comet not seen in last 80,000 years: Stardome …
: A highlight for today: panfried fresh Gurnard with handcut fries at Jolt Cafe in Maunu. Truly …
: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society two videos. The first from Waipu Cove about 40 Km south of …
: At Ruakākā North Beach. Look at that white sand!
: An excellent reason for banning dogs from Whangārei Quarry Gardens: there are kiwi in the hills.
: Deb and I visited Quail Cafe in Whangārei Quarry Gardens. The food, beverages, ambience and service …
: I rather like this blend of hearsay and heresy. Nicely combines the idea of incorrectness and …
: We're in charge of Boo and Rush for a few days as their family members have a holiday. The dogs …
: Off to a good start on our travels today with Air NZ letting us know before we'd left home for the …
: Sand mining proposal for Bream Bay endangers birds Perhaps the most controversial project on the [Government's Fast Track consenting] list - given …
: A pair of Paradise Ducks announced their arrival in the paddock next door. Meanwhile a blackbird …
: An excellent quote from Moira on Schitt's Creek S05E06, Rock On! 🤣 : Oh, Jocelyn, you'll soon learn …
: We learned of a new cafe in Levin, opened just a month ago, so we visited today for lunch: Old …
: Having just finished Book 7 in the series by Melissa Good, I moved on to Storm Surge: Part 1: Book 8 …
: Yesterday there were visitors at the place across the lane — it's a bit higher than our house. …
: First, we're all good, no damage etc. Second: shaken awake by a fierce 5.8 quake this morning. That …
: A few highlights from today: Deb made delicious pikelets; I wore my shorts for the first time this …
: Humpback whale breaches in Whangārei Harbour See the video: Northlanders up close with humpback whale, as Whangārei Harbour listening starts: A …
: Buoy to alert shipping to dolphins and whales in Whangārei Harbour A new device, which can detect when marine mammals are present in Whangārei Harbour was installed …
: AppleScript to save a post selected in MarsEdit An AppleScript to save a post selected in MarsEdit to a file in the Downloads folder. Use at your …
: Four, with water droplet. 🐦 Pied stilt with leg lifted, water dripping off one foot, and legs …
: Ages ago I watched the first episode of Schitt's Creek and immediately saw it wasn't for me. After …
: Whangārei’s cruise ships Whangārei’s fledgling cruise ship industry expected to boom: Four cruise ships are expected into …
: On 03 June 2024 the Beach Access post by the north track off Reay Mackay Grove is gradually …
: Census data has revealed one in 20 New Zealand adults identify as LGBTIQ+ - or part of the rainbow …
: Quite often when I sit on the deck to read in the sun a little friend joins me for a chat. 🐦 Warou …
: Bit of a rattle this afternoon. 〰️ When: Tue Oct 1 2024 5:49 PM; Where: 25 km north-east of Seddon; …
: This was another reread from 2009 and was a bit all over the place. Maybe the fan fiction aspect …
: When these two little Barbary doves saw me coming along the lane they flew over to the gate to check …
: Down at lake Puna o te Ora today the Southern Bell Frogs were in full voice. Your browser does not …
: A quote for the day from my friend Debra, who is not only working hard at her own job, but putting a …
September 2024
: Consent granted for large solar power station at Ruakākā Consent granted for large solar power station at Ruakākā in Northland | RNZ News: Consent has been …
: About half an hour before sunrise I noticed a sliver of yellow crescent moon rising above the hills. …
: Finally seen my first comet: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), approx 90 minutes before dawn. …
: Nice to see horses on the beach today. For a while now it's been tricky for them to gain access, …
: Sunrise and sunset times today and tomorrow, after the clocks go forward an hour. 😒
: It's 3 months to Christmas Day. Farmers in Levin has a whole Christmas shop up and running with …
: This really interesting 15 minute Howtown video explores nuances of measuring happiness — The …
: Good news up north near Whangārei: Two hundred thousand solar panels [will] be installed to …
: 172-hectare solar farm to be built at Ruakākā Energy Park Independent hearings commissioners have granted an application by Meridian Energy Limited (MEL) to …
: I've spent years working on building up my sleep duration and this year am doing pretty well on it. …
: Things that puzzle froma book published around 2011: Luckily I'm old enough to remember that once …
: I warmed up to and enjoyed Terrors of the High Seas: Book 6 in The Dar & Kerry Series by Melissa …
: The Kuaka | Godwits are back after their epic journey from the top of the northern hemisphere and …
: It's spring and this beautiful little Weweia | New Zealand dabchick was watching me from lake Puna o …
: Today Deb and I went to the gym at Paraparaumu where I had a very successful workout. Afterwards we …
: If you have any affiliation with or interest in Wellington in Aotearoa, this fascinating history is …
: So who actually did the hitting? Headline: Deer hits car. Image caption: Deer hits car. First line: …
: LOL: deer on the run! The [wild] deer were last seen by [animal management] officers two hours ago, …
: 2 years ago I blogged about enjoying this online concert: Faia Younan, so today I listened again. My …
: Back in June 2012 I bought a Wacom Intuos 5 Small Touch Tablet. For a few years for some reason I …
: There are many stories about the origin of the name Ruakākā. One tells of two kākā parrots that flew …
: Ahhh, that 3 am cup of tea really hits the spot… There may well yet be more sleep in my immediate …
: This was a clear and useful 15 minute video — AI Chatbots Comparison 2024 - Grace Leung from …
: It was a foamy day at the beach.
: I used the Mono filter on this. It was already so 'gloomy' it didn't really make a huge change. …
: Te reo Māori needs to go digital to survive - innovator | RNZ News: A Māori tech innovator and …
: Apple’s AI feature set will expand to include localized English in the UK, Canada, Australia, South …
: The supermarket carpark was surprisingly busy for its 7 am opening time.
: Learning about prompt engineering for AIs. Here's an interesting (and surprising to me) conversation …
: Putting aside all politics, and purely on a mechanical level, how does anyone cause a pager to …
: Today we needed this info: Restart Apple Watch: Force Apple Watch to restart Do this only if you’re …
: It took me a long time to get into this book — I put it down several times to read others …
: A year or two back someone I follow on Micro.Blog mentioned Logseq for notes etc. My curiosity …
: I'd like to remind folks updating their Apple devices today of the most excellent Take Control Books …
: After an interesting chat today with a friend I decided to learn more about AI. There are …
: Huh! Making a hash of it: The lowdown on Inland Revenue and your data: The encrypted details of …
: AI for the good of NZ birds How artificial intelligence may help NZ birds | RNZ News: A study to identify individual kākā using …
: A good review of a movie I really enjoyed — Review: Thelma | RNZ News: Thelma succeeds because …
: Urgh, that was a shock. I needed to add up a column of fractions, like this: 1/4 1/4 1/10 1/10 1/25 …
: Bit of a rare double rainbow to the southwest just after dawn this morning. 🌈
: Reading a Sister Agnes book is like luxuriating in a hot bath. I highlighted several sections in …
: Endangered birds at the estuaries Beyond the wintry beaches of Bream Bay: Spot endangered birds at the estuaries The river estuaries …
: An amazing 9 minute video about train graphs — a ruler, paper and a pencil could prevent train …
: The other day we visited the Silky Otter movie theatre in Palmerston North. It was excellent and …
: Another good read in a series I enjoy: The Man Who Kept Secrets (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller …
: It was a very unusual visitor to Waikawa Beach. My friend Stephen Betts found this injured bird on …
: In the last several decades I acquired more T-shirts than I ever needed. Most have been well-worn. …
: Tamure Place, Ruakākā Big day as we signed up for a land and house package at Ruakākā, on the east coast about 20 minutes …
: The central city part of Palmerston North is full of pleasant surprises. Coleman Mall had blossom …
: I ate a delicious chicken sandwich at Cafe Jacko in Palmerston North (Facebook link): Chicken …
: We really enjoyed Thelma (links to PDF) 🎥 : Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own …
: It was a pleasant enough day that Deb and I went for a little bike ride round the village. 8.5 km. …
: I've very much enjoyed D. L. Keur's other series so was interested to try Night Trouble (The King & …
: Huh, I'm reading a fiction book set in Arizona where they mention a curfew for young people. I just …
: A show I really enjoy — Brokenwood - the international hit with a Kiwi accent | RNZ News 📺 : …
: I finished Marsh Madness by Jana DeLeon, the latest in a long series of Miss Fortune books. 📚 when a …
: I always think the 6 p.m. sunset is a bit of a milestone. Unfortunately that will all change in a …
: Hooray! Te Puhi Ariki Ngawai Hono i te Po Paki, 27, to succeed her father Kiingi Tuheitia as Māori …
: For the past week or so I've had scratchy eyes, a bit of an itch on the roof of my mouth. Figuring …
: Important day today: Kiingi Tuheitia to be laid to rest, new Māori monarch welcomed: Kiingi Tuheitia …
: First time since midwinter that I've noticed the morning sun finding its way into my west-facing …
: This morning the river was full after heaps of rain in the hills; the tide was nearly full, with a …
: Down at the beach today I thought I saw a piece of fluff blowing in the wind. Then I realised it was …
: Whoo! 🌋 : Talking about the Taliban: culture versus politics – language: a feminist guide: So, don’t …
: Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti: A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway …
: The On This Day script on my blog today brought this amazing music back to mind. Just loving the …
: Rough weather over the last few days has thrown big driftwood onto the beach. There were also …
: I stopped reading Orleans Avenue (Remy Fontaine Thrillers Book 1) by Robin Mahle a couple of weeks …
: It seems people around Special Agent Nikki Hunt keep getting knocked off. Lost Angels (Nikki Hunt …
: One reason I'm awake at 1 a.m.: 28.66 mm rain fell since midnight. For the metric impaired that's …
August 2024
: OK, that's a bit of fun: Your Name in Landsat 🛰️: Thanks to @chadkoh for the link.
: I didn't warm to A Cotswold Killing (The Cotswold Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Rebecca Tope. 📚 The …
: We visited friends in Paekakariki for brunch today. Their dog Gracie, an 8 year old Vizsla, was …
: It's been a few months since my last burst of activity on the Lego build, but the Lego Technic …
: I'm really enjoying bingeing Rutherford Falls 📺 : The show uses humor, jokes, and irony to highlight …
: Southern right whale near Whangārei Harbour Southern right whale spotted near Whangārei Harbour a ‘promising sign’ - NZ Herald, 26 August 2024: …
: The Wild is a great podcast. In Ben Goldfarb: How America’s roads alter our ecology there's a …
: Well, thunder and lightning! And as I typed that a huge crack of thunder overhead sounded like a …
: A different view from last time of the fast flowing river carving off chunks of sand from the edge. …
: Our little peach tree is convinced it's spring.
: Those earbuds were specially delivered after I queried the Fliway helpdesk. Their website hadn't …
: Being mid-winter there are few birds around. I was pleased to see the spoonbill back. It was joined …
: Our normally sluggish river is quite swift today thanks to loads of rain up in the Tararua ranges. …
: Peeved. I ordered Sony earbuds on 17 August. Here we are 10 days later on 27 August 2024 and they've …
: Another good read: A Hymn of Death (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 5) by Alison Joseph. 📚 I didn't find …
: I keep highlighting excellent turns of phrase in the book I'm currently reading: A Hymn of Death …
: Home made muesli A friend gave me this muesli recipe. It gives me an enjoyable and healthy breakfast every day. I add …
: Whew, stewed apples, made juice and made muesli all at the same time. Forgot the crucial step of …
: Occasionally, like yesterday, I sit for a few minutes at the picnic table by the south track to the …
: I found One Perfect Grave (Nikki Hunt Book 2) by Stacy Green to be a good read. 📚 When the remains …
: LOL (my emphasis): Luxon’s speech was met with groans and various oral expulsions of disapproval. …
: It's almost dawn and this is my view from bed.
: Electricity supply crisis: What you need to know | RNZ News: New Zealand is heading towards an …
: When we came in to land at Palmerston North yesterday, the plane took an unusual turn out to sea …
: I was just listening to a podcast about the health risks to installers of engineered stone, so this …
: Only US$0.99 today. I'm excited to buy another in this series by Alison Joseph. If you're …
: Our friends have a second dog: Rush, the Malinois, who's a very good boy indeed.
: I so wish I could have bought this gorgeous pottery goat by Fiona Tunnicliffe. I'm smitten by its …
: Random mural in downtown Whangārei.
: Last night our friends took us out for a delicious Thai meal at Sukjai Thai Restaurant. I enjoyed …
: The more books in this series I read the more I enjoy them. False Idols (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book …
: Busy day: we've been cruising around Ruakākā and One Tree Point. Visited a couple of cafes: The Bach …
: Little Boo has a really nice setup. That’s quite a smorgasbord of toys.
: Heading north again for a long weekend …
: I think the last 6 weeks or so of strength and core training are paying off. When I woke up this …
: Having bought a set of resistance tubes, today I tried the Whole-Body Resistance Band Workout (Ages …
: Interesting: The Micro Blog - 🔗 Articles: Wednesday 14.Aug.2024: Guardian: Scientists find humans …
: These daffodils are a bright spot on an otherwise grey day.
: I was initially uncertain about The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt Book 1) by Stacy Green, but the …
: My body didn’t want to do this new strength routine today, but willpower prevailed (in the …
: An excellent article about our crazy punitive government’s latest crazy idea: Welcome to the …
: I might have seen my first aurora — rather subtle, but the iPhone brought out the colours. …
: Thriving on the internet, July 1998, with bonus cat Hah hah. I discovered this article about me from July 1998 when I was mainly training folks how to …
: Another good read by Anne Shillolo: Goodbye Quinn's Landing (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 9). 📚 …
: Today's beach find was a first for me: a 2 metre Blue shark (Prionace glauca). So much bigger than …
: I'm finding the videos by Will Harlow clear and interesting — HT Physio – Over-Fifties …
: At the gym today I enjoyed a trip through Arches National Park while on the bike. Then when we came …
: Ruakākā Wastewater Treatment Plant Bream Bay News 08 August 2024, Page 4: In the Bream Bay area, we’ve committed to the upgrade and …
: Havoc (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Book 2) by Deborah J Ledford. 📚 Guns and kids are never a good …
: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society, a few small waves, with Kāpiti Island barely visible and …
: My dawn beach walk was delightful. I saw these bird footprints, then a horse and rider appeared …
: Today on a whim I went to see Bookworm, a New Zealand film: about a young girl named Mildred …
: Today I enjoyed a walk through the bush at Papaitonga just up the road at Ōhau. Here are two views …
: This fine pheasant was feeding in the paddock next door. 🐦
: 20 minutes before sunrise and the Tī Kouka were reflected in lake Puna o te Ora. Bright in the …
: I have an opinion: I believe "sixths" is the most difficult word in the English language for anyone …
: I'd already read books 6 and 7 as standalones, but enjoyed the other 3 books in this set. Some of …
: Sometimes Deb and I go to the gym together, sometimes we go separately. Sometimes I do some weights …
: In the middle of the day it was warm and sunny. When I glanced up from my book, the snowy mountains …
: It was -3C in the early hours. Now the sun's been up for nearly 2 hours it's crept up to almost 0. …
: Busy day preparing food: I steamed broccoli and put it in the freezer, stewed apples, made stew, …
: When I prepared apples for stewing today I put the cores on the picnic table. The Tauhou | Waxeyes …
: The thing the video below can't convey is how bitter the southerly quarter wind was at the beach …
: I finally decided half way through to abandon Murder in Time by Veronica Heley. 📚 The author writes …
July 2024
: Came back into the house only to find a completely unexpected visitor. 🐸 It must have come in …
: A modest proposal – language: a feminist guide: … don’t I think that women and girls can be …
: Another in a series I enjoy, but not the strongest entrant. Murder at the Hotel (Rina Martin Murder …
: Such an interesting discussion on Lingthusiasm #90, What visualizing our vowels tells us about who …
: Some success today when I made my own variant of Bubble and squeak for lunch. After watching a video …
: A delicious start to the day with Three Moons Oolong tea from Vietnam. Three Moons is a …
: Gym session alongside Deb this morning. She did her thing while I worked on my weights routine. …
: Birds and archaeology at Ruakākā Bream Bay Strategic Plan 2006: It is a place unique for its variety of coastal and shoreline …
: Ruakākā development Bream Bay: Ruakākā Ruakākā area is made up of Ruakākā Beach, Ruakākā Township and Marsden Point. …
: It's been a welcome quiet day. I went for a brief walk on the beach where I chatted with an …
: Earlier this month I sent off a bowel screening test. As expected, I received a negative result. …
: The final third book in a series I've very much enjoyed — Honour Thy Father (Sister Agnes …
: Foxton has a strong Dutch heritage, so when I visited yesterday I ordered Pannenkoeken at the De …
: This morning I drove to Foxton for a stroll beside the estuary. There weren't a great many birds …
: An unusual sight on the beach today: a Karetai hurukoko | Cape petrel, probably exhausted — it …
: I've started watching The Law According to Lidia Poët on Netflix and it's pretty good: … …
: Today I feel so free and energised. I've taken control of this situation with the ex-friends who've …
: A reward for 40 minutes weights work at the gym. 🤣
: You know how 'they' say you should write out the stuff in your head, making sure to use pen and …
: Since 07 November 2023 we've had roughly 480mm rain, which has added about 31,000 litres to the …
: A free Mac app idea for some clever coder — I type (or paste) in a bunch of text. Now delete …
: I find I'm quite taken with Sister Agnes, having just finished Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness …
: In good news today, Deb and I both went to the gym where I did mainly stretches, along with some lat …
: A skill I have is to make a rule to archive unread emails that I don't want. [update 21-Jul-2025: …
: Sigh. I will need to write approximately 1 million pages whose sole destiny will be to feed a …
: Another in a series I enjoy — Road to Harm (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 6) by Judith …
: Seems to me the problem is more one of using a single platform. As with farming, monoculture: risky; …
: Hooray for Time Machine. In an idiot move I deleted an Audio Hijack 'Session' instead of a …
: It was probably someone on Micro.Blog who put me on to the Reasons to be Cheerful news website. It …
: I enjoyed No Harm, No Foul (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 5) by Judith Cutler. 📚 Fran and the …
: I must say that Radio NZ specialise in "dicey" headlines: I'd love to see a whale having a cuppa. 😆 …
: Today I had brunch with my friend J at Ōtaki then we drove around 12 Km southeast to where the road …
: It's been just the weather for the basket fungus, Ileodictyon cibarium, to appear — warmer the …
: Aaand, the power came back 2 minutes after my previous post. A total outage of about 1.25 hours.
: Hmmm, the power went off just before 6 pm and may come back on in a couple of hours, if we're lucky. …
: On the beach this morning: a (seeming giant) Spur-winged Plover next to a (truly small) …
: I enjoyed Thou Shalt Not Kill (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 1) by Alison Joseph. 📚 It strikes me that …
: At first I wondered why the street we were walking down in Palmerston North the other day had …
: It was dusk when we left the movie yesterday and birds were roosting in the big trees along the …
: Deb and I watched Fly Me to the Moon at the movie theatre in Palmerston North. 🎥 It was excellent: …
: With a big high still bringing us cold nights and lovely days, and no wind to speak of, the sea was …
: Major port expansion in Whangārei Harbour rejected Northland iwi 'vindicated' by rejection of plans for major port expansion in Whangārei Harbour: A …
: New shoes day — Orba Shoes — Women's Ghost Sneaker: Designed in New Zealand, Orba shoes …
: I'm so naive sometimes. I had no idea individuals would have helipads on their houses. I'm shocked …
: A friend, Sophie, is currently travelling in Sweden to visit family and then on a week long knitting …
: We Kiwis don't like to toot our own horns much but I wanted to keep this for future memories. For …
: At dawn this morning there were 3 Royal Spoonbills in the ponded area of the beach where the Pied …
: I came across the weirdest thing on the beach this morning. It was about 2 metres long and to my eye …
: There was another hard frost this morning, so when I visited the beach at dawn the sand was white at …
: This was free with a newsletter signup — The Opposite of Dark (Casey Holland Mysteries Book 1) …
: So cool to see tech being used for good — Drones Are Whizzing Lifesaving Supplies Across the …
: I was meant to have a third intro session with a trainer at the gym this afternoon but I begged off. …
: Today is poop day. 😆 I've done my bit for the National Bowel Screening programme. It's easy and …
: Heh, The Brokenwood Mysteries has 'storylines so good' people believe the characters are real | RNZ …
: It's one of those days where one weather system is taking up most of our bit of the globe.
: Why has it taken me so many years to realise I can add useful notes to a Kindle book. Like this one: …
: Deb and I are very much enjoying the light-hearted Frankie Drake Mysteries on Acorn: In Roaring …
: This mystery Bea has to solve pretty much on her own, her usual helpers being otherwise occupied. …
: A slightly odd one in the series, but still enjoyable. Furtive Prey (The Jessica Anderson K-9 …
: Sometimes these winter days are perfect: glorious sun out of a clear blue sky. 20C, no wind. I can …
: Flaxes beside the garage trimmed back. Now I can try to tidy (and weedeat) the area between the …
: Got myself out in the garden earlier to do some needed weed eating. Hauled out the weedeater, only …
: Cold enough this morning that we had a decent frost. The snow on the top of the mountain was no …
: I didn't get to the beach today, as I was too busy with other things. Yesterday though there was a …
: All up, power was only out for 20 or 30 minutes. Phew! No need to test out my new Portable Power …
: I bought the 8 book set for less than $2, but was glad to reach the end of the first book. Some …
: Well, just talking to Deb who's driving home and everything was plunged into darkness. Three …
: Today, with a cold southerly wind, but in the sun, I took part in the New Zealand Garden Bird …
: Aargh! New Zealand standardised its recycling rules – why is it still so confusing?: On average, …
: Second gym session today and we did some stretches and also some work with 5 Kg or 2 Kg dumbbells. …
: I really enjoyed the movie Wicked Little Letters 🎥: Based on a true scandal, it follows an …
: Interesting definition of 'meal', AirNZ. Not sure the knife and fork will be useful.
June 2024
: Today I took photos of Ngunguru. It's very pretty, warm and relaxing.
: We visited Ngunguru (Apple Maps link) today — about 30 Km from Whangārei. Gorgeous place, but …
: I started Murder at the Opera House (A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Book 1) by Dawn Brookes …
: Mt Manaia from Ruakaka Beach.
: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on against a backdrop of a frustrating system. …
: I started out 'naming' this year Surprise. After immediately getting Covid I changed it to …
: First glimpse for this year of a visiting Kererū, well hidden in the tree lucerne. Can you find it? …
: Yesterday's mist also highlighted a large spider web in the flax.
: It's been misty the last couple of mornings.
: Sigh, somehow I skipped Book 3, so a few elements in here were a little surprising … It was …
: There was a lot for Jorja to unravel in this book. I enjoyed the read. Knight Vision (A Jorja Knight …
: Another excellent science-based video from MinuteFood: Dishwashers vs hand-washing: which wins? (8.5 …
: Goose and ducks at the Auckland Domain duck pond. We've had a great lightning visit to Auckland to …
: Cyclists: beware the troughs in the surface!
: The moment I saw these World of Wearable Art models I knew @Cheri would love them.
: It’ll be Gate 16 for us this morning.
: In June 2022 we had a 19-hour power cut and @jean suggested a small portable generator. Now, 2 years …
: Knowledge that isn't shared is not knowledge. Source: Kōkōrangi: Māori astronomer guiding crowds …
: Happy New Year! Today is the June Solstice and the start of my personal new year — Day 01. …
: There was no wind this morning, though if there had been it was nominally from the east. For this …
: Quite a find! On TVNZ+ an animated Māori language sci-fi TV Show called Tipua: Ārepa Simmons feels …
: This morning's tea: a lightly roasted oolong: Bagua Shan Siji Chun 2024: Following oxidation, …
: A Google image search led me to Megabalanus, and then I found my way to Pink Barnacles (Beach …
: This was a quick read, thanks to my enjoying this series so much. I find the main characters very …
: Interesting — Should you add milk to tea?: In European salons [in the 1600s], tea was served …
: What to expect from 'seal silly season': Vomiting in public. Snoozing in the middle of busy roads. …
: One of the book series I really enjoy — Detective Nikki Galena Mysteries (15 book series) by …
: How kiwi returned to Wellington We learned that in areas with no pest control, virtually 90-100% of …
: Yay, Season 10 of The Brokenwood Mysteries has started on TVNZ. Episode 1: After dinosaur fossils …
: Today I attended a really interesting talk by Associate Professor Phil Battley, Zoology & …
: I wasn't really expecting to enjoy The Bea Abbot Agency Mysteries Books 1–5 box set by Veronica …
: There were two Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantails at the beach this morning. They're so small and I …
: Oh yeah, I always like to start off the day with a good belt of Smirnoff and lemon … Heh, no! …
: That's quite an impressive weather system over Aotearoa at the moment. Via earth :: a global map of …
: An acquaintance who lives not far away messaged me to ask if I'd like a load of good quality …
: I'm continuing to simplify my life and to step back a bit from all kinds of things. I've just sent …
: At 7 am, still about 40 minutes before sunrise, I stepped on to the beach. Although there was barely …
: Mindblowing: I talked to people who had never seen trees! Great 11 minute video — Canadian …
: Such a thoughtful and considered article. Everyone should read this — Weighing in on "Man or …
: An interesting 11 minute interview — NZ's smallest bird makes new sounds | RNZ 🐦 : A new study …
: Hmmm, a piled-river. 🤔🤔 That's a new one on me. Nicole was as hypersensitive as a piled-river. 'Oh …
: There's a pile of mulch by the south track to the beach. It'll be used around some plantings to be …
: In March 2022 I posted about planting cabbage trees by the gate. Here's how they looked then: And …
: I somewhat liked this, but not enough to read more — The Sigma Surrogate: An Electrifying …
: Today I tried making Fluffy Flapjack Pancakes. They were good and indeed very filling. I reduced the …
: Although the weather is gorgeous — I've been sitting in the warm sun reading and napping …
: This Karoro | Black-backed gull was enjoying the comforts of a clump of washed out river weed. …
: Today's refreshing Oolong tea — Himalayan Beauty, Nepal: a beautifully balanced, delicate and …
: This Pohowera | Banded dotterel has somewhere to be … 🐦 While this Black-fronted Dotterel is …
: Such an interesting 6 minute video. Do watch: Sea lions - The return of a native taonga?: Up to half …
: I often show the Tararua ranges as seen from our house, but this morning thought I'd try a video …
: This 11 minute video explains how dishwashers work, and how to load them. Are you loading your …
: Yesterday's beach trip revealed lots of driftwood 'mulch' near the river mouth. In it were many …
: BEV update. We've had our MG 4 Essence 64 for 8 months now and the nights are getting cold. It's …
: I love the challenge of the The Guardian Cryptic Crosswords; they're so hard. On first pass I may …
: This morning's tea is Bagua Shan Dong Pian. Perfect! Dong Pian is a special Taiwanese tea. It is …
: I very much enjoyed The Fells (Detectives Donovan & Young Book 1) by Cath Staincliffe. 📚 I found …
: I do all my book reading on a Kindle. Today I upgraded from a Kindle Paperwhite to a Kindle …
: There's a blue marker post on the beach that (theoretically — it's almost invisible behind …
: Ours isn't the kind of beach that has seaweed. Except today it does, and a lot of it. Clumps of …
: If you're into dogs at all this 11 minute video is a must-watch. So interesting! The Canine Rainbow …
: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on a frustrating case of stalking in Do No Harm …
: Whangārei District population is almost 97,000 2023 Census maps and data. Whangārei District population is almost 97,000.
: Whangārei city and environs Whangārei lies about 165 Km north of Auckland and about 260 Km south of Te Rerenga Wairua | Cape …
: The cows in the paddocks next door have been yelling a lot the last couple of days. This morning …
May 2024
: Different day, same (presumably) kōtuku white heron.
: I was so pleased to discover iCab allows AppleScript. This script in TextExpander allows me to grab …
: It's been a whole week since I spotted an unusual visitor to Waikawa Beach and I assumed it had …
: Yesterday afternoon I lit the fire early — there was a cold wind. This morning we have our …
: After a supermarket trip this morning I’m treating myself to breakfast at Salt and Pepper in Ōhau. …
: Each month I post on Waikawa News that I've sent out a Newsletter. Now I can duplicate the previous …
: A big and very welcome update to MarsEdit today with 5.2, including: The “Search” field in the main …
: Today’s random beach find: a large blue piece of tin.
: Bah, last night I realised that on 22 May 2024 I wrote about a book I'd read, but somehow managed to …
: Ugh, woke just after midnight and still awake in these wee hours where the world is adrift. Stress …
: An enjoyable read, but not riveting. A complicated case …Baskets and Beignets by Jana DeLeon …
: Something I love about Waikawa Beach … … is the wide open space, and lack of other …
: I went down to the beach before sunrise today. I love walking through the avenue of toetoe / pampas …
: I bought this M1 MacBook Pro in January 2021. This morning after 3 hours of use, including a couple …
: Pleased to report that last night's Emergency Alert Test Message was received very loud and clear.
: Hah! Trivial pursuits? – language: a feminist guide: In crosswords the influence of patriarchal, …
: We went to our nearest town this morning for some errands. Here's the main road through Levin on a …
: Nicely said: Manton Reece - Audio narration in Micro.blog We want to see the personal side of …
: This 45 minute documentary was so interesting. This Civil War Submarine Vanished for 136 Years: A …
: What a delight to start my day with Himalayan Moon Drops oolong tea from Nepal: Harvested in June …
: Yesterday morning I spotted a shag that was a bit different from our usual white-chested shags. The …
: My day went awry in the best possible way. I cut short my bike ride to collect my Fuji X-T5 and take …
: Today's beach photo is toetoe reflected in a pool of water left behind by the tide.
: Check out this gorgeous late afternoon sun.
: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman faces many challenges in Come to Harm (Detective Fran …
: I knew it was still too dark at dawn to take photos of the Pūkeko by the lake, but I did anyway. I …
: Calm ocean on an overcast day with hardly any waves. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊 …
: OMG. I have shares currently worth a massive $16 in this company, and here's a screenshot from …
: It’s totally beautiful down at the beach this morning. So glad I came out even though rain was …
: I've seen plenty of birds on our local lake, but a model boat on Lake Puna o te Ora was a first.
: It's not at all uncommon to find dead fish on the beach. Usually gulls have had a feed. This poor …
: Still in the beautiful Milford Sound back in March 2024. Young seals on a rock. Bush clad slopes. …
: At the beach this morning: 3 spur-winged plovers and a pied stilt. In the next there's a …
: Back on 26 March 2024 we took part in a two hour cruise on Milford Sound in Fiordland, Aotearoa. …
: I went to bed horrendously early last night. That's why it's now 0230 and I'm catching up on the …
: Tonight I made @alexink's Chicken Cacciatore, with a couple of modifications. This dish was new to …
: The Globe and Mail has Cryptic Crosswords. I'm so out of practice with them! It's taken me a day or …
: Can't wait now for Book 5! — The Language of Power (Steerswoman Series Book 4) by Rosemary …
: The latest in a series I enjoy — The Man Who Came Back (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller …
: Soon after sunrise today this sand 'cliff' was lit by a shaft of sunlight and reflections from the …
: Pretty much the last sight at Wai o Tapu is one of the most spectacular: an almost fluorescent green …
: A favourite on my walk: this lone chestnut coloured fungus. It was the only fungus I noticed on the …
: The 'green' walk was the furthest and hardest at Wai o Tapu, with so many stairs. My calves were …
: At Wai o Tapu the Artist's Palette certainly had water and steam aplenty. I could see a red colour …
: Hmmm. Guess the gender of the CHAT GPT personality — Introducing GPT-4o: 24:46: BARRETT ZOPH: …
: This morning's Gong Mei, 'Royal Tribute Eyebrow' white tea is perfect to start the day: Flavour: …
: Good reminders in this 13 minute video: The #1 Most Important Exposure Rule You Should Follow, and …
: At Wai o Tapu some pools of mud contain unrefined crude oil!
: Yesterday, after our few days away, I was absolutely wiped out — had zero energy, was so …
: A couple of days ago I visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. It was a warm sunny day after a cold …
: We might have missed the aurora, but we were in Rotorua for the coldest morning in 50 years — …
: Great news! Success for new giant wētā breeding programme: The Kiwi House now have 120 young wētā, …
: View from Lime Cafe, this morning’s brunch spot.
: On today's walk I noticed the amazing waka taua — Closing the loop on the Rotorua Lakefront …
: Hooray for good news: our friend is being discharged from hospital today after all. We won't be …
: Yesterday took a surprising turn when the friend we drove to Rotorua with, also at Deb's conference, …
: Ohhhh, folks on the Waikawa Beach Facebook group have been posting spectacular aurora photos …
: Made it to Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Valley.
: My plan for today is to visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, a 30 minute drive away. I'm having …
: In Rotorua the National Kiwi Hatchery is totally worth a visit. Kiwi are nocturnal so taking photos …
: The recently redeveloped Rotorua lakefront area is 💯 Such a beautiful space with walkways above and …
: Deb and I are in Rotorua for her to attend a conference and me to lounge about sightseeing. Staying …
: Lake Taupō from the car as we whistled past on the way to Rotorua on our first road trip with the …
: Around 0720 a fuel tanker rolled a few Km north of Waikawa Beach. In spite of detours, that …
: Persistence finally paid off. In about 15 minutes this morning, between about 0545 and 0600, I saw …
: I found Cliff Diver: A Detective Emilia Cruz Novel by Carmen Amato to be a tough read. 📚 The setting …
: Today's beach find: this fishing hook with 3 rusty barbs. It was tangled in some weed just waiting …
: OK Pacific Wave Appreciation Society — some gentle Waikawa Beach waves to start the day. 🌊
: Tiny crescent moon rising an hour before dawn.
: North Yorkshire Council to phase out apostrophe use on street signs: "I think we should be using …
: Solving a 30 year old cold case is actually very hard — Murder in the Parish (DI Hillary …
: Another enjoyable read in the series — Malice in Tarnished Spaces: (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery …
: Yesterday we drove to Palmerston North and watched the excellent movie The Great Escaper starring …
: This morning there were 5 Black-fronted dotterels in the estuary. Black-fronted dotterels are …
: Just before dawn today, with clear skies, a bit of a frost and mist over the ground.
: Hmmm, on this day in 2023 I posted my Speedtest results (100/22). Today I tested again, with 128/13. …
: I haven't yet listened to this Quirks and Quarks podcast episode, but other Micro.Blog dog lovers …
: Someone on Micro.Blog mentioned the iCab web browser recently. I used to use that years ago. Just …
: Counting on my fingers against the Topic For the last week my mind has been preoccupied by a Topic. I don't want it to be. When I walk I like …
: It was a beautiful morning when I went for a walk in the bush at Papaitonga.
: We had over 18mm rain last night, and there was probably much more in the hills. Which will be why …
: At the west end of Homer Tunnel, from a carpark below, we can see the avalanche and rockfall …
: On our bus tour to Milford Sound we had to wait for 10 minutes to drive through the Homer Tunnel, a …
: Last week a friend generalised something I said then used it in a way that undermined me within a …
: This morning I joined a couple of other members of the Horowhenua branch of Forest and Bird to do a …
April 2024
: What an excellent idea from Kāpiti Coast District Council: Encouraging chatter that matters: …
: One feature of the book Tempting Fête was that every character was introduced with a reference to …
: I bought Tempting Fête (Men Who Stitch Mysteries Book 1) by Kate Silvers partly because its …
: After a recent excellent holiday I fell into a slight slump and finally realised the last 7 years …
: I didn't manage to find Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks on this very clear night, even though I went to the …
: Deb had a social engagement in Palmerston North today so I went along for the ride. I enjoyed an …
: An excellent movie, inspired by true stories — The Beautiful Game 🎥: Advocates to end …
: Grim reading: There's an Awkward Link Between Plastic Production And Pollution We're Not …
: Another in a series I enjoy: Silence in West Fork (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 5) by …
: We really enjoyed the hilarious and heartwarming film The Phantom of the Open, based on a true …
: A mere 29 Km (by road), 25 minute drive south of Waikawa Beach is Peka Peka Beach. Small waves at …
: Now I See You (Mountain Resort Mystery series Book 1) by Shannon Work wasn't a favourite read, …
: On our bus tour to Milford Sound we stopped for photos at Monkey Creek. What’s in a name? | New …
: In the last couple of days Deb and I have watched Vera S13E01 and My Life is Murder S04E01. That's …
: This week I've tracked my sleep. Estimating Sleep Stages from Apple Watch: Apple Watch contains …
: The Cascade Creek conservation campsite in Fiordland National Park was a gorgeous location. …
: I took this shot of a mountain from near Mirror Lakes in Fiordland. I'm afraid I have no idea which …
: One of my best recent purchases: Hand Warmer Wheat Bags. 60 seconds in the microwave and moments …
: Darn it! I went to read Bridges to Burn (Detective Clare Mackay Book 8) by Marion Todd today, only …
: Eglinton Valley photos As promised yesterday, more photos of Eglinton Valley in Fiordland National Park. All show steep …
: LOL Text in image: Today's marine biology lecture is on sharks. We all know them as the scary …
: In a series I enjoy, Standing Dead (A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 8) by Margaret Mizushima was a …
: Like all of Fiordland National Park, the Eglinton Valley was beautiful. A broad flat valley floor …
: On our recent holiday we took a bus trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound where we cruised for a couple …
: Delighted when I opened a window at 6 am to hear a Ruru | Morepork in trees around 500 metres away. …
: This Pied Shag kept an eye on me while drying its wings at the beach. 🐦
: Another gripping book in the series: The Lost Steersman (Steerswoman Series Book 3) by Rosemary …
: This item about Google Plus codes was really interesting: On the Navajo Nation, Accurate Mailing …
: Here's some handy info for my Kiwi pals: Māori Greetings Signoffs for Letters Emails (PDF). The new …
: At dawn (8 am) we waited outside our expensive but basic motel in Te Anau for the bus tour to …
: From Queenstown we travelled to Te Anau where I was able to spend a few minutes walking round …
: Yesterday I took a bunch of rubbish photos at the beach. Today I applied more thought. A pair of …
: This Paradise Shelduck pair stood out on the lake today. 🐦
: This 20 minute video was super interesting: The most important CONSONANT in English by Dr Geoff …
: The rains must have brought this big clump of weed down the river and onto the beach.
: We spent a night in Queenstown where the countryside is very beautiful. The town itself is cramped …
: Today I attended a meeting near the Levin War Memorial. I've driven past plenty of times but never …
: The Cromwell Heritage Precinct has old stone buildings and a view over the Clutha River where …
: On our holiday, between Lake Pukaki and Cromwell I just watched the scenery go by, and took a few …
: Fungi at Waiopehu Scenic Reserve Today I wandered around Waiopehu Scenic Reserve. It's a dim, damp and cool bush walk where I spotted …
: I was in the mood to read all day and lost myself in Murder Against the Odds (Warwick & Bell Crime …
: Morning waves. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊 Morning waves on a dull day.
: Murder on a Country Walk (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 4) by Janice Frost was another …
: Heaven forbid we feed kids just because they're hungry! Associate minister of education David …
: OK, my new endeavour: Portuguese for Beginners | Udemy. Day 1: obrigada. 🇵🇹
: When Waka Kotahi built the Kāpiti Expressway they installed a sealed shared path (bikes, …
: I seem to be in a phase where I'm generally low level irritable and scratchy and want to shed some …
: Oh, April 2024 Photo Challenge Day 11: sky. The sky was vibrant in scarlet for about 30 minutes this …
: This sounds interesting. As a lover of words and language in general I'd be up to give this game a …
: This morning I drove about 20 minutes to Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve and enjoyed a shady bush …
: Another excellent Braincraft video: How to cope when life is terrible - YouTube.
: Aha! 2028 total solar eclipse in New Zealand: before the total eclipse [on 22 July, 2028], Aotearoa …
: From Takapō we headed south, with a momentary stop at Lake Pukaki, so blue! I believe that's Aoraki …
: I'd forgotten I'd read other books by Judi Daykin, with varying enjoyment. The Wild Thyme Farm …
: I haven't visited the beach with my camera so much lately — many of the birds have gone. Today …
: About 9 pm at Lake Takapō, in the Dark Sky Reserve (on 23 March 2024). This was the view from our …
: I enjoy Anne Shillolo's murder mystery series, but Murder at Lost Lake: (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery …
: What bliss! Lying on the outdoor couch on a warm (finally) sunny blue sky day. The distant sea …
: Such a moving essay about environment: The Sunday Essay: Piercing the living waters | The Spinoff: I …
: Apparently in April 2022 I advised myself about having spent too little time sightseeing: It's easy …
: I saw this video a couple of days ago after the huge earthquake in Taiwan and told Deb to watch it. …
: Bag 3 of the Lego build complete. It required only a minor fix where I must have messed up in a …
: I encouraged this little Southern Bell Frog out of the garage yesterday. So glad to spot a frog …
: MB April Photo Challenge: windy 📷 Sasha, tail flying, on a windy day at Waikawa Beach in August …
: Just before our tour to the Mt John observatories (photos strongly discouraged up there because of …
: Having recently visited Tekapo I was intrigued by this new murder mystery set there: Dark Sky: …
: Not a new thought, but today it really hit home to me — someone on the radio said "grow the …
: Four Distinct Sleep Types: According to the team behind the study, extra effort needs to be made to …
: Maybe half way between Temuka and Takapō is Fairlie, with its James MacKenzie and Dog statue. The …
: I was doubtful about The Jenny Starling Mysteries Books 1–4 by Faith Martin at first but really …
: Winchester, in Te Wai Pounamu, lies between Temuka and Geraldine. We were recommended to breakfast …
: Today I was out the door at 7 am to visit the supermarket, then spent the whole morning making …
: It annoyed me while on holiday that the Sunrise/Sunset complication on my Apple Watch stopped …
: It flows slowly, the Waikawa River, but it's still a 'flower'. 🤣 MB April Photo Challenge: flowers 📷 …
: The waves might be little in our barely moving air from the east, but they're still Pacific. For the …
: Brooklyn 99 is perfect to (re)watch while I eat breakfast. Every single episode leaves me laughing.
: This sounds bad — DOC spent nearly $500,000 to kill one stoat in Fiordland until we see this: …
: At the Dark Sky Project in Takapō I bought this Great Spotted Kiwi backpack clip as a memento. Not …
: I did this Online Hearing Test a few years back and have just gone through it again. Hmmm, having …
: Nice to see that a] the beach was still there 🤣 and that b] someone had been having a good time.
March 2024
: I had a wonderful time away on holiday, but am thrilled to be home to my kettle that I can set to …
: Partly because it's Easter I followed official advice and arrived at Christchurch airport early to …
: My friend Anne and I dressed warmly against the sharp wind in Christchurch at the Travis Wetland. Me …
: Autumn colours in Te Māra Huaota o Waipapa | the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
: This morning we enjoyed a pleasant walk around the 119 hectare Ōruapaeroa / Travis Wetland in …
: Rakaia Gorge is scenic from the lookout.
: Staying with a friend in Christchurch. This is one year old Felix. 🐈
: Athol is a tiny place about half way between Te Anau and Queenstown. It has a very convenient public …
: Back in Takapō for the night. From the back I thought this was a car, but it turns out to be a …
: Such a cool use of the Internet: Fish Doorbell in Utrecht: … viewers around the world can …
: This photo probably most represents Milford Sound. Huge craggy sheer cliffs, greenery, numerous tiny …
: What a long day. The bus picked us up at 8 this morning for our Milford Sound Tour and after a busy …
: At the Te Anau bird sanctuary I spotted Takahē and Whio (Blue Duck). 🐦 Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te …
: Spent the night in Queenstown. Today we drive 2 hours to Te Anau then tomorrow, with any luck, we …
: Lake view from Earnslaw Lodge on Lake Wakatipu in Tāhuna | Queenstown, east to west.
: The landscapes in Mackenzie and Central are just jaw dropping.
: Aoraki (Mt Cook) from Lake Pukaki.
: I’ve never been to Cromwell on Lake Dunstan before. Stark mountains all around.
: Delicious breakfast at Jack Rabbit in Takapō before we drive to Queenstown.
: Dishes at the Dark Sky Diner were pricey, but the Fire grilled salmon served with roasted pumpkin, …
: Filling in a few hours till our 11 pm tour — Takapō Stargazing at Mount John: The Summit …
: We're travelling in Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island) with our friend Amanda from north of Auckland. …
: Waimakariri River just north of Otautahi | Christchurch. So blue! And a famous braided riverbed.
: So cool 🐦 : 3D printed eggs used in fairy tern rescue programme | RNZ News: Staff remove the [real] …
: Hmmm, still none the wiser. Bizarre film. Asteroid City 🎥: It is Anderson's homage to popular memory …
: The Outskirter's Secret (Steerswoman Series Book 2) by Rosemary Kirstein was as gripping as the …
: Fun moment: distance between where I live now and where I was born: Distance Between Cities Places …
: Waikawa Beach, 20 March 2024. The Pacific Wave Appreciation Society appreciates even the smallest of …
: Hmm, I'm reading out a brief speech from my iPad at a Horowhenua District Council meeting today. I …
: I'm usually good with anagrams so was initially disappointed with my first try at Lex Friedman's By …
: With Equinox tomorrow, I lit the first fire for 2024.
: Waikawa river mouth shines in the early morning.
: In 2 days time I will be speaking to our local District Council for no more than 5 minutes on an …
: Ate dinner with friends at Samrat Indian Restaurant in Waikanae. Just like last time, the food was …
: Bag 2 of the Lego build complete, with no parts left over. 😅
: So quiet today — I took a nap in the sun with crickets for company. Delightful.
: Kāpiti Island and Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) on a clear sunny day.
: Hah hah — love it! Note: the title attribute reads: Doug's cousin, the one from London, runs a …
: Whew, I've completed the first pack on my 5-pack Lego build. After discovering a leftover piece 😳 I …
: I don't often read fantasy, but on Annie's recommendation (what Annie said goes for me too) I took a …
: A different kind of bird low overhead at the beach today.
: Hardly a challenging plot, but the movie 80 for Brady was fun. 🎥 Hard to go wrong with a cast that …
: Heh, quote of the year: I speak fluent typo! 😆 cygnoir https://micro.blog/cygnoir/33360506
: I'm enjoying playing Lex Friedman's Lexicogs.
: I didn't get off to a good start with the first book in this series, but Murder at the Wedding (Rina …
: This mantis on our front door today may be a South African mantis. [Later] The NZ Bug Identification …
: Deb and I really enjoyed The Miracle Club 🎥 : In 1967, in a hard-knocks community in Dublin, three …
: I picked about 5 Kg Granny Smith apples off the tree. I'm looking forward to stewing them up and …
: I'm 69 and have never played with? built? Lego. After hearing it mentioned the other day I bought a …
: That custom email domain I've had trouble with for the past couple of weeks … I fiddled, …
: Deb and I watched the excellent Australian mini-series True Colours on Netflix. 📺 It explores …
: This page lists Custom Email Domain Availability. Since Aotearoa is included I'm stumped as to why, …
: On the beach yesterday. 🐦 Social distancing for NZ Dotterels. NZ Dotterel looking fine. Immature …
: Here's a stabilised version of the birds and waves video I shared before. Many thanks to @sod for …
: Something I've noticed recently is that my hand holding the camera steady is no longer 100% …
: Waves? What waves? 🐦 Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa, for the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
: There was one Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill at Kuku Beach this morning. 🐦
: Kuku Beach Estuary is a 3.5 Km walk north along the beach, but I drove there by road this morning. A …
: Chilly at the beach this dawn. We're now in one of the official Autumns. 🐦 Oystercatcher and almost …
: Somehow I started reading Murder at the Willows (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 8) by Jane Adams …
: Visit to the dental hygienist today, after too long a break. Now all my teeth feel weird … …
: Long-tailed bat the weight of a AAA battery believed to be NZ's oldest | RNZ News: A bat of at least …
: Such a good read! Gone to Darkness (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 4) by Barbara Nickless was perhaps even …
: From the Good News files — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first fully electric bus network launches in …
: There's actual rain (and high winds) forecast for today. 🌧️ 33.6 mm (1.3") rain forecast and winds …
: Through the window. A rather scruffy looking Starling. 🐦
: Half a dozen Kōurarini | European goldfinches were outside my bedroom window this morning. 🐦
: Not sure I've seen a dozen or more Poaka | Pied Stilt all together at our beach before. 🐦
February 2024
: Bird footprints on the beach. 🐦
: Sydney is growing into civilian life, but the past still haunts her. Another good read. Ambush …
: Because it's Leap Day I'm messing around with fonts in some apps — just to shake things up a …
: Starting the day with a bit of a shaker — GeoNet: Quake - 2024p158594 〰️: Magnitude: 4.7 …
: Happy Leap Day folks. Enjoy the gamboling and capering. 😁 💃💃
: This 8 minute video is particularly interesting and useful — Your freezer is messing with your …
: There is a small group of Warou | Welcome swallows who spend a proportion of their days perched on …
: I took this photo the other day of Kuaka | Godwits in breeding plumage. Do you like the halo? 🐦
: Today's bird, on Lake Te Puna a te Ora: Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler. 🐦 New Zealand status: …
: The Girl Who Found Joy (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 6) by Amy Vansant. A somewhat …
: Some of my Micro.Blog pals might be interested in reading this Waikawa News blog post: Who are all …
: Jana DeLeon has created another engaging and fun story in the Miss Fortune series with Swamp Spies. …
: I very much enjoyed watching The Marvels. It was fun.
: We have a 20,000 litre rainwater tank that serves our house for drinking and other water. Since it …
: For those who just want the pretty pictures — 🐦 A juvenile Tarapirohe | Black-fronted Tern. …
: Juvenile Black-fronted Tern At this time of year we see flocks of White-fronted Terns hanging out in the estuary near the sea, …
: Tarāpuka | Black-billed gull 🐦 : The black-billed gull is found only in New Zealand … The …
: West coast waves — at Waikawa Beach in Horowhenua in Aotearoa. See Jean’s west coast waves, …
: My friend Rachel has a thing or two to say about ageing and being old — A taxonomy of aging …
: 6 am and look at that: Venus side by side with Mars in the morning sky. ✨✨
: Juvenile Tarapunga | Red-billed gull, a native whose conservation status is Declining. 🐦
: It's a ground misty kind of morning. With Venus and sunrise.
: Another in a gripping series — Dead Stop (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 2) by Barbara Nickless 📚: …
: Spotted this roughly 5 cm grasshopper on the outside of my bedroom window this morning.
: First time for everything: this Blokart had come up from Ōtaki. I haven't seen one on Waikawa Beach …
: Cyclone categories no longer fit for a heating planet: Increasingly strong cyclones may mean a new …
: The swallows love hanging out on the railing by our east window, in the early evening sun. 🐦
: Such a good read I've preordered the next in series — Redemption (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran …
: I suspect this juvenile Oystercatcher was one of the babies from early January. Its parent was …
: The movie Orion and the Dark was a delight — so creative, and also fun. It's worth a watch. 🎥 …
: I visited the Ōtaki Kite Festival today. The small kites were huge compared to a normal backyard …
: This fine bulldog was a brief visitor at our place the other day. Our cat-sized waterbowl had to be …
: Today's good news for conservation — Pest control reverses 'downward slide to extinction' for …
: I used to use a Keyboard Maestro action to open my Time Machine System Preference but with some OS …
: Black and white (and orange). Tern next to Southern Pied Oystercatcher. 🐦
: It was darned hot at the beach this afternoon, but I was so glad to spot baby Oystercatcher again. 🐦 …
: Big and Little: Kakīānau | Black swan and Pāpango | New Zealand scaup. 🐦 Length: 110 - 140 cm; …
: Big and Little: big Taranui | Caspian Tern with little Tara | White-fronted Tern (I think …) …
: Yet another in a series that grips me: The Gathering Storm (Detective Shona Oliver Book 4) by Lynne …
: I highlighted many parts of Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner but the last third was draggy …
: Something special happened last night. There I was lying with my eyes open hoping sleep would …
: On my bike ride today I drank a can of L&P (Lemon & Paeroa, lemonade), then when I came home …
: I biked 10 km beside the river in Palmerston North and I’m having a rest and enjoying the view …
: Today's adventure: bike along the Manawatū River Park Pathway in Palmerston North then have lunch at …
: Listened to this interview yesterday — so interesting — Record-smashing Tonga volcano …
: Birds I noticed at dawn at the beach today: NZ Dotterel, Royal Spoonbill, adult pair and baby …
: Flocks of birds in flight at the beach today. 🐦 Black swans in flight. A small flock of Rock …
: I planted two Grevillea New Blood today. A stunning deep red flowering ground cover. It is a quite …
: Thanks to @bsag I'm currently reading Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner. There are some …
: Deb and I brunched today at Harrison's cafe and garden centre in Pekapeka. It's such a peaceful …
: Loved reading A Matrimonial Murder (A Temple Hill Mystery Book 2) by Meeti Shroff-Shah. For me the …
: There were also plenty of birds on Lake Te Puna a te Ora, including many Pāpango | New Zealand …
: Today I noticed juvenile Karoro | Black-backed gulls 🐦.
: What a lovely essay: Por Por’s broth | 婆婆煲噶湯 | The Spinoff: she is painfully excited about my …
: An excellent movie. Watch it! One Life 🎥 : based on the true story of British humanitarian Sir …
: The whole article is really interesting — Of melting pots and mongrel languages: If a few …
: Today's 'haul' — Dotterels and a Hawk in flight. 🐦
: I enjoyed this and may read others by this author if there are any, but somehow I never felt quite …
: Also on the beach and in my camera's view this morning, this Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦
: And here's my new S9 Apple Watch, a full 6 days before I expected it! 😁
: Success! Not only has the population of baby Oystercatchers doubled overnight, but I managed a photo …
: This parent Oystercatcher was very upset with me today for walking too close to its baby (maybe 10 …
: On very rare occasions an odd looking item turns up in the supermarket Fruit and Vege section. …
: This is super interesting (Waikawa Beach has a terrible erosion problem in one particular spot) …
: At the beach I saw, but didn't manage a photo of, a brand new baby Oystercatcher! Huzzah! Meanwhile, …
: Today is one of NZ's most important days: Waitangi Day. We commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o …
: Waitangi Day 6 Feb 2024 7:57 AM: A Ngāpuhi kaumātua says He Whakaputanga needs to be elevated in the …
: I like this series and enjoyed the fast action of The Girl Who Saw the Truth (The Shee McQueen …
: Just wanted to note this — Oxford gains dark sky park status | RNZ News: Oxford [north of …
: With a birthday (69) coming up I followed a whim the other day (unusual for me) and ordered a new …
: Hmmm, in the first week of April Deb and I might spend a few days in Te Wai Pounamu (The South …
: Kawau | Pied Shags on the beach this morning. 🐦
: Bumper breeding season for NZ's rarest bird after disastrous season last year | RNZ News: … …
: Earlier this week I thought I was over Covid but just not up to par. Yesterday and today I realise I …
: I read this in two widely spaced hits: Island on Fire: The extraordinary story of Laki, the volcano …
: Just in case Deb and I do ever end up travelling to the Arctic — Top Arctic Wildlife …
: While the Warou | Welcome swallow sat on the zendo roof the Kāhu | Hawk was out hunting. 🐦
: Another from an author I enjoy: Someone Rotten Riding the Rails (The Accidental Detective Book 6) by …
: I quite enjoyed The Birthday Girl (A Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller Book 1) by Sarah Ward. 📚 A remote …
: Pied Stilt stands guard on 3 juveniles. 🐦
: This is such an interesting podcast episode: Werthwhile Language – The Vocal Fries Pod: Carrie and …
: It seems I have a case of the 3am blahs. 😱
January 2024
: Whew, drove to Pekapeka for brunch with a friend, bought a few groceries on the way home. Exhausted …
: Today's other beach bird is this NZ Dotterel showing off its jewellery. 🐦
: Today's beach bird is … a sparrow! It had found a tasty morsel for its dinner. 🐦
: Lay down for a few moments … and woke an hour later! Missing out on this glorious hot and …
: A fairly good read, though it didn't utterly grip me — Lest We Forgive (DS Liz Moorland. Major …
: There were so many birds at the estuary this morning. I went for photos of groups. No chance of …
: Deb made this wonderful Chicken Barley Soup (Soupe Jo) for dinner. Definitely one to have again.
: Still haven't regained my energy after testing clear of Covid over a week ago. Today I took …
: I finished Star Trek: Prodigy, and enjoyed it. I was a bit lukewarm for the first half dozen …
: I didn't quite gel with Fall (Detective Harriet Foster Book 2) by Tracy Clark at first, but the book …
: The Tea Masterclass has been fascinating. The episode I watched today particularly so: Global Tea …
: Earthquakes and me and you I've lived most of my life in Aotearoa — that's 60+ years. And in this country we get …
: Yesterday I sent out a community newsletter that also contained a clearly labelled opinion piece. I …
: Shaken awake at 0318 by a 5.2 quake. 〰️
: I had only 2 minutes at the lake this afternoon. How lucky to spot a Matuku moana | White-faced …
: Look who's hanging out on our bathroom window today: this stick insect (about 10 cm long — 4 …
: Friends, here's an ebook bundle to sit back and enjoy. I love these books. The Complete Ellie Tappet …
: Five climate lessons from Māori communities (that are guaranteed not to depress you) | The Spinoff: …
: Hey crossword-loving people, I use Daniel Jalkut's fantastic Black Ink app to do crosswords every …
: A somewhat amusing read, poking gentle fun. The Dinner Lady Detectives: A charming British village …
: How an unknown app helped mobilise 10,000 people at Tūrangawaewae | The Spinoff: An efficiently …
: I was told about this kudos for my work with Waikawa News, but now have seen it for myself (PDF). …
: Back on 01 January 2024 I thought my word for this year would be surprise. Well, with Deb's …
: Such impressive wings on this critter I found on the washing line this morning.
: Ten memorable quotes from te hui aa motu | The Spinoff [held Saturday 20 January 2024]: Te hui aa …
: I was hooked from the first with Blood on the Tracks (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 1) by Barbara …
: Country life: sitting in bed of a rainy Saturday, reading and wondering what the weird noise was. …
: Deb and I managed a slow 25 minute walk on the beach. We encountered 1 angry Pied Stilt who, …
: Disappointed to do another Covid test this morning and find I'm still positive. I'm feeling better, …
: I read The Nugent Case (Mine for the Taking Book 1) by Torie Raben when I was in a bit of a daze, I …
: With The Arc (DCI Ellie McVey series Book 1) by J.A. Rainbow I realised: I watch without complaint …
: A very curious thing about those 8 DL Keur books I read. The author was a stickler for using the ® …
: I nearly stopped reading Deadly Bond (Kate Kinsella Mysteries Book 5) by Christine Green but …
: Welcoming nightfall. At our friends place in Whangārei.
: I thoroughly enjoyed the The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries, as I mentioned already. Dead Falls …
: I'd read one of the other Daph books so knew what I was in for with this light and fluffy read. Daph …
: I never know which mountain is which, in the central North Island. When we flew home the other day …
: Deb spotted a stoat running past the quail run just before I went to feed Fliss, the Japanese Quail. …
: Three features of today in Covid-land: Deb, now somewhat better, is looking after me superbly. …
: To all my many Micro.Blog pals who have wished Deb and me well with our current Covid+ status: thank …
: Amazing, my 6th anniversary at Micro.Blog. A wonderful community. Thanks everyone who created it and …
: Once Deb was positive for Covid, it was inevitable that I would follow. Confirmed today. At least we …
: I’m over airports. Glad to be nearly home though. 1.25 hour flight then an hour drive. 🤞🏼
: The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries (8 book series) has been so engrossing I've read the first 4 …
: On 11 January 2023 I wrote about my M1 MacBook Pro: 2 years on and battery life is still phenomenal. …
: So… given Deb’s positive Covid test, we’re extending our stay with our friends in …
: Today we reverse our trip and fly Whangārei to Auckland then on to Palmerston North, then drive …
: Spotted this Ngungutawa | Sand Scarab larva (Pericoptus truncatus) on the beach track the other day. …
: The Rolling Ball Clock in Whangārei is pretty special. Poor photo I'm afraid and I only had a moment …
: Went out to lunch at Aqua Restaurant & Bar, based in the amazing Hundertwasser Centre in Whangārei …
: Our friends have several tanks with tropical fish. This one is called a Discus.
: Here I am with my other new BFF — a black Malinois called Rush. 🐶
: This is my new friend Boo, a German Spitz Mittel, keeping an eye on the world. 🐶 This shot was made …
: We made it to Whangārei in the end. Whew. Much earlier in the day we flew past Taranaki maunga.
: We missed that connecting flight to Whangārei by 2 minutes — the doors closed as we walked …
: Left home at 4.30 am. Drove through fog to the airport. Boarded the plane. Sat for half an hour. …
: Spotted on the beach today, a Taranui | Caspian tern: Although widespread now, Caspian terns remain …
: Wellington asks for government funding for new bird 'super sanctuary': The Puketaha fenced …
: Weird: I've used Keyboard Maestro for one or two decades now and it's never occurred to me before to …
: Today a baby Oystercatcher walked past really close to me. What a sweetie! 🐦
: With its mottled brown back and head this is definitely a baby Pied Stilt. 🐦
: Caught the baby oystercatchers yesterday dashing about. 🐦 (This should be an animated gif.) For …
: Sometimes our neighbours would call and point out Oshi was down at their place (he'd escaped). Today …
: Those baby Oystercatchers are growing! 🐦
: Since I have a tradition of posting a selfie on New Year's Day, here's 01 January 2024. See also …
: The Oystercatcher chicks are getting so grown up. Here's one with its parent. 🐦
: Hmmm, my 2024 smart photo album seems to be empty. Better put that right. 🤣
: Surprise 🌈 I read a few Micro.Blog posts where people mentioned their word of the year and thought: …
: Good morning and welcome to 2024! I was up at 2.30 am to shut my bedroom window against a blustery …
December 2023
: I cooked a variation of Spring vegetable broth with shredded chicken for dinner and it was delicious …
: Road to Copper Hollow (Mining For Justice Book 1) by Katie Trapp was heavier on relationships than …
: I quickly abandoned The Complete Maxie Reddick Mysteries Books 1–3 box set by Helen Bridgett. 🐦 I …
: I quite enjoyed reading the 5 books in Charlotte Dean Mysteries eBook Bundle by Phillipa Nefri …
: I unsubbed from something and really don't like the message on the confirmation page. Seems hostile …
: I don't usually go in for yearly roundup posts but there were a lot of Special Moments in 2023.
: Special Moments from 2023 I don't usually go in for yearly roundup posts but there were a lot of Special Moments in 2023. I …
: If you're a human being who does like dogs this will be the best 8.5 minutes of your year: We Rate …
: Françoise Bettencourt Meyer: L'Oréal heiress first woman to amass $100bn fortune: The net worth of …
: Hah! Apple Photos just gave me a new 2023 Year in Review Memory. More than 95% of the photos are …
: Well well well, for the first time since I bought my M1 MacBook Pro in January 2021 I was able to …
: Such a gorgeous summer morning with the dawn chorus, a hazy full moon setting in the west, Venus …
: The Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian Bittern is an extremely rare and endangered bird, but one sometimes …
: Thanks to my many Micro.Blog pals who sent good wishes for my partner Deb's gallbladder surgery. …
: Uh oh. Arrived at Deb's hospital room at 9 am and it seems she's been abducted by aliens. Awaiting …
: After 5 days sitting beside a hospital bed (still no op for Deb) I'm missing the beach and the bird …
: It's still dark so this photo is from a week ago. Fliss the Japanese quail turns 5 today. What a …
: Oh, OK, Netflix — is there something I can watch? Oooh, Star Trek: Prodigy — at last!
: Seeing a fair bit of this view these days as Deb waits for gallbladder removal surgery. Could be …
: Poster in the Womens Surgical Assessment Unit at Palmerston North Hospital. 😀
: A bit of Christmas in the Women’s Assessment Surgical Unit at Palmerston North hospital where Deb is …
: Turns out the wee 3 in 1 Foldable Wireless Charging Dock I bought myself a few months ago is …
: Deb's gall bladder removal was supposed to be today: first at 11 am then shunted to 5 pm. After 5 …
: Keeping Deb company as she waits for the op to have her gallbladder removed. This dog poster is good …
: How cool is this! People using mobile devices with low data but needing info from a load of …
: An off-duty ultrasound machine at Palmerston North Hospital. The operator was amazing, looking at …
: When we left the house at 07.30 after Deb suffered a night of probably gallbladder pain, I didn't …
: Another Oystercatcher baby! 🐦
: So pleased (and relieved) to see a Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill in the estuary again (at last). I …
: Not very happy with an invoice I received. Back in October we had a charger installed for our new …
: I find this just gobsmacking! I don't even know what to say … It's part awe, part disgust. It …
: Needed to renew the firstbite domain name I've had for ~25 years. Renewing several years at a time …
: We had plenty of warning of today's scheduled 90 minute power outage, including Tips such as making …
: Not my usual bird photo: man and dog line fishing off the beach.
: The 74 page Shadow Of Temptation: A Prequel To Margot Harris Mystery Series by Nora Kane didn't …
: The 96 page Goodbye Elora Inn (A DC Holly Towns Mystery Novella) (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 8) …
: Today's success: 3 oystercatcher chicks and both parents. 🐦
: I may have a link in MarkDown but need it in HTML, or even the Other Markdown that Dokuwiki uses. I …
: Loving the Audio Hijack Transcribe feature: watching a 3 minute instructional video about focus on …
: A thump, then silence — a helicopter crash nearby in August 2017 At about 1 pm on 24 August 2017 I took my lunch onto the deck here at Waikawa Beach and glanced over …
: Our new government, so smart! Minister pulls brakes on cycling and walking initatives: Simeon Brown …
: The drizzle stopped. We hardly ever get a Mackerel sky like this.
: Well, that was fun — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget where the chickens had to break in to a …
: Woohoo, it's a cool and drizzly day, so great for staying in and relaxing. I made delicious mushroom …
: A couple of days ago this Tara | White-fronted Tern was hanging out with a pal at the beach. 🐦
: I just can't get enough of the tiny Oystercatcher chicks. 'Caught' one today. 🐦
: Two months after requesting signs, finally they were installed today. Now the birds seem to have …
: It's been some time since I last went non-grocery 'shopping'. Between times I manage to forget how …
: Sitting at the beach in the sunshine, waiting for the fellow to arrive to put up the Birds Nesting …
: These Matuku moana | White-faced heron were down at the lake yesterday. 🐦 This post was originally …
: Wow, watch the first 90 seconds of the Maiden Speech of NZ's youngest Member of Parliament …
: Previously I've been using Aperture Priority for my bird photos. Today I tried Shutter Speed …
: Another rare book-on-paper purchase this year: the delightful Critters of Aotearoa by Nicola Toki …
: Late evening yesterday and the light was on the highest peaks of the Tararuas, where I could just …
: There is a railing on the deck beside a large area of glass on the east side of our house. It's …
: One of the Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher pairs has managed to produce two chicks. Made my day …
: It's the time of year when the Spinifex develops spiky seed heads. Soon they will separate from the …
: I always enjoy books by Joy Ellis, so on a day where I felt slightly unwell and stayed in bed all …
: The helicopter moved on to spraying the lupins right beside our house.
: Came home from errands to find spraying by helicopter going on just behind us.
: Yesterday was the day to maintain our UV drinking water filtration and sterilisation system. It's an …
: A month ago I had a blurry photo of two Warou | Welcome swallow eggs in a nest above the zendo door. …
: I wanted some fun socks. Thanks to Bamboozld I now have some in bamboo: Naturally eco-friendly, …
: Abandoned: Body Count (FBI-K9 Series Book 2) by Jodi Burnett. Although it was obvious in the …
: I've been so focused on other birds recently I've ignored the little Weweia | New Zealand dabchick. …
: There's something about this series that I just love. Maybe it's the very ordinary people: Bea and …
: I think this little waxeye on the deck railing (and through the window) might have been a juvenile. …
: Those baby stilts weren't visible today, but I paced out where they were yesterday and it was 65 to …
: Baxter K9 Hero by Jodi Burnett was a freebie for joining the author's mailing list. It's a prequel …
: I enjoy this series, so Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel (The Accidental Detective Book 5) by …
: Hmmm, given: Among the early tasks of the new, three-handled broom of government is giving primacy …
: Pleased to see this brief video online — Maori MP performs haka before swearing oath to King: …
: In my quest for better photos of Pied Stilt chicks I was at the beach for a windless, cool dawn. …
: Well, we seem to have our first chicks of the season: a couple of tiny Poaka | Pied Stilt. Photos …
: Tuned in part way through the Swearing-in Ceremony for our new Parliament. Pleased to hear some …
: I broke my rule today and am now paying the consequences. Walked Willow the dog to the beach and saw …
: Occasionally things about words get my goat, though in general I like to be positive about language …
: As the new government try to wind NZ back on many measures — climate and things Māori in …
: So fantastic to see protests on the opening day of Parliament led by our new racist, colonialist …
: I emailed the Bird Banding office about this photo and they replied: The details that we hold for …
: We went to brunch at Field and Green in Wellington yesterday with a group of friends, most of whom …
: Those Glossy ibis photos I took during the week … These are the images I kept in the end. A …
: It’s 0330 and I’ve drunk the cup of tea I just made. After hours of restless sleep with …
: Incredibly dumb, wasteful and offensive policy from the new government of Aotearoa — The uncertainty …
: I rarely buy books on paper, but the first couple of pages of Sylvia and the Birds: How The Bird …
: Another darn good read — Murder At Arrow Pass (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 2) by Anne …
: Absolutely fascinating 20 minute interview — Does biology trump free will?: If [testosterone …
November 2023
: Poaka | Pied Stilt are very aggressive when it comes to defending a nest, and they seem to have a …
: Today Golden Turtle oolong tea is perfectly suiting my mood. Very delicious. Definitely smooth and …
: Ecosia search engine now has an AI Chat feature. Gave it a whirl with this search: mac os terminal …
: Game Mode while doing jigsaws was driving me nuts! Then I found Use Game Mode on Mac. From the Game …
: Tonight the light was better and I got smarter with camera settings so the Glossy ibis photos …
: When I made Crusty French Bread Rolls today I think I should have put the dough in a bigger bowl to …
: Better photos from last evening were this Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler pair with chicks and …
: Close to sunset yesterday a neighbour invited me to the wetland on their property where a very rare …
: Yesterday's seal that wasn't reminded me of this horse thrashing through a rough sea in June 2016. …
: When I rounded the corner on the track to the beach and glimpsed this shape at a distance, I thought …
: Heyyyy, check out the ring! Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher
: Up in Smoke (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 6) by Charlene Weir just didn't really gel for me — I …
: Waking a sleeping language – our plan to revive the speaking of ta rē Moriori: Moriori's closest …
: When it's a good summer it gets way too hot in the tunnelhouse. Today we installed shadecloth over …
: Yesterday, reading some of the things our new right-wing government plan to do, I felt angry. I …
: Went to a community get-together yesterday afternoon where I drank 2 small glasses of no-brand …
: Mummies was quite a fun movie. Lightweight, not meaningful. The film follows three mummies from the …
: Whew, with NCIS Sydney S01E03 they've finally got over themselves. Instead of cringeworthy "Hey hey …
: I knew the conservatives with their awful ideas won the recent election, so why did I torture myself …
: Too many photos! 🤣 I tried Pre-shot ES on the X-T5. 📷 This adds photos to a buffer if the shutter is …
: This sparrow sized bird didn't look quite right to be a Banded Dotterel. On checking I found they …
: I was concerned 2 years ago when I bought my M1 MacBook Pro that 8GB RAM wouldn't be enough. It's …
: Every single thing about this 9 minute video is astonishing — J.S. Bach : Toccata and Fugue in …
: A long read, worth every second — Goodbye, Kim Hill: a day with the doyenne of NZ radio: …
: First BEV fail: for some reason the car didn't charge overnight, leaving not enough juice for Deb to …
: I've been wanting to grab a photo of a Pahirini | Chaffinch for a while now. Finally one flew in …
: I've enjoyed previous books in this series by Alice Bienia, and this was another engrossing read: …
: Yumm. Just like the last time I made them (a year ago, thanks On This Day): Lemon Butter Biscuits. …
: Oliver's input into the competiton ruffled a few feathers, but saw donations to organiser Forest and …
: Surprise! … 😼 A new review of archaeological evidence and human physiology strongly suggests …
: I set a couple (literally) of settings on the new X-T5 and went out to experiment. Focus was set for …
: Today: ring shop to check my trip won't be wasted. Drive from home to Waikanae (30 mins), train to …
: Whew. The 12 year olds have left the train. The sound level has dropped from maybe 100 decibels to …
: The train I’m on is chock full of schoolkids who raised funds for this trip to the swimming pools in …
: I love language(s), words, pronunciations, so this 27 minute video Out of date dictionaries–with …
: Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole is a delicious dish. I've made it twice now — the second time …
: If any of my Wellington / Kāpiti / Horowhenua pals need a good Massage Therapist, then Natalie …
: Where do recipe writers get their Prep times from? I reckon they must roll the dice. 10 minutes, …
: Good words today from 12 graphs that show New Zealand isn’t doing as badly as you think | The …
: I made a loaf of Classic white crusty bread today. It was OK but not fantastic — the dried …
: The way you are when you're very old you're all ages at the same time. Sometimes you might feel 5 …
: Turned on the radio for a minute only to think "I know that voice!" It was my good friend Rachel: …
: There's no wind, so it's a calm day and not cold. I'm enjoying listening to actual rain on the roof. …
: We went out to dinner tonight for a change — to Hell Pizza. Yum.
: It's been a two nap kind of day, with a third possible too … 🥱🥱
: Ahhh: The Hidden Secrets of the Fn Key - TidBITS: Fn-E: Open the emoji picker
: I was surprised to realise I bought my Fujifilm X-T2 camera 5 years ago. I wanted to learn to take …
: This book was distinctly odd. Maybe it's a 'thing' I don't know about, a genre I don't usually read …
: An unusual but very pleasing part of today was the affirmation I received that at least one person …
: I looked for somewhere to go for a walk and decided on Horseshoe Bend Reserve at Tokomaru, about 45 …
: See all those low bushes covered in yellow flowers? They're lupins and I'm highly allergic to them. …
: Like @ptrck I too am very happy to see that The Brain Scoop is back. One of my favourite sciency …
: Kansas in winter sounds brutal. I have no understanding of how anyone survives. A Cold Christmas …
: I'd missed reading this first in a series, so remedied that. The Winter Widow (Kansas Cozy Mysteries …
: I started Blood Orchids (Paradise Crime Mysteries, Book 1) by Toby Neal but found the interpolated …
: When I feed my friend's chooks there's an extra scoop for the doves. 😆 🐦
: Haven't had one of these birds visit our garden before. I assume someone's pet canary found its …
: It was one of those gorgeous sunsets at the beach: still, calm sea, clear sky.
: The chooks were singing themselves to sleep when I went to tuck them in at sunset. 🐦 Your browser …
: Harrisons Garden Centre is a great place for brunch on a sunny day.
: With that look I was glad to be on the other side of the wire today. 🐦
: Why has it taken so much of my life to realise that if my hands are cold I can zap a wheat pack for …
: Before and after: I cut down a couple of lupin bushes that were intruding on one of the tracks to …
: When my little buddy Willow came to visit today I think she just wanted a quiet time. She did enjoy …
: This broken blue egg I found on the ground may have belonged to a song thrush perhaps? 🐦
: Today Reggie gave me 13,000 litres of pure fresh water in exchange for $368. Where the water level …
: This morning I emptied our 65 litres of 'emergency' water onto plants that need it. In a few hours …
: I don't watch sports, in real life or on telly, so was surprised to really enjoy Nyad 🎥: Nyad is a …
: New Zealand’s low-emission vehicle revolution is here | The Spinoff: In July 2023, a whopping 55% of …
: The centre console on our MG 4 Essence 64 does this magic thing when in Reverse or just starting …
: My neighbour Jan Jordan launched her memoir last night at the Ōtaki bookshop. Snorkelling the Abyss: …
: This blurry photo was the best I could do: two Warou | Welcome swallow eggs in a nest above the door …
: It's not often you get to meet a Borzoi! 🐶
: Kawau | Pied Shag flies off. 🐦
: Two Karoro | Black-backed gull. 🐦
: The Poaka | Pied Stilt are so delicate and fragile looking. 🐦
: I just love these birds — they're so cute. Weweia | New Zealand dabchick. 🐦
: I finished reading Murder: Take Two (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 4) by Charlene Weir. 📚 It was a …
: The app for charging our new EV after an ~170 Km return trip to Wellington shows last night's charge …
: Excellent! — Auckland Airport a sanctuary for engandered dotterel | RNZ News: Auckland Airport …
: Not my most favourite thing, to come home and find a controlled burn-off going on only a few hundred …
: At the lake today: duck and 6 ducklings! 😍 🐦
: We're starting to learn the fuel savings with our new MG 4 Essence 64 BEV. The commute previously …
: 5.30 am. The sleepy eye of dawn starts to open. The birds sing it into being. 🐦 Listen to the birds
: I did better with the Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher, one of whom I see has been banded. 🐦
: At the beach I spotted a couple of Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel. Between lifting my fitover …
October 2023
: Just for kicks I drove up to the Lookout on Mt Victoria in Wellington. It reminded me of the …
: Wellington and Harbour from Mt Vic Lookout. Wellington city and hills. Wellington Harbour and …
: In Wellington which is so loud and where parking breaks the bank. My annual eye test was fine, …
: Today's delight: two tiny ducklings on the lake. I believe these are native Tētē-moroiti | Grey teal …
: In 2005 they blew up and sank an old Navy ship off the south coast of Wellington to form an …
: Throwback to January 2005: cats in our Wellington garden. 🐈 My boy Ares. Olive sits in the grasses. …
: We’re Searching for Our Bird of the Century 🐦: Aotearoa New Zealand’s favourite election is back, …
: We finished watching Sex Education (TV series) and I was relieved that all the story lines were …
: In my dream I was leaving a part of Waikawa Beach that had nightclubs, shops, restaurants, …
: This 13 minute video: I have APHANTASIA (and you may too...without realising it!), linked by Jason …
: Seven hours from start to finish, with 3 workers being diligent, we now have our new EV charger.
: I like to take relatively detailed photos of significant work around our place. Fortunately several …
: One of the things we've learned as home owners is that the project (whatever it might be) will …
: This Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher pair have found their spot in the driftwood, ready for …
: Manu pango | Eurasian blackbird on flax. 🐦
: We plugged the EV in to trickle charge. After 12 hours it had gone from 29% charge to 54%. That's …
: If you've never benefited from Take Control books it's time to start. Buy a book now! It'll be $5 …
: Spin-off effects … we bought a new EV so that meant getting a charger installed (this week, I …
: I couldn't imagine using my Mac without Keyboard Maestro, so this is excellent news. I see that KM …
: Range anxiety with the new EV — having cleaned up* the corner of the garage where the charger …
: Ugh, our garage has been a shambles since it was built. I need to clear out at least one corner of …
: Whew, I suppose it's only right that it takes me many hours over several days to write my monthly …
: One of my questions about the app for our new car has been answered: one person can create an …
: This was a good enough read, though a bit slow and very rainy. A Prescription for Murder (Kansas …
: Darn it. Up at 2 am — perfect time to see the Orionid meteor shower — but of course it’s …
: Baby dune among spinifex, with squiggle patterns and bird tracks.
: The river mouth was busy with whitebaiters this morning.
: So handsome! 🐦 Male pheasant in splendid colours, in grass near a tree trunk.
: My little buddy Willow is very good at entertaining herself with a ball and her bed. 🐶
: MG 4 - a computer on wheels For various reasons we bought a brand new electric car before we meant to. The car is an MG 4 …
: I'm working my way through the superb video series: MG4 Tutorial - Owner's Manual, User Guide, …
: I was so glad I tried my first ever use of a public charger at 7 am after dropping friends at the …
: 3 new apps: now we have a brand new MG 4 Essence 64 EV I so far have apps and accounts for: the car …
: At 5 am, before turning lights on to make a cuppa, I stepped outside for a few minutes. Jupiter, who …
: It beats me that 10 people will spend a collective 15+ hours digging a ditch to move water away from …
: Folks interested in Waikawa Beach and its birds … take a look at this morning's Waikawa News …
: Respect to Maya Sharma and the others — Same-sex marriage: The lesbian activist seeking equal …
: Gulp. Handed over a chunk of our retirement savings today for the EV I collect tomorrow. It'll …
: I love The Spinoff — they almost always make me laugh. The Greens won three electorates and …
: As expected for our 2023 Election, the country swung to the right so we'll have a National-led …
: Election Day is the one day every 3 years when no local politics are aired in media. So blissfully …
: The best coverage of today’s election in NZ: Election 2023: Dogs at polling booths | The …
: Your payment is pending confirmation wasn't an advice I expected to see … for a free book. 🤣 …
: I watched all 8 episodes of Sweet Kaaram Coffee and it was a delight. 📺 Three generations of women …
: As I walked to the beach yesterday I became aware of a beautiful scent in the air. I soon spotted …
: I read 3 chapters of Dead Before Dinner (A Maddie Swallows Mystery Book 1) by Kat Bellemore then …
: I don’t know why I never thought to do this before … Today I took several photos with my …
: Bad news: Climate outlook for Aotearoa predicts rivers in the sky, heatwaves in the sea: NZ's …
: For 2 years some folks upset by their inability to get their motor vehicles onto the beach 24/7/365 …
: It was almost dark last night when we went to check on something in the zendo. The entrance was …
: Kiwis (and others) buying an electric car. I found these sites very helpful: EV Beginner’s …
: This is a super busy week with a lot of things going on — new car will need a charger, bank stuff, …
: In Aotearoa at the moment petrol's getting really expensive. With an election in a few days the …
: Today we signed the papers for a new MG4 Essence 64 to be collected next week. This was the first …
: This 13 minute video is superb: Berkeley professor explains gender theory (includes transcript, but …
: The maunga peeked out from behind cloud as we came back across the footbridge.
: Today’s plan includes looking at and walking across Te Rewa Rewa bridge on the Coastal Pathway in …
: Last night’s Chicken, cashews and veges in a potato basket dish from Siam Thai in New Plymouth was …
: In the Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth: Giant White Shark. Impressive.
: Why you don't want to get Whooping Cough I originally published this post in 2011 on my now long-defunct KnowIt blog. I think it has value …
: The tides the last few days left behind this wonderful houndstooth pattern in the sand. I boosted …
: I quite enjoyed Amazon.com: A Lesson in Murder (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by Charlene Weir. 📚 I …
: No jab for me today. The nurse concluded I'd had the Whooping Cough booster last time I had a jab …
: About to get my free Boostrix shot: Boostrix vaccine boosts immunity against diphtheria, tetanus and …
: For heaven's sake! I wasn't sure if the book I was thinking of buying was NZ$2.49 or US$2.49 …
: Got a bit caught up this morning playing with Artimator - Free AI Artwork Generator. Didn't exactly …
: The biggest problem with the recipe for Mini Gingerbread Loaf for Two is that the loaf is so quickly …
: Yay, Candice Renoir S07 is back on Acorn. I love this show. 📺
: I naively thought those huge optical telescopes pointed a big mirror at the sky and then took …
: The abundance of satellites is causing the overall brightness of the sky to increase all around the …
: 4 am and it’s cuppa tea time. We’ve both given up sleeping as gales roar around and …
: We still have gales, very high tides and swells. This gull was having a hard time flying when I …
: Voting in our national elections opened today. I took my voter card (not required but helpful) and …
: A big high tide and a cold wind today at the river mouth. Here was a bit of a surge coming in, …
September 2023
: Changing Gears by L A Wright held my interest. 📚 When Jen embarks on a scenic cycling tour in …
: Southerly gales in the last few days brought a good layer of snow to the Tararua peaks.
: I really liked the patterns the tide left around this piece of driftwood.
: In spite of chilly weather, a cold wind, a high tide and a big swell the folks fishing for whitebait …
: Thanks to spring I'm starting to see a few chaffinches around. Not the best shot, but there's time …
: I was fairly interested in buying a S9 Apple Watch, but fell at the last hurdle — I don't care …
: I loved this excellent book by an author whose previous books I've also really enjoyed. A Calculated …
: Male pheasants are colourful and bold. The females stay more hidden. Last night though one all but …
: The Cleaner, the Cat and the Space Station (The Shantivira Book 1) by Fay Abernethy sounded …
: The sea this morning was pretty calm and a rare milky metallic blue as though it was from a glacial …
: Today I made Mushroom & Broccoli Pasta. It was quick, easy and tasty. Forgot to take a photo …
: Turns out with WatchOS 10 I keep needing this: Apple Watch User Guide
: Since the update to WatchOS 10 my S7 watch is only charged to 80% when I put it on in the morning. I …
: I'm not actually doing the September Photoblogging challenge but decided to send in this photo for …
: I actually took this photo about a week ago but forgot to post it. This is the river mouth winding …
: With spring the birds are starting to show up again. Down at the lakes I spotted a black swan pair …
: Ring necked doves. Photo from today, but these Barbary Doves are so tame they just hang around. …
: On one hand fantasy and romance … not my things really. On the other time travel and …
: Went out to lunch for a neighbour's 69th birthday. Eleven of us there. A couple in their early 60s …
: Little Fliss the Japanese Quail hatched on 26 December 2018. Yesterday she laid the first egg for …
: I feared 'our' pair of black swans had disappeared from the small lake Puna o te Ora at the end of …
: I was lucky enough to beta read Outlaw Justice, The First Guardian, Book 1 by Cheri Baker 📚: Mars …
: Now that iOS and iPad OS 17 are out, my first stop after updating is at Take Control Books to grab …
: Is it within 364 days of Christmas? Why yes, yes it is. Must be time to display the Christmas …
: Awake at 3 am thanks to gusty gales shaking the house and rattling mysterious things outside. 💨
: I really enjoyed watching Nimona 🎥 In a medieval-futuristic kingdom, the citizens are protected by …
: On this day in 2015 we visited Batalha in Portugal, with its amazing Monastery. Constructed in …
: The first part of A Fine and Bitter Snow (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 12) by Dana Stabenow …
: It's cold (7C outside) and grey this morning so for a bit of cheer here's a photo I took of Lake …
: Around Equinox and Solstice I run a casual naked eye star watching event called Starry Time for the …
: One of the great things about taking my neighbour to the ophthalmologist in Palmerston North was …
: My neighbour unexpectedly needed me to drive her to Palmerston North hospital today for an urgent …
: A very handy tip for those who don't want to be blinded by a page of notes while looking at stars: …
: This is a good book. The concepts about crime and treatment and punishment are interesting, but I …
: That classic looking over the shoulder pose. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher (Through a window.) 🐦
: I more or less binged all 16 episodes of Extraordinary Attorney Woo1. It's an absolute gem. After …
: Dana Stabenow's The Singing of the Dead (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 11) was split between a …
: At 5 am I was making a cup of tea and looking at the starry sky when I noticed a weird small column …
: Biked along the new shared path from Otaki to the cafe at Pekapeka (10 km). All gravel so a bit …
: Out at 0520 and the sky was clear, the magpies warbling. Crux Australis was low in the southeast. …
: Serendipity. 30 minutes to sunset I took a burst of 3 shots of a small plane flying past. But wait, …
: I hope this morning's D'oh moment will fill my quota for the next few years: Oh no! All my photos …
: Me at the beach: this glare is terrible. I wonder if it's possible to get sunglasses that go over my …
: The Spinoff once again demonstrates brilliance! 🤣 Plucky Foodstuffs takes bold stand against …
: I really enjoyed the first episode of the Korean TV show Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Fortunately I …
: I liked Blood and Money (McBride & Tanner Book 1) by Rachel McLean pretty well. It seemed fairly …
: It was 2 minutes after sunrise when I arrived on the beach and spotted this end of a rainbow.
: Wow! Rarely Glimpsed Shark That Lives For Centuries Unexpectedly Surfaces in Caribbean: Greenland …
: Looked out this morning to see three cows in the neighbour's property. They were supposed to be …
: Hard to believe it's 8 years since we visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco. Fátima was so memorable — a …
: Even though it's only 10 weeks since I first read the Dana Stabenow book Midnight Come Again (A Kate …
: First time I've seen the word overtourism. A very useful concept indeed. tourism agencies have …
: Crepuscular rays, this morning at 15 minutes before sunrise.
: It's Warou | Welcome swallow time of year. We have to be careful about leaving the garage door open …
: I have a folder of .mp3 files and want to be able to just play a random track. I spent ages finding …
: 'Library rooficer': Dog captures hearts of many library goers 🐶: at Northcote Library, there is a …
: These days I watch the tide charts. There's a dramatic difference at Waikawa Beach between mid-lunar …
August 2023
: Willow didn't really want to do a selfie with me today. 🐶 😒
: (No spoilers) The NYT crossword for 30 August 2023 was a particular delight — all the Across …
: This beauty used to graze near us, now she’s further away and we don’t see her so often. …
: The sunrise this morning was OK down by the Strathnaver lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora …
: I've been watching the NZ TV show Far North based on true events of drug smuggling. If this were a …
: In re-reading Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak novels I delayed Hunter's Moon (Kate Shugak Novels Book 9) …
: Yesterday and today I planted 3 Tītoki trees and 3 Manuka. I'm hoping that the tītoki will, in time, …
: Is it spring yet?: New Zealand [has] a 2 month summer and a 2 month winter… the other 8 months are a …
: Abandoned at 35% — with its omniscient narrator and sordid sex-based crimes there was far too …
: This series by Lynne McEwan has caught hold of me. In The Girls in the Glen (Detective Shona Oliver …
: Heh heh. Housebroken S01E08 at approx 7 minutes in. The Hamster(?) is reading a magazine article: It …
: For my own reference 🚴🏼♀️ : Kāpiti Coast Trails Map Kāpiti Coast Cycling Map
: The second book was as gripping as the first — Dead Man Deep (Detective Shona Oliver Book 2) …
: In August 2022 I spotted a Kererū at Waikawa Beach for the first time. This year there are two! I …
: There are still very few birds around on the beach: a white-faced heron, some black-backed gulls, a …
: Haven't been for a dawn beach walk for a while, so that's this morning's first planned item. I …
: I'm also really enjoying HouseBroken, an American adult animated sitcom, where a poodle runs therapy …
: I'm enjoying watching Season 1 of the Australian crime drama Mystery Road. Detective Jay Swan [is] …
: A compelling read — I stayed up late for this one. In Dark Water (Detective Shona Oliver Book 1) by …
: Our Kāhu | Hawk keeps thwarting my attempts to take a good photo. Yesterday that included flying off …
: One of the great features of the NetNewsWire RSS reader is you can use your own stylesheet for how …
: Hmm, I thought, as I looked down from the lounge window. That bull looks bigger than usual. … …
: This was a complicated book, and I still haven't figured out what to say about it — Deaths of …
: A few months ago I set the Desktop Picture on my MacBook Pro to pull from my Favourites in Photos …
: It's a special day today as my good friend Willow has come to visit for a while. 🐶 If the rain holds …
: Depending on rain, wind and tides, the river sometimes carves deep into the sand at the mouth. Then …
: I was slow to get into this book, but then I was hooked and reading solidly: Death by the Riverside …
: When we went to Samoa I totally wanted to avoid any Roaming fees so turned off all kinds of stuff on …
: Ohhhh, I just caught up with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E09 — the musical episode. I loved it! …
: People round here go to some lengths to get their vehicles onto the beach (legally a 'road'). The …
: Another good read: Killing Grounds (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 8) by Dana Stabenow. The 4th of …
: Erratum: that seal photo I posted yesterday — apparently it wasn't a Kekeno | New Zealand fur …
: It's the season (August to October) when some of the driftwood on the beach turns out on closer …
: One of the things I loved about our Traditional Garden View Villa at Sinalei Resort was the almost …
: On the plane to Samoa one of the bathrooms was painted to resemble shelves full of books. Titles …
: And, 12 hours after leaving the resort in Samoa, at a pleasant 28C, we’re finally home where it’s …
: On the AIRNZ flight it took forever to get a cup of hot water I could put my green teabag in. …
: Samoa’s airport scanners must be on the older side. Had to remove shoes, and even my watch. …
: Today we leave Sinalei Resort in Samoa and make our way home. That involves about 5.5 hours in the …
: Just had the best lunch ever at a surprising cafe in Apia called Rivaiv. It was like a Wellington …
: There are worse places to sit and read. 🇼🇸
: That earthquake I felt this morning was listed at M 5.9 - Tonga. It was some distance away and …
: Pretty happy with this handheld shot on my iPhone of the Milky Way just by the tail of Scorpius. 🇼🇸 …
: This 10 minute video will interest many I think: This town banned cars (except tiny electric ones): …
: It seems there's a Fish Reserve by the Piula Theological College in Samoa. There are quite a few …
: Cows, owned by families in villages, roam around the nearby countryside in Samoa. I don't think …
: On Monday we went for a drive around the island of Upolo in Samoa. I've been welcomed to websites …
: I see Joy Ellis as an author I enjoy but this book just didn't sit right with me. In The River's …
: So far today major events haven’t included photos. Very small earthquake this morning. I spotted a …
: Apparently the Sopoaga Falls are about 54 metres. They’re on private land, and the owners have …
: A joke I heard today: Q: What do you call a pair of crows? A: Attempted murder. 🤣
: Here we have the dining fale at Sinalei Resort, the desk at reception and looking up into the …
: Between glasses with an old prescription, the snorkel mask, the water, and not really being able to …
: At Amanaki Bar and Restaurant in Apia, Samoa for lunch. I’ve ordered lemon cheesecake. The harbour …
: Coconut palms (without coconuts). 🇼🇸
: There are quite a few Red-vented Bulbul around the resort. They behave like sparrows, popping into …
: Oi! I did not give you permission to take my photo! Pacific Black Skink at Sinalei Resort, Samoa. 🇼🇸 …
: It was a bit of a pain to haul my camera and large heavy lens along, but I'm so glad I did. I …
: Not entirely happy with A Death at Seascape House (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 1) by Emma Jameson. …
: These birds seem common around the resort. I believe this is a Miti Tai | Polynesian Triller. 🐦 🇼🇸 A …
: The pool is great for cooling off of course. Behind is the distinctive roof of a traditional style …
: The resort has a friendly little dog called Princess who has recently had pups. She’s a pro at …
: This little yellow lizard was hanging around the dining fale last night. 🇼🇸
: This little Ve'a | Buff-banded Rail potters around on the grass at our Resort. It seems like a …
: Sinalei Resort in Samoa. Bit different from Waikawa Beach eh! Also, about 25C. 🇼🇸
: This is Bellabot which brings plates of food to the tables at the Sudima Hotel in Auckland. It takes …
: The cloud lifted enough to show snow on the foothills near us. Brrr. 🥶
: Perfect weather for going somewhere else. 😆 🇼🇸
: I totally enjoyed the 4 episode French series The Best of Us on Acorn TV. 📺 When local star athlete …
: Another enjoyable read from Marion Todd: A Blind Eye (Detective Clare Mackay Book 7). 📚 a local …
: Waikawa Beach where I live is at about 40° south of the Equator. We get a great view of the …
: Last year the Blackbird couldn’t figure out how to get at the feeder. This year’s …
: The birds queue up to let me know it’s dinner time! 🐦 There is also some grumpiness about the …
: Today I drove to Paraparaumu — the closest location for my phone provider One (was Vodafone) — and …
July 2023
: It’s been an intensive research day for our upcoming holiday in Samoa. Put together useful …
: Went back to a book I started weeks ago, and recalled why I stopped reading. I'm now declaring it …
: Breakup: … when Alaska awakens from its Arctic slumber. Snows melt. Rivers flood. Winter's …
: This morning Tiu | House Sparrows are enjoying hanging out on the dead panicles of the Tī kōuka | …
: The snow on the hills nearby has come down even lower, I think.
: Greedy developers are looking for ways to exploit resources the Native people should be controlling. …
: Sometimes you glance up and wonder, where did the world go?
: Apparently the Library in Levin has a Friday lunchtime concert — a singalong. What a cool thing. …
: An experimental photo. I'm hanging out in the Library in Levin while my car has a service and an …
: A cold southerly has brought snow to the tops of the Tararua range.
: Season 9 of one of my favourite shows, New Zealand murder mystery series Brokenwood, has just …
: These golden plants at the beach are native Pīngao. Fantastic for binding sand.
: I have an Olympus Tough TG-870 camera that I last used in 2018 when we went snorkelling in Niue. …
: Apparently when a Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher hangs around I am compelled to take photos of it. 🐦 …
: Just a little clip from the other morning of a Scaup and a Shoveler on the lake.
: At Harrison's Garden Shop cafe for brunch with my friend J today I noticed Bushy Tailed Tea: green …
: Another Dana Stabenow book down: Play With Fire (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 5). This one …
: Hah hah. I'd heard about the TV series Deadloch and have now watched episode 1. It's definitely over …
: Well! Watched a recording of the Nigeria v Canada football match. Lots of yellow cards and even a …
: I wrote that word minorities in my previous post and now regret it. In my world, as a pale-skinned …
: Yay, Uhura! Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E06 — it's like they're getting round to telling the …
: Who am I? I watched the first match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup Soccer, NZL v Nor. ⚽️
: Decades ago when I lived in Edinburgh for a bit I enjoyed Delia Smith's cooking show on TV so bought …
: We have several Barbary doves that hang around our place. This one by our gate was calling to …
: A particularly interesting fragment from a podcast episode, Gayle Lemmon on making the invisible …
: Dammit, there are two items on the agenda for today’s meeting of the Horowhenua District …
: This is quite something: As the Women’s World Cup approaches, a clever marketing video employed the …
: Heh heh. This Nike ad featuring footballer Megan Rapinoe as a superhero is pretty cool.
: It's hard to take photos of Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantails — they flit and flutter so fast. Photos …
: Stayed up too late last night reading Dana Stabenow's A Cold Blooded Business (A Kate Shugak …
: I know that Musk's and other multitudinous satellites are wrecking astronomy and are bad in all …
: Number 169 asked for a photo. I obliged. 🐄
: I’m having a phase of unfollowing or blocking as relevant nincompoops and nitwits in my online …
: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E05 continues the excellence. I'm loving this series so much. Lots …
: Wow! Dead in the Water (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 3) by Dana Stabenow went by so fast as I …
: Today we moved the (very heavy) sofa bed out of the way and I cleaned all the accumulated gunge off …
: Dana Stabenow's consummate skill as a storyteller is evident in A Fatal Thaw (A Kate Shugak …
: We went down to the Ōtaki Pottery Society Star Glaze show at the racecourse and came home with a …
: I've started entering a few photos in competitions. This is a local Capture Your Horowhenua …
: It was … invigorating … at the beach on this winter morning. To my west the energetic …
: A Cold Day for Murder (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 1) by Dana Stabenow sets Kate on the trail …
: I started my Dana Stabenow Kate Shugak reread with the short story called Nooses Give. It introduced …
: So cool; indigenous sports — How ripped ears are preserving a rare culture in Alaska: Kakaruk …
: After finishing the latest Kate Shugak book I wasn't ready to leave the world so effectively …
: Folks who enjoy magnificent photos, astronomy, auroras, Aotearoa, I recommend you follow …
: Heh heh. Star Trek: The Animated Series S02E04 (at 18 minutes): McCoy: Anything Spock? Spock: …
: Such a good book, as are all in this series! Not the Ones Dead (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 23) …
: Again, a fresh look reveals sexist assumptions: A lavish burial site from the Copper Age… is …
: Received a spam text in Messages on my Mac and had to search for how to block it. Found Block …
: Back in 2019 my two cats, Aphra and Ares, passed away. Their sister Sophie, who lives with our …
: The friend we visited in Wellington overnight has a 6 year old and a 7 year old — Samoyeds. …
: It was weird today, driving to Waikanae to catch the train — the road was very busy in both …
: 👍 Government launches measures to protect native biodiversity: The Government is launching … …
: I needed to rummage round in the shed looking for something and nearly froze my hands off! Zero …
: Thanks to the Sky Guide app on my iPhone, my watch now alerts me to passes of the ISS. Here the ISS …
: These two used to often be in the property across our lane. These days we only see them from afar. 🐴 …
: The stretches I started doing daily a week ago are really starting to pay off. It's much easier to …
: I really enjoyed The Complete Blue Ridge Mountains Mysteries 1–5 by Cathy Pickens. 📚 I very much …
: At 8.06am [NZ time] on Friday, July 7, Earth reaches aphelion …the furthest point from the Sun in …
: I liked this notion in a book I'm currently reading (has local relevance): Opinions became more …
: My little buddy Willow is visiting for a bit today. 🐶
: So cool: NASA Seals Volunteers Into Isolated Habitat For Year-Long Experiment: four volunteers …
: After bookmarking a page in Micro.Blog I was stumped about how to Highlight a section. I tried for a …
: Nuttin' — just hanging around… WOAH!
: More bias exposed — Women Hunt in Most Foraging Societies: narratives of 'man the hunter' and 'woman …
: Another excellent NativLang video (17 minutes): Why is this the most popular word order across …
June 2023
: I really enjoyed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One, but Season Two is just “out of this …
: Just scraped in at the end of June with my (briefer than usual) monthly Waikawa Newsletter. One of …
: Glanced up from making breakfast to see our neighbour's Huntaway dog bounding through the paddock …
: In this year's NZ Garden Bird Survey I saw (or heard) way more birds than last year: 6 sparrow, 1 …
: Starting today (27 June) July 2023 will be a month where I focus on my health, in particular getting …
: Had the most wonderful massage today with Natalie Waddell from Functional Bodyworks in Paraparaumu. …
: Whew. After 2084 Km in our car plus another 220 Km with friends in their car, it’s good to be …
: I wouldn’t normally dream of posting a naked selfie, but occasionally there are mitigating …
: Today’s drive was marked with narrow winding roads to start, pouring rain, crawling past an …
: Deb bought me this wonderful Deejo folding pocket knife with tattooed blade. It’s so gorgeous!
: Time to head home now — a 12 hour drive. We’ll visit friends along the way and have a couple …
: Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua heritage: after death, all Māori spirits travel … to the pohutukawa …
: From Taipā Beach, on the East Coast in the Far North of Aotearoa. Just before dawn. Also just before …
: It was almost dark and still pouring with rain when we arrived at Taipā Beach Resort near Coopers …
: Yesterday afternoon we drove through pouring rain to our booked holiday home in Coopers Beach, …
: This corridor feels endless.
: Last year I decided my personal year would run from (my) Winter Solstice to (my) Winter Solstice (as …
: Today we leave Paihia in the Bay of Islands and drive about an hour north to Cooper’s Beach. …
: Tāne Mahuta, 2000 years old, is enormous and awe inspiring.
: Today we plan to visit Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree: Trunk …
: We arrived at Opononi in the Hokianga after sunset, but the view of Hokianga Harbour from our room …
: I totally recommend Thaidelight Restaurant in Taupō. The food arrived very quickly and was extremely …
: A private spa pool. Hooray! Maybe my multi-day headache will decide it doesn’t like hot water …
: Ahhh, relaxing with a Yunnan Yellow tea, looking over Lake Taupō. The Moomaa Cafe, a bit up the line …
: Somehow I had missed reading Midnight Come Again (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 10) by Dana …
: I enjoyed reading Three Dog Knight (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Book 3) by Alice …
: Last night I was thrilled with the Starry Time session I ran down on the beach. People enjoyed …
: Yesterday I noticed tree felling had begun ~800 metres east of us. Incredibly, this morning …
: Went out to check out the night sky to prep for tomorrow’s Starry Time session. It was …
: I ran out of energy and useful space in the shed so the last, small bits of firewood just got thrown …
: Waikawa Beach has nice dark skies so tomorrow night I'm running a community event I've called Starry …
: 4 cubic metres of firewood to stack.
: Hanging around waiting for 4 cubic metres of firewood to be delivered. With only a couple of hours …
: A bit of fun: this was meant to be a photo of the ship/s? in the distance. What I really like is the …
: Uurgh, with my iPad erased and then easily restored by bringing it near my iPhone, it’s …
: Step 2, while the non-charging iPad still has 20% battery: disconnect from iCloud, full device …
: Today I start with research on my iPad which isn’t charging. Tried the basic troubleshooting …
: Today I made a special trip to Wellington Zoo to see two Snow Leopards — sisters, Asha and …
: Wellington Zoo is today’s outing.
: A midwinter dip in the sea with friends is not something a Miraz does … until today. 😆 A perfect day …
: Some of the first mandarins off our tree. The one I ate was delicious!
: Those into Tiny Homes may enjoy this writeup and photos of a tiny home right beside the main …
: I’ve been promising Fliss, the Japanese Quail, for ages that I’d clean out her run. …
: Checked the Library's ebooks and found Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Comic Issues #1-5: … shows what …
: Although I never saw Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) when I was a kid watching it now reminds …
: One of the excellent things about today was that we paid someone to do a couple of hours weedeating, …
: First day for winter of putting out food for the birds.
: There’s a cracker frost today!
: Well, bizarre! Looked at Netflix again and there’s Star Trek: The Animated Series, just as I …
: I added the RSS — Bring Crime out of the Closet | A celebration of LGBTQ+ characters in crime …
: I really enjoyed Star Trek: The Animated Series S01E04 that I watched on Netflix yesterday. …
: I enjoyed reading The Dead Swede (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 3) by Erin Lark Maples. 📚 There …
: From this morning: Waiting outside a funny little bakery on a street corner in Waikanae to meet a …
: No, the oven did not preheat to the required temperature while I was preparing ingredients, because …
: I found this little Southern Bell Frog on the lane when I went out this morning. That’s a …
: It’s taken me the longest time to figure this out: an AppleScript to set the date on a Post in …
: I absolutely loved the Icelandic movie Woman at War. 🎥 I loved the concept, the quirks, the gentle …
: Hah! Never had much interest in Lego, but maybe I’ll visit — who knew there’s a new …
: New binos: someone turned on the light I recently withdrew a chunk of savings and bought, after much research a pair of Nikon Monarch M7 …
: It pays to look up. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher in a neighbour’s tree. 🐦
May 2023
: On today's beach walk I saw a large mussel shell and a couple of oystercatchers. 🐦
: Somehow I never watched Star Trek: The Animated Series (1974). I just watched S02E01 (by mistake, …
: Another good read from Jana DeLeon, with some switching around of secondary characters and an …
: Folks on Micro.Blog mentioning places they’ve visited. For me much of Western Europe, …
: The other day LeonP wrote about blogs being viewable on any device. That led me to wonder how my …
: Heh, Aotearoa becomes more multicultural. Stories are legion of immigrants and visitors asked to …
: Hmmm: When we hear the word 'fungi', [mushrooms are] what we think of first. But … only about …
: It's Samoa Language Week here in Aotearoa. This 25 minute documentary about traditional tattoo as …
: Wowee: The new imitation game — … CarynAI, a bot which “replicates [Caryn Marjorie's] voice, …
: Another one for folks interested in language — 18 minute video about weak and strong forms of words, …
: This afternoon I thought I’d try photos of sea spray. The sea was a bit rough today. B&W …
: Kei te pēhea tonu tātou? How are we really doing?
: If you’re at all interested in language, or in indigenous culture take 10 minutes and watch …
: This is a very heartening good news story. Take a moment to read this non-fiction comic by Toby …
: I was already pretty cheery this morning but listening to Korolova b2b Jonas Saalbach @ Praia da …
: Ahhh, my rejoicing was premature… After a couple of minutes the left AirPod just stopped working. …
: It’s a miracle: my AirPods (1st gen) live again! Last year there were problems, fixes …
: A Micro.blog Community Library. What a great idea from @KimberlyHirsh. Time for a needs assessment! …
: Nope. No Kuaka | Godwits round here. Nope. 🐦
: Our beach doesn’t have rocks (unless you count chunks of pumice) but there’s plenty of …
: Late afternoon and I was just walking from one room to another when I noticed these (perhaps …
: Anna Havron is a generally smart person. I like what she has to say here — Inner Trolls and Better …
: I realise Micro Camp 2023 left me on a real high — took me all day to calm down afterwards. …
: This 9 minute video is so good and the food looks delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever …
: What’s that big star in the west, Deb asked. The crescent moon, I smartly replied … and Venus. …
: There's always one who's late to the meeting… Pāpango | New Zealand scaup on Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦
: A new series but another excellent police procedural from Anne Shillolo: Murder at Elk Ridge (An Elk …
: Pukeko at the edge of Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦
: Pro tip: when Micro.Blog seemingly just refuses to publish your post — make sure it’s not set …
: Apparently this orange plastic cylinder I spotted washed up on the beach today is a Burley Pot. The …
: On this morning’s beach walk I walked in amongst a big spread of driftwood of all sizes. When …
: Whew, I thought we’d just watched the last ever episode of Vera. In fact it was the last …
: After the disappointing movie yesterday we had excellent Thai food at Tuk Tuk Waimea in Waikanae. I …
: Micro.Blog pals — a 1 day coupon for MarsEdit! I usually only offer discounts of 10% or 20%, but in …
: How to customise the MarsEdit Preview When you write a blog post in MarsEdit you can see a Preview right in front of you as you type. I …
: Resources for my MarsEdit presentation at Micro Camp 2023 See my presentation on YouTube. These resources go alongside my Micro Camp presentation, Take the …
: We went to see the movie Aftersun 🎥 : a 2022 coming-of-age drama film … an 11-year-old girl, on …
: I’d totally forgotten that MarsEdit can do TypeWriter Scrolling in the composition window. …
: Just now pondering at a very shallow level, whether there’s a role at future Micro Camps for a …
: Excellent start to Micro Camp 2023 today. Thanks to everyone who participated but especially to all …
: I had read this somewhere recently, but thanks to @billbennettnz for Apple satellite SOS service now …
: Recycling — maybe not always a good thing…
: I love Aotearoa but this is unconscionable — The twin crises that fuelled the hostel fire: 10% of …
: Back in September 2017 I came across this little cutie on a driftwood log on the beach. The Kekeno | …
: The MarsEdit Browser extension While checking posts from my now defunct KnowIt blog I spotted this mention of MarsEdit from 01 …
: Hmmm, not entirely sure about this step in the online recipe for Crispy Chicken Nibbles… 🤔
: Just enjoying a pleasant lunch time on the beach with my good buddy Willow. 🐶
: When I was on the beach yesterday 3 Kakīānau | Black swan flew in and landed on the estuary. Here …
: Crescent moon and Jupiter in the pre dawn sky above flax spears.
: So frustrating when every world map in Too HOT and HUMID to Live: Extreme Wet Bulb Events Are on the …
: I struck a lucky shaft of rising sunlight at the estuary this morning, with this Poaka | Pied Stilt. …
: I haven't read this yet but want to boost Sod's link about writing good alt text for images 🔗 : …
: I haven’t been for a proper walk on the beach for the last month. Now I’m finally over …
: A very clear and very helpful post by Alan Jacobs about the true nature of Micro.Blog 🔗 : I wrote …
: I stayed up way too late last night, not being able to get this AppleScript (or any other technique) …
: Visited with my buddy Leo today. 🐈
: Remember when blogs were fussily called weblogs? While checking posts from my now defunct KnowIt …
: Too big for your boots, AI! I made my Micro Camp 2023 presentation video and then had the wonderful …
: For my Micro Camp 2023 presentation I used Apple Keynote. I wondered about accessibility for those …
: A MarsEdit tip for including MB usernames in Posts: Micro.Blog automatically converts usernames to …
: Thanks to @Danielpunkass and @Manton for the kind words about me in Core Intuition 557: …talk about …
: Apparently New Zealand Sign Language week finishes today. While I’m very interested in …
: I don't often buy reference books, but this seemed like a must-have: Fungi of Aotearoa: A Curious …
: Same old stories: The truth is that women are perennially and perpetually angry about male …
: Heh, this came up today on my daily check of my blog’s Surprise me page: Kea gyms!. Next …
: Two — almost 3 — a.m. I seem to have mislaid my sleep…
: This was a gripping read: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. 📚 Hannah’s husband just …
: This morning we had the first frost of the season, and there was snow on the high tops of the …
: How rich folks could really help poor folks in NZ We have some mega rich people in Aotearoa New Zealand, and a heap of folks who depend on food banks …
: Good news story out of NZ today — 8 year old Josh asked the local Council for a swing for his friend …
: There were about 20 Kawau | Pied Shags at the edge of the sea today. And 20 more nearby but out of …
: Oops, I stumbled across the 2023 Eurovision Semi-Final 1 and thought I’d have it in the …
: And then there’s this: Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Performed by Kerry Washington
: This poem, and video, is so powerful: AI, Ain’t I A Woman? - Joy Buolamwini. a spoken word …
: We had an old iPhone 5 with a dead battery. The phone’s so cute I wanted to keep it and use it …
: In The Case of the Unlucky Gardener (Connie McKinnon Sailing Detective Cosy Mysteries Book 1) by …
: When online form validation goes wrong In 1963 our family moved from England to Aotearoa New Zealand. Back in London our phone number was …
: It's been a while since I've posted a photo of Fliss, my one remaining Japanese Quail. 🐦
: Covid booster finally achieved 👍
: Why we perceive ourselves negatively as we age: As we get older … there is a subtle decline in …
: I've never seen Kosher salt in any NZ shop so looked it up, since it seems to be in most (overseas) …
: When I started working on my Micro Camp presentation about Mars Edit I checked my email archives. I …
: Thrilled to boost 2023 Micro Camp: Micro Camp Presenter Topics and Schedule micro.campMicro Camp …
: Looking at In photos: Coronation for King Charles III. Zoom in to see how a coloured collar, …
: How I thought my recovery from the ghastly flu would progress vs How my recovery from the ghastly …
: As usual, The Spinoff wins at commentary: The “robe of righteousness” and the “gown of salvation” …
: Aargh. For the purposes of making screenshots for a presentation I rearranged the MarsEdit Toolbar. …
: The book Little Girl Lost (Georgiana Germaine Book 1) by Cheryl Bradshaw just didn't sit right by …
: This morning we have gunshots at dawn … thanks to the opening of Game Bird Hunting Season, …
: Today's new tea: Laoshan Imperial Green tea. Different from all the others I've tried. I think I …
: Did a speedtest on my 4G WiFi broadband connection after billbennettnz wrote about speeds. Happy …
: Things just aren't going well for Peg, in relationships or work in Peril in Silver Nightshade (The …
: So far mine looks like this: I put my thoughts into words and words into action… or something… …
: One of the ‘features’ of living at the beach is that sometimes dead animals wash up. …
: Flu vaccination: Nearly 600,000 people had jab in first four weeks of rollout: The flu season has …
: Woohoo, later this year we’ll be spending several days at Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa, Samoa …
: It was a beautiful still and warm morning at the beach — 19C. Someone had cleverly stacked driftwood …
: Another in a series I enjoy — Goodbye Linden Square (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 7) by Anne …
: A nice prequel short story to the Pegasus Quincy mystery series by Lakota Grace — Bad Day at Black …
: After 2 weeks of the flu I’m better but still nowhere near fully recovered. The coughing is …
April 2023
: I can never remember how to tell native Toitoi apart from exotic Pampas Grass. Whichever this is …
: Whew. Deb and I have done final cleanup at the house we’ve sold, passed keys to the agent, …
: This ~7 minute video is a really useful explainer from MinuteFood about how a microwave oven works — …
: The anti-woman language of gynaecology, eg the hostile uterus. Listen to the ~1 minute clip from …
: Bought back in September 2020; I must have read the first book then. Totally forgot what it was …
: I walked ‘all the way’ to lake Te Puna o te Ora in the sun and fresh air and quiet this …
: One of life's eternal mysteries: if there's a duvet cover in the wash how does all the other …
: This 35 minute podcast episode is so interesting. Pet lovers, tune in! Death in the Afternoon: …
: Well, that's unusual: two sizeable quakes within moments of one another. The pheasants were busy …
: Reading Persons Unknown (Manon Bradshaw, Book 2) by Susie Steiner was how I imagine white water …
: Fire in Broken Water (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 3) by Lakota Grace was a thoroughly …
: Woohoo, a proper holiday (with friends) coming up later this year. There is an island or two below …
: This was another gripping read from Tracy Clark: Runner (A Chicago Mystery Book 4). It's a great …
: Seems a bit woo-woo but sometime last night while I was asleep my little battlers announced to my …
: Took me a few starts but in the end I enjoyed Poodle Versus The Mob (Cottage Country Cozy Mysteries …
: I enjoyed reading Murder Among The Roses (Maybridge Murder Mysteries Book 1) by Liz Fielding. 📚 Abby …
: In Murder Never Retires (DI Hillary Greene Book 12) by Faith Martin our favourite DI is back on the …
: Today, while my sore throat morphs into a cough, I’m resting up, mainly reading, dozing and …
: Today had a visit from our favourite Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher. 🐦
: Another excellent mystery from Faith Martin — Murder at Work (DI Hillary Greene Book 11) 📚: Michael …
: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the novella Catnip & Brimstone by Jessica …
: A couple of photos from the other day of one of my favourites: the Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand …
: Turns out I’ve been wrong for at least 5 days now in my belief that Fliss had stopped laying …
: On This Day reminded me that in 2018 and 2020 I did an online hearing test. So here's another. I …
: Hmmm, yesterday I was tired and my throat was a bit scratchy. Today, after sleeping poorly, …
: Started this book so long ago I’d forgotten what was going on. Picked it up and finished it …
: I tossed out some apples that weren’t good enough to cook. This morning a black bunny and a …
: Got up to make a [second] cup of tea and found this going on outside. Seneca: Moral letters to …
: I was really hooked in to the 5 books in Detective Hillary Greene Books 6–10 box set by Faith …
: I quite enjoyed reading What You Don’t See (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 3) by Tracy Clark. 📚 …
: On the beach this morning was a sizeable flock of Tara | White-fronted Tern. The photo shows about …
: I attended the same school as murderer Juliette Hulme (Anne Perry) but over a decade later. My …
: Hmmm, apparently flights from Auckland to Kathmandu take approximately 18 hours…
: Whew, it took 8.5 episodes of hogwash and bunkum but finally Picard S03 is at a place where …
: On my beach walk yesterday I came across this wonderful orange fungus in the dunes. So big!
: Today's dinner was Tangy Braised Chickpeas — thanks to @tracydurnell for the link. It was delicious. …
: I didn’t watch the video but really enjoyed listening to Troy Kingi’s music: Black Sea …
: Spam has got weird. After a flurry of folks offering me wealth there’s now a stream of …
: 40 mm rain or so in the last couple of days (25 mm in the last 7 hours) has been enough to bring …
: Useful — Define Your Own Principles: Do you have your own rules for life, your set of principles …
: Not surprising the rain woke me: 13.5 mm per hour is a decent fall!
: A couple of days ago when I walked on the beach at dawn these folks were down floundering. Mt …
: I keep thinking maybe I can hear thunder — or some loud truck nearby on this public holiday. Given …
: Wow, big day today: I’m really in the money! 🤣
: A walk today at Kitchener Park right next to Manfeild Race track near Feilding was accompanied by …
: Thanks to the Eastern Rosellas who alerted me that the apples on my Granny Smith tree were ripe.
: This set of decals is now on the wardrobe door by my bed. From Top left, clockwise: Me and Sasha, …
: Our neighbours are taking down some pine trees that are about 30 years old. They’re a bit …
: 10 hours of sleep! It’s a miracle!
: A thoughtful and interesting essay: Don’t fret about students using ChatGPT to cheat – AI is a …
: That was a fun movie: Desconectados: Victoria is addicted to the internet and work, and has bad …
: Aha, plane mystery solved: Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow 2023. Wow, I’m not any kind of …
: That’s a worry — while I was posting my previous item another 9 planes went past in formation! Photo …
: I was way too slow going out to check on the unusual aircraft noise. It turned out to be 7 planes in …
: I remember the day back in 2002 when Ares and Aphra first discovered there was World beyond the …
: Had my flu shot. Asked for the Covid booster too but they only do them on Fridays… Booked that one …
: This was simple to make and very tasty: Black Beans and Brown Rice. Will cook it again.
: I can't exactly pinpoint where this tree felling is taking place. It may be about 700 metres to the …
: I was briefly awake at 1130 pm last night. Through the open window I could hear not only the sea, …
: Great explanation — The core of karakia: Karakia is karakia. You’ve got ka - it ignites - ra …
: Guess the problem (watch the video). I'm torn between good coverage and wrecking the night sky. …
: Our local Council livestream meetings then make the recordings available. After sitting through a …
: Over on the Micro.Blog Help site @manton has provided a list of 20 allowed file extensions for …
: Bit of an ethical dilemma today, in a post on another blog. I linked to an 8 minute radio interview. …
: The entertainment at the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival was excellent. It continued all day with a lot …
: Kimbolton is a 90 minute drive northish from Waikawa Beach. At their Sculpture Festival they knew …
: The Sunday Essay: Confessions of a cryptic addict There is, however, no disputing the pleasures …
: At the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival were this horse head made from motorbike parts, stag made of …
March 2023
: Well, well, well. This 6 minute video is so interesting: What Are The Different Types Of Cinnamon?: …
: Nice: Words from the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand English additions to the OED: In its …
: Just checking the recipe for the chicken wings I want to cook shortly for dinner: Honey and ginger …
: Further back there seems to be some tree felling going on. That may well be on a different property …
: It’s all go round here today, in the teeth of a cold southerly. The farmer next door is …
: I knew it was chilly this morning, with a cold wind, and that way down south there were snow …
: What, you've never seen a rabbit eating a peach? Well you have now. 🐇 Wild black rabbit on grass …
: Visited a neighbour not far from us the other day. They had this wonderful small log with orange …
: I write a monthly newsletter for our local community. A kind resident made this wonderful cartoon on …
: So many people have said such kind and generous things about Sasha — too many for me to list all. …
: Sasha in August 2008, aged about 18 months. Such a beauty! 🐶 Sasha said Goodbye to everyone today. …
: Just out for a stroll. 🐦 Peihana | Pheasant.
: Sasha says: Thanks — breakfast was the best! 🐶
: Out to it at the end of the day. Sasha. 🐶
: Sasha, aged 16 and a quarter. Her back legs, well all her legs, are having trouble supporting her. …
: Look at this little poppet, back in February 2007 when she was just 3 months old. Sasha's come a …
: Sasha, aged 16 and a bit, was out to it on her rug, until I poked my phone in her face. 🐶
: I’m so thrilled. Look at this shot I got tonight (iPhone 13 Pro) at our wee star viewing. …
: Crescent Moon and Venus. @odd
: Sasha in her crate earlier today. 🐶
: I prefer my own company to groups, so what induced me to organise a community Star Viewing tonight? …
: Back in January I made Crusty French Bread Rolls and results weren’t great. I tried again …
: This is the time of year for the couple of Yucca gloriosa in the dunes to flower. The long lens in …
: Thinking about that 1.5C global warming number … it seems so tiny, yet its effects are huge. We need …
: Every morning I check earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions to see …
: Watched B5 S01E03, Born to the Purple, with its love, intrigues, machinations, wiles, compulsion, …
: BTW: Sasha has to stand on the carpet now to eat her meals as otherwise her legs slide out from …
: Sasha told me at length that breakfast didn’t meet her requirements. Only after I added some …
: Thanks to a crossword I have now heard of three Impressionist painters: Marie Bracquemond, Berthe …
: Watched B5 S01E02, Soul Hunter. Interesting ideas about how different cultures can view something …
: And I say again: “Sea levels are rising. We gotta deal with climate change.” 🐦
: Watching Lingthusiasm: Bringing stories to life in Auslan - Interview with Gabrielle Hodge. I have …
: Oh Siri … sometimes you drive me pineapples! Me: Hey Siri, add Vanilla Wine Biscuits to the …
: Somehow on my Babylon 5 rewatch I completely forgot to start with the pilot, The Gathering. The …
: Whew, Babylon 5 rewatch, S01E01, “Midnight on the Firing Line”. There’s a huge …
: Today’s lunch included a very rich yet delicious Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole via @mbkriegh. …
: Good news today. Oxford English Dictionary adds more Māori words: The Oxford English Dictionary …
: Deb picked up Thai Takeaway on her way home last night from Thai Tara in Johnsonville. I had Ginger …
: A good read: Borrowed Time (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 2) by Tracy Clark. 🐦 It could be murder. But …
: Usually I eat my breakfast while listening to the latest episode of Sasha’s “My life as …
: Today’s tea Moonlight Pavilion: You’ll notice the aromas undulate between floral, …
: A fascinating 1 hour podcast episode — After an initial discussion between the hosts about whale …
: Had this Soft Scrambled Japanese Tamago today. It’s quick, easy, delicious: whisk together …
: This is an extreme crop of a photo at nearby Lake Puna o te Ora: two birds shaking, with water …
: Today’s tea is golden yellow and delicious. Amber Hojicha roasted green tea: This special …
: Morning is the youth of the day, when everything is bright, fresh, and easy of attainment; we feel …
: I was just getting nicely lined up on this Makipai | Australian Magpie at the beach — hoping it …
: By 0650 the sun was rising. The paddock below the sunrise, with cows lying quietly in the autumn …
: It’s just before 6am and a chilly 7C as I take Sasha for her walk. Everything’s dark. …
: Today’s tea — White Moonlight: This is a fun, fragrant, light-bodied white tea with an …
: Yesterday I made Deep dish apple pie. I bought the pastry. Everyone said it was delicious. Prepping …
: Aargh. I’ve been making Traditional deep dish apple pie, with ready made pastry. It’s …
: This odd looking thing is a Red Kiwifruit: This fruit has a deliciously sweet berry-tinged flavour …
: Courtesy of Anne Shillolo’s newsletter I downloaded her Murder At Aspen Creek prequel novella …
: I’m going to stop reading A Space Girl from Earth (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 1) by Christina …
: Another fascinating interview: Ann-Helén Laestadiu: Sami, the reindeer people: Stolen is the story …
: Fascinating interview: Angela Saini on the origins of patriarchy - A Podcast of One’s Own with …
: At 6 am I shone the torch into the quail run to check on lonely Fliss the quail. I spotted this …
: The books in this series by Kris Bock are good reads: Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain (Book 4 …
: I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to make this little Keyboard Maestro macro to …
: Change the date format in Alpine Theme After installing the Alpine Theme on two hosted Micro.Blogs, I was extremely keen to change the date …
: The annoying thing about cooking Foolproof slow roast chicken is I’m starving and …
: Hah! Against Copyediting: Is It Time to Abolish the Other Department of Corrections?: I was less …
: Life with Sasha 🐶 these days: I start to do a thing… Sasha: Ohhh I really need to go out right now. …
: Dates on Micro.Blog bug me. I changed the theme on my blog and now see this date format: 1:11 PM, …
: I always enjoy a visit from the Eastern Rosellas. 🐦
: I saved out half a dozen photos of the Wrybills I watched yesterday, but this one stood out as my …
: Thanks to @tracydurnell for linking to the recipe for Southern Buttermilk Biscuits. Friends have …
: Those Ngutuparore, Wrybill are so cute. They came within about 3 metres of me as I sat on the sand. …
: Probably not technically on Micro.Blog, but I love following @Words@social.vivaldi.net because of …
: I haven’t looked through all ~150 photos I took of 3 Ngutuparore, Wrybill at the beach just …
: Another very enjoyable read from Kris Bock: Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek (The Accidental Detective …
: I popped up the road for a quick treat today. Yum!
: June 2012 we went zip lining in Rotorua. I coped by clutching the safety straps so tight. The first …
: Heh, I was looking for a different photo but came across this one from September 2003. Remember the …
: RIP my Japanese Quail Glee, which leaves only one now, little Fliss, the striped one. Glee was full …
: I enjoyed watching Britt-Marie Was Here 🎥: The plot follows the titular protagonist Britt-Marie, a …
: Well, at least one of us is asleep at 1.30 a.m. 🐶
: Oh 1.30 a.m. I’m getting to know you all too well. 🥱
: I'd completely forgotten about this almost 2 minute video: Rosario Procession, Santiago de …
: I'm moving 2 Publii sites to a single Micro.Blog site via Mars Edit I tried Publii static site builder for over a year. Now I’m moving two sites (what a mistake!) …
: This Ring-Necked Dove was totally unfazed when Sasha and I walked past less than 2 metres away. …
: I was enthralled by the sample: this was an immediate buy and a fantastic read. You’re …
: Jana DeLeon somehow manages to keep her Miss Fortune books fresh and interesting. Clue Krewe (Miss …
: Hmmm, after wondering what had gone so wrong that everything Micro.Blog was down I tried Down for …
: This is one of my favourite trees around here — a neighbour’s tī kōuka | cabbage tree on a …
February 2023
: A wee shake just to keep us on our toes. 〰️ M4.6, 46 Km deep. Update: later settled at M4.8, 28 Km …
: Cool! 9 minute video from Tom Scott: This is “impossible”, but New Zealand is trying anyway.: …
: This is one of the Spinifex plants volunteers put in 4 months ago on a severely eroded part of our …
: This mama pheasant was guarding a bevy of her babies. She stood her ground for a long time. 🐦
: Another photo from times gone by. 20 September 2015, a suit of armour in the hotel at Santa Cruz de …
: Once I was used to the noirish language I enjoyed the adventure of Tropical Punch (Bubbles in Space …
: Excellent 5 minute linguistics video: Do New Zealand and Northern England have the same vowels?!
: And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.
: And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.
: I may have a cold so am laying low today. This photo from the archives, 02 September 2015: part of …
: Nearly 2 weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 50 people still unaccounted for, communities and …
: This makes for very sobering reading: New Zealand Historic Weather Events Catalogue. So many huge …
: Once I finished procrastinating I steeled myself to cook Chana masala with cumin rice … only to find …
: It’s Census time (07 March) and our forms were delivered yesterday. We can complete it on …
: I always enjoy a visit from an Eastern Rosella. 🐦
: Cyclone Gabrielle that wrought so much destruction in the north and east of Aotearoa New …
: Apparently I walked about 11 Km (nearly 7 miles) yesterday on Kāpiti Island. Today I’m feeling …
: Why women are especially vulnerable after a disaster: there is years of evidence here and overseas …
: This little green cutie is the Korimako | Bellbird 🐦 : Bellbirds are green with a short, curved …
: One of our more colourful birds, the Tīeke | North Island saddleback. 🐦 North Island saddlebacks …
: Easy to photograph are Weka as they hang around on the ground looking for opportunities to break …
: I wasn’t up to the challenge of photographing birds in dense dappled foliage. This is a …
: I asked Makewera, one of the Kāpiti Island guides, what these were. He told me they’re the …
: I had an excellent trip to Kāpiti Island today. I heard tons of birds but seeing them was a …
: Well, that was a mistake — to watch Star Trek Picard S03E01 today. Now I have to wait a whole week …
: I enjoyed the lightweight and mildly humorous sci-fi Independent Living (EarthCent Universe Book 1) …
: OK, the plan for tomorrow is to visit Kapiti Island on a day trip. Making sure my camera batteries …
: 0215 and Sasha 🐶 took me a long way down the lane before she had a pee. It’s a beautiful night …
: There is so much about this book that makes it unlikely I would enjoy it — romance genre, sports, …
: Apparently, Kāpiti Coast earthquake upgraded to magnitude 6.3 〰️: A strong earthquake centred off …
: I’m still shaking. This M6.1 quake started with a really loud noise followed by enough shaking to …
: Thanks to @Cheri for mentioning Racing Hearts by Alex Washoe. I kept reading even when other things …
: We had minor wind and rain. Elsewhere in Aotearoa NZ homes, towns, roads are devastated by Ex …
: I really enjoyed this Australian light cozy mystery. A gentle fun read: Till Daph Do Us Part (Daphne …
: My neighbour Chris makes the very best Afghan biscuits. It’s rare for me to buy Afghans …
: Amazing: we’re under a Strong Wind Warning here in Horowhenua yet it’s barely a bad weather day as …
: Deb gave me these SealSkinz Waterproof All Weather Ultra Grip Knitted Gloves for my 68th birthday. …
: Part way through a game of Carcassonne yesterday. A friend was teaching 4 of us how to play. I …
: This wētā made itself big and scary when I mowed the lawn today at the house we’re selling in …
: We went to a friend’s 80th birthday BBQ. One of her guests had done this amazing job icing …
: While organising some papers I found this copy of the September 1945 letter to mum advising her that …
: The Top 5 Dogs of the Week! makes me tear up every week.
: ROFL: Poker Face S01E03 and the racist, fascist, sexist, homophobic MAGA dog! Natasha Lyonne is …
: My car problem could be the transmission, but the mechanic with decades of experience who took it …
: Taking my 19 year old car in to get Dash error lights checked out. Could be an easy fix loose wire, …
: There is one single reason why I pay the NYT for games and that is to be able to do the fortnightly …
: Sasha seems happier now she’s had about 3 months worth of woolly coat shaved off. Plus the …
: I pretty much enjoyed The Unsound Theory (STAR Academy Book 1) by Emilia Zeeland. It’s a YA …
: How to look 10 years younger in 90 minutes. Yesterday and today. 🐶 The same dog after being …
: Somewhere in there is a dog. Just wait till tomorrow! 🐶
: Tuturiwhatu, Banded dotterels in the multiverse… 🐦
: I’m pretty sure this is a female Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler with her 3 babies on our …
: Here’s one for the pen and pencil fans… Actually, it’s a recycled plastic fence post, …
: This, my friends, is almost certainly a Hemideina crassidens — Wellington tree wētā. It had made …
: Busy day: walk the dog (15 minutes these days) walk on the beach — took a load of photos brunch …
: I find it interesting that the Google Alert I have in place for Waikawa Beach found me an item about …
: The invitation words that always fill me with terror 😱: bring a plate to share
: Today’s tea is a rich golden colour. Thyolo White Peony: To create this tea, each pluck is …
: A pair of Eastern Rosellas has been taunting me for weeks now. Today I finally “caught” …
: Not actually a floor mop. Sasha on the floor in the early morning. I’ve finally been able to …
: Early in the piece I didn’t think my first loaf of bread made with our new Kitchenaid mixer …
: This was a simple read — an easily solved murder mystery, a bit of romance. Always on Duty: …
: These clouds seem rather opinionated. ☁︎
: I’m not a Royal watcher, but Princess Anne seems like the pick of the bunch. Princess Royal to …
: Today’s tea: Yunnan Yellow — It has a heady and exotic fruity and floral aroma, a thick …
: Sasha on another barky morning. Surely she can’t know it’s the anniversary of her …
: Apparently, according to Sasha 🐶, 01 February is The Day of Barking. Not sure if this is a National …
: Today’s tea: Kyobancha This soothing tea is perfect for a cold day or as a night-time tea. …
January 2023
: I’ve tried a couple of times to give blood, but they won’t let me. That could change — …
: Ooooh, I never knew this Backing Up MarsEdit: MarsEdit stores all its data in a folder in your home …
: The unusual mystery writer conceit in Secret Sleuth Box Set (Books 1–2) [dead link] by …
: Enjoyed the hunt in Graves On The Fens (DI Nikki Galena Series Book 14) by Joy Ellis. 📚 It arrives …
: Today’s tea: Himalayan Evergreen Autumn, Nepal: Grown at 1850m, these leaves were …
: A neighbour called and said she was watching the Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian bittern nearby so I …
: I’m copying 325 blog posts from Publii to Micro.Blog via MarsEdit. AppleScript helps a lot. I …
: On 20 September 2013 there was an enormous thunderclap right above our house in Wellington. Next day …
: There is thunder rumbling round. So glad Sasha can no longer hear it (and react to it with terror).
: Fascinating read The sense-defying magic of the Pitcairn Islands: Pitcairn is so high and solitary …
: Soooo clever: chose the theme Anatole for the new site. Downloaded the theme Arabica so I could …
: I’ve been active on Micro.Blog for 5 years, modified my theme a few times. Feedback on a new …
: 9 inches of rain in 24 hours! Auckland flooding: Auckland is under a state of emergency after being …
: Back on 05 December 2021 I thought I’d try Publii for my Waikawa Beach blog. It works …
: Woohoo. We’ve just ordered a Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer - KSM160. That should help a bit …
: This is Sasha, out on a walk with me specifically for the purpose of her having a pee… I guess I'll …
: You know what Plugin I’d like Micro.Blog to have? Something that puts a small banner at the …
: Whew, writing this 1700 word article for my Waikawa News site has actually taken weeks, including …
: Whew. First I did research that took at least a week. Then I spent at least another week trying to …
: In written Māori macrons over vowels indicate a lengthened sound. I’m pleased to say that …
: Apparently Seneca had thoughts on personal blogging 😆: They asked him what was the object of all …
: This may finally explain why I had to eventually give up trying to post faulty earbuds to Amazon — …
: Today’s walk was 6.6 Km at Mangaone Walkway: follows an old bush tramway in low hill country …
: We heard a really loud sneeze just outside the door. When I looked though, there was no-one there. …
: The first stick insect of the season has set itself up inside the open window but on the outside of …
: We’re on the move — about 4 cm so far this year thanks to a slow-slip earthquake. Not all …
: 98 second video shows a bit of what our recently resigned Prime Minister endured: Glimpse into the …
: Maybe this is why Apple Pay never works on my M1 MacBook Pro: With an M1 Mac, the most likely …
: Today we visited the Ōtaki Pottery Show, which had a lot of craft goods for sale and a great many …
: I use a Global Macro Palette in Keyboard Maestro to give me quick click access to some of my macros. …
: Today in Keyboard Maestro actions I discovered “Switch” instead of nested …
: I was thinking we need a plainer and more powerful word than the clinical and remote misogyny. …
: Re the resignation of PM Jacinda Ardern: it is becoming more challenging for women to be taken …
: Nice: neighbours over the mountains. South Wairarapa and Carterton’s night skies will know be …
: In her term as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: encountered a major biosecurity incursion, a domestic …
: Hand mixed because we don’t have a kitchen mixer (yet), but I’m trying to make Crusty …
: Sasha’s long overdue a haircut. 🐶
: I’m not sure what happened on the mountains this evening — I suspect it was a gap between …
: A particularly interesting segment of Quirks & Quarks podcast talks about how eyes work — …
: A photo achievement I’m pleased with: getting a clear shot of this dragonfly on the wing. This …
: This Matuku moana | White-faced heron saw me watching and kindly fished up something out of the lake …
: Deb and I brunched at Bush Street Cafe. Deb’s coffee was great, my green tea was good. The …
: My lying brain In a few weeks I turn 68. These days I’m only too aware of how this 68 year old body …
: Yesterday I hiked Sledge Track, an hour’s drive away. I found it harder than the claimed …
: Terrible photo, but it was what I could get. I thought 2 rabbits were playing in the lane way ahead …
: And another view of the day before sunrise.
: Look at this gorgeous morning — 20 minutes before sunrise.
: Bored now. My little buddy Leo. 🐈
: Applescript to tidy Black Ink crossword app windows: tell application "Black Ink" set baseFrame to …
: Just one reason @danielpunkass is a favourite app developer — I emailed asking for a way to tidy up …
: After a few hours the baling machine comes along, sweeps up the cut grass, then rolls it into big …
: Today the farmer next door was spinning the mowed grass into piles ready for baling.
: As usual I was concerned when I went out that Sasha would be stressed. I came home to this! 🐶💤
: I’m so ‘something’ that my neighbour has now seen the extremely cryptic and …
: This article is chock full of useful info for all users: The real secrets of iOS and accessibility.
: The farmer next door is mowing today.
: I missed the focus on this but still wanted to post this adult and two baby Oystercatchers. 🐦
: Heh, followed a link on a webpage to this address: https://b-ok.cc (I’ve added …
: Whew, I’ve struggled my way through Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Translated (in 1862) by …
: This post from 11 January 2022 took me by surprise today: It’s a year since I ordered my M1 MacBook …
: This rather ruffled looking baby bird stumbled across the deck and took refuge in the passionfruit. …
: These days when Sasha eats she spreads biscuits all over the floor. 🐶
: Just found this printed photo in the archives. When I was a teen back in the late 60’s and …
: Today I tried making Dorset apple traybake and it was delicious. We only had plain flour, not …
: If you’ve never watched this 15 minute speech from 2012 then you should: Julia Gillard …
: Sometimes it’s an old movie that brings the thought for the day: Pile up enough tomorrows and …
: I enjoyed reading Mountain Town Murder: Jackson Hole Moose’s Bakery Not So Cozy Mystery #1 by …
: I just love timeline adjacencies! M: The one downside of weekends in a house with many people? …
: Today’s surprise discovery 📚: the Southern Cross [constellation] hasn’t always been …
: Deb and I went to see the most excellent A Man Called Otto. At the same time sad, funny, and …
: Like mother like daughter — Oystercatcher adult and chick. 🐦
: Noon was feeding time at Ngā Manu for the Longfin Eels: The longfin eel is one of the largest eels …
: This Tuatara at Ngā Manu Reserve kept its back to me. Tuatara are a rare reptile found only in New …
: Can't believe how knackered I am after today's outing (and last night's poor sleep)! One photo from …
: Today’s Stoic thought was “memento vivere”: remember to live. I took it to heart, …
: I learned so much from Dan Bailey's book about the Fuji X series cameras that his new Fujifilm …
: In a clean-up moment I admitted to myself that most of the sciency YouTube videos I was subscribed …
: I love it when this mother and son pair come to graze in the paddock nearby.
: There’s a big block of land nearby that almost always has cows in it. Whenever I bike past I …
: Did a short beach walk: almost no birds — one pair of nesting Oystercatchers are hanging in there. …
: Keyboard Maestro is a super useful Mac app Keyboard Maestro is one of the must-have, first installed apps on my Mac. Why? Because it does so …
: I don’t do reading lists and goals and all that, but have thought maybe I should deliberately …
: It seems I’m making a tradition of posting a selfie on 01 January each year. See 2022 and …
: I started this Gregorian Calendar 2023 year with a dawn visit to the beach. But I was thinking …
: For the first time ever I tried recording video with my Fuji X-T2. This shifty looking character is …
: Mōrena. Welcome to 2023. Pahirini Chaffinch 🐦.
December 2022
: I’ve found The Happiness Lab podcast invaluable. Now Dr Laurie Santos has created The Science …
: If you hate dogs look away. For the rest of us The Dogs of 2022 is four and a half minutes of …
: Sasha had me out taking her for a walk at dawn.
: Solstice and Equinox dates for the next few years Since I just looked this up for myself. Year March equinox June solstice September equinox …
: I didn’t have my watch with me, but I got to spend maybe 20 minutes out admiring the warm, …
: Another book from an author I quite like: The New Teacher (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 1) by …
: Hmmm, The Raven’s Mark by Christie J Newport just wasn’t really my thing. 📚 Beth must break …
: I quite enjoyed Knight Trials by Alice Bienia, though it felt a little tangled in parts. One page …
: Today I cleaned the used straw and shavings out of the quail run and gave the girls a fresh deep …
: This was a really good TV series. I hope we’ll get a Season Two. Darby and Joan 📺 : A retired …
: Why herbal tea isn’t actually tea | The Tea Curator: Tea is said to have been first discovered in …
: Oystercatcher: Ah yeah, gidday. Just sitting on my nest. You? 🐦
: The positive about taking Sasha out for a pee at 2 am was the gorgeous bright stars. Mars was …
: Christmas lunch with friends: tiger prawns and chicken on the barbie; a bowl of fresh raspberries …
: memento mori [is] remembering death so you don’t waste the time you have in life. Memento vivere, …
: Superb article: Inside Wikipedia’s great macron war: In 2007, New Zealand got … its first street …
: Today I updated an old post which also meant I ended up finding, re-editing and re-exporting photos …
: 4 years ago I wanted Micro.Blog to help me write more Update: thanks to @artkavanagh for pointing out that I'm just shy of 5 years, not 4! Hah, on 13 …
: Excited to subscribe to en clair podcast: … a casebook of forensic linguistic cases, literary …
: Always a welcome web page: Winners of the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
: More good sense from @annahavron — Schedule ONE Daily Thing, That is Not Work-Related: With a daily …
: The beach was very calm this morning — almost no waves. Kāpiti Island in the background.
: I made 30 Minute Easy Dinner Rolls (1/3 recipe) and Mushroom soup for dinner. Left out the cream …
: Yesterday Deb brought me this wonderful and delicious treat: a yuzu tart (lemon meringue pie) from …
: I’m really enjoying this new-to-me podcast: Subtitle: A podcast about languages and the …
: Just thinking about how my ideal Christmas Day would look — in a campervan or cabin, by water — …
: No-one wants too much detail on this, but for the last week Sasha’s been having some 💩 …
: Yesterday afternoon. I’m choosing to believe this wasn’t commentary on the lateness of …
: Oooh, pretty clouds. And someone up the road’s getting a good dump of rain.
: @help Seems like today I can’t get more than ~30 posts on the Timeline (Safari on web). …
: Hmmm, had to dig deep in the memory for this. I’m trying Suzume Sparrow Kukicha, roasted green …
: I was already uncomfortable with Karen as a general term of abuse. Now I learn that Space Karen …
: Low sun, dark sky, cabbage trees and flax spears. Ahhh morning.
: The Kiwi barbie: Craig from Horowhenua District Council cooks saussies on a BBQ in a trailer, under …
: Interesting! I think I’ve struck this (but ended up just typing in the number): Beware When …
: Sasha tells me it’s breakfast time. 🐶
: People go on at length about how to make a cup of coffee, but no-one talks about tea… I was thrilled …
: The newly completed toilet block at Waikawa Beach (replacing a 50- to 60- year old facility) also …
: So important! Go and read and act on New Year’s Resolution: Make Information Accessible, for Those …
: CareHQ virtual GP Note for future me (and other Kiwis): CareHQ is a virtual GP consultation service that is open …
: The Yellowhammers are singing a lot these days. This one was singing just by the house. Photo from …
: 28 October 2018 I planted lemon thyme by the dog yard. Today, 15 December 2022, it looks and smells …
: I’m 26% of the way through The Cardiff Killings (DI Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller Book 1) by …
: It’s barely 9 am and the Levin clock tower tells me it’s already 26C (79F). It’s …
: Hmmm, I think one Kołaczki at the front maybe looks like the ones the real cook made. Some …
: Sasha winning at Hunt The Anchovy on her 16th birthday. 🐶
: Listening to Kismet (1967). I hadn’t realised there were quite so many famous songs in this …
: One of the fantastic features of MarsEdit is easily finding and fixing old posts. When I checked my …
: Not off to a good start cooking Kołaczki — ignored the timer for a moment to finish an email reply …
: Sasha, aged 15 years 364 days, snoozing. 🥰 🐶
: This is the kind of conversation I love on Micro.Blog.
: My current music fave is Korolova from Ukraine. I’m working my way through listening to all …
: I enjoyed reading Knight Blind (Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Series Book 1) by Alice …
: Deb and I have been watching and enjoying Three Pines but it’s a bit grim and intense. The …
: This is such a bird-filled time of year. All the birds come and sit on the flaxes by the house. This …
: Yay. Waikawa Blueberries is open again. Time for real fruit icecream, fresh blueberries and award …
: A greeting to the day: He kore, he kore He pō, he pō He ao, he ao Takiri mai te ata Korihi te manu …
: Another good story and an enjoyable read. The Girl Who Lost Him (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller …
: I quite enjoyed The Sled Dog (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Lark Maples: After the …
: Mystery lift sign in Montserrat, Spain. No people if the lift is already occupied by bats…? // …
: Listening to the most excellent The Ink Spots: Swing High Swing Low. 🎶
: I heard a noise this morning I couldn’t quite make out. I thought maybe it was a hawk but it …
: I’m so used to adding images to my blog posts by using Command 3 in MarsEdit I’ve had to …
: This kind of attention to detail and insistence on making things smooth and easy for the user is why …
: Sasha, hanging out on the grass. 🐶
: This is exactly why you should give MarsEdit a try: MarsEdit’s role as a blogger’s best friend. …
: swear words around the world … lack 'approximants' – sounds made by bringing our lips, teeth, hard …
: I’ve taken the extremely rare step of filing a dispute with my bank about the defective …
: I’ve spent hours trying to return faulty earbuds Amazon shipped me. I’ve driven 3 times …
: I heard these Kuihi Canada Geese coming way before I could see them.
: Folks, you might like to see Take care for the Pied Stilt chicks about the baby birds currently …
: Take care for the Pied Stilt chicks Very small baby bird sitting on beach. Photo by Corne Ferreira and used with permission. These baby …
: Thanks to the global Light pollution map I now know the sky where I live is almost as dark as it can …
: The other morning on the beach I spotted a group of Kuaka Godwit doing their thing then realised one …
: For Micro Monday I suggest @Denny who lives a low impact life, cycles, is interested in how we live …
: This was my Sasha when she was only a couple of months old. 🐶
: One of these things is not like the others… Turns out the printed product manual for our UV water …
: A powerful essay — Where women were cloaked in shame: We Iranian women … have been ashamed of …
: Kiwis, a reminder that this time of year ramps up family violence. Gift A Safe Night at …
: Wow, 3 years today since I got my beautiful kirituhi tattoo. Still loving it! Birds, sea and cabbage …
: Thrilled with this photo from my beach walk today: Kuaka Godwit. 🐦
: Our neighbours are sneaky — they had a big party today for their 30th anniversary. None of us knew …
: I really enjoyed this Lingthusiasm podcast episode. Question formats are surprisingly interesting in …
: A few months ago we had Bird of the Year, now it’s New Zealand Bug of the Year 2023: Aotearoa …
: Hmmm, that quake came in two parts — I just knew it was going to get bigger. About a minute long. …
: Huh, I thought (cooking) salt was salt, but it turns out there are different types with different …
: Thanks to @gregmoore and @mtt I now have the Recoleta font on my Kindle. 📚 How to Install Custom …
: As I use my Mac and iPhone and websites and apps and whatnot I realise that the more …
: I had simply never registered that Z keyboard command in Photos.app and have spent a lot of time …
: Morning dog. Sasha, only a few days away from her 16th birthday. 🐶
: A couple of weeks ago I paid Amazon ~$20 on top of purchase price to ship me a pair of new earbuds. …
November 2022
: I have supervisors. A couple of little Warou, Welcome swallow spend the day sitting on the rail by …
: And for today’s yoga session we have a simple little neck twist with head tuck. 🐦
: Weird thing, but Aotearoa New Zealand Law says that beaches are roads. Land Transport Act 1998: In …
: While one Kāhu | Hawk was flying around, another was relaxing on a fencepost. 🐦
: With the flax spears opening Tūī | Tui are visiting to feed. 🐦
: My old girl Sasha, eating her dinner last night. 🐶
: Listening to what I think is a Korimako | Bellbird this morning. 😍
: This makes me happy. I’ve now sent out 10 issues of a local monthly community newsletter I …
: A new skill I’ve learned today: How To Compare Two Images. Makes a web page with a slider to …
: We had 300 grams of mushrooms that were getting a bit old, so I experimented with making Mushroom …
: When I want to learn how to best use my Apple stuff I turn to the utterly excellent Take Control …
: I just watched Why Am I Craving Sweets? | Serving Up Science: When we eat foods that contain lots …
: Aaargh! I’m sitting here feeling peckish and wondering what to make for dinner. Meanwhile all …
: I’m not in the habit of posting photos of public toilets, but March 2022 just before …
: The first time I’ve heard the Pīpīwharauroa | Shining cuckoo at Waikawa Beach. I’ve …
: Mighty disappointed that the right earbud on the pair that arrived today just won’t work in …
: Took far too long to find out if a flashing white light meant the earbuds were charging or charged. …
: On 16 November 2022 I ordered two items from Amazon that I couldn’t buy from Aotearoa New …
: Researching the topic: vehicles erode beaches. It seems fairly clear that vehicles cause damage to …
: These MinuteFood videos are enjoyable and very interesting. I recommend you give them a try. …
: I was a bit mired in a couple of books that just weren’t grabbing me. I turned to Something …
: I’ve always very much enjoyed SEAL Team (TV series). This Season 6 though has been truly …
: Whew, I passed the squirrel test. We don’t have squirrels in Aotearoa New Zealand. I guess …
: I didn’t know I could do this: Bring Yourself Recurring Joy with Apple’s New Lock Screen Photo …
: The taste test left me really wishing I hadn’t halved the recipe! I hope there are some left for …
: One of the quirks of halving a recipe is ending up needing half an egg. Luckily, as I have Japanese …
: I try to avoid grumbling here but I slept poorly last night and I’m suffering hayfever …
: With about 70 mm rain in the past two days, our old friend the puddle in the paddock next door is …
: After getting far too hot this morning weeding and mulching along the driveway I biked 5 minutes to …
: The native grasses beside our driveway have grown well. I had boards around the area so I could …
: It took longer than I expected to mulch this bit of garden on a steep bank by the lane.
: A year ago I complained about publishers (incorrectly) guessing which Amazon store I’ll buy …
: To be fair, I’m not the target audience for The Valentine Voyage: Book Six: The Cozy Cruise …
: 10 cubic metres of pine mulch will keep us busy over the summer.
: I read I Bury Dead People: A Hilarious Cosy Mystery by PJ Vye. I quite enjoyed it though the …
: For the first time in my life I watched a rugby match (on the telly). Saw the Kiwi women’s …
: Whew, the rain stayed away for the community picnic we organised. A good number of people turned up …
: I’ll see your 1 and raise you 300. Auckland suburb raises solidarity flag after homophobic …
: Sasha looks good after her groom. 🐶
: Sasha was a good girl, quietly waiting while I hung out the washing. 🐶
: Excellent: Anna Havron’s Inner Trolls and Better Angels: Being a Person, Online: I see great …
: Another in a series whose characters are so appealing: The Missing Babysitter Mystery (The …
: Crime, and also lesbian romance; I enjoyed Goslyn County by A.M. McKnight. 📚 While investigating …
: I’m not a sports fan myself, but this level of success for women’s sport is phenomenal — …
: Yesterday on a radio show the host welcomed a guest, Anjum Rahman, with “As-salamu …
: Those eggs I saw on the beach the other day weren’t from an Oystercatcher, but rather this …
: Four of the half dozen black swans at the lake this morning. 🐦
: For Micro Monday I’d very much recommend @annahavron who writes intelligent, thoughtful articles …
: We have 3 flavours of the food Sasha used to eat (recently). Last night and this morning she …
: Volume up! 0900 on a Sunday morning (yesterday): the sounds of silence. Listen for the birds. One of …
: Many thanks to @cheri who pointed out this superb 33 minute mini-documentary on Angela …
: Restricted Area Please Keep Out.
: The lawn at the house we’re selling looked terrible a few days after someone we hired mowed …
: I nearly stepped on this clutch of 5 Oystercatcher eggs on the beach. The birds lay them in the sand …
: There’s spam and then there’s ham. Supermarket ham, to be precise: Made in New Zealand …
: As it was set in Aotearoa New Zealand, I had high hopes for this book but was sadly disappointed. …
: Sasha and I had differing ideas about why we went out just before bedtime. The outing did not …
: Absolutely worth a listen — Hannah Gadsby on redefining comedy in A Podcast of One’s Own with …
: Note to future me: when Publii refuses to complete syncing this may help — Website not syncing …
: Aw heck. S03E10 of My Life Is Murder seems to be the last. It was a darn good show. 📺 follows the …
: This book’s title made me dubious about whether I should bother but I was hooked from the …
: A pair of Canada Geese on the lake. 🐦
: Yay, my new glasses are ready to be collected and it so happens Tuesdays are the day I can make a …
October 2022
: Here’s a new one on me: a blackmail scam that appeared in my RSS reader, courtesy of the email …
: The Woman King was impressive and powerful: textured, moving, absorbing, heart-breaking and …
: Thanks to @cheri who drew my attention to this wonderful rap video a couple of weeks ago: Rock Wren …
: Yesterday I visited my little buddy Leo, who has a play loft he likes to hang out in. Even though …
: Halfway I considered skipping ahead to see who the culprit was, but I persevered to the end. Buried …
: Oh, this is new: Kindle Rewards Beta. I buy a lot of Kindle books, most for less than $5. This could …
: More conscious than ever that Sasha’s time with us is dwindling I’m trying to remember …
: I must be learning … It’s unusually early in the season for me to realise that no, I’m …
: So here I was waiting for my toast to pop when I read the packet on the “Canadian” …
: Three of the 4 chooks I’m looking after for a few days. They’re a bit grumpy that I …
: The sunset became even better. By the time I returned the chooks were all tucked up on their roosts. …
: I’m looking after a friend’s chooks, and I’m supposed to shut them up for the …
: It’s baby rabbit time of year. 🐰
: It’s likely my lack of knowledge or understanding of Indian culture coloured my response, but …
: The Spinoff (news site) consistently reminds me of its excellence. Who is the new British prime …
: Heh, “WARNING STRANGE DOG”. 🐶
: Yay, Pages 116 & following of Take Control of Ventura – Take Control Books actually explain in a …
: Nice to get a mention in macOS Ventura - New Features: Autocorrect supports three new languages: …
: All I can say is it’s a good thing there wasn’t any oncoming traffic. 😆 s l o w r o a d …
: Very much enjoying watching S10 of Doc Martin 📺: The villagers eventually discover his fear of …
: The Man Who Died Twice: (The Thursday Murder Club 2) by Richard Osman continues the adventures of …
: Very uncomfortable topic for a cozy mystery, but I like this series and its characters who are very …
: Gathering rosebuds: carpe diem: “carpe diem” [is] usually translated as “seize the day”, but it’s a …
: I made myself teriyaki chicken bowl for lunch. It was pretty good.
: I’ve been reading some Horace Odes. Ponder this: What may be tomorrow, take care not to ask – …
: Since a friend introduced me, I’ve enjoyed Daily Organics Summer Kombucha. Now I’ve …
: Spring! Spotted today at the local pond, a duck with, I believe, 10 ducklings. Look at those little …
: An often used TextExpander snippet grabs title and URL from Safari. Tab groups upset it. Updated: …
: Another good read from an author I enjoy: Goodbye Sky Field (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 6) by …
: I love Welcome Swallows: they’re small, colourful, fast and generally cute. This one came to …
: LOL: Underbirds are go! Aotearoa New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition has started. I …
: Pleased with myself that today I checked my camera settings before getting click-happy on the …
: We have some large, though pale, Kiwifruit (from the shops) at the moment. Yum. Note for people …
: Excellent practical steps — How To Use Stoicism To Remove False Impressions : apply calm reason to …
: Last year I gathered half a dozen delicious apples from my Granny Smith tree. Right now new blossoms …
: A gorgeous morning at the beach, where the sea was gently lapping tiny waves just like on a tropical …
: From one part of the beach this view of cloud snugging round the Tararuas.
: I was heading to the deck when I pulled up short. A California Quail (a rare and occasional visitor …
: A Day In The Life Photo Challenge 2022. Taken at 08:40 at Waikawa Beach, Horowhenua, Aotearoa. …
: I tried Mini Apple Pancakes Recipe. Turned out I didn’t have Greek Yoghurt so used 1 …
: Hmmm, looked up a crossword answer (a music track I’d never heard of). Now enjoying a blast …
: I’ve come to like this series, and with some very interrupted sleeps I read my way through …
: I made French toast today for the first time and served it with icing sugar, sliced banana and maple …
: I’m looking forward to A Day in the Life of Micro.blog Photo Challenge. Now to figure out when …
: I’ve owned Jigsaw Puzzle Epic for years, used to play, fell out of it for a few years, and now …
: Our tenant has left the house we’ve been renting out and the estate agent is now in charge of …
: One of our local ring-necked doves was hanging round by the house this morning. Very convenient! 🐦
: At least my good old point and shoot iPhone captured this small flock of Canada Geese flying by. …
: Out of 30 or so photos of Kuaka (Godwits) this is probably the only one where the bird was actually …
: This is not the splendid photo of a Godwit I imagined I was taking on the beach this morning. With a …
: This morning’s job, with other community volunteers: plant thousands of young spinifex plants …
: After peeling, coring and slicing a bunch of apples the other day for Easy Apple Crisp, I bought a …
: Today’s polar blast makes me very thankful for my wonderful warm down jacket.
: I’ve really tried (for a couple of months now) to like Airshow, but have given in and reverted …
: I’m guessing I originally watched Andromeda week by week on actual TV back when it was new: …
: On getting specs that are correctly tuned for me Yesterday I had an hour-long eye exam with Anne Matheson and then maybe an hour with Roger Sercombe, …
: My favourite optometrist dilated my eyes so now my screen’s blurry. I was also surprised to …
: I’ve always suffered from cold hands and feet. Recently some of my fingertips sometimes go …
: Excellent 33 minute podcast episode: Nerd Out! The Happiness of Being a Fan: Really love a TV show; …
: The quail run needed a refresh so yesterday I took out old straw and pine shavings and macrocarpa …
: Excited to see on my beach walk this morning that the first Kuaka (Godwits) have returned from their …
: I love these occasional Micro.Blog timeline adjacencies. // @jayeless @Burk
: Note to future self: don’t use this angle to take photos of food. Today I cooked Easy Apple …
: Booked in for early November: Waimangu Volcanic Valley, walk down the valley and 45 minute cruise …
: In Aotearoa there are 67 threatened [bird] species - about 30% of the country’s bird …
September 2022
: I’d seen it before, but watching Pitch Perfect 3 was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of …
: One freshly groomed dog. Sasha 🐶
: A bit of rain overnight meant it was a good time to weed this patch of garden along the lane. I …
: Well, that was a damn good read! The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery by Rachel Ward. Great characters, …
: This morning Sasha wanted to snack on a little grass. 🐶
: The book Timber City Masks (Royce Madison Mysteries Book 1) by Kieran York kept me reading but it …
: Read the standard marketing blurb about a name change for my phone and Internet provider — yawn. …
: Things are moving along suddenly. Signed with a real estate agent this morning to sell the property …
: Nice language use (disgorges, chthonic, skerricks, fragments, glean, tidbits): Every now and then, …
: If I sit out in the sun to read my Kindle Paperwhite (2018) sometimes refuses to turn the page. …
: How would anyone even know this is the home page of the Horowhenua District Council?
: This morning I’m in that weird haze of “what time is it really?” as last night we …
: Hah, I hate stereotypes about older people. However … 7 of us at brunch, aged between 64 and maybe …
: We drove to Wellington today to help a friend celebrate her birthday at Field & Green. I had …
: Fascinating 45 minute documentary from the most excellent Caitlin Doughty: The Forgotten Disaster of …
: Painters are working almost next door. Meanwhile our bathroom ceiling (~4 m2) is flaking. Last …
: Well a 5.8 quake is one way to be woken while just drifting off to sleep. All good. No damage etc. …
: This 50 minute concert was a delight: Faia Younan I فايا يونان. From the Abu Dhabi Cultural …
: Massively enjoyable: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Humorous, great characters (old …
: Equinox egg. First quail egg of the season. Such clever girls! 🐦
: Every second of the Royal Funeral is designed to reinforce status and power. The organisation of the …
: Dipping into The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II - BBC. Spot the Mountie (with horse), and …
: This recipe looked easy and delicious and it was, but fiery hot. Next time I’ll use only 1/3 …
: I’ve read as much as I’m going to of Life in the Shallows The wetlands of Aotearoa New …
: A nice treat after a few errands. Chocolate ice cream at Brown Acres. Yum.
: A neighbour has a couple of sheep on his property, and recently lambs have appeared too. They …
: New Watch OS9 feature that I love: Save a Custom Timer — swipe left on the timer and tap the Star. I …
: A bit of 7 am drama today as the Rescue Helicopter landed at the beach entrance where apparently …
: Some of the most hilarious and clever scientific names have been applied to spiders or insects … a …
: Blood in Tavasci Marsh (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 2) by Lakota Grace was a great …
: I very much enjoyed Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Box Set by Lynda McDaniel. I’d already read …
: This is intriguing. I typed my previous post in BBEdit on Mac then copied and pasted to iPhone. Look …
: On Monday I happened to be there when our rubbish bin was emptied. Of course, it would have been a …
: I’ve discovered I really enjoy Andalusian music. Here’s an almost 2 hour joy: Andalusian …
: I visited Palmerston North today and looked at the aviaries in the public gardens. This Cockatiel …
: I really enjoyed spending the day reading Death In Copper Town (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series …
: ROFL — Police respond to ‘racist’ flag in Wānaka, find Klingon insignia: Police …
: Aha! I wondered about this after grating the Havarti — How to Grate Soft Cheese: Place wrapped …
: Today I made Roasted Cauliflower and Cheese Mini Frittatas. They were pretty delicious. The recipe …
: The commander had to issue the “Fire” command 96 times! Clouds of smoke filled the air …
: Here it comes (video): Queen Elizabeth II Death Gun Salute to mark her passing. At 1 round every 10 …
: Wow — The Queen’s death: All you need to know about what happens next: There will be a 96 gun …
: Today’s neighbours include some who are beefier than usual.
: An interesting little snippet: Queen Elizabeth Sent the First-Ever Royal Email in 1976!: On March …
: I’m no Monarchist but this is still a huge moment: Queen Elizabeth II … has died at Balmoral …
: I was weeding a patch of driveway garden when a Green and Golden Bell frog appeared. It moved away. …
: The local rabbits must have had a working bee overnight. For months there’s been a hole in the …
: The mountains have a touch of snow today, thanks to an icy wind straight off the Antarctic. Fujifilm …
: The Orville S03 seemed different from the first 2 seasons so I went back and rewatched those seasons …
: The neighbour’s pine tree is loaded with pollen. Ah-choo!
: OK, Celebrate Tongan Language Week: There are only 17 letters in the ‘alafapeti faka-Tonga: A E F H …
: Fascinating: Scientists Discover That a Surprising Factor Improved The Effects of Ketamine in Mice: …
: An almost pastoral idyllic scene as a cow relaxes by the shore of the rainwater lake in the paddock …
: Spotted on today’s trip to the supermarket: Wakachangi Beer. I suppose the …
: Good grief! I was listening to some Andalusian Arabic music and wondered about an instrument that …
: The movie Master Cheng, aka A Spice for Life, was an absolute delight. A Chinese man and his young …
: Sasha: Excuse me. I’m pretty sure it’s Anchovy time. 🐶 [Because she’s blind, she …
: Excellent 7.5 minute video: Where does the name “black hole” come from?: …used to be …
: With the wet Winter and now Spring all the grass and weeds and whatnot are growing. I spent an hour …
: Lynda McDaniel kept me reading avidly in A Life for a Life (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 1): …
: Jana DeLeon manages to keep her Miss Fortune series fresh, not just repeating plots. In Swamp …
: A good and well-written read: The Sheriff’s Wife (The Sheridan County Mysteries) by Erin Lark …
: Recently read a 2-book freebie with Cooking Up Trouble (The Fun Cruise Mystery Series, A Sweet …
August 2022
: This is one of 3 ring-decked doves that hang out on our lane. They let me get so close. 🐦
: Mother and son napping in the late afternoon sun. 🐴
: Loved Seasons 1 & 2 and really looking forward to S3 — My Life is Murder is Lucy Lawless’s love …
: Finally a duck came to explore the temporary pond on the paddock next door. Didn’t stay long …
: An important woman who helped bring the Māori language to the forefront — Remembering Hana Te …
: I’ve used MarsEdit for >18 years now. (Back in the day it belonged to Brent Simmons.) …
: My iPad just popped up this photo of two pigeons from 2004. Taken in Wellington I think, on Oriental …
: The neighbours we’ve been helping with dog walking for the last few weeks bought us lunch at …
: The pre-dawn light really shows up the two new ponds in the paddock next door. This year’s …
: This was fun: Medieval Hip Hop Mixtape — Bardcore / Medieval Style Instrumental Cover.
: I had no idea! There are two types of rain, and one of them is almost impossible to forecast. …
: 25 minute drive each way to the vet at Ōtaki. 5 minutes max at the vet for Sasha to get her monthly …
: 3 am and I’ve drunk a cup of Premium Snowbuds white tea and eaten a Griffins Vanilla Wine …
: In the last week or so I’ve noticed birds flying by, beaks stuffed full with nesting …
: Sasha’s wellness is in a good place at the moment. Here she trots smoothly along the lane, …
: A superb explainer — What to know about monkeypox: Monkeypox is far less dangerous than …
: I really wasn’t sure about Hacks (TV series) at first and almost didn’t bother watching …
: The Spinoff is bringing such excellent journalism. I read many more stories than from any other News …
: One of the hazards of a rural area. This is the main entrance to our beach. Someone’s cows …
: An ‘atmospheric river’ of rain has dumped excessive water from the tropics on parts of …
: Yumm, buttermilk hotcakes at The Gorge in Ōtaki. Delicious.
: Turns out it requires special skill to take good photos of a glass paperweight, and I don’t …
: Another excellent Toby Morris cartoon — The Side Eye’s Two New Zealands: The Table. Follow the link …
: When I was in Whanganui the other day this interesting mural caught my eye.
: When they were handing out adjectives to authors this one went back for thirds. I feel like I need a …
: I really enjoyed The Orville, all 3 seasons, and very much want it to be renewed. S1 took itself …
: Ahhh — why episodes in The Orville S3 were so much longer than in Seasons 1 & 2: the show moved …
: Hooray! Maybe it is okay to not pursue potential and just be okay with being. Why must there be a …
: I’m finding I really enjoy this author. The quirky English has come to be a feature. The …
: First time ever I’ve seen a Kererū at Waikawa Beach. They do live 4 Km away (as the bird …
: At the Make a paperweight workshop in Whanganui the glassworking area is on the bottom floor. The …
: Today I’m in Whanganui for a 30 minute glassmaking workshop. First a cup of kawakawa fire tea …
: It’s very bracing this morning, with an overnight low of –3C, and a good frost. …
: On a mid-winter day with no wind, clear blue skies and warm sun the sea was lapping gently against …
: At dawn, in the frost, I saw a beautiful full moon setting behind the lake at the end of the road.
: Don’t start listening to this if you’re supposed to be doing something else… 2Cellos - …
: Nearby land is very productive. As I drive I see teams working hard, picking veges in freezing cold …
: Yes, Autocorrect, I was in fact trying to buy Harraways Rolled Goats at the supermarket! Or was it …
: A short, easy read. Shadow Council Book 1: Money Makes it Deadlier by Julie C. Gilbert. Not sure …
: We’ve now had enough rain that the paddock by the speed bump, that turns into a bit of a lake …
: Deb and I watched and enjoyed Falling For Figaro. No surprises in the plot, but great landscapes and …
: Woken by heavy rain. Time for a cuppa. So glad it didn’t wake Sasha as then I might have had …
: That time in September 2015 when we went on a camel trek in Morocco. Thanks iPad for the memory.
: I’ve enjoyed this free 7-day email course — Discard Your Anxiety: A clear and practical Stoic …
: Interesting news today — Joffe Books Acquires Two Novels by Māori Writer Renée:  Otaki-based …
: Anna Havron gives us more interesting food for thought in Don’t Hold a Job, Hold an Office Instead: …
: Another enjoyable read in the series: Flame and Fortune (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 22). Not nearly …
: Interesting article: The Human Mind Is Not Meant to Be Awake After Midnight, Scientists Warn: our …
: My little friend Willow likes to keep one paw elevated while she eats. 🐶
: Our resident Kingfisher is so photogenic. 🐦
: About 10 days ago I reported a bloated dead sheep on the beach to Greater Wellington Regional …
: This was intriguing and enjoyable music: DakhaBrakha - Full Performance (Live on KEXP). A group from …
: Excellent Nichelle Nichols cartoon for August 3, 2022 from Kiwi cartoonist Sharon Murdoch. 🖖🏼
: Heh, November 1999, when I had long hair and thought having the camera automatically date stamp …
: A nearby hill / mountain had a hat on this morning. Also, I’m messing around with edits to the …
July 2022
: This year so far, according to my rain gauge, we’ve had more rain than in the whole of 2020 or …
: Whew! Some server problem meant that for the last week or two I’ve completed the WSJ crossword …
: 186+ mystery books I've loved I read a lot of mysteries. Some are mediocre — I abandon the ones that are too rubbish — while …
: Such an impressive channel! Anyone at all interested in languages will find this video fascinating: …
: Then I moved right along to Close to the Edge (Detective Sarah Burke Book 7) by Elizabeth Gunn …
: I raced through Close to Home (Detective Sarah Burke Book 6) by Elizabeth Gunn. She’s an …
: After a few days I can say that using a feedreader is the best and easiest way to catch up with the …
: December 2008: flamingos at Honolulu Zoo. What on earth is that one at the back doing with its …
: This cabbage tree serves me as a kind of a high groundwater indicator. Normally it’s several …
: My thanks to whoever on my timeline mentioned enjoying Only Murders in the Building. I’m …
: Such a lovely short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Free Fiction Monday: Star: On the night Anna’s …
: This is useful: Create Your Own Acceptance Mantra: The purpose of an acceptance mantra is to act as …
: Loved @Cheri’s latest book: Death at Dagger Cove (Butterfly Island Mysteries Book 2) by Cheri …
: The UP! 3D printer blog post originally published in November 2011 Note: the article below was originally published on my now defunct KnowIt blog in November 2011. …
: Looks like it was November 2011 when I was sent a 3D printer to test out and write about on my …
: The storms we had this month must have ripped out someone’s pine plantation. The beach is …
: This is very interesting. Giving it a whirl: Use AssistiveTouch for Customizable Shortcuts on the …
: Another excellent read from a good author: Closing Ranks (Detective Sarah Burke Book 5) by Elizabeth …
: I like to add Titles to my Photos in the Photos app on Mac, but half the time what I type gets eaten …
: I wanted a messenger style bag to carry my camera with its big lens when I walk on the beach to take …
: Darn! So intent on measuring out 710 mls from a 750 ml bottle of milk I totally forgot I was …
: This is a great little story — Taranaki man’s e-bike wheelchair carries his wife to see the …
: Yesterday I sponged a patch of matted hair on the back of Sasha’s neck and found an open wound …
: I read Micro.Blog via Safari on Mac (mainly). Every morning it’s the same thing to catch up on …
: The first third of Murder on Sea (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 1) was a bit annoying and not …
: Finally had my second booster Covid jab. Hurt a bit going in but feels good being better protected. …
: Just amazed at the cleverness of NYTimes Sunday, July 17, 2022 Crossword Puzzle: Note: Players seek …
: Really enjoying listening to Sona Jobarteh & Band (1 hour): Sona Jobarteh is the first female …
: Heh, the Spinoff are spending a week talking about a huge deal in the lives of over half the people …
: Two free books I abandoned: Ambassador 1: Seeing Red by Patty Jansen. Should have been obvious …
: Some very grim topics in Under Violent Skies (Detective Sara Hirst Book 1) are probably why I …
: It’s not too surprising that I really enjoyed Old Bones Lie (Detective Clare Mackay Book 6 by …
: I wanted to like this writer who lives mainly in Aotearoa New Zealand, but the book simply missed …
: It’s 3.45 am and I’ve had a cup of tea and a biscuit after being awake for a couple of …
: I’ve suggested our library buy this. It looks really interesting and is relevant around here. …
: Sasha, mostly blind, stopped at the white line on the road then tiptoed carefully across. Next she …
: Planning a trip out for dinner tonight to nearby Shannon, a 35 minute drive away. Including say 1 …
: Silver and gold: this morning Sasha and I made it all the way to the lakes (approx 500 metres away). …
: We’ve achieved a point where Sasha’s food, meds and the cool temperatures mean she trots …
: The setting Supermoon at dawn.
: Sasha won’t go down to the dog yard any more so she now gets half a dozen ‘walks’ …
: It was a bit impressive down by the sea at high tide this morning. It’s winter so lots of …
: Nice! Amber Clyde: never take criticism to heart from somebody you wouldn’t go to for advice. Via …
: I’m always a bit suspicious when military helicopters fly over in gangs. Today it was a gang …
: On Mangawhero Forest Walk I spotted these really really white fungi on a tree trunk.
: Rimu Walk and Mangawhero Forest Walk at Ohakune share a common entrance. I enjoyed both. Both are …
: Ohakune is a town just below the very popular Turoa skifield. Next to a walk I was about to do I …
: I was surprised how much I enjoyed the 1 hour 40 minute concert Loreena McKennitt - Nights From The …
: My handmade leather iPhone sleeve by @aa was so excellent (it’s serving me beautifully) that I …
: Ridge Track at Whakapapa is a short little trail that climbs up behind the Chateau offering views. …
: Chateau Tongariro at Whakapapa is an impressive building, seeming to sit alone on the landscape. …
: The Taranaki Falls Track The Taranaki Falls Track is a 6 Km loop on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. It passes through both native …
: In December 2008 I taught 3 WordPress courses over a weekend as part of the University of …
: Mounds Walk at Tongariro was another short track, with several information boards. After a few …
: The Tawhai Falls Track was very short but led to a really nice waterfall. Midwinter and two young …
: 9 kinds of fungi on Silica Rapids walk I don’t know anything much about fungi, except I like to look at them. The Silica Rapids walk …
: My Silica Rapids walk I think the Silica Rapids walk at Tongariro was my favourite, even though the weather was a bit dull …
: Why is it anyone wants to live in Auckland? Three news items in a row in my feed this morning: a …
: My Lake Rotokura walk Lake Rotokura is near Waiouru and is an easy ~30 minute walk, although there were a few fallen logs …
: Before I went off walking I relaced my boots. In my photo the right boot is the old way (how they …
: It’s not fair to laugh at a dog who’s old, blind, mainly deaf, frail, etc, but sometimes …
: We have to accept the little facts of life. Bland indifference is a start, but cheerful whistling is …
: Woohoo, the book I co-wrote in 2006 is still earning me royalties. What shall I do with my 17 cents, …
: This 22 minute doco is a delight: Inside the wonderful world of Hairy Maclary creator Lynley Dodd. …
: I somehow got this free: A Dealer Dead Ahead (Law & Carter Cozy Mysteries Book 1). I read it to …
: My Tongariro National Park visit — summary Last weekend I visited Tongariro National Park to do some short walks. The winter weather was very …
: Took me a while to get to this, but then I really enjoyed The Murderer’s Son (Jackman & …
: These fungi on the Mangawhero Forest Walk at Ohakune were very white.
: I rounded a corner on a trail and saw a dark lump on this branch. Then I realised it had a short …
: It only takes 3 and a half hours to drive home, and that includes a detour to a track. I should …
: One of my favourite photos from today’s Taranaki Falls track — steps just beyond the Falls.
: From the road to Whakapapa — look leftish and there’s Ngauruhoe; look rightish and …
: That was me, though at ~1200 metres, not the tippy-top: MetService: To anyone standing on top of …
: Well that was a … relief. Things aren’t always so … convenient at 1200 meters altitude.
: Today’s plan is to drive to Whakapapa again, walk to Taranaki Falls — 6 Km loop, then Ridge …
: Useful words: Accept that the present moment is rarely unbearable. … Accept that the past is gone …
: Caution road sign: Kiwi crossing at night. With Mt Ruapehu in the background.
: Silica Rapids walk could be named Fungus walk. I came across black, brown, white, blue, chestnut and …
: Silica Rapids on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. It was a fabulous walk through varied mountain …
: My plan for today is to visit the Silica Rapids Walk and Punaruku Falls near Whakapapa Village. I …
: Mount Ruapehu appears across Lake Rotokura. I had a lovely 75 minute walk there but saw only a very …
: As I neared Waiouru snow-covered Mt Ruapehu made an appearance.
: Today’s destination: Tongariro National Park: Home to three active volcanic mountains, and …
: On the plus side: I did manage about 5-6 hours sleep and only one of Sasha’s 3 poops in the …
: Tomorrow I head off to Tongariro National Park for a few days of easy short walks and some lounging …
June 2022
: I just watched Soul and found it remarkable. Uplifting, clever, funny. Loved hearing the Kiwi actor …
: A genre I usually avoid is (heterosexual) romance, but Kristine Kathryn Rusch is such a skilled …
: I just rewatched How to Self-Publish A Novel from @Cheri in Micro Camp 2022 (17 minutes). This is …
: The government just opened up second Covid booster shots for the over-50s. I was astonished to get …
: Today I’m watching a bunch of videos, like this one: How to use Back button auto focus with …
: An article that everyone should read: The Sunday Essay: My breasts and me.
: We went to see Elvis (2022 film) this morning. It’s an intense movie and we all came out quite …
: I did my NZ Garden Bird Survey on Saturday and saw: 6 sparrows, 3 magpies, 3 swallows, 3 waxeyes, 1 …
: We visited the Pottery Expo at Ōtaki Racecourse today. I bought this Sea and Sky bowl by Janice …
: A note for men in the US. Listen up! With the catastrophic Roe vs Wade decision you must support all …
: I had no idea there are 43 different blood types! From Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 Jun 2022. most …
: Mānawatia a Matariki! “Matariki is about celebrating who we were, who we are, and who we want to …
: Sasha, aged 15 and a half enjoys: walks, food, treats, bonus rabbit poop on walks, an occasional …
: Nice! “Don’t buy presents. Be present.” Mānawatia a Matariki! Tips for how to celebrate if you …
: Just did that thing where you write a comprehensive email, check something in an archived email …
: Help on a small project I was feeling dispirited about has arrived from an unexpected quarter. What …
: First snow of the season on the nearby Tararuas. Brrr.
: I had errands in Palmerston North today so treated myself to a Chicken Teriyaki lunch at Mr …
: Tomorrow brings us Winter Solstice. The good news is daylight hours start increasing. The bad news …
: Storms like the ones that filled the first couple of weeks of June for us bring loads of stuff onto …
: Yesterday’s excellent movie — Whina: Dame Whina Cooper was a Māori matriarch who worked …
: This Eastern Rosella announced herself and then stuck around long enough for me to take some photos. …
: This little Piwakawaka was flitting round me, then landed close enough for me to be able to take a …
: To celebrate Deb’s upcoming birthday we went with friends to Soprano Ristorante. Pricey but …
: The river mouth was looking pretty good at dawn today.
: I cooked Quick Vanilla Rice Pudding while Deb was driving home. Yummm! She’d better hurry up …
: In a quest for variety and expanding horizons I’m listening to new-to-me music each day. I go …
: Our new Matariki national holiday, the country's first public holiday centred on Māori culture, is …
: My Merrell Siren Traveller 3 Women’s Trail Shoes are my favourites, but only 7 months after …
: I must say, 1Password has always worked brilliantly and easily for me … until the latest version …
: Hooray for web searches. This solved my Quick Look ‘gone wrong’ problem: macOS 12 …
: Whew. After 18.75 hours power has been restored. Now charging all the things. 😀 And looking into …
: The power didn’t come back on overnight so that’s 15 hours now and counting. At least …
: 4 hours ago in mid afternoon we had yet another big thunderstorm. That’s when the power went …
: I was a bit surprised to find I really enjoyed listening to Tatar Folk Music, especially the track …
: We get maybe two thunderstorms a year round here. Except for this month where intermittent storms …
: Signed up for a month of Disney+ to watch a few things. Finally saw and enjoyed and felt moved by …
: A couple of weeks ago I discovered, installed, paid for Grocery App: A smart shopping list, recipe …
: This is a wonderful story for a Sunday morning — The Sunday Essay: A never-ending pot of curry: As …
: I wanted the ‘exoticism’ of this book set in rural Sri Lanka, but the book itself just …
: About 2 hours after high tide, with an open sea swell of 5 metres, and westerly gales so strong they …
: Look who was groomed today! Sasha so clean and tidy. 🐶
: Rachel McAlpine on growing old: You know so much! From reading, hearing, viewing, and being there. …
: Did you know I went to Mars? You can too: Mars Photo Booth - NASA Mars. 🤣
: We’re getting a lot of these at the moment. ⛈
: Today’s order of business. ⛈
: HIP (on Acorn TV, French) is a really fun show. It’s another where a solo mum of several …
: Hmmm, this video by Jan Wegener, mainly about bird photography, had some very useful info: Take …
: I quickly glazed over while looking at About the security of passkeys - Apple Support. Can anyone …
: Today I helped a very smart friend set up a new Mac laptop with touch ID button. When it came to …
: Deb and I enjoyed watching the all too brief Season One of Annika. No word if there’ll be …
: Soon after I spent up large on a Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR zoom lens for taking …
: Thank you sunrise, light shower and iPhone for this early morning rainbow. 😀
: Realised when I opened my MacBook Pro this morning that WWDC keynote was live. Tuned in as I do …
: Today’s main feature: a splitting headache, eased in the end by a one hour deep sleep in the …
: Gorgeous 5 Km beach walk to start my Sunday. Thanks to all those on my overnight Micro.Blog timeline …
: 10 years ago I bought a Wacom Intuos 5 graphics tablet, upgrading from previous versions. Not for …
: The sun was low behind me; the hawk circling high in front of me. 🐦
: Sasha has never really been the most cuddly dog. She seems to be changing her ways though. 🐶
: Fears cultural significance of Matariki may be lost: Matariki … is a period of solemn reflection, …
: Leigh Mayberry has very quirky language in her books, but still I usually enjoy them. Murderous …
: A couple of mornings ago I was making breakfast when I noticed the top half of the quail run door …
May 2022
: Hey Kiwis, if you visit EECA’s tyre pressure tool it tells you what the tire pressure should …
: 10 minute video: Koko Ibaraki is a world class pole dancer at 50: pole dancing remains a …
: Keyboard Maestro helps with so much on my Mac. Sometimes I want to have the Clipboard contents in …
: What a wonderful way to start a Tuesday morning! So energising! 2.25 hours of Barcelona Gipsy balKan …
: The problem with buying a tray of 30 eggs from the farm gate shop is when you’re trying to …
: I enjoy this series, and just read the final 4 stories: Rachel Prince Cruise Ship Mysteries: Books …
: Loving this morning’s random listen: Andalusian Spanish Arabic Music: الأنْدَلُس - YouTube.
: I glimpsed this juvenile Kōtare, Sacred Kingfisher through the window, managed a couple of shots and …
: It’s been a busy Sunday. Among other things, I cleaned out the old straw and sawdust from the …
: I’ve signed up for this 30 minute New Zealand Glassworks Make a Paperweight Workshop for …
: Today we saw an Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand flypast: the superlative Supermarine …
: Today, for the second time in our lives, we have become mortgage-free. We have no debt and …
: I changed an account password today. Do you think I was too hasty?
: What an amazing resource. Thank you @scojjac I’m exploring Arabic: Language Transfer …
: The upside of ending up in Apple Music was I rediscovered a piece of music I adore: Ramirez: Misa …
: Utterly bewildered that to share with my family an app I’d just bought on the App Store I had …
: Fungi season: I suspect this is a fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). I like to see fungi but never know …
: Sharon Murdoch’s excellent cartoon today: Forty kororā/little blue penguins found dead on a …
: A few years ago I bought a Korg Nanokey 2 keyboard. I can’t play… Today I finally labelled the …
: Since I suggested today’s Challenge word (mountain) — I can never remember which mountain is …
: This morning’s new-to-me music: Siberian Altai Turkic Traditional Music. I like it.
: Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Spoonbill parenting… Seen at the beach this morning: a juvenile Spoonbill with its parents. 🐦
: When I didn’t leave quickly enough one of the adult swans warned me off. I left. 🐦
: I think this little fantail lives in the bushes near our gate. 🐦
: No-one on the lake was very happy about me emerging from behind a bush to take an iPhone photo of …
: This morning’s very enjoyable sound track, Afghani music: Daud Khan Sadozai - live - 2013.
: Hah! I always have such a feeling of achievement when I wrestle with both logic and regular …
: At 67 I’m neither geriatric nor elderly, but am having an issue with unintended weight loss. …
: At last! Eastern Rosellas have been taunting me. I’ve heard their chattering at various times …
: It’s been a bit of a morning. 24mm rain between 4 and 8 am, wind gusts up to 62Kph, thunder, lots of …
: Toutouwai, North Island Robin at Bushy Park. These little birds are such cuties, and so tame! 🐦
: At Bushy Park near Whanganui, this huge Northern Rātā: Height 39m; Diameter 3.72m; Girth 11.70m. …
: Given it’ll be winter, and ski season, I jumped in while a room was available and booked my …
: The Veronica Loop Track in Egmont National Park is ~3.5 Km long, with an elevation gain of ~240 …
: Feature request @help : after editing a Post via the web interface can we have a link to go straight …
: Actual Kiwi (the birds) are rare in Aotearoa New Zealand and sadly hard to find. At least on …
: An OK read: Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery …
: Not great. It all seems very stuffy, old-fashioned and rather unlikely. The Death of Amelia Marsh …
: I’m only just this minute home from holiday, but look at these wonderful tiny pink fungi I saw …
: Steps going up Veronica Loop Track with Taranaki Maunga rising up behind. Don’t know why …
: The almost 4 Km Veronica Loop Track at North Egmont National Park took me a bit over 2 hours and …
: They’re serious about not letting dogs into Egmont National Park. 🐶
: You get the best views from half way up the mountain at 1150 metres (probably, if it’s not …
: I was hoping to walk a couple of 1–4 Km trails today at Egmont National Park, Te Papakura o …
: Mountain shaped ginger chicken at Siam Thai restaurant in New Plymouth. Super delicious.
: Taranaki mounga is enormous! Very imposing from the surrounding countryside.
: Here’s one of our friendly neighbourhood horses enjoying the warmth of dark ground on a chilly …
: The first episode of CW ☛ Naomi was very interesting and enjoyable. Thanks to Winding up season 1 of …
: That ‘pimple’ centre screen is where I’ll be this coming weekend. 😀
: I have a rare holiday coming up: 4 days visiting Egmont National Park for some short walks, …
: Sasha, still under the influence of post-surgery opiates. 🐶
: I’ve been a little on tenterhooks this morning as Sasha went in for dental surgery. The vet …
: Hah! Picard S02E09: “We have to super urgently go there and do that. We’ll just stop …
: This is why I can’t donate blood: perhaps you lived in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s so …
: It took a rather ridiculous and surprisingly exhausting 2 hours to assemble this garden cart today. …
: A flock of about 20 cyclists went past while I was walking Sasha this morning. About 20 older people …
: Interesting short video. Ever wondered what happens to milk at the factory?: In this video, Glen …
: The Tīrairaka, New Zealand fantail is a tricky bird to photograph and I’m still on a quest to …
: It may be 3 months since Oshi passed away, but Sasha has finally stepped into his …
: I was trying to take photos of the elusive fantails who were flittering just outside the window. …
: I’ve used the wonderful Pastebot for Mac for the longest time but for some reason only today …
: There’s something about the opening of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that grabbed me right by …
: In its second year my Granny Smith apple tree produced 7 apples. One fell off early in the season. I …
: That was a treat! Deb made a delicious omelette for breakfast. Yum.
: This was an enjoyable read: Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest (Travel Can Be …
: This detail intrigues me: Two officers from the helicopter ran to the scene and took the seven …
: Skating! This little New Zealand dotterel turns out to be banded, when I zoom in. They’re very …
: I’m surprised I finished reading Murder by the Book (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery 1) by …
: I very nearly stopped watching Grace and Frankie in the middle of Season 7. It had been so long …
: Misty morning. Cobweb. Flax spear.
: Naughty little House sparrows sitting on the roof (pooping in the gutter that supplies our drinking …
: Hey southern hemisphere types: do some sky watching over the next few mornings before dawn: The Eta …
: Meanwhile, the Australian coots were having a bit of a dust-up (volume up). 🐦
: To my delight, this morning’s walk brought me two Kakīānau, Black swans with 4 cygnets, …
: Sasha 🐶 was not a cooperative model today, either before grooming or after.
: Not too bad to while away a few hours: A Welsh Murder Mystery Box Set Books 1–4 by Cathy Ace 📚: …
: The Alton Brown Shepherd’s Pie I cooked tonight was delicious. The photo doesn’t do it …
: [Accidentally, while cooking] confirmed the smoke alarm still works. 👍
April 2022
: Kāpiti Island rises from the dawn mist.
: This Karoro, Black-backed gull was keeping a close eye on me this morning. 🐦
: I did a heap of things today that I wanted to do. Some are unfinished, and that’s fine. The …
: Fake puppies!: Police urge potential new pet owners to be wary following an influx of scams …
: This post by @gregmoore reminded me of this day back in 2003 when Aphra 🐈, on top of the shower, was …
: Aotearoa New Zealand is right in the middle of a giant high today, giving us cold clear nights and …
: Things fell into place today for Deb and me to eat dinner out. We visited for the first time Nanyang …
: Nothing special: just a photo from when I was walking Sasha 🐶 back along the lane to home, on a …
: This was such an interesting episode of Lingthusiasm: What it means for a language to be official. …
: Hah! Scifi writers note: to write a character who is… expert… Give them a deep, intense hatred of …
: Deb did a clean out and found an old iPhone 5. It’s so tiny! Look at it next to my iPhone 13 …
: A neighbour and I drove to Foxton today to visit the Ans Westra photo exhibition. I specially loved …
: Our dog groomer has come down with Shingles. Ouch! That means we need to find an alternative groomer …
: Something I’d like is more information in the list of Micro.Bloggers I’m following …
: Amazon have made a change I really dislike. When I look at a page of listings my eye now sees first …
: On a day where I seem to be feeling a bit off-colour I’ve really enjoyed eating some Celery …
: Tonight I made Roast cod on spiced Puy lentils — delicious. There was no cod available so I cooked a …
: This month I am finally doing a chore I really have trouble getting to: selling stuff I no longer …
: This is interesting: The streets have eyes, including the bit that says: One of the problems is the …
: Aaargh, Candice Renoir quickly became one of my favourite shows on Acorn TV. Just finished Season 4 …
: I think I’ve realised why my Netatmo rain gauge sometimes stops working. At this time of year …
: I’m so much enjoying Season 4 of Star Trek: Discovery. Only a couple of episodes left to watch …
: I’m especially fond of waterfalls and have just discovered: the New Zealand Waterfalls …
: Sasha 🐶 very obligingly naps in the car while I water the front lawn of our rental property. We …
: I enjoyed Murder at Sugar Rush Beach (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 3) by Paula Lennon 📚: …
: Looked out the front door and spotted these two young pheasants moseying about. 🐦 They scurried off …
: I’ve been having a great Easter Friday, doing crosswords, watching videos, and during …
: In case it’s useful for someone else — I wanted to be able to grab the title and URL of an …
: I find recipes on the Internet then try out some of them. I’m forever converting measures of …
: Wow. This 10 minute video An Interview with a Professional Jump Roper is quite something. Sometimes …
: The pre-dawn sky is delightful. Look east to see Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn. On the 24th the …
: Whew. Finished watching Season 1 of Bel Air. That was quite an ending! Side note: I can’t get …
: Update on Sasha 🐶. Her ultrasound today went well. Her liver looks like you’d expect for a 15 …
: This seems to be a busy week — it’s rushing by. One of my errands today though was to get this …
: Sasha, 15 and a half 🐶, is on her way to the doggy dentist (ie the vet) this morning for tooth …
: I enjoy this author’s books and this was no exception: Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 …
: En Pointe. South Island Pied Oystercatcher. 🐦
: We don’t often see starfish on our beach which doesn’t have the rockpools they may more …
: In February 2022 @patrickrhone linked to the Meat/Less newsletter course. I’d wanted to reduce …
: Back in January of 2022 a huge branch from a 40 year old pine tree on a neighbour’s property fell …
: New midwinter public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand In the Northern hemisphere Christmas in December is a midwinter holiday, bringing hope and the …
: The information switch The other day I was reading a book set on a cruise ship on the Rhine in Germany. At one point the …
: Whiled away a day with Death of a Blogger: A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Novella by Dawn …
: I’m a bit ambivalent about Murder in Midwinter (Oxford Dog Walker Crime Thrillers Book 2) by Annie …
: It feels like it’s been forever since I took a healthy dog to the vet for routine stuff. 🐶 …
: Interesting: Trying to Keep Aging Neurons Healthy and Growing: That set me on a tentative and then …
: Unknown Baby Girl, a short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, is very powerful. As always from this …
: I enjoyed These Little Lies (Detective Inspector Siv Drummond Book 1) by Gretta Mulrooney 📚. A new …
: Deb, leaving for work, told me to get out of bed and look at the sunrise. it was worth it. 😎
: Deb and I enjoyed Dream Horse 🎬 : the true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by …
: I like to do my beach walks at dawn, when the sun just catches the tips of the waves.
: We see some excellent sights from our lounge window, like the two Air Force Hercules aircraft that …
: Another in a series I enjoy: Close to Death by Elizabeth Gunn 📚. Detective Sarah Burke is called …
: Scenes from this morning’s dawn walk.
: A hard but powerful read: This is How You Died | The Order of the Good Death: A physician who …
: My first attempt at a Chocolate Mini Loaf Cake, which thought it was maybe a volcano! Tasted good …
: I can’t believe how many times I need to correct a Post or Reply after publishing. Thank you …
: A big walk for Sasha 🐶 these days is to go all the way to the speedsigns, 500 metres away. On our …
March 2022
: Ready for some feelgood, with dogs? the dogs had to learn about 80 new behaviors before they …
: An even better morning display today at 0644: low in the eastern sky a crescent Moon, right beside …
: This is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s smallest birds, often heard but seldom seen. I got lucky a few …
: I had Keen shoes that were new many years ago, were demoted to dog walking several years ago and …
: This is bizarre: it’s not quite 5 am, pitch dark and I’ve been hearing a loud motorbike roaring …
: I had low expectations for what turned out to be an excellent book. Murder on Port Meadow (Oxford …
: Has Apple Maps always had this? Just today I discovered Guides, and that I can add places to a Guide …
: At 6 am I remembered Mars, Venus and Saturn were to be close together in the morning sky. I popped …
: I’ve been listening to and enjoying @Matti’s excellent podcasts, The Early Riser and The Puppycast. …
: Just experimented with Drafts transcribing a brief Voice Memo I made. Not bad at all. The hardest …
: I suppose articles like Escape from Kyiv are ten a penny just now. It moved me deeply though. And …
: I’m not given to sharing Wordle results, but today’s was very unusual: Wordle 281 3/6 …
: Abandoned 40% through: A Deadly Course (Sugarbury Falls Mysteries Book 1) by Diane Weiner 📚. Amateur …
: I abandoned Aged for Murder (A Tuscan Vineyard Cozy Mystery—Book 1) by Fiona Grace 📚 about 33% …
: I quite enjoyed Murder Under the Palms (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 2) by Paula Lennon 📚. It …
: I bought myself an autumn day treat while out and about this morning. A very delicious real fruit …
: Hah, remembering this day in 2020 when global Covid cases numbered less than 500,000.
: I don’t often listen to music but this morning I’ve been captivated by Deva Mahal. For …
: I’ve had this M1 MacBook Pro for over a year now. Today after 9 hours of use the battery has …
: Up, up, down, down. 🐦 Canada Geese, on the wing.
: These ring-necked pheasants are very common round here. They’re splendid birds, but also kind …
: My new favourite — Shedunnit: a storytelling podcast that unravels the mysteries behind classic …
: We see Kingfishers around here quite often — usually in the garden. I didn’t really expect to …
: I spent an age today making a Big List of Waikawa Beach Birds. Counting only live birds, not those …
: These Rock pigeons, although common everywhere, are actually not that easy to find at Waikawa Beach. …
: This spammer failed to trick the detection engines by using these intriguing font forms. However, I …
: These two annoyingly distant Spur-winged Plovers were at the beach this morning. I’ve been …
: A few small shakes overnight, 2 very close and shallow 〰️: Sun Mar 20 2022 8:28 PM: 15 km …
: My neighbour and no relation, Dr Jan Jordan, has just published a huge book she’s been working …
: I was never really very fond of gulls, but I’m coming to quite like the ones at Waikawa Beach. …
: The Kuaka, Godwits were being very obliging this morning.
: I really enjoyed The Girl Who Killed You (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 3) by Amy …
: Waikawa Beach at 9 am on a cool, clear, sunny, still morning. Paradise.
: After completely draining the batteries on my original Airpods and case as a problem solving step (I …
: Sasha getting back to basics. 🐶
: Some kind of spacecraft launching gantry? No. Pouring concrete at the new subdivision, starting an …
: This is now my official preferred scrambled egg dish: Soft Scrambled Japanese Tamago Rice Bowl. …
: The garden shop down the road has had Cabbage Trees on sale for a while now. I’ve already planted 14 …
: In the next-door-paddock-but-one the farmer grows corn or maize. Today was harvesting day. One …
: Another really good read in the Goodbye series: Goodbye Lake Street by Anne Shillolo 📚: Police and …
: OK. A] Add a video to Micro.Blog: click the upload button, write text, Post. 👍 B] Add a video to a …
: The public toilets at Waikawa Beach were built around 50 or 60 years ago. They’re now in a …
: This morning on the beach I was lucky enough to get a decent shot of this Tuturiwhatu, Banded …
: Someone recently was asking about women podcasters (unless I imagined that…). Here are two that are …
: Two photos from a couple of days ago of a Kawau, Pied Shag at the beach. 🐦 Length: 65 - 85 cm; …
: This new channel was an instant subscribe: MinuteFood: MinuteFood serves up the science of what we …
: Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to bring us Micro Camp, and to all the presenters and …
: Proof that space and time are the same thing. 😆 Referring to the Micro camp online sessions I said I …
: On 03 March 2022 we had turf laid at the rental property we own. It must be watered daily. That …
: About 5 Km away is an organic Blueberry Farm that also has olive trees and makes award winning olive …
: A new favourite photo: a Kuaka Godwit at the edge of the sea today. 🐦
: A View to Die For by Cheri Baker 📚: When a wealthy painter is murdered at the luxurious Londonian …
: Me: I wonder if I can Base64 encode text somehow on my Mac? Keyboard Maestro: I got you with one …
: Sasha was groomed yesterday. Here she is eating dinner. 😀 🐶
: I avoid driving my car because a] CO2 and b] petrol costs. Today I put 2/3 of a tank in: ~40 litres …
: I’d love to see this as a movie! Great article! How Death Positive Women Kickstarted a Civil …
: I think I’ll be watching this. It looks fun. Apollo 10 1/2 📺
: Before I could plant these 3 cabbage trees I spent a couple of hours over several days digging out …
: Sometime I want to bike along this trail myself. Really interesting article today: Lake Dunstan …
: Busy day but it started with a dawn beach walk and an encounter with Taranui, Caspian terns. 🐦
: Only 2.5 minutes in on this 12 minute video and I’ve already learned a really useful tip about …
: It’s roughly new moon, very little wind, and a 0.3 metre low tide almost 2 hours before this photo. …
: I almost missed seeing this brilliant scarlet sunset.
: This is a very thoughtful piece by Anna Rawhiti-Connell in The Spinoff : Aotearoa is different now …
: Enjoyed Broken Places (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 1) by Tracy Clark 📚: Cass Raines took a bullet in …
: 6 years ago we bought a property we’ve been renting out. The grass at the front was terrible. …
: The other day I found several jellyfish on the beach, mainly brown and dead looking. This 15 cm …
: Some of the (male) illegal occupiers are berating Police for advancing when there are women and …
: At long last Police seem to be actually working on clearing the occupiers at NZ’s Parliament: …
: Sometimes folks fish off the beach with a kontiki — a motorised thing that takes hooks and lines up …
: This is an amazing thing. Not sure I’d be brave enough to do this ‘walk’ in Fife, …
February 2022
: The Carrot & Coriander Soup I made tonight was delicious and really easy and quick. Next time I …
: Sometimes Sasha likes to rearrange the rugs and towels in her crate. 🐶 Today things went a bit awry… …
: Sand scarab 1: “Man, I was so drunk last night I nearly forgot the way home.” Sand scarab 2: “You …
: Sasha 🐶 enjoyed being one of the humans when we went with friends to Tuktuk Waikanae for Thai food …
: Swallows nest above the door to Deb’s zendo. Today we took the nests down (and won’t let …
: Gotta say: way back in the mists of time I enjoyed watching Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel …
: Wowee, this was so delicious I didn’t think to take a photo. Quick and easy too: 20-Minute …
: In normal life I weedeated around the raspberry canes, as well as other spots. In abnormal life, …
: I think my immediate dislike of the narrator got me off to a bad start. I so much wanted to like …
: After a rest I planted the other 4 cabbage trees. Now I just hope they actually grow.
: The other day I bought 7 cabbage tree plants at $3 each. Mostly they looked a bit sickly which is …
: This 40 minute podcast episode is seriously interesting for anyone who uses written English: Why …
: The mistakes we learn from: if a plant will get wide, plant it further from the border. A few years …
: Aha, learned something: Overwintering Parks in New Zealand | The Butterfly Musketeers 🦋: The …
: Love this: Scientists Attached Tracking Devices to Magpies 🐦: Within 10 minutes … we witnessed an …
: Finally refreshed the straw and shavings in the front part of the quail run. 🐦 Put the soiled straw …
: This is a very informative article: The Wellington protest is testing police independence and public …
: As usual, our load of firewood had a few bits that would be unlikely to fit in our woodburner. In …
: I very much enjoyed Murder in Montego Bay (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 1) by Paula Lennon 📚. …
: OK, that’s some heavy rain right there.
: We live at Waikawa Beach. Travel to the two closest centres, Ōtaki and Levin, means using State …
: Folks have rights: get drunk drive vehicles smoke work in an office remain unvaxed work in …
: After Oshi 🐶 died I spent heaps of time going through my Photo Library finding and labelling photos …
: No photo, but today for the first and maybe only time in my life I came across a Briard 🐶: a French …
: This little 4 minute silent video is so powerful and thought-provoking: When the Giant Cruise Ships …
: I enoyed Safe (Merrow & Clarke Book 1) by Jane Adams 📚, though the frequently mentioned …
: Yesterday + 2.25 hours work = today.
: Big congrats today to Dylan and Jeremy: NZ duo involved in music for major Dr Strange in the …
: Weird that while Sasha was sick she didn’t snore. 🐶 Now she’s better she’s back, …
: Finished Straight Up (A Ruby Steele Mystery—Book 4) by Mia Gold 📚. I quite enjoyed it but there are …
: Pleasing dog news 🐶 : Sasha’s eye ulcer is almost healed. Some vascularisation that would …
: I tend to see ngutupapa, Royal Spoonbills on the beach solitary, in pairs or even three at a time. …
: I wonder why four military helicopters are flying south in formation? Going to help clear protesters …
: Cancelling the reservations I made for the bike tour in April. I just don’t want to do that …
: Many thanks to @cheri for the excellent idea of delaying the birthday I’m not in the mood for! …
: I slept an unbelievable 10 unbroken hours last night! Didn’t even have to get up to pee. Hope …
: Birthdays aren’t really a big thing for me but I’ve never felt less inspired by one …
: It’s a rainy Saturday and my wonderful partner made delicious pikelets. Yumm!
: The very essence of Kiwi: while the French police are readying water cannons against protestors our …
: While I enjoyed the first 2 books in the series this third one just didn’t gel with me. Too …
: Friends gave us a Leptospermum scoparium Red Damask as a remembrance of Oshi 🐶. Today I planted it …
: Sigh. Hundreds of times over the last x years, lift Apple Watch say: “Hey Siri, set timer [x] …
: Today more than 56,000 people received Covid booster shots while up to a couple of thousand …
: The vet’s pleased with how Sasha’s 🐶 sore eye is coming along and we continue with …
: Someone had fun writing this headline and teaser. Filling the big hole in Wairoa’s dental …
: I’m working back through my photo library finding all my photos of Sasha and Oshi and …
: 31 December 2009. “Yes, quite comfortable, thank you. Why do you ask?” 🐶
: Heard a snippet of this then sought it out. Magnificent! Prefer it to the song! Leonard Cohen … …
: I enjoyed Death by the Thames (Tyrone Swift Detective Book 9) by Gretta Mulrooney 📚: Respectable, …
: Suffer insomnia? Sasha’s 🐶 proven tips for best sleeping position. January 2014 and February …
: As I work through my photo library I find photos typical of Oshi 🐶. They make me feel fond and …
: I was towelling Sasha 🐶 off after her last pee in today’s pouring rain — she’s so good …
: This sticker I spotted on a car in 2016 gave me a laugh just now as I work though my Photo Library …
: Love it! Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett with “Mama’s Rap” (1989). Fabulous!
: First time Sasha 🐶 has been home completely alone: 2.5 hours this evening. I shouldn’t have …
: I think we won’t need to water the garden this weekend. 💦
: And to keep our run of vet visits going, today we took Sasha in for what Mary the vet thinks is a …
: Thank you so much to the many many people who sent well wishes for Oshi 🐶 and to us. I really …
: I firmly believe publication to be an essential step in the proofreading process…
: It’s new Monarch Butterfly day. The chrysalises are hatching. Life goes on. 🦋
: Stories of Oshi One day in February 2007 I had a brief errand in Ngauranga Gorge. Deb decided to come with me but …
: When we saw Oshi 🐶 this afternoon he was benefiting from heavy duty pain relief for his total kidney …
: Thanks to the 36 people who joined in on my little Daylight Poll the other day. It was fun to learn …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 58 Manga Pirau Street. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 176 m2 floor, 985 m2 Land.
: Tundra Courage by Brenda Bowie Wise 📚: While on a village trip to watch her students demonstrate …
: Oshi 🐶 update: he didn’t improve since yesterday’s vet visit. Now he’s at the vet …
January 2022
: Oshi 🐶 update: he’s had pain relief, anti-nausea shot and if he’s not a great deal …
: Things you realise too late: after Mary the vet ascertained Oshi 🐶 needed to poop I should have …
: Our 15 year old dog Oshi has always loved food. 🐶 For the last 2 or 3 days though I’ve been …
: Deb and I have been watching some Acorn TV together. Vera’s great but can be so sad. Agatha …
: Seems I bought this 📚 7 years ago but only just finished reading Innocent in Las Vegas (Tiffany …
: When Canada Geese, Oystercatchers or Pied Stilts fly over you know all about it, thanks to the …
: It's a while since I read others in this series so the style of Murder in Pembrokeshire (Tyrone …
: New fave TV quote. Legends of Tomorrow S07E10, ~20 minutes in: Sarah: I always used to know what …
: Having trouble with my posts taking ages to show up on the timeline — for example, one from …
: Quick poll of Micro.Bloggers, with my answers: where are you? (Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa New Zealand) …
: Today’s discovery: a 2012 Māori language scifi book — Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua by Katerina Te …
: It was pretty nice this morning at sunrise.
: The Wow Waikawa! Photo Fest: community and heart Last year I devised a community event called the Wow Waikawa! Photo Fest and asked a friend to help …
: New Zealand retains top spot in global anti-corruption rankings Good to see: The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index released by global anti-corruption organisation, …
: The amazing Kuaka, Godwit flies between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Arctic every year to feed and …
: Enjoyed very much: Murder Across the Lines (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 2) by Janice …
: Our dog Sasha, who’s 15, is pretty much blind. 🐶 She does not approve of the massive …
: It’s ~6 years since we moved to Waikawa Beach and yesterday we finally achieved the …
: Another in an excellent series: Goodbye Haldane Hill (A DC Holly Towns Murder Mystery) by Anne …
: Sasha was a reluctant participant in this selfie. 🐶
: Came across this photo of Harriette the Fox Terrier from back in 2004 when she was about 14. Taken …
: The other day I took photos of a Karoro, Southern black-backed gull as it flew by. Hand held. Pretty …
: Dr Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford does excellent monthly night sky …
: Excellent article: Love letter to the electric bike 🚴🏼♀️: New Zealand imports of new e-bikes … are …
: This is a really interesting 30 minute video about concussion — Why I stopped watching football: I …
: This is a learning site I want to explore more: BBC Bitesize. For example, my Physics education was …
: I really enjoyed At Close Range (Detective Sarah Burke Book 2) by Elizabeth Gunn. 📚 … a double …
: Eating oneself out of house and home… The multitudinous Monarch caterpillars have stripped every …
: Tonga may not get comms back any time soon: Tonga’s undersea cable could take weeks to repair: …
: Tonga is tiny islands in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. It’s no surprise that a huge …
: Many thanks to Batch Resize Images Quickly in the OS X Terminal for giving me a quick and perfectly …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 75 Strathnaver Drive; Offers over $849,000; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 95m2 …
: I haven’t spotted any Pukeko at the lakes recently so was glad to see a couple at sunrise …
: Fiji to Tonga is 800 Km! Turn up the volume and watch this video clip of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga …
: It seems the Hunga eruption in Tonga was a one-in–1000-year event: Radiocarbon dating …
: I very much enjoyed the Swedish book Still Waters (Sandhamn Murders Book 1) by Viveca Sten (Author), …
: Watch these videos at Stunning satellite animations of extremely powerful volcanic eruption in …
: What’s that repeated thumping / booming we asked one another as we ate dinner outside. It …
: On our Swan Plants some Monarch caterpillars are thriving. Meanwhile, the gory scene in the second …
: This proved very handy today when I had 32 photos to deal with: Create a Contact Sheet of Thumbnails …
: How lucky was I to get this shot of a Greenfinch on a moving flax spear! The flax spear was waving …
: I know others have felt unwell for a day after their Covid booster. I’m not quite up to par …
: Murder mystery with a huge helping of travel writing: Destination: Maui (Destination Murder …
: I borrowed on paper from the Library Backyard Bird Photography: How to Attract Birds to Your Home …
: Wow, this 28 minute film is entrancing: Hargila 🐦 : Through the efforts of a remarkable …
: As all us ‘rich’ folks get Covid jabs 1, 2 and 3, The World Health Organisation now …
: If you enjoy reading mystery stories by excellent authors then you may be interested in Make 100 …
: Little Yellowhammer on a flax spear, singin' away!
: Errands in Levin today. As we drove north past the consecutive rail and river bridges and round a …
: It’s a year since I ordered my M1 MacBook Pro. I was worried about moving from a 15“ to …
: Having recently bought mini loaf tins I thought I should actually use them. Found and cooked this: …
: I’ve seen a few Spur-winged plovers around recently but haven’t had a chance to take a …
: For sale: 10 Arthur Street, Waikawa Beach: Offers Over $709,000; 2 bedrooms; 1 bathroom; 70m2 floor …
: Interesting: Risk of Death For Female Patients Is Much Higher if Surgeon Is a Man, Study Reveals. …
: Sometimes I try reading romance, but it’s unsatisfying like when hot chocolate is all froth… …
: This photo from February 2020 turns out the be the only one I have of a Goldfinch. 😒 Poor little …
: So pleased with my new zoom lens. Juvenile Starling on a flax spear; rabbit on the grass.
: Hey @g see how you get on with this Applescript you asked for. Copy the contents into Script Editor …
: I chose dawn today to bike round the village. Slightly chilly but perfect conditions, with no wind. …
: Enjoyed, in spite of numerous typos: Unknown Victim (Gina Santoro Mysteries Book 1) by Kay Hadashi. …
: Last night I met that rare and elusive beast, 8 hours good sleep. 😴 It’s life-changing! 💪🏼
: I got lucky today: Wordle 200 3/6 🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
: Tonight we visited our weekender neighbours. Amy, the vet assistant, brought Doodlebug, the rescue …
: Oh my! ❤️🔥Katharine Hepburn as a boy in 1935’s Sylvia Scarlett 🎥: as she chops off her hair …
: Some folks are so desperate to get their vehicles onto the beach they’ll even drive through a …
: Well, today I achieved variety, with breakfast anyway. Someone accidentally switched the locations …
: This morning we’re heading out to a Waikanae Estuary Bird Tour. It’s only a 40 minute …
: I wasn’t entirely sure about Close to Her (Detective Sarah Burke mystery and suspense Book 1) …
: Today I kayaked 2 Km upriver. It was sunny and peaceful. After watching some ‘how to …
: I’m learning a heap of useful info from the free videos from The Cornell Lab Bird Academy. …
: I have a huge job ahead of me over the next unknown amount of time. I’ve been very poor at …
: With temps in the high 20sC we took the for us unusual step of going down to the beach for a …
: It was a perfect sunset last night. I found I could even see the Makara Wind Farm (via binoculars) …
: I love that BBEdit can compare documents and I can selectively copy text between windows.
: I have a lot to learn about taking photos of shags in trees. Just look at this dork though! 😆 🐦 Try …
: This is for @Cheri. Deb and I both looked at this Facebook Post and couldn’t figure out at …
: I don’t post my daily selfies, but did on 01 January 2021. So here’s my New Year’s Day 2022 selfie. …
December 2021
: I don’t do reviews, resolutions or plans these days — not sure I ever did really anyway. But …
: Every year a local couple mount a huge display of Christmas Lights on their house. The lights tell a …
: Initial results of my new zoom lens are very pleasing. Two different Oystercatcher chicks at the …
: I hadn’t realised just how ginormous my new zoom lens is compared to the old. Camera: Fuji …
: Trip to Wellington today. Photo of the Wellington waterfront on a nice summer’s day from a 9th …
: Haere rā, e hoa. RIP, Alana.
: Hmmm, this book didn’t quite gel with me: Nookie (Alex Dixon Humorous Mysteries Book 1) by …
: For a while now I’ve been eying up the Fujifilm XF 100–400mm F4.5–5.6 lens to …
: Out of nowhere the other day, I wondered what a Mint Julep tasted like. I don’t drink alcohol …
: The other day on a whim I bought a couple of mini loaf tins. Today I baked White Bread Mini Yeast …
: Today I noticed the Australian coots on our nearby little lake have babies. 🐦 When I arrived …
: A very useful read: 😀 Baking and baked goods are a perennial source of US/UK miscommunication—in …
: Yesterday I learned a good lesson about getting the right light for photos of birds on a lake. …
: At the lake this morning, I was unsuccessful in my attempts to take a good photo of the New Zealand …
: The introduced Green and Golden Bell Frogs down at the lake this morning were making a racket: …
: The Oystercatchers were protecting eggs recently. Now we have a fluffy grey baby to watch out for! …
: Caught in the act! This Banded Dotterel, Tuturiwhatu, found something yummy! 🐦
: Many beach birds are quite big really: Gulls, Terns Oystercatchers, Pied Stilts. The …
: Royal Spoonbill, feeding, flanked by two Pied Stilts, with a Black-backed Gull in the background. …
: Merry Christmas, folks. At 7.30 am the beach was for the birds, including this group of Black Swans. …
: It’s so trivial, but this “Enter This Side” sign at the store’s exit, …
: Remembering Alana Bowman. RIP.
: Word's out about the railing! Today a Warou, Welcome Swallow, opted for the full photo shoot, even …
: Vehicles on the beach is a hot topic where I live, so this is interesting: Vehicle access to popular …
: We seem to have our very own house Sparrow. This little cutie likes to sit on the railing outside …
: Noone tends the grass verges along our private lane but I hate when they get too overgrown, so today …
: Today the farmer came and picked up the bales of hay. That was a two tractor job.
: This is cool. 5.5 minute video. Folks who write detective fic with high tech elements would like …
: A couple of days ago the farmer next door mowed the cow paddock. Later he came back with his tractor …
: Every single time I use Regular Expressions in BBEdit I just want to shout out my joy! Before and …
: Today I made Courgette frittatas for breakfast. They were pretty good. Fresh courgettes from the …
: In the last 2 weeks we’ve had almost 200 mm rain (over 7 inches), and variously heat, high …
: The Royal Spoonbill was also a little wind-ruffled, while at least one of the nearby ducks was …
: Annoying: I put my bike on its side stand so I could take photos of a Royal Spoonbill at the lake. A …
: Rats! Apple Watch Locking: Other issues that can impact sensor performance include wrist tattoos. …
: My friend Alana, and fellow Xena fan, gave me this fridge magnet many many years ago. Alana is very …
: That was a cool little 20 minute film: Little Miss Sumo. It’s worth a watch (Netflix) 🎬: The …
: I’m glad these girls get to expand horizons: When I first came to New Zealand, I didn’t …
: Uh oh: Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has confirmed the country’s first case of …
: Hooray for the NZ Invertebrate ID group on Facebook. I now know this insect is a Bush gadfly …
: I have two Japanese quail. Today, less than 2 Km from our house, I spotted a …
: I enjoyed A Mumbai Murder Mystery by Meeti Shroff-Shah. 📚 Some great turns of phrase, insight into a …
: This was long overdue but today I finally took all the dirty straw out of the quail run and added …
: Some publishers use a service that detects which Amazon Store a newsletter reader might want to use …
: Love this music! Dufay is famous for being the first really major Renaissance composer and breaking …
: Oshi, 🐶 aged 15, is arthritic, has a heart murmur and doesn’t see so well. He can now walk …
: Sasha, 🐶 aged 15, is pretty much blind and almost deaf, arthritic and has weak legs. I have to lift …
: Sasha and Oshi turn 15 today! 🎉 They had some extra treats in their breakfast. Here are some …
: Happily noted: Nichelle Nichols played the role of Nyota Uhura on Star Trek: The Original Series. …
: From a couple of days ago: Thrush on a fence post.
: I enjoy Anne Shillolo’s Port Alma mysteries very much. Unfortunately, I found Frozen Fear, …
: Peekaboo. Cloud over the Tararuas.
: At the start of this week we had almost 100 mm rain over 2 or 3 days, with associated flooding …
: The Welcome Swallow, on the other hand, just seemed inscrutable.
: This waxeye on the flax spear was a bit grumpy looking.
: This little Yellowhammer was also busy singing out loud on a flax bush yesterday. 🐦
: A late afternoon songster, this European greenfinch. 🐦 😀
: Time flies! Thought I should get ready to be able to easily type 2023 now we’re soon to be in …
: It was time to replace lamp and filters on our Puretec HYBRID-G9 UV water treatment unit. I watched …
: We had 100 mm rain (4 inches) in the last 2–3 days. I’ve written about it with photos on …
: With all the rain the last couple of days this wild baby rabbit found a sheltered spot under the …
: I went out when it wasn’t raining quite so hard to check on things in this area. There was …
: This boy Oshi 🐶 has no manners — he barges in, pushes himself around, generally has no regard for …
: I’m finding the Publii documentation to be excellent. Clear, well laid out, comprehensive.
: I’m giving Publii a try, with good results so far: Publii is an open-source static site …
: Yesterday a starling flew right in through the open door and fetched up in the corner of the …
: The forecast is for a heap of rain in the next few days. We’ll see how much actually arrives. …
: I recently took a deep breath and bought an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Then I wanted to protect it properly …
: There are days when the sea is so calm I could be enjoying a tropical Pacific atoll. Very soothing!
: I made a smart choice today: was boiling with rage about something going on locally, selected an …
: XKCD’s Edge Cake is particularly excellent. For those who don’t know: hover to get …
: Love, love, love the “dog who looks like Patrick Stewart”: Dogs That Look Like …
: Ever since I discovered the New York Times Acrostic I’ve been doing one per day, starting with …
: For Sale: 38 Manga Pirau Street, Waikawa Beach: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 80m2 floor area, 809m2 land …
November 2021
: Yet another brilliant animated cartoon-style explainer (maybe 30 seconds) — this time about …
: Centuries of colonisation, racism and neglect have put Māori in a very bad position. Now (as always) …
: 7.15 am. This is the hour or two when the dogs check in every 15 minutes or so in case it’s …
: One of the tracks to the beach that I use has flaxes either side of the entrance. Sometimes the …
: I don’t always find the lead character endearing, but I enjoyed The Rachel Prince Mystery …
: Keeping tempers cool at Waikawa: Community irefighting.
: There are several interesting points in Declining Eyesight Could Be Given a Boost by Short Morning …
: Hmmm, now we’re getting a handle on Covid Delta, this from WHO: Classification of Omicron …
: Our Swan Plant had one microscopic Monarch caterpillar on it when a friend offered to bring some of …
: Because I was sitting quietly on a log, the Pied Stilt came closer, checking me out.
: Pied Stilt, strutting her stuff. 🐦
: Saw these little birds at the beach today. Thought they were one thing, but a search eventually told …
: My brain doesn’t do well with pictures that replace words: on the cooktop it always takes me …
: Near the beach is a house being built from the outside in. After laying the floor they put up door …
: It was stunning at the beach before 7 am today. In the photo, about one third of the way across the …
: For no special reason, a photo from August 2012, at Ha’atafu resort in Tonga. Reading.
: How do these adjacencies happen so often? Is this really just a coincidence? No one talks about …
: Well, well, well: Kobayashi Maru 🖖🏼📺
: Misremembering Something May Be Evidence That Your Memory Is Actually Working 🤔: people tend to …
: The Grey warbler, Riroriro has a very distinctive song that I’ve often heard. I’d never …
: Happened to have camera in hand when I saw this Tui on the flaxes.
: Ahhhh, mystery solved. I wondered why my author friend @cheri kept leaving out words in her blog …
: Blood moon November 2021 notes I caught some glimpses of the eclipse last night, between cloud. Just after 10 pm, it looked just …
: I managed to see the almost total lunar eclipse in spite of loads of cloud. Pretty darned special, …
: Absent-mindedly opened Camera app on my phone instead of the Covid–19 Tracer app to record a …
: My Granny Smith apple tree should produce a good crop this year.
: LOL juxtapositions. On Netflix: The Flash with Dash and Lily.
: I’ve really enjoyed this series. Just finished 3rd Tango: (Schock Sisters Mystery Series) by …
: Hmmm, hope this URL works. I keep a diary / journal /TODO thing in a file on my Mac using …
: These maps are really interesting: Ancient Earth globe. For example, 240 million years ago Aotearoa …
: I really enjoyed this 45 minute doco: No one had ever asked the journalist and broadcaster why he …
: This is handy: Apple has quietly added a new tool in macOS Monterey for measuring your device’s …
: From a neighbour’s place, a view across to the Tararuas. Our house is the pale building on the …
: New shoes day: Merrell Siren Traveller 3. Great shoes! designed for women’s feet.
: I found 2nd Strike: Book 2 of 3: Schock Sisters Mystery Series by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano …
: I really enjoyed Juniper 🎬 : a self-destructive teenager is … asked to look after his feisty …
: There are special bars across our footbridge designed to stop motorbikes from getting onto the …
: This test of @manton’s script: Micro.blog via AppleScript has worked well. 😀 Thanks Manton.
: For sale 18 Henham Lane, Waikawa Beach: Bareland, 22155 m².
: Intense and very readable: 1st Shock: A Schock Sisters Private Investigator Mystery by Misty Evans …
: Sometimes our military helicopters like to do a little bit of formation flying — directly overhead.
: Until this year we always said “If Oshi won’t eat, we know there’s a …
: Today I was looking at the Coastal Risk Screening Tool and suddenly recalled seeing the tsunami …
: This grew on me: The Rachel Prince Mystery Series: Books 1–3 by Dawn Brookes 📚 The …
: It was too hot for all of us by the time I took the dogs to the beach this morning. But boy it was a …
: A bit of an earthquake 〰️ just to keep us on our toes. Not far away but quite deep. …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 13 Holly Way. 2.01ha Land.
: We really enjoyed The Starling 🎬 As if Lilly’s troubles weren’t bad enough, a …
: Wowee: parrots have names and use their own and one another’s names too. They learn the names …
: These are my special friends for a few days while their mum takes a break.
: The majority opinion was in favour of an afternoon nap. Who was I to stand agin them? 😴
: From 2018: a small boat being launched off Waikawa Beach. // @odd
: With a barely perceptible easterly this morning our West Coast sea had almost no waves at all. So …
: I love my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I was worried it would be too large, but it feels great in the hand and …
: For Sale: 53a Reay Mackay Grove, Waikawa Beach This house will be visible from our place.
: Our unfriendly roads An email to NZTA today: For exercise and also to do my bit to reduce car use and save putting some …
: For Sale: 8 Sand Dune Grove, Waikawa Beach.
: That time when setting up a new watch led me to discover my phone was set to use Icelandic as a …
: I’ve finally found my perfect use case for the Apple Pencil on iPad: solving crossword puzzles …
: Every November the tree lupins Lupinus arboreus come into full flower and play havoc with my …
: I’m booked on a bike tour for next April. The company will now require Covid vaccination …
: I like the idea that after my death my body could become compost, feeding plants that nourish and …
: Last night Sasha 🐶 had to go out about midnight then started being restless again, wandering round …
October 2021
: Lying awake in the night sped me through this very good read: Next in Line (Detective Clare Mackay …
: We had a difficult night with Sasha the dog 🐶 who is almost 15, pretty much blind, and hard of …
: An author, some of whose books I enjoy, wants to be helpful and send customers to the …
: A pleasant read: Swamp Sweets (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 21) by Jana DeLeon 📚
: My favourite time, when cabbage trees flower — those white panicles. Their perfume is utterly …
: Don’t Choose Extinction: At least we had an asteroid. What’s your excuse?
: I had an idea, worked on it with a friend and today we’re launching a summer photo event for Waikawa …
: Feature request, @manton — today, using the web interface, I hit Post instead of Add Photo. …
: This 5 minute video was really interesting: Why Some Fruits Won’t Ripen On Your Counter: …
: Tonight the mountain peak directly east of us was absolutely luminous in the sunset.
: Wow. A word puzzle led me to discover Yma Sumac, 1932-2008, a Peruvian singer with a range of at …
: My Granny Smith Apple tree is covered in blossom. That’s good for the bees. 🐝
: macOS Monterey Day. Version 12.0.1. 🎉
: I like this Wind Turbine Wall idea: Designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional, …
: I love TextExpander. Used it for years. Setting up a new email address for the local Association. I …
: Apple Mail is OK, but I’ve sent emails from the wrong account because Mail chose the sender on …
: A brilliant book by a favourite author: Unbreakable by Cari Hunter. 📚 Dr. Grace Kendal never stands …
: Short on sleep this morning, so my brain cells are groggy. Not convenient when I have a committee …
: I’m slowly learning that as I get older my body is less able to handle sugar. At a …
: Is this new in Find My? When I checked on Deb’s progress as she drove home last night I got a …
: Darn it! Spent ages hunting for the ‘right’ sleeve for my new iPhone 13 Pro Max. …
: I need to listen again to this invaluable 45 minute podcast: You Can’t Always Want What You Like …
: Five quail eggs in a box. Four of them, as usual, weigh 11 grams. The other one weighs 15 grams! …
: Sunset / moonrise straight out of the iPhone. 3x telephoto.
: The other thing to arrive in the mail today was my new iPhone 13 Pro Max (blue). Setting it up …
: This was one of two good things to arrive in the mail this morning: Letter advising “no …
: I want to include this photo in a (mainly birds 🤓) quiz. Trying to decide which one of these …
: Another excellent read from a favourite author: Fear on the Fens: (DI Nikki Galena Series Book 13) …
: The dogs don’t like it when the grass in the dog yard gets too long. 🐶 It must tickle …
: I spotted this small yellowish-green bird on a flax spear but couldn’t make out what it was. I …
: One reason I’m looking forward to an extremely high Covid vaccination rate in Aotearoa New …
: Mysteries featuring black lesbians, with a touch of romance, are few and far between. Smoke Before …
: Yay, Apple are finally thinking about shipping me the iPhone I ordered a month ago. Selling some …
: Today I was rung by someone from LINZ who asked if I could put the broken marker post I reported …
: Waikawa Beach, 3 properties for sale: 13 Drake Street 27 Sarah Street 33 Sarah Street
: Way back in February 2017 I noticed small white posts appearing around the place — as in the …
: Another excellent read: What They Knew: (Detective Clare Mackay 4) by Marion Todd 📚: …
: Apparently critics really didn’t like Q-Force. I, on the other hand, really enjoyed it: Queer …
: 3 am: Sasha 🐶, on my bed: I need to go out … Ohh noo, it’s raining out there … back on the bed …
: Heh: Bird of the Year: Bats join the competition Including the mammals in the Bird of the Year …
: My 🐈 buddy Leo has an excellent view from his spot on the sofa. This was taken yesterday.
: My 🐈 buddy Leo’s family have a spa pool they urged me to use. That’s a nice way to begin …
: I really enjoy this writer. Goodbye Sea Angel: A Port Alma Murder Mystery by Anne Shillolo 📚 …
: My buddy Leo was relaxing in the play loft today. 🐈 I enticed him down the steps though.
: It was high tide when I took the dogs to the beach, so we had to negotiate our way through …
: I’m visiting my buddy Leo today. 🐈
: Finally, yesterday, the part of our shared private lane closest to the road was resurfaced. The …
: By the time I came home this morning the part of our driveway from the garage out past the gate had …
: Every couple of years I get a free mammogram with BreastScreen Aotearoa. It’s 10 minutes of …
: Today workers scraped off the bottom part of our driveway and started spreading fresh shingle from …
: These are ‘before’ shots from today of the road end of our private lane. Tomorrow a …
: Hah! Hands off our Hairy Maclary! (wonderful kids book): this mistake has been calcifying for … 40 …
: Spammers don’t discriminate. Here’s the latest ‘Nigerian princess’ email, …
: This 5 minute video was intriguing — I thought the Schmid Peoplemover was impossible: An elevator …
: After much fruitless messing about trying to crop photos to a circle in Acorn I checked Help and …
: Oh, the New York Times Acrostic for April 1, 2018 was excellent fun and a joy to solve. So clever!
: I’m far from a frog expert, but my Internet searches suggest this is a Green and Golden Bell …
: Excellent! Sexual violence prevention programme: Minister for the prevention of family and sexual …
: I really enjoyed Cold Deal (Kina McKevie Private Detective Book 1) by Lisa Ambrose. 📚 It …
: Good grief! USPS won’t carry mail to NZ for a while: … “unavailability of …
: Glee and Fliss, the Japanese Quail, are now back in their outdoor run. 🐦 They don’t …
September 2021
: The quail have been living in our garage since mid-July when we went away for two weeks. 🐦 …
: Woohoo! Wowee! ‘Babylon 5’ Reboot in Development at The CW From Original Series Creator J. Michael …
: It was a chilly morning with a cool wind from the south. Then when I took the dogs to the beach I …
: On this day in 2015, 25 September, we were in Morocco, trekking through the desert by camel to stay …
: Noooo! When you finish Full Bodied (A Ruby Steele Mystery—Book 3) by Mia Gold 📚, …
: At 2 am today we put our clocks forward an hour. [Insert all the usual gripes about Daylight …
: Somehow Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 1 didn’t really grab me. I’m so glad I stuck with …
: Micro.Blog Mac app request for @help : If I’m adding a bunch of photos it’d be good if …
: Each year the Horowhenua District Council supplies thousands of spinifex and pīngao plants which …
: This series keeps me reading well past my going to sleep time! I really enjoyed Extra Dirty (A Ruby …
: Dog grooming day for Oshi and Sasha 🐶 — before and after.
: Today’s dilemma: I have to take the dogs to the groomer very soon. I’m supposed to walk …
: Tonight I made Roast cod on spiced Puy lentils | delicious. magazine, using Monk Fish as …
: Oh dear. I ate too much chocolate cake. First time trying this recipe: Six-Minute Vegan Chocolate …
: Here’s my GPS feature request: give me driving directions but let me choose that they only …
: I really enjoyed On the Rocks (A Ruby Steele Mystery—Book 1) by Mia Gold 📚: Welcome to the Bahamian …
: There are 5 properties on our little lane. 3 have houses, one has a ramshackle …
: With the thought that my iPhone is my most often used camera I’ve decided to go big and …
: Canada geese flying at dusk.
: Another thing I keep forgetting how to do: How to Save Voice Memos on the Mac as Audio Files: [drag …
: I quite like cheese, but just in a casual way. I’m surprised at how interested I am by this …
: In the last couple of weeks we’ve had a load of rain (even more in the hills), gales and some …
: At nearly 15 Oshi now seems to consider himself able to come home alone from the beach. 🐶 The only …
: Cool, I was hoping for a new Apple Watch. The cycling workout features in Series 7 and other …
: Action at the bird feeder. Sparrows and Waxeyes. 🐦 Who knew sparrows had tongues!!!
: We really enjoyed the movie Happiest Season 🏳️🌈: the film follows a woman who struggles to come …
: I need to remember this: Not to capture but to create — The Power of Abbreviation in …
: We’ve had 20mm rain today down here at Waikawa Beach at the coast. I imagine that up in the …
: There are only about 150-200 Kotuku, White herons in Aotearoa New Zealand and they are rarely seen …
: On a shop window we passed last night — no clothing? 😳
: Happy that one of my favourite podcasts is back from summer break: Quirks & Quarks with Bob …
: When I was a kid Aotearoa New Zealand had 3 million people and 60 million sheep. Now we have 5 …
: I’m on a quest to take photos of all the birds we see round here. 🐦 I’m also longing for …
: I was down at the lakes today, bracing against strong wind gusts, trying to get photos of the …
: Such a sad tale: The Scam | Loading Docs 2021 | The Spinoff - YouTube: The ultimate scam lures an …
: I drove to Raumati South and biked along Te Ara o Whareroa – Paekākāriki.NZ Te Ara o Whareroa is …
: Experimenting with my camera. I saw part of the mountains lit while the rest was dark. This may have …
: This was a fascinating 13 minutes: How Much Of You Is Alive?: You’re alive right now… at least I’m …
: This 10 minute movie was lovely: When Long Distance Works: Long (first-date) story short: She asks …
: I read and enjoyed The Chase: (The Diving Series Book 15) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. 📚 I backed the …
: It’s typical spring weather today: rainy, windy, changeable, cool. So I dug around and found 4 …
: I’ve used BBEdit for years now. It’s fabulous for working with and processing text. …
: Today I happened upon these recipes I want to try: My Everyday Green Smoothie Cheese Scones Rainbow …
: They’re far from perfect but they beat any of my previous attempts to catch a hawk in flight …
: Pushed myself today on my bike: rode to the intersection with State Highway 1, 9.2 Km away. Total …
: I often bike around Waikawa Beach on a ~9 Km circuit. Yesterday I went beyond this slightly for a …
: After @cheri’s photo of Dutch Apple Pancake, with its perfectly placed apple slices, I decided …
: I bought my Fuji X-T2 camera a few years back with the intention of growing into it. 📷 That growth …
: At the river mouth this morning: looking left and looking right.
: Cuties from the deck this evening. Baby rabbits from a burrow in the paddock next door. Welcome …
: I only recently discovered the free Merlin Bird ID app and it works well (for photos, not so much …
: Apparently I keep forgetting how to do this: Rename flags In the Mail app on your Mac, click the …
: Gull flying with bivalve in its beak.
: Whitebaiter with (Mount) Ruapehu and bird.
August 2021
: Excited: I’ve booked on the West Coast Wilderness bike tour for April 2022. We bike through …
: Hmmm, downloaded free samples of two Kindle books: The Odyssey by Homer (Author), Emily Wilson …
: I was a teen when I read the Iliad and the Odyssey. The ‘teeth’ of this quote have …
: Cooking the recipe OK, you’ve bought ingredients, rewritten the recipe and you’re ready. You’ve set …
: I like the author, the book’s well written, but I need to stop reading as the grisly bits are …
: Kiwis: if you’d like to make a donation to Afghan refugees arriving soon in Aotearoa New …
: Hey @help I’ve seen an interesting bug in the web interface — see screenshot. The Reply box …
: Get ready to cook As A Reluctant Cook I’d regularly get really stressed while cooking. That still happens …
: It rained a lot the last couple of days, but was relatively warm. Those conditions probably created …
: I was pondering how Delta won’t be the last variant we deal with… What next? 🦠 For those who …
: Spammers crack me up sometimes — ‘sping’⁉️From our Waikawa Beach community blog: Hello, …
: Watched and loved CODA. 🎬 coming-of-age comedy-drama film that follows a hearing teenage girl who …
: Find an easy recipe Following on from A Reluctant Cook, I started my exploration of cooking by searching the Internet …
: A Reluctant Cook Although I’ve always enjoyed eating delicious food I’ve also always disliked cooking. I …
: Finally another International Breakfast: Mini Dutch Apple Pancakes (the recipe website is …
: Cool! And 75!!! Two dogs … among the first to go to a new refuge for animals affected by domestic …
: Very nice! My advice (for what it’s worth) for success and happiness: Compete with yourself …
: Our community Facebook group is OK, useful; the moderators great. A member, whose avatar shows a …
: We want the dogs to get used to their new soft crate so we just put it up in the lounge, added a few …
: The MB web timeline jams photos together unpleasantly (Before screenshot). I wanted them spaced …
: Today I walked on the other side of the Waikawa River, heading north. After floundering through …
: Uh oh. Hamilton Zoo animals are bored in shutdown: animals often look around confused at how quiet …
: The dogs are of an age where they pee in the house if we’re out for too long (eg 2 hours). 🐶 …
: I watched Ije: The Journey. Its subject matter turned out to be hard, but the unravelling and the …
: Undermined: A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries Book 1) by Ripley Hayes. 📚 An unusual book …
: Another good read from this author: Goodbye Calais Club: (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 2) by Anne …
: I quite enjoyed The Complete Monica Noble Murder Mysteries, a 3 book set, by Faith Martin 📚. I had …
: Whew! I’ve clicked Submit on a funding application for a fun photo project to run in our …
: The dogs prescription came in 🐶: Veterinary exclusive Hills prescription diet Kidney Care clinical …
: Very pleased that the government has, as widely expected, announced the whole country will stay in …
: A quick report on our new 4G internet connection: good riddance to VDSL! We now both speed along at …
: Whew! Was about to start submitting a prepared funding application whose leisurely timeline began in …
: I don’t know that The Daily Mail is a news site to trust… but, I think this article is worth a …
: For our last holiday adventure we ate a magnificent dinner at Plato, a restaurant set in an …
: I already wrote a little about the Royal Albatross Centre, but wrapping up our recent holiday, …
: We arrived in Ōtepoti, Dunedin, in miserable weather. We were hungry so we parked near The Octagon, …
: It’s a rare occurrence for me, but last night I slept 8 hours without interruption and the …
: A darn good read: Project Charon 1: Re-entry by Patty Jansen: Tina needs money, and needs it fast. …
: I so much enjoyed Project Charon 1: Re-Entry, by Patty Jansen — one of the books in the Cosmic …
: People have assumed that attention and executive functions decline with age… our large study …
: The Catlins portion of our holiday ended with Purakaunui Falls: a short walk from a car park area …
: Just signed up for this inexpensive course: Joy of Birdwatching | Bird Academy • The Cornell Lab.
: Vroom vroom. 🚀 Today’s the day! Before the postie came: VDSL modem: DOWNLOAD Kbps 10799, …
: As probably everyone expected, Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole stays in Level 4 shutdown till …
: On 10 February 1982 I spent the afternoon in a second story cafe in Bodø, Norway, watching rain …
: It’s almost exactly 40 years since I sat on a train in Norway travelling from Oslo in the …
: I’m not always happy with what our Labour government is doing or has done, but as I watch our …
: Nice quote about space opera: Or is it mostly just that space opera is so gosh-darn cool? The …
: In The Catlins, Nugget Point, Tokata has a lighthouse, a spectacular view and rocks that resemble …
: Currently rationing the bird food for the Waxeyes. I was intending to buy more today but with the …
: Heh, healthy Kiwis. 😀 People are panic buying because of the lockdown, but: According to …
: After another thunderstorm around 5.30 am the power has come back on. Immediately made a cup of tea. …
: Woken at 0330 by loud torrential rain (now stopped). I’d like a cup of tea but the power’s still …
: Thunderstorm took our power out. 😒 Good thing we’ve got the fire going.
: Aotearoa New Zealand today has a case of Covid in the community that can’t be linked to the …
: Feature request or suggestion @help : put some of the info from or even just the link to Exporting …
: OK, today Vodafone rang me about our Internet upgrade. — Maybe our days of VDSL slow Internet are …
: At Roaring Bay rare Yellow-eyed Penguins come and go at dawn and dusk. We spotted two. 🐦 A …
: The Seascape Accommodation in Kaka Point, The Catlins was a superb place to stay. Gorgeous units …
: My two Japanese quail are clearly independent thinkers, having produced these first eggs of the …
: Hmmm, I see there’s an OS update to 11.5.2. Updating…
: BTW: not looking for troubleshooting tips or anything on my Mac randomly rebooting. It’s more …
: Nice views of Tautuku Bay from Florence Hill Lookout in The Catlins. 3Km southwest of Papatowai, a …
: My M1 MacBook Pro just randomly restarted itself (3rd time so far in the last month), losing the …
: Lake Wilkie was nice from the viewing point at the top, but at eye level it was spectacular. formed …
: Geneticists have … found evidence that natural selection more than 10,000 years ago probably …
: Thank you for your Micro Camp talk @amit I really enjoyed it. Great story about the donkey! And 👍 …
: Had a magical wildlife encounter today when this White-faced heron, matuku moana followed me home …
: Fungus on a tree at Lake Waiwiri, Papaitonga.
: Tautuku Estuary was another brief walk, but wow was it a stunner! The first sight of the broad …
: 22% through and I was considering abandoning When Murder Comes Home (Aileen and Callan Murder …
: On 28 June 2021 in The Catlins we started with a visit to McLean Falls. I loved the native forest, …
: My Micro Camp presentation is now available at Open for Inspection 🔍. There are also a few support …
: Uh oh. I’m up now on Micro Camp! 🤞🏼
: Yet another excellent book in a series by a favourite author: Warn Me When It’s Time (Charlie …
: In the Catlins we passed through Waikawa, spotted a couple of Kereru on a power line and took a …
: Graphic photo warning — dog skin lesion Our dog Oshi is nearly 15 and having various health problems, including arthritis and an ulcerated …
: Many Māori were raised with the knowledge that the first person to see the islands, Kuramārōtini, …
: One of life’s odd quirks — I just posted about watching Wellington Paranormal. In …
: I’ve been attending weekly line dancing classes for months now and things are clicking quite …
: I’ve been drafting a funding application for a summer photo project for the community. …
: Wooo. Maybe our days of VDSL slow Internet are over… An email today from the ISP: modern, …
: On a whim the other day I bought TextSniper - Capture and extract any text from your Mac’s …
: We visited the Curio Bay petrified forest. 180 million year old trees! Photo of me by my neighbour …
: Invercargill to Dunedin via the coastal Catlins route with no side trips is only about 250 Km. We …
: I spotted a headline recently that the Wellington Paranormal TV show was mystifying Americans. Just …
: In Invercargill we stayed the night at Quest Apartment Hotel where the bathroom was the size our …
: At Glowing Sky merino shop I discovered the glories of a Merino Tube Neck/Ear Warmer. This beats a …
: On the last day of our Rakiura Cruise some went for a brief walk in the morning, but I stayed and …
: Managing a blind, elderly dog is a whole new learning experience. TIL unfamiliar places make Sasha …
: Today my neighbour and I walked the dogs on the north side of the river, with a glimpse of snowy …
: Today I tried this Hungarian recipe: Pogácsa. I didn’t have enough white flour so used …
: Late in the last afternoon of our Rakiura Cruise we did a 1 hour easy walk at the Whaler’s …
: 10 August 2020: Oshi has an ulcerated left eye 10 August 2021: Oshi has an ulcerated right eye… …
: The icy blast from the last couple of days has moved on, leaving snow not only on the high peaks of …
: 6.55 am and at only a few minutes to sunrise it’s light enough out to see distinctly. …
: Hmmm, second time in a week my M1 MacBook Pro has frozen and restarted itself while I was writing in …
: The country’s in the teeth of a southerly storm, with many high altitude roads closed for …
: Some of us opted for the slow easy walk on Ulva Island. Our guide, Gabriel, shared a lot of info. We …
: On the last full day of our trip Sandy King and Detector Gadget (and her other trainee dog, Mawson) …
: Careless writing: Women, on the other hand, can sometimes not work … These cultural expectations …
: Hmmm, I’ve abandoned Blood in the Bayou: A Bone-Chilling FBI Thriller by CM Sutter just under …
: On Sunday 25 July 2021 we were moored at Paterson Inlet, Rakiura, ready for two more adventures. But …
: Good thing I’m proof-watching my Micro Camp video! There’s stuff I need to fix yet, but …
: After motoring north for 6 hours, late Saturday afternoon we were taken by local guide Bevan for a …
: On Day 3 of the cruise I opted to relax aboard the Milford Wanderer in the morning while others went …
: Both our (old) dogs lost weight during their 2 week kennel stay. After I queried for issues the …
: Pikihatiti or Port Pegasus, with its 5 metres of rain per year, is near the southern tip of Rakiura. …
: Had to get up around 3 am to let Oshi out then was awake for a bit. I was just wondering about …
: I’m excited to be a presenter at Micro Camp 2021 and now I’m back from holiday I’m …
: At Abraham’s Bosom beach on Rakiura I learned about the Turpentine Shrub (will keep fires …
: Once we were aboard the Milford Wanderer we motored off to Port Adventure where we landed for a …
: My credit card expired this month so I now have a new card. Now visiting services that hold my card …
: On the Rakiura cruise expeditions from the Milford Wanderer always started with a tender ride, …
: This large item was on the beach today — a shark fin?
: Our Rakiura Cruise was aboard the Milford Wanderer. The crew soon told us the sails are just for …
: The holiday was utterly fabulous, but I’m also thrilled to be home in my own bed, with clean …
: In a visit to Otago Museum I learned the extinct Moa came in various sizes. The giant moa is in the …
: This is the abundant but declining NZ native tarapunga, red-billed gull. 🐦
July 2021
: For the final adventure of our holiday we visited the Royal Albatross Centre on Otago Peninsula. 🐦 …
: Nugget Point Tokata had stunning landscape, along with its lighthouse.
: Purakaunui Falls rewards the use of the 27mm lens.
: Also at Roaring Bay last evening this huge black blob in the grass — a resting sealion.
: McLean Falls was wonderful for both the falls and the amazing “shrubland and fern and …
: The Tautuku Estuary boardwalk was a surprise — walking out into a sea of golden reeds. I think I …
: Yesterday we visited Lake Wilkie — Mirror Lake. The view from above was good, but down on the …
: Today at dusk at Roaring Bay we were thrilled to spot two yellow-eyed penguins on the beach. Heavily …
: The view from our front door for a couple of days. Guess we’ll cope…
: Catlins Day One: lighthouse, Jurassic fossil forest This morning we picked up a rental car, squeezed in ourselves and our luggage, picked up groceries …
: The Waipapā lighthouse was built of rimu and totara. It was automated in the 1970s.
: Rakiura Cruise, Day Four The morning of the fourth day featured a 6 hour cruise to Paterson Inlet. The previous night I took …
: On Ulva Island, Rakiura, Aotearoa New Zealand, with its pristine golden beaches: kiwi tracks and …
: Rakiura Cruise, Day Three, afternoon After lunch the tender went out twice for about 30 or 40 minutes at a time. With 28 passengers, the …
: Here’s my new profile pic: a cheeky little South Island robin on Ulva Island. It was so dark …
: A delight of the day was to see two yellow-eyed penguins swimming by the boat (no photo). They look …
: Well, I can thoroughly recommend Thai Thai on Spey Street in Invercargill for a delicious meal. I …
: Back on dry land but may well be offline the next few days too.
: Yesterday’s late afternoon view.
: This sunrise at Ulva Island is a lie, sadly. The long exposure has really saturated the colours.
: Typical bush clad hillside The day we were anchored near Disappointment Cove I took these shots from the boat. These were my …
: Sea lions, get yer sea lions here!
: Rakiura Cruise, Day Three, morning Wow, I slept well! I woke feeling quite stiff and achey though and decided to spend the morning on …
: Rakiura Cruise Day Two Whew, what a day! After breakfast of boiled egg, hash brown, tomato, sausage, plus as much toast, …
: Rakiura Cruise, Day Zero To start with we needed to travel from home to Invercargill. That meant setting off with our …
: Rakiura Cruise, Day One highlight Rakiura Cruise, Day One: one highlight was the teenage male sealion that came up on the beach at …
: 46 degrees 36 minutes 54 seconds south.
: I really enjoyed this Canadian story: Goodbye Port Alma (A DC Holly Towns Murder Mystery) by Anne …
: The Kaikoura Ranges were looking snowy today.
: Wellington airport features these birds from Lord of the Rings.
: Photo by Willow’s mum — with the whole back seat to spread out on, three dogs decided to …
: Hmmm: Around 95% of NZ’s sheep meat and 87% of beef is exported, and what’s left for …
: Happened upon a cassette tape recording I made in 1976 of my mother’s parents. Fascinating to …
: Yesterday’s storm (for us, at least) was nowhere near what we expected. Some strongish winds, …
: Heard something today that jogged my memory about NZ’s infamous Six o’clock Swill. From …
: We tried a new restaurant last night: Ōtaki Kitchen at 30 Main Street, Ōtaki. Service was great and …
: Hey @jack Way back in March you mentioned the Johnny Decimal system. Thanks so much for that. It has …
: Heh 🐈 🐶 🍽: New Zealand has the highest per capita rate of cat ownership of any country in the …
: Spotted ‘the’ Kingfisher today — perching on top of the tunnelhouse. Managed a photo …
: Damn good read, so well put together! The Case of the Fond Farewell (Ellie Tappet Cruise Ship …
: Niue reaches herd immunity, with 97% of eligible population vaccinated: Niue … vaccinated almost …
: A big storm is forecast for this weekend — gales and loads of rain. Plus it’s midwinter and …
: The forecast rainfall for this weekend has already reduced by ~20 mm, thank goodness. Still way high …
: According to this crazy forecast we might get 144 mm (about 5.7 inches) of rain over 4 days this …
: Knockout (A Holly Hands Mystery—Book 1) by Mia Gold had a very strong start. 📚 A new and original …
: Vaccinating a load of people in a city is one thing. But how do you vaccinate a handful of people on …
: Just waiting for COVID vaccine shot #2. It’s busy but we get to sit while we wait.
: This week for our International Breakfast Deb cooked New Orleans-Style Beignets. Very yummy!
: Today Deb and I attended a Stacking Rings Workshop in Wellington. We made textured or twisted rings …
: The best thing ever! We Are Lady Parts 📺 We ended up bingeing. Hilarious! Excellent! Nida …
: After our Rakiura Cruise later this month we’ll visit The Catlins, New Zealand for a few days. …
: We’re heading later this month to Rakiura, a Dark Sky Sanctuary so now I need to discover how …
: This was a pretty good read: Old Sins, Long Memories by Angela Arney. 📚 Meet Dr Lizzie Browne. …
: I forget I have a 27mm prime lens for my Fuji X-T2. I also have a wriggly dog and a dog who refused …
: Heh, the telephoto lens makes Kāpiti Island look like you could wade out to it — it’s actually …
: I’m getting quite excited: at the end of the month the Milford Wanderer will be our home for 6 …
: How to maintain your speaking voice As I get older I’ve become a little concerned about my voice. Sometimes when I try to call the …
: Our new splashback installed. It’s a colour called Resene Koru to match our feature walls. …
: I love these little cuties. More waxeyes at the bird feeder.
: This is a ‘before’ of our oven and wall and rangehood. Soon there should be an ‘after’.
: Aha: an explanation of the planes: RNZAF carrying out low-flying around Manawatū, Rangitikei & …
: We live not too far really from a military airfield (60 Km direct). I happened to be taking photos …
: Sometimes at the supermarket I see workers with big trolleys assembling customer orders for …
: I think this is my third night in a row of restless and broken sleep. I’ve been having a good run of …
: Sexual Harassment is a bit of a problem by Sharon Murdoch.
: This started well, became a bit suss and then by 66% through was annoying: Last Call (The Janet …
: Fascinating: Who’s eating New Zealand?: New Zealand produces enough food to feed about 40 …
: Today’s International Breakfast was Drop Scones/Scotch Pancakes. I had problems — I had the griddle …
: Watching line dance tutorials. I can understand why the instructor wants to face the camera, but …
: Someone gave me 18 header images for our community website but at 2400x560 instead of the 1200x280 I …
: Hmm, I read The Uniform (Detective Helen Carter Book 1) by Jodie Lawrance. 📚 Set in Edinburgh in the …
: Wall decal dots are very cool — I have several in different sizes on the walls. We’re …
: I enjoyed Lowcountry Box Set (A Liz Talbot Mystery) by Susan M Boyer. 📚 I’m not usually into …
: The river at Waikawa Beach was pretty high the other day after loads of rain — it had been higher …
: The little silvereyes sure do love the birdfood! 🐦
: In the traditional Māori calendar New Year falls at mid-winter. From next year it’ll be a …
: The frost lingered in shaded spots on the beach, and the track back to the car brought a great view …
: The dogs were right of course! It’s chilly but fabulous down at the beach.
: The dogs are giving me their full-strength ‘take us to the beach' glares even though it’s only …
: I’m so pleased to be able to say that today I spent some time sitting on the front deck in the …
: Playing ball with a blind dog on the beach Sometimes over the years Sasha 🐶 has had fun chasing a ball along the beach. This photo from …
June 2021
: I try not to get too hung up about language change, but the total loss of a perfectly good word …
: Having procured pine shavings today I replaced some of the dirty straw in the quail run with a nice …
: Well, all the smart birds were snugged up in their little beds while I was trying to watch for them …
: Even though the weather’s rotten I’m doing my bit this afternoon for the NZ Garden Bird …
: And here we have what seems to have become a daily power cut post. 🤨
: Yay. 😒 Winds gusting to almost 80 Kph and the power’s gone out. I presume a line has come down …
: So much rain over the weekend localised flooding closed a couple of roads. The Waikawa Beach …
: Lovely! Loaded up the dishwasher, turned it on and a moment later there was a loud pop and the house …
: Last night we drove to Palmerston North to celebrate Deb’s recent birthday. Arranged Marriage …
: On this cool, grey, rainy day we had our 15th International Breakfast : Churros. Yum! They were …
: It’s a Big Cuddle day for Oshi. 🐶
: Hmmm, coming later in 2021 is NCIS: Hawaii: NCIS: Hawaii stars Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent in …
: I check the global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions every morning. Today’s map shows …
: What a great short read: Send in the Bugs. The Michelangelos Need Cleaning. The team washed …
: The local Canada Geese seem to be stirred up by the full moon. They’re flying around honking …
: I watched the documentary Lift Like A Girl On a busy, noisy high-traffic street corner in …
: I can understand why an online film festival like Doc Edge Festival 2021 needs to know my birthdate …
: I thought I’d give Arepa de Queso a try. I had a few glitches, like forgetting the oil till a …
: I suspect this is a slightly more distant neighbour’s cat. Such a beauty! A very hasty photo …
: Dammit. A Covid+ traveller spent time in Wellington last weekend, so now Wellington region has to …
: This 6 minute Tom Scott video is well worth a watch: History forgot these old fireworks. We …
: A Kiwi Covid shot part 1 Yesterday I was wiped out by the time I got home. I drove to Levin to drop my car off for new tires, …
: OK, COVID vaccine part one ✅ Part 2 on 12 July.
: We have some splendid Kāhu Swamp harrier around us. They soar past our lounge window, wings spread …
: Ambivalent about Pineapple Lies: (Pineapple Port Mysteries 1) by Amy Vansant. 📚 The mystery solving …
: Deb and I have been really enjoying (re)watching Scott & Bailey, a British police procedural …
: The best kind of little free community library: The Good Dog Library at the dog park in Levin. 🐶 …
: I’m enjoying this author’s books, including The Girl Who Was Forgotten: (The Shee …
: Hooray, just got confirmation after an online booking request: my first Pfizer Covid shot is …
: The excellent 2 hour Indian movie Skater Girl brought tears to my eyes several times. The lead …
: Ugh. We sold a laptop with a troubled history — described as accurately as we could. We believed it …
: This 2-minute video is about the stars of Māori New Year, Matariki, which happens at this time of …
: The new bike rack arrived and I put it on my car. I checked a few videos about how to do it as the …
: Global Extinction of Languages Is Threatening … Human Knowledge: Among 12,495 medicinal uses for …
: Brunched with a friend at Rosetta Cafe in Raumati South. The Big Brekkie (1/2 size) meal was superb: …
: When we drove to Levin in the rain today we were delayed by yet another accident near Ōhau. …
: This was a darn good read: The Girl Who Wants: (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 1) by …
: This week’s International Breakfast was a risky experiment we won’t repeat. The recipe was more of a …
: Today we went to Paraparaumu for a Line-dancing social. The songs in red were Beginner level …
: Hmmm, I enjoyed Mousse and Murder (An Alaskan Diner Mystery Book 1) by Elizabeth Logan. 📚 It …
: We had to call on Reggie, our local water guy, to fill our drinking water tank today. I …
: Took my car through the carwash for what may be the first time in the 5 or 6 years I’ve owned it. …
: Researchers explored Māori storytelling in spoken word, weaving and carving and found: Polynesian …
: Once I finally got myself and the correct gear (nearly left the paddle behind) out on the river I …
: I really have been meaning to take my kayak out again and today’s weather leaves me with no …
: Ordered a tank of water as our rainwater tank is worryingly low. We need 30mm rain every week to …
: First time in my life, I cleaned my bike chain. It’s a messy business, but I think it went OK. …
: Ooooh, multiple timers! Yay!
: I use Siri quite a lot — on-device processing should be a big help. Siri quite often can’t help me …
: Whew, sitting up in bed watching the WWDC 2021 Keynote. Sasha the dog is asleep on the bed. …
: The 5 am start for the WWDC 2021 keynote is always a challenge. 🥱
: We had an unusual event at Waikawa Beach this weekend: the launch of a Little Free Library created …
: Well, that was an interesting experiment. M1 MacBook Pro. I exported my Health data from iPhone. …
: A sea misty morning at the beach today.
: This week’s delicious International Breakfast was Mandazi African Donuts. Although deep fried, …
: My friend Anne writes cogently, coherently and interestingly about the Miss Silver mysteries by …
: Whew! A busy day doing various tasks for our local Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association: emails, …
: As I watch The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life and learn …
: Ha ha ha ha ha… The Mitchells vs. the Machines movie was weird, hilarious, bizarre, moving. I loved …
: Look who I found while weeding. I think it must be a Brown Tree frog - Litoria ewingii: They all …
: Whew, listed my old S3 Apple Watch for sale. People seem to still be buying them used.
: At first I was excited by the new Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy. Then I looked more closely at the …
: Eight black swans: two parents and 6 almost fully grown cygnets. It’s amazing all six babies …
: This one was a bit disappointing: A Simple Case of Murder (Lost in Alaska Book 4) by Leigh Mayberry. …
: Today’s International Breakfast, Greek omelet, was delicious. We didn’t have oregano so used …
May 2021
: This was so delicious and easy to cook. I used chicken stock rather than plain water. Curried …
: This morning I told Deb we’d probably have to buy a tanker of drinking water soon. With only …
: Another good read: Next of Kin (DI Sarah Quinn Mystery Book 5) by Maureen Carter. 📚 Lisa Webb is …
: Interesting: a successful author who doesn’t read: I was shocked to discover that she creates …
: Well, the official results are in from my Ancestry.com DNA test, and surprisingly, I’m not 100% …
: For the past year or more a tiny fatty lump on my neck that I first thought was a pimple slowly grew …
: I have two more lunar eclipse photos that aren’t too terrible. One about half way in and the other …
: I don’t see astrophotography in my future, but provided you don’t look too closely, this is …
: Starting to see the Earth’s shadow encroaching on the face of the moon… It’s about an hour …
: Trying to get serious with camera settings, tripod etc, and getting the darn thing in focus. Full …
: I plan to watch tonight’s total lunar eclipse by eye rather than through a camera lens, but I …
: Things I’m learning about ebike racks. My car has a 1 7/8 tow ball. The E-Rack 2 I’m …
: Reina Pepiada: Venezuelan Arepas with Chicken and Avocado This week’s International Breakfast: Reina Pepiada: Venezuelan Arepas with Chicken and …
: I love the On This Day feature in Micro.Blog. I check mine every day. I’d completely forgotten that …
: Thinking this might be a bike trip I could do next year: West Coast Wilderness Trail. A friend did …
: Concerned by events in [Western] Samoa: Live updates: Samoa’s political crisis deepens where …
: I enjoyed Lost to the Sea: A Cozy Mystery (Lost in Alaska Book 3) by Leigh Mayberry. Somehow the odd …
: Shocking news this afternoon that an office holder on a committee I’m on had a massive heart …
: Well, Deb’s first outing on her new ebike was a success. I helped her learn how to stop and …
: Called in to Torpedo 7 in Palmerston North to buy a chain cleaning kit for my bike and came out with …
: Back in early April Deb and I sent off Ancestry.com DNA tests. Finally the DNA is being analysed and …
: This week I’ve been less tired, had less brain fog and less blurry vision. In the best spirit of …
: Budget Day today in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Labour Government is committed to spending money in …
: On my brisk walk today I spotted this impressive ‘beach whare’. I now realise another angle would …
: Ugh! Waikato Hospital enters third day affected by cyber attack: cyber experts are working to …
: Our local government organisations — Councils — use a system of geographic subdivisions called …
: Heh, first some wanted to use CQD: dash dot dash dot | dash dash dot dash | dash dot dot This was a …
: Fascinating 25 minute The Allusionist podcast episode: SOS: SOS is a really versatile distress …
: 🧐 💭 What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life: The heart of compassion is the sprout …
: Another Leigh Mayberry cozy enjoyed, with its endearingly odd language: A Killer Vacation: A Cozy …
: Today’s village - beach loop walk added resistance training into the mix, courtesy of winds …
: 👍: Wellington dogs to swap plastic tags for metal 🐶: Wellington’s wagging goodbye to plastic …
: Super busy day today. We had 17.5 mm rain: hooray! I’m making progress at line dancing: …
: I listened with great interest to Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Confucius the other day then …
: The 15 year old dogs have trained me to walk at a slow dawdle, with frequent stops, for max 20 …
: We enjoyed watching Uncle Frank 🎬: Set in the 1970s, Uncle Frank is a road movie about a gay man …
: The privately owned lane we live along (with 4 other parties) needs resurfacing. We had a meeting …
: Soo… we had our first real frost of the year. Mid-May seems a bit early. 🤷🏻♀️ Temperature bottomed …
: I enjoyed reading A Cold Day for Murder: A Cozy Mystery (Lost in Alaska Book 1) by Leigh Mayberry …
: Ordered Airtags. After a week or two they were picked up by the courier in China. Nothing, nothing, …
: Concerned when I watched The Flash S07E09. One of the bad-guys, giving people nightmares, had a …
: Brain-explody: Comparing the world’s most well known locations with NZ’s latitude | WeatherWatch. …
: Already got back the results of my routine blood tests. All good apparently. ✔️
: This is an excellent time of year for taking photos of the neighbour’s gorgeous horse.
: The farmer next door runs hundreds of cows, and 4 sheep. Sometimes random animals also turn up — one …
: I hoped the doctor would remove a small annoying sebaceous cyst for me today, but instead she …
: Uh oh, I take that back. Now the 2016 MacBook Pro can’t load Amazon.com either…
: Hmmm, currently my M1 MacBook Pro refuses to load Amazon.com despite extensive troubleshooting. 2016 …
: This was enjoyable 📚: Frightfully Fortune (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 20) a dead man gallops …
: I’m unhappy when I spot random bits of plastic, rope or other stuff on our beach, but we have …
: 💪🏼 ♀ Motherhood on the Battlefield of Death | The Order of the Good Death: For Mesoamerican people …
: On 05 May I posted about a neighbouring property for sale: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 146 Strathnaver …
: Korean Banchan Our International Breakfast this week was Korean Banchan — Steamed White Rice, Gyeran Jjim, …
: Predicted tracks for the LongMarch5B CZ-5B rocket body reentry are narrowing down. Our house is …
: Sunrise at about 7.00 this morning was a very intense red.
: Pausing by the river to sit in the sun and fresh air for a bit.
: I enjoyed Dying Bad (DI Sarah Quinn Mystery Book 3) by Maureen Carter. I especially like the way the …
: Each time the chain comes off my bike I’m that bit more adept at putting it back on. …
: My first attempt at cooking crepes was a definite ‘learning experience’ (ie failure). The pan should …
: I want to give a huge shoutout to @danielpunkass A recent version of Black Ink let subscribers get …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 146 Strathnaver Drive: 2 bedrooms; 1 bathroom; 50m2 floor area; 3464m2 land …
: Of course … yesterday I had a new spare house key cut. Today I found the one that had gone missing. …
: This is a superb 8 minute documentary: The typeface that told the stories of Chinese New Zealanders: …
: Indeed! If Aotearoa is serious about creating a future that young people can see themselves in, …
: Whew! Drama in our house this morning as Deb spilled half a glass of plain water on her MacBook Pro. …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 61-63 Manga Pirau Street: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 70m2 floor area; 827m2 …
: At line dancing class today I was thinking about how learning goes: new new new new new new new new …
: I was moaning recently about listing a 2012 MacBook Pro and a 2013 MacBook Pro on our NZ auction …
: The Ozzies so often do such great movies. Three Summers (Netflix) was brilliantly done: very funny, …
: This is an amazing explanation of how combustion engines work, with superb animations. I thought I …
: Later this month we Kiwis can see a total lunar eclipse. I wrote about it on the blog for the local …
: Look up! — There's a lunar eclipse on 26 May 2021 This was originally posted as Look up! — There's a lunar eclipse on 26 May 2021 on 02 May 2021 on …
: Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican Beans and Rice) This week’s International Breakfast was Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican Beans and Rice). We …
: Oh crikey. A local asked me to visit to chat about an (excellent) arts project he’d like to do. I …
: Doing errands in Palmerston North yesterday I briskly walked a few blocks and was tired. I realise …
: Wow, the photography on The Year Earth Changed on TV+ is stunning! Photo of capybara. It’s so …
: Hmmm, I finished Blood Stained (Detective Claudia Nunn Book 1) by Rebecca Bradley. While I kept …
: Yesterday I had to pick Deb up from the commuter train at Waikanae. Here it is arriving.
April 2021
: A new item on my list of things I aim to do: Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail | Central Otago: The 55km …
: A nice thing to learn: Rakiura is the Maori name for Stewart Island. It translates as the Land of …
: I’m uncomfortable about Aotearoa New Zealand becoming the “Lord of the Rings” country, …
: Whew, heart pounding. A sudden loud noise like a heavy truck right beside me; milliseconds later a …
: At a mere 5 minutes per week the That’s What They Say podcast is one anybody can fit in. The …
: I’m selling a 2012 MacBook Pro and a 2013 MacBook Pro. Forgot to take photos until it was …
: I thoroughly enjoyed reading @cheri’s latest cozy: The Case of the Red Phantom. With voices …
: Strange — I had my flu shot almost two weeks ago, but today’s the day I feel that maybe slightly …
: I really enjoyed The Woman on the Cliff crime thriller by Janice Frost. This plot went to some …
: Thought-provoking! What Do Doctors Owe To The Dead People They Dissect? If thinking of a dead body …
: Lablabi (Chickpea Soup) This week’s international breakfast was Lablabi (Chickpea Soup) - Traditional Tunisian Recipe. …
: Darn! We’re making another International Breakfast today and somehow ground caraway fell off …
: And in today’s Wikipedia search failure… The page “Lorena Light-Footed Woman” does not …
: A good watch: the 30 minute documentary Lorena, Light-Footed Woman. Tarahumara woman Lorena runs …
: It’s a ghastly cover and a sadistic crime, but I enjoyed reading Mother Love (DI Sarah Quinn …
: Never had so many problems before ordering from the Apple website, but have finally achieved it. I …
: I’ve been meaning to clean up the quail run a bit. Today I scraped out some of the poop and old …
: As I thought: As for strapping an AirTag to a pet, Drance says, “If people do that, they just have …
: I enjoy watching The Rookie. Interestingly, S03E10, Man of Honor, gives us 3 separate storylines of …
: This 35 minute interview was so interesting: Lisa Genova: The science of memory and the art of …
: Hooray! — Massive health sector overhaul explained — Aotearoa New Zealand population is ~5 million. …
: Hanging out at the local Library — Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō — after finishing errands while …
: The night before grooming. Sasha’s a little unfocused, but Oshi’s looking his cutest. 🐶
: I visited the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in Palmerston North. …
: I had the best ever chicken teriyaki at Mr Choi Sushi Bar, 364 Main Street, in Palmerston North. …
: Excellent and powerful article re TV: Vegas keeps the Māori warrior-gangster trope alive for another …
: Yay … 😰 75% chance of major Alpine Fault earthquake in next 50 years NZ’s Alpine Fault has a …
: Note for future me, and others in a similar situation: after extensive troubleshooting for why …
: Today I visited this fine fellow for a few minutes, as his people are away. Would not look at the …
: I abandoned Coffin Cove (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 1) by Jackie Elliott about half way through. It …
: Excellent: A Question of Despair (DI Sarah Quinn Mystery Book 1) by Maureen Carter. It was …
: Palak Paneer Paratha Our International Breakfast this week is Paratha from India. We made Palak Paneer Paratha. There was …
: The neighbour I visited yesterday had this wonderful large orange fungus growing on one of his pine …
: Daring Fireball, John Gruber: Crazed Gun Owner Kills 8 at FedEx Warehouse in Indianapolis: So seven …
: Other Monarchs have hatched unobserved, but here’s one I spotted this morning, still fresh out …
: This statement is gobsmacking: ACC must do better to speed up fossil fuel divestment: We balance …
: Early to bed last night with the blahs, so I watched Work It — a teenage dance film. I liked the …
: Glad I reserved my day after the flu shot for blobbing. I didn’t sleep so well — loads of …
: Wow. Kati Kariko Helped Shield the World From the Coronavirus: She needed grants to pursue ideas …
: This year’s flu shot done. ✔️ Apparently it has extra ‘goodies’ to stimulate the immune response in …
: Starting the day with heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
: The other surprise today was the first Monarch Butterfly to emerge from its chrysalis. Such an …
: While driving past the lake at the end of our road today I was surprised to see our local black swan …
: Busy day! I’m getting better at line dancing, hooray! The easiest dances are OK with me. Every new …
: We really enjoyed Concrete Cowboy 🎬, though we had to turn on subtitles. a fictionalization of the …
: The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger was a …
: Permanently retiring a 2012 MacBook Pro and a 2013 MacBook Pro. This time I’m remembering to follow …
: Our boy Oshi 🐶 always has to be at the centre of things. If we’re patting Sasha he inserts …
: This is interesting: Here’s Why Our Brains Solve Problems by Adding Things, Not Removing: The …
: We enjoyed Thunder Force 🎬: two childhood friends invent a way to become superheroes in a world …
: 41 gun salute! Wow. A 41-gun salute will be held in Wellington at midday tomorrow in honour of …
: With the Covid vaccine still a couple of months away for me, and winter approaching, it’s time …
: We suddenly have new neighbours in our little lane. This extremely tiny ‘tiny house’ turned up …
: Deb has a complex family and decided to do a DNA test from Ancestry.com.au. I’m keeping her company. …
: After 1,000 Km my 1 year old electric bike was due thorough maintenance. Dropped it off with the …
: I put the spare key to my bicycle battery in A Very Safe Place. Don’t know where that is? …
: Sasha and Oshi are preparing for the synchronised napping competition in the next doggie Olympics. I …
: With autumn heading towards winter we’ve cleared nearly everything out of our tunnelhouse. In future …
: I’m all caught up on watching For All Mankind on TV+. It was compelling viewing. So glad to …
: I always have tinnitus. It’s worse when I’m tired. When I’m stressed I don’t get back to sleep …
: Glee the Japanese Quail decided to sit on eggs a couple of weeks ago. Her sister Fliss helps …
: It’s a miracle! About 10 hours of sleep and I’m not even sick. Amazing. Normally I’m …
: In getting ahead of things: I’ve changed the analogue kitchen clock, toothbrush clock, 2 cameras, …
: I’ve been watching, and enjoying, S01 of For All Mankind. So much smoking and drinking! I’m …
: Today’s a day where I wish I had a Klingon Cloaking Device. I want to be invisible to the …
: Tomorrow’s the day to put the clocks back in Aotearoa New Zealand: Daylight saving ends when clocks …
: I’m remembering that I stopped watching The Flash somewhere in Season 6. I’ve started Season …
: Just before dawn was too dark for a selfie, but I took one anyway. Apart from missing a day last …
: LOL: Supergirl Recap Episode 601 as Kara points out, “Only four of us can fly.” Which I think is …
: I loved this 20 minute video — it was such fun. The more I see Janelle Monae perform the more …
: This poor fellow next door has been in my line of vision for quite a while — maybe since yesterday — …
: So well deserved: How Siouxsie Wiles became ‘the Covid lady’, then New Zealander of the year: …
: One of the two lakes at the end of the road was looking so blue this morning!
March 2021
: Drove a 2-hour round trip (+ time for a couple of quick errands) and took the dogs along. They used …
: Waikawa Beach for sale: 4/17 Strathnaver Drive: Asking price $450,000; 0.50ha Bare Land. Deadline …
: I really enjoyed on Netflix the documentary A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman. I’ve long …
: I try to keep this blog positive but need to vent a bit today about logins. In the good old days …
: hey @help has something changed with the Micro.Blog Mac app? This ‘No more posts’ button …
: Our friend Willow is visiting for the day. However, Willow, Oshi and Sasha were reluctant to …
: Today was the fifth line dancing class I’ve attended and I’m starting to get the hang of it. I …
: Taumarunui has this striking Moa sculpture at the south end of town. It’s made of small bits …
: 450 Km to drive home today. We plan to go down through National Park again but then through …
: I’d forgotten … Hamilton, home of hot air Balloons.
: On a group outing to Sky City Casino in Hamilton. I’m not a gambler and find the appeal mystifying …
: It’s only a two hour drive from Manunui to Hamilton. First stop Taumarunui for breakfast …
: Taumarunui, population ~4,500, has a decent Thai restaurant, unlike Levin, population ~20,000. Tom …
: Correction: Mahoe Motel is in Manunui, 3 Km south of Taumaranui.
: Kiwi as! Mahoe Motel, Taumarunui.
: A wonderful news story: Auckland Zoo has welcomed 4 new baby Galapagos tortoises. Just look at these …
: Regular Expressions — a 2007 intro When @odd mentioned he should learn about Regular Expressions I recalled I once wrote an …
: Mm, hmm. Opening a 27MB file into BBEdit on my M1 MacBook Pro: “Oh no! Spinning beach…” Done. …
: This was an interesting 5 minute video: Why Shakespeare Could Never Have Been French: Shakespeare …
: Autumn brings morning mists. It’s actually a lovely way to start the day.
: Ful Medames This week’s International Breakfast was our version of an Egyptian meal: Ful Medames: Ful …
: 12 months ago today Aotearoa New Zealand went into Level 3 shutdown, preparing for Level 4 in 2 …
: Stunning morning at the beach, still, sunny, no-one around. The sea really was that amazing milky …
: Yay! On Wednesday I learn how to make crossword puzzles.
: I was thinking of visiting the Zoo when we make a quick family-related trip soon to Hamilton, and …
: Hey @JohnPhilpin A year ago today you visited me at Waikawa Beach: miraz.me/2020/03/2… 😎
: Almost 48 hours since a sudden new allergy to Nurofen (probably) made my face swell up. Finally the …
: I quite enjoyed Detective Hillary Greene Books 1–5 box set by Faith Martin. There’s …
: For the longest time I thought we had Banded dotterels at Waikawa Beach but after close …
: Really enjoyed Moxie at Netflix: Fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school, a …
: Hmmm, for decades I’ve used Nurofen to help with headaches. Last night I had quite an allergic …
: I should have taken some photos of the Pukeko chicks at the nearby lake a couple of weeks ago when …
: It’s not often we see one of these around here. They didn’t stay long. And I’ve …
: A few years ago now I spotted a cop in Wellington who looked like he should have had a note from mum …
: In the middle of this year we hope to be cruising with friends round Rakiura (Stewart Island) at the …
: I have now learned the correct way to put the chain back on my bike. Now I need to learn how to …
: I learned Latin for 2 years at school. It’s invaluable for understanding English (and some …
: Yucca in the dunes with Kāpiti Island beyond.
: Oshi eating. 🐶 He’s doing fine now! Even came and lined up for breakfast like he’s …
: Thanks to a word puzzle, today I learned about Machicolation: a floor opening between the …
: Oshi update 🐶: he’s still not quite 100% but he’s so much more himself — played with his …
: The Monarch caterpillars seemed to arrive late in the season, but they’re growing nicely on …
: Teishoku Traditional Japanese Breakfast This week’s International Breakfast was a version of Teishoku Traditional Japanese Breakfast. …
: Huh!!! One ‘s’!! Just deserts uses this, relatively uncommon, noun form of desert, which may mean …
: I was intrigued to learn about Complete Knot List | Alphabetical list of all Knots | Animated Knots …
: My ‘technique' for giving dogs pills is 99% torture and 1% luck. 😧 🐶
: Mini Oshi update 🐶: Had to really coax him to eat breakfast. Booked an X-Ray. Drove to vet, put Oshi …
: On safety, and the freedom to walk home: When words fail us. 🔗
: Two years ago today, the terror attack in Christchurch — Muslim community to pray in private on …
: So, what's up with Oshi? 🐶 For the last few days we've been struggling with what's wrong with Oshi. Last weekend we thought his …
: Waikawa Beach recently sold, apparently ~$950,000 — 13 Strathnaver Drive. 3 Bedrooms, 2 …
: It’s one of those fabulous autumn days: cold start, clear sky, warm sun (cooler breeze), waves …
: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 111 Strathnaver Drive. Asking price $895,000 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 177m² …
: We’ve seen mysterious lights up in the hills at dawn. I finally grabbed the binoculars (and …
: Oshi update: his symptoms are puzzling. We’ve come home with Rilexine® Palatable tablets - Easy to …
: Oshi still seems pretty unhappy and uncomfortable. We have another appointment with the vet booked …
: Oshi’s latest medication: APOQUEL® (oclacitinib tablet) Allergy Medicine for Dogs: If your …
: Hooray! : NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover @NASAPersevere: Mission scientists worked with a …
: We had an unexpected visit to the vet this morning to sort out Oshi’s ‘bottom' problem. We came home …
: Looks like I’ll be getting my Covid vaccine sometime around mid-year: When, how and where do …
: Funds are tight this year so I’ll be closing down my separate lovewaikawabeach.nz blog as the …
: For Sale: 60 Sarah St, Waikawa Beach. Enquiries over $650,000. 2 Beds; 1 Bath; 70m² Floor; …
: I made a big mistake this morning: with my phone beside the dog food bowls I played a podcast …
: 🤯🤯🤯🤯 Aaaargh! Internet / computer networking is utterly beyond my capabilities. The more I read …
: Russian Sweet Cheese Pancakes Syrniki This weeks International Breakfast (at lunchtime) was Russian Sweet Cheese Pancakes Syrniki (Made …
: Cool 4-minute video: Why Real Explosions Don’t Look Like Movie Explosions.
: The whole article is an easy and interesting read, but especially: I’m glad I didn’t give up 10 …
: It seems late in the season for it, but we finally have Monarch Butterfly caterpillars on our Swan …
: On the property just past our neighbours there’s building work happening. I suspect …
: Excellent! Lucy Lawless bringing My Life Is Murder local spin-off to TVNZ a contemporary mystery …
: We watched the amazing and very moving documentary Sherpa: explores some of the Sherpa culture and …
: This very long read is riveting and thought-provoking: Deliverance From 27,000 Feet. 5 Sherpas …
: Yesterday Waikawa Beach was under a Beach and Marine Threat Warning, while parts of the northeast of …
: I’ve signed up for a free crossword puzzle creating class as mentioned at Puzzle 25: Animal …
: At the start of Fortune Funhouse (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 19) by Jana DeLeon I thought some plot …
: My neighbour Jan took this photo of Sasha and Oshi. 🐶
: This map from RadioNZ shows better where the three quakes have been. We only felt the first, but …
: Shaky times: the first earthquake around 0230 today was offshore New Zealand. Since then though have …
: That far away shake certainly woke us all up! It started with long light shaking then wound up to …
: A power cut last week led our Belling 60cm Freestanding Double Oven to misbehave: clock blinked, hob …
: Cool: symptoms of ‘the UK variant’ of Covid-19 in several languages, including Mandarin, Hindi, …
: Last night we drove to Feilding with friends for dinner at Amayjen. It was our friend Jan’s …
: Grooming day for Sasha and Oshi (and, not shown, me). Oshi refused to look at the camera, but …
: Swedish Breakfast As we continue our weekly International Breakfast series … last week it was Mexican Huevos …
: It’s annoying to come home from a brief walk and find I have to brush piripiri out of Sasha’s …
: Today I attended a line dancing class for the first time and learned: I have no sense of rhythm …
February 2021
: Finished reading Secrets on the Fens by Joy Ellis, one of my favourite authors. Another excellent …
: It’s the last day of meteorological summer and blimmin hot. My temperature gauge that I …
: For the last day of the photo challenge I thought I’d look up one of the first digital photos I took …
: The farmer seems to be seeding the paddocks next door — perhaps with grass as he usually keeps dry …
: Round here the male pheasants enjoy pompasetting their finest colours and longest tail feathers. #27
: Ahhh, finally figured out what I keep doing while reading Kindle in bed that changes the font size: …
: I pretty much enjoyed The Rings of Grissom: Tales of a Former Space Janitor by Julia Huni, but I …
: Yesterday I took some polystyrene beans out of this dog bed so it’s not so solid and high. One …
: I never knew real sourdough was a very different thing from mass produced bread, but this excellent …
: The beach code: protect the native plants that hold dunes together by keeping to the tracks. …
: Aha! We’re at Batwoman S02E05 and it’s really cranking. I’m coming to very much like …
: Micro.Blog Feature request: while we wait for some kind of timeline position sync across devices, …
: Ah, today I have a chance to revisit one of my baby Japanese Quail. Here she is sitting on a plastic …
: Yesterday we went for a little walk at Papaitonga Scenic Reserve, only 20 minutes drive from here. …
: Māori facial tattoos (tā moko) are very special with huge ancestral and spiritual significance. But …
: We watched and enjoyed News of the World, with Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. It’s an …
: Some people have a lot of trouble with how to spell my name. The z at the end drifts all over the …
: In September 2018 we were holidaying in Niue, where I tried a little snorkelling (with a full-face …
: We enjoyed watching Finding ‘Ohana. No surprises, of course — it was a kind of junior Indiana …
: Took out my laptop at a cafe to fill in an hour waiting for my bike’s gears to be fixed. …
: I’m feeding a friend’s chooks for a few days. From her place this morning I spotted this low …
: In Aotearoa New Zealand it’s a challenge for our native fauna to stay alive under the …
: Here’s a picture from my recent Photo Workshop day at Pūkaha Mt Bruce. The battery on my Fuji …
: For NZ$100 we bought this 1,000 litre plastic tank from the local licorice factory. It was used to …
: This is a perfect day to be at home. Blue sky and sunshine, a little birdsong and an occasional …
: Out of nowhere this morning I started humming The Tornados - Telstar (1962) a hit from my youth. I …
: Glad I gave S2 of Batwoman a try after struggling through S1. Alice is less mad, gruesome and …
: I was having difficulties sending some texts on my new Mac. Turned out I needed to check the …
: Our unexpected visitors last night had spent 5 hours on a 3-hour ferry trip from the South Island. …
: From earlier this year. Our river is tidal, but on this day it was really still. Looking …
: The erudite amongst us may know this is a very fine Giant Galapagos Tortoise — a huge animal I loved …
: It’s one of those mornings where the sea is almost mill-pond calm. The damp sand caught …
: Well New Zealand has a community Covid case today so: Auckland moves to alert level 3, rest of New …
: I enjoyed reading Spoils of the Dead (Liam Campbell Book 5) by Dana Stabenow. I love her …
: Around 2001 compassion led us to adopt Olive the cat when her owners moved overseas from next door. …
: I was out of the house by 6 am for the Photography Workshop at Pūkaha Wildlife centre. Home by 7 pm. …
: Here’s a green gecko to make up for my blue. Look at those ‘teeth’!
: Hmm. That wasn’t the Tui brewery in my last post. It was simply a Fonterra milk factory. 🤦🏽♀️
: This is the brewery in Pahiatua where they make Tui beer. (I think) #13: make
: As my friend Rachel so rightly pointed out: It’s a good day : because I woke up :) Ageism is …
: I just wrote this to a friend and realised it belongs here too: One of my latest philosophies: …
: Well, this is so sporg : tomorrow I drive to Pūkaha Wildlife Reserve for a photography workshop. …
: On the way home one of my favourite things about living in the country: I had to stop and wait for a …
: My dentist office has this handy X-ray machine stowed against the wall. Today I had a crown put on …
: Apart from my normal backup external hard drive, I’ve accumulated 4 drives over the years which …
: Ferries cross the notorious waters of Cook Strait between Aotearoa New Zealand’s North and …
: This is not the right time of year (🌞😎) to find muddy things in Aotearoa New Zealand, so for …
: Unfortunately people bring trail bikes and quad bikes onto the beach and they like to do …
: It takes ages but I’ve got time… I like setting up a new Mac afresh as it gives me the chance …
: Ricotta Pancakes Inspired by @flish cooking meals from different countries and wanting a weekly ‘date’ …
: This year is … different. I haven’t seen or heard a frog in our garden for a while. A Southern …
: After exhausting myself washing down the east side of our house I was craving a strong brew of …
: “Sport" is pretty much the antonym of “Miraz”, but once in a while I take my kayak a little way …
: I was worried I’d been too heavy handed with the marmite on my sandwich, but it worked out OK …
: Given how much time it spends on my lap, and the care and attention I lavish on it, I think …
: I’ve been using the Atkinson Hyperlegible Font | Braille Institute for a while now and really like …
: A new mid-winter public holiday for Aotearoa New Zealand: Matariki holiday date announced: The …
: I’m finding Season 2 of Batwoman much less gross than Season 1 and am enjoying the play of …
: Two sides of the stick. This fine girl was on our front door at dawn. Quite long — I didn’t …
: My Japanese Quail are fantastic layers. With at least 12 hours of daylight they each lay one egg …
: This morning’s inversion layer looked pretty good moments before sunrise.
: Can animals really predict earthquakes? data showed that the animals were unusually restless hours …
: Using a 2012 MacBook Pro while I wait for my new one. I didn’t install anything that isn’t …
: Woohoo, my new MacBook Pro is closer. Can’t wait to get set up on the new machine so I can …
: The weedspraying getup, backpack, long-sleeved shirt etc are hot, heavy, make me breathe hard and …
: Tonight I actually thought to come down to the beach to watch the sunset. Picnic table is working …
: Morning Beverage: Premium China White Snowbuds, in the sun, on the deck. #2
: There are several baby rabbits that live near our front door. They just don’t seem to be …
: I was reminded that I bought my electric bike exactly one year ago. So far I’ve ridden it for …
: Oh, well said! — Anniversary days are vestiges of occasions now disregarded and obscure. Let’s …
: I was saying to Deb that Anniversary Days are colonial and should go. Now: Why NZ’s outdated …
: February 2021 Photoblogging Challenge: #1 close up — sand scarab tracks. 📷
January 2021
: I am deeply suspicious about that number of unread messages in my email InBox.
: A very happy blue morning at the beach. A (rare for this summer) perfectly blue sky, no wind, tiny …
: We watched and enjoyed Alaska Is a Drag. 🎬 It’s an off-beat, curious but intriguing movie …
: Good to see this: Tailor-made hijab now part of NZ Police uniform for Muslim female officers: …
: I’ve just enjoyed another excellent Kat Voyzey Mystery from @cheri: Cutting the Track! Cheri’s …
: OK, as a dog owner I have something to say to other dog owners. If your dog comes up to mine to …
: I enjoyed All Together Now, a happy-ending movie about a super-angelic homeless teen, the tragedy …
: At last they’ve stopped polishing my new MacBook Pro and now they’re lovingly handcrafting the …
: Today the electrician wired in the UV filter we had installed just before Christmas. He cut out a …
: Our garage was put up about 4 years ago and the personal access door lock has been a pain ever …
: Good news about our dishwasher: a 2-hour empty hotwash followed by a 2-hour hotwash with cleaner …
: Fascinating 25 minute video about how Aotearoa New Zealand uses genome sequencing data to guide …
: On Sunday I used Drafts Pro on my iPad to take notes at a meeting. I’d started the note on my …
: In today’s dumb move: our dishwasher has been failing to clean the dishes. Step one is to buy …
: I haven’t had a pan au chocolat for a very long time. This is a great size for a mug of tea too. …
: Every summer our beach community runs a Sand Sculpture competition, with categories for little kids, …
: I often long for the ‘good old days' when I could just enter a username and password to log on to a …
: The Kiwi accent [is] one of the most variable accents in the world… “Over the last 120 years every …
: There is so much to Wow about and to quote in this article: Scooped: The history of ice cream in New …
: Reminder to self — when my new M1 MacBook Pro eventually arrives, install this: Hush: Noiseless …
: We really enjoyed So My Grandma’s a Lesbian!, another Spanish movie: When Eva’s …
: Using algorithms, machine learning, and satellite technology for good: A New Method Has Been …
: I enjoyed Holy Camp! a bizarre Spanish comedy musical: two 17-year-old girls spend summer at the …
: Good point: only the impossible problems make their way to the [leader’s desk]. Everything …
: The Ōtaki Festival of Pots opened today, and I bought a garden ornament of 3 birds on driftwood: a …
: I’ve never before paid the slightest attention to the inauguration of any US President, but today I …
: I frequently admire our neighbour’s large Tīkouka or cabbage tree. What a fine specimen!
: Something to keep in mind — You Are Dying Every Day: It’s easy to see death as this thing that lies …
: The Shoreline movie theatre in Waikanae is one of those small ones with two-seater couches. Since …
: What an excellent movie! A Call to Spy: inspired by the true stories of three women who worked as …
: Processing: I’m imagining some factory worker in China polishing the Apple logo, dusting off the …
: What I currently miss most from my 2016 MacBook Pro: using my fingerprint to unlock 1Password. I’m …
: Somehow I blocked all cookies in Safari on my 2012 MacBook Pro and couldn’t log in to …
: I’m using my ‘new' old 2012 MacBook Pro while I wait for my new M1 model to be shipped. Even …
: I came to very much enjoy The Complete Tyrone Swift Mysteries seven gripping crime thrillers by …
: Waiting for a routine vet check. 🐶
: Our visiting friends have now left on the next stage of their motorcycle tour. These two bikes …
: After the tide had gone down and the heavy rain stopped my friend with the tractor took the old …
: We inherited a picnic table but never use it — we have another better one. A neighbour has an …
: Phew, short on sleep, and with visiting friends to consider, I forgot to take a suitable photo of …
: Whew, with visitors arriving shortly, my room has had its most thorough clean in ages. I even pulled …
: Ahh, photos… Here’s one reason the food at Ha’atafu Resort in Tonga was fabulous: staff caught …
: I had totally misremembered this photo taken in 2012 at Ha’atafu Resort in Tonga. This may be the …
: Folks, @cheri’s Kat Voyzey series is one of my favourites and now there’s the Kat Voyzey …
: Here are Oshi and Sasha after grooming. Oshi wasn’t being cooperative again. Check out the …
: With my computer screen full of unwanted horizontal lines, it’s hard to see photos properly. …
: Yesterday the Kohitere Forest walk fitted perfectly into my afternoon. Finding the address to start …
: On today’s agenda: getting a filling in a top left tooth and part one of a crown at top right, …
: Near the top of the hill I have a phone signal. Here I turn around whether I reached the top or not. …
: I want user-centred guides to trails: you want a 1 hour easy walk? Try Walk X. A steep walk needing …
: Probably anyone old enough to remember computer manuals will recall the earliest versions: File menu …
: I rarely change my blog design, but @odd inspired me today. Before and after shots. The new text …
: Thanks to all for the affirmations on my Micro.Blog third anniversary. 😊 This is truly a wonderful …
: Apparently this is my 3 year anniversary of posting on Micro.Blog. What a good choice that was! …
: A while back the Council erected (needless and incorrect) speed signs nearby then removed the signs …
: Whew. That 20 minute drive home from the supermarket took me around 4.25 hours thanks to the road …
: After listening to the whole of the latest Core Intuition without getting noticeably closer to home …
: Second time in just a few weeks that my trip home from the supermarket takes hours. 😒 SH1 ŌHAU, …
: John Gruber’s turn of phrase here really made me laugh — Why Parler Is Likely to Fold: Always …
: Intriguing to find sand sculpting like this on dry sand up the beach rather than by the water.
: At first I thought this was an old banana peel discarded on the beach. Then I noticed the teeth! I …
: hey @jean I enjoyed Voyager Revisited | Organics Are So Revolting (Episode 21) with Shelly Brisbin. …
: This photo should show how my MacBook Pro screen has horizontal lines where the same stuff on my …
: Usually I’d be very excited about ordering a new MacBook Pro. But, I’d hoped to wait …
: These two were about to get dinner and not being very co-operative. However, they’re due for a …
: We enjoyed the final episode of Star Trek: Discovery Season 3. Great visuals and action, satisfying …
: Interesting SciShow video: Tapputi-Belatekallim: The First Chemical Engineer: > A perfumer from …
: Last night we went with friends for dinner at Longbeach Cafe in Waikanae. Then we took a short …
: Such an interesting and practical podcast episode: Dump Your Inner Drill Sergeant: why being a …
: Sasha had a vet checkup as we’ve had a few small concerns about her health. 🐶 She’s to join …
: Re the US riots in progress in DC right now: there are huge numbers of law enforcement there. Why …
: We really enjoyed our 2 hour Whanganui River Cruise aboard the coal-fired steam-powered paddle boat …
: Off for a river cruise on a paddle boat steamer in Whanganui.
: I really dislike crime shows and thriller books which feature serial killers and prolonged scenes …
: I say I’ve never been on a cruise, but … in 1963 we emigrated from England. We travelled as 5 …
: Excited: our big trip for 2021 is confirmed: in July a five night Rakiura (Stewart Island) cruise …
: Uh oh. As of yesterday (intermittently) I need to know MacBook Pro Display Problems: Horizontal …
: Double-tap hack for launching the Covid barcode scanning app on iPhone — slightly embarrassed I had …
: Well, that’s interesting. If you press the Listen icon in Google Translate you hear the text …
: This seems a rather handy guide: Here’s How to Watch The Most Spectacular Meteor Showers of …
: We’ve so much enjoyed Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery. There is one nail-biting episode left …
: I haven’t posted any photos of my two remaining Japanese quail for a bit, so here are Fliss and …
: Woohoo, booked a birthday treat for myself in February: Wildlife Photography Workshop at Pūkaha …
: I’ve been hearing a bird with a call that sounds like a piercing ‘pee you, pee you’. It’s …
: Yay! I combined Mars Edit, AppleScript, Keyboard Maestro and BBEdit to establish that yes, indeed, I …
: Strine as! The Merger was extremely funny and infinitely more enjoyable than I expected. If you …
: I still take a selfie every day, but rarely post them here. Here’s my New Year’s Day …
December 2020
: Concluded my year by watching the just past full moon rising golden from behind a hillock. What a …
: I was down at the lake taking photos of the Royal Spoonbills when this Matuku, White-faced heron, …
: Unless you actively hate dogs I’m certain this video from WeRateDogs will bring you 7 minutes of …
: Pohutukawa or Rata in flower — I can’t tell the two types of tree apart. Also, this morning, I …
: Flax bushes are great. Birds, native and exotic, feed on the flowers. But the fibrous, stringy, …
: This is a great round-up post from feminist academic, Debbie Cameron: Not unprecedented: 2020. Her …
: Ahh, rewatched Warehouse 13 S01E01. It’s a fun show and I’m looking forward to watching …
: The great thing about summer this year is that I don’t have to get up super-early to take the …
: After reading several comments from Micro.Bloggers and this review I Wish “Wonder Woman 1984” Had …
: Humans Used to Sleep in Two Shifts, And Maybe We Should Start It Again: 💤 Some believe sleep …
: Wow, I’ve kept a log every day for over a year. Usually that kind of thing falls apart fairly …
: Oh boy, reading with a sharp eye a book by an American author and discovering innumerable fine and …
: We really enjoyed Netflix ☛ The Grizzlies. 🎬 Based on a true story, … depicts a youth lacrosse team …
: Three desserts from Christmas lunch.
: Yesterday we took the red car through the touch-free carwash in Palmerston North.
: Yesterday I visited the Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North and saw this Kākā. The facility is …
: These ducklings in the gardens in Palmerston North were very bold. 🐦
: The hunt in the next door paddock. Rabbit on the left eats grass. Wild ginger cat on the right lies …
: Our favourite dog pal Willow is visiting for the day. 🐶
: Hey @macgenie all good with you? Haven’t seen you on Micro.Blog for a few days… Just checking in…
: Another superb Aussie movie: Ride Like a Girl 🎬: Michelle Payne … became the first woman to ride …
: Tonight, Jupiter And Saturn Will Appear Closer Than They’ve Been in 800 Years: > Jupiter …
: In a hilarious rabbit hole today I learned about Ruffles and flourishes 📯🥁and how Hail to the Chief …
: We came home near sunset last night. Just before driving into the village we spotted this lit up …
: Somehow we organised two meals out on one day. For the first time ever I had beignets. Delicious. At …
: Brunch with 10 longtime friends at Field & Green in Wellington. I had a very delicious Smashed …
: Found this illegal fire on the beach this morning. Presumably still burning after last night. I …
: We enjoyed watching The Prom. Music, dancing, feel good, lesbians, happy ending. There are worse …
: OK, fellow Star Trek (Original Series) fans, give this a try: Star Force: Sci-Fisolation. LOL 🖖🏼 …
: … Writing the monthly-ish community newsletter. But first I have to make sure the community blog …
: Ages ago I used to have a bank account with ASB / Bank Direct. Today they called and said they …
: Oh dear, Fiji — Severe Cyclone Yasa (Cat5) expected to make landfall in Fiji late today one of the …
: If you wondered about that red car stuck on our beach (Sometimes people drive along the beach), read …
: Thank you @NetNewsWire for allowing me to Undo Mark All (feeds) Read when I intended to simply apply …
: Here’s one for @macgenie and others: “Hey Siri, what does a guinea pig sound like?” Apple’s …
: Ah, ‘tis the season of the Christmas bunny. Falalalalah lah lah lah lah.
: Neck bending competition this way! 🐦 Pied shags by the river.
: Today the dogs and I drove to the village, crossed the footbridge and walked down beside the river …
: Flossing for a dentist visit tomorrow. Months ago, during Shutdown, a bit of tooth fell off a …
: Here’s the longer story about that Oystercatcher egg. The dogs and I were walking from the …
: Variable oystercatcher / tōrea pango — bird and egg. Eggs bigger than a hen’s egg; birds …
: From: Semicolon: How a misunderstood punctuation mark can improve your writing, enrich your reading …
: From Semicolon… Having a more advanced knowledge of a language provides a wonderful opportunity to …
: From Semicolon… The semicolon represents a way to slow down, to stop,**** and to think; it measures …
: I had so much fun reading Semicolon: How a misunderstood punctuation mark can improve your writing, …
: I had no idea! 🎬 How New Zealand’s film industry boomed during the pandemic: > According to …
: There are worse places to be stuck in traffic than beside a vineyard.
: My trip home from the supermarket today includes an hour or two wait because the only road is …
: Link: Truncating only posts with titles on Micro.blog - The Jayeless Micro Blog Micro.blog Help has …
: Excellent movie: Misbehaviour. I was 15 when this happened, 50 years ago! 🎬 1970 Miss World took …
: I’m so much enjoying the daily readings of Maria Dahvana Headley’s translation of Beowulf. …
: I really enjoyed The Complete Merry & Neal Mysteries 6 gripping crime thrillers by Janice Frost. …
: Yes, you do want to watch this. A Canadian teenager … won a major scientific competition for an …
: Guess what! Female birds sing too. We’ve Been Ignoring Female Birdsong for Centuries: > …
: If nothing else, this must-listen, wonderful 32 minute interview will explain how a semicolon shut …
: I’m totally a fan of vaccines, but was suspicious about the speed of potential Covid-19 vaccines …
: The Maiden Statement by new Green MP Teanau Tuiono was funny and inspiring. He pointed out that the …
: I found this photo of me at Massey Memorial, 27 March 1989, just after I moved to Wellington. One of …
: At high tide the estuary was full. A bunch of the shags that normally hang out in the trees near the …
: Our household water (rainwater) is now filtered to remove particles and then passed through a UV …
: Kiwis: I only just discovered Safe Night. Let’s spread the word and help women get a safe …
: The Tribe is a Spanish comedy. It had some adult themes but was fun. Good dancing too. The human …
: Sometimes people drive along the beach, which is legally a road for historical reasons, and through …
: Absolutely magnificent: Rawiri Waititi Maiden Statement. In a very powerful speech, he insisted that …
: So relieved — I’m a ‘daytime sleepy’: Not Just Morning Larks And Night Owls: >The 6 chronotypes … …
: I really enjoyed chatting with @macgenie on the Voyager Revisited podcast 20: Voyager’s Lower …
: Ahhh, the pack’s complete. Sasha and Oshi welcomed Deb home from work last night. 🐶
: Disappointed that this seems to be only in the RSS feed and not the web version — Strong winds, …
November 2020
: This Spanish movie was on thin ice with its premise, but it was very funny. Everyone was odd. 🎬 Lo …
: Covid bust one of our major News media companies. The new owner writes: Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: …
: So Holiday Rush wasn’t great. The highlight was Sonequa Martin-Green. The children of the …
: Spanish? Basque? Swiss? A fictional Castillian village located in Basque Country tries to become …
: Now this is a Miss [placename] pageant I could support: > the Miss Navajo Nation pageant, in …
: The genius of genomics: The revolution that helped NZ quash Covid-19: > scientists worked late …
: My Mac Control Centre showed me this photo I took in Niue on 25 August 2016. It really seemed …
: This was a fun Spanish movie — Netflix ☛ Holy Goalie 🎬. Their monastery is to be turned into a …
: Excellent! I really really enjoyed this Spanish movie. 🎬 Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam Along with her …
: I enjoyed the Christmas movie Santa Girl: When Santa’s daughter, Cassie, gets a chance to …
: Yay: New Zealand Government to declare a climate emergency The Government will declare a climate …
: I’ve updated my post Countries of follow on Micro.Blog. I think I follow folks from 25 different …
: A reminder for future me: to get a list of who I’m following on Micro.Blog, given my site is hosted …
: Fascinating — why vaccine trials don’t need to take years. A Clinical Trials Expert Explains …
: While watching Rene Ritchie: 8GB vs 16GB for M1 Mac — The TRUTH About RAM! I suddenly flashed back …
: Oshi, my little shining light this morning. 🐶
: The sappy holiday movie My Christmas Inn was pretty anodyne. 🎬 It reminded me a lot of the much …
: You know, I really enjoyed reading an advance copy of The Case of the Lady in the Luggage by @Cheri. …
: I’m just loving the Crash Course Linguistics series. It’s superbly presented, clear and …
: These black clouds are looking pretty darned threatening.
: Note to future me: this Kungfood Teriyaki Chicken was delicious. Also: no onion. 😀 This …
: The small victories in life are important — Thankfulness for Tiny Triumphs: > We’d be helpless in …
: Still with Christmas movies, I watched A New York Christmas Wedding. Makes a change to see lesbians …
: Jupiter and Saturn in the evening sky around Christmas: We’re About to Witness a Super-Rare …
: I hope this Radio NZ interview video is available beyond NZ. Take 30 minutes to watch: Dolly Parton: …
: I spent an hour today weedeating a metre wide strip on either side of the first leg of our private …
: Kiwis: Tradespeople: Trading stereotypes for a job well done: A directory of women and gender …
: Heh, why we don’t blow stuff up with marshmallows, even though they have more energy than TNT: …
: The movie Netflix ☛ Joyful Noise starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton had plenty of great music. …
: Lingthusiasm Episode 50: Climbing the sonority mountain from A to P was particularly interesting, …
: Many thanks to @manton whose change to the Mac Micro.Blog app to ensure the New Post window doesn’t …
: I spent $10 on a 1 metre arm extender aka selfie stick and climbed the ladder. I was able to take a …
: I like this: What if instead of trying to be some unassailable force of moral good in the world, …
: I wish Mac Safari had a kind of ‘workspace’ concept. I have a window with a bunch of …
: I loved this cozy mystery: The Case of the Lady in the Luggage by Cheri Baker, @Cheri 📚. After …
: I just watched Netflix ☛ Star Trek Next Generation S07E15 Lower Decks, on the recommendation of …
: It was lovely at the beach this morning. The remnant lake in the estuary was calm and clear.
: I was particularly touched yesterday to receive a very unexpected Amazon gift card from a generous …
: Over the last 6 weeks I’ve rewatched all of Rizzoli & Isles. It’s such a great show! I …
: The other day, after the ferry from Auckland Central had arrived at Tiritiri Matangi island, I …
: An interesting 14 minute video: Ace of Hearts: finding a home on the asexual spectrum. It includes …
: I’ve had my Kindle Paperwhite since January 2013 and it’s been wonderful. I use it …
: 17 November 2019: the first day of the Covid era: Today Marks a Year of Covid-19: the first …
: It’s heaving down with rain right now. A few minutes ago as the dogs and I returned from our …
: Hey @martinfeld Your Lounge Rumination about gendered food and drink was very interesting. Back …
: Hmmm, I was ~19 when I couldn’t retrieve the name of the street I lived on … Trouble …
: Hmmm, another potential Scrabble word: dyspnea dyspnea — the feeling of having shortness of breath …
: I’m thrilled to see that my young Granny Smith apple tree is producing fruit this year.
: The first thing that struck me about Big Sur was the awful awful awful black menu bar. Thanks to …
: We flew right by the Marlborough Sounds today on our approach to Wellington Airport. Looking pretty …
: On Tiritiri Matangi island this pohutukawa tree is part of the remnants of native forest that …
: Bookmark for myself: Postcards from Aotearoa: Biking into the past on Ōpōtiki’s dunes trail - …
: The best was saved to last. My first ever good view of a Ruru (morepork). It’s not common to see …
: Boarding the ferry for the 75 minute trip to Tiritiri Matangi.
: Auckland Skytower last night plus fireworks. Perhaps for Diwali.
: Good to see recognition for the first inhabitants: Murriyang telescope Australia’s …Parkes …
: Hmm. Papakura pub. Rodeo on TV, Christmas songs on the speakers.
: So, 12.18GB huh? On my slow internet that’s a long download.
: Darn it. An unexplained community case of Covid-19 in Auckland means this isn’t a great time …
: Also, a handy way on MacOSX to use Terminal to get the size of a directory quickly: du -sh …
: Heh, discovered an old archive of ReadItLater / Pocket files. Briefly looked at a few. I no longer …
: We have a 50 metre driveway from the gate to the house. Today finally it wasn’t rainy or windy …
: Mistake number 1: buying frozen veges as a just-in-case back in April. Mistake number 2: actually …
: Weird reviews: on checking what others thought of my next book purchase, one review gave 1 star …
: I really enjoyed reading Murder Among Friends by Janice Frost 📚: The victim ran a group at …
: Watched the movie Operation Christmas Drop. It’s a lightweight enjoyable romcom. Utterly predictable …
: Informing yourself about the aftermath of recent events? Did you know that the ‘math’ part …
: From last night: cabbage trees and flaxes against a 9 pm sky. iPhone 11.
: This morning’s breakfast was porridge that included home grown strawberries and locally …
: Booked a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island | Bird sanctuary & walking tours for an upcoming …
: Another excellent Aussie movie. Rams: Two estranged brothers… raise separate flocks of sheep …
: Sometimes being asked for an opinion can inflate the ego nicely — it can add just a little buzz to …
: Today we had our (very high) gutter vacuumed — last done in February. I also drained the first flush …
: In Aotearoa New Zealand’s two referenda, Official referendum results: End of Life Choice: 65.1% pro; …
: It takes 3 weeks after Aotearoa New Zealand’s General Election for all votes to be counted. Results …
: Steroid shot procured so my itchy eyes, nose, throat and head fog should soon be sorted. The doctor …
: It was puzzling why my first ‘blinking LED’ circuit wasn’t working so I rechecked everything, …
: It’s been a busy day with weedeating, weeding, cutting down a stray large lupin in a seldom …
: Hey @manton I just want to say how often I find I need to edit a typo in my replies. Thank you so …
: It’s spring, damp and warm, so everything is growing. A lot of weeding and the like means I …
: This is peak hayfever time for me, and symptoms are starting to crank up. Trying to book for the …
: Deb’s no longer using my old 2012 MacBook Pro, so last night I wiped it, installed Catalina …
: Guy Fawkes Day be damned. Today is Parihaka Day: Parihaka, 5 November 1881: more than 1,500 …
: In bed and wondering why some silly fool is letting off fireworks nearby. Then I remembered it’s …
: I’ve long wanted to own some Apple shares, but $$$$$. Now however, I do, or at least 0.15 of 1 …
: I spotted this beetle on a railing near the house. It’s bright green with a reddish stripe …
: I’m holding a thought for all my US pals on this eve of such a significant election. For all …
: Wow, I was visiting the NZ Parliament website and came across a broken link. I clicked their email …
: Xena: Warrior Princess was filmed in NZ, for a US audience. One effect was that the sun rose or set …
: My favourite visitor is here today. 😎🐩
: The NZ Prime Minister has announced her new Cabinet, including more Māori than ever. Hooray! In the …
: Excellent: NZ’s May 2021 Census: will collect data on gender and sexual identity … [with] questions …
: First time in months I took my ‘big' Fuji X-T2 with zoom lens to the beach; first time ever I saw 9 …
: Aotearoa New Zealand has a lot going for it. One of those things is most definitely not its …
: Kristine Kathryn Rusch is absolutely my favourite sci-fi writer, but in a shocking first I was bored …
October 2020
: Hooray! Greens accept Labour’s offer for ‘cooperation agreement’: James Shaw … …
: In a world where there are millions of statues of men, there is now one more of a woman. …
: Excellent: even though Labour won our election outright, they’re bringing the Greens on board …
: When bots are used to fight for good: More than 200,000 abusive tweets towards female candidates …
: It’s meant to rain today — we already had a brief but heavy fall around 4 am. As I look east I …
: The day has all but disappeared and many tasks remain undone. Read an excellent book though whose …
: Cannabis will remain illegal in Aotearoa New Zealand. That means that instead of state control on …
: Disappointing result on cannabis law reform. Final results could change as remaining votes are …
: Amazing video: Interviews with Titanic Survivors done in 1979 about the events of 1912.
: Lining Figures are also available in Apple Pages, as the screenshots attest. Art Kavanagh wrote: I …
: I've found some old archive DVDs and am importing them to my MacBook Pro. This video from December …
: Woohoo, after I suggested our local Library buy this, the Library replied 📚: … Beowulf: A New …
: Oh yes, my favourite crime show trope (along with ‘enhance’, of course): zoom in on the …
: One for the Scrabblers: tmesis — separation of parts of a compound word by the intervention of one …
: Last night, while watching Discovery, I had a new experience of my own: shimmering at the top and …
: M4.5 quake 〰️: 30 km north-west of Levin Heard it more than felt it.
: For a holiday in March 2021, my draft itinerary is Day 1: Drive with bike from home to Paeroa: 6 …
: I’m looking into options for a small holiday early next year. It’s so frustrating when …
: I’ve suggested to our local Library that they buy Beowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana …
: It’s time to sell my (not very) old bike — I just don’t ride it now I have an electric bike. …
: Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris: Covid-19 and the Swiss cheese system: Twenty years ago, James …
: Multitasking. Watching NASA Live | NASA (starts now): Live coverage of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft …
: Election 2020: ‘Historical high’ - New Zealand Parliament readies for more diversity …
: Excellent video: Why Doesn’t All Thunder Sound The Same?: We’ve all experienced …
: Today’s dog walk was in the forest across the river. We stopped by the shag colony and listened to …
: Looking for something else I saw one of NZ’s most famous and best-loved TV ads: Bugger. A …
: Bug report from Micro.Blog 2.0 on Mac: the New Post window ends up behind the main window after …
: Zeptoseconds: Scientists have measured … the time it takes a light particle to cross a hydrogen …
: Our election has significantly increased diversity in our 120 seat Parliament: All eyes on Māori …
: Sharon Murdoch draws 👍 political cartoons. Our Prime Minister as author: The Second Book: OK, so …
: All ♀ should know — World Menopause Day is 18 October. Breaking the taboo: Women mixing menopause …
: This Paradise shelduck pair were calling in the cow paddock next door.
: Pleased by strong themes of hope, trust, a leap of faith, and working together in Star Trek …
: With most votes counted, that’s a decisive and historic win for Jacinda Ardern, Labour and the …
: The Wairarapa candidate, Kieran McAnulty, who seems likely to win the seat for Labour actually used …
: Polls in Aotearoa New Zealand closed just over an hour ago. Almost 2 million people voted early, …
: I thought this ad for hearing loss services was very cleverly done.
: Every month or so I drain the first flush diverter and clean the filter inside. This 60 litre tank …
: The expat Kiwis coming home They’re midwives, nurses, teachers, CEOs, engineering professionals, …
: In Good News: Lizard hunting kicks off Wellington roading project: Before work gets underway … …
: Heh, dogs keep their owners humble: Sorry, But Dogs May Prefer The Faces of Other Dogs to Those of …
: Home-grown tunnelhouse strawberries and store-bought Icelandic Vanilla Bean yoghurt. Yumm.
: Even more hilarious than usual: xkcd.com: Dialect Quiz wood mage wand. longwich 😂
: Moose, a big horse who used to be our neighbour left a few months ago. At least, I thought he was …
: At this time of year the tī, aka cabbage tree, aka Cordyline, produces beautifully scented panicles. …
: I think Netflix ☛ Away was a remarkable series. While no-one has actually travelled to Mars yet, it …
: Thanks @macgenie for the thoughtful discussion on Voyager Revisited | Neelix Has Had It With Your …
: Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway to appear in Star Trek cartoon: 👍 Kate Mulgrew is joining a …
: Put together Deb’s new bookshelves. Easy! Carefully followed the more complex instructions for …
: I’d never heard of autoethnography before, @martinfeld. An interesting episode. Good to hear …
: Every Monday I receive an email reminding me to fill out a survey for Flutracking.net | Tracking …
: The General Election in Aotearoa New Zealand is on, with voting closing in a few days time. If you …
: I’m starting to investigate a possible trip sometime to Rēkohu / Chatham Islands, a part of …
: Gave the quail a bit of a treat today: fresh straw and macrocarpa ‘roofing’. That white plastic tray …
: The book Open Season: Book One of the critically-acclaimed Seasons Mystery Series by Maryann Miller …
: Hardy whitebaiters When 15 August and the start of the whitebaiting season rolls around it is still winter. Frosty …
: Hey @help A bug report from Micro.Blog 2.0 on Mac: the New Post window ends up behind the main …
: Sex toys are one thing between consenting adults, but Internet-connected sex toys sound like a Very …
: Not quite the first strawberries of the season, but close. Yumm. Grown in the tunnelhouse.
: Today’s highlight of the trip to the beach for a dog walk: a duck crossing the road followed …
: OK, this looks like it should be a fun watch: The 355 - Official Trailer 🎬: When a top-secret …
: The other day in the dog park at Levin I heard a Tūī in the tree right next to me. This clip starts …
: Also on Lambton Quay, 6 chaps moving a very heavy looking and very large object up Plimmer Steps. …
: At Plimmer Steps on Lambton Quay, John Plimmer with his dog Fritz.
: Seen on Lambton Quay in Wellington.
: My neighbour Prof. Jan Jordan (no relation, delay via Covid) gives her inaugural lecture: “The Price …
: Today I was a good citizen and voted in the Aotearoa New Zealand general election. Polling closes on …
: With summer coming, I had a window open overnight. This morning I can hear a rooster nearby. 😎
: We’ve been really enjoying Netflix ☛ Away 📺: Away follows the first crewed expedition to Mars … The …
: Today’s weird beach rubbish find: fluorescent light tube.
: Party colours in Aotearoa. It’s so confusing seeing news about US elections because their …
: In Aotearoa everyone gets 2 votes: vote for a specific person to represent the electorate vote …
: In 2020 we also vote on two referenda in Aotearoa: give people with a terminal illness the option …
: Aotearoa is holding a General Election on Saturday 10 October 2020. We received info by mail a few …
: Hah, nice quote: If anyone tells you that such a person speaks ill of you, don’t make excuses …
: I should have known that the excellent NetNewsWire 5.1 would allow me to ‘Always Use Reader View’ …
: Window cleaning didn’t take long (outsides only). It needs a good quality sheepskin and blade, …
: Window cleaning is on the agenda today. After this week’s storm it’s like looking …
September 2020
: Our dogs don’t like it when the grass in their yard gets too long. Perhaps it tickles their …
: Past me was pretty smart and bought all the episodes of Rizzoli and Isles. I’d forgotten that …
: Hilarious, when all 3 telcos here don’t take the racist s**t 1 customer wants to throw: Uh …
: While looking for something else I found this pigeon photo from May 2004. 🐦
: Hey @macgenie Pheromones Defeat Death Ray! was an excellent episode of Voyager Revisited. I’m …
: Given up on trying to sleep while the house shakes and the wind roars. I was having weird dreams …
: Heh, watching (and laughing heaps) the black comedy Avenue 5 📺: On board the interplanetary cruise …
: Apparently today’s grooming session has caused Sasha to feel a little blurry. 🐶
: Decades ago mum mentioned something from her childhood called a “flower lee pone”. She …
: Tomorrow is grooming day for the dogs so today Oshi and Sasha had their ears and tail brushed. …
: It is an absolute mystery to me why I read Driftwood and Death (Innisstead Sands Cozy Mysteries Book …
: Last night we enjoyed Netflix ☛ Enola Holmes: 🎬 …the youngest sibling in the famous Holmes family. …
: We visited Wellington for a friend’s birthday brunch. One thing I do not miss at all is …
: Grrr, logic failure! For the last two weeks I’ve been gradually moving dog meal times in …
: The river at the footbridge was muddy, full and swiftly flowing after the last few days rain in the …
: So cool! Track tohorā southern right whales on their journeys. this particular population of tohorā …
: Cool: The Loop of Life coffin is grown from mycelium, the root network of mushrooms. … hay or hemp …
: Darn it, I finished reading Hanging Falls: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima. 📚 An …
: Sometimes I hate reading a really good book such as Hanging Falls: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by …
: Clockwork quail. In 2018 and 2019 my Coturnix quail laid their first egg for the season on 21 …
: If I were in a different country I might worry… A military helicopter came from the north (where the …
: I couldn’t really get close enough and only had my iPhone with me, but that white speck around …
: Our View of Space Is Becoming Blurrier the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large …
: After a week of westerly gales, cloud, rain etc the beach this morning was absolutely stunning.
: The Equinox | MetService Blog: Equinox is on Wednesday, but due to refraction+width of sun the …
: One of the podcasts I really enjoy is Mothers of Invention, about climate justice. The episode We …
: Ambivalent about Murder The Boys (Detective Kate Power Mystery Book 1) by Judith Cutler 📚. The bad …
: I finally got around to watching (and enjoying) Booksmart. It was both moving and funny. It stars …
: First time this season I’ve spotted ‘our’ kōtare (kingfisher).
: Wow. I updated to Apple Safari v14, then visited @cheri’s website and followed a link to one …
: Kiwis: TVNZ ☛ Origins is superb! Scotty Morrison explores the origins of the Māori people, visiting …
: Unfortunately this Common skink I found in the garden was very dead, but I was thrilled …
: I don’t know if it was the 5 am-ness, but today’s Apple Event just filled me with yawns. I …
: Ahhh, spring. Westerly gales all week, including gusts last night to 87 Kph and a thunderstorm at …
: I enjoyed reading The Death of an Ambitious Woman (Chief Ruth Murphy Mysteries) by Barbara Ross 📚: …
: This unusual driftwood made me think of a planet and satellite moon. The two tree bases weren’t just …
: Back in 2011 I came across this Porsche Spyder and an admirer on Oriental Parade in Wellington. …
: Oshi’s latest game: go out the wide open side door, through the gate and wait mournfully in front of …
: A looong book, and not for the page count: Corpse Way (The Yorkshire Dales Mysteries Book 1) by …
: It’s been chilly and rainy the last few days which means the Tararua range has snow covered …
: Nothing much happening at Foxton Estuary when I biked around up there today. Felt bad my grilled …
: When I go out I give the dogs 3 instructions: no barking, no peeing, no pooping. I don’t know about …
: A neighbour needed a lift to an appointment so we followed up with lunch at Salt and Pepper at Ōhau. …
: I was feeling grumpy about our cool weather with persistent drizzle, and looking fondly at old …
: Clocks go back on 27 September. Today I start moving dog meal times to ~3 minutes later each day. I …
: Many thanks to all those who mentioned enjoying TV+ ☛ Ted Lasso. 📺 Two episodes today cheered me …
: Today’s racism realisation (thanks Crossword clue): The Lone Ranger was not Lone: The Lone …
: Such an interesting interview (41 minutes): Georgie Harman on women and mental health: Julia …
: Another excellent read: Find Me When I’m Lost (A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Book 5) by Cheryl …
: A nice story to start the day: Scientists Clone an Endangered Przewalski’s Horse For The First …
: The calves in the paddock next door are so young the farmer still brings them a small tank of milk …
: Sometime in the past someone’s pet black rabbit must have escaped. This wild cutie is often …
: Families! 🤯 My partner was adopted very young. She grew up with one younger brother. 30 years ago …
: This ~10 minute video was way more interesting than I expected — the science and tech behind taking …
: This happened just up the road from us (about 16 Km along the beach). Locals stunned as enormous …
: Last night we watched Palm Beach, an Australian film from 2019 🎬: A reunion party is being held at …
: The river has created almost an oxbow in its lazy loop between throat and sea. It’s …
: Hmm, 5.7 but 64 Km deep and not too close: Strong earthquake occurred 10 km west of St Arnaud. Bit …
: Success: 8+ hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’ve been working on my sleep for a couple of years now …
: Ahhh, this is the time of year when the sun rises before 7 am. It feels like the year is really …
: I really enjoyed most of the stories in Voices Carry and Other Stories of Women and Crime by Dayle …
: Amazing. According to Ancient Earth globe, 260 million years ago Wellington, New Zealand (close …
: Day Two of spring and the peach tree is already in sync. Blossoms appearing.
: Timezones! (I assume.) I diligently posted at least once each day for #mbaug photo challenge, and …
: Another excellent read: Tracking Game: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima. 📚 Two …
August 2020
: For Micro Monday let me recommend @GeneticJen who is writing a magificent must-read series on Women …
: As always with love it is inexplicable. I just love Spain. The 4 weeks we spent travelling there in …
: On 04 November 2012 we made a wonderful discovery: an empty section at Waikawa Beach. By mid-January …
: Sometimes after a hard day you just flake out. My boy Ares, a few years ago now. 🐈 #mbaug
: I very much enjoyed Pretty Little Horses (an Abby Maxon mystery novel) by Annie Reed. 📚 Gripping …
: Enjoyed Gators and Garters (A Miss Fortune Mystery Book 18) by Jana Deleon. 📚 This story felt more …
: Living here is great for my emotions. Today’s special boost: the black swan pair with the five …
: This is what Aotearoa New Zealand wants: man who carried out mosque attacks in Christchurch on 15 …
: In 2008 I visited Hawai’i briefly and took a guided tour up Mauna Kea to visit the observatories. I …
: International Day of the Dog 2020, you say. 🐶 Importing some old photos and just found this, …
: ‘Yod dropping’! How do you pronounce emu? the evolution of emu to EE-mooh was an example of yod …
: Cool: Auckland Zoo welcomes first rhino birth in 20 years The baby girl rhino was born on August 14 …
: A superb 8 minute doco: Wahine Warrior about a woman who learned to hunt to feed herself and kids …
: When Olive 🐈 was about 3 years old her owners, our next door neighbours, moved overseas and …
: A special visitor today: a Barbary dove, symbol of hope. #mbaug
: In early October 2011 we spent a weekend in Melbourne, Australia. It's a lovely city, as cities go. …
: Good news on Oshi’s eye 🐶: the ulcer is down to about 20% of the surface. Previous photo from a …
: It doesn’t snow in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, but it did on 15 August 2011. Pretty …
: I enjoy the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries by Margaret Mizushima. 📚 Burning Ridge really held my …
: Sorry I didn’t respond sooner @PaulGit re your question about Shangai topiary. The photo info is …
: Graceful: this humpback whale cutting through the water beside our boat on a whale watching trip in …
: Today I was one of a dozen volunteers who planted out 3,000 spinifex and 500 pingao plants at …
: Wait… that’s a funny looking chook! 🐓
: My friend’s chooks, who I’m feeding for the weekend, enjoy a little art critique in …
: Well, today is less than 4 months since a friend of the last 2 or 3 decades was diagnosed with …
: Without a doubt Walkers Shortbread is the best shortbread. Excellent flavour and the perfect amount …
: This (free) Wu Fei track put me so much in mind of Bear McCreary’s work on Battlestar …
: Yay, it is properly raining. We haven’t had much rain for a while, and there’s about 40 …
: I really enjoyed chatting with @martinfeld, who managed to draw thoughts from me I didn't even …
: You may need to change direction to get to the next interesting point in your journey. #mbaug
: I bought the Mysterious Women story bundle. I really enjoyed Paper Bullets by Annie Reed. Well …
: In August 2015 we spent a couple of days in Shanghai. They had amazing topiary. I’d give this …
: Today’s newly learned word to save up for Scrabble: Xiphoid — Shaped like a sword, gladiate. …
: “Our” black swans have so far managed to keep all 5 cygnets alive. Perhaps the alarm calls even as I …
: Grids everywhere. Before Covid-19 Wellington used to be a destination for summer cruise ships which …
: This fern is growing its own grid. #mbaug
: Oshi saw his vet Mary today, who confirmed he’s having a huge problem with his eye. She’s …
: This cuddly little bundle went on to become my boy Ares. Photo from March 2002 before he was even 3 …
: ROFL: “Well I’m Australian and you’re wrong.” A favourite quote from Martin Feld. 39. …
: So, our election has been delayed by 4 weeks. It’s the Prime Minister’s decision, but so …
: In other news: Sasha enjoys some sunshine. 🐶
: I’m feeling very unsettled today. News soon about if our General Election scheduled for 19 …
: One of the things I love about cameras (even the iPhone 4S in this case) is their ability to freeze …
: This article has a clear explanation — Why Does Some Rain Fall Harder Than Other Rain? : When …
: Half an hour till dawn and the Moon and Venus are leading the way for the sun.
: I’d read this before, but enjoyed it again. An alternate universe novella by Kristine Kathryn …
: Another excellent read from a favourite author: Judge Me When I’m Wrong (A Charlie Mack Motown …
: This silhouette from looking southwest at sunset, earlier this year. #mbaug
: Question to US sports and/or Star Trek fans. A crossword clue and answer was: “College player …
: My Honda del Sol was first backed into by a very apologetic neighbour. One time a fire engine took …
: Back in 1998 I bought a brand-new to me second hand Honda del Sol sports car. Within a week it had …
: As expected, I very much enjoyed Catch Me When I’m Falling (A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Book …
: Waimangu Volcanic Valley is only a few Km out of Rotorua and a favourite spot. We spent only an hour …
: Last weekend we visited Rotorua, ~5 hours drive north of here. The Redwoods Treewalk was a …
: Seal season Waikawa Beach is littered with driftwood all year. Sometimes it turns up in the form of a thick …
: I love watching the dawn filter in. #mbaug
: Genomic Study Reveals NZ’s Tuatara Is Like No Other Animal According to new sequencing of the …
: Well, the klaxon sound blaring from my phone just before 7 a.m. certainly took me by surprise. Today …
: Poor old Oshi is home and resting comfortably after his surgery today. 🐶 4 teeth were extracted. His …
: On the other hand, the overnight camel trek in Morocco in 2015 was a pretty unusual mode of …
: In October 2002 we took a tour on a mini submarine in Vanuatu. It was a tiny boat with a glass …
: A couple of weeks ago Sasha had Xrays and minor surgery. This week is Oshi’s turn. He’s …
: I’m excited to see this video series: Dianna’s Intro Physics Class. I’ve long …
: Marc Chagall window, Reims Cathedral, May 1982. Photo of an old bad photo on paper. #mbaug
: In Rotorua on the Sulphur Lake sculpture trail (PDF), Rory McDougall: Ghost Soldier: For the …
: I’ll write separately about the Redwood Treetop walk in Rotorua, but at night they fill the forest …
: Another view of some of the thermal pools at Polynesian Spa, with lake beyond.
: One of the delights of the Polynesian thermal pools in Rotorua is being able to look out over the …
: Rotorua has many fine views, such as these trees in Government Gardens. #mbaug It’s a pleasure …
: Daytripping. Mt Ruapehu. #mbaug
: Am working my way through the NY Times Acrostic archive. Nearly 20 years on and I’m so aware …
: I rarely check texts before I send (I really should) so this autocorrected exchange with my partner …
: I really enjoyed Netflix ☛ Quartet 🎬: takes place in Beecham House, a retirement home for former …
: At the supermarket I spotted this unlabeled tray of weird objects in the fruit department. Turns out …
: At Ototoka Beach there was a small waterfall, maybe 3 or 4 metres high. It was enough for a good …
: This 7 minute video makes a whole lot clear about our Aotearoa New Zealand earthquakes, and is easy …
: 34 weeks! The full pollen season in New Zealand is approximately 34 weeks long and varies in its …
: We used to live near the top of Mt Victoria in Wellington, beside the Town Belt. Hundreds of pine …
: More photos from our visit to Ototoka Beach near Whanganui. The road takes you to the top of the …
: We watched NZIFF ☛ The County 🎬: full of feisty female energy … sprinkled with rousing ‘you go …
: And in today’s superb news: ‘our' swans at the lake a couple of hundred metres away have 5 babies. 🥳 …
: Remind me why anyone wants to live in Auckland … Volcanic Auckland: Which type of eruption happens …
: That church in my photo? Hooray for Google Street View: Église Saint-Roch du Muret.Almost 40 years …
: Waaay back in April 1982 my friend Janet had a VW Bug. We and 2 friends drove from Hamburg, through …
: We watched NZIFF ☛ Some Kind of Heaven 🎬: American documentary film — a stylized portrait of four …
: I enjoyed From Beer to Eternity (A Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery) by Sherry Harris to ~80% …
: We made a 300 Km round trip to Ototaka Beach near Whanganui. The cliffs are 1–2 million years old, …
: We really enjoyed the NZIFF Australian film ☛ Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) 🎬 …
: Floating in the air near treetops, this Microlight flyer near Whanganui. At first I thought it was a …
: We were up and out early today. We were the first customers for the day at our favourite local Fruit …
: We were up by dawn and watched this splendid sunrise. Yesterday’s was sheer vermilion; today’s …
July 2020
: We really enjoyed Mi Vida 🎬: Defying family expectations, 63-year-old hairdresser Lou travels to …
: We started our Film Festival with Steelers: The World’s First Gay Rugby Club, directed by Eammon …
: An upside of Covid-19: the New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 has gone online (NZ credit …
: In the Muslim calendar it is Eid al-Adha when an animal, usually a sheep, is sacrificed ritually to …
: I very much enjoyed reading Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. 📚 The book cover may be …
: Vermilion sky at sunrise, and a blackbird (I think) welcoming the dawn.
: Yay, my favourite author, Kristine Rusch, has early copies of her next books on Kickstarter 📚: …
: Started watching TVNZ ☛ Rebecka Martinsson: Arctic Murders 📺: When a childhood friend suddenly dies …
: Usually my photos of Kapiti Island are taken from Waikawa Beach, 20 Km north of here. Today we’re up …
: Just before sunset I noticed this creeping inversion layer. Odd, with cows lost in the mist.
: Somehow I’ve never read any works by New Zealand crime writer Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895 – 1982) …
: Why women policymakers are better at fighting the pandemic | World Economic Forum: COVID-19 …
: Heh, my name is on board the Perseverance rover on its way to Mars 🚀: 3 fingernail-sized chips …
: It’s been far too long since I last used our cold press juicer. Today’s mix: carrot, …
: Applescript to copy info from MarsEdit Micro.Blogger @hutaffe asked: Is there a MarsEdit plugin or something that helps to quickly share a …
: Aotearoa New Zealand has an election on Saturday 19 September 2020, so now all the nutters and …
: We watched The Kitchen: the wives of Irish mobsters, take over organized crime operations in New …
: Sasha had her stitches out today. The vet’s happy with how the wound is looking. 🐶 Sasha’s …
: World Science Fiction Convention hosted by NZ: 10 years of planning have gone into New …
: Our slightly more distant neighbour is now grazing her gorgeous part-Arab horse and its friend in …
: Somehow the big load of firewood looks pretty small once it’s stacked in the firewood shed. We …
: A former MP tells: I wake in the night shaking We can argue that women should be safe to walk …
: My job for this afternoon and tomorrow is to store 4 cubic metres of firewood — a mix of pine, …
: This praying mantis was on the garage door today. Apparently this isn’t the native mantis, but …
: Ugh, this wind drives me crazy. Mid-40s Kph speed, and gusts up to as much as 79 Kph! The noise …
: This year I’ve read and pretty much enjoyed the Nichelle Clarke Crime Thrillers, books 1 to 6, …
: I love so much that I can write text on my Mac, copy, and then paste on my iPhone without any other …
: Over the last few weeks I’ve watched Seasons 1 to 3 of One Day at a Time (2017 TV series). 📺 …
: Less than 2mm when they hatch, sunfish can grow to more than three metres long, four metres tall and …
: ROFLMAO 🤣: Breaking: there is one new case of a disgraced politician in New Zealand. Toby Manhire …
: At sunset the the horses come out to play on the beach.
: My wishlist for Micro.Blog: a way to load new posts but keep my place in the timeline. Every …
: The high-pitched Riroriro or Grey Warbler at start and end, ducks and magpies. Sorry about the …
: The weather forecaster reminded us that it snowed on 15 August 2011 in Wellington (extremely rare). …
: Next step on the Kindle: find the books I have read and remove from the device. Then finish or …
: My Kindle’s a mess. My bad habit is to start a sample book and just stop in the middle because …
: This Micro Monday I suggest @garciabuxton , Catholic, wife, mom, editrix. Ex-newsperson. Californian …
: So thrilled to have @jsonbecker on board at @Custom . 😁 He’s underway adding useful info for …
: The beach was so calm when we went down just after sunrise. I took a brief video looking southwest …
: Was outside early and spotted Jupiter and Saturn in the west. Also took this photo (L to R) of …
: We watched Netflix ☛ Urzila Carlson: Overqualified Loser. Not entirely my taste in comedy but some …
: In what world does this extract from our new oven’s manual make sense? The numbers …
: As I see the Taruruas I realise I really like living beside hills. I spent 25 years growing up in …
: Taking 5 metres (depth) of the seabed must have an effect: consider whether 50 million tonnes of …
: Wow. We have good friends in Whangārei — they live at the top of a hill: 220 millimetres [8.66 …
: If this is a boring flat rectangle, I think take-up will be slow. If a clever designer makes an …
: Excellent: Netflix ☛ One Day at a Time, S3E3, abuelita has made a ‘bouquet list’: Do you mean a …
: I was somewhat entertained by Netflix ☛ Warrior Nun Warrior Nun revolves around the story of a …
: Sasha’s throat Xray didn’t show anything to worry about. She has a little throat inflammation. …
: Our dogs are brachycephalic which means flatter faces and shorter noses, breathing problems. Sasha …
: Hmm, I just watched a preview of a movie about Marie Curie which includes her saying “My science …
: Nessie Hill encourages us all to be science communicators in this 10 minute video: How to Convince …
: Hey @martinfeld I listen to and enjoy most of the Lounge Ruminations. 😀 On #33 start at 6:15 you …
: Interesting: Why Older People Really Eschew Technology The assumption that seniors are “alienated” …
: I cleaned the window so I could see the Tauhou better. The more I watch them, the more I love them. …
: All on for Mars: The United Arab Emirates is about to launch its first mission to Mars. It will be …
: a detailed DNA analysis of the genomes of more than 800 Polynesians and Native Americans, both …
: Oh, there was a blast from my youth, when the good music was! The Shangri-Las ‘Leader Of The …
: Many thanks to @agilelisa for introducing me to musicians Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei. I found this …
: If you enjoy both nature and words then this 22 minute episode of Brit Garner’s Nature League …
: Matariki is the time when Māori celebrate the new year. The Matariki star cluster is known to many …
: This Micro Monday I suggest @kimberlyhirsh , a space mermaid sparkle goth who also is a doctoral …
: By lunchtime the Tauhou had completely emptied one feeder and the other was disappearing quickly. I …
: This applies to Covid-19 testing done in Aotearoa New Zealand, but tests elsewhere may well use the …
: One bird at the new feeder was bullying the others away so I added another feeder yesterday. We now …
: This may be handy for other users of the fabulous NetNewsWire RSS reader from @brentsimmons — …
: We enjoyed Netflix ☛ The Old Guard with Charlize Theron, even though I’m a bit over …
: Seems I bought Kindle ☛ Barbara Marr Mysteries Boxed Set back in January 2015 for $0.95, read part …
: These drongos make me angry. Aotearoa New Zealand has no community transmission of Covid-19 because …
: For those following along with my shifting my Time Machine backup to a new hard drive: I set my …
: Hmmm, Love Notes: A Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione Mystery by Penny Mickelbury just wasn’t very …
: And finally, after something like 32 hours of preparing to copy the backup from one drive to …
: Woohoo, after about 28 hours of ‘preparing’ finally my backup is copying to a new hard drive. …
: No fire without smoke And there at dawn, from behind the low hill, a thick column of grey smoke pushes up towards the sky, …
: After 5 years work, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Dark Sky Park is near Whakatū (Nelson) at the …
: Another excellent (re)read of a Cari Hunter book: A Quiet Death (Dark Peak Book 3). 📚 Very …
: I bought a new 4TB portable hard drive to replace the 1TB model that no longer seem sufficient for …
: I think Tauhou are one of my favourite birds. I put up a bird feeder near the front door a couple of …
: Kiwis, and others with an interest in Te Reo Māori, the podcast: Everyday Māori has mainly short …
: Well, that was an interesting 28 minutes: Allusionist 118. Survival: Bequest Europeans … imposed …
: Another excellent (re)read: Cold to the Touch by Cari Hunter. 📚📚 how can she investigate a …
: This Micro Monday I suggest @vanessa who often walks with her dog in some very lovely places.
: We drove to Wellington yesterday. Just north of Peka Peka traffic slowed and we passed several each …
: The Daily Quake. 〰️ Just a little ‘wave’ preceded by a sort of click then clunk like a door closing. …
: Perspective matters so much. Scared to Death had passages describing a female victim from the male …
: No Good Reason (The Dark Peak Series Book 1) by Cari Hunter was a darn good mystery story. As it was …
: Ok, I got a bit ranty but some days the injustice is just too much. ♀
: Pink hair has nothing to do with online abuse! Dr Siouxsie Wiles is an Associate Professor and head …
: Aotearoa New Zealand has now had 41 consecutive months in which the temperature has not slipped …
: Oh dear, I can see why this spammer needs to blackmail folks. Sorry your ‘a' key isn’t working …
: Today I finally managed a shot of the goose that lives along the road a bit.
: My favourite notice at the vet clinic.
: My camera feels so wrong with the 16–50mm zoom, but here are two photos of snow on more southern …
: I really needed to have known this after taking a longish call on my Apple Watch this morning: …
: Yesterday the stiff southerly was evident in the cabbage tree leaves. Today, now the cloud has …
: The Kindle book ‘Lethal Suds (Abigail Kinsman Mysteries Book 1)’ has taught me that every author …
: Last week I read The Crossing Places: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 1. I was ambivalent about it as …
: Hmmm, Scared to Death was a book I read to the end, but I’m not sure I’ll buy any others …
: Volume down for the annoying wind noise. Southerly sand storm at the beach today. The dogs still had …
: I absolutely adore the massive vocabulary of the English language. I love words in general. So …
: Well the good thing about having to get up to let Sasha out at 1 am is that I was able to load more …
: I need to be careful what I read in the hours before bed. Scared to Death (Detective Kay Hunter …
: Today I learned that Quiet parks are a thing. Wilderness Quiet Parks are large pristine areas …
June 2020
: I watched the first 40 minutes (the lecture) of this. Its fascinating stuff: Kelly Wright: …
: 5 years ago this basic Westinghouse Saturn electric oven with spiral elements was brand new. Today …
: Today I spent an hour watching the front yard as my part in the Aotearoa New Zealand Garden Bird …
: Cold southerly at the beach this morning. For once I took my camera. Photo of Kuaka (Godwits), which …
: This Micro Monday I suggest @jennifermjones , a local reporter who lives with her dog in the deepest …
: We Dig Dinosaurs was great. Host Emily Graslie does a fabulous job and has so much fun. Cretaceous …
: I knew mid-book in Lies to Tell: An utterly gripping Scottish crime thriller (Detective Clare Mackay …
: Turns out Aotearoa New Zealand is just the tippy tops of the lost continent of Zealandia: only 6% …
: We abandoned Ad Astra half way through and switched to Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire …
: Our broadband died this morning. After 40 minutes on the phone to a very pleasant person in India …
: 27-Jun-20: daily quake. 〰️ 4.9 near Rotorua, but quite deep. Shook us around slightly. I thought it …
: Ive become the fun police and have reported this nearby smoke nuisance to the local Council. This …
: I didnt realise how poor this photo was — it makes Sashas eyes look really weird. Anyway, freshly …
: It seems this year I need a section called My Daily Earthquake. There are so many quakes this year …
: Sigh, sexist assumptions… : 2,600-year-old Scythian remains … considered to be male because with …
: I was surprised by how profoundly moving this was, both the views of the ‘audience' and the music …
: The terror of the turn Some mornings it can be terrifying trying to get across the road with the steady stream of truck and …
: I thoroughly enjoyed the feel-good Netflix movie Feel the Beat 📺: a 2020 American family dance …
: First time in an extremely long time that Ive watched ISS go overhead. Experimented with night mode: …
: Hmmm, apparently my Move It Mondays are inevitably followed by Too-Tired Tuesdays! 🥱
: A day when the breeze, if any, is easterly so while the sea isn’t quite glass, it’s just really …
: Well the WWDC20 keynote was cool. I’ll be ready for a new Mac laptop in a year or two so …
: 🤣 “Historic Day”, ‘undisclosed location’ … that looks like an underground bunker beneath the pool.
: Glad to see in the 2020 WWDC Apple have made much more effort to have women presenters.
: I recently decided on Move It Mondays to start my week off right. Today was so gorgeous I took the …
: This Micro Monday I suggest @danielpunkass, creator of MarsEdit and Black Ink, podcaster with …
: Was that Venus looking in while I did my morning stretches? Starwalk said Yes. And it turns out …
: We have new neighbours. Neighhh. 🐴 👏
: Emily Graslie is one of my favourite YouTube video presenters. Now shes part of the Prehistoric road …
: Today we drove to Feilding for Deb’s birthday lunch at the Amayjen restaurant, and excellent …
: Down in the dunes this morning, this wonderful fungus.
: Rain glorious rain! It rained for more than 24 hours. Yesterday alone brought nearly 40 mm. The …
: Sleepy as last nights good shake left me awake for more than an hour. At 7.5 magnitude and only 33 …
: I did not know this: The combined gravitational pull of the Sun, Saturn, Jupiter and other planets …
: And on motorcycling: two keen motorcycling women friends (each has 2 or 3 large bikes) married back …
: A conversation with @Strandlines about gendered protective gear reminded me of a Letter to the …
: Such a fascinating and provocative 40 minute interview: Caroline Criado Perez: Invisible Women. …
: Last night Oshi drove me crazy with almost continuous barking for about 90 minutes when I went to …
: Do you know about MyNoise? I use the iOS apps, but also listen on my Mac sometimes (as now). A …
: I enjoyed Margaret Mizushima: Hunting Hour 📚: a girl has gone missing from the junior high …
: This Micro Monday I’d suggest you follow @cheri , author of some excellent cozy mysteries and …
: I love watching the signers on Government briefings. The signer just now seems particularly …
: I know, slightly, the author of the NZ Health and Disability System Review, so am not surprised that …
: Excellent! Aotearoa New Zealand has free health care for all but the system was run down over a long …
: Awww, after 50+ years Diego gets to go home: Diego the giant Galapagos tortoise whose tireless …
: Good read: Seven of Nine Was Always Queer: 📺 🖖 🏳️🌈 So much of what Seven does on Voyager is to …
: The person who bought my old Fuji X-M1 camera body very kindly shared some links and tips about …
: I could see it was cold out (-2C) when I woke at 4.30. Dawn showed the frost that went with the low …
: This good-looking fellow was resting his head on the fork of the tree beside him … until I took out …
: What would it feel like, I wonder, to scan the TV and movie listings in something like TV+ or …
: Ive been watching the TV+ series Dear… Its uplifting and inspiring. Each episode looks at the life …
: Just rewatched the 14 minute SciShow video There Are More Than Two Human Sexes which so clearly …
: Niue The World’s First ‘Dark Sky Nation’ 🇳🇺 the International Dark-Sky …
: Geraldine farmers go to bat for endangered species [farmers] planned to cut down a row of willows …
: Fungi at the beach — a benefit of driftwood. Sometimes I think Ive learned nothing about taking …
: A huge downside to committing to learning a bunch of songs / waiata in the Māori language / Te Reo …
: Kiwi company Lanaco makes wool face masks, used in bushfires and for Covid-19. They even bred sheep …
: Warm fronts? Cold fronts? This 5.5 minute video from the UK MetOffice explains well: What are …
: For Micro Monday let me recommend @dejus , a Kiwi living in the US who keeps us entertained with his …
: What fabulous news for Aotearoa New Zealand re Covid-19 today: 🦠 active cases: Zero 28 February to …
: Waiata #4 to learn: Ko Mātou Ko mātou, te rōpū mahi e Ko mātou, te …
: We really enjoyed watching Netflix ☛ Space Force 📺 Space Force is a workplace comedy series that …
: Hmmm, Feedbin has been down for hours now. I’m missing my RSS feeds…
: Waiata #3 to learn: E toru ngā mea E toru ngā mea Ngā mea nunui E kī ana Te …
: At 13.5 Oshi has developed arthritis so now visits the vet quite often. 🐶 He has 1/2 a Carprieve …
: I read Bullets and Beads (A Miss Fortune Mystery Book 17) by Jana DeLeon. 📚 Can Fortune, Ida Belle, …
: In 2010 I bought a basic Avanti bike that served me well. In 2018 I bought a much better bike so …
: At last, haircut day. Before (with 3 months growth) and after. Really enjoyed chatting with my …
: I just don’t like the look of these clouds…
: Waiata #2 The next waiata I want to learn is Hokihoki tonu mai: Hokihoki tonu mai - Again and again …
: This 2.5 minute video is really cool. Now I know why no-one would ever put on flop-flips to zag-zig …
: I’m watching an excellent free course called Finding Purpose and Meaning In Life Just came …
: Ohhh, absolutely ROTFFL hilarious: Netflix ☛ Hannah Gadsby: Douglas. Definitely NSFW. She is so so …
: Waiata #1 I want to continue extending my knowledge of Māori language and culture. My current …
: Wow, it’s 4 years since I listed anything on TradeMe. I hate selling stuff, but have several …
: This week I’m on a free learning binge. Currently watching: Robin DiAngelo on topics such as …
: I noticed this patch of iceplant among the Spinifex at the beach this morning. Not sure if its the …
: Terminology can be such a pain. The intersection of State Highway 1 and Waikawa Beach Road is a …
May 2020
: Some here might like to look at the four drone photos of Waikawa Beach posted by a local on Twitter …
: Oshi gets close, while Sasha has that classic over-the-shoulder look. 🐶
: Babylon 5 1994–1998, one of my all-time favourites. Set on a future space station, with a 5-season …
: This aftershock woke me: 4.7 at almost 11pm last night. 〰️ A bit worrying, but I soon went back to …
: Oooh, Apple TV+ has ordered: “Hedy Lamarr,” a new eight-episode limited series Lamarr was an actor …
: Safari (Mac) helps me see a problem website better. Sharesies is excellent but the text is too small …
: Eureka 2006–2012 was a ‘hidden’ town of fictional science geniuses and their crazy …
: In Aotearoa New Zealand now it seems surreal to keep on with distancing, sanitiser etc, because: …
: Ive lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for ~57 years and never heard of “Moving Day” till now. Mind you, …
: Warehouse 13 2009–2014 was a fun show about retrieving and storing artifacts with dangerous powers, …
: Ohhh, Im not even half way through Legends of Tomorrow 514 and may not be able to finish because Im …
: I’ve decided my own June challege — I’ve just decided to have a No-Apostrophe June (starting now). I …
: Sanctuary 2008–2011 starred Amanda Tapping (of Stargate fame). The Sanctuary helped and sometimes …
: Lovely: Out a 10 minute short movie on Disney+. 🍿🌈 a young gay man who has not yet come out to his …
: It was a stunning morning, so my neighbour Chris and I drove our electric bikes to Peka Peka and …
: In Star Trek: Voyager 1995–2001 Captain Kathryn Janeway leads her crew home from the Delta Quadrant. …
: Waaaay back on 29 February I ordered this bike bag from AliExpress. Then Covid-19 happened. Tracking …
: There are two of these plants in the dunes and each year I forget their name — it’s a Yucca. …
: The X-Rite Color Challenge and Hue Test was interesting, and I was pleased with my score of 4 (where …
: Well, I definitely enjoyed Onward, which surprised me a little. Two brothers go on a quest for magic …
: I’m declaring an earthquake emoji: 〰️
: One of the ways to stop smaller ornaments falling off shelves in an earthquake is Museum Wax. …
: We’ve been having aftershocks, most not noticeable. This 5.2 got me up though. Two tiny things fell …
: Xena 1995–2001: a formidable warrior, reformed baddie. Had an intense relationship with Gabrielle, a …
: I enjoy starting my day with a Tom Scott video, like this 5 minute explainer: Ə: The Most Common …
: Watched Mulan which was fun. It’s based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan — a young woman who takes …
: Buffy 1997–2003 was glorious. It introduced creative language use and a young woman who literally …
: M5.8 quake nearby really shook things up I was doing a crossword on my MacBook Pro when with no warning at all the house started to really …
: Alert for aftershocks now. There have been a few minor shocks since then ~3.6 that we haven’t …
: Thanks for all good wishes. Earthquake was sourced about 33Km away, 37Km deep, mag 5.8. Our house is …
: SUCH a big earthquake I actually left the house. Minor things fell off shelves. All ok. More later. …
: Next week’s Micro.Blog Challenge is about Artwork and drawings — our own or others. I …
: Miss Fortune Mysteries by Jana DeLeon. This series remains fresh and humorous, even though there are …
: I have a final Book recommendations challenge item coming tomorrow. 📚 But here’s a bonus …
: Actually just watched an ad (for Ecosa mattresses) all the way through, instead of skipping, because …
: This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. One thing every single human being alive has in …
: My pal Rachel McAlpine, writer, podcaster and blogger, contributed this very interesting 17 minute …
: We thought we spotted 3 sheep in the next door paddock but one. Unusual for a cow farm, but not …
: Numbers and the Making of Us: Counting and the Course of Human Cultures. We can count up to 3 …
: We watched Captain America: The First Avenger over 2 nights and it wasn’t bad. Great to spot …
: Clam Consternation Everyone comments on how many rubber gloves wash up on Waikawa Beach. There's a strong suspicion …
: I watched Batwoman, reluctantly, because of Ruby Rose. The show was too dark and gruesome for my …
: I’ve been part of only a very few Zoom calls and everyone else knows more than me about using Zoom. …
: Take Control of the Mac Command Line with Terminal by Joe Kissell harness the power of the Unix …
: Last week I thought we had a frost. This morning we definitely did!
: The Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Mystery and Sci-Fi all wrapped up in space …
: Tl;dr: the website Free Online OCR does a fantastic job extracting text from screenshots. I really …
: The Renegat by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Sci-Fi. One of my all-time favourite authors, this particular …
: Every 6 weeks or so I move the quail to a new spot. Here they are, near the house. It was a major …
: Book recommendations challenge. 📚 I’m being totally self-indulgent and hopping in a time …
: We watched Fisherman’s Friends, an excellent British film based on a true story. 🍿 … about a group …
: We watched and thoroughly enjoyed The Half of It, a movie about love and friendship. 🍿 It’s a …
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Violet sky in Niue. 📷
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Indigo. Pukeko. 📷
: I watched the first episode of The Bionic Woman which dates all the way back to 14 January 1976! 📺 I …
: We’ve been watching Miss Scarlet and the Duke. 📺 It has potential but doesn’t seem to quite gel. …
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Blue. 📷
: Oh hooray! Years ago the National (conservative) government cut adult education to shreds. Our …
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Green. 📷
: With confirmed daily new cases of Covid-19 in single digits or 0 for 4 weeks now, today Aotearoa New …
: Sunrise to the Northeast of me, neighbour’s house to the Southwest. I glanced out to see the …
: Ahhh, the Legends of Tomorrow episode Freaks and Greeks was good fun. Plenty of leading women, and a …
: My favourite news item of the day: Aotearoa New Zealand Director-General of Health Dr Ashley …
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Yellow. 📷
: Apart from it being dark by the time the delivery driver tried to find our place, our first online …
: Took a little drive to Paraparaumu today to pick up the frozen dog food brand I prefer. I enjoyed …
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Orange. 📷
: Photos: Colour-A-Day Challenge: Red. 📷
: Good news for us: interest in fresh New Zealand produce is surging in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. …
: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata. He tāngata. He tāngata. — What is the most important thing in …
: Wow! Dolly Parton is quite something: singer and philanthropist: 100 million books given away for …
: Seven: “You have assimilated enough for one day. You have also provided invaluable assistance …
: Clean and sweet smelling dogs. 😀 🐶 I retook the photo of Sasha because she did a giant yawn. I …
: Two shaggy dogs have been dropped off at the groomers. 🐶
: “Ever since my first day on the job as a Starfleet Captain, I swore I’d never let myself …
: Wow, just watched episode 1 of The Andy Griffith Show. Ron Howard, aged about 6! I used to watch …
: Finally replaced our 45 litre emergency water supply with fresh, bleached, drinking water. …
: It’s been ages since I last used Screenflow. It just took me several hours to make a 40-second …
: I’ve had problems with motivation the last few days. Today I’m trying to shake things up …
: Curbs happen. Sometimes when you least expect it. – Suzan Davis: Drop Physical, Mental and …
: The last few days we’ve had cloud, rain, and even the occasional thunderclap, and a rainbow. 🌈 …
: At last. We had actual rain for a few days — almost 68 mm all up. That’s nearly 4,500 litres …
: Buffy: If the apocalypse comes, beep me. 💬
: So good to read this from our Police Commissioner about community checkpoints: our approach has …
: Lao Ma: Nothing is soft as water. Yet, who can withstand the raging flood? 💬
: Usually Ravel’s Bolero drives me to be elsewhere, but this video is not only astonishingly …
: Thank you @brentsimmons for Undo Mark Older as Unread in NetNewsWire! My finger slipped. Phew!
: Our tunnelhouse is still producing capsicums and aubergine. Small, but still perfectly good. These …
: Delenn of the Minbari: Withdraw or be destroyed! Earth Force: Negative! Do not force us to engage. …
: I’d like to thank @macgenie for allowing me to chat with her on Voyager Revisited episode 14 …
: I haven’t read these books yet, but am downloading a few: 13 Legally Free Digital Queer Books …
: Aussies tend to make great telly (and movies) and My Life Is Murder, starring my favourite, Lucy …
: Thanks to the many folks who said they were looking into or already using Kiva to help business …
: Aotearoa New Zealand is in a lucky position to trace the virus spread around the country: …
: For years now I’ve been lending money to individual business women in need via Kiva, usually $25 at …
: We’ve had a bit more than 100 mm rain in the first 4 months of the year. The forecast for the next 3 …
: I really enjoyed Frozen II. 🍿Great plot, music and animations. A favourite: the singing reindeer. …
: Hmmm, at 13.5 it seems Oshi and Sasha are now officially in old age. 🐶 The vet confirmed Oshi has …
April 2020
: Finally finished Take Control of Apple Watch. I recommend it, even if you think you know all about …
: A septic tank deals with our waste and that’s fine by me. More houses should be independent in …
: A specially good reason to ride my bike around the village today. Blue skies, sunshine…
: Every day I check my On This Day page. Today I found two mistakes: a missing word in a 12 month old …
: This angel is guarding a gate in the neighbourhood. A cheerful addition.
: As we move down one Alert Level in Aotearoa New Zealand things are looking good. New confirmed cases …
: I’ve been reading Jeff Carlson’s excellent Take Control of Apple Watch and picked up a few tips in …
: These two videos might be helpful for some of us: Relieve tight shoulders with self-massage! and …
: Tonight’s viewing: Avengers: Endgame. Hard to believe this was one of the highest grossing …
: Last night we watched 2 movies, Outsourced and Greenfingers. Both were lightweight and enjoyable. …
: This is the ‘south track' to the beach. Nice, eh!
: This Thrush was hanging round near the kitchen window this morning. 🐦
: Back on 29 February 2020 I ordered a bag to go on my bike’s carrier. It took them a while to ship …
: Our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is so good in press conferences. Journalist asks a great …
: Buying — it’s a bargain! The Mysterious Women StoryBundle Curated by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: … …
: Personal submission to Horowhenua District Council Annual Plan 2020/2021 Key projects: … connecting shared pathways…With a recent steep rise in the popularity …
: Flax leaves (and those from toitoi and cabbage trees) are a nightmare when I weedeat around the …
: I’ve just discovered the NY Times Acrostic puzzles and I just love them. Can’t get enough. …
: They were lost and now are found… I’m gradually cleaning up the overgrown tunnelhouse. Found 2 …
: Great news today that Aotearoa New Zealand’s transmission rate for Covid-19 is R0.48. A week …
: I was just pondering an approach like this the other day: 🐶 the experimental project, which is …
: Glad to be part of of FluTracking: 😷 to develop a system that can provide: Community level …
: The second Ilsa Evans book in the Nell Forrest series and equally enjoyed: Ill-Gotten Gains 📚 A …
: On the edge of the estuary, these grasses / rushes caught my attention today. Very textured.
: I’m loving being able to see and edit the Pages on my 3 different Micro.Blogs with the alpha …
: June Almeida peered into her electron microscope in 1964, she saw a round, grey dot covered in tiny …
: Thanks to ‘On This Day’ I found that 2 years ago I did an online hearing test. Today I tried it …
: Oh happy day! The alpha of Mars Edit shows my pages from 3 Micro.Blog blogs as well as a WordPress …
: As you were… This Covid–19 version of Waikawa Beach, with roads empty of cars, vans and trucks, is how some …
: 👍 decisive action. On the chart the red line is the model for how many Covid-19 cases Aotearoa New …
: Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes high quality sci-fi. Recommended: Diving Series is 1/2 off! First …
: I really enjoyed reading Nefarious Doings by Australian Ilsa Evans. Engaging text and character, …
: Thanks to John McWhorter in the excellent Lexicon Valley podcast episode The Many Meanings of Too …
: I hopped out of bed and spotted this pheasant watching me from the rail of the dog yard fence. I …
: I did sleep last night but with winds gusting up to 80+ Kph it wasn’t a good sleep by any …
: I just finished reading Nichelle Clarke Crime Thrillers, Books 1–3 by LynDee Walker, and …
: The farmer next door runs dairy (not by us) and beef (over our fence). Today though there were 4 …
: While looking for something else I came upon this photo I took in 2013. Oystercatcher. 🐦
: Two very surprising finds in the news: first name only and lack of upper case for Queen Elizabeth …
: I’m glad homeless people will have (temporary) houses, but what bugs me about this is the …
: Emily Graslie works for the Chicago Field Museum and is one of my favourite YouTubers. She has such …
: This ‘fountain’ in our back yard was courtesy of the warning light on our septic tank. First I …
: This is such a clear explanation: How Privacy-Friendly Contact Tracing Can Help Stop the Spread of …
: There was a bit of a swell in the sea today. First walk on the beach together with Deb in ages.
: Apparently the farmer’s tractor, with post hole digger attached, is the place for all the cool …
: 👍 👍 Maybe handy: Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, …
: Waaaaay back on 13 February 2020 (about a lifetime ago now) I ordered a pair of neoprene booties …
: A bubble of one's own When things happen at Waikawa Beach the caring side of the community really shines through. A few …
: I’ll see your cat Paladin on the railing @dejus and raise you a dog on a tower of beds. Oshi. …
: The Levin New World supermarket had things well-organised this morning. Just as I was wishing …
: Our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is amazing. Relaxed, authoritative, really knows her stuff. …
: Our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, says statistics suggest we have only 25% Covid-19 infections as …
: I’ve been queuing for 40 minutes since the supermarket opened and have just reached the sign telling …
: A great read: Slanging match slang is not and never has been an exclusively male preserve. But each …
: I keep intending and forgetting to go to the beach to watch the sun set. Tonight I finally made it.
: So rewarding to do a cryptic crossword again (it’s been a while). The intuitive leaps, the …
: I looked up at the end of a photography training video to see the sun had set and the sky looked …
: Self isolation Day 6 (or maybe 7 or 8): a beach walk with dogs. Looking south and looking north.
: My partner Deb’s current commute.
: Ugh, today is my least favourite day of any year: April Fools Day. I hope there’s no stupid …
March 2020
: First full day of my partner working from our 70 square metre home was revealing. I thought her job …
: This is our temporary new neighbour. Sadly, she’s alone in her paddock, but she seems very …
: A tranquil river on a peaceful day.
: Well, Aotearoa New Zealand has had its first Covid-19 death: an older person with underlying health …
: This is great news for the future: Virtual consultations very effective - doctor A family doctor …
: Fascinating. See what happens in an epidemic if more or less people self-isolate. Even a few …
: With pouring rain and a cold southerly, today I lit the fire for the first time this year. Just a …
: How many times can the media, on behalf of the public ask if it’s “alright to drive to the beach or …
: The anatomy of our society This pandemic lays bare the anatomy of our society. Our response to the imminent threat of mass …
: I had a very anxious 10 minutes this morning when I went to wake up my MacBook Pro and …
: What great news! Christchurch mosque attacks: Gunman pleads guilty to all charges The man [accused …
: Recently added items at the Department of Obsolete Phrases: Cooee, anyone home? While you were out… …
: When our lives go sideways When World War 2 broke out my parents were in their early 20s. Dad was sent off to war and ended up …
: Ah, finally someone has broached the subject we don’t want to think about. In Aotearoa New Zealand …
: So very pleased to hear our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, switching from the word ‘lockdown’ to …
: Capons! Who knew I knew that word!? One of the things I love about @danielpunkass Black Ink - Solve …
: Aotearoa New Zealand is now pretty much in lockdown. Level 3 alert, but in 2 days time, Level 4 …
: NZ’s leading health professionals and relevant scientists are all saying we should go to Level …
: OK, this morning I’ve had my seasonal flu shot. The road was quieter than usual.
: Hmmm, 11pm and I ought to be asleep.
: Went with a friend to a cafe for breakfast this morning. Cafe capacity has been reduced(?) to 80 and …
: I love the rare occasion when I meet online pals in real life. @JohnPhilpin visited today and I …
: This 7 minute doco is something for our cat lovers: Fishing Cat: The Cat That Hunts Underwater. 🐈 …
: My favourite quote, now we’ve learned folks 70+ should stay home: Prime Minister Jacinda …
: Some fisher lost this, presumably crab pot.
: The last numerous episodes of Legends of Tomorrow have been irritatingly sidetracked by silly old …
: So, Aotearoa New Zealand’s borders are closed to all except returning Kiwis. The ban applies …
: Earlier I noticed Oshi licking rather than drinking from the dogs water fountain. Then I realised …
: About blimmin time!! Parliament removes abortion from Crimes Act - Beehive.govt.nz Abortion has …
: This photo isn’t specially great, but it marks a first for me: analyse what I wanted to capture, …
: Did a grocery run — the supermarket featured emptied shelves, busy shelf stackers and overflowing …
: Detailed, useful scientific information: Siouxsie Wiles: How testing for Covid-19 works How the …
: It’s an absolute gorgeous day today. Blue sky, sunshine and clear. And the beach for kilometers is …
: Wow! NZ has created a huge Economic package to fight COVID-19. the most significant peace-time …
: I haven’t read this free ebook, but the Take Control series is stunningly good Take Control of …
: Heh, my partner and I often have a phonecall while she drives to or from work. I’ve realised ‘car …
: If you have school-age kids you might want to watch this 4 minute video with them: How to to create …
: Every few weeks I move the quail to a new spot on the flat area of grass below the house. Today Flop …
: Normally I’d tell people Facebook would be the last place to get reliable info. But when the …
: Kiwis: this is a very well written explainer: How to run a country in a pandemic Rules of …
: I set the old iPad up again to see how the ginger kitten in the garage is doing. Something was off …
: If you or someone you know is transgender or non-binary then this is a must-watch 12 minute video …
: NZ derives significant income from tourism and the last decade or two has really pushed tourism. …
: So pleased we have a sensible government, and an excellent Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Watch …
: Hmm. 3 health questions but only requires action if the “answer” (singular) is “yes”. Do all 3 need …
: With autumn come the early morning inversion layers. What a difference the moment of sunrise from …
: Arrived home from a bike ride to hear a weird noise in the garage. On investigation I found a …
: I’ve been working my way happily through the RNZ podcast series Elemental. The episode on …
: In Aotearoa New Zealand the clocks go back an hour on Sunday 05 April this year. I’ve started the …
: A recycling idea that failed The folks at Waikawa Beach are keen recyclers. The Horowhenua District Council a few months ago …
: 14,000 litres of clean fresh water to fill our tank. Now we have a declared drought and with no real …
: Whew! I took a photo at the beach but at home my iPhone 11 refused to turn on. This worked: Quickly …
: Every day I check the wind flow map for Aotearoa New Zealand and our little spot on it. Today shows …
: Hmmm, I find Batwoman grim and very hard with all the torture and whatnot. Yet the episode Grinning …
: And lo, two trim and tidy dogs. 🐶 Sasha and Oshi after the groom.
: Shaggy dogs before grooming today. 🐶 Bonus photo from March 2007 when they were only a few months …
: Good to see this plan to make NZ predator free by 2050 Department of Conservation … goals for …
: This 300 page PDF by a pro photographer was definitely worth the US$13 I paid for it: Secrets To …
: At last I know what makes some of the tracks on the beach. Sand scarab beetle Pericoptus truncatus …
: I should remember this when I’m so often tired: Ringing in ears keeps brain more at attention, less …
: Watching Charlie’s Angels 2019. It’s a lightweight undemanding movie for a Sunday …
: The literal tail ends of the RNZAF Black Falcons on their way to the Wellington Pride Parade. I …
: Oshi approves of the new rug for the front door. The rug should add a bit of colour for winter. 🐶
: Last night I set up my old iPad Air 2 with a motion sensor app in the garage and caught a million …
: 3-yearly cervical smear. ✅ Tetanus booster shot. ✅ Shingles vaccine. ✅ Breakfast at Taper. ✅ Now …
: The transformative power of a 3-letter word I was so concerned by an article in the Horowhenua Chronicle today I immediately wrote a Letter to …
: This is exciting, scary stuff: using non-printing zero-width characters to hide information, perhaps …
: Every year the Māoriland indigenous Film festival is in Ōtaki, just down the road. Every year I end …
: This cute little 6-month old Tibetan Terrier was waiting for his mums to order their lunch at the …
: Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. I’ve been invited to …
: This was our Fox Terrier, Harriette, back in 2004. She definitely shed. You could bathe her and …
: Drat. Much-needed dog groom cancelled last minute because of a death in the groomer’s family. The …
: Next time someone asks why a woman didn’t just leave a violent relationship this is one …
: Aha! 10 minutes later and the farmer’s turned up to feed out hay. No wonder the steers are all so …
: I don’t know what set off the steers in the next door paddock but they suddenly all decided to hoot …
: I really enjoyed the movie 3 Generations. Teenager Ray realizes and pursues his true identity as …
: This grubby, shaggy, smelly girl (and her equally everything brother) will be groomed this week. 🐶 …
: Portrait mode helps me see this 2-metre Kowhai I planted amongst the bracken etc. Now wondering if I …
: In the superb (free) The Science of Well-Being Course sometimes an aspect of vision is used to …
: Woohoo. I happened to post a photo on 31 January, so even though I haven’t yet done the …
: Success, the tiny stray / feral ginger kitten trapped in the neighbour’s garage ran straight …
: Time to leap into a gorgeous new day.
February 2020
: Hey @Bix Apparently one can manipulate images on a Mac via Terminal with SIPS. Try “mac command line …
: Re my last: Ever since my first day on the job as a Starfleet Captain, I swore I’d never let …
: Today is where I realise I should have stuck with NZ time for the photo challenge instead of trying …
: Our neighbour’s house is slightly below ours. These marquees on their lawn are ready for their …
: Kiwis — want to know about vaccinations we can / should have? See New Zealand Immunisation Schedule. …
: This 20 minute discussion between 2 doctors is a must listen: I’m a grown-up. What vaccines do …
: This is pleasing. Not only do we sometimes get 4 or 6 hours of free electricity with Genesis, but we …
: I’ve only just downloaded, but am keen to read Take Control of the Mac Command Line with Terminal. …
: Downloaded Tot notes app to try it out. The website doesn’t want to work in Safari on my Mac …
: These two have been together (and with us) for a little over 13 years now. Sasha and Oshi. 🐶
: For some this is their weekend escape. For me it’s pretty much daily enjoyment. Beach, sea, Kāpiti …
: This little cutie stunned herself flying into our window. I believe she’s a juvenile European …
: This is amazing! Russian Multiplication: A Different Way to Multiply. Video, 7 minutes. In Russian …
: This speedbump doesn’t seem much of a hurdle, but I have to bike over / round 3 of them each …
: Messing about with my camera at the beach at sunrise with ground mist.
: Yesterday, while savouring my bike ride, I noticed this lovely tree by the footbridge, rustling in …
: Katherine Johnson, key black female mathematician for NASA’s Apollo flights died 24 February …
: I wasn’t seeing double today. The single skinny ginger cat that’s been hanging around is …
: Hmmm, that moment when you think your partner’s at work but Find her in Wellington Harbour on the …
: I was experimenting with camera settings. In the foreground are a juvenile and an adult black-backed …
: Not my photo: Nicolas Janberg. When I lived in Dūsseldorf it was a real spectacle in April 1976 to …
: Progress just doesn’t go in straight lines.
: I was watering, when a grey ‘leaf’ on a flax stalk moved. On closer inspection I found a moth, about …
: The bark on this driftwood (now in our garden) looks like scales.
: The dogs and I love having plenty of space for our walks.
: Interesting times ahead One of the delights of Waikawa Beach is that there are no commercial services: no cafe or coffee …
: Some people oppose the use of 1080 for poisoning the many introduced predators that eradicate our …
: This is more of a saved bookmark for me: Proper Technique for Paddling a Kayak. The proper …
: I don’t go tramping in the bush, but the easily accessible forests and bush are silent. …
: Another interesting Tom Scott video: Sentences Computers Can’t Understand, But Humans Can. …
: The takahē is a very cool bird. Of only 418 in the world two live on Kāpiti Island. They’re …
: After a weekend of wandering the trails on Kāpiti Island looking for birds I find today I need a …
: North Island Robins are so obliging. They come down to the track to get the insects you disturb by …
: When the bird you’re trying to get a photo of is high in a tree so you’re craning your neck …
: Can you see Australia? Me either. It’s over there somewhere though, several thousand kilometers …
: The bird life on the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve is phenomenal. That’s what can happen when …
: This Kereru sat quietly on an eye level branch about a metre away from me. They’re large and …
: Luckily it’s a warm day for a trip to Kapiti Island. The boat ride took 10 minutes.
: On Kapiti Island the hills are covered with bush and there are so many birds! This weka was hanging …
: Looking south from our deck we can see the neighbour’s house, and the hill that marks the …
: Thank you so much to all the many folks who’ve sent birthday wishes. What a wonderful thing to wake …
: This time last year I came to watch the sunset the evening before my 64th birthday. I decided to do …
: After listening to an interview on a podcast, I decided to try this free course The Science of …
: Weather willing, our weekend destination is Kāpiti Island. I hope to walk to the top, and to see …
: There comes a time when a cone no longer has a strong attachment to its tree.
: Luckily my kayak fits in the car. I drove to the footbridge today where the water was green, rather …
: Today’s beach rubbish haul was an odd collection: polystyrene, a cassette from a …
: The river mouth is a vast plain of sand and water. It’s around 10 hectares or 26 acres of …
: You might think I took this photo yesterday BEFORE I filled the rabbit hole and stuck in a board to …
: At the all-purpose entrance to our beach is sign overload. The two small signs below the speed limit …
: This Cynthia Erivo - “Stand Up” - Oscars 2020 Performance is just magnificent! From the …
: I always love seeing this. Landskein.
: When there’s a lull in activity and I fancy sitting at the picnic table on the deck, the last …
: Contrast: tire marks and smooth sand. I’m so glad the tide comes up each day to wash away the …
: Watched an excellent Australian movie: Top End Wedding: The film stars Miranda Tapsell as Lauren, a …
: In 2002 Deb and I visited Vanuatu for a holiday. We travelled to Mount Yasur, an easily accessible …
: 🤯 : ‘ard’ is a real suffix in the english language just like ‘ly’ or ‘ify’, … ‘ard’ means ‘too …
: We very rarely get seaweed of any kind on our beach, but today there was a small patch of this …
: Darn, this was from Monday and I’ve forgotten what site I was on. Whenever I have to choose …
: I like things on my computer to be ‘just so’. Most windows should be tucked up to the top left …
: Oshi’s had his duck since he first came to live with us at age 3 months. He ignores it most of …
: These interesting fungi were hanging out in the strawberry patch.
: Every morning Sasha jumps on the bed for a cuddle. Then she settles down in her favourite spot at …
: It took me a stupid amount of time to find this small photo. My new electric bike isn’t the …
: It’s rare for there to be absolutely no wind. This sand dune reflection is actually from 2017.
: That’s what I wanted. Tired at the end of the day but had the urge to go for a little bike …
: I read and very much enjoyed Triana Moore, Space Janitor: The Complete Humorous Sci Fi Mystery …
: It’s not just me and folks I know: How employers are freezing the over 50s out of the job …
: This sight has dominated our local summer. A dreary landscape. Grey skies, drizzly mist. I’m sick of …
: Odd but pleasing dreams: a stunningly iridescent blue butterfly 3 times the size of a Monarch, that …
: Although I did my best to clean our gutter recently it was seeming to overflow when we had any …
: I took my new bike for a ride beyond the village on to the ‘open' road. 13 Km all up. I started with …
: Turns out buying this Gepida Reptila 800 electric bike took most of the day. I’ve had one quick 8.6 …
January 2020
: Nice: Picard S1E2: people are working on a formerly Borg cube and a sign says: “This facility has …
: Not only is Kristine Kathryn Rusch my favourite author in the sci-fi genre, but she also writes …
: Good news for Waikawa Beach: we’re to get a new road: Three of New Zealand’s top 100 …
: This was a truly interesting 25 minute video with two of my favourite YouTubers: What should museums …
: I am so glad to see a little sun after a week of unrelenting drizzle. My mood lifted almost …
: At Taper cafe in Levin I had my first ever (onion-free) quesadilla. It was so delicious! At a nearby …
: It’s mid-summer, theoretically. We’re having day after day after day after day of cool, …
: I just loved The Case of the Karaoke Killer by @cheri . It flowed very smoothly and the story was …
: Here are some views from the motorcycle level of the numerous cars on the ground floor. So many …
: Then look at this 1895 Benz Velo.
: The Southward Car Museum has something for everyone, even those not interested in vehicles. Look at …
: This 5.4 quake 67Km deep shook us awake. There was a gentler one 4 hours ago, just to get us in the …
: Oh, and Legends of Tomorrow Episode 501 was bizarre, chaotic fun, but can I really hope that …
: I’ve been lukewarm on Arrow TV show for a bit; skipped a few eps here and there. 💤 Now the Crisis …
: Our motorcycling friends from up north are visiting. Breakfast at Taper in Levin. They had just …
: Late last year volunteers planted Spinifex (silvery) and Pingao (golden) in the dunes. They are …
: Hmmm, the new intern seems to be hindering rather than helping at Deb’s office today: our dog …
: Arrrgh! I should have set a timer. I put 12 quail eggs on to hard boil, meaning to turn the element …
: This morning when I took my daily selfie something odd happened (apart from somehow the flash being …
: This relatively small dragonfly got itself stuck between two sliding doors. Luckily closing the door …
: Heh, love it “Batwoman” Adds Another Lesbian Character and a Major Coming Out Storyline: A woman …
: Today I paddled maybe 1Km upstream from the Waikawa Beach footbridge, past the shag colony. Then I …
: I’ve been working slowly on an extended project: tidy and sort the garage and another shed, toss …
: I tried something a bit different on a stunning morning alone at the beach. This 360 degree video …
: Today was the first time in months that I’ve biked the dogs in their trailer to a walking spot. …
: The river’s been fairly low and still the last few days. Perhaps that’s because …
: Was out with a close friend / client at coffee this morning when she mentioned she was being spammed …
: Yesterday morning’s recording was of a Skylark (I think). Very low tide and slight Easterly meant …
: At the Waikawa Beach estuary this moning. Pied Stilt birdcall, with a view of the river mouth and …
: Wind, tide and a fickle Waikawa Stream After flowing west from the Tararuas the Waikawa Stream makes a sudden southward turn about 400 …
: It can pay to be friends with the owner of your favourite cafe. Taper in Levin now offer White Tea …
: When I watered the tunnelhouse this morning I was surprised to find this frog on a tomato plant, …
: Branch, boat, horses … bird.
: A couple of years ago I ordered a down jacket and vest from Wear on Earth: Custom made down jackets …
: Nothing odd about an overnight low of 3C if it was mid-winter! But it’s mid-summer. 🥶
: These days we tap a button and a photo instantly appears. Back in the day a tintype photo took a lot …
: I haven’t been to the beach for a few days, but this morning’s visit was splendid. No wind, …
: I have a few HTML files I’d like to be able to access from other devices. They’re really …
: Magpies can be clowns. Spot the one hanging upside down, but twisting round to check me out. Moments …
: Most of the wild rabbits round here are brownish-grey. There’s at least one black one though, …
: This morning we visited Te Horo Beach, a 26 Km 30 minute drive by road or a mere 11 Km along the …
: I didn’t manage the best photo, but I was so excited to meet a Saluki for the first time in my life. …
: I biked round to the village today. It’s a tiny trip: 5.5 Km return, but stops me from getting …
: Visit to Foxton Estuary; White-faced Heron.
: A visit to Foxton Estuary; 4 Canada Geese all in a row.
: If you’re a Kiwi (I was granted citizenship in 2004) and meet a few residency requirements, …
: This shocks me: A local Kāpiti Focus Group formed early in 2019 to advocate for a cycleway, …
: NetNewsWire on my iPad is so fast! So smooth and easy to use. Thanks @brentsimmons
: What a great podcast episode! Lady Bam Podcast with Mary McDonnell - Episode 11 - Kate Mulgrew …
: I’m sick of the westerly wind today. Why is NZ so windy? The “Roaring Forties" is the …
: Tonight’s light meal of flounder, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, camembert and mashed potato (not …
: Some here may be curious to see half a dozen Drone photos, January 2020 of where I live at Waikawa …
: missionaries’ early accounts of enthusiasm for learning to read and write in Māori were not …
: By my calculations the nearly 20Km stretch of road between Ōtaki and Levin was affected by 7 vehicle …
: The Australians are doing it very very hard with the bushfires. I feel sad for the many people who …
: The spinifex is starting to produce seed heads. I love when they tumble down the beach in the …
December 2019
: This passage about fighting in NZ in the early decades of the 1800s struck me: Those encounters …
: This pied shag was swimming beneath the footbridge this afternoon. I was struck by its fanned out …
: This morning I attended a neighbour’s mother’s funeral. The mother was a much-loved …
: We only did a tiny bike ride: 3 Km, but it was a start. It’s more than a year since Deb has been on …
: I’m not an author but am an avid reader of fiction by Kristine Kathryn Rusch who also blogs …
: We watched the British comedy Swimming with Men. It was odd, but after a bit became funny in a …
: I found a Huhu Beetle down by the garage. They’re big. If a huhu beetle lands on the hair of …
: This morning at the beach I liked these clouds. Looking pretty much due West. (Hello Australia! 👋🏼)
: In mid-winter at Waikawa Beach we have 8 hours of daylight and I don’t fare so well. I need my …
: Secret Santa went down well. A present for everyone, including the dogs. Christmas with Kiwis.
: A bountiful dessert. Christmas with Kiwis. Cheesecake, fruit salad, semifreddo, chocolate spheres.
: Wine and a board game before dessert. Christmas with Kiwis.
: Christmas with Kiwis. Dinner with friends. Everyone brought delicious food to share.
: Deb’s been cooking Slow Roasted Pork Belly as our contribution to a shared lunch with 4 …
: I was surprised to see someone out ‘surfing’ the 30 cm ‘waves’ at 6.30 this …
: Strawberries fresh from the tunnel house make a fine addition to breakfast. Christmas with Kiwis.
: Fellow Kiwis, Aussies and other southern hemispherians: let’s show our fellow northern Microbloggers …
: Dog walk at 6 am as it’ll get too hot later. It’s only 10C at this time of day though so merino …
: And just for kicks, this was 10 minutes later and includes a distant rooster.
: Dawn at 5 am on Christmas Day at Waikawa Beach in Aotearoa New Zealand. For those missing bird song.
: Our friends have a ‘Christmas Tree’. It’s a flax spear with lights and decoration trinkets. …
: Dawn at 5 am on Christmas Day. Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa New Zealand. A sound file of birdsong is …
: It’ll soon be time to start a 2020 folder on my computer. Random memory: when I was 11 my …
: I enjoyed The Case of the Missing Finger. It was a nice, light read with an interesting turn or two. …
: Summer solstice today with 16+ hours of daylight. Now things should actually warm up for a few …
: We went to see The Good Liar last night. It’s hard to say anything about it without giving …
: Thanks to @shindakun and the clearly written tutorial at Adding Webmentions To micro.blog I believe …
: E rima ngā kuaka. There were 5 Godwits by the sea this morning.
: Interesting to see this: Bachcare fined for removing negative comments in online reviews. I worked …
: A few years ago I bought a 12-year old car. I had a new console put in for GPS, radio and to use my …
: Huh, Netflix have some wizardy that prevents either a still screen capture or a screen capture …
: When I started watching Virgin River a few days ago I found it pleasant enough. Then after a couple …
: Countries of follow on Micro.Blog I deliberately try to follow diverse people on Micro.Blog. Occasionally I unfollow someone if I find …
: Sigh. This seems to be my TV-watching life at the moment. 😣 Maybe it’s just that …
: I think every Kiwi knows there used to be giant birds called Moa in New Zealand. They went extinct …
: The other day I posted a Dawn Chorus. Here’s a 6 pm chorus at the end of a busy day.
: Odd life experience: I had my documents checked today so I can receive Superannuation from February …
: Former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, hosts a very interesting podcast called A Podcast …
: We don’t often hear about the Moriori, so this is interesting. Moriori: Still setting the …
: The Wall Street Journal crossword for 14 December 2019 had some excellent puns. Of course, the …
: Life lessons from Star Trek: Voyager: Our situation is deperate. When faced with desperate …
: Our Māori language teacher shared this delightful sentiment: Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa …
: Best nuns ever: The Kung Fu Nuns of the Drukpa Order: train in kung fu and meditate … prepares them …
: Guess which two dogs named Sasha and Oshi had their 13th birthday today. Special treats were …
: Just rewatched Star Trek: Voyager S04E14, Message in a Bottle. I’d forgotten how hilarious …
: It’s the time of year when Warou, Welcome Swallows, swoop around the house, sometimes coming …
: Taper Cafe in Levin (opposite the Mall) is owned by friends. This is my first visit. Great ambience. …
: Whew, felt like I had a huge and unachievable list of things to do today. I’ve checked off …
: Let the fun times begin People don't come to Waikawa Beach for the shopping, the coffee, or the nightlife. We are blessed to …
: I enjoy listening to @hollyhoneychurch Late Night Harp. I select the file in the Finder and play it …
: I woke at 5 to a full moon setting. The dawn chorus was loud. Not sure if I can export from Voice …
: So interesting. 10 minutes: Barbara Cox, the matriarch of New Zealand football New Zealand has come …
: Everybody loves the flax flowers. Starlings are enjoying them. But I think my favourites are the …
: These heroes deserve the highest honour we give out in New Zealand. it was super gassy … …
: I’ve been attending a useful yoga class. Although the instructor gives clear explanations of what to …
: I’m a little peeved that the BatWoman episode of Crisis on Infinite Earths was very light on …
: If you’re a 👩🏽 and watching Crisis on Infinite Earths then you may enjoy the Autostraddle recaps as …
: This bunch of weeds is supposed to be a shingle driveway leading from the house to the garage. It …
: Today’s Bird On The Flax is the humble Sparrow. 🐦 House sparrows were introduced to NZ first in the …
: At last! For the longest time I’ve been annoyed by Safari Reader using white text on a dark …
: Whakaari, aka White Island, erupted yesterday: 5 dead , 34 injured, 8 missing. There is no hope the …
: Yup, that’s New Zealand: if we’re not having earthquakes or breathing Australian …
: Fortunately it was easy to get my refund from the Levin Stihl shop. I asked for the guy I dealt with …
: About 10 days ago I had our weedeater repaired and serviced. The cost was eye-watering, but I was …
: Thanks for the latest Trek podcast @macgenie . As a non-American I had absolutely no idea about the …
: Now that lupin season is almost finished, thank goodness, it’s Tui on the flax flowers season. …
: Deb made Mary Berry’s scones today and they were wonderful. Very light. She had to use quail …
: Our friend Willow came to visit for a few hours today. 🐶 Meanwhile, everyone was looking at me, …
: Interesting note about growing older: researchers found big shifts occurred in the readings of …
: A photo on my watch reminded me that in the first part of December 2008 I was in Hawai’i to teach …
: This morning I woke from an unpleasant dream feeling slightly bewildered and anxious. I know dreams …
: Today I visited Sian in Porirua for my kirituhi. We chatted, then Sian drew a beautiful work in felt …
: Down in Porirua some of the pohutukawa are starting to flower. A sign that Christmas is close.
: Thanks to @bix for the pointer to this interesting article. I was specially caught by this sentence: …
: I only ever learned our awful national anthem, God Defend New Zealand, in English. These days many …
: Why a photo of my left forearm, wrist and hand? (In some languages they would all be the same word) …
: Black Ink 2: another superb Mac app from @danielpunkass! If you love words, you’ll love this. …
: Moreover, many native English speakers pronounce the Māori word ‘ngai’ as just ‘nai’, but that …
: Pronunciation fascinates me: exactly where do tongue, lips etc go to sound out words? English …
: As always, the latest NativLang video (10 minutes) is extremely interesting: What English does - but …
: Usually in New Zealand when a house rolls and shakes around like this it’s because of an earthquake. …
: Some mornings you spot the house delivery truck.
: It’s the time of year when everything in the garden has had a growth spurt and these horrible …
November 2019
: The other day I prepared a new bit of garden to extend an existing length beside the drive. Today I …
: When I dug into the mulch pile today this frog bounded out. I thought it had pale specks, but …
: I live in a fantastic place, but between dreary spring weather and having a lot of obligations …
: I really truly hope this is simply bad wording: But those on the other side of the argument – like …
: I came out specifically to attend a yoga class and do other errands. I want to do yoga and need to. …
: Her hum: so woebegone. She needed company to feel secure. We brought our alto and bass into the mix, …
: A CSS stylesheet is made up of rules. Each rule includes a Selector, and some Declarations. Each …
: This (partly animated) brief non-fiction comic by Toby Morris is so worth reading: The Side Eye: The …
: I find myself frequently listening to one or other (or several) of @hollyhoneychurch harp tracks at …
: My reward for an hour of weeding: rich Kāpiti Triple Chocolate Ice Cream and homegrown strawberries. …
: My Dad and I were probably too much alike: I didn’t get on well with him after I was about 15. Today …
: In 1990 I worked in Adult Literacy. I raised funds to attend a Conference in Edmonton, then sent a …
: Good thing I have no scheduled activities for the rest of the day. 31 minutes into a 20 minute hold …
: If I’d known beforehand I’d be on hold for 20 minutes I wouldn’t have finished the crossword …
: If I climb above the second rung on a ladder I don’t feel at all secure. The only way to get …
: Quote of the day: Life will become more and more interesting when you are past 60. What you have …
: On a bleak and drizzly Sunday afternoon I enjoyed the excellent company of my partner while we …
: Excellent! Te Reo Māori support: Microsoft Translator supports more than 60 languages… the free …
: For anyone wondering why the air is so hazy today that we can’t even see the Tararuas clearly: The …
: Shih Tzu puppies can dramatically change colour as they grow. Take this little woebegone mite at …
: Half my mouth is numb after a trip to the dentist. Sometimes if I hum it can be comforting. As I get …
: Ahhh, breakfast, the most important meal of the day … except for dinner! 🐶
: Did I break my feed with the umlaut problem in my earlier post? The more recent post about my tattoo …
: When I was 30 I had a rose tattoed on my hip. Times were different back in 1985 and as a school …
: Something I see often now, the phrase: The proof will be in the pudding. In the old days the phrase …
: The choice was murky. She was extremely selective, but one chocolate was rumoured to taste superb, …
: A hollow tube came in so handy for extracting 20,000 litres of rotten water from the tank. mbnov …
: Why 20,000 litres of water had to go Our house has beside it a concrete tank with around 20,000 litres capacity. Rainwater comes off the …
: Today our currently full 20,000 litre rainwater tank will be emptied. 😢 Then it’ll be …
: The TV show Stumptown started strong. 6 episodes in it’s definitely one of my favourites. How …
: Dark sky, green paddocks, low sun. Straight from the iPhone.
: The dogs were supposed to be groomed last week but it was postponed at the last minute. Today, …
: If you’re having a bad day, or even if you’re not, and don’t hate dogs then look …
: We’ve been trying to ameliorate the bad smell from our drinking water for a couple of weeks. …
: Geese by Lake Horowhenua in Levin.
: Actually, this is my first time using a laundromat. Luckily someone helped me avoid trying to wash …
: Community BBQ struck a chord The Waikawa Beach village has been filling up for decades. It's well-established with its 250 …
: Not something I expected to find on the beach this morning.
: The chef did a superb job in this build: Mushroom Hash at Cafe Royal in the centre of Palmerston …
: Today’s job was to climb a ladder to see what was in our gutter (that feeds our drinking water …
: One of the superb things about going through old Micro.Blog posts with Mars Edit to fix missing alt …
: As I get older I become more selective about pretty much everything. I don’t want to spend …
: In the wee hours we had gusts of wind over 60 Kph, pouring rain loud on the tin roof, thunder, …
: The Waikawa River flows out to sea at our beach. Not far east two streams converge. At the …
: These are astonishing figures for our tiny country. Space sector contributes $1.7 billion to NZ …
: We orbited the star for a while topping up with warm energy, then I headed out into cold space. A …
: There are a handful of Barbary Doves around here. You can tell them by the distinctive ring of black …
: NZ Euthanasia bill passes final vote, goes to referendum Parliament has passed a bill legalising …
: After buying a years-overdue water filter replacement for under the kitchen sink, I was able to …
: I also forgot to post this short video of two horses who graze nearby enjoying a little ‘it’s …
: Somehow yesterday passed without my posting these two photos of our dogs on the grooming table. …
: There’s a wingsuit training wind tunnel in Stockholm. Tom Scott tried it out in this 5 minute …
: A volunteer job I do is to keep my local community in touch with what’s going on. I write posts for …
: I don’t recall who recommended A Death in the Rainforest: How a Language and a Way of Life …
: My Siri Watch face reminded me that on 13 November 2005 the decommissioned navy frigate Wellington, …
: The stories I most enjoy are adventures in space. I watched Star Trek as a kid and kept watching …
: My teeth are far too sensitive to cold. That makes ice cream tricky — I have to bypass my teeth and …
: There are many things today that aren’t going my way. Luckily I am making progress on the …
: I hate when gifs are too fast, but perhaps this one is too slow. How to find the water quality data …
: I went to a heap of trouble to make a 10 second video showing the annoying clicking, scrolling and …
: Each summer Horizons Regional Council monitors water quality at various locations. They display the …
: In the last couple of days I’ve listened to some excellent Kim Hill interviews. Julie …
: It was all happening tonight. We went next door for dinner. The Google camera car drove along our …
: I was pondering today the narrow use of star as adjective. Star pupil. 👍 Star CEO, star cow, star …
: Birds at the beach. 🐦 Godwits and Gull. Black Swans and ducks. Pied Shag. A flock of Black-backed …
: I had a bit of photo fun at the beach this morning. Dogs: Sasha and Oshi. 🐶
: Ahhh, a very handy tip: TipBITS: Quickly Access App Updates in iOS 13 on the Home screen, tap and …
: Now this is clever. A subset of the population isn’t online, and some of them are older people, a …
: Key lime pie! Hey Mark! Do you fancy some? What do you mean, you can’t get it round here? That …
: A good start: … optimistic a day would come soon when Māori were no longer pulled over in a car …
: One of the local pheasants was posing beautifully. I took a photo through the window to avoid …
: You have to be careful where you stick your hands while weeding at this time of year — the manuka …
: Feedback to Apple today re Siri obliterating an in-progress timer: This keeps catching me out: I …
: Nearby are 2 lakes. Sometimes there’s deafening croaking. I believe it’s the introduced …
: When it comes to professionals, paid to write, and editors, paid to edit, I get picky and …
: I was excited to try out Icro for Mac — the feature list has things like saving your reading …
: They dig holes and burrows, dig up plants, eat new shoots. But these mainly baby rabbits are …
: Forget Guy Fawkes; here’s something we could be remembering in New Zealand every 05 November: …
: I’m getting a few things done around the place — slowly. Today I planted the Granny Smith …
: I often post photos taken from our house. Here’s one taken of our house from the street. …
: Mother or villain? How Māori women offenders are portrayed in news reporting Pākehā women are …
: Guy Fawkes' backyard fireworks: Will they stay or will they go? Fireworks went on sale on Saturday …
: This season of the Flash has taken a disconcerting turn with the whole notion of The Flash having to …
: My quest to buy chemicals to treat our drinking water tank was unsuccessful — they just sold out (or …
: For days I’ve been troubleshooting why our shower stinks like a toilet when we run hot water. …
: Folks with school-age kids will definitely want to show them this 7 minute video: In Your Face …
: After creating numerous files named ‘kupu-xxx.txt’ I had BBEdit run through the folder to remove the …
: I have a .txt file ~6,000 lines long and wanted to split it into separate files. Each section begins …
: In autumn we dug up a small lime tree that had never thrived and put it in a pot. We also bought a …
: Seafood isn’t something I fancy, but some love it. At the beach today a vehicle came along and …
: A couple of months ago we bought a young dwarf nectarine tree. It lived in the tunnelhouse over …
: As always, @cheri has incisive words of wisdom: Did I move my story forward today? Did I have fun …
: How Sleep Cleans Toxins From the Brain During non-REM sleep, neurons start to synchronize, turning …
: This is when the lupins bloom, and I’m highly allergic. I get itchy mouth, nose, eyes. I get …
: Micro.Blog at 4 feet! I love such happenstance Timeline juxtapositions.
October 2019
: 45 min doco every Kiwi should watch: NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara. Another Mihingarangi Forbes tour …
: It’s nearly time for the Council to monitor the river at the footbridge for E.Coli, as they do …
: A gorgeous morning at the beach. Kāpiti Island to the southwest under a clear blue sky; a dead …
: 🤣 “Batwoman” Keeps Getting Gayer and Queering Superhero Tropes - Autostraddle This week …
: Me too!: 1/3 of NZers eliminate or cut down on eating meat - research: survey of more than 1000 …
: Hah, this 7.5 minute video by Tom Scott is very interesting: This Video Is Sponsored By ███ VPN. …
: There was a bit of a westerly breeze as we went onto the beach this morning. Sasha and Oshi headed …
: Strathnaver Labour Weekend 2019 BBQ was a hit [Oops — I posted this to the wrong blog, but will leave it here as well. It was supposed to be …
: I believe these to be juvenile Black-backed Gulls, especially as they breed on Kāpiti Island only …
: At #16 I’m still enjoying the Miss Fortune Series by Jana DeLeon. Swamp Santa: A Christmas …
: Whew. 😅 The community BBQ a small group of us organised went off really well. 65 said they’d …
: Wild rabbits are a pest in New Zealand, but they’re also very cute. Especially tiny Spring …
: A small group of us are organising a BBQ for our neighbourhood this Labour Weekend. ~60 are …
: Dogs, eh! 🐶 Sasha flops, Oshi looks cute.
: In October 2007 I was lucky to attend a release of 130 juvenile tuatara into Zealandia Sanctuary in …
: 👍 Papa Reo project will digitise 25 years worth of te reo Māori archives. … create a te reo digital …
: I’m really enjoying the TV series All Rise. It’s a courtroom drama that features people …
: As we arrived at the beach today a small flock of half a dozen birds startled. I was very excited — …
: Down at the beach this morning we upset a Pied Stilt who was presumably nesting nearby. 🐦
: We’re now 3 episodes in on Batwoman and I’m definitely enjoying it. I liked Batwoman a …
: Today I attended a yoga class at the Wananga o Raukawa in Ōtaki. That’s a Māori institution of …
: The lupins are in full bloom — in the dunes and everywhere. Not so good for us hayfeverish types.
: Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s sci-fi perfectly matches my tastes. Her novel, The Renegat is absolutely …
: Today’s garden haul will contribute well to this week’s dinners: celery, carrots, silver …
: Hmmm, that was interesting. The Laundromat, starring Meryl Streep. The film follows Ellen Martin …
: I don’t think I’ve ever watched any of the other Spiderman movies, but I enjoyed Into the …
: Interesting: the 40 minute Netflix movie Ladies First a 2017 Indian documentary on the life of …
: Oshi and his duck have been together since we first brought him home. The duck’s a bit the …
: Growing Waikawa Beach In the earliest times of course, the dunes of Waikawa Beach were covered with native plants. They …
: It’s always good to get an all-clear after a mammogram.
: Humans left Africa a very long time ago … and ended up in New Zealand, the last place on earth to be …
: A colonial view has Māori accidentally sailing to New Zealand about 800 years ago, when there is …
: It’s too early in the season really, and we haven’t yet had steady warm sunny days. …
: There was a male Chaffinch singing on the flax right by the front door.
: The tunnelhouse is coming along slowly. Today we set up an automated watering system for 4 pots: …
: As usual with all the books in the Take Control series, Take Control of Apple Mail was well worth …
: Turns out I maligned Apple Mail for something I did. At some point I set up a Keyboard command to …
: Read: There’s a Depressing Difference Between The Sewage of Wealthy Areas And Poorer Ones …
: Chocolate is an important feature of my daily life. I know I’m unwell (just a cold, but urgh) when I …
: I’m experimenting with Catalina. I’m trying out via voice control.😺 with a bit of …
: The neighbours got their macrocarpa tree (I think) hedge trimmed today.
: Hey @manton @help Is it just me? Yesterday I upgraded to release Catalina (no betas), and I have the …
: In New Zealand ’Women aged between 45 and 69 years can get a free mammogram every 2 years’. Mine …
: Before the Kindle Heh, back in December 2005 I wrote this blog post (lightly edited): Here's a quick list of items I …
: There are a few Barbary doves, aka ring-necked doves, in this area. I’m pleased there are some …
: I like this use of emoji to show the weather forecast.
: Yesterday I picked and ate the first strawberry of the season (delicious ) from our tunnel house …
: As if anyone needs another good reason to use MarsEdit for working with blog posts. I know I have …
: I’ve been doing a selfie per day for several years now — just for my private photo album. Last …
: Thank goodness for the On This Day page on my blog (and checking it). Deb, who’s really sick …
: Back in the day a lot of the native plants around New Zealand’s beaches were cleared, leading …
: A Takfox Phone Holster for my iPhone 11 arrived. At NZ$20 + shipping the price was acceptable. It …
: St John’s Ambulance was doing free blood pressure checks. Mine was 140/80. But they need …
: Really interesting 26 minute interview with Geena Davis: A report by the Geena Davis Institute on …
: What makes dogs so special and successful? Love. Dogs fall in love much more easily than people …
: Oshi and Sasha were just gone! 🐶 I’d stopped to take a photo of a snow-topped Tararua peak, …
: Whew!: How to switch between list view and honeycomb app grid on Apple Watch From your watch face, …
: Slomo video is fun. The audio on such videos is excruciating though. It was stupid hard to remove …
: When a day becomes ’gritty’ a trip to localish cafe Salt and Pepper for lunch can give it a lift. …
: I’ve used the Spark email app for the last year or more — very happily. The last while though …
: This 11 minute video is so interesting: Money Is A Technological Fiction (The Invention of $$$) the …
: Shares for a new Mac My MacBook Pro is about 2 years old now. That means that by 2022 at the latest I’ll want to …
September 2019
: Kiwis: there are 6 interviews in this Matangireia series. So far I’ve watched the first, with …
: I’m starting to feel like the neighbourhood complainer… I’ve just emailed our Council to …
: The last 6 weeks or so were a bit bumpy: Deb had a health issue, now in hand, I had a cold that …
: The fallacy of the ‘perfect human’ I was struck the other day by these words from Vint Cerf: Anyone, no matter their disability, …
: For years I’ve used a leather holster for my phone. The linked holsters are superbly made and …
: Good start: Countdown ends firework sales Countdown supermarket is to stop selling fireworks. The …
: Mattel Is Releasing the First Gender-Neutral Doll The doll can be a boy, a girl, neither or both, …
: Fascinating: “Mother” No Longer Means “Woman” Despite UK law already …
: So many people sent good wishes about Ares that I can’t even list you all. Thank you everyone. I …
: Thanks to all those Ares fans who have sent us good wishes over the last few days. 🐈 He is at rest …
: Today is dedicated to Ares. 🐈 Other tasks have been pushed aside. In March 2002 he was a tiny kitten …
: Ahh, apparently the side effects of Metacam in cats include: decreased appetite, lethargy, … and …
: This morning brought me a 40mm S5 Apple Watch with Pride Sport Loop. I’ve decided to call it …
: It turns out Oshi can cry, growl, yip, bark for 5 hours straight if put in the crate overnight. …
: My almost-18, ailing boy Ares, sat on my lap for maybe an hour today, then suddenly had a huge …
: Ohhh, I made a big mistake. 🤢 I want some lines in a ToDo list in BBEdit to sort by prefixing a …
: This 46 min video made me realise I’ve seen signers at conferences translating speech to sign, …
: A Study in Honor - a great read! I really enjoyed reading A Study in Honor: A Novel (The Janet Watson Chronicles) by Claire …
: Instant quiz: does my sub to Bear Pro expire in February or September? Please folks, if you’re …
: I haven’t seen any porcupine fish on our beach for a while. This is quite a little one. A gull was …
: Those golden sand, sun drenched beaches up north are all very well, but I’ve missed our beach. 🐶
: Other peoples cats must sit still for photos… Ares doesn’t. iPhone 7 takes a while to focus etc. 🐈 …
: We really enjoyed Gentleman Jack: Set in 1832 in Yorkshire, it … is based on the collected diaries …
: Today is Saturday 21 September 2019 and the quail have produced the first egg of the season. 🐦🥚 We …
: Queenstown has a horrendous housing cost / shortage problem. Workers can’t afford to live …
: As we drove north from Whangārei last weekend we saw numerous seemingly wild turkeys beside the …
: Link: the hilarious 2019 Comedy Wildlife finalist photos. Some guaranteed laughs here. Click an …
: Deb has an errand in Kelburn in Wellington so dogs and I came too. I forgot how terrible parking is. …
: First contacts hapū and iwi who encountered Europeans were often willing and able participants in …
: Puhoi is just north of Auckland. Bohemians arrived in 1863 and ‘settled’ the ‘waste land’ that …
: The map below may not be 100% accurate, but shows the ~2,300Km Deb and I travelled in the last week. …
: Up in Helena Bay, north of Whangārei, is an amazing art gallery and cafe. While visiting I spotted …
: In Tirau, near Cambridge, they make the most of corrugated iron. Not the best angle on the first …
: Cambridge, where we stopped for breakfast, is the horse breeding capital of NZ. The plaques in the …
: Today we drove across to the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, with a brief stop at Waiau …
: Coromandel township is bordered by mangrove swamps. It looks out into the Hauraki Gulf. There are …
: Having completed the planned portion of our week away we are now on our way home, via unplanned …
: Cape Rēinga is at the northernmost tip of mainland New Zealand. According to Māori tradition …
: Hmmm, NZ’s first capital: The first Russell was located at Okiato, 8km from present-day Russell, in …
: Yesterday we lunched under 90 year old Pohutukawa trees at Russell, NZ’s original European capital. …
: We stayed the night at Pukenui, less than an hour’s drive from Cape Reinga. The Far North is very …
: The Helena Bay Art Gallery and cafe has numerous gorgeous works and a fabulous view.
: The Puhoi Pub is a shock to the senses. Every square inch of wall space is occupied.
: Still not quite over my cold so a couple of hours in the car leaves me feeling ‘stuffy’. Time for a …
: There was a horrible thing yesterday, just north of Taupō. 😭 🐈 A small dark shape bolted across SH1 …
: After an overnight stop with family in Putaruru, today we head for Whangārei, 350 Km, via Warkworth, …
: The hot pool at Tokaanu was a welcome break in our trip. Ahhh.
: We’ve been driving through sheep country. The paddocks are full of little lambs. It’s lovely.
: I love this kind of info: figures showed that occasional napping – once or twice a week – was …
: Waikawa Ways #1 I was invited to write a column for the monthly Ōtaki Today newspaper. My first column was published …
: OK, I’ve decided on a present for myself. I have a big birthday coming up in 5 months. I wanted to …
: I only just read Death By Team Building, Kat Voyzey Mysteries Book 3 by @cheri . 📚 As …
: My good pal Rachel, 79 years old, has created a podcast: How To Be Old: we can’t imagine ourselves …
: When I moved a plank by the quail run I found this huge (~9cm) slug. It’s apparently a Limax …
: I sat for a while on the deck with my face to the warm sun. The silence was full of a dozen …
: Ares 🐈 is still hanging on. He likes to join me when I’m out in the garden, so while I moved …
: I’m still getting over this horrid cold, so basically stuck in the house. This time a year ago …
: Feeling rather grotty, and was wondering if in spite of this season’s flu shot perhaps …
: Wow: “Cellphones … Today … are made from about 75 different elements, almost three-quarters of …
: Something I figured out this week: if you strive for a virtuous goal it is likely that some who are …
: Struck down today by an icky cold. Had to be vertical for some appointments. Finally horizontal for …
: I forget between times how some people are petty, narrow-minded and mean-spirited, so it’s …
: Strive for something of great value! For my Māori language course I had to write 200 words for an assessment. Here's what I wrote. …
: It’s been years since I made the dogs wear their raincoats. The coats did keep the dogs a bit …
: Great news: Micro.blog test blogs Micro.blog now lets you create a free test blog for your account …
: Cook Islands to change name to remove any association with Captain Cook The tiny Pacific nation of …
: Several things have left me feeling grumpy this morning. However, I’ve just been given an …
: Turns out sleeping in smoke filled sheets is a terrible idea. I have a sore throat now and am awake …
: Today started clear, sunny and splendid. With 3 days of rain forecast I washed all my bedding and …
: When they were puppies Sasha and Oshi used to play chasing every day. It usually involved Sasha …
: Remember our 5 cygnets from July? Unfortunately we’re down to two — but they’re looking …
: That radiosonde I found last week — I have more info: That balloon was released from Hobart Airport …
: Ugh: …expectant parents … can pay $140 to take a course about “informed consent” and …
: I wondered what the dogs were looking at, in the dark, in the dog yard, so investigated. It turned …
: Sometimes in the early morning when the sand is fresh and undisturbed you can see that wildlife has …
August 2019
: Otaihanga crash A person involved in a single-vehicle crash is understood to have left the vehicle, …
: The dogs had to wait in the car while we ate with our friends. So afterwards we took the dogs for an …
: Our drive back from our friend Helen D’s birthday brunch in Wellington was 2 hours instead of …
: This month’s most unusual beach find: an Australian Bureau of Meteorology Radiosonde. Serial …
: Thanks @smokey for pointing to this post by @vasta. Loved it! Beacons of virtual proximity: When I …
: New Zealand isn’t very dog friendly and dogs aren’t allowed in cafes. I was delighted to see this …
: I was weeding today, at our rental property in Ōtaki, when this worm came along. It scrunched itself …
: This 12 minute video is very interesting and thought-provoking: Our Food System is Rigged The way …
: Plaque at Ōtaki Beach: The stone monument at Ōtaki Beach, shaped like a bow of a ship…commemorates …
: We used to live at the top of Mt Victoria in Wellington. There was a toilet block and scruffy bit of …
: Getting excited about a trip “Up North" next month, which will include Te Rerenga Wairua / Cape …
: We enjoyed Blinded by the Light very much. It’s a 2-hour British feel-good movie based on a …
: In 2016 we escaped New Zealand’s August with a week in Niue 🇳🇺 . This photo is in a cave at …
: After his visit to the vet yesterday Ares the cat is doing better today. He was given hydration, …
: Heh, my favourite NativLang is back with this 10 minute video today: Gvprtskvni - how is this even a …
: Ares the elderly cat is now down to 4.52Kg. In July it was 4.6. He now has antibiotics and pain …
: My numerous attempts today to photograph Ares have all come to nothing much. These are the best two. …
: I’m getting a new crown on a tooth. Last week the new crown didn’t fit. Today a new one arrived … …
: In August 2012 we escaped NZ’s worst time of year and were enjoying warm sun in Tonga. One …
: New socks day is always a good day. If I were mega-rich I’d have new socks every month.
: The diggers working behind our house disappeared a couple of days ago so I investigated an odd …
: I was unsure at first about the Australian TV Series, Pulse but it grew on me. 8 episodes. the …
: One of the most-used helper apps on my Mac is PopClip: PopClip appears when you select text with …
: At sunset in a clear sky tonight I could see 3 maunga (mountains) on the horizon: Ruapehu, Taranaki, …
: Last night was a bit chilly — it got down to about -1.3C here at sea level. There was a good frost, …
: I’m really enjoying reading the book Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of …
: We had errands in Palmerston North today and took the dogs with us. At Animates we found a …
: I’m feeding a friend’s chooks for a few days. She has 3 ‘new’ girls — the black and …
: Feeding a friend’s chooks for a couple of days. One (new) chook was on the wrong side of the …
: On 'taking a wife' The English language, like probably most languages, is a slippery thing. Words don't always mean …
: LOL: D.E.B.S. (2004 film) was amusing. Shades of Charlie’s Angels, Buffy, Desert Hearts. The big …
: I watched and enjoyed the movie 28 Days. It’s from 2000 and lead Sandra Bullock looks a whole …
: Help! I simply cannot get @cleverdevil On This Day script to produce any entries on my page at …
: The verdict from one person on the opening day of whitebaiting season was: “slim pickings”. NZ …
: Numb face, aching jaw. 40 minutes at the dentist to get the new crown put on but there was some …
: How does an empty bottle of Finlandia vodka of Finland come to end up on a beach in New Zealand, I …
: One of my Mac’s must-have apps is Keyboard Maestro because it’s in use all-day every …
: Oops. I was actually using my hand to try to shade the phone from the sun, but I actually like the …
: Interesting sand ‘cliff' left behind by today’s tide. It’s actually less than a metre …
: A very interesting 16 minute video: how 2 kinds of echolocation — passive and active — can help …
: Woohoo, NetNewsWire for Mac is now in beta release. If you read RSS feeds and have a Mac give it a …
: Every day I like to do a free puzzle from Jigsaw Puzzles Epic. Some days I don’t finish and …
: I’m watching Newton’s Law on Netflix and am enjoying it. It’s a lightweight series about …
: This Southern Bell frog didn’t actually need the support I was about to offer when I found her …
: I enjoyed Season 1 of Another Life, in spite of some very hokey moments and some icky ‘horror' bits. …
: So, Determination, @macgenie. In 2004 and 2019 I visited Tāne Mahuta, a Kauri tree 2,000 years old …
: How did I get ahead of myself? Cabbage trees like to grow in groups. Family, @macgenie Can you see …
: Oh dear. Watched Io, a post-apocalyptic SciFi movie on Netflix. I did watch to the end but it was …
: In other places people admire fresh snow. I admire fresh sand.
: Wow, imagine a parrot that stands as tall as your hips! World’s largest parrot found in …
: Well, @macgenie , I think it’s relaxing to look at horses. I finally got up close to the …
: I make too many assumptions in a day. One is that the text I have oh-so-carefully typed will remain …
: I’m always happy to glance out of the window and spot the neighbour’s white horse next …
: OK. Siri gave me a great laugh. Verbal exchange: Set timer for 20 minutes. Siri: “Done.“ But look …
: Many folks here pick up rubbish from the beach. My haul today was mainly all kinds of plastic, plus …
: It was stormy overnight but today is splendid. Photo: cabbage tree (Ti Kouka) and, ummm, oak?
: Glad to find Season 4 of Veronica Mars. Really enjoying having the show back, especially now all …
: On Sundays we get the dog grooming table out so Deb can iron her work clothes for the week. We also …
: So pleased Season 2 of Derry Girls has arrived on Netflix. Disappointed there are only 6 episodes …
: Crazy: I have only 10% free space on iCloud and thought I might upgrade. The only upgrade choice is …
: In 2014 I went to Mars (well, my name did). In 2020 I’m going back again. You can too. This is …
: Sometimes dead animals wash up on our beach (3 goats right now) and I report them to the Council. I …
: Found this in a folder labelled screenshots. Date: 14 June 2011. Obviously the dogs had just been …
: And of course I should have waited to take that photo of the snowy peaks of the Tararuas. Sunset…
: The Tararua peaks were dusted with snow overnight.
: “Just bite together normally and hold for 2 minutes.” Except, after 45 minutes in the dentist chair …
: It was very chilly overnight so Sasha and Oshi had to huddle up for warmth. 🐶
July 2019
: In English we put spaces between words. It turns out, we have 6th century Irish monks to thank for …
: Over several sessions I watched Jupiter Ascending (2 hours). It’s about a woman, set in space. …
: Car crash at the corner on 30 July 2019 Two cars crashed on the highway at Manakau, near the …
: Started watching the Netflix series, Another Life: … follows the story of an astronaut and a space …
: In the last couple of weeks I seem to have got behind on everything. I’m finally starting to …
: Bukbukbukbuk. Why are the pheasants doing their earthquake warning? … shake shake. Oh.
: The sea was fairly calm this morning, but still quite noisy. This video is not too long after …
: Today was quail moving day. Flop obliged with a photo. 🐦
: Today we went with friends to Foxton Estuary, where, unlike last time, there were few birds. A …
: Came home after dinner out having left the bathroom window open and a light on in the house. Found …
: Good grief! I just sent out our Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association monthly Newsletter by …
: Whew. Second day in a row where I’ve been sitting in the midday sun listening to a podcast and woken …
: The diggers next door have moved to behind our house. They’re now ~140 metres away. Our house …
: Well, that woke me up! Light earthquake occurred 15 km north-west of Levin: …
: I found a trailer that would actually play. Looks great! Star Trek: Picard - Official Teaser. Not …
: The Te Waiohua people, who gave Auckland its original name of Tāmaki Makaurau, settled there about …
: Today there were 2 black swans and only 4 cygnets. One has disappeared. 😒
: It’s been a very weird day. My partner was shocked to learn she has an older half-brother who just …
: Our bathroom is tiny. When the house was built 5 years ago they used the wrong kind of paint and now …
: Who knew Kiwis had so many guns?! Obviously, quite a few have more than 1. Police said 2143 people …
: My cat Ares is 17.5 now and fading. He’s lost some or all of his sight or gone a bit doolally …
: We thought one of ‘our’ black swans from the lake had been killed — a neighbour saw a dead swan on …
: In March 2017 we bought a plastic tunnel house. It’s about 8 square metres and is working well …
: Ugh: the size of the global dairy herd hasn’t changed much over the years. But every year for …
: I thought I spotted a dog emerging from the dunes. But No! It was the first seal pup of the season. …
: NZ and the Moon Landing 🇳🇿🚀: NZ had to wait a bit longer … to see the moon landing in 1969. We …
: The Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association website runs on self-hosted WordPress. Folks can sign up to …
: Usually the Eastern Rosellas turn up and then fly away before I can get to my camera. Today I got …
: Go on: give us a treat. Pleeeease. 🐶 Ares is being a good boy too. 🐈
: Watched the 2.25 hour Luc Besson movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The plot was a …
: The annual eye check, and cataracts Today at my annual optometrist visit I learned several things: My eyes are very healthy. My …
: Last night we had 21mm of today’s forecast 5mm of rain. At one point it was so loud on our tin …
: Some of the neighbour’s earthworks appear a little precarious.
: I’m a huge fan of dark skies, and am lucky enough to be able to clearly see the Milky Way (and …
: 100 metres from our boundary our neighbour-but-one has subdivided 3 sections. Diggers are moving …
: It’s a great day to stay in by the fire. 🌧
: It was dog grooming day today. We have a before and an after. 🐶
: Listening to the end of the cricket. First time in my life to pay attention. My partner Deb filled …
: I’ve had a bit of the blahs this week, for no particular reason. Then my partner Deb reminded me …
: Damp and warm, there are plenty of these wonderful basket fungus around at the moment.
: I ended up almost binge watching the TV show Rita on Netflix, it was so good! One amazing thing is …
: The river mouth shone in the morning sun. Meanwhile the sea, rarely mill-pond calm, showed its usual …
: This week’s SciShow Talk Show Over-Apologizing Less with Vanessa Hill is one for our guinea …
: Good grief, Frogfish are astonishing creatures. This 8 minute video reveals all: Frogfish Have The …
: It’s been a while since I biked the dogs to the beach. On this mid-winter day that feels more …
: I visited our neighbours to the west again and took a photo of our house — the whitish rectangle in …
: My online pal Virginia talked up Rita so now I’m watching it. She’s right: it’s a …
: Halide is a superb iOS app for taking photos. Except for random times when I’m ‘clicking' away …
: In the 70s and 80s I spent a decade teaching teenagers at Ashburton College. It was an S68 plan …
: There’s a colony of pied shags by the river. Photo from last year. Today I recorded them …
: I spotted this Southern Bell frog on a tire in the garden this morning. Always happy to find frogs …
: emoji in our digital messages is similar to the way we use gestures when we talk. … celebrate that …
: Good to see local Councils asking the Government to ban private fireworks: Local government leaders …
: And in other dog photos, my girl Sasha joined me in my morning selfie today. 🐶
: Look, I don’t know the original source for this photo, but I found it from a link to Dana …
: From the setting up of the Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association in 1974, before women were people …
: I have two new daily tasks that are working well so far: delete a physical item and delete a digital …
: It’s not easy to get a photo when my boy Ares is on my lap. Persistence paid off today though. …
: Add a header image to your blog
: Interesting about quiet fireworks: quiet fireworks can actually be more colourful. All fireworks …
: Why was I surprised to learn that schools for deaf or blind people were originally set up by …
: I watched the movie Full Out. It’s simple and positive, and based on a true story of Ariana …
: Hmmm, things that are a bad idea: letting WordPress create a URL that includes an emoji. I realised …
: I'm annoyed with Siri and the approach to Timers I use Timers all the time, especially in the kitchen. I mostly trigger a timer with Siri on my …
: If I ever thought about a gong it’d be to picture someone hitting a huge metal disc very hard. …
: Fabulous to see local company Omeo Technology has received funding for development. If I needed a …
: Finally did my part for the annual Garden Bird Survey. I saw or heard a dozen starlings, 2 fantails, …
: Gorge cafe in Ōtaki had a good menu, including some locally produced meats. We had the hotcakes and …
: Gorge on Riverbank Road in Ōtaki is a Wellington style cafe. Unfortunately it’s also large and not …
: Hooo. “New Zealand has been confirmed as the primary location for the $1.5 billion-production of The …
: Here’s my job for a few hours this afternoon. I made the mistake of buying firewood earlier …
: Tip for Apple users. Next time @help announces Micro.Blog down time, you can use Siri to work out …
: Watched The DUFF. It wasn’t bad. I’m far from the target audience, but it was largely …
June 2019
: In a 1 KM stretch of Strathnaver Drive there are 3 speed bumps. As they’re designed to do they …
: My latest Micro.Blog tutorial: Add number of available pages to the pagination. Page numbering with …
: At 12 and a half Sasha and Oshi don’t play so much these days. Today they had a bit of fun though. 🐶
: Dashed out on the deck with the iPhone on noticing the dramatic sunrise today. View north to the …
: A new tutorial. I was sidetracked in the middle, then lost track a bit, but I wanted to finish it …
: And now, the amazing Kereru. Also probably in Wellington and with a Canon EOS 300D. Some live only …
: I also managed this photo I like of a magpie. Also probably in Wellington and with a Canon EOS 300D.
: Rediscovered (and imported to Photos) 1400 images from 2005. Found these two of a gull, probably in …
: I really enjoyed the movie Gifted. I even shed a tear. 7-year old Mary is a maths prodigy who lives …
: I have a new goal to go down to the beach and watch the sunset at some point each week. Tonight I …
: The Library & Cultural centre in Levin offers Tai Chi classes starting Monday. $6 per 90-minute …
: I should have made a screenshot… Next time… Booked a dental checkup online. They texted a 5 digit …
: About 12 years ago I experienced my first bout of sporadic back pain: the muscles in my lower back …
: Watched and largely enjoyed: Dangal, 2 hours, based on a true story. A father forces his unwilling …
: I’m really enjoying the podcast series Elemental from Radio NZ. It should be available …
: I watched and enjoyed the movie Mary Kom, based on the true story of the Indian 6-time World Amateur …
: For Micro Monday I’d like to suggest @kulturnation who writes in both English and German, who has …
: Oshi is snug by the fire on this dreary day. 🐶
: Riveting 10 minute video: Could You Be a Chimera? We like to think of our DNA as a unique marker of …
: Bionic HTML The other day I wrote a post about my relationship with Markdown and HTML. Half a dozen people …
: We drove 45 minutes to Linton where there’s a military camp and (who knew?) the Manawatū …
: And in today’s episode of ‘a bad worker always blames their tools’ I will say that …
: Potentially remarkable; just poor writing: The range of one male [cat] was found to cover 3,000 …
: Handy Applescript for MarsEdit — Get title and link in Markdown: tell application …
: I’m starting to wish we had a view of the sea from here. Dashed down to the beach with 3 …
: Such a stunning day. Disappointed I have to go out and do errands.
: It’s winter so Mike the farmer feeds out hay to the steers in the paddock next door. They always …
: Couldn’t for the life of me figure out where “Page 2 of 12” was coming from in my blog …
: Here are Oshi and Sasha in February 2007 when they were 3 months old. That black and tan scoundrel …
: Sasha has always been much longer than Oshi. When they were 3 months old she was like a puppy, …
: Thanks so much @macgenie for interviewing me again on Micro Monday and talking about customising …
: There were also the giant tortoises, hundreds of years old, a Komodo Dragon missing a foot, and pink …
: A fond memory: way back in December 2008 I visited Honolulu Zoo — an amazing place. I saw this …
: WOW!!! Re Apollo moon landing: On the seamstresses who wove the computer memory by hand Apollo …
: Excellent: The Postcards Guide to Braille!. Go take a look. Bonus fun fact: Braille is originally …
: Waiting for my Skype meeting participant… Drums fingers… Meanwhile they messaged me: Where are you? …
: For heaven’s sake! I can’t board a flight with an almost microscopic pocket knife, but A …
: I’m extremely excited to announce my new project How to customise Micro.Blog, including such …
: This little 2.5 minute video is interesting: Ōtaki River Bridge This new bridge across the Ōtaki …
: Last year I studied entry level Te Reo Māori (Māori language) at Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Today I …
: It was a cool and dreary damp morning today so I lit the fire. Oshi went in his little ‘pod’ …
: Interesting 2.5 minute video: The One-Lane Bridge Shared By Cars And Trains Near Hindon, on the …
: The Waikawa Stream flows west towards the sea but then turns south across the beach. A 1991 rock …
: Here’s a tip for setting up the Micro.Blog Mac app with more than one account. Go to Prefs for …
: I used Pages.app to make a calendar from now to August 2020 so locals know when to put their …
: One of the great things about Kowhai (this one’s a Dragon’s Gold) is that they flower in …
: Good read: Imperfect pitch When people complain that a woman’s voice is ‘shrill’… there’s often no …
: Your Crippling Stress Levels Could Affect Your Dog More Than You Think 🐶 evidence that increased …
: This critter’s a Gisborne cockroach that I found in my car. I quickly relocated it to the …
: This gorgeous girl belongs to neighbours to the southwest of us. This morning she was posing in …
: I don’t follow sports but this 15 minute video held my attention: Anne Audain, New …
: One thing that annoys me all the time about Safari on the Mac is that I click a link from another …
: This 13 minute video on being a young female MP is worth a watch: Chlöe Swarbrick interviews Marilyn …
: Here’s Batalha cathedral in Portugal. It’s splendid. Batalha Cathedral in Portugal is a …
: Batalha Cathedral in Portugal is a place where the spirit can soar The Siri face on my Apple Watch showed me several photos today from our 2015 visit to Batalha in …
: I love how MarsEdit saves my work as I go along. While switching between apps in a long complex post …
: At the beach by the Waikawa river mouth, just before high tide. The river itself is in the last few …
: Sometimes you just want to curl up into a little ball and let the others watch over you for a while.
: If you enjoy looking at photos you should read this: Interview: Photographer Spends 10 Years …
: That WWDC keynote was so chock full of info and stuff I can’t even remember most of it. Very …
: Fabulous to see in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2019 most or all are for real service to the …
: Why I love living here — not one but two videos. One shows Kāpiti Island and the South Island; the …
: This morning with the storm gone we can see more tops of the Tararua range. Now we have a day or two …
: Now the weather’s cleared a bit we can see the southerly storm brought a bit of snow to the higher …
: Be smart with MarsEdit Arrange windows — I'm making a lot of posts on another Micro.Blog blog just now. Of course I'm using …
: Hooray for Dana Stabenow! A reasonably priced Kindle book in a favourite series AND I’m …
: Even the dogs don’t really want to be on the beach when it’s a roaring southerly off the …
: Our first winter storm didn’t waste a second, even starting on the last day of autumn. Tonight …
: At least once a week I have reason to be glad of A Better Finder Rename. Bulk rename files, in part …
: 3 minute video: Spoken word poem about racism in New Zealand ‘Yesterday I was African, today I am …
: I’ve started working on a new writing project of my own devising and have been throwing myself into …
: First day of Winter; first winter fire. Oshi has the prime spot by the woodburner. Ares is on a …
May 2019
: Those who don’t live in a monarchy might find this calendar of upcoming 21-gun salutes in …
: Back in the early oughts I wrote articles on stuff. I just rediscovered a link to one on my old …
: If you enjoy a big laugh, are even faintly interested in language, spelling, writing, then treat …
: I forgot to watch the Budget so saw only the last 10 minutes. 😒 However, it seems the Government is …
: The quail are fine, but it feels like the universe is out to get them. Overnight some uncontrolled …
: Looks like we have a few days coming up that’ll fill the water tank, give the garden a good …
: Kiwis: I love the wall dots from HappyMoose and now the price has dropped a heap: we used to charge …
: Tom Scott’s latest NZ video: Testing A Zip Line That Goes Round Corners (5 mins) is another good …
: Overnight gales opened up the quail runs and I feared the worst at dawn when I saw the problem. Glee …
: Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors is a brilliant documentary, full of science, motion capture, 3D …
: Two new pest traps installed: Peanut butter on mousetrap inside catproof box for inside the Cat …
: The dogs have reason to be glad I use Keyboard Maestro.
: This Micro Monday I’d like to suggest you follow these folks currently in Aotearoa New Zealand …
: This is very disturbing — look at the videos: Samsung’s Creepy New AI Can Generate Talking …
: NZ’s first known war dog to receive posthumous medal 🐶 Ceaser left this country … in February …
: Whew. Now I’ve made 100 days for my longest move streak I can relax if I break it.
: Cropped and auto-enhanced, but these two quail photos are from the NatureWatch Camera I just set up, …
: Excited that @brentsimmons has put up an early version of the NetNewsWire 5 RSS reader. It’s …
: This selfie isn’t up to much but it was one of the first (handheld in low light) shots with my new …
: And so they should! British newspaper The Guardian announced a style guide change. From now on, …
: Stoats, the quail killers About 1,000 years ago the only land mammals in New Zealand were bats. Then Māori arrived, …
: In 2016 I made a video of one of my original quail crowing. Unlike California Quail who seem to say …
: A couple of minutes in to Brooklyn Nine-Nine S01E01 I thought I’d hate the show, but so many …
: The stoat, or maybe weasel, that killed 3 quail was very angry when I trapped it between a bucket …
: After @crossingthethreshold posted a photo of a road it made me think of this favourite zebra …
: This thing is a stoat. An angry stoat, trapped in a plastic bucket behind wire. Unfortunately, as I …
: GLAAD: Movies Are Getting Better For Lesbian and Gay Characters, Staying Terrible for Trans and …
: I’ve really enjoyed watching Seal Team and am glad to see it’s been renewed for a third …
: On the hunt for quail When I checked the quail today one was dead — Felicia, the great mother who hatched the babies this …
: While I was hunting for an escaped quail an Eastern Rosella made a brief appearance to laugh at me …
: Someone requested a page listing Kiwis on Micro.Blog. Tada! @billbennettnz @dejus @herself …
: Green tea at the Levin Mall cafe was mediocre. The teapot & cup combo was rather charming …
: My favourite sci-fi author’s Kickstarter has already reached 500+% of its goal with 8 days …
: Wellington is notorious for its steep hills. Many of those hills have paths, stairs and steps, which …
: Oshi and Sasha are all freshly groomed. 🐶
: Shaggy dogs on their way to be groomed. Oshi and Sasha are ready for a trim. 🐶
: Read: The Korean Way of Tea My experience and appreciation for tea and the art and etiquette of tea …
: Rain today as at 7 am: 0.9mm. Rain forecast for most days this week: 0.
: I’m a very linear person: A to B to C. When I run training sessions that’s the kind of …
: Lingthusiasm Episode 32 (33 minute audio) reveals how some languages require you to say how you know …
: Beach find: this large feather, probably from a black-backed gull. Photo shows the feather resting …
: It was Quail moving day today. I like to move them to a fresh patch every few weeks. The two runs …
: I haven’t had time to read any of this site yet, but anticipate much to enjoy: Rejected …
: Interesting article from Don Norman, 83-year-old author of the industry bible Design of Everyday …
: The outdoor module of my Netatmo weather station appeared to have come back to life. After 3 hours …
: For the last week the Netatmo outdoor module sat at the recommended distance failing to connect to …
: This 30 minute video had a lot of interesting stuff in it: Cybersecurity and a hacker called Alien | …
: Uh oh. Open my online banking to find a pending transaction for a service I no longer need. When I …
: Well done, The Big Bang Theory — nicely brought to a close. 👏🏼👏🏼
: I was suspicious about my wind gauge as it seemed to be at odds with various other sources. Teetered …
: Oshi and I had the place to ourselves last night. I washed nearly all the dog beds. Today he …
: Caster Semenya and the myth of testosterone: An extremely fascinating 50 minute discussion about …
: Today I learned the woman who wrote Mary Poppins was born and raised in Australia: P.L Travers — the …
: Excellent video series by nativlang: Thoth’s Pill - History of Writing Systems In this …
: 6 minute video: The First 3D Colour X-Rays University of Canterbury team …are using detector …
: Too Fast, Too Black, Too African: On Caster Semenya she ran smack into the global matrices of power …
: Sasha update: she’s staying at the vet’s overnight for observation with a saline drip for …
: It’s been a bit miserable today, what with the lack of sleep and also being a bit unwell. …
: It’s nearly 4 am. I should be asleep. Instead I’ve been woken every hour or so by Sasha the dog …
: With a swell of up to 2.5 metres, high tide and sunset coinciding, I biked down to the beach with my …
: Recommended reading: the extremely interesting and superbly written This is our story: A qualitative …
: Last night we watched and enjoyed Wine Country: When a group of longtime girlfriends goes to Napa …
: My Netatmo outdoor module is on the fritz. Because I’m in New Zealand I can’t buy a replacement …
: Ate a delicious dinner with long-time friends at Thistle Inn in Thorndon for one friend’s 70th …
: Someone on Micro.Blog recently mentioned ToDoist. After a few days use I’m finding it helpful …
: Bloke takes dogs for a swim in the river, finds moa prints: fossilised moa footprints millions of …
: What it means to live in NZ. In the last 24 hours… batteries ordered from a .co.nz site can’t be …
: Sasha enjoys chasing the ball on the beach. The thing is, her eyesight isn’t the best, so I …
: My favourite sci-fi author, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, is doing a special Kickstarter for her next …
: I’m learning lots about Māori from Taringa!. In Episode 36 of Taringa!, at ~ 23' 30" in, …
: Ares after a couple of days at the vet hospital for observation— he’s lost 500 grams since …
: “But the proof is in the pudding” — I try not to be pedantic about such things these days, but …
: The Brain-Eating Amoebas of Kerosene Creek — a 4 minute video from Tom Scott that features Associate …
: We’re still enjoying the last of the produce from our tunnelhouse: capsicum, aubergine, chili.
: The sea today was the pale grey of a glacier-fed river.
: Heh. Annoyed by Hover repeatedly emailing me about a domain I intentionally let expire, I discovered …
: Foxton is proud of its Dutch heritage. We ate poffertjes at the cafe. They were a little …
: Manawatu Estuary is a RAMSAR bird sanctuary and a great spot for a stroll. Today there were probably …
: My Siri watch face reminded me today about our Fox Terrier who died 12 years ago now. These two …
: Interesting 12 minute video: How To Drink Coffee In Space Cups only work in gravity, and drinking …
: Well, two entirely different Fierce Girls are interesting: podcast, Australian . TV show webseries, …
: Why not move a community group's website to FB? The other day I learned a sister organisation was thinking of closing down their website and moving …
: Tom Scott’s latest video shows how GPS isn’t accurate enough for the Auckland container …
: Having sung the praises of the Netatmo recently, the outside sensor promptly failed. 😒 After much …
: Heh, fellow Kiwis: blocked by the NZ Herald paywall? Try Inspect Element in the browser…
: Since his sister died so unexpectedly 3 weeks ago I took Ares for a precautionary checkup at the …
: Whew, just spent an hour writing a case for why a sister community organisation should NOT dump its …
: Venus and crescent moon at dawn.
: Thanks to @patrickrhone for linking to this: Rural Studio’s $20K House has such innovative design …
: This should not be: the [fishing] company claims it cannot afford to pay workers the living wage, …
: One of the things I love about getting up early is watching Venus lead in the dawn.
: This year New Zealand’s road toll is dreadfully high already— 136 fatalities so far this year. …
April 2019
: It’s a rare day when you find even a strand of seaweed on Waikawa Beach. After yesterday’s …
: Every morning Sasha likes to come on the bed for a big cuddle. Usually Oshi pushes in, but today he …
: Catching up on reading. Take Control of Siri has added considerably to the uses I’ll make of Siri. …
: Today’s forecast was for almost 21mm rain — and very welcome too. Actual rain to 2pm-ish: …
: Interesting item about human composting (rather than burial or cremation): Microbes … work within a …
: It seems New Zealand’s roads have been particularly deadly this month. April began with … a crash …
: The first really solid rainfall in several months. There’s about 30 mm forecast for today.
: In January we drove north to visit friends in Whangārei. We rounded a corner on the road north of …
: Such an interesting episode of Death in the Afternoon: Maggots Holding High Carnival: The American …
: There are plenty of -isms in the world, but the only one that affects all of us, especially if …
: I really enjoyed the Indian movie Bucket List. 40 year old Madhura looks after her family, but the …
: Now that Ares is a lonesome kitty I’m trying to spend more time with him. This is very tricky with …
: Well, thanks to the superb Take Control Of Your Browser book I’ve installed 2 handy browser …
: Well, by Page 25 of Take Control Of Your Browser I’ve already learned 2 useful new tips, and …
: Take Control Of Your Browser Hooray! : Take Control of Your Browser, by veteran tech writer Robyn Weisman, helps you discover …
: Someone’s been reading the wrong book about how to craft front page headlines…
: I enjoyed the 2019 Indian film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga this morning. The title translates as …
: I was just thinking yesterday we hadn’t had a decent earthquake in a while. So at 4.30 this …
: Oshi and Sasha enjoyed their visit to the beach this morning. I spent a while taking photos of …
: Thanks to @tones for the Time Ball link. Just to amplify: the tribe’s history was passed down …
: Our local paper has the most thrilling headlines. Tomorrow is Anzac Day, hence the emphasis on …
: I’ve been watching Homecoming: a film by Beyoncé. It’s an amazing show. She has more energy in …
: Thanks to one of my favourite apps Hazel and its ‘sweep’ function, when I deleted the …
: I hope they don’t really mean this! Zero privacy from spam? Mind you, they’ve already made me …
: Oshi, of course, is waiting for his dinner still (ie biscuits in a bowl on the floor).
: It wasn’t meant to be a canine Easter egg hunt, but what else can you do when you spill a whole …
: I really enjoyed listening to @macgenie and Brianna Wu discuss Voyager’s Equinox double episode on 3 …
: Two little Tauhou or Silvereye turned up on the flax this morning. The silvereye colonised New …
: This 14 minute video is very interesting: Why Do We Get Columbine So Wrong? Hard to believe …
: I’m really enjoying In the Dark on The CW. An irreverent blind woman … Murphy drifts through …
: My neighbour and I played Scrabble tonight. She’s very hard to beat, and played “amaze” for a …
: One job for this month is to tidy and rearrange the garage. Meanwhile, I re-stained the tops of two …
: Today I planted the kowhai tree Sophora Dragon’s Gold beside Aphra’s grave. I dug a hole in …
: Such a glorious day! I was sitting on the deck in the sun, thinking how uncomfortable my chair was. …
: Thanks Happy Moose, that was a nice surprise.
: Nature at risk: Damning report warns NZ environment in serious trouble A bleak picture of the state …
: My Netatmo wind gauge was on top of a regular fence post. That worked well until yesterday when the …
: Sunrise, from my favourite chair in the lounge.
: Thank you! So many people have sent me well wishes after the sudden and unexpected passing of my …
: In 2002 my sweet little cat Aphra was less than a year old. She and her brother Ares shone in the …
: Liked, whakataukī: Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei — Seek the …
: Quail update: Glee is now 7 weeks old and has brown markings on her back. Yesterday was quail moving …
: I’ve just finished re-reading Anniversary Day Saga by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. She’s such a …
: Today I discovered that 07:01 on a Sunday morning is a fantastic time to go to the supermarket. …
: I enjoyed the movie Red Joan, starring Dame Judi Dench. Interesting story based on real life. And …
: Ah, my domain registrar’s Support team have worked some magic and it appears forwarding from …
: My domain registrar is trying to figure out why my old email address is failing to successfully …
: Busy reading a jargon-filled (appropriately) geomorphological assessment of our river and shoreline, …
: I’ve changed my main email address and it sure is quiet while the forwarder from the old address …
: The dogs visited the vet in Ōtaki today for their annual checkup and shots (all good). We took the …
: Why kiwi and moa became flightless Researchers discovered new evidence of what made some of …
: Study Shows Our Cats Do Know Their Names most of the time cats can indeed distinguish between their …
: I had enough stain left in the tin for 3 outdoor chairs. Now I need to buy more for the tables. This …
: Occasionally exchange rate fluctuations work in my favour. Siteground renewed automatically an …
: 4 Pied shags, kawau had attitude on the beach this morning. By lucky chance I managed some photos I …
: At sunset tonight the Tararuas shone red below a pink-clouded sky. This photo straight out of the …
: A friend caught several Snapper from his sea kayak this morning and gave us one. It was delicious …
: The neighbours are having landscaping done on the area across our boundary. Now I need to try to …
: Scientist finds link to ancient home of Māori A Northland scientist has … pinpointed the origin of …
: It’s been so long since I last lit the fire I’d forgotten how. Now, finally, it seems to …
: Video (11 minutes): Grass Roots: the women of Hikurangi Enterprises Grass Roots looks at the wāhine …
: If this forecast holds true (unlikely — we usually get less rain than forecast) it’ll add nearly …
: I’m so relieved — Siteground renewed web hosting automatically for me 2 weeks before I …
: Oh, time to start paying attention to Apple Pay, as it is now available with Westpac in New Zealand. …
: In 2.5 hours in Levin waiting for my car’s new windscreen to be installed I: had a flu shot, …
: Our dog Sasha loves to chase a ball. This cool early morning on the beach she had a heap of energy. …
: Our barking dog got me outside at 0524, just in time to see a sliver of moon rise below Venus over …
: This year I’m learning Te Reo Māori by distance from Te Wananga o Raukawa. I’m really …
: Christchurch mosque attacks: Some Muslim women are still too scared to wear a hijab in public and …
: Clair, 60, says the streets are her home. She eats at a bus stop, wanders the CBD, and sleeps on the …
: Why Women’s Voices Are Getting Deeper This video dives into why women’s voices are getting …
March 2019
: A bit of gardening — hard yakka A bit of our property beside our lane has always been a struggle. The rabbits dig numerous holes, …
: A fan of space opera? I’m buying The 2019 Space Opera Bundle, curated by Dean Wesley Smith: …
: This little Chaffinch came and sat on the flax. Photos through a window. Chaffinches are the …
: Every Kiwi over the age of 35 well knows this feelgood #1 track from 1984: Poi E - Patea Maori Club. …
: Not airforce and not an Orion We live not very far from an Air Base so seeing military craft flying low is pretty common. The …
: Interesting read: Personal blogs: the elements of structure
: And, indeed, the weed-spraying has already started next door. I’m a little surprised they …
: I’d say this is the helicopter that is going to spray gorse and lupins in the paddock next door to …
: Darn it! Last night as friends and I drove to Levin for dinner a truck passed going the other way. …
: Recently this plane flew low on its way south. Royal NZ Air Force Z3546. Update: it’s a DC3. …
: Crikey! I’m often overwhelmed with 1 acre and no cows. Chatted with our neighbour: he looks …
: Some mornings, when you live next to a beef and dairy farm, you wake up to find two young steers …
: The first video episode of Lingthusiasm was really interesting: Why do we gesture when we talk?. I …
: Whew, I’m still completing the move of my Love Waikawa Beach community focused website to …
: Scientists Discover Signs of New Neurons Developing Even in Adult Brains Human beings grow new …
: The Gender Spectrum Collection: Stock Photos Beyond the Binary The Gender Spectrum Collection is a …
: Oh, turns out there were only 23 videos in the whole playlist. Unfortunately it didn’t cover …
: I’ve been watching the Introduction to Hugo videos from Mike Dane and am up to #22. They’re …
: Sometimes the dogs and I are lucky and we have the 10 Km of beach between Ōtaki and Kuku all to …
: Yesterday with cleaning, dog walking, mowing, mulching, planting, watering I did 300% of my daily …
: Returning from the beach, we saw these excellent textured clouds in the east.
: I don’t want to lose my rights, but at the end of the day, this is actually not about a part …
: A start on customising a Micro.Blog theme I want to customise the theme for my Micro.Blog hosted Love Waikawa Beach community website. This …
: Are you a weapon? Pat yourself down. Another excellent cartoon from Sharon Murdoch subsequent to the …
: Why Time moves faster as we age Days seemed to last longer in your youth because the young mind …
: We live at the beach so things rust and degrade quickly. That includes items like the cheap toilet …
: It’s been ages since I went for a bike ride, but today seemed like a good day for it. …
: Prior attacks in New Zealand: 1881 … Crown troops invaded … Parihaka and decimated the village. …
: There were a couple of really noisy magpies by the house this evening. This one sat on a driftwood …
: Wow, a group of 3 low-flying Hercules aircraft just passed overhead, all trailing smoke. Someone …
: Roughly once a week I go to Ōtaki where we own a house we rent out to a long-term tenant. It’s …
: Catherine Trundle: believing oneself to be non-racist is now simply not enough. We have to be …
: Dame Anne Salmond: white supremacy is a black strand woven through our history as a nation. … …
: Apologies for the duplication. I just reposted two posts from this morning, but this time to the …
: What a gorgeous morning! Clear skies, inversion layer over the paddocks, sun about to rise.
: Mondays I check the level in our rainwater tank. It doesn’t rain much in the summer months …
: Some background: I was brought up Church of England but as a teenager rejected that and am not …
: My reading suggests Islam is very pragmatic: Fasting is obligatory for every physically & …
: I thought to start to educate myself about some of my fellow Kiwis: The Arabic word “Islam” …
: You get them all posed, then one looks away. Photo: my dogs Sasha and Oshi on the back seat of the …
: OK, I’ve now sent two posts to / from the wrong blog! Must be time to cancel that blog under …
: Yes. “they are us and we are them”.
: I was shocked to learn it’s legal in NZ for civilians to own automatic weapons. No civilian …
: Our Prime Minister speaks of shared values Our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern speaks the heart of New Zealand: These [attackers] are people who …
: Our dog Oshi, outside: woof. Guest Willow: WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF. Me: Picks up …
: These beautiful white fungi appeared in the vege garden yesterday. Today they’re past their best.
: Ugh. Police have been dealing with 2 shootings at 2 mosques in Christchurch We can confirm there …
: This is appalling, wherever in the world it takes place. It’s almost inconceivable that it …
: Well! Space port ‘could be feasible’ in NZ in 10 years it’s a serious possibility …
: Wow! Fascinating video: Polishing a Pink Mega Diamond by Periodic Table of Videos. This 13 minute …
: This year I’m still learning Te Reo Māori, but with much more enjoyment. Instead of a …
: Today’s beach walk netted me several kinds of wildlife. 1] A gang of pukeko who strolled …
: Now, 25 years later, I need two hands to count the number of fictional women who inspire me — the …
: In that very first episode of Xena Warrior Princess in 1995 I anxiously held my breath. I was …
: As a kid I loved sci-fi and space. I grew up with Star Trek: The Original Series. I followed all the …
: I remain impressed with TV Show Supergirl. S4E14 has real-life politics and personal struggles. …
: I heard a large plane, looked up and spotted this Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules aircraft …
: We live on the south side of where the Waikawa River flows into the sea. We seldom walk on the north …
: It was a nice surprise to get a shout-out on Episode 52 of the Micro Monday Podcast. Quail FTW! …
: I hope we don’t have any really shaky earthquakes between now and mid-winter. I tried a new stacking …
: Mystery helicopter moves The Ohakea Air Base is about 60 Km north-ish of us, if you fly a straight line. That would take an …
: Handy: 14 Siri Tricks You Can Use Right Now. I frequently use some already, but new to me: retrieve …
: Yesterday’s late afternoon trip to the beach netted me these 3 iPhone photos: Shining sea …
: I’m so much enjoying The Orville TV show. I forget I’m not watching Star Trek. In the latest ep I …
: One more on NZ history, at Kindle Loc 2625: Contact [with] foreigners began with Abel Tasman in …
: I’m reading Tangata Whenua: A History to learn more about the history of Aotearoa New Zealand. …
: A very interesting 5 minute video: Why are All Voice Assistants Female? So why are all voice …
: I have too many domain names, too many websites and too many email addresses. That’s bad for …
: The first mistake I made with my Japanese Quail was to buy a rabbit hutch and run to house them. A …
: Today I caught baby Glee ‘in the wild’, ie, in their house, and she posed nicely. Quail have no prey …
: Some bizarre cropping afflicted that photo yesterday of 10-day old quail chick Glee, getting even …
: I enjoyed Captain Marvel. It had humanity, humour and heart along with the fights and chases and …
: Quail chick Glee is getting more white feathers by the day. 10 days old and does not like me picking …
: Well, I finally sent out the community newsletter for February. Now to start on the March issue. We …
: While I’ve run out of day before I’ve run out of things I planned or hoped to do, I feel pretty …
: My quail are Coturnix Coturnix as in the photo of the bird in the hand below. 🐦 They’re …
: Glee's feathers are coming along nicely. 🐦
: To get a decent photo of quail chick Glee, now 7 days old, I had to grab her then hold the squirmer …
: Hard to believe it’s taken this long for women to be acknowledged like this: shearer Emily …
: Ironic really, when you’re at a dead stop in the now usual congestion. 90 minutes to reach Otaki. …
: I was about to hammer in stakes to support frost cloth when I spotted this large Paper Wasp nest …
: This is my friend Willow whose people are dealing with a family emergency today. After a morning on …
: What a splendid morning at the beach!
: I think someone mentioned the other day that there aren't enough cat photos round here? Aphra. 😀 🐈
February 2019
: This is a good start: Auckland Council will be lobbying the government to stop the sale of private …
: Is it possible to have too many photos of a baby quail? Here's baby Glee at 3 days. 🐦
: I’d forgotten how big a pile 15 cubic metres of mulch makes. Most went down by the gate, a …
: Pleased to see baby Quail, Glee, up and about this morning, strolling through the chick food. This …
: Quail chick Glee, 2 days old, is thriving. 🐦
: Brrrr: that's a chilly summer morning: 3.4C.
: Little Glee is an excellent quail chick. She’s 1 day old and looking strong and healthy. Her …
: Periodic Videos comes up trumps again: Diamonds Uncut The Professor looks at uncut diamonds of all …
: Quail mystery solved. Two eggs from 06 February have hatched. The two from 05 February are still …
: Little quail chick Glee is up and about and pecking for food. Three of the original 4 eggs remain. …
: I was investigating what looked like a hard boiled quail egg beside mother Felicia when she moved. …
: Ahhh, starting the day with my favourite morning tea, China Snowbuds quality white tea buds from …
: Well, we were meant to go to Kāpiti Island (nature reserve) tomorrow for an overnight stay but the …
: So glad the Mothers of Invention podcast is back for Season 2. Join former Irish President Mary …
: A high-ranking female Viking warrior Luckily genetic analysis has overridden the sexism of a bunch of archaeologists who assumed that a …
: Dashed off to brush my teeth during the long ads in an online TV show. Had a sudden memory of the …
: Last week I watched the sun set over our beach. This morning I watched a full moon set over the …
: Excellent 7 minute video from Tom Scott: Why Denmark Is .07 Seconds Behind The World Measuring time …
: Fascinating, thought-provoking 20 minute video: What is the Oldest Mummy in the World? The Ask A …
: Today's quail update: sometimes a bird will lay an egg that has no shell around the internal …
: This unusual (to me) dead fish on the beach this morning may be a Black Oreo Dory. large-eyed, …
: I’ve spent much of the day in bed as I’ve been feeling odd all day — a bit dizzy perhaps. On a …
: There were interesting clouds at dusk tonight — braided and wave-like.
: Today’s XKCD comic has to be one of my favourites.
: Many thanks for the birthday wishes @brentsimmons, @yorrike, @pratik, @aclaman, @dejus, @macgenie …
: It seemed fitting on the eve of my 64th birthday to go down to the beach and watch the sun set. It …
: Felicia is a very dedicated mother. She's sitting on 5 eggs I've left with her. In a couple of weeks …
: Hen egg vs quail egg. The last hen eggs we bought are jumbo size. In the photo I put a regular size …
: Found: The women mathematicians responsible for calculating ballistics tables for missiles being …
: Also on the beach today this probable green-lipped mussel, with brown ‘beard’.
: I haven’t seen any penguins on our beach — until today with this dead one. 😒 Someone had marked its …
: Florence and Felicia are two of last year’s quail. One of them laid the middle egg in the …
: Today I separated the quail into two groups in separate runs. Poor little baby Flop has been badly …
: Clever Siri. I said: “Hey Siri, remind me to move the lime tree in Autumn”. Siri …
: The beach was looking a bit gorgeous this morning. I had just dug in those sticks to help mark the …
: Yesterday this fishing vessel was working *really* close to shore. A good swimmer could have easily …
: How to get list bullets on the Home Page with Marfa theme The other day I wrote a post with a list in it. Mysteriously, it showed up on the Home Page of my …
: At our beach we sometimes get Bluebottle jellies and By The Wind sailors, but I haven't before seen …
: Our current neighbours were looking gorgeous this morning. Photo: 2 brown horses and a black horse …
: Yesterday’s wasp sting was painful at the time, but I washed and iced it and it seemed OK. Today my …
: Moments of the day, Monday 04 February 2019 an hour watering the garden alone on the beach with …
: Last night I really enjoyed the movie Victoria & Abdul. It was a lot lighter than I expected. …
: Lunch Letdowns near Levin Yesterday I tried out Whispers Cafe in Levin. I had a hot chocolate, with fish and chips. I'd have …
: Loved this 10 minute video: Nature Mythology From Around the World This week on Nature League, Brit …
: LOL, Kāpiti Coast District Council has put up ‘selfie’ posts in scenic locations. How to selfie - …
January 2019
: Ares and Aphra relax in front of the house. 🐈
: Watched: The Poor Man of Nippur - World’s first film in Babylonian …a c. 3,000 year-old comic …
: Wonderful to step outside just before dawn to see a crescent Moon partnered up with Jupiter and …
: Hooray for nuns, and magic water In 1963 our family moved from London, England to New Zealand. I recall very little about where I was …
: When it feels more like Samoa or something than not too far from Wellington, New Zealand. …
: Apparently this little critter I found on the side of the house this evening is a Small field …
: Read: What to do when your personal blog becomes a burden: 6 tips : When your personal blog becomes …
: This kōtuku ngutupapa, Spoonbill, pair were on the grass today and I was able to be fairly close. …
: These three cheerful Tirairaka sitting on a log were one of two purchases from the recent Ōtaki …
: Today it’s almost 4 weeks since the quail chicks hatched so we integrated the flock again. The …
: Evidence of voyaging Polynesians settling in Aotearoa more than 700 years ago. An excavation at …
: Sir Kim Workman on his fight for criminal justice reform When I was about 20, training to be a …
: Looking good, kōtuku ngutupapa, the Spoonbill! 🐦
: Clearly the shutter speed was too slow when I took photos of these horses being ridden along the …
: The minute quantities along with the enormous prices are mind-boggling in this 10 minute video: …
: A dog walk in the trees across the river got us a view of the shag colony, where there are baby …
: As time has passed there are 2 things that frustrate me enormously in the Micro.Blog Mac app: I …
: 4 years of daily selfies, and counting… Somewhere around 01 January 2015 I realised that of the thousands of photos in my albums only a …
: Bad error messages can kill companies: An Amazon suspension message lists an item along with a …
: Susan Bennett was the original voice for Apple’s Siri, the first AI assistant on a cell phone. …
: When men won't even let women relieve themselves… People without a safe place to go to the bathroom can die because of unsanitary conditions. A 2016 …
: So sad women have to endure this: 18 year old refugee woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun renounced …
: We had a delicious and reasonably priced meal at Prah Ta Pang in Waikanae last night. I chose E4. …
: We went to see Bohemian Rhapsody tonight. Initially a bit reluctant, I really enjoyed it. And, of …
: A new word I learned today: enchiridion — a book containing essential information on a subject. …
: What a good thing: On the websites of many New Zealand companies women can now access information …
: I seem to be answering a lot of these challenges lately: all the squares with cars or roads or …
: Something I learned yesterday when asked to publish a community notice about a missing cat: not only …
: 6 conventional blogging tips that may make sense for personal blogs: certain time-honoured tips …
: Because women are overlooked & unsupported, & because her work is excellent, I’ve set …
: Women are routinely erased from history, but occasionally they resurface: more evidence female …
: When I was a kid, back in the 60s, you could drive a long way and scarcely see another car. We had …
: Hard to believe that just over 12 hours ago we were in Whangārei. The drive home was smooth, …
: Today we set off for home. It’s a bit over 700 Km, or 10 hours driving. Chances are …
: At AH Reed park in Whangārei there is a merely 500 year old Kauri tree. There’s also an …
: The Otuihau Whangārei waterfall is 26.3m high and falls over basalt cliffs.
: Yesterday at the Whangarei Kiwi House and Museum I saw an actual Brown Kiwi feeding. The need for …
: Giant Kokopu at the Whangarei Kiwi House and Museum. A coastal species of fish endemic to New …
: 3 baby and 2 adult Oystercatchers at Uretiti Beach near Whangarei. 🐦
: Photo: looking at Hen and Chicken Islands from Uretiti dog beach near Marsden Point (on the Bream …
: 10 blogging guidelines that don’t apply to personal blogs You are blogging to express yourself, …
: The Hokianga Harbour is astonishingly beautiful.
: A single photo just can’t show how huge Tāne Mahuta is.
: Today we aim to visit Tāne Mahuta, a tree that stood on this land for 1,000 years before people …
: www.radionz.co.nz Stewart Island named a Dark Sky Sanctuary
: The Whangarei Basin is a lovely spot on a very hot Saturday morning. The market stalls had variety. …
: Hah, haven't seen one of these nice timeline adjacencies since I left Twitter. What will drive you? …
: Our friends in Whangarei have the most beautiful Belgian Shepherd dog. About 5 years old. 🐶
: We were suddenly presented with these two huge sculptures on a hill as we rounded a corner (but …
: As we crossed the Bombay Hills yesterday farmers were harvesting spring onions. What a stench! …
: We had a good night in Auckland with a friend, but today we head for our ultimate destination: …
: We stopped along the Desert Road (just before the best viewing spot…) and I hauled out the …
: Huntly coal fired power station looks good. We also saw a train load of coal arriving. Time for this …
: We stopped at Oruatua on the East side of Lake Taupo for the dogs to have a walk.
: Ruapehu was looking fine as we drove the Desert Road.
: A couple of hours driving brought us to breakfast at Taihape. They’re still waking up here.
: Quail chicks Day 7. They seem to be exchanging baby fluff for feathers. Photos: yellow chick and …
: Today Fliss, the 6 day old stripey quail chick, is modelling for us. What a looker! Flop’s …
: Angel Wings. Photo: a white Royal Spoonbill takes flight from the lagoon at Waikawa Beach. 🐦
December 2018
: Well, at almost 11pm I’m finding it hard to believe that 2019 is about to begin. Best wishes for …
: These baby quail, born 5 days ago now, remain unbearably cute. Photos: yellow chick peeking out from …
: We went to see The Favourite recently and the film has stayed with me. It’s intense, unusual, …
: Women and rebels honoured Look what happens when you get a government that is actually working for people, rather than the …
: Whew. It took nearly 24 hours but I’ve finally modified the Comment form on our Community …
: Thank you Inoreader and BBEdit! After searching all over for a way to capture items from a single …
: Little Flop, in her third day, finds straw a bit of a challenge. Photo: yellow quail chick in straw. …
: Little Fliss, in her third day, is so photogenic. Photo: stripy baby Japanese quail. 🐦
: A few hours later: Mother quail, Felicia, and babies Fliss and Flop are doing fine.
: Birds can change sex Sex Reversal in Chickens Kept in Small and Backyard Flocks - eXtension tells us (of chickens): How …
: The MOST exciting thing: we unexpectedly have 2 baby quail! Especially unexpected since the adults …
: Dark mode was so hyped that I switched to it immediately on installing Mojave when it was released. …
: Are you familiar with earth — a visualization of global weather conditions? I visit daily. The …
: This Micro Monday I’d like to mention @smokey who is thoughtful, generous, interesting, and a …
: As a contribution to our shared lunch with friends tomorrow I’ve made Lemon Butter Biscuits …
: The Levin dog park, next to Lake Horowhenua, is splendid: 50,000 square metres (12 acres), fully …
: A “hidden figure” in the development of GPS technology has officially been honored …. Mathematician …
: The pause point It’s 4.45 am on summer solstice. I have been awake an hour already. Sunrise will come soon, bringing …
: Nice: 16 hours and 12 minutes of daylight today.
: After several fatalities recently, we have new signs between Waikawa Beach Road and Levin on State …
: Today’s Te Reo Māori quirk: tātahi is the beach. You don’t put a ‘te’ in front of it, …
: So, any thoughts about what’s heading our way and how long it’ll take to get here?
: Interesting word of the week, bdelloid: From the Ancient Greek …
: Your New Social Credit Score: A powerful 3 minute video about a possible, even likely, future. I …
: We like the horses down the road. Moose has recently joined the other two. When he's standing right …
: Drat! Last week’s sutures from a trivial excision came out today. Except for one that …
: This Micro Monday I’d like to recommend @Pip for her photos with strong and interesting shapes and …
: At sunrise today there was a nice little inversion layer over the paddock next door. Photo: 2 black …
: One of the delights of Te Reo Māori is that it doesn’t have to suffer apostrophes. But …
: This morning’s beach theme: black-backed gulls and an oystercatcher on the wet sand with …
: I really enjoyed Elseworlds parts 1 & 2 under the show names of Flash and Arrow. But part 3, …
: These starlings, I think, have given themselves orange heads by dipping into the flax flowers. …
: And again it’s thundery weather. These are my favourite clouds today.
: One of the best parts of this story about a homeless man in hospital in Brazil: The pups were …
: There’s thunder in the air. Photo: low and dark clouds.
: The farmer next door is baling hay a couple of paddocks over. Hooray for a zoom lens. Photos: …
: Jean @macgenie was kind enough to send me a copy of The Sun. By the looks of these amazing night sky …
: Dogs are great! Pets are being trained to detect invasive fish: “The dogs sniffed 17-samples …
: On this morning’s beach walk we saw (photos) two horses, and a fishing boat. The sea was very calm.
: Bush Giant Dragonflies often come into the house at this time of year and generally can’t find …
: In summer the dogs and I head to the beach early. It’s too hot for them by 8 am on a sunny …
: Sounds mysterious Aha, I knew it! Well, I didn't or I wouldn't have had to look it up. What I did know was that the …
: The 200 funniest words in English: That sounds funny — the science behind why certain words make us …
: Driving past the lake this morning I caught a quick glimpse of a baby pūkeko: a tiny ball of fluff …
: What a great story, and with a surprising New Zealand connection: The Hopeful Story of a Doomed Fox, …
: I had an hour today with Karen, a Clinical Massage Practitioner. It turns out all the time …
: $95 worth of high-quality beef mince, stir-fry and steak from my favourite Green Meadows Beef. A …
: Oshi will be 12 next week. He finds 6.45am far too early to be awake. Photo: Oshi the dog yawning …
: Hey, a new comet, and fairly easy to spot: “On Dec. 16th, Comet 46P/Wirtanen will approach Earth …
: When you glance out the window and spot someone lurking behind the flax bush only a few metres away… …
: These beauties are straight from our tunnel house. Photo: 6 red strawberries.
: One of my favourite loose-leaf teas is Premium China Snowbuds, a delicate white tea. Today for the …
November 2018
: Hayfever sounds fairly innocent: oh, you sneeze a lot. In reality it’s like a permanent bad …
: In November lupin bushes are very pretty, loaded with bright yellow flowers … whose pollen flies …
: We had an early start at the beach this morning. Sasha caught today’s moment of sunshine. Photo: …
: Geese fly in those gorgeous wedge-shaped skeins… but not this gang of 35 rebels. They were all over …
: The fishing vessel Perseverance 66110 was our companion at the beach this morning. Photo: fishing …
: The paddocks next door usually have Friesian (probably) steers. The farmer keeps his dairy herd …
: Caught this beauty just after coming home from dinner out. Photo: full red-tinged moon rising above …
: I love the hawks that soar around here, hunting. Today, for the first time, and through a window, I …
: The bird in the range hood I came home from shopping to hear extremely loud and continuous bird chirps in the corner of the …
: Interesting: in this 8 minute audio we hear how beatboxers make sounds, some of which are unlike any …
: Interesting: “Sometimes, numbers on sites like YouTube and Twitter jump up and down subscriber …
: Wow, even though I knew the outcome was good, this video of a rescue of 3 people + 2 dogs by …
: The farmer next door is ploughing the paddock. The crop will probably be feed for the cows who are …
: Wahine Rongonui: Dame Whina Cooper This year I've been studying Te Reo Māori, the Māori language, through Te Wananga o …
: Those two scruffy dogs have finally had a bath and a trim. You can see their eyes again! Photos: …
: Looking south towards Kāpiti Island on a gorgeous morning. Meanwhile, what were these 2 scoundrels …
: I don’t often use cash, but today’s bonus was to receive an Armistice Day centennial …
: Oshi and Sasha had a great run on the beach this morning. Photos: Oshi running; Sasha running.
: Today I made a new veggie patch and planted self-sown tomatoes and celery. Emptied and moved 2 …
: In truth, sleeping dogs: Oshi and Sasha.
: Yellowhammer: “The colourful yellowhammer is a common inhabitant of open country throughout much of …
: This morning‘s haul of 5 strawberries from the tunnel house.
: From the iPhone 7, a delicate fungus I spotted in the garden this morning.
: Kiwis: sick of fireworks? A new petition to cease retail sales. Sign by 30 November 2018.
: Interesting: in that big earthquake last week the P waves arrived first, with the S waves later. …
: Who knew … apparently there’s a town in France, Le Quesnoy, that the Kiwis liberated near the …
: I don’t fuss about regular folks writing ‘poorly’, but professionals is another matter. Radio NZ and …
: Urgh, this wind is a definite incentive to stay in bed. 💨
: On my Micro.blog site styling the photos also affected my avatar at the top of the page. This CSS …
: On my Micro.blog site I didn’t like my photos being smooshed together. This CSS has helped: img …
: The map mystery Whenever a Kiwi spots a world map in the background of some News broadcast, our eye is inevitably …
: I was wondering how much CO2 I save by making hyperlocal trips on my bike. This handy CO2 calculator …
: On strong role models in film and tv — we need more Here's an excellent research-based 7 minute video from BrainCraft about how important role models …
: Sunset, and I glanced up at the now cloud-free Tararuas to see snow on the peaks. No wonder …
: That scary rain on the roof sound It's common in New Zealand for houses to have a tin roof. In our case that's long-run Colorsteel. So …
October 2018
: Today’s beach observation: an intact sand dollar.
: This morning I stood on the deck and took photos of some of our household and neighbours. Photos: 2 …
: Don’t mean to harp on it, but that earthquake was BIG and LONG. I’m actually shaking …
: Wow. If you never hear from me again it’s because I didn’t follow the rule about …
: I enjoy the posts from @YellowCottage . They’re a great Micro Monday follow if you enjoy …
: Two fine looking horses were ridden past me on the beach this morning. 2 minutes and 14 seconds …
: What the heck! I always watch the Apple Events live (at 5 am, urgh!), but this next one’s at 3 …
September 2018
: Snorkelling at Utuko Reef again yesterday I just snapped loads of pictures. Between contact lenses, …
: Utuko Reef from Crazy Unga Cafe. 🗺🇳🇺
: Getting closer. The flight to Niue takes almost 3.5 hours. We cross the dateline so we arrive …
August 2018
: Sitting out in the sun with my little Aphra. 🐈
June 2018
: Woohoo. First (frosty) sunrise on the way to mid-summer.
: This has become one of my favourite recipes: easy and quick to make, delicious to eat. I don’t …
May 2018
: The Netflix animated programme called Spirit is just lovely for kids — features 3 girls, probably …
: I’m not actually a big fan of cutesy stuff, but these Salt and Pepper shakers had a certain appeal.
: Sometimes we gets mats of small pieces of driftwood. Nice sharp edges on this one.
April 2018
: The answer to a question you may not have asked: no, you can’t eat olives straight from the tree. …
: My favourite noise isn't the whistling in my ears I’m working on overcoming tinnitus and improving sleep at the moment. After a professional …
: There was a brief gap in the clouds so I was able to see a light dusting of snow on the Tararuas. …
: The thunderstorm at midnight really upset Sasha. Now, at nearly 9 am it's just rain and maybe dull …
: I love how the wind smooths and ripples the sand overnight. It was rippling the river water too.
: There were a lot of birds at the river mouth this morning: Black backed gulls and White-fronted …
: On cooler mornings at dawn we can see the top of Mt Ruapehu, 164 Km away, from home. Kei te harikoa …
: A Keyboard Maestro macro to help me learn long placenames I’m using Anki flashcards to help me learn Te Reo Māori, but some longer placenames are giving …
: Oversize vehicles are common on the stretch of road between Ōtaki and Levin, but I haven't spotted a …
: Allbirds with Over Under Lacing and Ian’s Secure Knot.
: With a new pair of Kotare Mint Allbirds shoes on my feet I was very glad to find I still had Ian's …
: This piece of driftwood caught my eye this morning.
: Today was rather satisfying. Now April has arrived I seem to be finally settling into a useful …
: Waikawa Beach photos from a drone A professional operator with his own DJI Inspire v1 drone visited today and took a few photos of our …
March 2018
: I love these misty autumn mornings. Such beautiful colours in the greenery. Can't decide which of …
: Aphra rarely allows me to catch her or pick her up, but tonight she let her guard down. 🐈
: A gorgeous dog walk at the beach this morning. Kawau, Pied Shags: ready, set, go go go.
: Now the dog yard is secure, though unfinished, I need to start beautifying it. Step 1: replant and …
: Oshi in his new $8 dog cave (on the dog bed, on the rug, on the carpet, on the floor…).
: Come on, Apple, give us Kiwis a choice New Zealand has at least two official languages: English and Māori. The English we speak and write …
: The dogs are very happy in their new playground. 🐶
: Something is wrong. I heard it rain in the night. The ground is wet. But the rain gauge shows no …
: Noooo. Yesterday I missed my Activity ring by 8 points simply because I forgot to check before I …
: The dog yard is sufficiently complete to put it to the test. Refinements will come (gates, handrail …
: The dog yard has a way to go yet, but it’s definitely getting there. The deck on the house …
: Buddies: Sasha and Ares. Hard to believe Sasha (and her brother Oshi) used to chase Ares every …
: The dog yard now has most of its posts. Still to come: rails and 2 gates. 🐶
: The secure dog yard is underway. 🐶
: At last, tomorrow the fencing guy comes to build a secure dog yard to keep these two scallywags from …
: A benefit of a sudden unexpected trip to Wellington was a few moments with this harbour view. Sick …
: Nearly missed the whole of a gorgeous sunset. Luckily I caught the tail end.
: Ruapehu and Tongariro from the Desert Rd. Then a late lunch at Bulls, where you can’t forget …
: Huka Falls was amazing as always. So much water!
: This motel has its own thermal mineral pool. A 10 minute bathe is a great way to start the day.
: The pipe bands keep coming in the street parade. Wellington Police brought their dog. 50 bands …
: Rotorua seems an unlikely place for a pipe band competition, but there we are.
: Ready for a breakfast cruise on the Lake Rotorua paddleboat.
: Clear water springs at Hangarua.
: Mighty redwoods at Hangarua.
: Looking out over Lake Rotorua from Mt Nongotaha.
: Single lane stop and go around roadworks on the Desert Road. Which was open today because rain …
: Taihape’s humorous loo signage.
: Doing all my Internetting before a 7 hour scheduled power outage.
: Middle of the night. There’s a loose pipe banging and the house is shaking a bit in the wind. But …
: The latest new house on the block is a Totalspan steel frame build. So glad we can't see this new …
: Looks like today will be an indoor day and that the water tank will be full again.
: Enjoyed the first session of the Te Reo Māori course I'm doing this year with Te Wananga o Aotearoa. …
: Cosmic Rays are heading our way This is … interesting … … radiation from deep space is not only intensifying, …
: Ahhh, what a way to start the day, with Rare Kenya Silver Tip white tea: From the Kenyan plantations …
: I enjoy watching short science videos while I eat breakfast. The new Nature League is already great: …
: Safe journeys, kuaka A few Kuaka visit our beach every year, but now it’s time for them to leave: 🐦 With the …
: Patterns in the sand at the Waiorongomai Stream.
: Down at Waikanae for dinner.
: Friday morning breakfast videos Ahhh, Friday morning videos to watch while I eat breakfast (today: quail eggs, ham, black rice and …
: When about 50 Canada Geese fly right overhead. 🐦
February 2018
: There's a flock of about 50 Canada Geese (and a rabbit) just hanging out in the next paddock but …
: It took me several hours of reading about 500 pages of PDF and writing 4,000 words over 3 blog posts …
: Nice to see Royal Spoonbills around after the storm. 🐦
: Really enjoyed Black Panther tonight. Themes of leadership, loyalty, responsibility, culture were so …
: After a very still day, in the last 10 minutes Ex Tropical Cyclone Gita has started to make itself …
: Getting dark and the local pheasants start squawking. Moments later (as expected with such an …
: Discovering possibility and hope again Ohhh, Star Trek Discovery was a blimmin good story, beautifully told. And that reminder of the …
: I stopped drinking tea and coffee in about 1981. Over time though I’ve become a green tea …
: This package arrived in the mail today and the Contents Description had me stumped: “aluminium pack, …
: Our thoughts with Tonga This morning, as the day dawns, I look outside and everything is the same as it was yesterday. At …
: Yes! 23mm of rain today and counting. That should have added 1500 litres of water to our house tank. …
: I was wearing thick work gloves when I pulled a tall weed this evening. Good thing too as I …
: From a better angle I can see that kite is a stingray.
: Monster kite at the Ōtaki Kite Festival.
: A rich vocabulary to describe exchange and sharing I love finding out things like this about other languages: A village in the northern Malay Peninsula …
: This evening when I arrived home that little Silvereye was back and waiting by the door. I had to …
: Dawn I stand on the deck at 6 AM as pink tinges the clouds near the horizon in the East. Between the …
: I think this Silvereye must have been very young. It let me get very close this afternoon before …
: Spots before my eyes In the last few years my eyes have been a little unpredictable — I feel as though I just can't see …
: Spinifex is wonderful stuff: it helps hold the sand dunes together and build new dunes. At this time …
: An overnight low of 5C is a bit of a shock to the system after a month or so of the temperatures …
: I started the day feeling a bit overwhelmed with so many things to do. Now I’ve done a random …
: Hard to believe Ares and Aphra turn 16 tomorrow. Here’s the two of them at about 6 months …
: Well, good morning Moon. You may no longer be blood red, but you’re still super! Nice to see you …
January 2018
: Locals have done a grand job moving driftwood to protect young dunes and clumps of dune grasses from …
: Landskein: the weaving & braiding of horizon lines Sometime last year I came across a word to describe layers of misty mountains. Fabulous! I thought. …
: 3 year old Ursula is a beautiful bonus at my generous host’s house. 🐈
: I’m enjoying Rachel McAlpine’s Summer Writing School. Here we are at lunchtime enjoying the …
: I was telling someone about this fantastic 14 minute YouTube documentary today and nearly couldn't …
: The rural life: this morning Scotty, the septic tank guy, stopped by to see why our tank’s …
: Stopped at a cafe and my Dark Skies T-shirt sparked a good conversation which even touched on the …
: Sasha and I found a tennis ball on the beach this morning. It was too hot to chase it for long …
: It’s good to see a mum hanging out with her kids. Monarch Butterfly and Swan Plant.
: This cute little Tauhou, Silver-Eye was stunned on the doorstep when I came home. After a few …
: Given the 27C heat today and anomalously warm sea temperatures I did something I never do and went …
: The Kuaka, Bartailed Godwits fly non-stop from the Arctic to feed during our summer. Some are kind …
: "Well, Goodbye!” Kuaka, Bartailed Godwit and Karoro, Black-backed Gull
: Today this novice kayaker braved the reach just north of the footbridge — a 20 minute paddle …
: I want 2018 to be a year of renewal for me. I've signed up for a Te Reo Māori course at Te Wananga …
: Matuku Moana, White-faced Heron on Waikawa Stream. A kayak’s great: you can get quite close. …
: Deep in the red The tip of the black arrow in the picture below — that's where we live. Drought maps January …
: A fresh start in 2018. In which I stop posting on my nearly 20 year old WordPress blog and take up …
: Excited that at last our swan plants have Monarch Butterfly caterpillars!
: Water issues a fluid topic in Horowhenua Egads, but there's a lot to talk about with water in Horowhenua. The Horowhenua Chronicle issue …
: Dog walk at Ōtaki estuary for a change. 🐶
: Bought myself a UE Megaboom Bluetooth speaker. First impression of sound: WOW!
: Kea gyms! Smart birds… A kea gym offers the birds several objects they can play with or take apart to …
: 2018 may become the year of renewal for me. Experimenting with new apps, new approaches, new plans. …
: Earthquake or wind gusts? The trouble with this wind is not being sure whether the house is shaking because of the wind gusts …
: 26mm rain to 06 January 2018 26mm rain to 06 January 2018 is a start. Now we'd like some more please, as this won't have broken …
: It’s so frustrating to buy an iTunes movie, connect to a friend’s projector for a …