Miraz Jordan

Full Post List

08 December 2024: Every couple of days I plug a 4TB drive into my MacBook Pro and use Time Machine to run a backup. Over recent weeks though it's failed repeatedly …

08 December 2024: This is a slim book in the way a surgeon's scalpel is slim — and equally effective Understanding Te Tiriti. 📚 A handbook of basic facts about Te …

08 December 2024: My Granny Smith apple tree is on track to produce a good crop this year. I'm going to miss this tree when we move.

07 December 2024: The corner of the deck railing is the super popular spot for birds this year. This Yellowhammer sang me a nice tune. 🐦

06 December 2024: I think this is the same Dotterel chick I took a photo of a couple of days ago. Today I spotted its one or two siblings (they move so fast I just …

05 December 2024: Cooking Tip: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs: It’s easy to make perfect, easy to peel, hard boiled eggs with no green ring.

05 December 2024: That was fun, with such excellent and well-known musical pieces — The Magic Flute: a 2022 German musical fantasy film directed by Florian Sigl …

05 December 2024: Today I made this Creamy Body Wash: 50 g hot water 25 g coconut oil 1 tsp xanthan gum 200 g water – additional 100 g liquid castile soap 30-50 drops …

05 December 2024: Another enjoyable adventure with this young group of friends — Ithaka Rising: Halcyone Space, book 2 by LJ Cohen. 📚 When Barre's brother Jem …

04 December 2024: Look at all that fluff! I think this Barbary Dove was just a youngster. 🐦

04 December 2024: The forecast for the next few days at Ruakākā and Waikawa Beach shows a bit of difference. 🥵 I enjoy a bit of heat!

04 December 2024: A month ago Cheri posted a no-knead bread recipe; today I finally tried baking it. Crusty ✔︎; easy to make ✔︎. It didn't rise a whole lot and was a …

04 December 2024: Three of 5 well-grown Black swan cygnets on lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

03 December 2024: I enjoyed the movie Space Oddity. 🎥 Alex is going to Mars — it was a dream he and his big brother had. But then Daisy comes along …

03 December 2024: This littlie was hopping / fluttering along the beach. 🐦 Research and a bit of guessing led me to believe it is a Kairaka | Eurasian skylark: A small …

03 December 2024: I tried this Vegetable Lo Mein recipe and was very pleased with how it came out. I couldn't get snow peas or chow mein noodles, but random noodles …

03 December 2024: OK, this excellent word puzzle is going in my daily puzzle set: Gisnep | Daily Quote Puzzle. Via: Lynneguist List.

02 December 2024: The Poaka | Pied Stilt babies can only be seen from quite far away. There are 3 here, between their parent and the log. 🐦 Here's a very cropped view. …

02 December 2024: This Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel parent is keeping a very close eye on me. 🐦 Why? because I was taking photos (at some distance) of its baby. …

02 December 2024: Good grief! Hanging out in the public library while my car's serviced. My phone has no signal so I'm using the free WiFi. When I try to do Lex's word …

02 December 2024: Weird notification as I hotspot on my MacBook Pro from my iPhone: Low Battery Do you want to disconnect from Naida Phone? My iPhone charge is 100%; …

01 December 2024: Sand Scarab.   Man, that party last night was a blast!

01 December 2024: Recently hatched Oystercatcher sticking close to mum. 🐦

01 December 2024: This little mite hopped away from our front door when I went out. Eventually it found a spot in a pile of shingle. Sparrow presumably. 🐦

01 December 2024: Messages from a friend yesterday that I only spotted today 🐦 : Bad news, dotterel eggs are gone, good news, baby dotterel! At least 2 Baby oyster …

30 November 2024: While looking for something else I came across my citizenship certificate. Almost exactly 20 years since I became a citizen of NZ. In 1840 Māori …

30 November 2024: God defend the breast screeners of New Zealand | The Spinoff: After having her first mammogram, Anna Rawhiti-Connell finds efficiency, reassurance and …

29 November 2024: Today's Crusty French Bread Rolls went quite well. They are crusty, and delicious.

29 November 2024: The farmer next door was busy yesterday. This morning I got up to see this and thought: rural idyll. 😁

29 November 2024: Sigh. By the end of next year this will be our Council: Whangārei District Council votes 7-6 against adding fluoride to water supply | RNZ News. …

29 November 2024: Kiwis : Submission Opposing Treaty Principles Bill: Submission template created by lawyer, author and educator, Roimata Smail. She also has a book …

28 November 2024: Aargh, between anti-Money Laundering Measures and anti-scam and anti-fraud measures, trying to do anything relating to money these days, like paying …

28 November 2024: I've been benefiting from these books for years. If you use Mac, iPhone, iPad etc do yourself a favour and learn something new. The Take Control Books …

27 November 2024: A shout out to JPs: we had to sign a paper form today and have it witnessed. Our local JP who lives not far away did a stellar job, with very friendly …

27 November 2024: I think someone on Micro.Blog mentioned Derelict: Halcyone Space, book 1 by LJ Cohen. 📚 Although I enjoy watching sci-fi I don't always enjoy reading …

27 November 2024: I was already awake when this little shake came through. Seemed quite long. 〰️ When: Wed Nov 27 2024 3:46 AM; Where: 35 km south-west of Taumarunui; …

26 November 2024: New fish rite of passage for Ruakākā: A multi-agency partnership is paving the way for migratory native fish to be able to navigate their way past a …

25 November 2024: So many documents to sign when buying a house and land package. Luckily we can do most electronically. For that, Docusign is a blessing: the lawyer …

25 November 2024: Today's Pacific Wave Appreciation Society photo post. A busy sea. 🌊

25 November 2024: Whale update: most were saved. Most of the 40 pilot whales that were stranded on a Northland beach have been refloated following a mammoth effort …

24 November 2024: So sad the whales have stranded; so glad so many people are helping — Rescuers race to help 40 whales stranded at Northland beach | RNZ News: About 40 …

24 November 2024: You probably don't want to read the this gripping psychological suspense, The Door at the Top of the Stairs by Alison Naomi Holt. 📚 I nearly stopped …

24 November 2024: Not the best Tūī photos, but it's good to have this one hanging round the garden. 🐦

23 November 2024: Another in a series I really feel comfortable with, and an author whose writing I enjoy. This particular book seemed a little less than the others …

23 November 2024: The other day there was a hawk circling right by the house. 🐦

23 November 2024: I'm thinking a lot lately about what makes identity. Saving this para for future reference — Japan’s gender-bending history: Although the …

22 November 2024: Well, at long last it's official — all signed up for a land and house package at Ruakākā on the east coast, a 20 minute drive south of …

22 November 2024: So interesting! How we developed sign language for ten of the trickiest climate change terms: Carbon offsetting … This sign visually represents …

21 November 2024: This morning's beach walk brought new life 🐦 : a duck and 6 ducklings on the lake 3 Dotterel eggs in a nest 3 Oystercatcher eggs in a nest

20 November 2024: Another annual eye test completed with my favourite optometrist. She tells me I'm not a danger to the public. 😆 My left eye has lost a few letters and …

20 November 2024: In a random cafe on Lambton Quay in Wellington while I wait for Deb to finish work so we can drive home. Tracey Chapman's Talkin Bout a Revolution is …

20 November 2024: A tiny bit of exaggeration there, Apple Mail … I hope! If not, I'm in trouble. 😆

20 November 2024: Maybe 50,000 people at yesterday's hikoi — Was the hīkoi New Zealand’s largest-ever protest? | The Spinoff: Experienced protest crowd counter …

19 November 2024: LOL, local dogs lose access to rubbish bags for rummaging. WE APOLOGISE TO KAPITI'S DOGS IN ADVANCE Kerbside collections just got safer, cleaner and …

19 November 2024: The hikoi is ramping up at Parliament. Here's a live feed. About an hour till everything really kicks off. Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrives at Parliament to …

19 November 2024: Here's one way Aotearoa has changed in the last decade or more: increasingly Te Reo Māori forms an essential part of the language spoken here. I love …

19 November 2024: Big day today with Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti 2024 reaching parliament. Tens of thousands are expected: 12pm: Activation at Paremata (Parliament Grounds) …

18 November 2024: Outdoor table at The Herb Garden cafe in Ashhurst, Palmerston North. A moment’s inattention is risky. 🤣

18 November 2024: We've had our EV for a whole year now and need to take it in for a service and possible software updates. When we first bought it we were nervous and …

17 November 2024: Another very good read from a favourite author — Echoes on the Fens (Detective Nikki Galena Mysteries Book 15) by Joy Ellis. 📚 I really like …

17 November 2024: Not quite exactly the first strawberry of the season from the tunnelhouse, but the first I had all to myself, and not half eaten by the slaters / …

16 November 2024: It was a couple of days ago I caught this shot of a Pied Stilt with captured food in its beak and a spray of water all around. 🐦

16 November 2024: Former PM Jenny Shipley is on the other end of the political spectrum from me, but her comment is spot on — Treaty Principles Bill 'inviting …

15 November 2024: OK, rhetorical TV world question: if the victim's hands are tied in front of them why don't they take the gag out of their mouth? 📺

15 November 2024: Those, like me, frustrated at not seeing the actual haka I mentioned yesterday, can see it on YouTube. Stirring! The stuffed shirt on the …

14 November 2024: Anne writes some seriously good stuff, like this: In praise of creating crap: The value of creativity is not in the quality of what you create. The …

14 November 2024: I love that this can happen in our NZ Parliament! Watch: Haka interrupts vote for the Treaty Principles Bill | RNZ News (2.5 minutes): A haka led by …

14 November 2024: The Pied Stilts must be nesting. Based on last year's experience, if you come within 50 to 100 metres of their nest they dive bomb you — they …

14 November 2024: Maybe I shouldn't post this because there are goosenappers about … But there are so many Canada Geese around at the moment, it may be safe. 🐦 …

13 November 2024: There were several Caspian Terns on the beach this morning. This new burst of warm sunny weather is bringing the birds back at last. 🐦

12 November 2024: I came across an older book I hadn't read from an author whose work I enjoy. This was a really good read: Alias by Cari Hunter. 📚 A car lies crashed …

12 November 2024: For a calm, quiet, sunny morning there was a bit of energy in the waves. Kāpiti Island in the background. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊

11 November 2024: We visited Palmerston North on errands today so I had my usual favourite lunch: Chicken Teriyaki at Mr Choi.

10 November 2024: It's been weeks, what with visiting Whangārei then Deb being quite sick and me being slightly below par. Finally today we went back to the gym, where …

09 November 2024: Ohhh, so that's why … How to Tame Sequoia’s Window Tiling - TidBITS: Have windows on your Mac started to expand to fill the screen since you …

09 November 2024: Heavy on the religious minutiae, it was interesting that Sister Joan was able to ferret out wrongdoing in spite of the enormous limitations of a very …

09 November 2024: This book grew on me as I read more, but it didn't entirely grab me. Blindsided (Grace Smith Mystery Book 2)by Liz Evans. 📚 When Grace Smith, a …

08 November 2024: Today's Bird World adventure — the flue of our woodburner wears a 'sock' to keep birds out, so it was very surprising to see this sparrow head …

08 November 2024: Nicely said: @checkervest I still skip! It's best to be yourself, early and often. Lest you fall in with the wrong crowd by accident. 😀 Cheri …

07 November 2024: Volume up! This little Yellowhammer was singing right outside my open door. 🐦

07 November 2024: A wonderful moment today as traffic stopped to allow a Paradise Duck mama to walk her half a dozen or more babies 50 metres along (and all over) the …

06 November 2024: A friend has roped off the Dotterel nest on the beach in an attempt to keep vehicles and pedestrians, horses and dogs away. He has also seen 3 eggs in …

06 November 2024: Reposted: Yellowhammer through the window. 🐦

06 November 2024: Explained: Why Kiwis don’t know what a proper cup of tea is | Stuff: There are also numerous boutique tea blenders in New Zealand like The Tea Curator …

06 November 2024: 6 ways supermarket tea is different to artisan tea | The Tea Curator: The leaves used for artisan tea are almost always handpicked … usually …

05 November 2024: Dammit: had a filling at the dentist today — it was quick and easy, but I had two injections. Now I can't drink a cup of tea without dribbling. …

04 November 2024: Urgh, I expect today's brain fog, headache, blurry eyes and lack of oomph are hay fever reactions. Not a fan!

04 November 2024: I have a dim memory from years ago about an announcement for being able to see a transcript or hear a recording of a voicemail right on the phone's …

03 November 2024: This little Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel came within 2 metres to check me out. A friend has seen a 'nest' with 3 eggs at the beach. He thinks …

03 November 2024: This is the view — from south to north — on arriving at Waikawa Beach over the north track off Reay Mackay Grove.

03 November 2024: I actually don't mind at all being awake and drinking tea at 3 am. Yesterday I was tired all day and totally crashed out at 7 pm, so I've actually …

02 November 2024: Little waxeyes were feeding on the small flax flowers — their heads turning orange with the pollen. But before my camera could focus they flew …

01 November 2024: I was just browsing through photos in my album and came across these Warou | Welcome swallows on the railing from January 2015. 🐦

01 November 2024: Hiatus resolution, glottal stops … what's not to like in this interesting 16 minute video from Dr Geoff Lindsey? — A interesting …

31 October 2024: By some miracle Deb achieved a same day doctor appointment. Bronchitis confirmed; drugs acquired.

31 October 2024: I really enjoy this series, in part for the very ordinary and likeable characters who work at the supermarket in small town Kingsleigh. The Missing …

31 October 2024: Well, colour me surprised! I thought this was a Mexican / Spanish word! Honcho Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster: A relic of the large U.S. …

31 October 2024: One of those nights where sleep and I just weren't good friends … And I've been doing so well lately. 😒 On the upside, was a super early cup of …

30 October 2024: Well, I was out for brunch this morning for the first part of the all-day powercut. Back by about 1 and the power came back on at 1.30. Here's hoping …

29 October 2024: The master of all he surveys. 🐦 Peihana | Pheasant on a hill.

29 October 2024: This series has such excellent writing — Cast the First Stone (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 7) by Alison Joseph. 📚 For example, this sentence in …

29 October 2024: I was trying out Nitro for photo editing and this Kuaka | Godwit shone out at me from my photo album. 🐦 Gentlemen Coders was founded in 2016 by Nik …

29 October 2024: We no longer have any pets, but this is handy info: Dogs on leash now allowed in Whangārei CBD, seven more dog-friendly beaches unveiled - NZ Herald. …

28 October 2024: A rather facile movie, but I watched it through because the underlying ideas were somewhat interesting — Uglies: In the future, the world has …

28 October 2024: Waikawa Beach rain. @JeremyWxBaker

27 October 2024: The crew. 🐦 6 Kuaka | Godwits in a line on the wet sand in front of the waves.

26 October 2024: The sunset spotlight.

25 October 2024: RNZ broadcasts first Concert for Animals on Guy Fawkes Night | RNZ News: 🐶 In a radio first, RNZ and the SPCA are hosting a special Guy Fawkes Concert …

25 October 2024: And, BTW, Claude saved me some hair tearing. Q: I'm using the hex colour below as the background for a web page. I want the colour to be paler. Give …

25 October 2024: I agreed to update a friend's (a former client) web page — a simple task. But I'd forgotten about the power of MS Word users to cause utter …

24 October 2024: This is our resident blackbird who spends much of the day sitting on our deck railing, singing to me (and the world). 🐦

24 October 2024: I think I'm done with this series: The Bea Abbot Agency Mysteries Books 11–15 by Veronica Heley. 📚 Book 12 in particular was a bit silly and …

24 October 2024: Well, that was fun: the Barbie movie.

23 October 2024: 0850 and I'm as ready as I can be for an all-day power cut. With power off we can't get water pumped from the rainwater tank so the toilet and …

23 October 2024: Hooray, it's an excellent show: Jason Kottke: Ooh, a preview clip from season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. I like this crew. Season three …

22 October 2024: I always love to see a Spoonbill, and the Pied Stilt is a bonus. 🐦

21 October 2024: On my way to Palmerston North to collect Deb from the airport. Eggs on toast with tomatoes for lunch at Levin Mall. Inexpensive but delicious. Noisy …

20 October 2024: Kingfisher on a flax spear by the lake. 🐦

20 October 2024: I get the feeling I'm in trouble … 🐦 Weiweia | Dabchick floating on a lake and glaring at me.

19 October 2024: Unsuccessful comet hunting, but it was alright down at the beach after sunset.

19 October 2024: Spotted a pair of ducks with at least half a dozen tiny ducklings on the lake. Unfortunately, by the time I'd stopped my bike and extracted my camera …

19 October 2024: I was absolutely delighted when I arrived home from 10 days away to find this postcard from @Odd in my letterbox. I must say, Hell doesn't look like …

18 October 2024: We flew over a wind farm just before landing at Palmerston North.

18 October 2024: When nouns verb and verbs noun … New research documents accelerating plant growth At first I wondered how research documents can accelerate …

18 October 2024: Mā te wā. Farewell Whangārei.

17 October 2024: A tricky mystery to unravel, and an enjoyable read: Knight On Edge (Jorja Knight Mystery Series Book 7) by Alice Bienia. 📚 When a distraught woman …

17 October 2024: Ready for anything! 😆 🐶

17 October 2024: Our Whangārei friends have a very pleasant and comfortable place but their Internet is really poor. So sick of photos taking forever to load. Deb's …

16 October 2024: Nice: we've ordered pizza to be picked up from Pizza Fusion nearby, and a live update on the web keeps us informed about where things are up to.

16 October 2024: We're dog sitting for Whangārei friends while they're on holiday. Their house is large, very comfortable and pleasant to stay in. I'm missing my own …

15 October 2024: Yesterday our friend Amanda drove up from near Auckland to visit. We had dinner at Pimarn Thai Restaurant where I ate Pad Him Ma Pan — …

14 October 2024: At 3.30 am I had to let the dogs out for a pee. The bonuses were that I'd already been awake for ages and could now make a cuppa, that I spotted the …

14 October 2024: Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Kiwis have chance to glimpse 'once in a lifetime' comet not seen in last 80,000 years: Stardome [astronomer] Josh Aoraki told the Herald that the best …

13 October 2024: A highlight for today: panfried fresh Gurnard with handcut fries at Jolt Cafe in Maunu. Truly delicious!

13 October 2024: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society two videos. The first from Waipu Cove about 40 Km south of Whangārei. The second, an hour later, from north …

12 October 2024: At Ruakākā North Beach. Look at that white sand!

11 October 2024: An excellent reason for banning dogs from Whangārei Quarry Gardens: there are kiwi in the hills.

11 October 2024: Deb and I visited Quail Cafe in Whangārei Quarry Gardens. The food, beverages, ambience and service were excellent. I look forward to visiting again …

11 October 2024: I rather like this blend of hearsay and heresy. Nicely combines the idea of incorrectness and dissidence.

10 October 2024: We're in charge of Boo and Rush for a few days as their family members have a holiday. The dogs enjoyed their walk at the park this morning. 🐶

09 October 2024: Off to a good start on our travels today with Air NZ letting us know before we'd left home for the hour's drive to the airport that our flights were …

09 October 2024: Sand mining proposal for Bream Bay endangers birds Perhaps the most controversial project on the [Government's Fast Track consenting] list - given opposition to similar operations further down the …

08 October 2024: A pair of Paradise Ducks announced their arrival in the paddock next door. Meanwhile a blackbird serenades me from the railing of our deck. (Volume …

08 October 2024: An excellent quote from Moira on Schitt's Creek S05E06, Rock On! 🤣 : Oh, Jocelyn, you'll soon learn that we aging mortals are blessed with weakening …

07 October 2024: We learned of a new cafe in Levin, opened just a month ago, so we visited today for lunch: Old Courthouse Eatery. Deb's coffee was apparently good; my …

06 October 2024: Having just finished Book 7 in the series by Melissa Good, I moved on to Storm Surge: Part 1: Book 8 in the Dar & Kerry Series (Dar and Kerry Series …

06 October 2024: Yesterday there were visitors at the place across the lane — it's a bit higher than our house. Around 10.15 pm their headlights as they left lit …

06 October 2024: First, we're all good, no damage etc. Second: shaken awake by a fierce 5.8 quake this morning. That was quite something! 〰️ 5.8 quake on 2024-10-06 at …

05 October 2024: A few highlights from today: Deb made delicious pikelets; I wore my shorts for the first time this season and did my weight training on the deck. My …

05 October 2024: Humpback whale breaches in Whangārei Harbour See the video: Northlanders up close with humpback whale, as Whangārei Harbour listening starts: A humpback whale has put on a stunning display in …

04 October 2024: 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 last week at the harbour entrance. … The new …

04 October 2024: 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 own risk. Let me know if you improve on it. 😁 -- …

04 October 2024: Four, with water droplet. 🐦 Pied stilt with leg lifted, water dripping off one foot, and legs seeming to make the shape of a 4.

04 October 2024: Ages ago I watched the first episode of Schitt's Creek and immediately saw it wasn't for me. After about 10 different people, over the years, said how …

04 October 2024: Whangārei’s cruise ships Whangārei’s fledgling cruise ship industry expected to boom: Four cruise ships are expected into Northport at Marsden Point, about 35km from …

03 October 2024: On 03 June 2024 the Beach Access post by the north track off Reay Mackay Grove is gradually disappearing. Note how the sand comes up to just below the …

03 October 2024: Census data has revealed one in 20 New Zealand adults identify as LGBTIQ+ - or part of the rainbow communities. For the first time ever, the 2023 …

02 October 2024: Quite often when I sit on the deck to read in the sun a little friend joins me for a chat. 🐦 Warou | Welcome swallow sits on the rain gauge. Warou …

01 October 2024: Bit of a rattle this afternoon. 〰️ When: Tue Oct 1 2024 5:49 PM; Where: 25 km north-east of Seddon; Magnitude: 5.0; Depth: 12 km.

01 October 2024: This was another reread from 2009 and was a bit all over the place. Maybe the fan fiction aspect explains that somewhat. Tropical Convergence: Book 7 …

01 October 2024: When these two little Barbary doves saw me coming along the lane they flew over to the gate to check me out more closely. 🐦 😍

01 October 2024: Down at lake Puna o te Ora today the Southern Bell Frogs were in full voice. Your browser does not support the audio tag. And as I listened to the …

01 October 2024: A quote for the day from my friend Debra, who is not only working hard at her own job, but putting a lot of effort into the local community: I'm …

30 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 granted for a solar power station at Ruakākā in …

30 September 2024: About half an hour before sunrise I noticed a sliver of yellow crescent moon rising above the hills. The birds were welcoming dawn with their chorus …

30 September 2024: Finally seen my first comet: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), approx 90 minutes before dawn. Couldn't see it with naked eye but binoculars were …

29 September 2024: Nice to see horses on the beach today. For a while now it's been tricky for them to gain access, thanks to changes in terrain. Today: 3 riders, two on …

28 September 2024: Sunrise and sunset times today and tomorrow, after the clocks go forward an hour. 😒

27 September 2024: It's 3 months to Christmas Day. Farmers in Levin has a whole Christmas shop up and running with trees, and baubles and stuff. 3 months!

27 September 2024: This really interesting 15 minute Howtown video explores nuances of measuring happiness — The happiness contest Finland keeps winning: Origins …

26 September 2024: Good news up north near Whangārei: Two hundred thousand solar panels [will] be installed to construct the 100-150MW [Ruakākā Energy Park] which would …

26 September 2024: 172-hectare solar farm to be built at Ruakākā Energy Park Independent hearings commissioners have granted an application by Meridian Energy Limited (MEL) to build a multi-million dollar 172-hectare solar farm …

25 September 2024: I've spent years working on building up my sleep duration and this year am doing pretty well on it. This interesting 9 minute video by researcher …

24 September 2024: Things that puzzle froma book published around 2011: Luckily I'm old enough to remember that once upon a time we had to sign a piece of paper when …

24 September 2024: I warmed up to and enjoyed Terrors of the High Seas: Book 6 in The Dar & Kerry Series by Melissa Good. I bought it back in 2011 so this was a reread. …

24 September 2024: The Kuaka | Godwits are back after their epic journey from the top of the northern hemisphere and they're hungry. 🐦

24 September 2024: It's spring and this beautiful little Weweia | New Zealand dabchick was watching me from lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

23 September 2024: Today Deb and I went to the gym at Paraparaumu where I had a very successful workout. Afterwards we went to Longbeach Cafe where I enjoyed delicious …

23 September 2024: If you have any affiliation with or interest in Wellington in Aotearoa, this fascinating history is well worth a read — The first Wellingtonian …

22 September 2024: So who actually did the hitting? Headline: Deer hits car. Image caption: Deer hits car. First line: Deer hits car. Later in the article: Police said …

22 September 2024: LOL: deer on the run! The [wild] deer were last seen by [animal management] officers two hours ago, and "have not been seen since". Via: Deer on …

22 September 2024: 2 years ago I blogged about enjoying this online concert: Faia Younan, so today I listened again. My favourite part starts at around 16 minutes and is …

21 September 2024: Back in June 2012 I bought a Wacom Intuos 5 Small Touch Tablet. For a few years for some reason I didn't use it but a year or two ago put it back into …

21 September 2024: There are many stories about the origin of the name Ruakākā. One tells of two kākā parrots that flew in different directions along the beach. But …

21 September 2024: Ahhh, that 3 am cup of tea really hits the spot… There may well yet be more sleep in my immediate future. Hooray for Saturdays.

20 September 2024: This was a clear and useful 15 minute video — AI Chatbots Comparison 2024 - Grace Leung from 24 August 2024: ChatGPT4, Claude Pro, Gemini …

19 September 2024: It was a foamy day at the beach.

19 September 2024: I used the Mono filter on this. It was already so 'gloomy' it didn't really make a huge change. Super high tide today with a strong push from the west …

19 September 2024: Te reo Māori needs to go digital to survive - innovator | RNZ News: A Māori tech innovator and language revitalist wants to see te reo Māori thrive …

19 September 2024: Apple’s AI feature set will expand to include localized English in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand in December, with India …

19 September 2024: The supermarket carpark was surprisingly busy for its 7 am opening time.

18 September 2024: Learning about prompt engineering for AIs. Here's an interesting (and surprising to me) conversation start with Claude: You are a tutor of the Māori …

18 September 2024: Putting aside all politics, and purely on a mechanical level, how does anyone cause a pager to explode by remote control? I totally don't understand …

18 September 2024: Today we needed this info: Restart Apple Watch: Force Apple Watch to restart Do this only if you’re unable to restart your Apple Watch. To force …

17 September 2024: It took me a long time to get into this book — I put it down several times to read others — but towards the end I kept reading late to …

17 September 2024: A year or two back someone I follow on Micro.Blog mentioned Logseq for notes etc. My curiosity piqued, I installed and have been using it since. As I …

17 September 2024: I'd like to remind folks updating their Apple devices today of the most excellent Take Control Books – Expert Advice from Leading Tech Authors. Worth …

16 September 2024: After an interesting chat today with a friend I decided to learn more about AI. There are interesting free videos around, like these: Google’s AI …

16 September 2024: Huh! Making a hash of it: The lowdown on Inland Revenue and your data: The encrypted details of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers are being given by …

15 September 2024: AI for the good of NZ birds How artificial intelligence may help NZ birds | RNZ News: A study to identify individual kākā using AI has received a funding boost of $1 million, one …

15 September 2024: A good review of a movie I really enjoyed — Review: Thelma | RNZ News: Thelma succeeds because it didn't realise it was meant to be a cosy, old …

15 September 2024: Urgh, that was a shock. I needed to add a column of fractions, like this: 1/4 1/4 1/10 1/10 1/25 1/25 1/25 I quickly realised I had not the faintest …

15 September 2024: Bit of a rare double rainbow to the southwest just after dawn this morning. 🌈

14 September 2024: Reading a Sister Agnes book is like luxuriating in a hot bath. I highlighted several sections in Shadow of Death (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 6) by …

13 September 2024: Cow relaxing in the rain.

13 September 2024: Sparrows in the rain. 🐦

13 September 2024: Endangered birds at the estuaries Beyond the wintry beaches of Bream Bay: Spot endangered birds at the estuaries The river estuaries at Waipū and Ruakākā are internationally …

13 September 2024: An amazing 9 minute video about train graphs — a ruler, paper and a pencil could prevent train crashes. How did this simple chart keep trains …

12 September 2024: The other day we visited the Silky Otter movie theatre in Palmerston North. It was excellent and we'd go again. There were two movie trailers, no …

12 September 2024: Another good read in a series I enjoy: The Man Who Kept Secrets (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 8)by Amy Vansant. 📚 When former …

11 September 2024: It was a very unusual visitor to Waikawa Beach. My friend Stephen Betts found this injured bird on the beach and took it to Wellington Zoo for care. 🐦 …

11 September 2024: In the last several decades I acquired more T-shirts than I ever needed. Most have been well-worn. Some were downgraded from 'good' or 'house' to …

11 September 2024: Tamure Place, Ruakākā Big day as we signed up for a land and house package at Ruakākā, on the east coast about 20 minutes drive south of Whangārei. This time next year (or …

10 September 2024: The central city part of Palmerston North is full of pleasant surprises. Coleman Mall had blossom trees and some quirky bollards.

09 September 2024: I ate a delicious chicken sandwich at Cafe Jacko in Palmerston North (Facebook link): Chicken Sammie* $19 - Grilled chicken on sourdough w greens …

09 September 2024: We really enjoyed Thelma (links to PDF) 🎥 : Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own grandmother, THELMA puts a clever spin on movies like …

08 September 2024: It was a pleasant enough day that Deb and I went for a little bike ride round the village. 8.5 km. Dropped a small gift off to the neighbour who had …

08 September 2024: I've very much enjoyed D. L. Keur's other series so was interested to try Night Trouble (The King & Midnight K-9 Mysteries Book 1). I'll definitely be …

07 September 2024: Huh, I'm reading a fiction book set in Arizona where they mention a curfew for young people. I just searched to see if that was part of the fiction, …

07 September 2024: A show I really enjoy — Brokenwood - the international hit with a Kiwi accent | RNZ News 📺 : But in amongst the [TV] industry's slow crumble, is …

06 September 2024: I finished Marsh Madness by Jana DeLeon, the latest in a long series of Miss Fortune books. 📚 when a group of friends decide to meet up at a B and B …

06 September 2024: I always think the 6 p.m. sunset is a bit of a milestone. Unfortunately that will all change in a couple of weeks when we fiddle with the clocks …

05 September 2024: Hooray! Te Puhi Ariki Ngawai Hono i te Po Paki, 27, to succeed her father Kiingi Tuheitia as Māori monarch: Kiingi Tuheitia's youngest child and only …

05 September 2024: For the past week or so I've had scratchy eyes, a bit of an itch on the roof of my mouth. Figuring it was hay fever, I bought eyedrops yesterday that …

05 September 2024: Important day today: Kiingi Tuheitia to be laid to rest, new Māori monarch welcomed: Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died on Friday, aged …

05 September 2024: First time since midwinter that I've noticed the morning sun finding its way into my west-facing bedroom. Nice!

04 September 2024: This morning the river was full after heaps of rain in the hills; the tide was nearly full, with a 2.5 metre swell. When the two met at the river …

04 September 2024: Down at the beach today I thought I saw a piece of fluff blowing in the wind. Then I realised it was actually a Black-fronted Dotterel (16-18 cm; …

04 September 2024: Whoo! 🌋 : Talking about the Taliban: culture versus politics – language: a feminist guide: So, don’t tell me that as a white western feminist it’s not …

03 September 2024: Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti: A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been …

03 September 2024: The On This Day script on my blog today brought this amazing music back to mind. Just loving the listen: Holland Festival: Ensemble Rhoum Bakkali, …

02 September 2024: Rough weather over the last few days has thrown big driftwood onto the beach. There were also occasional Bluebottles. Not shown: the about 3 metre …

01 September 2024: I stopped reading Orleans Avenue (Remy Fontaine Thrillers Book 1) by Robin Mahle a couple of weeks ago and left myself this note: Not a very good …

01 September 2024: It seems people around Special Agent Nikki Hunt keep getting knocked off. Lost Angels (Nikki Hunt Book 3) by Stacy Green. 📚 It all gets a bit personal …

01 September 2024: One reason I'm awake at 1 a.m.: 28.66 mm rain fell since midnight. For the metric impaired that's 1.13 inches. In one hour …

31 August 2024: OK, that's a bit of fun: Your Name in Landsat 🛰️: Thanks to @chadkoh for the link.

31 August 2024: I didn't warm to A Cotswold Killing (The Cotswold Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Rebecca Tope. 📚 The village people were weird, the main character not …

31 August 2024: We visited friends in Paekakariki for brunch today. Their dog Gracie, an 8 year old Vizsla, was permanently optimistic that food may fall from the …

30 August 2024: It's been a few months since my last burst of activity on the Lego build, but the Lego Technic Surface Space Loader is now complete. Whew. I have a …

30 August 2024: I'm really enjoying bingeing Rutherford Falls 📺 : The show uses humor, jokes, and irony to highlight the biases that are present in today's society …

30 August 2024: Southern right whale near Whangārei Harbour Southern right whale spotted near Whangārei Harbour a ‘promising sign’ - NZ Herald, 26 August 2024: A couple fishing in Whangārei caught more than …

29 August 2024: The Wild is a great podcast. In Ben Goldfarb: How America’s roads alter our ecology there's a fascinating part about animal crossings where the …

29 August 2024: Well, thunder and lightning! And as I typed that a huge crack of thunder overhead sounded like a massive explosion! That got the heart rate up! 💗

29 August 2024: A different view from last time of the fast flowing river carving off chunks of sand from the edge. It's only a small chunk, but that splosh is …

28 August 2024: Our little peach tree is convinced it's spring.

27 August 2024: Those earbuds were specially delivered after I queried the Fliway helpdesk. Their website hadn't told me the parcel had been passed on to Courierpost, …

27 August 2024: Being mid-winter there are few birds around. I was pleased to see the spoonbill back. It was joined by a couple of spur-winged plovers and a dozen …

27 August 2024: Our normally sluggish river is quite swift today thanks to loads of rain up in the Tararua ranges. That means it's carved a deep channel through the …

27 August 2024: Peeved. I ordered Sony earbuds on 17 August. Here we are 10 days later on 27 August 2024 and they've struggled down from Auckland to Palmerston North …

26 August 2024: Another good read: A Hymn of Death (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 5) by Alison Joseph. 📚 I didn't find the plot quite as interesting, but the author's …

26 August 2024: I keep highlighting excellent turns of phrase in the book I'm currently reading: A Hymn of Death (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 5) by Alison Joseph. The …

25 August 2024: Home made muesli A friend gave me this muesli recipe. It gives me an enjoyable and healthy breakfast every day. I add stewed apple, milk, and a couple of other things …

25 August 2024: Whew, stewed apples, made juice and made muesli all at the same time. Forgot the crucial step of tipping the still hot oats into the big bowl and …

24 August 2024: Occasionally, like yesterday, I sit for a few minutes at the picnic table by the south track to the beach and watch the world go by. (We inherited …

23 August 2024: I found One Perfect Grave (Nikki Hunt Book 2) by Stacy Green to be a good read. 📚 When the remains of two bodies are found in an open grave along a …

23 August 2024: LOL (my emphasis): Luxon’s speech was met with groans and various oral expulsions of disapproval. Via: Luxon has officially abandoned localism | The …

23 August 2024: It's almost dawn and this is my view from bed.

22 August 2024: Electricity supply crisis: What you need to know | RNZ News: New Zealand is heading towards an electricity supply crisis. … in 2023, 60% of New …

22 August 2024: When we came in to land at Palmerston North yesterday, the plane took an unusual turn out to sea because they had to hold for a few minutes. We looked …

21 August 2024: I was just listening to a podcast about the health risks to installers of engineered stone, so this article is interesting: 6 alternatives to …

21 August 2024: Only US$0.99 today. I'm excited to buy another in this series by Alison Joseph. If you're interested, jump in. A Hymn of Death (Sister Agnes Mysteries …

21 August 2024: Flying south before dawn.

20 August 2024: Our friends have a second dog: Rush, the Malinois, who's a very good boy indeed.

20 August 2024: I so wish I could have bought this gorgeous pottery goat by Fiona Tunnicliffe. I'm smitten by its expression. Just not practical at the moment though, …

20 August 2024: Random mural in downtown Whangārei.

19 August 2024: Last night our friends took us out for a delicious Thai meal at Sukjai Thai Restaurant. I enjoyed chicken Pad Kee Mao (mild) Flat rice noodles stir …

18 August 2024: The more books in this series I read the more I enjoy them. False Idols (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 4) by Alison Joseph was another great read. 📚 It …

18 August 2024: Busy day: we've been cruising around Ruakākā and One Tree Point. Visited a couple of cafes: The Bach cafe at Ruakākā Beach had a nice vibe. Here's a …

17 August 2024: Little Boo has a really nice setup. That’s quite a smorgasbord of toys.

17 August 2024: Heading north again for a long weekend …

16 August 2024: I think the last 6 weeks or so of strength and core training are paying off. When I woke up this morning I realised I'm feeling 'bigger' somehow …

15 August 2024: Having bought a set of resistance tubes, today I tried the Whole-Body Resistance Band Workout (Ages 50+). It went pretty well I think, though I need …

15 August 2024: Interesting: The Micro Blog - 🔗 Articles: Wednesday 14.Aug.2024: Guardian: Scientists find humans age dramatically in two bursts – at 44, then 60

15 August 2024: These daffodils are a bright spot on an otherwise grey day.

14 August 2024: I was initially uncertain about The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt Book 1) by Stacy Green, but the book grew on me and in the end I quite enjoyed it. 📚 …

14 August 2024: My body didn’t want to do this new strength routine today, but willpower prevailed (in the end). I haven’t done the shoulder press or …

13 August 2024: An excellent article about our crazy punitive government’s latest crazy idea: Welcome to the benefit Olympics. Rather than offer the help and …

13 August 2024: I might have seen my first aurora — rather subtle, but the iPhone brought out the colours. Thanks to Ian Griffin's tipoff post from last night. …

12 August 2024: 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 use the Internet, or their Macs, or both. Turns out …

12 August 2024: Another good read by Anne Shillolo: Goodbye Quinn's Landing (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 9). 📚 DC Holly Towns sees a bigger picture than the rest …

11 August 2024: Today's beach find was a first for me: a 2 metre Blue shark (Prionace glauca). So much bigger than the sharks that usually wash up on Waikawa Beach. …

11 August 2024: I'm finding the videos by Will Harlow clear and interesting — HT Physio – Over-Fifties Specialist Physio - YouTube: tips on reducing pain, …

10 August 2024: At the gym today I enjoyed a trip through Arches National Park while on the bike. Then when we came home there was a splendid double rainbow just at …

10 August 2024: Ruakākā Wastewater Treatment Plant Bream Bay News 08 August 2024, Page 4: In the Bream Bay area, we’ve committed to the upgrade and expansion of the Ruakākā Wastewater Treatment Plant …

10 August 2024: Havoc (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Book 2) by Deborah J Ledford. 📚 Guns and kids are never a good mix. Add in bullying and a bank robbery, and a bit …

09 August 2024: For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society, a few small waves, with Kāpiti Island barely visible and a cloud lit by the rising sun. 🌊

09 August 2024: My dawn beach walk was delightful. I saw these bird footprints, then a horse and rider appeared behind me before going into the shallows.

08 August 2024: Today on a whim I went to see Bookworm, a New Zealand film: about a young girl named Mildred embarking on an adventure with her estranged American …

07 August 2024: Today I enjoyed a walk through the bush at Papaitonga just up the road at Ōhau. Here are two views of Lake Waiwiri. On the road out I spotted the …

06 August 2024: This fine pheasant was feeding in the paddock next door. 🐦

06 August 2024: 20 minutes before sunrise and the Tī Kouka were reflected in lake Puna o te Ora. Bright in the background, native toetoe, or more probably, invasive …

05 August 2024: I have an opinion: I believe "sixths" is the most difficult word in the English language for anyone to pronounce, even native speakers. I came across …

05 August 2024: I'd already read books 6 and 7 as standalones, but enjoyed the other 3 books in this set. Some of the situations became quite bizarre, but the series …

04 August 2024: Sometimes Deb and I go to the gym together, sometimes we go separately. Sometimes I do some weights or core work at home. This was the gym on a quiet …

03 August 2024: In the middle of the day it was warm and sunny. When I glanced up from my book, the snowy mountains were beautiful above the deck railings. At sunset …

03 August 2024: It was -3C in the early hours. Now the sun's been up for nearly 2 hours it's crept up to almost 0. The Tararua ranges have snow on the tops.

02 August 2024: Busy day preparing food: I steamed broccoli and put it in the freezer, stewed apples, made stew, made celery soup. Then of course, came dish washing. …

02 August 2024: When I prepared apples for stewing today I put the cores on the picnic table. The Tauhou | Waxeyes were very happy with that arrangement. 🐦

01 August 2024: The thing the video below can't convey is how bitter the southerly quarter wind was at the beach today. At least the wind wasn't as strong as …

01 August 2024: I finally decided half way through to abandon Murder in Time by Veronica Heley. 📚 The author writes a different series I enjoy but this story has a …

31 July 2024: Came back into the house only to find a completely unexpected visitor. 🐸 It must have come in amongst the kindling, and had gathered fluff and bits …

31 July 2024: A modest proposal – language: a feminist guide: … don’t I think that women and girls can be “just as bad” as men and boys? If that’s a general …

30 July 2024: Another in a series I enjoy, but not the strongest entrant. Murder at the Hotel (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 10) by Jane Adams. 📚 All the usual …

30 July 2024: Such an interesting discussion on Lingthusiasm #90, What visualizing our vowels tells us about who we are, especially: vowel spaces are linked to …

30 July 2024: Some success today when I made my own variant of Bubble and squeak for lunch. After watching a video about how to cook with stainless steel pans I …

30 July 2024: A delicious start to the day with Three Moons Oolong tea from Vietnam. Three Moons is a semi-oxidised oolong that is lightly roasted multiple times …

29 July 2024: Gym session alongside Deb this morning. She did her thing while I worked on my weights routine. Booked a session with the trainer for later in the …

28 July 2024: Birds and archaeology at Ruakākā Bream Bay Strategic Plan 2006: It is a place unique for its variety of coastal and shoreline bird-life, the Ruakaka and Waipu estuaries and nearby …

28 July 2024: Ruakākā development Bream Bay: Ruakākā Ruakākā area is made up of Ruakākā Beach, Ruakākā Township and Marsden Point. Ruakākā has seen development due to its proximity to …

28 July 2024: It's been a welcome quiet day. I went for a brief walk on the beach where I chatted with an acquaintance, D, and his sweet dog, Millie. It was a cool, …

27 July 2024: Earlier this month I sent off a bowel screening test. As expected, I received a negative result. Hooray!

26 July 2024: The final book in a series I've very much enjoyed — Honour Thy Father (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 3) by Alison Joseph. 📚 Agnes is working in a …

26 July 2024: Foxton has a strong Dutch heritage, so when I visited yesterday I ordered Pannenkoeken at the De Molen Cafe. I thought the apple would be cooked …

25 July 2024: This morning I drove to Foxton for a stroll beside the estuary. There weren't a great many birds around today, but I did spot a dozen spoonbills. …

24 July 2024: An unusual sight on the beach today: a Karetai hurukoko | Cape petrel, probably exhausted — it didn't move when I came close but managed to get …

23 July 2024: I've started watching The Law According to Lidia Poët on Netflix and it's pretty good: … loosely based on the life of Lidia Poët, the first …

23 July 2024: Today I feel so free and energised. I've taken control of this situation with the ex-friends who've been harassing me, recognised my own unique …

23 July 2024: A reward for 40 minutes weights work at the gym. 🤣

23 July 2024: You know how 'they' say you should write out the stuff in your head, making sure to use pen and paper because that's the only 'real' way. Then throw …

22 July 2024: Since 07 November 2023 we've had roughly 480mm rain, which has added about 31,000 litres to the water tank. Nevertheless, the tank that was almost …

22 July 2024: A free Mac app idea for some clever coder — I type (or paste) in a bunch of text. Now delete it all with a splendid animation of it going up in …

22 July 2024: I find I'm quite taken with Sister Agnes, having just finished Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 2) by Alison Joseph. 📚 …

21 July 2024: In good news today, Deb and I both went to the gym where I did mainly stretches, along with some lat pulldowns and rowing on the machine. This …

21 July 2024: A skill I have is to make a rule to archive unread emails that I don't want at the moment because I've asked the senders to give me time and space. …

21 July 2024: Sigh. I will need to write approximately 1 million pages whose sole destiny will be to feed a bonfire before I'm able to craft an acceptable reply to …

20 July 2024: Another in a series I enjoy — Road to Harm (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 6) by Judith Cutler. 📚 Now Fran and Mark are retired they lack …

20 July 2024: Seems to me the problem is more one of using a single platform. As with farming, monoculture: risky; diversity: resilient. CrowdStrike glitch: What …

19 July 2024: Hooray for Time Machine. In an idiot move I deleted an Audio Hijack 'Session' instead of a recording. I found the sessions file at …

19 July 2024: It was probably someone on Micro.Blog who put me on to the Reasons to be Cheerful news website. It does cheer me every morning, with articles like …

18 July 2024: I enjoyed No Harm, No Foul (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 5) by Judith Cutler. 📚 Fran and the team find themselves overloaded with work as they …

17 July 2024: I must say that Radio NZ specialise in "dicey" headlines: I'd love to see a whale having a cuppa. 😆

17 July 2024: Today I had brunch with my friend J at Ōtaki then we drove around 12 Km southeast to where the road to Ōtaki Forks is closed on account of a slip …

17 July 2024: It's been just the weather for the basket fungus, Ileodictyon cibarium, to appear — warmer the last couple of days, and damp with a few …

16 July 2024: Aaand, the power came back 2 minutes after my previous post. A total outage of about 1.25 hours.

16 July 2024: Hmmm, the power went off just before 6 pm and may come back on in a couple of hours, if we're lucky. Fortunately I'd already eaten dinner. The new …

16 July 2024: On the beach this morning: a (seeming giant) Spur-winged Plover next to a (truly small) Black-fronted Dotterel. 🐦 Plover: Length: 38 cm; Weight: 350 …

15 July 2024: I enjoyed Thou Shalt Not Kill (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 1) by Alison Joseph. 📚 It strikes me that this series would probably work well on Acorn TV. …

15 July 2024: At first I wondered why the street we were walking down in Palmerston North the other day had stencils like this on all the parking spaces. Then I …

14 July 2024: It was dusk when we left the movie yesterday and birds were roosting in the big trees along the Square in Palmerston North. 🐦

13 July 2024: Deb and I watched Fly Me to the Moon at the movie theatre in Palmerston North. 🎥 It was excellent: funny, interesting, lightly romantic, well written, …

13 July 2024: With a big high still bringing us cold nights and lovely days, and no wind to speak of, the sea was so calm again this morning. Hardly any waves at …

13 July 2024: Major port expansion in Whangārei Harbour rejected Northland iwi 'vindicated' by rejection of plans for major port expansion in Whangārei Harbour: A Northland hapū says it has been vindicated by a …

12 July 2024: New shoes day — Orba Shoes — Women's Ghost Sneaker: Designed in New Zealand, Orba shoes are handcrafted using the finest, most renewable …

12 July 2024: I'm so naive sometimes. I had no idea individuals would have helipads on their houses. I'm shocked — Auckland residents unite against …

12 July 2024: A friend, Sophie, is currently travelling in Sweden to visit family and then on a week long knitting tour in Scotland and the Shetlands. She seems to …

12 July 2024: We Kiwis don't like to toot our own horns much but I wanted to keep this for future memories. For years I worked on behalf of the local community and …

11 July 2024: At dawn this morning there were 3 Royal Spoonbills in the ponded area of the beach where the Pied Stilts like to hang out. I was delighted, as I …

10 July 2024: I came across the weirdest thing on the beach this morning. It was about 2 metres long and to my eye looked like an octopus (or squid maybe) and a …

10 July 2024: There was another hard frost this morning, so when I visited the beach at dawn the sand was white at the base of the dunes. There was an intriguing …

10 July 2024: This was free with a newsletter signup — The Opposite of Dark (Casey Holland Mysteries Book 1) by Debra Purdy Kong. 📚 The more I read the more …

10 July 2024: So cool to see tech being used for good — Drones Are Whizzing Lifesaving Supplies Across the 'Last Mile': By land, it would take about four …

09 July 2024: I was meant to have a third intro session with a trainer at the gym this afternoon but I begged off. Yesterday I had a covid jab so my left arm's ever …

09 July 2024: Today is poop day. 😆 I've done my bit for the National Bowel Screening programme. It's easy and painless and could save me a lot of anguish. A friend …

08 July 2024: Heh, The Brokenwood Mysteries has 'storylines so good' people believe the characters are real | RNZ News: Police officer and fan of the show Bryan …

08 July 2024: It's one of those days where one weather system is taking up most of our bit of the globe.

07 July 2024: Why has it taken me so many years to realise I can add useful notes to a Kindle book. Like this one: Now I don't need to continue reading when I see …

07 July 2024: Deb and I are very much enjoying the light-hearted Frankie Drake Mysteries on Acorn: In Roaring Twenties Toronto, crime has never had it better, and …

07 July 2024: This mystery Bea has to solve pretty much on her own, her usual helpers being otherwise occupied. She still comes up trumps though. A False Alarm (The …

07 July 2024: A slightly odd one in the series, but still enjoyable. Furtive Prey (The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries) by D. L. Keur 📚: a crisis of national …

07 July 2024: Sometimes these winter days are perfect: glorious sun out of a clear blue sky. 20C, no wind. I can hear the birds. Just gorgeous.

06 July 2024: Flaxes beside the garage trimmed back. Now I can try to tidy (and weedeat) the area between the garage and the fence.

06 July 2024: Got myself out in the garden earlier to do some needed weed eating. Hauled out the weedeater, only to find that when I put it away 3 weeks ago I …

05 July 2024: Cold enough this morning that we had a decent frost. The snow on the top of the mountain was no surprise. There was even frost on the beach. A bird …

04 July 2024: I didn't get to the beach today, as I was too busy with other things. Yesterday though there was a very cold and blowy southerly.

03 July 2024: All up, power was only out for 20 or 30 minutes. Phew! No need to test out my new Portable Power Station.

03 July 2024: I bought the 8 book set for less than $2, but was glad to reach the end of the first book. Some great turns of phrase but just not a terribly …

03 July 2024: Well, just talking to Deb who's driving home and everything was plunged into darkness. Three minutes later and a couple of lights came on, then …

03 July 2024: Today, with a cold southerly wind, but in the sun, I took part in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, with poor results. blackbird : 2 magpie : 2 …

03 July 2024: Aargh! New Zealand standardised its recycling rules – why is it still so confusing?: On average, each New Zealander is estimated to have generated …

02 July 2024: Second gym session today and we did some stretches and also some work with 5 Kg or 2 Kg dumbbells. That included squats and lifts. The trainer and I …

02 July 2024: I really enjoyed the movie Wicked Little Letters 🎥: Based on a true scandal, it follows an investigation into the anonymous author of numerous crudely …

01 July 2024: Interesting definition of 'meal', AirNZ. Not sure the knife and fork will be useful.

30 June 2024: Today I took photos of Ngunguru. It's very pretty, warm and relaxing.

29 June 2024: We visited Ngunguru (Apple Maps link) today — about 30 Km from Whangārei. Gorgeous place, but I didn't take photos … Just off the …

28 June 2024: I started Murder at the Opera House (A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Book 1) by Dawn Brookes ages ago then stopped for long enough I'd forgotten …

28 June 2024: Mt Manaia from Ruakaka Beach.

27 June 2024: In Whangārei.

26 June 2024: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on against a backdrop of a frustrating system. Meanwhile doggedness and persistence eventually winkle …

26 June 2024: I started out 'naming' this year Surprise. After immediately getting Covid I changed it to Spontaneity. Apparently that change didn't stick though, as …

25 June 2024: First glimpse for this year of a visiting Kererū, well hidden in the tree lucerne. Can you find it?

25 June 2024: Yesterday's mist also highlighted a large spider web in the flax.

25 June 2024: It's been misty the last couple of mornings.

24 June 2024: Sigh, somehow I skipped Book 3, so a few elements in here were a little surprising … It was another good read in a series I like. No Harm Done …

24 June 2024: There was a lot for Jorja to unravel in this book. I enjoyed the read. Knight Vision (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Book 4) by Alice …

24 June 2024: Another excellent science-based video from MinuteFood: Dishwashers vs hand-washing: which wins? (8.5 minutes). You’ve got a pile of dirty …

23 June 2024: Goose and ducks at the Auckland Domain duck pond. We've had a great lightning visit to Auckland to celebrate two birthdays with friends. lightnin

22 June 2024: Cyclists: beware the troughs in the surface!

22 June 2024: The moment I saw these World of Wearable Art models I knew @Cheri would love them.

22 June 2024: It’ll be Gate 16 for us this morning.

21 June 2024: In June 2022 we had a 19-hour power cut and @jean suggested a small portable generator. Now, 2 years later I've finally bought a Yeti 200x Portable …

21 June 2024: Knowledge that isn't shared is not knowledge. Source: Kōkōrangi: Māori astronomer guiding crowds into the New Year.

21 June 2024: Happy New Year! Today is the June Solstice and the start of my personal new year — Day 01. It's a cold, crisp morning, the (98%) full moon is on …

20 June 2024: There was no wind this morning, though if there had been it was nominally from the east. For this west coast beach that means a very calm sea. From …

20 June 2024: Quite a find! On TVNZ+ an animated Māori language sci-fi TV Show called Tipua: Ārepa Simmons feels like her world is going crazy. Lacking all …

20 June 2024: This morning's tea: a lightly roasted oolong: Bagua Shan Siji Chun 2024: Following oxidation, compression, rolling and curing, they are gently roasted …

19 June 2024: A Google image search led me to Megabalanus, and then I found my way to Pink Barnacles (Beach Barnacles Of New Zealand) · iNaturalist NZ. Of course …

18 June 2024: This was a quick read, thanks to my enjoying this series so much. I find the main characters very appealing. A False Report by Veronica Heley 📚: Bea’s …

18 June 2024: Interesting — Should you add milk to tea?: In European salons [in the 1600s], tea was served in delicate fine bone china, easily cracked by the …

18 June 2024: What to expect from 'seal silly season': Vomiting in public. Snoozing in the middle of busy roads. Hanging out in KFC car parks, and waking up on …

18 June 2024: One of the book series I really enjoy — Detective Nikki Galena Mysteries (15 book series) by Joy Ellis is available at low cost for a few days. …

18 June 2024: How kiwi returned to Wellington We learned that in areas with no pest control, virtually 90-100% of chicks were being eaten before they could defend …

17 June 2024: Yay, Season 10 of The Brokenwood Mysteries has started on TVNZ. Episode 1: After dinosaur fossils are discovered in the foothills of Brokenwood, the …

17 June 2024: Today I attended a really interesting talk by Associate Professor Phil Battley, Zoology & Ecology Group, Massey University at the local Forest and …

16 June 2024: I wasn't really expecting to enjoy The Bea Abbot Agency Mysteries Books 1–5 box set by Veronica Heley but I was quite wrong. 📚 The characters are …

16 June 2024: There were two Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantails at the beach this morning. They're so small and I was so far away. And they flit around constantly. …

16 June 2024: Oh yeah, I always like to start off the day with a good belt of Smirnoff and lemon … Heh, no! I haven't drunk alcohol for decades now. I picked …

15 June 2024: A bit of a rainbow.

15 June 2024: That's quite an impressive weather system over Aotearoa at the moment. Via earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions.

14 June 2024: An acquaintance who lives not far away messaged me to ask if I'd like a load of good quality horsepoop for the garden. I happily said Yes, of course. …

13 June 2024: I'm continuing to simplify my life and to step back a bit from all kinds of things. I've just sent out the final edition of the Waikawa Newsletter and …

13 June 2024: At 7 am, still about 40 minutes before sunrise, I stepped on to the beach. Although there was barely any light the pair of Paradise Ducks on the …

12 June 2024: Mindblowing: I talked to people who had never seen trees! Great 11 minute video — Canadian Arctic Expedition: Snowy Owls, Ivory Gulls, and …

12 June 2024: Such a thoughtful and considered article. Everyone should read this — Weighing in on "Man or Bear": the most common question I get about my …

12 June 2024: An interesting 11 minute interview — NZ's smallest bird makes new sounds | RNZ 🐦 : A new study shows the tiny titipounamu or rifleman has the …

11 June 2024: Hmmm, a piled-river. 🤔🤔 That's a new one on me. Nicole was as hypersensitive as a piled-river. 'Oh dear,' was all she could say. Ohhhh. Kindle …

10 June 2024: There's a pile of mulch by the south track to the beach. It'll be used around some plantings to be carried out soon. With the warmth and actual rain …

10 June 2024: In March 2022 I posted about planting cabbage trees by the gate. Here's how they looked then: And here's how they look today, some 2 years later. I'm …

10 June 2024: I somewhat liked this, but not enough to read more — The Sigma Surrogate: An Electrifying Cyberpunk Thriller by JT Lawrence 📚 : As Keke races to …

09 June 2024: Today I tried making Fluffy Flapjack Pancakes. They were good and indeed very filling. I reduced the sugar to 2 tablespoons and might next time try …

08 June 2024: Although the weather is gorgeous — I've been sitting in the warm sun reading and napping — today's a real brain fog kind of day. A wee nap …

07 June 2024: This Karoro | Black-backed gull was enjoying the comforts of a clump of washed out river weed. Zoomed in, it looks like both Caspian Terns are …

07 June 2024: Today's refreshing Oolong tea — Himalayan Beauty, Nepal: a beautifully balanced, delicate and fragrant tea with a smooth, creamy texture. …

06 June 2024: This Pohowera | Banded dotterel has somewhere to be … 🐦 While this Black-fronted Dotterel is looking good …

06 June 2024: Such an interesting 6 minute video. Do watch: Sea lions - The return of a native taonga?: Up to half a tonne of big-eyed, long-whiskered, galumphing …

05 June 2024: I often show the Tararua ranges as seen from our house, but this morning thought I'd try a video from the beach where you can see so much more. I was …

05 June 2024: This 11 minute video explains how dishwashers work, and how to load them. Are you loading your dishwasher wrong?: We dug into the science of …

05 June 2024: Yesterday's beach trip revealed lots of driftwood 'mulch' near the river mouth. In it were many five-armed starfish. I also saw my first ever Hermit …

05 June 2024: BEV update. We've had our MG 4 Essence 64 for 8 months now and the nights are getting cold. It's currently 0C outside and Deb's on her way to work. …

05 June 2024: I love the challenge of the The Guardian Cryptic Crosswords; they're so hard. On first pass I may get one or two answers at most, then I worry away …

04 June 2024: This morning's tea is Bagua Shan Dong Pian. Perfect! Dong Pian is a special Taiwanese tea. It is harvested in the Winter Solstice when the weather is …

04 June 2024: I very much enjoyed The Fells (Detectives Donovan & Young Book 1) by Cath Staincliffe. 📚 I found intriguing that it's written in the present tense, …

03 June 2024: I do all my book reading on a Kindle. Today I upgraded from a Kindle Paperwhite to a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. It feels much snappier, the …

03 June 2024: There's a blue marker post on the beach that (theoretically — it's almost invisible behind beach grass) shows where one of the pedestrian tracks …

02 June 2024: Ours isn't the kind of beach that has seaweed. Except today it does, and a lot of it. Clumps of seaweed along the high tide mark. Close up on some …

02 June 2024: If you're into dogs at all this 11 minute video is a must-watch. So interesting! The Canine Rainbow and How Dogs See the World 🐶 : The first episode …

01 June 2024: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on a frustrating case of stalking in Do No Harm (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 2) by Judith …

01 June 2024: Whangārei District population is almost 97,000 2023 Census maps and data. Whangārei District population is almost 97,000.

01 June 2024: Whangārei city and environs Whangārei lies about 165 Km north of Auckland and about 260 Km south of Te Rerenga Wairua | Cape Reinga, at -35.5515, 174.3414. Nestled in a broad …

01 June 2024: The cows in the paddocks next door have been yelling a lot the last couple of days. This morning they're too busy eating. 😁

31 May 2024: Different day, same (presumably) kōtuku white heron.

30 May 2024: I was so pleased to discover iCab allows AppleScript. This script in TextExpander allows me to grab the Title and URL of the front tab and copy it as …

30 May 2024: It's been a whole week since I spotted an unusual visitor to Waikawa Beach and I assumed it had left. But today I again spotted the kōtuku white heron …

30 May 2024: Yesterday afternoon I lit the fire early — there was a cold wind. This morning we have our first snow on the mountain tops.

30 May 2024: After a supermarket trip this morning I’m treating myself to breakfast at Salt and Pepper in Ōhau. Avocado and salmon smash for me.

30 May 2024: Each month I post on Waikawa News that I've sent out a Newsletter. Now I can duplicate the previous post as my starting point, thanks to the update in …

30 May 2024: A big and very welcome update to MarsEdit today with 5.2, including: The “Search” field in the main window now features a filter selection to toggle …

29 May 2024: Today’s random beach find: a large blue piece of tin.

29 May 2024: Bah, last night I realised that on 22 May 2024 I wrote about a book I'd read, but somehow managed to use the wrong title and link and book cover. I'd …

29 May 2024: Ugh, woke just after midnight and still awake in these wee hours where the world is adrift. Stress always turns up the volume on the tinnitus too. …

28 May 2024: An enjoyable read, but not riveting. A complicated case …Baskets and Beignets by Jana DeLeon 📚: Fortune has solved cold cases before, but never …

28 May 2024: Something I love about Waikawa Beach … … is the wide open space, and lack of other people.

28 May 2024: I went down to the beach before sunrise today. I love walking through the avenue of toetoe / pampas (I think it's pampas, but I can't tell the …

27 May 2024: I bought this M1 MacBook Pro in January 2021. This morning after 3 hours of use, including a couple of videos at full brightness and high volume, …

27 May 2024: Pleased to report that last night's Emergency Alert Test Message was received very loud and clear.

27 May 2024: Hah! Trivial pursuits? – language: a feminist guide: In crosswords the influence of patriarchal, racist and heteronormative values is most apparent in …

26 May 2024: We went to our nearest town this morning for some errands. Here's the main road through Levin on a sunny Sunday morning.

25 May 2024: Nicely said: Manton Reece - Audio narration in Micro.blog We want to see the personal side of someone, not just the polished brand. We want to see …

25 May 2024: This 45 minute documentary was so interesting. This Civil War Submarine Vanished for 136 Years: A Civil War submarine powered by hand cranks and lit …

25 May 2024: What a delight to start my day with Himalayan Moon Drops oolong tea from Nepal: Harvested in June 2023, … is crafted using hand-harvested …

24 May 2024: Yesterday morning I spotted a shag that was a bit different from our usual white-chested shags. The Bird ID Facebook group helped me learn that this …

23 May 2024: My day went awry in the best possible way. I cut short my bike ride to collect my Fuji X-T5 and take photos of a rare visitor to Waikawa Beach: a …

23 May 2024: Today's beach photo is toetoe reflected in a pool of water left behind by the tide.

22 May 2024: Check out this gorgeous late afternoon sun.

22 May 2024: Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman faces many challenges in Come to Harm (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 1) by Judith Cutler. Menopause …

22 May 2024: I knew it was still too dark at dawn to take photos of the Pūkeko by the lake, but I did anyway. I like the effect on this shot. Fujifilm X-T5, lens: …

21 May 2024: Calm ocean on an overcast day with hardly any waves. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊 Here was the view to the north, with dark clouds …

21 May 2024: OMG. I have shares currently worth a massive $16 in this company, and here's a screenshot from today's shareholder update. (I invested $140 …

21 May 2024: It’s totally beautiful down at the beach this morning. So glad I came out even though rain was threatened.

20 May 2024: I've seen plenty of birds on our local lake, but a model boat on Lake Puna o te Ora was a first.

20 May 2024: It's not at all uncommon to find dead fish on the beach. Usually gulls have had a feed. This poor little thing though was unusual for being intact, …

20 May 2024: Still in the beautiful Milford Sound back in March 2024. Young seals on a rock. Bush clad slopes. Waterfall down bush-clad cliff face.

19 May 2024: At the beach this morning: 3 spur-winged plovers and a pied stilt. In the next there's a spur-winged plover, a pied stilt, a black-fronted dotterel …

19 May 2024: Back on 26 March 2024 we took part in a two hour cruise on Milford Sound in Fiordland, Aotearoa. Ours was the smaller boat on the left. In an area …

19 May 2024: I went to bed horrendously early last night. That's why it's now 0230 and I'm catching up on the Micro.Blog timeline. 😁

18 May 2024: Tonight I made @alexink's Chicken Cacciatore, with a couple of modifications. This dish was new to me, but I enjoyed it. Modifications: no onion or …

18 May 2024: The Globe and Mail has Cryptic Crosswords. I'm so out of practice with them! It's taken me a day or two to get back into the swing. So nice to have a …

17 May 2024: Can't wait now for Book 5! — The Language of Power (Steerswoman Series Book 4) by Rosemary Kirstein was another excellent read, bringing our …

17 May 2024: The latest in a series I enjoy — The Man Who Came Back (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 7) by Amy Vansant was another enjoyable …

16 May 2024: Soon after sunrise today this sand 'cliff' was lit by a shaft of sunlight and reflections from the water. The cliff is probably less than a metre high …

15 May 2024: Pretty much the last sight at Wai o Tapu is one of the most spectacular: an almost fluorescent green / yellow lake, Roto Kārikitea.

15 May 2024: A favourite on my walk: this lone chestnut coloured fungus. It was the only fungus I noticed on the whole walk.

15 May 2024: The 'green' walk was the furthest and hardest at Wai o Tapu, with so many stairs. My calves were sore for days!

15 May 2024: At Wai o Tapu the Artist's Palette certainly had water and steam aplenty. I could see a red colour around the edges.

15 May 2024: Hmmm. Guess the gender of the CHAT GPT personality — Introducing GPT-4o: 24:46: BARRETT ZOPH: The reason I'm in a good mood is we are doing a …

15 May 2024: This morning's Gong Mei, 'Royal Tribute Eyebrow' white tea is perfect to start the day: Flavour: soft & sweet, floral and citrus … made famous …

14 May 2024: Good reminders in this 13 minute video: The #1 Most Important Exposure Rule You Should Follow, and How You Can Apply it in Your Photography by Dan …

14 May 2024: At Wai o Tapu some pools of mud contain unrefined crude oil!

14 May 2024: Yesterday, after our few days away, I was absolutely wiped out — had zero energy, was so sleepy. I just went with it. Today I've been a domestic …

13 May 2024: A couple of days ago I visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. It was a warm sunny day after a cold start, and the skies were mainly clear blue. I did …

13 May 2024: We might have missed the aurora, but we were in Rotorua for the coldest morning in 50 years — Will the aurora lights be visible tonight?: At …

13 May 2024: Great news! Success for new giant wētā breeding programme: The Kiwi House now have 120 young wētā, and a second group of adults are breeding and …

12 May 2024: View from Lime Cafe, this morning’s brunch spot.

12 May 2024: On today's walk I noticed the amazing waka taua — Closing the loop on the Rotorua Lakefront Development: Waka taua is a vessel that transports …

12 May 2024: Hooray for good news: our friend is being discharged from hospital today after all. We won't be leaving till after lunch though so will be late …

12 May 2024: Yesterday took a surprising turn when the friend we drove to Rotorua with, also at Deb's conference, went to hospital with chest pains in what may …

11 May 2024: Ohhhh, folks on the Waikawa Beach Facebook group have been posting spectacular aurora photos … and I'm away up north. Darn!

11 May 2024: Made it to Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Valley.

11 May 2024: My plan for today is to visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, a 30 minute drive away. I'm having trouble getting started on the day though …

10 May 2024: In Rotorua the National Kiwi Hatchery is totally worth a visit. Kiwi are nocturnal so taking photos of live birds is forbidden. These taxidermied …

10 May 2024: The recently redeveloped Rotorua lakefront area is 💯 Such a beautiful space with walkways above and around the lake, native plants, rock, tiers of …

09 May 2024: Deb and I are in Rotorua for her to attend a conference and me to lounge about sightseeing. Staying at a fairly fancy hotel (Novotel) with its own …

09 May 2024: Lake Taupō from the car as we whistled past on the way to Rotorua on our first road trip with the EV. 🚗 Our range anxiety was allayed with charging …

08 May 2024: Around 0720 a fuel tanker rolled a few Km north of Waikawa Beach. In spite of detours, that effectively closed the road so traffic north and south has …

08 May 2024: Persistence finally paid off. In about 15 minutes this morning, between about 0545 and 0600, I saw 10 meteors from the Eta Aquariids — two …

07 May 2024: I found Cliff Diver: A Detective Emilia Cruz Novel by Carmen Amato to be a tough read. 📚 The setting is drug cartels, police and official corruption, …

07 May 2024: Today's beach find: this fishing hook with 3 rusty barbs. It was tangled in some weed just waiting for a horse, dog or barefoot kid to step on it. …

07 May 2024: OK Pacific Wave Appreciation Society — some gentle Waikawa Beach waves to start the day. 🌊

07 May 2024: Tiny crescent moon rising an hour before dawn.

07 May 2024: North Yorkshire Council to phase out apostrophe use on street signs: "I think we should be using apostrophes. "If you start losing things like that …

06 May 2024: Solving a 30 year old cold case is actually very hard — Murder in the Parish (DI Hillary Greene Book 20) by Faith Martin 📚: Thirty years ago, …

06 May 2024: Another enjoyable read in the series — Malice in Tarnished Spaces: (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 6) by Lakota Grace 📚 : When Pegasus …

06 May 2024: Yesterday we drove to Palmerston North and watched the excellent movie The Great Escaper starring Glenda Jackson and Michael Caine. 🎥 It was very …

05 May 2024: This morning there were 5 Black-fronted dotterels in the estuary. Black-fronted dotterels are … recognisable by the striking Y-shaped black …

05 May 2024: Just before dawn today, with clear skies, a bit of a frost and mist over the ground.

05 May 2024: Hmmm, on this day in 2023 I posted my Speedtest results (100/22). Today I tested again, with 128/13.

04 May 2024: I haven't yet listened to this Quirks and Quarks podcast episode, but other Micro.Blog dog lovers may be interested too: May 4: Quirks goes to the …

04 May 2024: Someone on Micro.Blog mentioned the iCab web browser recently. I used to use that years ago. Just paid for a licence. 😁 Bonus: Apple Pay actually …

04 May 2024: 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 my mind to be free-spirited, bopping around …

03 May 2024: It was a beautiful morning when I went for a walk in the bush at Papaitonga.

02 May 2024: We had over 18mm rain last night, and there was probably much more in the hills. Which will be why there are clumps of river weed near the river mouth …

02 May 2024: At the west end of Homer Tunnel, from a carpark below, we can see the avalanche and rockfall protection roofing, and the amazing view down the Cleddau …

01 May 2024: On our bus tour to Milford Sound we had to wait for 10 minutes to drive through the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km-long tunnel through solid rock. This was on …

01 May 2024: Last week a friend generalised something I said then used it in a way that undermined me within a group we both belong to. There was more to it than …

01 May 2024: This morning I joined a couple of other members of the Horowhenua branch of Forest and Bird to do a bird count at Waikawa Beach estuary. We don't have …

30 April 2024: What an excellent idea from Kāpiti Coast District Council: Encouraging chatter that matters: Chatterbox seats aim to normalise a culture of chat. They …

30 April 2024: One feature of the book Tempting Fête was that every character was introduced with a reference to their race. 📚 That did effectively raise my …

30 April 2024: I bought Tempting Fête (Men Who Stitch Mysteries Book 1) by Kate Silvers partly because its designation as A Diverse Cozy Mystery intrigued me. 📚 It …

30 April 2024: After a recent excellent holiday I fell into a slight slump and finally realised the last 7 years have been intense with local community activity. I …

29 April 2024: I didn't manage to find Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks on this very clear night, even though I went to the beach to have a clear view of the western horizon. I …

29 April 2024: Deb had a social engagement in Palmerston North today so I went along for the ride. I enjoyed an excellent Chicken Teriyaki dinner and a bit of a read …

28 April 2024: An excellent movie, inspired by true stories — The Beautiful Game 🎥: Advocates to end homelessness, organize an annual tournament for Homeless …

28 April 2024: Grim reading: There's an Awkward Link Between Plastic Production And Pollution We're Not Considering: Our new research found the relationship is …

28 April 2024: Another in a series I enjoy: Silence in West Fork (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 5) by Lakota Grace. 📚 Pegasus Quincy and her former partner, …

27 April 2024: We really enjoyed the hilarious and heartwarming film The Phantom of the Open, based on a true story. 🎥 Maurice Flitcroft, a shipyard worker in the …

27 April 2024: A mere 29 Km (by road), 25 minute drive south of Waikawa Beach is Peka Peka Beach. Small waves at Peka Peka Beach with Kāpiti Island in the …

26 April 2024: Now I See You (Mountain Resort Mystery series Book 1) by Shannon Work wasn't a favourite read, though I kept with it. It uses an Omniscient viewpoint …

26 April 2024: On our bus tour to Milford Sound we stopped for photos at Monkey Creek. What’s in a name? | New Zealand Geographic: Monkey Creek … commemorates …

25 April 2024: In the last couple of days Deb and I have watched Vera S13E01 and My Life is Murder S04E01. That's some good quality telly there. 📺

25 April 2024: This week I've tracked my sleep. Estimating Sleep Stages from Apple Watch: Apple Watch contains 3-axis accelerometer signals that track motion. They …

25 April 2024: The Cascade Creek conservation campsite in Fiordland National Park was a gorgeous location. Apparently the sandflies are bad there. We just stopped …

24 April 2024: I took this shot of a mountain from near Mirror Lakes in Fiordland. I'm afraid I have no idea which mountain it is.

24 April 2024: One of my best recent purchases: Hand Warmer Wheat Bags. 60 seconds in the microwave and moments later my hands are wrapped round a toasty wheatbag. I …

23 April 2024: Darn it! I went to read Bridges to Burn (Detective Clare Mackay Book 8) by Marion Todd today, only to find I'd already read it (and given it 5 stars). …

23 April 2024: Eglinton Valley photos As promised yesterday, more photos of Eglinton Valley in Fiordland National Park. All show steep beech-clad snow-topped mountains rising from a valley …

23 April 2024: LOL Text in image: Today's marine biology lecture is on sharks. We all know them as the scary triangles of the sea, but recent research has revealed …

23 April 2024: In a series I enjoy, Standing Dead (A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 8) by Margaret Mizushima was a good read. 📚 Mattie’s K-9 partner, Robo, makes a …

22 April 2024: Like all of Fiordland National Park, the Eglinton Valley was beautiful. A broad flat valley floor covered with golden tussock, with steep beech-clad …

21 April 2024: On our recent holiday we took a bus trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound where we cruised for a couple of hours up and down the Sound. Our first brief …

21 April 2024: Delighted when I opened a window at 6 am to hear a Ruru | Morepork in trees around 500 metres away. Calls are given almost exclusively at night. The …

20 April 2024: Pied Stilt (and friend). 🐦

20 April 2024: This Pied Shag kept an eye on me while drying its wings at the beach. 🐦

20 April 2024: Another gripping book in the series: The Lost Steersman (Steerswoman Series Book 3) by Rosemary Kirstein. 📚 Rowan goes exploring in more strange and …

19 April 2024: This item about Google Plus codes was really interesting: On the Navajo Nation, Accurate Mailing Addresses Save Lives. If you want to find your own …

19 April 2024: Here's some handy info for my Kiwi pals: Māori Greetings Signoffs for Letters Emails (PDF). The new one I learned today: Ngā mihi maioha : Thank you …

19 April 2024: At dawn (8 am) we waited outside our expensive but basic motel in Te Anau for the bus tour to Milford Sound. You can see in the video the sprinkling …

18 April 2024: From Queenstown we travelled to Te Anau where I was able to spend a few minutes walking round Punanga Manu | the bird sanctuary. I had a wonderful …

18 April 2024: Yesterday I took a bunch of rubbish photos at the beach. Today I applied more thought. A pair of white-faced herons was keeping an eye on my process. …

17 April 2024: This Paradise Shelduck pair stood out on the lake today. 🐦

17 April 2024: This 20 minute video was super interesting: The most important CONSONANT in English by Dr Geoff Lindsey.

16 April 2024: The rains must have brought this big clump of weed down the river and onto the beach.

16 April 2024: We spent a night in Queenstown where the countryside is very beautiful. The town itself is cramped and busy, accommodation very expensive. It's full …

15 April 2024: Today I attended a meeting near the Levin War Memorial. I've driven past plenty of times but never before taken the time to stroll around the garden. …

15 April 2024: The Cromwell Heritage Precinct has old stone buildings and a view over the Clutha River where jetskis and others were hooning around.

14 April 2024: On our holiday, between Lake Pukaki and Cromwell I just watched the scenery go by, and took a few photos from the moving car.

14 April 2024: Fungi at Waiopehu Scenic Reserve Today I wandered around Waiopehu Scenic Reserve. It's a dim, damp and cool bush walk where I spotted all sorts of fungi I can't identify. It was a …

13 April 2024: I was in the mood to read all day and lost myself in Murder Against the Odds (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 4) by Janice Frost. 📚 It was a good, …

13 April 2024: Morning waves. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊 Morning waves on a dull day.

12 April 2024: Murder on a Country Walk (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 4) by Janice Frost was another enjoyable read. 📚 I like these lead characters, though in …

12 April 2024: Heaven forbid we feed kids just because they're hungry! Associate minister of education David Seymour wants a “robust, statistically significant …

12 April 2024: OK, my new endeavour: Portuguese for Beginners | Udemy. Day 1: obrigada. 🇵🇹

11 April 2024: When Waka Kotahi built the Kāpiti Expressway they installed a sealed shared path (bikes, pedestrians, horses) alongside it. Today I did a little 12 Km …

11 April 2024: I seem to be in a phase where I'm generally low level irritable and scratchy and want to shed some involvements, engagements and responsibilities (I …

11 April 2024: Oh, April 2024 Photo Challenge Day 11: sky. The sky was vibrant in scarlet for about 30 minutes this morning!

11 April 2024: This sounds interesting. As a lover of words and language in general I'd be up to give this game a go. Scrabble: Mattel launches new version of game …

10 April 2024: This morning I drove about 20 minutes to Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve and enjoyed a shady bush walk. The boardwalk splits around a tree. A …

10 April 2024: Another excellent Braincraft video: How to cope when life is terrible - YouTube.

10 April 2024: Aha! 2028 total solar eclipse in New Zealand: before the total eclipse [on 22 July, 2028], Aotearoa would also be treated to a small dress rehearsal …

09 April 2024: From Takapō we headed south, with a momentary stop at Lake Pukaki, so blue! I believe that's Aoraki | Mount Cook visible on the right.

09 April 2024: I'd forgotten I'd read other books by Judi Daykin, with varying enjoyment. The Wild Thyme Farm Murder (Detective Sara Hirst Book 6) was well-written …

09 April 2024: I haven't visited the beach with my camera so much lately — many of the birds have gone. Today I took the camera and captured this Tarapunga | …

08 April 2024: About 9 pm at Lake Takapō, in the Dark Sky Reserve (on 23 March 2024). This was the view from our excellent rental apartment. An almost full moon …

07 April 2024: I enjoy Anne Shillolo's murder mystery series, but Murder at Lost Lake: (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 3) had a couple of important plot points …

07 April 2024: What bliss! Lying on the outdoor couch on a warm (finally) sunny blue sky day. The distant sea faintly in the background. Bees buzzing nearby. Birds …

07 April 2024: Such a moving essay about environment: The Sunday Essay: Piercing the living waters | The Spinoff: I was promised dolphins, whales, and maybe even …

07 April 2024: Apparently in April 2022 I advised myself about having spent too little time sightseeing: It's easy to look back decades later and make judgements. A …

07 April 2024: I saw this video a couple of days ago after the huge earthquake in Taiwan and told Deb to watch it. She couldn't find it, so here it is for posterity: …

06 April 2024: Bag 3 of the Lego build complete. It required only a minor fix where I must have messed up in a previous stage. 😅

06 April 2024: I encouraged this little Southern Bell Frog out of the garage yesterday. So glad to spot a frog again — they seem to have been in short supply. …

06 April 2024: MB April Photo Challenge: windy 📷 Sasha, tail flying, on a windy day at Waikawa Beach in August 2019.

05 April 2024: Just before our tour to the Mt John observatories (photos strongly discouraged up there because of stray light). This was Lake Takapō at 8 pm with fog …

05 April 2024: Having recently visited Tekapo I was intrigued by this new murder mystery set there: Dark Sky: Murder among the stars - by Marie Connolly. But I don't …

05 April 2024: Not a new thought, but today it really hit home to me — someone on the radio said "grow the economy" and I thought: what say as a society we …

04 April 2024: Four Distinct Sleep Types: According to the team behind the study, extra effort needs to be made to educate people about the benefits of good sleep …

04 April 2024: Maybe half way between Temuka and Takapō is Fairlie, with its James MacKenzie and Dog statue. The Mackenzie District: is named after James Mackenzie, …

04 April 2024: I was doubtful about The Jenny Starling Mysteries Books 1–4 by Faith Martin at first but really rather enjoyed the books with their understated gentle …

03 April 2024: Winchester, in Te Wai Pounamu, lies between Temuka and Geraldine. We were recommended to breakfast at Mia Flora (FB link), a residence, garden shop …

03 April 2024: Today I was out the door at 7 am to visit the supermarket, then spent the whole morning making muesli, mushroom soup and beef stew. Whew! To follow, …

02 April 2024: It annoyed me while on holiday that the Sunrise/Sunset complication on my Apple Watch stopped working. I've finally fixed it thanks to Sunset / …

02 April 2024: It flows slowly, the Waikawa River, but it's still a 'flower'. 🤣 MB April Photo Challenge: flowers 📷

02 April 2024: The waves might be little in our barely moving air from the east, but they're still Pacific. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊

02 April 2024: Brooklyn 99 is perfect to (re)watch while I eat breakfast. Every single episode leaves me laughing.

02 April 2024: This sounds bad — DOC spent nearly $500,000 to kill one stoat in Fiordland until we see this: [Auckland University Professor of Conservation …

01 April 2024: At the Dark Sky Project in Takapō I bought this Great Spotted Kiwi backpack clip as a memento. Not that I saw a kiwi there, I just like to collect …

01 April 2024: I did this Online Hearing Test a few years back and have just gone through it again. Hmmm, having found my previous test results, it looks like my …

01 April 2024: Nice to see that a] the beach was still there 🤣 and that b] someone had been having a good time.

31 March 2024: I had a wonderful time away on holiday, but am thrilled to be home to my kettle that I can set to the correct temperature for my tea, and my most …

31 March 2024: Partly because it's Easter I followed official advice and arrived at Christchurch airport early to allow extra time for security. There is no security …

30 March 2024: My friend Anne and I dressed warmly against the sharp wind in Christchurch at the Travis Wetland. Me on the left in the blue jacket standing upslope …

30 March 2024: Autumn colours in Te Māra Huaota o Waipapa | the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

29 March 2024: This morning we enjoyed a pleasant walk around the 119 hectare Ōruapaeroa / Travis Wetland in Christchurch. At some points we had views of the Port …

28 March 2024: Rakaia Gorge is scenic from the lookout.

28 March 2024: Staying with a friend in Christchurch. This is one year old Felix. 🐈

27 March 2024: Athol is a tiny place about half way between Te Anau and Queenstown. It has a very convenient public toilet, a tearooms, and this interesting Memorial …

27 March 2024: Back in Takapō for the night. From the back I thought this was a car, but it turns out to be a Mustang Thunderbird touring bike.

27 March 2024: Such a cool use of the Internet: Fish Doorbell in Utrecht: … viewers around the world can watch a livestream of the camera and, when they see a …

26 March 2024: This photo probably most represents Milford Sound. Huge craggy sheer cliffs, greenery, numerous tiny or massive waterfalls.

26 March 2024: What a long day. The bus picked us up at 8 this morning for our Milford Sound Tour and after a busy day we returned at 5. A quick meal at Thai Anau …

25 March 2024: At the Te Anau bird sanctuary I spotted Takahē and Whio (Blue Duck). 🐦 Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary Two Takahē in Te Anau. Two Whio …

25 March 2024: Spent the night in Queenstown. Today we drive 2 hours to Te Anau then tomorrow, with any luck, we visit Milford Sound for a cruise — Milford …

24 March 2024: Lake view from Earnslaw Lodge on Lake Wakatipu in Tāhuna | Queenstown, east to west.

24 March 2024: The landscapes in Mackenzie and Central are just jaw dropping.

24 March 2024: Aoraki (Mt Cook) from Lake Pukaki.

24 March 2024: I’ve never been to Cromwell on Lake Dunstan before. Stark mountains all around.

24 March 2024: Delicious breakfast at Jack Rabbit in Takapō before we drive to Queenstown.

23 March 2024: Dishes at the Dark Sky Diner were pricey, but the Fire grilled salmon served with roasted pumpkin, grilled asparagus, smoked cauliflower puree and …

23 March 2024: Filling in a few hours till our 11 pm tour — Takapō Stargazing at Mount John: The Summit Experience: start by looking at the stars with the …

23 March 2024: Lake Takapō.

23 March 2024: We're travelling in Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island) with our friend Amanda from north of Auckland. Last night's accommodation was lovely: Hall on …

22 March 2024: Waimakariri River just north of Otautahi | Christchurch. So blue! And a famous braided riverbed.

22 March 2024: So cool 🐦 : 3D printed eggs used in fairy tern rescue programme | RNZ News: Staff remove the [real] eggs, take them to incubators at Auckland Zoo, and …

21 March 2024: Hmmm, still none the wiser. Bizarre film. Asteroid City 🎥: It is Anderson's homage to popular memory and mythology about extraterrestrials and UFOs …

21 March 2024: The Outskirter's Secret (Steerswoman Series Book 2) by Rosemary Kirstein was as gripping as the first book. 📚 The world building in this series is …

21 March 2024: Fun moment: distance between where I live now and where I was born: Distance Between Cities Places On Map Distance Calculator: 18,759 km or 11,656 …

20 March 2024: Waikawa Beach, 20 March 2024. The Pacific Wave Appreciation Society appreciates even the smallest of waves. 🌊

20 March 2024: Hmm, I'm reading out a brief speech from my iPad at a Horowhenua District Council meeting today. I had the speech in Apple Notes but was worried about …

20 March 2024: I'm usually good with anagrams so was initially disappointed with my first try at Lex Friedman's By A Vowel puzzle. I was relieved that after solving …

19 March 2024: With Equinox tomorrow, I lit the first fire for 2024.

19 March 2024: Waikawa river mouth shines in the early morning.

18 March 2024: In 2 days time I will be speaking to our local District Council for no more than 5 minutes on an incredibly divisive local topic: vehicle access to …

17 March 2024: Ate dinner with friends at Samrat Indian Restaurant in Waikanae. Just like last time, the food was delicious. I had a goat curry. It was followed by a …

17 March 2024: Bag 2 of the Lego build complete, with no parts left over. 😅

17 March 2024: So quiet today — I took a nap in the sun with crickets for company. Delightful.

16 March 2024: Kāpiti Island and Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) on a clear sunny day.

16 March 2024: Hah hah — love it! Note: the title attribute reads: Doug's cousin, the one from London, runs a Bumble love cult.

15 March 2024: Whew, I've completed the first pack on my 5-pack Lego build. After discovering a leftover piece 😳 I returned to Page 11 and inserted the missing …

15 March 2024: I don't often read fantasy, but on Annie's recommendation (what Annie said goes for me too) I took a chance on The Steerswoman (Steerswoman Series …

14 March 2024: Also spotted this morning.

14 March 2024: A different kind of bird low overhead at the beach today.

13 March 2024: Hardly a challenging plot, but the movie 80 for Brady was fun. 🎥 Hard to go wrong with a cast that includes Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and …

13 March 2024: Heh, quote of the year: I speak fluent typo! 😆 cygnoir https://micro.blog/cygnoir/33360506

13 March 2024: I'm enjoying playing Lex Friedman's Lexicogs.

12 March 2024: I didn't get off to a good start with the first book in this series, but Murder at the Wedding (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 9) by Jane Adams was a …

11 March 2024: This mantis on our front door today may be a South African mantis. [Later] The NZ Bug Identification Facebook Group confirms this as a Praying mantis …

10 March 2024: Deb and I really enjoyed The Miracle Club 🎥 : In 1967, in a hard-knocks community in Dublin, three generations of women have one tantalizing dream: to …

10 March 2024: I picked about 5 Kg Granny Smith apples off the tree. I'm looking forward to stewing them up and eating them with my breakfast every day for quite a …

10 March 2024: I'm 69 and have never played with? built? Lego. After hearing it mentioned the other day I bought a $50 Lego Technic Surface Space Loader set and am …

09 March 2024: That custom email domain I've had trouble with for the past couple of weeks … I fiddled, deleted, started over, double-checked, waited and …

09 March 2024: Deb and I watched the excellent Australian mini-series True Colours on Netflix. 📺 It explores complex questions of culture and justice: white-man's …

09 March 2024: This page lists Custom Email Domain Availability. Since Aotearoa is included I'm stumped as to why, a week or two on, I can't make it work for a new …

09 March 2024: On the beach yesterday. 🐦 Social distancing for NZ Dotterels. NZ Dotterel looking fine. Immature red-billed gull up close.

08 March 2024: Here's a stabilised version of the birds and waves video I shared before. Many thanks to @sod for the suggestion.

08 March 2024: Something I've noticed recently is that my hand holding the camera steady is no longer 100% successful in its task. Sorry for the shakes in this …

08 March 2024: Waves? What waves? 🐦 Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa, for the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊

07 March 2024: There was one Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill at Kuku Beach this morning. 🐦

07 March 2024: Kuku Beach Estuary is a 3.5 Km walk north along the beach, but I drove there by road this morning. A local told me there had been a lot of birds there …

06 March 2024: Chilly at the beach this dawn. We're now in one of the official Autumns. 🐦 Oystercatcher and almost grown up chick. Oystercatcher with a tasty grub, …

05 March 2024: Somehow I started reading Murder at the Willows (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 8) by Jane Adams forever ago and then only just came back to it. 📚 …

05 March 2024: Visit to the dental hygienist today, after too long a break. Now all my teeth feel weird … Now they're all super clean and everything I'm …

04 March 2024: Long-tailed bat the weight of a AAA battery believed to be NZ's oldest | RNZ News: A bat of at least 26 years is officially New Zealand's oldest known …

04 March 2024: Such a good read! Gone to Darkness (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 4) by Barbara Nickless was perhaps even more intense than the previous three in the …

04 March 2024: From the Good News files — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first fully electric bus network launches in Palmerston North and Ashhurst.

04 March 2024: There's actual rain (and high winds) forecast for today. 🌧️ 33.6 mm (1.3") rain forecast and winds up to 67 kph (41.6 mph).

03 March 2024: Through the window. A rather scruffy looking Starling. 🐦

02 March 2024: Half a dozen Kōurarini | European goldfinches were outside my bedroom window this morning. 🐦

01 March 2024: Not sure I've seen a dozen or more Poaka | Pied Stilt all together at our beach before. 🐦

29 February 2024: Bird footprints on the beach. 🐦

29 February 2024: Sydney is growing into civilian life, but the past still haunts her. Another good read. Ambush (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 3) by Barbara Nickless 📚 : …

29 February 2024: Because it's Leap Day I'm messing around with fonts in some apps — just to shake things up a bit.

29 February 2024: Starting the day with a bit of a shaker — GeoNet: Quake - 2024p158594 〰️: Magnitude: 4.7 Depth: 20 km

29 February 2024: Happy Leap Day folks. Enjoy the gamboling and capering. 😁 💃💃

28 February 2024: This 8 minute video is particularly interesting and useful — Your freezer is messing with your food: Freezing is an awesome way to preserve food …

27 February 2024: There is a small group of Warou | Welcome swallows who spend a proportion of their days perched on the deck railing, about 3 metres away, watching …

26 February 2024: I took this photo the other day of Kuaka | Godwits in breeding plumage. Do you like the halo? 🐦

25 February 2024: Today's bird, on Lake Te Puna a te Ora: Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler. 🐦 New Zealand status: Native; Conservation status: Not Threatened …

24 February 2024: The Girl Who Found Joy (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 6) by Amy Vansant. A somewhat complicated plot. Since the reader has more info …

24 February 2024: Some of my Micro.Blog pals might be interested in reading this Waikawa News blog post: Who are all those birds in the Estuary? 🐦 See photos of the 21 …

24 February 2024: Jana DeLeon has created another engaging and fun story in the Miss Fortune series with Swamp Spies. 📚 This book opens with an undercover spy mission …

23 February 2024: I very much enjoyed watching The Marvels. It was fun.

23 February 2024: We have a 20,000 litre rainwater tank that serves our house for drinking and other water. Since it was last filled by tanker at the start of November …

23 February 2024: For those who just want the pretty pictures — 🐦 A juvenile Tarapirohe | Black-fronted Tern. New Zealand status: Endemic Conservation status: …

23 February 2024: Juvenile Black-fronted Tern At this time of year we see flocks of White-fronted Terns hanging out in the estuary near the sea, but on 22 February 2024 this bird was sitting apart …

23 February 2024: Tarāpuka | Black-billed gull 🐦 : The black-billed gull is found only in New Zealand … The black-billed gull is more slender than the red-billed …

22 February 2024: West coast waves — at Waikawa Beach in Horowhenua in Aotearoa. See Jean’s west coast waves, North America.

22 February 2024: My friend Rachel has a thing or two to say about ageing and being old — A taxonomy of aging based on the elder tree: the “old” are forever the …

22 February 2024: 6 am and look at that: Venus side by side with Mars in the morning sky. ✨✨

21 February 2024: Juvenile Tarapunga | Red-billed gull, a native whose conservation status is Declining. 🐦

21 February 2024: It's a ground misty kind of morning. With Venus and sunrise.

21 February 2024: Another in a gripping series — Dead Stop (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 2) by Barbara Nickless 📚: With Denver beset by a series of monsoonlike …

20 February 2024: Spotted this roughly 5 cm grasshopper on the outside of my bedroom window this morning.

19 February 2024: First time for everything: this Blokart had come up from Ōtaki. I haven't seen one on Waikawa Beach before.

19 February 2024: Cyclone categories no longer fit for a heating planet: Increasingly strong cyclones may mean a new higher-wind-speed category needs to be created, …

18 February 2024: The swallows love hanging out on the railing by our east window, in the early evening sun. 🐦

18 February 2024: Such a good read I've preordered the next in series — Redemption (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Book 1) by Deborah J Ledford 📚 : a Native American …

18 February 2024: I suspect this juvenile Oystercatcher was one of the babies from early January. Its parent was looking a bit fed up, to my eye. 🐦 A little further …

17 February 2024: The movie Orion and the Dark was a delight — so creative, and also fun. It's worth a watch. 🎥 I also really liked the characters: Dark, …

17 February 2024: I visited the Ōtaki Kite Festival today. The small kites were huge compared to a normal backyard kite. But the giant kites made the small (huge) ones …

17 February 2024: This fine bulldog was a brief visitor at our place the other day. Our cat-sized waterbowl had to be refilled twice! 🐶

17 February 2024: Today's good news for conservation — Pest control reverses 'downward slide to extinction' for kiwi | RNZ News: The Fiordland tokoeka population …

17 February 2024: I used to use a Keyboard Maestro action to open my Time Machine System Preference but with some OS upgrade it stopped working properly. It would open …

16 February 2024: What the heck! 🐦

16 February 2024: Behind you!!! 🐦

16 February 2024: Black and white (and orange). Tern next to Southern Pied Oystercatcher. 🐦

16 February 2024: It was darned hot at the beach this afternoon, but I was so glad to spot baby Oystercatcher again. 🐦

15 February 2024: Big and Little: Kakīānau | Black swan and Pāpango | New Zealand scaup. 🐦 Length: 110 - 140 cm; Weight: 5 - 7 kg (male), 4 - 6 kg (female) vs Length: …

15 February 2024: Big and Little: big Taranui | Caspian Tern with little Tara | White-fronted Tern (I think …) 🐦 Length: 50 cm; Weight: 700 grams vs Length: 42 …

15 February 2024: Yet another in a series that grips me: The Gathering Storm (Detective Shona Oliver Book 4) by Lynne McEwan. 📚 DI Shona Oliver’s past and present …

15 February 2024: I highlighted many parts of Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner but the last third was draggy and weird (possibly over my head) 📚 : With cool …

15 February 2024: Something special happened last night. There I was lying with my eyes open hoping sleep would capture me. I could see a couple of stars through my …

14 February 2024: On my bike ride today I drank a can of L&P (Lemon & Paeroa, lemonade), then when I came home I drank far too many cups of tea. That's why it's …

14 February 2024: I biked 10 km beside the river in Palmerston North and I’m having a rest and enjoying the view before I head back to the car.

14 February 2024: Today's adventure: bike along the Manawatū River Park Pathway in Palmerston North then have lunch at my favourite, Mr Choi, where the chicken teriyaki …

14 February 2024: Listened to this interview yesterday — so interesting — Record-smashing Tonga volcano sheds new light on how underwater volcanoes blow: …

13 February 2024: Birds I noticed at dawn at the beach today: NZ Dotterel, Royal Spoonbill, adult pair and baby Oystercatcher. 🐦 NZ Dotterel. Royal Spoonbill. Adult …

13 February 2024: Flocks of birds in flight at the beach today. 🐦 Black swans in flight. A small flock of Rock Pigeons.

12 February 2024: I planted two Grevillea New Blood today. A stunning deep red flowering ground cover. It is a quite vigorous frost-hardy plant that flowers over a long …

12 February 2024: Thanks to @bsag I'm currently reading Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner. There are some wonderful turns of phrase … On Sunday mornings …

12 February 2024: Deb and I brunched today at Harrison's cafe and garden centre in Pekapeka. It's such a peaceful environment and the food is fine. While waiting to pay …

12 February 2024: Loved reading A Matrimonial Murder (A Temple Hill Mystery Book 2) by Meeti Shroff-Shah. For me the location and people are exotic. There's so much …

11 February 2024: There were also plenty of birds on Lake Te Puna a te Ora, including many Pāpango | New Zealand scaup. 🐦

11 February 2024: Today I noticed juvenile Karoro | Black-backed gulls 🐦.

11 February 2024: What a lovely essay: Por Por’s broth | 婆婆煲噶湯 | The Spinoff: she is painfully excited about my learning Cantonese; … 婆婆 always wants to hear my …

10 February 2024: An excellent movie. Watch it! One Life 🎥 : based on the true story of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton as he looks back on his past efforts to …

10 February 2024: The whole article is really interesting — Of melting pots and mongrel languages: If a few soldiers, 958 years ago, had shown a bit more …

09 February 2024: Today's 'haul' — Dotterels and a Hawk in flight. 🐦

09 February 2024: I enjoyed this and may read others by this author if there are any, but somehow I never felt quite connected with the characters. Shot in the Dark …

08 February 2024: Also on the beach and in my camera's view this morning, this Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦

08 February 2024: And here's my new S9 Apple Watch, a full 6 days before I expected it! 😁

08 February 2024: Success! Not only has the population of baby Oystercatchers doubled overnight, but I managed a photo or two. Like this one of the two chicks seeking …

07 February 2024: This parent Oystercatcher was very upset with me today for walking too close to its baby (maybe 10 or 15 metres away). I was getting the works! 🐦

07 February 2024: On very rare occasions an odd looking item turns up in the supermarket Fruit and Vege section. Turns out it's a Dragonfruit. I looked up what it was …

07 February 2024: This is super interesting (Waikawa Beach has a terrible erosion problem in one particular spot) — Cyclone Gabrielle: Parts of East Coast lost 10 …

07 February 2024: At the beach I saw, but didn't manage a photo of, a brand new baby Oystercatcher! Huzzah! Meanwhile, at home, Warou | Welcome swallows keep lining up …

06 February 2024: Today is one of NZ's most important days: Waitangi Day. We commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the British Crown in …

06 February 2024: Waitangi Day 6 Feb 2024 7:57 AM: A Ngāpuhi kaumātua says He Whakaputanga needs to be elevated in the national conscious as the "matua", the parent of …

05 February 2024: I like this series and enjoyed the fast action of The Girl Who Saw the Truth (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 5) by Amy Vansant. It …

05 February 2024: Just wanted to note this — Oxford gains dark sky park status | RNZ News: Oxford [north of Christchurch] has become the 6th New Zealand community …

05 February 2024: With a birthday (69) coming up I followed a whim the other day (unusual for me) and ordered a new Apple watch mid-cycle. Upgrading from a S7 to a S9. …

04 February 2024: Hmmm, in the first week of April Deb and I might spend a few days in Te Wai Pounamu (The South Island). Which could mean doing this — Takapō …

03 February 2024: Kawau | Pied Shags on the beach this morning. 🐦

03 February 2024: Bumper breeding season for NZ's rarest bird after disastrous season last year | RNZ News: … five fledglings already striking out on their own …

03 February 2024: Earlier this week I thought I was over Covid but just not up to par. Yesterday and today I realise I actually feel well. I have a growing spark of …

02 February 2024: I read this in two widely spaced hits: Island on Fire: The extraordinary story of Laki, the volcano that turned eighteenth-century Europe dark by …

02 February 2024: Just in case Deb and I do ever end up travelling to the Arctic — Top Arctic Wildlife Photography Tips for the Perfect Shot: Mastering Arctic …

02 February 2024: While the Warou | Welcome swallow sat on the zendo roof the Kāhu | Hawk was out hunting. 🐦

02 February 2024: Another from an author I enjoy: Someone Rotten Riding the Rails (The Accidental Detective Book 6) by Kris Bock. 📚 Two Russian crime families have …

02 February 2024: I quite enjoyed The Birthday Girl (A Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller Book 1) by Sarah Ward. 📚 A remote island location, a devastating storm, a serial …

01 February 2024: Pied Stilt stands guard on 3 juveniles. 🐦

01 February 2024: This is such an interesting podcast episode: Werthwhile Language – The Vocal Fries Pod: Carrie and Megan talk with Dr Suzanne Wertheim about her book, …

01 February 2024: It seems I have a case of the 3am blahs. 😱

31 January 2024: Whew, drove to Pekapeka for brunch with a friend, bought a few groceries on the way home. Exhausted now.

30 January 2024: Today's other beach bird is this NZ Dotterel showing off its jewellery. 🐦

30 January 2024: Today's beach bird is … a sparrow! It had found a tasty morsel for its dinner. 🐦

30 January 2024: Lay down for a few moments … and woke an hour later! Missing out on this glorious hot and sunny day.

29 January 2024: A fairly good read, though it didn't utterly grip me — Lest We Forgive (DS Liz Moorland. Major Crimes. Book 1) by Phillipa Nefri Clark. 📚 While …

29 January 2024: There were so many birds at the estuary this morning. I went for photos of groups. No chance of photos of the flock of Dotterels — they were too …

28 January 2024: Deb made this wonderful Chicken Barley Soup (Soupe Jo) for dinner. Definitely one to have again.

28 January 2024: Still haven't regained my energy after testing clear of Covid over a week ago. Today I took recycling bins up to the road and spent half an hour doing …

27 January 2024: I finished Star Trek: Prodigy, and enjoyed it. I was a bit lukewarm for the first half dozen episodes but then it found its feet and eventually became …

27 January 2024: I didn't quite gel with Fall (Detective Harriet Foster Book 2) by Tracy Clark at first, but the book did grow on me. The political intrigue aspect …

26 January 2024: The Tea Masterclass has been fascinating. The episode I watched today particularly so: Global Tea History: Ancient Origins To Today's Tea Renaissance …

26 January 2024: Earthquakes and me and you I've lived most of my life in Aotearoa — that's 60+ years. And in this country we get earthquakes. They're frequent. Mostly we don't even know …

26 January 2024: Yesterday I sent out a community newsletter that also contained a clearly labelled opinion piece. I received two responses — one a thank you …

25 January 2024: Shaken awake at 0318 by a 5.2 quake. 〰️

24 January 2024: I had only 2 minutes at the lake this afternoon. How lucky to spot a Matuku moana | White-faced heron, Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill, heaps of birds …

23 January 2024: Look who's hanging out on our bathroom window today: this stick insect (about 10 cm long — 4 inches).

23 January 2024: Friends, here's an ebook bundle to sit back and enjoy. I love these books. The Complete Ellie Tappet Box Set Cruise Ship Mystery Bundle by Cheri Baker …

23 January 2024: Five climate lessons from Māori communities (that are guaranteed not to depress you) | The Spinoff: you’ll often hear the phrase “climate change is …

23 January 2024: Hey crossword-loving people, I use Daniel Jalkut's fantastic Black Ink app to do crosswords every single day on my Mac. If you're more an iOS person …

22 January 2024: A somewhat amusing read, poking gentle fun. The Dinner Lady Detectives: A charming British village cosy mystery by Hannah Hendy. 📚 Margery and …

22 January 2024: How an unknown app helped mobilise 10,000 people at Tūrangawaewae | The Spinoff: An efficiently organised pōwhiri saw 10,000 guests through the gates …

21 January 2024: I was told about this kudos for my work with Waikawa News, but now have seen it for myself (PDF). Miraz Xan Tha is my Facebook screen name. Screenshot …

21 January 2024: Back on 01 January 2024 I thought my word for this year would be surprise. Well, with Deb's gallbladder op, our travel delays, and both of us catching …

21 January 2024: Such impressive wings on this critter I found on the washing line this morning.

21 January 2024: Ten memorable quotes from te hui aa motu | The Spinoff [held Saturday 20 January 2024]: Te hui aa motu was a monumental moment in the history of …

20 January 2024: I was hooked from the first with Blood on the Tracks (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 1) by Barbara Nickless. Such a riveting read, and I've immediately …

20 January 2024: Country life: sitting in bed of a rainy Saturday, reading and wondering what the weird noise was. Glanced out the window to see a horse, no saddle or …

19 January 2024: Deb and I managed a slow 25 minute walk on the beach. We encountered 1 angry Pied Stilt who, surprisingly, did not dive-bomb us, and two angry …

19 January 2024: Disappointed to do another Covid test this morning and find I'm still positive. I'm feeling better, though still tired and with very low energy. …

18 January 2024: I read The Nugent Case (Mine for the Taking Book 1) by Torie Raben when I was in a bit of a daze, I think. More spy story than detective. It was OK, …

17 January 2024: With The Arc (DCI Ellie McVey series Book 1) by J.A. Rainbow I realised: I watch without complaint TV shows that are equally vague and 'unrealistic' …

17 January 2024: A very curious thing about those 8 DL Keur books I read. The author was a stickler for using the ® symbol after certain names, like Stetson and …

17 January 2024: I nearly stopped reading Deadly Bond (Kate Kinsella Mysteries Book 5) by Christine Green but returned to it in the end. 📚 I won't read others in the …

16 January 2024: Welcoming nightfall. At our friends place in Whangārei.

16 January 2024: I thoroughly enjoyed the The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries, as I mentioned already. Dead Falls (Book 5); Troubled Pursuit (Book 6); Game Trail (Book …

16 January 2024: I'd read one of the other Daph books so knew what I was in for with this light and fluffy read. Daph On The Beach by Phillipa Nefri Clark was a little …

15 January 2024: I never know which mountain is which, in the central North Island. When we flew home the other day we had this outstanding view of Tongariro / …

15 January 2024: Deb spotted a stoat running past the quail run just before I went to feed Fliss, the Japanese Quail. I think it must have bitten her through the wire. …

14 January 2024: Three features of today in Covid-land: Deb, now somewhat better, is looking after me superbly. While still quite unwell, I've struck the 'better' …

13 January 2024: To all my many Micro.Blog pals who have wished Deb and me well with our current Covid+ status: thank you. Deb is getting better. I'm now in that phase …

13 January 2024: Amazing, my 6th anniversary at Micro.Blog. A wonderful community. Thanks everyone who created it and makes it so. I try to post here at least once …

12 January 2024: Once Deb was positive for Covid, it was inevitable that I would follow. Confirmed today. At least we managed, well-masked, to get home. 🦠 I don't feel …

12 January 2024: I’m over airports. Glad to be nearly home though. 1.25 hour flight then an hour drive. 🤞🏼

11 January 2024: The Jessica Anderson K-9 Mysteries (8 book series) has been so engrossing I've read the first 4 without writing about them 🐶 : A series about … …

11 January 2024: On 11 January 2023 I wrote about my M1 MacBook Pro: 2 years on and battery life is still phenomenal. You know what? Add another 12 months and battery …

10 January 2024: So… given Deb’s positive Covid test, we’re extending our stay with our friends in Whangārei rather than flying home. This trip is full of …

10 January 2024: Today we reverse our trip and fly Whangārei to Auckland then on to Palmerston North, then drive home. Given Deb’s unwell, I’m hoping this …

09 January 2024: Spotted this Ngungutawa | Sand Scarab larva (Pericoptus truncatus) on the beach track the other day.

09 January 2024: The Rolling Ball Clock in Whangārei is pretty special. Poor photo I'm afraid and I only had a moment to watch it work. Balls are released onto a wire …

08 January 2024: Went out to lunch at Aqua Restaurant & Bar, based in the amazing Hundertwasser Centre in Whangārei Basin. The meal was delicious. Imaginatively tiled …

08 January 2024: Our friends have several tanks with tropical fish. This one is called a Discus.

07 January 2024: Here I am with my other new BFF — a black Malinois called Rush. 🐶

07 January 2024: This is my new friend Boo, a German Spitz Mittel, keeping an eye on the world. 🐶 This shot was made with an unusual camera: the front camera on my M1 …

06 January 2024: We made it to Whangārei in the end. Whew. Much earlier in the day we flew past Taranaki maunga.

06 January 2024: We missed that connecting flight to Whangārei by 2 minutes — the doors closed as we walked into the terminal. 7 of us (random strangers) on the …

06 January 2024: Left home at 4.30 am. Drove through fog to the airport. Boarded the plane. Sat for half an hour. Debarked. Had breakfast at the cafe. Hoping to reach …

05 January 2024: Spotted on the beach today, a Taranui | Caspian tern: Although widespread now, Caspian terns remain uncommon in New Zealand, with around 1300-1400 …

05 January 2024: Wellington asks for government funding for new bird 'super sanctuary': The Puketaha fenced eco-sanctuary would be built in Wainuiomata on 3000 …

05 January 2024: Weird: I've used Keyboard Maestro for one or two decades now and it's never occurred to me before to use the Clipboard History Switcher with its …

04 January 2024: Today a baby Oystercatcher walked past really close to me. What a sweetie! 🐦

03 January 2024: With its mottled brown back and head this is definitely a baby Pied Stilt. 🐦

03 January 2024: Caught the baby oystercatchers yesterday dashing about. 🐦 (This should be an animated gif.) For users of Acorn app: Open image, then File - Add Images …

02 January 2024: Sometimes our neighbours would call and point out Oshi was down at their place (he'd escaped). Today their dog Willow decided it was her turn to make …

02 January 2024: Those baby Oystercatchers are growing! 🐦

01 January 2024: Since I have a tradition of posting a selfie on New Year's Day, here's 01 January 2024. See also 2023, 2022 and 2021.

01 January 2024: The Oystercatcher chicks are getting so grown up. Here's one with its parent. 🐦

01 January 2024: Hmmm, my 2024 smart photo album seems to be empty. Better put that right. 🤣

01 January 2024: Surprise 🌈 I read a few Micro.Blog posts where people mentioned their word of the year and thought: Oh, I don't have one this year. Then I saw …

01 January 2024: Good morning and welcome to 2024! I was up at 2.30 am to shut my bedroom window against a blustery southerly that came up and woke me. Not quite the …

31 December 2023: I cooked a variation of Spring vegetable broth with shredded chicken for dinner and it was delicious (and healthy). I used cannellini beans, broccoli …

31 December 2023: Road to Copper Hollow (Mining For Justice Book 1) by Katie Trapp was heavier on relationships than on plot, but as the lead characters were lesbians I …

31 December 2023: I quickly abandoned The Complete Maxie Reddick Mysteries Books 1–3 box set by Helen Bridgett. 🐦 I really didn't like the lead character — she …

31 December 2023: I quite enjoyed reading the 5 books in Charlotte Dean Mysteries eBook Bundle by Phillipa Nefri Clark. 🐦 You'd barely know the books are set in …

31 December 2023: I unsubbed from something and really don't like the message on the confirmation page. Seems hostile to me …

31 December 2023: I don't usually go in for yearly roundup posts but there were a lot of Special Moments in 2023.

31 December 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 did a bunch of stuff on behalf of the community, …

30 December 2023: If you're a human being who does like dogs this will be the best 8.5 minutes of your year: We Rate Dogs: The Dogs of 2023 (Facebook). 🐶

29 December 2023: Françoise Bettencourt Meyer: L'Oréal heiress first woman to amass $100bn fortune: The net worth of Ms Bettencourt Meyers … crossed $100bn on …

29 December 2023: Hah! Apple Photos just gave me a new 2023 Year in Review Memory. More than 95% of the photos are birds! Fantastic. 🐦 This was useful: Export photos, …

29 December 2023: Well well well, for the first time since I bought my M1 MacBook Pro in January 2021 I was able to successfully use Apple Pay to make an online …

28 December 2023: Such a gorgeous summer morning with the dawn chorus, a hazy full moon setting in the west, Venus rising in the east behind pink-tinged cloud. 🐦 Your …

28 December 2023: The Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian Bittern is an extremely rare and endangered bird, but one sometimes turns up in these parts. Last night a large dark …

27 December 2023: Thanks to my many Micro.Blog pals who sent good wishes for my partner Deb's gallbladder surgery. Five days after first rolling up at the Emergency …

27 December 2023: Uh oh. Arrived at Deb's hospital room at 9 am and it seems she's been abducted by aliens. Awaiting the ransom demand!

26 December 2023: After 5 days sitting beside a hospital bed (still no op for Deb) I'm missing the beach and the bird babies. This afternoon I came home early. This …

26 December 2023: It's still dark so this photo is from a week ago. Fliss the Japanese quail turns 5 today. What a survivor. Her sister died a year ago. Fliss is still …

25 December 2023: Oh, OK, Netflix — is there something I can watch? Oooh, Star Trek: Prodigy — at last!

25 December 2023: Seeing a fair bit of this view these days as Deb waits for gallbladder removal surgery. Could be worse.

25 December 2023: Poster in the Womens Surgical Assessment Unit at Palmerston North Hospital. 😀

24 December 2023: A bit of Christmas in the Women’s Assessment Surgical Unit at Palmerston North hospital where Deb is awaiting a gallbladder removal operation.

24 December 2023: Turns out the wee 3 in 1 Foldable Wireless Charging Dock I bought myself a few months ago is invaluable for Deb in hospital. I've just taken advantage …

23 December 2023: Deb's gall bladder removal was supposed to be today: first at 11 am then shunted to 5 pm. After 5 the nurse came in and said it wouldn't be today, but …

23 December 2023: Keeping Deb company as she waits for the op to have her gallbladder removed. This dog poster is good for a smile.

23 December 2023: How cool is this! People using mobile devices with low data but needing info from a load of different Government websites (health, benefits, etc etc) …

22 December 2023: An off-duty ultrasound machine at Palmerston North Hospital. The operator was amazing, looking at what I saw as some kind of blurry moonscape and …

22 December 2023: When we left the house at 07.30 after Deb suffered a night of probably gallbladder pain, I didn't really expect to still be sitting in Palmerston …

21 December 2023: Another Oystercatcher baby! 🐦

20 December 2023: So pleased (and relieved) to see a Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill in the estuary again (at last). I hope more turn up soon. 🐦

20 December 2023: Not very happy with an invoice I received. Back in October we had a charger installed for our new EV. There were glitches and I was advised there …

20 December 2023: I find this just gobsmacking! I don't even know what to say … It's part awe, part disgust. It represents almost $50 per person in Aotearoa! The …

19 December 2023: Needed to renew the firstbite domain name I've had for ~25 years. Renewing several years at a time saves money. I thought about going with 10 years. …

19 December 2023: We had plenty of warning of today's scheduled 90 minute power outage, including Tips such as making a cuppa beforehand. I made a note for myself in my …

19 December 2023: Not my usual bird photo: man and dog line fishing off the beach.

18 December 2023: The 74 page Shadow Of Temptation: A Prequel To Margot Harris Mystery Series by Nora Kane didn't inspire me to go on and read more of the series. It …

18 December 2023: The 96 page Goodbye Elora Inn (A DC Holly Towns Mystery Novella) (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 8) by Anne Shillolo was a quick and easy read. Not a …

17 December 2023: Today's success: 3 oystercatcher chicks and both parents. 🐦

17 December 2023: I may have a link in MarkDown but need it in HTML, or even the Other Markdown that Dokuwiki uses. I now have a couple of Keyboard Maestro macros that …

17 December 2023: Loving the Audio Hijack Transcribe feature: watching a 3 minute instructional video about focus on my Fuji X-T5 and I could keep a written copy of …

17 December 2023: 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 my shoulder at a helicopter buzzing round in the …

16 December 2023: Our new government, so smart! Minister pulls brakes on cycling and walking initatives: Simeon Brown said he told the New Zealand Transport Authority …

16 December 2023: The drizzle stopped. We hardly ever get a Mackerel sky like this.

16 December 2023: Well, that was fun — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget where the chickens had to break in to a chicken farm, rather than out of it. Very …

16 December 2023: Woohoo, it's a cool and drizzly day, so great for staying in and relaxing. I made delicious mushroom soup for lunch. Now I plan to settle down with …

16 December 2023: A couple of days ago this Tara | White-fronted Tern was hanging out with a pal at the beach. 🐦

15 December 2023: I just can't get enough of the tiny Oystercatcher chicks. 'Caught' one today. 🐦

14 December 2023: Two months after requesting signs, finally they were installed today. Now the birds seem to have stopped nesting and are busy rearing their chicks in …

14 December 2023: It's been some time since I last went non-grocery 'shopping'. Between times I manage to forget how much I absolutely hate 'shopping'. 5 minutes in the …

14 December 2023: Sitting at the beach in the sunshine, waiting for the fellow to arrive to put up the Birds Nesting warning signs. Now that most of the birds eggs have …

14 December 2023: These Matuku moana | White-faced heron were down at the lake yesterday. 🐦 This post was originally scheduled, appeared in RSS and on the blog, but …

13 December 2023: Wow, watch the first 90 seconds of the Maiden Speech of NZ's youngest Member of Parliament Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, an amazing wahine Māori. She is …

13 December 2023: Previously I've been using Aperture Priority for my bird photos. Today I tried Shutter Speed priority. This morning I could see only 1 Oystercatcher …

13 December 2023: Another rare book-on-paper purchase this year: the delightful Critters of Aotearoa by Nicola Toki and Lily Duval. 📚 50 Bizarre But Lovable Members of …

13 December 2023: Late evening yesterday and the light was on the highest peaks of the Tararuas, where I could just discern the faintest dusting of snow.

12 December 2023: There is a railing on the deck beside a large area of glass on the east side of our house. It's popular with birds. I feel sometimes like a zoo …

12 December 2023: One of the Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher pairs has managed to produce two chicks. Made my day to see them! 🐦

12 December 2023: It's the time of year when the Spinifex develops spiky seed heads. Soon they will separate from the plant and the wind will blow them to a new place …

11 December 2023: I always enjoy books by Joy Ellis, so on a day where I felt slightly unwell and stayed in bed all day this was an engaging read: The Bag of Secrets …

11 December 2023: The helicopter moved on to spraying the lupins right beside our house.

11 December 2023: Came home from errands to find spraying by helicopter going on just behind us.

10 December 2023: Yesterday was the day to maintain our UV drinking water filtration and sterilisation system. It's an annual job. I replace the lamp and the filters, …

09 December 2023: A month ago I had a blurry photo of two Warou | Welcome swallow eggs in a nest above the zendo door. Today's photos are of two Swallow babies in the …

09 December 2023: I wanted some fun socks. Thanks to Bamboozld I now have some in bamboo: Naturally eco-friendly, antibacterial, breathable and luxuriously soft …

09 December 2023: Abandoned: Body Count (FBI-K9 Series Book 2) by Jodi Burnett. Although it was obvious in the description I failed to notice it's a heterosexual …

09 December 2023: I've been so focused on other birds recently I've ignored the little Weweia | New Zealand dabchick. They're such cuties! 🐦

08 December 2023: There's something about this series that I just love. Maybe it's the very ordinary people: Bea and Ant, checkout operator and trolley guy. The Missing …

07 December 2023: I think this little waxeye on the deck railing (and through the window) might have been a juvenile. 🐦

07 December 2023: Those baby stilts weren't visible today, but I paced out where they were yesterday and it was 65 to 130 metres from my possie. Meanwhile today I …

06 December 2023: Baxter K9 Hero by Jodi Burnett was a freebie for joining the author's mailing list. It's a prequel to a series which is probably why it was a simple …

06 December 2023: I enjoy this series, so Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel (The Accidental Detective Book 5) by Kris Bock was a good read. 📚 when Kate’s hot …

06 December 2023: Hmmm, given: Among the early tasks of the new, three-handled broom of government is giving primacy to English names (What is ‘NZTA’? A user’s guide to …

06 December 2023: Pleased to see this brief video online — Maori MP performs haka before swearing oath to King: New Zealand politician Rawiri Waititi … and …

06 December 2023: In my quest for better photos of Pied Stilt chicks I was at the beach for a windless, cool dawn. Alas, I'm still not up to the task of good photos of …

05 December 2023: Well, we seem to have our first chicks of the season: a couple of tiny Poaka | Pied Stilt. Photos are a bit fuzzy, thanks to the heat haze, I'm …

05 December 2023: Tuned in part way through the Swearing-in Ceremony for our new Parliament. Pleased to hear some swearing their oath in Māori and sometimes another …

05 December 2023: I broke my rule today and am now paying the consequences. Walked Willow the dog to the beach and saw through binoculars two tiny fluffy Pied Stilt …

05 December 2023: Occasionally things about words get my goat, though in general I like to be positive about language change. Who the heck thought up the word …

05 December 2023: As the new government try to wind NZ back on many measures — climate and things Māori in particular — it's good to remind ourselves of the …

05 December 2023: So fantastic to see protests on the opening day of Parliament led by our new racist, colonialist government of National, ACT and NZ First. Protests …

04 December 2023: I emailed the Bird Banding office about this photo and they replied: The details that we hold for this bird: Northern New Zealand Dotterel, …

03 December 2023: We went to brunch at Field and Green in Wellington yesterday with a group of friends, most of whom we've known for decades. I enjoyed a Wilfred's …

02 December 2023: Those Glossy ibis photos I took during the week … These are the images I kept in the end. A sliver of late sunlight helped. 🐦

02 December 2023: It’s 0330 and I’ve drunk the cup of tea I just made. After hours of restless sleep with odd and annoying dreams I’ve given up. …

01 December 2023: Incredibly dumb, wasteful and offensive policy from the new government of Aotearoa — The uncertainty around how much it would cost to rebrand …

01 December 2023: I rarely buy books on paper, but the first couple of pages of Sylvia and the Birds: How The Bird Lady saved thousands of birds and how you can too by …

01 December 2023: Another darn good read — Murder At Arrow Pass (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 2) by Anne Shillolo. 📚 A catastrophic pileup on the treacherous …

01 December 2023: Absolutely fascinating 20 minute interview — Does biology trump free will?: If [testosterone hormones] were higher than average for you this …

30 November 2023: Poaka | Pied Stilt are very aggressive when it comes to defending a nest, and they seem to have a 100 metre radius for action. 🐦 Pied Stilts are …

30 November 2023: Today Golden Turtle oolong tea is perfectly suiting my mood. Very delicious. Definitely smooth and velvety. I only bought a sample pack; now ordering …

30 November 2023: Ecosia search engine now has an AI Chat feature. Gave it a whirl with this search: mac os terminal command disable Game Mode and lookee here: To …

30 November 2023: Game Mode while doing jigsaws was driving me nuts! Then I found Use Game Mode on Mac. From the Game Mode menu in the menu bar, choose Turn Game Mode …

29 November 2023: Tonight the light was better and I got smarter with camera settings so the Glossy ibis photos actually worked out. 🐦 Last night's photos were …

29 November 2023: When I made Crusty French Bread Rolls today I think I should have put the dough in a bigger bowl to rise. 🤣 The finished rolls? Not bad …

29 November 2023: Better photos from last evening were this Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler pair with chicks and Canada Goose with chicks. 🐦 Unfortunately Canada …

29 November 2023: Close to sunset yesterday a neighbour invited me to the wetland on their property where a very rare visitor was feeding: a Glossy ibis. Bit …

29 November 2023: Yesterday's seal that wasn't reminded me of this horse thrashing through a rough sea in June 2016. Also just driftwood, but oh-so-realistic!

28 November 2023: When I rounded the corner on the track to the beach and glimpsed this shape at a distance, I thought it was a seal on the move … But no, it …

28 November 2023: Heyyyy, check out the ring! Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher

27 November 2023: Up in Smoke (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 6) by Charlene Weir just didn't really gel for me — I even skimmed several (rather irrelevant) chapters …

27 November 2023: Waking a sleeping language – our plan to revive the speaking of ta rē Moriori: Moriori's closest linguistic relative is te reo Māori, with many …

26 November 2023: When it's a good summer it gets way too hot in the tunnelhouse. Today we installed shadecloth over the internal framing. The difference was …

26 November 2023: Yesterday, reading some of the things our new right-wing government plan to do, I felt angry. I didn't relish the prospect of feeling angry for the …

26 November 2023: Went to a community get-together yesterday afternoon where I drank 2 small glasses of no-brand lemonade. Came home, ate dinner and basically then …

24 November 2023: Mummies was quite a fun movie. Lightweight, not meaningful. The film follows three mummies from the underworld who … end up in present-day …

24 November 2023: Whew, with NCIS Sydney S01E03 they've finally got over themselves. Instead of cringeworthy "Hey hey hey, we're in Australia where they talk funny and …

24 November 2023: I knew the conservatives with their awful ideas won the recent election, so why did I torture myself reading details of their awfulness now the 3 …

24 November 2023: Too many photos! 🤣 I tried Pre-shot ES on the X-T5. 📷 This adds photos to a buffer if the shutter is pressed halfway then stores them on taking the …

23 November 2023: This sparrow sized bird didn't look quite right to be a Banded Dotterel. On checking I found they were actually Black-fronted dotterel. See more …

23 November 2023: I was concerned 2 years ago when I bought my M1 MacBook Pro that 8GB RAM wouldn't be enough. It's been no problem at all, until today, importing 511 …

23 November 2023: Every single thing about this 9 minute video is astonishing — J.S. Bach : Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 / Liene Andreta Kalnciema live at …

23 November 2023: A long read, worth every second — Goodbye, Kim Hill: a day with the doyenne of NZ radio: Unlike most, she asks questions to which she does not …

23 November 2023: First BEV fail: for some reason the car didn't charge overnight, leaving not enough juice for Deb to drive to Wellington and back for work. A long …

23 November 2023: I've been wanting to grab a photo of a Pahirini | Chaffinch for a while now. Finally one flew in while I was waving my camera around learning about …

22 November 2023: I've enjoyed previous books in this series by Alice Bienia, and this was another engrossing read: Knight In The Museum (A Jorja Knight Private …

22 November 2023: Yumm. Just like the last time I made them (a year ago, thanks On This Day): Lemon Butter Biscuits. So delish!

22 November 2023: Oliver's input into the competiton ruffled a few feathers, but saw donations to organiser Forest and Bird soar. Boosted by the publicity, the …

22 November 2023: Surprise! … 😼 A new review of archaeological evidence and human physiology strongly suggests that modern gender roles have colored our …

21 November 2023: I set a couple (literally) of settings on the new X-T5 and went out to experiment. Focus was set for bird recognition. I'm thrilled with these shots. …

21 November 2023: Today: ring shop to check my trip won't be wasted. Drive from home to Waikanae (30 mins), train to Wellington (1 hour), walk to shop (25 mins). …

21 November 2023: Whew. The 12 year olds have left the train. The sound level has dropped from maybe 100 decibels to close to zero! Great kids though. Chatty but well …

21 November 2023: The train I’m on is chock full of schoolkids who raised funds for this trip to the swimming pools in Porirua. The teacher is requiring kids to stand …

21 November 2023: I love language(s), words, pronunciations, so this 27 minute video Out of date dictionaries–with native speakers from UK/USA/Australia! was utterly …

20 November 2023: Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole is a delicious dish. I've made it twice now — the second time with a bit less salt. I use Smoked Paprika for …

20 November 2023: If any of my Wellington / Kāpiti / Horowhenua pals need a good Massage​ Therapist, then Natalie Waddell from Functional Bodyworks in Paraparaumu just …

20 November 2023: Where do recipe writers get their Prep times from? I reckon they must roll the dice. 10 minutes, pah! More like 40!

20 November 2023: Good words today from 12 graphs that show New Zealand isn’t doing as badly as you think | The Spinoff: There are many reasons not to be cheerful, …

19 November 2023: I made a loaf of Classic white crusty bread today. It was OK but not fantastic — the dried yeast was a bit old and it's so hard to find a warm …

19 November 2023: The way you are when you're very old you're all ages at the same time. Sometimes you might feel 5 years old. You almost never feel 95 years old. Most …

19 November 2023: Turned on the radio for a minute only to think "I know that voice!" It was my good friend Rachel: Rachel McAlpine: Is life worth living after 90? | …

19 November 2023: There's no wind, so it's a calm day and not cold. I'm enjoying listening to actual rain on the roof. And the birds chirping, of course. We badly need …

18 November 2023: We went out to dinner tonight for a change — to Hell Pizza. Yum.

18 November 2023: It's been a two nap kind of day, with a third possible too … 🥱🥱

17 November 2023: Ahhh: The Hidden Secrets of the Fn Key - TidBITS: Fn-E: Open the emoji picker

17 November 2023: I was surprised to realise I bought my Fujifilm X-T2 camera 5 years ago. I wanted to learn to take better photos. I believe I've achieved that, …

16 November 2023: This book was distinctly odd. Maybe it's a 'thing' I don't know about, a genre I don't usually read … I just don't know. I probably won't read …

16 November 2023: An unusual but very pleasing part of today was the affirmation I received that at least one person finds my contributions (of thoughts and ideas) in a …

15 November 2023: I looked for somewhere to go for a walk and decided on Horseshoe Bend Reserve at Tokomaru, about 45 minutes drive away. A pleasant little spot for a …

14 November 2023: See all those low bushes covered in yellow flowers? They're lupins and I'm highly allergic to them. November can be miserable for me as the pollen …

14 November 2023: Like @ptrck I too am very happy to see that The Brain Scoop is back. One of my favourite sciency video creators.

13 November 2023: Kansas in winter sounds brutal. I have no understanding of how anyone survives. A Cold Christmas (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 5) by Charlene Weir has …

13 November 2023: I'd missed reading this first in a series, so remedied that. The Winter Widow (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Charlene Weir explains the back story …

13 November 2023: I started Blood Orchids (Paradise Crime Mysteries, Book 1) by Toby Neal but found the interpolated inner joys of a sadist disturbing. Then I realised …

13 November 2023: When I feed my friend's chooks there's an extra scoop for the doves. 😆 🐦

12 November 2023: Haven't had one of these birds visit our garden before. I assume someone's pet canary found its freedom … 🐦

11 November 2023: It was one of those gorgeous sunsets at the beach: still, calm sea, clear sky.

11 November 2023: The chooks were singing themselves to sleep when I went to tuck them in at sunset. 🐦 Your browser does not support the audio tag.

11 November 2023: Harrisons Garden Centre is a great place for brunch on a sunny day.

11 November 2023: With that look I was glad to be on the other side of the wire today. 🐦

11 November 2023: Why has it taken so much of my life to realise that if my hands are cold I can zap a wheat pack for 60 seconds in the microwave then warm them in a …

10 November 2023: Good morning! 🐦

09 November 2023: Before and after: I cut down a couple of lupin bushes that were intruding on one of the tracks to the beach. It was a gorgeous day for it.

09 November 2023: When my little buddy Willow came to visit today I think she just wanted a quiet time. She did enjoy the beach walk but otherwise just rested and …

08 November 2023: This broken blue egg I found on the ground may have belonged to a song thrush perhaps? 🐦

07 November 2023: Today Reggie gave me 13,000 litres of pure fresh water in exchange for $368. Where the water level in the tank was previously 162 cm from the top, …

07 November 2023: This morning I emptied our 65 litres of 'emergency' water onto plants that need it. In a few hours we'll be filling our tank with 14,000 litres of …

06 November 2023: I don't watch sports, in real life or on telly, so was surprised to really enjoy Nyad 🎥: Nyad is a biography of Diana Nyad, played by Annette Bening. …

06 November 2023: New Zealand’s low-emission vehicle revolution is here | The Spinoff: In July 2023, a whopping 55% of New Zealand new vehicle registrations were low …

06 November 2023: The centre console on our MG 4 Essence 64 does this magic thing when in Reverse or just starting off. The centre console display shows an overhead …

06 November 2023: My neighbour Jan Jordan launched her memoir last night at the Ōtaki bookshop. Snorkelling the Abyss: One woman, striving to survive, fighting for …

06 November 2023: This blurry photo was the best I could do: two Warou | Welcome swallow eggs in a nest above the door of Deb's zendo. 🐦 There was simply no space to …

05 November 2023: It's not often you get to meet a Borzoi! 🐶

05 November 2023: Kawau | Pied Shag flies off. 🐦

05 November 2023: Two Karoro | Black-backed gull. 🐦

05 November 2023: The Poaka | Pied Stilt are so delicate and fragile looking. 🐦

04 November 2023: I just love these birds — they're so cute. Weweia | New Zealand dabchick. 🐦

04 November 2023: I finished reading Murder: Take Two (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 4) by Charlene Weir. 📚 It was a pleasant enough read which made us familiar with the …

03 November 2023: The app for charging our new EV after an ~170 Km return trip to Wellington shows last night's charge required ~2 Kg of CO2 emissions. I found various …

02 November 2023: Excellent! — Auckland Airport a sanctuary for engandered dotterel | RNZ News: Auckland Airport wildlife manager Lucy Hawley said the airport was …

02 November 2023: Not my most favourite thing, to come home and find a controlled burn-off going on only a few hundred metres away. Luckily the wind is blowing towards …

02 November 2023: At the lake today: duck and 6 ducklings! 😍 🐦

02 November 2023: We're starting to learn the fuel savings with our new MG 4 Essence 64 BEV. The commute previously would cost ~$150 per week in petrol. The 3 charges …

02 November 2023: 5.30 am. The sleepy eye of dawn starts to open. The birds sing it into being. 🐦 Listen to the birds

01 November 2023: I did better with the Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher, one of whom I see has been banded. 🐦

01 November 2023: At the beach I spotted a couple of Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel. Between lifting my fitover sunnies and getting my camera out I lost them in the …

31 October 2023: Just for kicks I drove up to the Lookout on Mt Victoria in Wellington. It reminded me of the absolute terror of driving that road — I used to …

31 October 2023: Wellington and Harbour from Mt Vic Lookout. Wellington city and hills. Wellington Harbour and hills, with departing cruise ship.

31 October 2023: In Wellington which is so loud and where parking breaks the bank. My annual eye test was fine, though my left eye has more floaters and the small …

30 October 2023: Today's delight: two tiny ducklings on the lake. I believe these are native Tētē-moroiti | Grey teal 🐦 : Length: 42 - 44 cm; Weight: 505 g (male); …

29 October 2023: In 2005 they blew up and sank an old Navy ship off the south coast of Wellington to form an artificial reef. The ship was towed into place. Fireworks …

29 October 2023: Throwback to January 2005: cats in our Wellington garden. 🐈 My boy Ares. Olive sits in the grasses.

29 October 2023: We’re Searching for Our Bird of the Century 🐦: Aotearoa New Zealand’s favourite election is back, and the stakes are higher than ever before. This …

29 October 2023: We finished watching Sex Education (TV series) and I was relieved that all the story lines were resolved without any really dark outcomes. 📺 What an …

29 October 2023: In my dream I was leaving a part of Waikawa Beach that had nightclubs, shops, restaurants, thinking: How weird I've lived here nearly 8 years and …

28 October 2023: This 13 minute video: I have APHANTASIA (and you may too...without realising it!), linked by Jason Kottke: Does Your Brain Picture Things? is …

27 October 2023: Seven hours from start to finish, with 3 workers being diligent, we now have our new EV charger.

27 October 2023: I like to take relatively detailed photos of significant work around our place. Fortunately several photos have been helpful for the Evnex charger …

27 October 2023: One of the things we've learned as home owners is that the project (whatever it might be) will always encounter glitches and will always cost more …

26 October 2023: This Tōrea pango | Variable Oystercatcher pair have found their spot in the driftwood, ready for nesting. 🐦 A pair was in a similar location last year …

25 October 2023: Manu pango | Eurasian blackbird on flax. 🐦

25 October 2023: We plugged the EV in to trickle charge. After 12 hours it had gone from 29% charge to 54%. That's roughly 2% per hour. Today I drove to Levin and …

25 October 2023: If you've never benefited from Take Control books it's time to start. Buy a book now! It'll be $5 very well spent indeed. Take Control Books – Expert …

25 October 2023: Spin-off effects … we bought a new EV so that meant getting a charger installed (this week, I hope). The EV allows us to change our electricity …

24 October 2023: I couldn't imagine using my Mac without Keyboard Maestro, so this is excellent news. I see that KM tells me my Time Saved: 12 days! Stairways …

24 October 2023: Range anxiety with the new EV — having cleaned up* the corner of the garage where the charger will go, will the 5 metre cable reach? * Cleaned …

24 October 2023: Ugh, our garage has been a shambles since it was built. I need to clear out at least one corner of it for the people who'll install our Evnex charger …

24 October 2023: Whew, I suppose it's only right that it takes me many hours over several days to write my monthly Waikawa Beach Newsletter. I guess the longer it …

23 October 2023: One of my questions about the app for our new car has been answered: one person can create an account and bind to the car. The app gives them access …

23 October 2023: This was a good enough read, though a bit slow and very rainy. A Prescription for Murder (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by Charlene Weir. 📚 I think I …

23 October 2023: Darn it. Up at 2 am — perfect time to see the Orionid meteor shower — but of course it’s cloudy. 😒

22 October 2023: Baby dune among spinifex, with squiggle patterns and bird tracks.

22 October 2023: The river mouth was busy with whitebaiters this morning.

22 October 2023: So handsome! 🐦 Male pheasant in splendid colours, in grass near a tree trunk.

21 October 2023: My little buddy Willow is very good at entertaining herself with a ball and her bed. 🐶

21 October 2023: 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 Essence 64. That led me to doing a lot of research and …

21 October 2023: I'm working my way through the superb video series: MG4 Tutorial - Owner's Manual, User Guide, Complete Feature Walkthrough, Every Function Explained …

20 October 2023: I was so glad I tried my first ever use of a public charger at 7 am after dropping friends at the train station. Had no idea what to do! Had to move …

19 October 2023: 3 new apps: now we have a brand new MG 4 Essence 64 EV I so far have apps and accounts for: the car itself, the EvNex home charger (not yet …

19 October 2023: At 5 am, before turning lights on to make a cuppa, I stepped outside for a few minutes. Jupiter, who had greeted me through my bedroom window, was …

18 October 2023: It beats me that 10 people will spend a collective 15+ hours digging a ditch to move water away from the vehicle entrance so they can get their …

18 October 2023: Folks interested in Waikawa Beach and its birds … take a look at this morning's Waikawa News blog post: Wrybills vs Dotterels. 🐦 Wrybills and …

17 October 2023: Respect to Maya Sharma and the others — Same-sex marriage: The lesbian activist seeking equal rights in India - BBC News 💪🏻 : Ms Sharma doesn't …

17 October 2023: Gulp. Handed over a chunk of our retirement savings today for the EV I collect tomorrow. It'll reduce our annual CO2 emissions and we'll be saving a …

16 October 2023: I love The Spinoff — they almost always make me laugh. The Greens won three electorates and what may become their highest ever vote share by …

15 October 2023: As expected for our 2023 Election, the country swung to the right so we'll have a National-led Government supported by Act. Te Pāti Māori took a few …

14 October 2023: Election Day is the one day every 3 years when no local politics are aired in media. So blissfully peaceful. In about 10 minutes though the polls …

14 October 2023: The best coverage of today’s election in NZ: Election 2023: Dogs at polling booths | The Spinoff 😆 🐶

14 October 2023: Your payment is pending confirmation wasn't an advice I expected to see … for a free book. 🤣

13 October 2023: I watched all 8 episodes of Sweet Kaaram Coffee and it was a delight. 📺 Three generations of women from one family take a road trip, so, of course, …

13 October 2023: As I walked to the beach yesterday I became aware of a beautiful scent in the air. I soon spotted the reason: it's spring and some of the Tī Kōuka | …

12 October 2023: I read 3 chapters of Dead Before Dinner (A Maddie Swallows Mystery Book 1) by Kat Bellemore then stopped and read a few other books. I did eventually …

12 October 2023: I don’t know why I never thought to do this before … Today I took several photos with my iPhone, exported the GPS data and then made a map to …

11 October 2023: Bad news: Climate outlook for Aotearoa predicts rivers in the sky, heatwaves in the sea: NZ's average air temperature has risen 1.26C since 1909, and …

11 October 2023: For 2 years some folks upset by their inability to get their motor vehicles onto the beach 24/7/365 because nature sometimes cuts off access have been …

11 October 2023: It was almost dark last night when we went to check on something in the zendo. The entrance was being guarded by this little Warou | Welcome swallow. …

10 October 2023: Kiwis (and others) buying an electric car. I found these sites very helpful: EV Beginner’s Guide Compare all electric cars available in NZ WLTP …

10 October 2023: This is a super busy week with a lot of things going on — new car will need a charger, bank stuff, insurance stuff. Meanwhile a gigantic local issue …

09 October 2023: In Aotearoa at the moment petrol's getting really expensive. With an election in a few days the government is likely to do quite a right turn and …

09 October 2023: Today we signed the papers for a new MG4 Essence 64 to be collected next week. This was the first we drove and liked it so much we didn't bother with …

09 October 2023: This 13 minute video is superb: Berkeley professor explains gender theory (includes transcript, but the video is worth watching for the imagery). What …

08 October 2023: The maunga peeked out from behind cloud as we came back across the footbridge.

08 October 2023: Today’s plan includes looking at and walking across Te Rewa Rewa bridge on the Coastal Pathway in New Plymouth, the Len Lye exhibition at the …

08 October 2023: Last night’s Chicken, cashews and veges in a potato basket dish from Siam Thai in New Plymouth was piping hot and delicious.

07 October 2023: In the Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth: Giant White Shark. Impressive.

06 October 2023: 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 for its detailed description of my bout of Whooping …

06 October 2023: The tides the last few days left behind this wonderful houndstooth pattern in the sand. I boosted the contrast.

06 October 2023: I quite enjoyed Amazon.com: A Lesson in Murder (Kansas Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by Charlene Weir. 📚 I didn't figure out the guilty party, but the clues …

06 October 2023: No jab for me today. The nurse concluded I'd had the Whooping Cough booster last time I had a jab for something else, although my records weren't …

06 October 2023: About to get my free Boostrix shot: Boostrix vaccine boosts immunity against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. It was undiagnosed but I …

05 October 2023: For heaven's sake! I wasn't sure if the book I was thinking of buying was NZ$2.49 or US$2.49 (NZ$4.21) but at that price it doesn't matter. On …

04 October 2023: Got a bit caught up this morning playing with Artimator - Free AI Artwork Generator. Didn't exactly give me what I wanted after several tries, but I …

04 October 2023: The biggest problem with the recipe for Mini Gingerbread Loaf for Two is that the loaf is so quickly used up. Yesterday I got smart and doubled up. …

03 October 2023: Yay, Candice Renoir S07 is back on Acorn. I love this show. 📺

03 October 2023: I naively thought those huge optical telescopes pointed a big mirror at the sky and then took photos. I guess they do, but it's everything between …

03 October 2023: The abundance of satellites is causing the overall brightness of the sky to increase all around the globe. Some researchers have estimated that, on …

03 October 2023: 4 am and it’s cuppa tea time. We’ve both given up sleeping as gales roar around and shake the house. 💨💨

02 October 2023: We still have gales, very high tides and swells. This gull was having a hard time flying when I visited the track where vehicles enter the beach. In …

02 October 2023: Voting in our national elections opened today. I took my voter card (not required but helpful) and visited a church in Ōtaki set up for advance …

01 October 2023: A big high tide and a cold wind today at the river mouth. Here was a bit of a surge coming in, though smaller than the previous one a few minutes …

30 September 2023: Changing Gears by L A Wright held my interest. 📚 When Jen embarks on a scenic cycling tour in France, she never expects to have her life upended by …

30 September 2023: Southerly gales in the last few days brought a good layer of snow to the Tararua peaks.

30 September 2023: I really liked the patterns the tide left around this piece of driftwood.

29 September 2023: In spite of chilly weather, a cold wind, a high tide and a big swell the folks fishing for whitebait today were undaunted.

28 September 2023: Thanks to spring I'm starting to see a few chaffinches around. Not the best shot, but there's time yet …

28 September 2023: I was fairly interested in buying a S9 Apple Watch, but fell at the last hurdle — I don't care for the colours. I want one the same gorgeous …

27 September 2023: I loved this excellent book by an author whose previous books I've also really enjoyed. A Calculated Risk by Cari Hunter kept me reading. 📚 Jo has to …

27 September 2023: Woohoo: macOS Sonoma 14.0.

26 September 2023: Male pheasants are colourful and bold. The females stay more hidden. Last night though one all but knocked on our front door. Today she was poking …

25 September 2023: The Cleaner, the Cat and the Space Station (The Shantivira Book 1) by Fay Abernethy sounded interesting. The story was spoiled by the huge amount of …

25 September 2023: The sea this morning was pretty calm and a rare milky metallic blue as though it was from a glacial stream.

24 September 2023: Today I made Mushroom & Broccoli Pasta. It was quick, easy and tasty. Forgot to take a photo until I'd already eaten some.

24 September 2023: Turns out with WatchOS 10 I keep needing this: Apple Watch User Guide

24 September 2023: Since the update to WatchOS 10 my S7 watch is only charged to 80% when I put it on in the morning. I finally found where to turn off Optimised …

23 September 2023: I'm not actually doing the September Photoblogging challenge but decided to send in this photo for Date in the Life. Today is dreary, but I noticed …

22 September 2023: I actually took this photo about a week ago but forgot to post it. This is the river mouth winding across the beach shortly after sunset but before …

21 September 2023: With spring the birds are starting to show up again. Down at the lakes I spotted a black swan pair with half-grown cygnet, Pāpango | New Zealand …

21 September 2023: Ring necked doves. Photo from today, but these Barbary Doves are so tame they just hang around. Yesterday when I drove down the lane I had to stop …

21 September 2023: On one hand fantasy and romance … not my things really. On the other time travel and lesbians, and lots of interesting women. I read and pretty …

20 September 2023: Went out to lunch for a friend's 69th birthday. Eleven of us there. A couple in their early 60s and the rest older. The oldest 86. I was the only one …

20 September 2023: Little Fliss the Japanese Quail hatched on 26 December 2018. Yesterday she laid the first egg for this season. 4.5 years old and going strong! Also …

19 September 2023: I feared 'our' pair of black swans had disappeared from the small lake Puna o te Ora at the end of the road, but this morning I spotted them with a …

19 September 2023: I was lucky enough to beta read Outlaw Justice, The First Guardian, Book 1 by Cheri Baker 📚: Mars hasn't had a murder in 70 years. Until today. I …

19 September 2023: Now that iOS and iPad OS 17 are out, my first stop after updating is at Take Control Books to grab Take Control of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.

18 September 2023: Is it within 364 days of Christmas? Why yes, yes it is. Must be time to display the Christmas chocolates then … Christmas chocolate display at …

18 September 2023: Awake at 3 am thanks to gusty gales shaking the house and rattling mysterious things outside. 💨

17 September 2023: I really enjoyed watching Nimona 🎥 In a medieval-futuristic kingdom, the citizens are protected by the Institute for Elite Knights, established by …

17 September 2023: On this day in 2015 we visited Batalha in Portugal, with its amazing Monastery. Constructed in fulfilment of a vow by King João to commemorate the …

16 September 2023: The first part of A Fine and Bitter Snow (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 12) by Dana Stabenow seemed to involve a lot of recaps of things we knew …

16 September 2023: It's cold (7C outside) and grey this morning so for a bit of cheer here's a photo I took of Lake Waimarie — only a few hundred metres from our …

15 September 2023: Around Equinox and Solstice I run a casual naked eye star watching event called Starry Time for the local community. For tonight's session I created a …

15 September 2023: One of the great things about taking my friend to the ophthalmologist in Palmerston North was that she then shouted me lunch at my favourite eatery, …

15 September 2023: My friend unexpectedly needed me to drive her to Palmerston North hospital today for an urgent and painful eye problem. Hospitals are so big and …

14 September 2023: A very handy tip for those who don't want to be blinded by a page of notes while looking at stars: iPad / Phone full red mode: put your ipad or iphone …

13 September 2023: This is a good book. The concepts about crime and treatment and punishment are interesting, but I can't cope with the ghastliness of it all and am …

13 September 2023: That classic looking over the shoulder pose. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher (Through a window.) 🐦

12 September 2023: I more or less binged all 16 episodes of Extraordinary Attorney Woo1. It's an absolute gem. After episode 1 I listened to the original soundtrack and …

11 September 2023: Dana Stabenow's The Singing of the Dead (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 11) was split between a crime on the campaign trail of a state senator and a …

11 September 2023: At 5 am I was making a cup of tea and looking at the starry sky when I noticed a weird small column of orange light among neighbouring houses on the …

10 September 2023: Biked along the new shared path from Otaki to the cafe at Pekapeka (10 km). All gravel so a bit nervewracking. The cafe’s the best bit. Not in my top …

10 September 2023: Out at 0520 and the sky was clear, the magpies warbling. Crux Australis was low in the southeast. Then the SkyTrain glided past — beautiful, yet so …

09 September 2023: Serendipity. 30 minutes to sunset I took a burst of 3 shots of a small plane flying past. But wait, is that a gull or something nearby? Look at this …

08 September 2023: I hope this morning's D'oh moment will fill my quota for the next few years: Oh no! All my photos are blurry! Checks lens, filter etc. Aargh! I may …

07 September 2023: Me at the beach: this glare is terrible. I wonder if it's possible to get sunglasses that go over my prescription specs? After a search: TIL there's a …

07 September 2023: The Spinoff once again demonstrates brilliance! 🤣 Plucky Foodstuffs takes bold stand against children on bikes: The new route would allow thousands of …

06 September 2023: I really enjoyed the first episode of the Korean TV show Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Fortunately I could listen in English, rather than reading …

05 September 2023: I liked Blood and Money (McBride & Tanner Book 1) by Rachel McLean pretty well. It seemed fairly straightforward. Apparently the author has written a …

05 September 2023: It was 2 minutes after sunrise when I arrived on the beach and spotted this end of a rainbow.

04 September 2023: Wow! Rarely Glimpsed Shark That Lives For Centuries Unexpectedly Surfaces in Caribbean: Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, …

04 September 2023: Looked out this morning to see three cows in the neighbour's property. They were supposed to be where the white one is, on the other side of the fence …

03 September 2023: Hard to believe it's 8 years since we visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco. Fátima was so memorable — a pilgrimage destination with narrow streets, …

03 September 2023: Even though it's only 10 weeks since I first read the Dana Stabenow book Midnight Come Again (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 10) I had not fully …

03 September 2023: First time I've seen the word overtourism. A very useful concept indeed. tourism agencies have spoken out against the proposed … airport at …

03 September 2023: Crepuscular rays, this morning at 15 minutes before sunrise.

02 September 2023: It's Warou | Welcome swallow time of year. We have to be careful about leaving the garage door open or they start building nests of mud in there. 🐦 …

02 September 2023: Kāhu | Hawk in flight. 🐦

02 September 2023: I have a folder of .mp3 files and want to be able to just play a random track. I spent ages finding out how to make an AppleScript to count files in a …

02 September 2023: 'Library rooficer': Dog captures hearts of many library goers 🐶: at Northcote Library, there is a dog who has captured the hearts of many. … …

01 September 2023: These days I watch the tide charts. There's a dramatic difference at Waikawa Beach between mid-lunar month (low variation) and full (super) moon (high …

31 August 2023: Willow didn't really want to do a selfie with me today. 🐶 😒

31 August 2023: (No spoilers) The NYT crossword for 30 August 2023 was a particular delight — all the Across clues tell a story.

30 August 2023: This beauty used to graze near us, now she’s further away and we don’t see her so often. 🐴

29 August 2023: The sunrise this morning was OK down by the Strathnaver lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora (Tranquil Waters and The Wellspring of Good Health).

29 August 2023: I've been watching the NZ TV show Far North based on true events of drug smuggling. If this were a fiction it'd never get to screen as it's just too …

29 August 2023: In re-reading Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak novels I delayed Hunter's Moon (Kate Shugak Novels Book 9) because I knew it had a couple of momentous plot …

28 August 2023: Yesterday and today I planted 3 Tītoki trees and 3 Manuka. I'm hoping that the tītoki will, in time, attract the kererū who seem to have moved into …

27 August 2023: Is it spring yet?: New Zealand [has] a 2 month summer and a 2 month winter… the other 8 months are a long drawn out spring and autumn … at least from …

27 August 2023: Abandoned at 35% — with its omniscient narrator and sordid sex-based crimes there was far too much time spent within very nasty events. Dark …

26 August 2023: This series by Lynne McEwan has caught hold of me. In The Girls in the Glen (Detective Shona Oliver Book 3) I had my suspicions about the ultimate bad …

25 August 2023: Heh heh. Housebroken S01E08 at approx 7 minutes in. The Hamster(?) is reading a magazine article: It says you died. What?! I live in a third Grade …

25 August 2023: For my own reference 🚴🏼‍♀️ : Kāpiti Coast Trails Map Kāpiti Coast Cycling Map

24 August 2023: The second book was as gripping as the first — Dead Man Deep (Detective Shona Oliver Book 2) by Lynne McEwan. 📚 Interesting fact about …

24 August 2023: In August 2022 I spotted a Kererū at Waikawa Beach for the first time. This year there are two! I only managed a photo of one. 🐦

23 August 2023: There are still very few birds around on the beach: a white-faced heron, some black-backed gulls, a pied stilt or two and a handful of oystercatchers. …

23 August 2023: Haven't been for a dawn beach walk for a while, so that's this morning's first planned item. I wonder if a few more birds may be around?

22 August 2023: I'm also really enjoying HouseBroken, an American adult animated sitcom, where a poodle runs therapy sessions: from the perspective of the animals, …

22 August 2023: I'm enjoying watching Season 1 of the Australian crime drama Mystery Road. Detective Jay Swan [is] assigned to investigate the mysterious …

21 August 2023: A compelling read — I stayed up late for this one. In Dark Water (Detective Shona Oliver Book 1) by Lynne McEwan. Now to buy the next in series. 📚 The …

20 August 2023: Our Kāhu | Hawk keeps thwarting my attempts to take a good photo. Yesterday that included flying off just as I was waiting for it to turn around to …

20 August 2023: One of the great features of the NetNewsWire RSS reader is you can use your own stylesheet for how to display articles. I recently realised that when …

19 August 2023: Hmm, I thought, as I looked down from the lounge window. That bull looks bigger than usual. … And shouldn't he be behind the flax? Yes, yes, …

19 August 2023: This was a complicated book, and I still haven't figured out what to say about it — Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann. 📚 It was a tangled book of …

18 August 2023: A few months ago I set the Desktop Picture on my MacBook Pro to pull from my Favourites in Photos and then to change the picture randomly every 5 …

17 August 2023: It's a special day today as my good friend Willow has come to visit for a while. 🐶 If the rain holds off we'll head to the beach.

16 August 2023: Depending on rain, wind and tides, the river sometimes carves deep into the sand at the mouth. Then chunks are rather splendidly and randomly carved …

15 August 2023: I was slow to get into this book, but then I was hooked and reading solidly: Death by the Riverside (Micky Knight Mysteries Book 1) by J.M. Redmann. 📚 …

15 August 2023: When we went to Samoa I totally wanted to avoid any Roaming fees so turned off all kinds of stuff on my Phone. I regret it now, when somehow iMessages …

15 August 2023: Ohhhh, I just caught up with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E09 — the musical episode. I loved it! Just brilliant! 🖖🏼

14 August 2023: People round here go to some lengths to get their vehicles onto the beach (legally a 'road'). The river loops back on itself just now so there's …

14 August 2023: Another good read: Killing Grounds (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 8) by Dana Stabenow. The 4th of July hijinks were fun too. 📚 Cal Meany is a …

14 August 2023: Erratum: that seal photo I posted yesterday — apparently it wasn't a Kekeno | New Zealand fur seal: It appears it was a Subantarctic Fur Seal, …

13 August 2023: It's the season (August to October) when some of the driftwood on the beach turns out on closer inspection to in fact be a Kekeno | New Zealand fur …

12 August 2023: One of the things I loved about our Traditional Garden View Villa at Sinalei Resort was the almost or fully outdoor bathroom. Here was the shower. 🇼🇸 …

12 August 2023: On the plane to Samoa one of the bathrooms was painted to resemble shelves full of books. Titles included: The Importance of Aiming Origami Guide for …

12 August 2023: And, 12 hours after leaving the resort in Samoa, at a pleasant 28C, we’re finally home where it’s 0C. 🥶🇼🇸

11 August 2023: On the AIRNZ flight it took forever to get a cup of hot water I could put my green teabag in. Eventually it arrived. For a second cup I just had them …

11 August 2023: Samoa’s airport scanners must be on the older side. Had to remove shoes, and even my watch. Meanwhile the plane is delayed 45 minutes, so now we …

11 August 2023: Today we leave Sinalei Resort in Samoa and make our way home. That involves about 5.5 hours in the air, a couple of hours driving, and of course lots …

10 August 2023: Just had the best lunch ever at a surprising cafe in Apia called Rivaiv. It was like a Wellington cafe. Utterly delicious Teriyaki bowl with chicken. …

10 August 2023: There are worse places to sit and read. 🇼🇸

09 August 2023: That earthquake I felt this morning was listed at M 5.9 - Tonga. It was some distance away and moderately deep, so for me, sitting in bed, it was just …

09 August 2023: Pretty happy with this handheld shot on my iPhone of the Milky Way just by the tail of Scorpius. 🇼🇸 Stellarium screenshot.

09 August 2023: This 10 minute video will interest many I think: This town banned cars (except tiny electric ones): Zermatt, in Switzerland, bans all private cars and …

09 August 2023: It seems there's a Fish Reserve by the Piula Theological College in Samoa. There are quite a few rules about ways not to fish. I liked number 2: No …

09 August 2023: Cows, owned by families in villages, roam around the nearby countryside in Samoa. I don't think either this cow, or the Myna Birds would find anything …

09 August 2023: On Monday we went for a drive around the island of Upolo in Samoa. I've been welcomed to websites before now, hotels, houses, conferences… but never a …

09 August 2023: I see Joy Ellis as an author I enjoy but this book just didn't sit right with me. In The River's Edge (Jackman & Evans Book 10) we sometimes see …

09 August 2023: So far today major events haven’t included photos. Very small earthquake this morning. I spotted a Humpback whale playing offshore. Then I saw a …

08 August 2023: Apparently the Sopoaga Falls are about 54 metres. They’re on private land, and the owners have set up a lovely garden (with named plants) on the …

08 August 2023: Nice moves, pigeon! 🇼🇸

08 August 2023: A joke I heard today: Q: What do you call a pair of crows? A: Attempted murder. 🤣

08 August 2023: Here we have the dining fale at Sinalei Resort, the desk at reception and looking up into the ceiling at reception. Very distinctive Samoan …

07 August 2023: Between glasses with an old prescription, the snorkel mask, the water, and not really being able to see the screen on my Sony TG-80 camera I was sure …

07 August 2023: At Amanaki Bar and Restaurant in Apia, Samoa for lunch. I’ve ordered lemon cheesecake. The harbour is just across the road. 🇼🇸

06 August 2023: Coconut palms (without coconuts). 🇼🇸

06 August 2023: There are quite a few Red-vented Bulbul around the resort. They behave like sparrows, popping into the dining fale to check for crumbs. 🐦 🇼🇸

06 August 2023: Oi! I did not give you permission to take my photo! Pacific Black Skink at Sinalei Resort, Samoa. 🇼🇸

06 August 2023: It was a bit of a pain to haul my camera and large heavy lens along, but I'm so glad I did. I believe this is a Pacific Black Skink. I've seen quite a …

05 August 2023: Not entirely happy with A Death at Seascape House (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 1) by Emma Jameson. Such a lot of miserable people and a couple of …

05 August 2023: These birds seem common around the resort. I believe this is a Miti Tai | Polynesian Triller. 🐦 🇼🇸 A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a …

05 August 2023: The pool is great for cooling off of course. Behind is the distinctive roof of a traditional style fale — in this case it’s the bar. 🇼🇸

05 August 2023: The resort has a friendly little dog called Princess who has recently had pups. She’s a pro at declaring herself starving. 🤣 🇼🇸

05 August 2023: This little yellow lizard was hanging around the dining fale last night. 🇼🇸

05 August 2023: This little Ve'a | Buff-banded Rail potters around on the grass at our Resort. It seems like a smaller version of a NZ Weka. 🐦 The gardens here are …

04 August 2023: Sinalei Resort in Samoa. Bit different from Waikawa Beach eh! Also, about 25C. 🇼🇸

03 August 2023: This is Bellabot which brings plates of food to the tables at the Sudima Hotel in Auckland. It takes away the empty plates too.

03 August 2023: The cloud lifted enough to show snow on the foothills near us. Brrr. 🥶

03 August 2023: Perfect weather for going somewhere else. 😆 🇼🇸

02 August 2023: I totally enjoyed the 4 episode French series The Best of Us on Acorn TV. 📺 When local star athlete Abel Guérin is found dead in a snowy field, a …

02 August 2023: Another enjoyable read from Marion Todd: A Blind Eye (Detective Clare Mackay Book 7). 📚 a local solicitor is found in his car, throat slit. DI Clare …

02 August 2023: Waikawa Beach where I live is at about 40° south of the Equator. We get a great view of the Southern Cross, but never see Ursa Major. Samoa …

01 August 2023: Last year the Blackbird couldn’t figure out how to get at the feeder. This year’s another story. 🐦

01 August 2023: The birds queue up to let me know it’s dinner time! 🐦 There is also some grumpiness about the throng at the feeder. Others, like this Waxeye, …

01 August 2023: Today I drove to Paraparaumu — the closest location for my phone provider One (was Vodafone) — and they switched me to use the eSIM in my iPhone 13 …

31 July 2023: It’s been an intensive research day for our upcoming holiday in Samoa. Put together useful travel info in one Apple Note (thanks @annahavron for …

30 July 2023: Went back to a book I started weeks ago, and recalled why I stopped reading. I'm now declaring it abandoned at 18%. Spite Your Face (Detective Carol …

30 July 2023: Breakup: … when Alaska awakens from its Arctic slumber. Snows melt. Rivers flood. Winter's secrets emerge. Kate is having an extremely bad day. …

30 July 2023: This morning Tiu | House Sparrows are enjoying hanging out on the dead panicles of the Tī kōuka | Cabbage tree only a couple of metres from my bedroom …

30 July 2023: The snow on the hills nearby has come down even lower, I think.

29 July 2023: Greedy developers are looking for ways to exploit resources the Native people should be controlling. Luckily Kate gets pulled into the whole thing by …

29 July 2023: Sometimes you glance up and wonder, where did the world go?

28 July 2023: Apparently the Library in Levin has a Friday lunchtime concert — a singalong. What a cool thing. Most folks attending seem to be older. One table of …

28 July 2023: An experimental photo. I'm hanging out in the Library in Levin while my car has a service and an annual Warrant of Fitness check. This photo was taken …

27 July 2023: A cold southerly has brought snow to the tops of the Tararua range.

26 July 2023: Season 9 of one of my favourite shows, New Zealand murder mystery series Brokenwood, has just started. This 28 minute radio interview with head writer …

26 July 2023: These golden plants at the beach are native Pīngao. Fantastic for binding sand.

26 July 2023: I have an Olympus Tough TG-870 camera that I last used in 2018 when we went snorkelling in Niue. With a holiday in Samoa coming up I've dug it out, …

25 July 2023: Apparently when a Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher hangs around I am compelled to take photos of it. 🐦 Their beaks fascinate me.

24 July 2023: Just a little clip from the other morning of a Scaup and a Shoveler on the lake.

23 July 2023: At Harrison's Garden Shop cafe for brunch with my friend J today I noticed Bushy Tailed Tea: green tea with echinacea and lemon. Turns out to be …

22 July 2023: Another Dana Stabenow book down: Play With Fire (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 5). This one wasn't my favourite but is still a reasonable read. …

22 July 2023: Hah hah. I'd heard about the TV series Deadloch and have now watched episode 1. It's definitely over the top, part sendup of small-town cops meet …

21 July 2023: Well! Watched a recording of the Nigeria v Canada football match. Lots of yellow cards and even a red card. I’ve now in two days watched more …

21 July 2023: I wrote that word minorities in my previous post and now regret it. In my world, as a pale-skinned woman born in England and living most of my life in …

21 July 2023: Yay, Uhura! Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E06 — it's like they're getting round to telling the other stories from the Original Series … the …

20 July 2023: Who am I? I watched the first match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup Soccer, NZL v Nor. ⚽️

20 July 2023: Decades ago when I lived in Edinburgh for a bit I enjoyed Delia Smith's cooking show on TV so bought the books. Today I've referred to her fruit …

20 July 2023: We have several Barbary doves that hang around our place. This one by our gate was calling to another in a tree across the lane. 🐦

19 July 2023: A particularly interesting fragment from a podcast episode, Gayle Lemmon on making the invisible visible | Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, 22 …

19 July 2023: Dammit, there are two items on the agenda for today’s meeting of the Horowhenua District Council that particularly interest me. They’re …

19 July 2023: This is quite something: As the Women’s World Cup approaches, a clever marketing video employed the latest deepfake technology to challenge gender …

19 July 2023: Heh heh. This Nike ad featuring footballer Megan Rapinoe as a superhero is pretty cool.

18 July 2023: It's hard to take photos of Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantails — they flit and flutter so fast. Photos often end up like this. But occasionally you …

18 July 2023: Stayed up too late last night reading Dana Stabenow's A Cold Blooded Business (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 4). 📚 Kate went undercover at the oil …

18 July 2023: I know that Musk's and other multitudinous satellites are wrecking astronomy and are bad in all sorts of other ways too. This morning though, while …

17 July 2023: Blackbird. 🐦

17 July 2023: Number 169 asked for a photo. I obliged. 🐄

17 July 2023: I’m having a phase of unfollowing or blocking as relevant nincompoops and nitwits in my online life. Feels great! I wish there was some way to …

16 July 2023: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E05 continues the excellence. I'm loving this series so much. Lots of exploring the nature of who we are and how we …

16 July 2023: Wow! Dead in the Water (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 3) by Dana Stabenow went by so fast as I had to keep reading. 📚 I wouldn't last 2 seconds on …

15 July 2023: Today we moved the (very heavy) sofa bed out of the way and I cleaned all the accumulated gunge off the floor — dust, dead flies, a couple of mouldy …

15 July 2023: Dana Stabenow's consummate skill as a storyteller is evident in A Fatal Thaw (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 2). 📚 With lesser writers intensely …

14 July 2023: We went down to the Ōtaki Pottery Society Star Glaze show at the racecourse and came home with a couple of items. I bought two bowls and a mug. The …

13 July 2023: I've started entering a few photos in competitions. This is a local Capture Your Horowhenua competition. Photos are put online and also displayed in …

12 July 2023: It was … invigorating … at the beach on this winter morning. To my west the energetic waves and a definite breeze. To my east, my buddy …

12 July 2023: A Cold Day for Murder (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 1) by Dana Stabenow sets Kate on the trail of a missing Park Ranger, and the missing guy who …

12 July 2023: I started my Dana Stabenow Kate Shugak reread with the short story called Nooses Give. It introduced Kate and the setting well. We learn Kate is …

12 July 2023: So cool; indigenous sports — How ripped ears are preserving a rare culture in Alaska: Kakaruk says she imagines her ancestors playing the same …

11 July 2023: After finishing the latest Kate Shugak book I wasn't ready to leave the world so effectively created. I've downloaded all the books in the series to …

11 July 2023: Folks who enjoy magnificent photos, astronomy, auroras, Aotearoa, I recommend you follow @iangriffin@mastodon.nz. Check out his latest amazing shot. …

10 July 2023: Heh heh. Star Trek: The Animated Series S02E04 (at 18 minutes): McCoy: Anything Spock? Spock: Negative. File … doesn't recognise these symptoms. …

09 July 2023: Such a good book, as are all in this series! Not the Ones Dead (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 23) by Dana Stabenow. 📚 The only thing wrong is I've …

09 July 2023: Again, a fresh look reveals sexist assumptions: A lavish burial site from the Copper Age… is not the final resting place of a young male …

08 July 2023: Received a spam text in Messages on my Mac and had to search for how to block it. Found Block messages in Messages on Mac - Apple Support: select the …

08 July 2023: Back in 2019 my two cats, Aphra and Ares, passed away. Their sister Sophie, who lives with our friend, is still going strong at the age of 21 and a …

08 July 2023: The friend we visited in Wellington overnight has a 6 year old and a 7 year old — Samoyeds. They’re big. They’re cheerful. They fill up a …

07 July 2023: It was weird today, driving to Waikanae to catch the train — the road was very busy in both directions, but it was all cars and small vehicles. …

07 July 2023: 👍 Government launches measures to protect native biodiversity: The Government is launching … measures to protect native wildlife and at-risk …

07 July 2023: Train time.

07 July 2023: I needed to rummage round in the shed looking for something and nearly froze my hands off! Zero degrees C and a hefty frost. Luckily I found what I …

06 July 2023: Thanks to the Sky Guide app on my iPhone, my watch now alerts me to passes of the ISS. Here the ISS came up from the southeast and passed by Crux …

06 July 2023: These two used to often be in the property across our lane. These days we only see them from afar. 🐴

05 July 2023: The stretches I started doing daily a week ago are really starting to pay off. It's much easier to get out of bed and I feel a bit 'looser' in my …

05 July 2023: I really enjoyed The Complete Blue Ridge Mountains Mysteries 1–5 by Cathy Pickens. 📚 I very much liked the main character, Avery, and the author …

05 July 2023: At 8.06am [NZ time] on Friday, July 7, Earth reaches aphelion …the furthest point from the Sun in its elliptical orbit… At aphelion, Earth is about …

04 July 2023: I liked this notion in a book I'm currently reading (has local relevance): Opinions became more subtle and more difficult when mixed with knowledge …

04 July 2023: My little buddy Willow is visiting for a bit today. 🐶

03 July 2023: So cool: NASA Seals Volunteers Into Isolated Habitat For Year-Long Experiment: four volunteers entered a simulated Martian habitat … to learn more …

03 July 2023: After bookmarking a page in Micro.Blog I was stumped about how to Highlight a section. I tried for a while then gave up. Today I tried again, searched …

02 July 2023: Nuttin' — just hanging around… WOAH!

02 July 2023: More bias exposed — Women Hunt in Most Foraging Societies: narratives of 'man the hunter' and 'woman the gatherer' are crumbling in the face of new …

01 July 2023: Another excellent NativLang video (17 minutes): Why is this the most popular word order across languages? – SOV — Miraz the blog post wrote, for …

30 June 2023: I really enjoyed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One, but Season Two is just “out of this world”. Loving this season so much. Such …

30 June 2023: Just scraped in at the end of June with my (briefer than usual) monthly Waikawa Newsletter. One of the things I like about Buttondown is that it …

29 June 2023: Glanced up from making breakfast to see our neighbour's Huntaway dog bounding through the paddock next door. Not something he's ever done before. Then …

28 June 2023: In this year's NZ Garden Bird Survey I saw (or heard) way more birds than last year: 6 sparrow, 1 fantail, 30 canada goose, 4 pheasant, 1 shag, 1 …

27 June 2023: Starting today (27 June) July 2023 will be a month where I focus on my health, in particular getting my body more flexible. I have my own stretches, …

26 June 2023: Had the most wonderful massage today with Natalie Waddell from Functional Bodyworks in Paraparaumu. My back and neck have been so stiff and sore …

25 June 2023: Whew. After 2084 Km in our car plus another 220 Km with friends in their car, it’s good to be home. We saw some great sights and had good times …

24 June 2023: I wouldn’t normally dream of posting a naked selfie, but occasionally there are mitigating circumstances … (Deb took the photos.)

24 June 2023: Today’s drive was marked with narrow winding roads to start, pouring rain, crawling past an accident, a visit to friends, roadworks, 110 Kph on …

24 June 2023: Deb bought me this wonderful Deejo folding pocket knife with tattooed blade. It’s so gorgeous!

23 June 2023: Time to head home now — a 12 hour drive. We’ll visit friends along the way and have a couple of overnight stops. Rain forecast for the rest of …

22 June 2023: Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua heritage: after death, all Māori spirits travel … to the pohutukawa tree on the headland of Te Rerenga Wairua. They …

22 June 2023: From Taipā Beach, on the East Coast in the Far North of Aotearoa. Just before dawn. Also just before I got drenched in a downpour!

22 June 2023: It was almost dark and still pouring with rain when we arrived at Taipā Beach Resort near Coopers Beach so I’m looking forward to dawn in a …

22 June 2023: Yesterday afternoon we drove through pouring rain to our booked holiday home in Coopers Beach, Northland. There was delay getting in, then the house …

21 June 2023: This corridor feels endless.

21 June 2023: Last year I decided my personal year would run from (my) Winter Solstice to (my) Winter Solstice (as nature intended). That makes today New …

21 June 2023: Today we leave Paihia in the Bay of Islands and drive about an hour north to Cooper’s Beach. Tomorrow we do a day trip up to Cape Reinga, about …

20 June 2023: Tāne Mahuta, 2000 years old, is enormous and awe inspiring.

20 June 2023: Today we plan to visit Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree: Trunk girth: 13.77 m Trunk height: 17.68 m Total height: …

19 June 2023: We arrived at Opononi in the Hokianga after sunset, but the view of Hokianga Harbour from our room at The Heads is splendid.

18 June 2023: I totally recommend Thaidelight Restaurant in Taupō. The food arrived very quickly and was extremely delicious. The service was excellent and the …

18 June 2023: A private spa pool. Hooray! Maybe my multi-day headache will decide it doesn’t like hot water and will disappear.

18 June 2023: Ahhh, relaxing with a Yunnan Yellow tea, looking over Lake Taupō. The Moomaa Cafe, a bit up the line from Bulls, was very popular. The Hot Chocolate …

17 June 2023: Somehow I had missed reading Midnight Come Again (A Kate Shugak Investigation Book 10) by Dana Stabenow, even though I’d read all but #23. 📚 Now …

17 June 2023: I enjoyed reading Three Dog Knight (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Book 3) by Alice Bienia. 📚 Jorja is one unlucky detective who narrowly …

17 June 2023: Last night I was thrilled with the Starry Time session I ran down on the beach. People enjoyed learning about the objects we viewed and liked my tale …

16 June 2023: Yesterday I noticed tree felling had begun ~800 metres east of us. Incredibly, this morning it’s still 1 hour till sunrise, a brisk -3C (27F), …

15 June 2023: Went out to check out the night sky to prep for tomorrow’s Starry Time session. It was gorgeous. Two handheld 10-second iPhone shots of the …

15 June 2023: I ran out of energy and useful space in the shed so the last, small bits of firewood just got thrown in haphazardly. 4 cubic metres of firewood in the …

15 June 2023: Waikawa Beach has nice dark skies so tomorrow night I'm running a community event I've called Starry Time: a casual hour of looking at stars with the …

14 June 2023: 4 cubic metres of firewood to stack.

14 June 2023: Hanging around waiting for 4 cubic metres of firewood to be delivered. With only a couple of hours to sunset I’m unlikely to get it all into the …

13 June 2023: A bit of fun: this was meant to be a photo of the ship/s? in the distance. What I really like is the wave in the foreground.

13 June 2023: Uurgh, with my iPad erased and then easily restored by bringing it near my iPhone, it’s setting up the email accounts again that’s a …

13 June 2023: Step 2, while the non-charging iPad still has 20% battery: disconnect from iCloud, full device erase, in case I decide to sell it as is. Or in case I …

13 June 2023: Today I start with research on my iPad which isn’t charging. Tried the basic troubleshooting with cables etc, now onto cleaning out fluff from …

12 June 2023: Today I made a special trip to Wellington Zoo to see two Snow Leopards — sisters, Asha and Manju. I went past the enclosure several times which …

12 June 2023: Wellington Zoo is today’s outing.

11 June 2023: A midwinter dip in the sea with friends is not something a Miraz does … until today. 😆 A perfect day for it with blue sky, warm sun, no wind and a …

10 June 2023: Some of the first mandarins off our tree. The one I ate was delicious!

10 June 2023: Those into Tiny Homes may enjoy this writeup and photos of a tiny home right beside the main entrance to Waikawa Beach: Designer’s Two-Bedroom Tiny Is …

10 June 2023: I’ve been promising Fliss, the Japanese Quail, for ages that I’d clean out her run. Today was finally the day. I popped her in the glass …

10 June 2023: Checked the Library's ebooks and found Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Comic Issues #1-5: … shows what life is like for cadets at the galaxy's greatest …

09 June 2023: Although I never saw Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) when I was a kid watching it now reminds me of those times. All the stories were about the …

09 June 2023: One of the excellent things about today was that we paid someone to do a couple of hours weedeating, garden clearing and mulching. That would have …

08 June 2023: First day for winter of putting out food for the birds.

08 June 2023: There’s a cracker frost today!

07 June 2023: Well, bizarre! Looked at Netflix again and there’s Star Trek: The Animated Series, just as I expected but couldn’t find this morning… Was …

07 June 2023: I added the RSS — Bring Crime out of the Closet | A celebration of LGBTQ+ characters in crime fiction 📚: to examine … how LGBTQ+ characters have been …

07 June 2023: I really enjoyed Star Trek: The Animated Series S01E04 that I watched on Netflix yesterday. I’m finding the series fun and interesting. … … …

06 June 2023: Shell fish.

05 June 2023: I enjoyed reading The Dead Swede (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 3) by Erin Lark Maples. 📚 There was a heap of terminology relevant to brewing …

04 June 2023: From this morning: Waiting outside a funny little bakery on a street corner in Waikanae to meet a friend. Olde Beach Bakery. Their donuts were good …

03 June 2023: No, the oven did not preheat to the required temperature while I was preparing ingredients, because I’d forgotten that the clock was somehow …

03 June 2023: I found this little Southern Bell Frog on the lane when I went out this morning. That’s a relief — I haven’t seen many frogs around …

02 June 2023: It’s taken me the longest time to figure this out: an AppleScript to set the date on a Post in MarsEdit. tell application "MarsEdit" make new …

02 June 2023: I absolutely loved the Icelandic movie Woman at War. 🎥 I loved the concept, the quirks, the gentle comedy and the incredibly serious topic, the …

01 June 2023: Hah! Never had much interest in Lego, but maybe I’ll visit — who knew there’s a new exhibition centre opening in Wellington? Tākina …

01 June 2023: 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 8x42 binoculars specifically for looking at birds …

01 June 2023: It pays to look up. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher in a neighbour’s tree. 🐦

31 May 2023: On today's beach walk I saw a large mussel shell and a couple of oystercatchers. 🐦

30 May 2023: Somehow I never watched Star Trek: The Animated Series (1974). I just watched S02E01 (by mistake, I’ll start back at Season 1 next time). …

30 May 2023: Another good read from Jana DeLeon, with some switching around of secondary characters and an intriguing plot — Fortune Teller. I enjoyed this book. …

29 May 2023: Folks on Micro.Blog mentioning places they’ve visited. For me much of Western Europe, Scandinavia, UK and Ireland, Pacific Islands. Of special …

29 May 2023: The other day LeonP wrote about blogs being viewable on any device. That led me to wonder how my blog looks on my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite. The answer …

29 May 2023: Heh, Aotearoa becomes more multicultural. Stories are legion of immigrants and visitors asked to "bring a plate" to an event who have turned up with …

29 May 2023: Hmmm: When we hear the word 'fungi', [mushrooms are] what we think of first. But … only about 10 % of fungi species produce mushrooms. And they …

29 May 2023: It's Samoa Language Week here in Aotearoa. This 25 minute documentary about traditional tattoo as service is so interesting, and moving: Tautua: Inked …

28 May 2023: Wowee: The new imitation game — … CarynAI, a bot which “replicates [Caryn Marjorie's] voice, mannerisms and personality”. Interacting with it …

28 May 2023: Another one for folks interested in language — 18 minute video about weak and strong forms of words, and how in English the positive may just …

27 May 2023: This afternoon I thought I’d try photos of sea spray. The sea was a bit rough today. B&W filter via Photos.

27 May 2023: Kei te pēhea tonu tātou? How are we really doing?

26 May 2023: If you’re at all interested in language, or in indigenous culture take 10 minutes and watch this fascinating documentary (via Kottke) — Hand …

26 May 2023: This is a very heartening good news story. Take a moment to read this non-fiction comic by Toby Morris : The Side Eye: Anahera, our neighbour. 🐦 Note: …

26 May 2023: I was already pretty cheery this morning but listening to Korolova b2b Jonas Saalbach @ Praia da Adraga, Portugal (55 minutes) just lifted me right …

26 May 2023: Ahhh, my rejoicing was premature… After a couple of minutes the left AirPod just stopped working. From memory, if I put it back in the charging case …

26 May 2023: It’s a miracle: my AirPods (1st gen) live again! Last year there were problems, fixes didn’t work, they were dead, they sat in my Must …

26 May 2023: A Micro.blog Community Library. What a great idea from @KimberlyHirsh. Time for a needs assessment! Micro.blog community, what resources do you need …

25 May 2023: Nope. No Kuaka | Godwits round here. Nope. 🐦

25 May 2023: Our beach doesn’t have rocks (unless you count chunks of pumice) but there’s plenty of driftwood. Sometimes a buried log will emerge after …

24 May 2023: Late afternoon and I was just walking from one room to another when I noticed these (perhaps juvenile) Eastern Rosellas on the flax plants nearby. I …

24 May 2023: Anna Havron is a generally smart person. I like what she has to say here — Inner Trolls and Better Angels: Being a Person, Online: I see great value …

24 May 2023: I realise Micro Camp 2023 left me on a real high — took me all day to calm down afterwards. I’m really energised by the presentations, keynote …

24 May 2023: This 9 minute video is so good and the food looks delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wide assortment of mushrooms in our …

23 May 2023: What’s that big star in the west, Deb asked. The crescent moon, I smartly replied … and Venus. 🤣

23 May 2023: There's always one who's late to the meeting… Pāpango | New Zealand scaup on Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

23 May 2023: A new series but another excellent police procedural from Anne Shillolo: Murder at Elk Ridge (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 1). Nice character …

22 May 2023: Pukeko at the edge of Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

22 May 2023: Pro tip: when Micro.Blog seemingly just refuses to publish your post — make sure it’s not set to Draft. 🤣 (Wasted a fair bit of time earlier…)

22 May 2023: Apparently this orange plastic cylinder I spotted washed up on the beach today is a Burley Pot. The idea is to put bait in it to attract fish.

22 May 2023: On this morning’s beach walk I walked in amongst a big spread of driftwood of all sizes. When I turned round I spotted this wonderful orange …

21 May 2023: Whew, I thought we’d just watched the last ever episode of Vera. In fact it was the last available episode. Vera S12E04.

21 May 2023: After the disappointing movie yesterday we had excellent Thai food at Tuk Tuk Waimea in Waikanae. I had stir fry chicken with fresh vegetables and …

21 May 2023: Micro.Blog pals — a 1 day coupon for MarsEdit! I usually only offer discounts of 10% or 20%, but in celebration of Micro.camp 2023 I’m offering a 50% …

21 May 2023: 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 like to arrange my windows side by side, with the …

21 May 2023: Resources for my MarsEdit presentation at Micro Camp 2023 See my presentation on YouTube. These resources go alongside my Micro Camp presentation, Take the Captain’s Chair of your Micro.Blog with the MarsEdit …

20 May 2023: We went to see the movie Aftersun 🎥 : a 2022 coming-of-age drama film … an 11-year-old girl, on holiday with her father at a Turkish resort on the eve …

20 May 2023: I’d totally forgotten that MarsEdit can do TypeWriter Scrolling in the composition window. It’s right there under the View Menu. …

20 May 2023: Just now pondering at a very shallow level, whether there’s a role at future Micro Camps for a brief pre-Camp Zoom checkin session where we can …

20 May 2023: Excellent start to Micro Camp 2023 today. Thanks to everyone who participated but especially to all those who helped organise! The sessions were …

19 May 2023: I had read this somewhere recently, but thanks to @billbennettnz for Apple satellite SOS service now live in New Zealand: NZ-based Apple iPhone 14 …

18 May 2023: Recycling — maybe not always a good thing…

18 May 2023: I love Aotearoa but this is unconscionable — The twin crises that fuelled the hostel fire: 10% of our population are so poor and stressed they can’t …

18 May 2023: Back in September 2017 I came across this little cutie on a driftwood log on the beach. The Kekeno | New Zealand Fur Seal pups often come ashore on …

18 May 2023: The MarsEdit Browser extension While checking posts from my now defunct KnowIt blog I spotted this mention of MarsEdit from 01 February 2008, emphasis from today: To post this blog …

17 May 2023: Hmmm, not entirely sure about this step in the online recipe for Crispy Chicken Nibbles… 🤔

17 May 2023: Just enjoying a pleasant lunch time on the beach with my good buddy Willow. 🐶

17 May 2023: When I was on the beach yesterday 3 Kakīānau | Black swan flew in and landed on the estuary. Here are two, with a Karoro | Black-backed gull in the …

17 May 2023: Crescent moon and Jupiter in the pre dawn sky above flax spears.

17 May 2023: So frustrating when every world map in Too HOT and HUMID to Live: Extreme Wet Bulb Events Are on the Rise cuts off Aotearoa New Zealand — either …

16 May 2023: I struck a lucky shaft of rising sunlight at the estuary this morning, with this Poaka | Pied Stilt. 🐦

16 May 2023: I haven't read this yet but want to boost Sod's link about writing good alt text for images 🔗 : Alt-texts: The Ultimate Guide is another hands-on …

16 May 2023: I haven’t been for a proper walk on the beach for the last month. Now I’m finally over the ghastly flu, it’s time to get back out …

16 May 2023: A very clear and very helpful post by Alan Jacobs about the true nature of Micro.Blog 🔗 : I wrote about the Three Paths of micro.blog. Alan Jacobs …

15 May 2023: I stayed up way too late last night, not being able to get this AppleScript (or any other technique) to work. Today I found the ‘missing …

15 May 2023: Visited with my buddy Leo today. 🐈

15 May 2023: Remember when blogs were fussily called weblogs? While checking posts from my now defunct KnowIt blog I spotted this mention of MarsEdit 1.0 from 11 …

15 May 2023: Too big for your boots, AI! I made my Micro Camp 2023 presentation video and then had the wonderful free Mac app Aiko transcribe the audio …

14 May 2023: For my Micro Camp 2023 presentation I used Apple Keynote. I wondered about accessibility for those who can’t see the screenshots. Keynote Help …

14 May 2023: A MarsEdit tip for including MB usernames in Posts: Micro.Blog automatically converts usernames to MarkDown links on posting. That can lead to …

14 May 2023: Thanks to @Danielpunkass and @Manton for the kind words about me in Core Intuition 557: …talk about Micro.camp …summarize some of the planned talks, …

14 May 2023: Apparently New Zealand Sign Language week finishes today. While I’m very interested in language and have learned various amounts of several …

13 May 2023: I don't often buy reference books, but this seemed like a must-have: Fungi of Aotearoa: A Curious Forager's Field Guide by Liv Sisson. 📚 I realised I …

13 May 2023: Same old stories: The truth is that women are perennially and perpetually angry about male violence, but every time there’s a public explosion of …

13 May 2023: Heh, this came up today on my daily check of my blog’s Surprise me page: Kea gyms!. Next weekend find out why that’s a bit of random …

13 May 2023: Two — almost 3 — a.m. I seem to have mislaid my sleep…

12 May 2023: This was a gripping read: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. 📚 Hannah’s husband just doesn’t come home from work after his boss is …

12 May 2023: This morning we had the first frost of the season, and there was snow on the high tops of the Tararua range too. Winter is nearby.

12 May 2023: 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 and the like to scrape out a hard existence. The …

12 May 2023: Good news story out of NZ today — 8 year old Josh asked the local Council for a swing for his friend in a wheelchair. the council … unfortunately …

11 May 2023: There were about 20 Kawau | Pied Shags at the edge of the sea today. And 20 more nearby but out of shot. The sea was moving in with some energy.

11 May 2023: Oops, I stumbled across the 2023 Eurovision Semi-Final 1 and thought I’d have it in the background while doing whatever else. Instead I’m …

10 May 2023: And then there’s this: Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Performed by Kerry Washington

10 May 2023: This poem, and video, is so powerful: AI, Ain’t I A Woman? - Joy Buolamwini. a spoken word piece that highlights the ways in which artificial …

10 May 2023: We had an old iPhone 5 with a dead battery. The phone’s so cute I wanted to keep it and use it as a radio. With a new battery and toolkit …

10 May 2023: In The Case of the Unlucky Gardener (Connie McKinnon Sailing Detective Cosy Mysteries Book 1) by Tina Mclachlan Brassington the characters bat chunks …

10 May 2023: When online form validation goes wrong In 1963 our family moved from England to Aotearoa New Zealand. Back in London our phone number was like this: CROWN42. That’s fake, just to be …

09 May 2023: It's been a while since I've posted a photo of Fliss, my one remaining Japanese Quail. 🐦

09 May 2023: Covid booster finally achieved 👍

08 May 2023: Why we perceive ourselves negatively as we age: As we get older … there is a subtle decline in memory, but we overstate it… older people blaming every …

08 May 2023: I've never seen Kosher salt in any NZ shop so looked it up, since it seems to be in most (overseas) recipes I see. Technically, kosher salt is a type …

08 May 2023: When I started working on my Micro Camp presentation about Mars Edit I checked my email archives. I started using ME in or before May 2004. …

08 May 2023: Thrilled to boost 2023 Micro Camp: Micro Camp Presenter Topics and Schedule micro.campMicro Camp …

07 May 2023: Looking at In photos: Coronation for King Charles III. Zoom in to see how a coloured collar, Charles's posture and the lines on a clerical vestment …

07 May 2023: How I thought my recovery from the ghastly flu would progress vs How my recovery from the ghastly flu is actually progressing.

07 May 2023: As usual, The Spinoff wins at commentary: The “robe of righteousness” and the “gown of salvation” were put on his heaving shoulders, while those at …

07 May 2023: Aargh. For the purposes of making screenshots for a presentation I rearranged the MarsEdit Toolbar. That moved the Send to Blog button into the …

06 May 2023: The book Little Girl Lost (Georgiana Germaine Book 1) by Cheryl Bradshaw just didn't sit right by me. 📚 The detective had some mysterious tragedy in …

06 May 2023: This morning we have gunshots at dawn … thanks to the opening of Game Bird Hunting Season, and the fact we have lakes nearby (not the lakes I …

05 May 2023: Today's new tea: Laoshan Imperial Green tea. Different from all the others I've tried. I think I like it… Laoshan Imperial Green tea.

05 May 2023: Did a speedtest on my 4G WiFi broadband connection after billbennettnz wrote about speeds. Happy with our rural residential speed (I can see the cell …

04 May 2023: Things just aren't going well for Peg, in relationships or work in Peril in Silver Nightshade (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 4) by Lakota …

04 May 2023: So far mine looks like this: I put my thoughts into words and words into action… or something… Mandaris Moore …

03 May 2023: One of the ‘features’ of living at the beach is that sometimes dead animals wash up. Presumably they’ve been washed down from one of …

03 May 2023: Flu vaccination: Nearly 600,000 people had jab in first four weeks of rollout: The flu season has started earlier this year, with… nasty strains …

02 May 2023: Woohoo, later this year we’ll be spending several days at Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa, Samoa South Pacific - Island Resort. See the video.

02 May 2023: It was a beautiful still and warm morning at the beach — 19C. Someone had cleverly stacked driftwood to make a seat. I sat there and recorded the sea …

01 May 2023: Another in a series I enjoy — Goodbye Linden Square (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 7) by Anne Shillolo. 📚 The crimes keep piling up in Port Alma — …

01 May 2023: A nice prequel short story to the Pegasus Quincy mystery series by Lakota Grace — Bad Day at Black Canyon: 📚 When Peg leaves for Arizona and her new …

01 May 2023: After 2 weeks of the flu I’m better but still nowhere near fully recovered. The coughing is reducing, thank goodness but my energy levels are …

30 April 2023: I can never remember how to tell native Toitoi apart from exotic Pampas Grass. Whichever this is down by lake Te Puna a te Ora it looks pretty fab.

29 April 2023: Whew. Deb and I have done final cleanup at the house we’ve sold, passed keys to the agent, signed papers with the lawyer. All that’s left …

29 April 2023: This ~7 minute video is a really useful explainer from MinuteFood about how a microwave oven works — what it actually does to the food inside. …

28 April 2023: The anti-woman language of gynaecology, eg the hostile uterus. Listen to the ~1 minute clip from Quirks and Quarks, A view on the womb. Leah Hazard … …

28 April 2023: Bought back in September 2020; I must have read the first book then. Totally forgot what it was about. Read the second book this week and it ranks …

28 April 2023: I walked ‘all the way’ to lake Te Puna o te Ora in the sun and fresh air and quiet this morning. (It’s less than 500 metres away.) …

28 April 2023: Autumn sunrise.

27 April 2023: One of life's eternal mysteries: if there's a duvet cover in the wash how does all the other washing end up inside it by the end?

26 April 2023: This 35 minute podcast episode is so interesting. Pet lovers, tune in! Death in the Afternoon: INTERVIEW: Uncovering Pet Death’s Greatest …

26 April 2023: Well, that's unusual: two sizeable quakes within moments of one another. The pheasants were busy with their special earthquake alarm calls. 〰️ A 5.7 …

26 April 2023: Reading Persons Unknown (Manon Bradshaw, Book 2) by Susie Steiner was how I imagine white water rafting would be. You dip a toe in the river not sure …

25 April 2023: Fire in Broken Water (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 3) by Lakota Grace was a thoroughly good read from an author and in a setting I enjoy. 📚 …

24 April 2023: Woohoo, a proper holiday (with friends) coming up later this year. There is an island or two below that red dot… 🇼🇸

24 April 2023: This was another gripping read from Tracy Clark: Runner (A Chicago Mystery Book 4). It's a great shame there are only 4 books in the series. It's a …

23 April 2023: Seems a bit woo-woo but sometime last night while I was asleep my little battlers announced to my brain that they’d defeated whatever infection …

22 April 2023: Took me a few starts but in the end I enjoyed Poodle Versus The Mob (Cottage Country Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by Anne Shillolo well enough. 📚 Zora …

22 April 2023: I enjoyed reading Murder Among The Roses (Maybridge Murder Mysteries Book 1) by Liz Fielding. 📚 Abby is horrified to discover the bones of a baby …

21 April 2023: In Murder Never Retires (DI Hillary Greene Book 12) by Faith Martin our favourite DI is back on the job but in a different role. 📚 20 years ago … Anna …

20 April 2023: Today, while my sore throat morphs into a cough, I’m resting up, mainly reading, dozing and answering urgent last minute calls from our lawyer …

20 April 2023: Today had a visit from our favourite Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher. 🐦

20 April 2023: Another excellent mystery from Faith Martin — Murder at Work (DI Hillary Greene Book 11) 📚: Michael Ivers was a gambler and a notorious womaniser … …

20 April 2023: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the novella Catnip & Brimstone by Jessica Nickelsen. 📚 Nine-year-old Beth and her tabby kitten …

19 April 2023: A couple of photos from the other day of one of my favourites: the Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel. On close inspection, I see this one has a …

18 April 2023: Turns out I’ve been wrong for at least 5 days now in my belief that Fliss had stopped laying for the season. Quail only lay when there’s …

18 April 2023: On This Day reminded me that in 2018 and 2020 I did an online hearing test. So here's another. I attribute where there is improvement at 500 and 1K to …

18 April 2023: Hmmm, yesterday I was tired and my throat was a bit scratchy. Today, after sleeping poorly, I’m still tired and my throat is more scratchy… But …

18 April 2023: Started this book so long ago I’d forgotten what was going on. Picked it up and finished it with some enjoyment. The Country Inn Mystery (Jenny …

17 April 2023: I tossed out some apples that weren’t good enough to cook. This morning a black bunny and a grey bunny were enjoying fruit for breakfast in the …

17 April 2023: Got up to make a [second] cup of tea and found this going on outside. Seneca: Moral letters to Lucilius/Letter 101: begin at once to live, and count …

16 April 2023: I was really hooked in to the 5 books in Detective Hillary Greene Books 6–10 box set by Faith Martin. 📚 Book 10 suggested an unwelcome change but I …

16 April 2023: I quite enjoyed reading What You Don’t See (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 3) by Tracy Clark. 📚 Vonda Allen … Everybody adores her. Except the …

15 April 2023: On the beach this morning was a sizeable flock of Tara | White-fronted Tern. The photo shows about 1/3 of the flock. Nearby was a pair of the much …

14 April 2023: I attended the same school as murderer Juliette Hulme (Anne Perry) but over a decade later. My friend Rachel though was in the same class and writes …

14 April 2023: Hmmm, apparently flights from Auckland to Kathmandu take approximately 18 hours…

14 April 2023: Whew, it took 8.5 episodes of hogwash and bunkum but finally Picard S03 is at a place where I’m not just waiting for the whole thing to be over. …

14 April 2023: On my beach walk yesterday I came across this wonderful orange fungus in the dunes. So big!

13 April 2023: Today's dinner was Tangy Braised Chickpeas — thanks to @tracydurnell for the link. It was delicious.

12 April 2023: I didn’t watch the video but really enjoyed listening to Troy Kingi’s music: Black Sea Golden Ladder – The Visual Album.

12 April 2023: Spam has got weird. After a flurry of folks offering me wealth there’s now a stream of messages quoting (I suppose) passages from old texts — …

12 April 2023: 40 mm rain or so in the last couple of days (25 mm in the last 7 hours) has been enough to bring back the paddock puddle. I expect it won’t last …

12 April 2023: Useful — Define Your Own Principles: Do you have your own rules for life, your set of principles you steadfastly stick to in any situation and can …

12 April 2023: Not surprising the rain woke me: 13.5 mm per hour is a decent fall!

11 April 2023: A couple of days ago when I walked on the beach at dawn these folks were down floundering. Mt Ruapehu in the background.

10 April 2023: I keep thinking maybe I can hear thunder — or some loud truck nearby on this public holiday. Given this sky in the southwest, I suspect it’s …

10 April 2023: Wow, big day today: I’m really in the money! 🤣

09 April 2023: A walk today at Kitchener Park right next to Manfeild Race track near Feilding was accompanied by the roar and whine of racing cars and motorbikes. So …

09 April 2023: Thanks to the Eastern Rosellas who alerted me that the apples on my Granny Smith tree were ripe.

08 April 2023: This set of decals is now on the wardrobe door by my bed. From Top left, clockwise: Me and Sasha, Sasha and Oshi, Olive, Harriette. Centre: Aphra and …

08 April 2023: Our neighbours are taking down some pine trees that are about 30 years old. They’re a bit unstable apparently. I guess all the birds that use …

08 April 2023: 10 hours of sleep! It’s a miracle!

07 April 2023: A thoughtful and interesting essay: Don’t fret about students using ChatGPT to cheat – AI is a bigger threat to educational equality: AI tools also …

06 April 2023: That was a fun movie: Desconectados: Victoria is addicted to the internet and work, and has bad relationships with her teenage kids … Her life …

06 April 2023: Aha, plane mystery solved: Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow 2023. Wow, I’m not any kind of vehicle nerd, but there’s an impressive lineup at …

06 April 2023: That’s a worry — while I was posting my previous item another 9 planes went past in formation! Photo shows 4 of them. Has our whole airforce gone …

06 April 2023: I was way too slow going out to check on the unusual aircraft noise. It turned out to be 7 planes in formation! Since NZ has 11 T–6C Texan II …

05 April 2023: I remember the day back in 2002 when Ares and Aphra first discovered there was World beyond the front door. 🐈

05 April 2023: Had my flu shot. Asked for the Covid booster too but they only do them on Fridays… Booked that one for 28 April.

04 April 2023: This was simple to make and very tasty: Black Beans and Brown Rice. Will cook it again.

04 April 2023: I can't exactly pinpoint where this tree felling is taking place. It may be about 700 metres to the southeast of our house. The bottom of the slope …

04 April 2023: Airing out the cobweb.

04 April 2023: I was briefly awake at 1130 pm last night. Through the open window I could hear not only the sea, but also a Ruru | Morepork. That’s the first …

03 April 2023: Great explanation — The core of karakia: Karakia is karakia. You’ve got ka - it ignites - ra - connectivity and kia is the essence of your …

03 April 2023: Guess the problem (watch the video). I'm torn between good coverage and wrecking the night sky. Mobile coverage across the country with SpaceX: We're …

03 April 2023: Our local Council livestream meetings then make the recordings available. After sitting through a few hours that didn’t interest me I emailed …

03 April 2023: Over on the Micro.Blog Help site @manton has provided a list of 20 allowed file extensions for Micro.Blog file uploads. File type upload was a problem …

02 April 2023: Bit of an ethical dilemma today, in a post on another blog. I linked to an 8 minute radio interview. Their copyright says I can link but not publish …

02 April 2023: The entertainment at the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival was excellent. It continued all day with a lot of variety. Very short clips below of a swing …

02 April 2023: Kimbolton is a 90 minute drive northish from Waikawa Beach. At their Sculpture Festival they knew how to entertain, kids especially. Lots of food …

02 April 2023: The Sunday Essay: Confessions of a cryptic addict There is, however, no disputing the pleasures cryptic puzzles bring. Astle says when a clue is …

01 April 2023: At the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival were this horse head made from motorbike parts, stag made of horse shoes and bull made from bicycle tires.

31 March 2023: Wait … is that a UFO?

31 March 2023: Well, well, well. This 6 minute video is so interesting: What Are The Different Types Of Cinnamon?: Did you know there are different types of …

31 March 2023: Nice: Words from the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand English additions to the OED: In its latest update, the OED is putting the spotlight …

30 March 2023: Just checking the recipe for the chicken wings I want to cook shortly for dinner: Honey and ginger chicken wings | Jamie Oliver recipes: place in the …

29 March 2023: Further back there seems to be some tree felling going on. That may well be on a different property — it gets a bit confusing round here.

29 March 2023: It’s all go round here today, in the teeth of a cold southerly. The farmer next door is harvesting a crop that is probably maize. The harvester …

29 March 2023: I knew it was chilly this morning, with a cold wind, and that way down south there were snow warnings for the mountains. Still, I was very surprised …

29 March 2023: What, you've never seen a rabbit eating a peach? Well you have now. 🐇 Wild black rabbit on grass eating a peach.

28 March 2023: Visited a neighbour not far from us the other day. They had this wonderful small log with orange fungi in their garden. Weird, in Photos the orange is …

28 March 2023: I write a monthly newsletter for our local community. A kind resident made this wonderful cartoon on an extremely topical and important issue and I've …

28 March 2023: So many people have said such kind and generous things about Sasha — too many for me to list all. Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words. …

27 March 2023: Sasha in August 2008, aged about 18 months. Such a beauty! 🐶 Sasha said Goodbye to everyone today. Thanks to all blog pals who left kind and caring …

27 March 2023: Sasha does a selfie. 🐶

27 March 2023: Just out for a stroll. 🐦 Peihana | Pheasant.

27 March 2023: Sasha says: Thanks — breakfast was the best! 🐶

26 March 2023: Out to it at the end of the day. Sasha. 🐶

26 March 2023: Sasha, aged 16 and a quarter. Her back legs, well all her legs, are having trouble supporting her. Breakfast was a bit of a problem this morning. 🐶 …

25 March 2023: Look at this little poppet, back in February 2007 when she was just 3 months old. Sasha's come a long way in the last 16 years! 🐶

25 March 2023: Sasha, aged 16 and a bit, was out to it on her rug, until I poked my phone in her face. 🐶

24 March 2023: I’m so thrilled. Look at this shot I got tonight (iPhone 13 Pro) at our wee star viewing. Crescent Moon with Venus and bird. Below that cloud, …

24 March 2023: Crescent Moon and Venus. @odd

24 March 2023: Sasha in her crate earlier today. 🐶

24 March 2023: I prefer my own company to groups, so what induced me to organise a community Star Viewing tonight? These are things I’m hoping we can find / …

24 March 2023: The sleepy eye of morning.

23 March 2023: Back in January I made Crusty French Bread Rolls and results weren’t great. I tried again today, with the mixer, and they’re my most …

23 March 2023: This is the time of year for the couple of Yucca gloriosa in the dunes to flower. The long lens in the first photo makes distant hills look really …

22 March 2023: Thinking about that 1.5C global warming number … it seems so tiny, yet its effects are huge. We need to find a Consequences Score (CS) and start to …

22 March 2023: Every morning I check earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions to see what’s going on with weather around Aotearoa New …

21 March 2023: Watched B5 S01E03, Born to the Purple, with its love, intrigues, machinations, wiles, compulsion, slavery, compassion and forgiveness. B5️⃣

21 March 2023: BTW: Sasha has to stand on the carpet now to eat her meals as otherwise her legs slide out from under her. She no longer has sufficient strength in …

21 March 2023: Sasha told me at length that breakfast didn’t meet her requirements. Only after I added some of the expensive gourmet wet food did she consent …

21 March 2023: Thanks to a crossword I have now heard of three Impressionist painters: Marie Bracquemond, Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt. Lovely!

20 March 2023: Watched B5 S01E02, Soul Hunter. Interesting ideas about how different cultures can view something from opposing perspectives. We learned some …

20 March 2023: And I say again: “Sea levels are rising. We gotta deal with climate change.” 🐦

20 March 2023: Watching Lingthusiasm: Bringing stories to life in Auslan - Interview with Gabrielle Hodge. I have utmost respect for sign language interpreters who …

20 March 2023: Oh Siri … sometimes you drive me pineapples! Me: Hey Siri, add Vanilla Wine Biscuits to the Groceries List. Siri: OK, I’ve added chocolate to …

20 March 2023: Somehow on my Babylon 5 rewatch I completely forgot to start with the pilot, The Gathering. The ambassadors arrive, the Station Commander is accused …

19 March 2023: Whew, Babylon 5 rewatch, S01E01, “Midnight on the Firing Line”. There’s a huge amount happening in the universe and we’re …

19 March 2023: Today’s lunch included a very rich yet delicious Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole via @mbkriegh. I halved the cheese and sauce parts of the recipe …

18 March 2023: Good news today. Oxford English Dictionary adds more Māori words: The Oxford English Dictionary updates every three months … 47 new New Zealand words …

18 March 2023: Deb picked up Thai Takeaway on her way home last night from Thai Tara in Johnsonville. I had Ginger and Vegetable Stir Fry with chicken, mild and it …

17 March 2023: A good read: Borrowed Time (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 2) by Tracy Clark. 🐦 It could be murder. But why would anyone kill a dying man? Cass’s …

17 March 2023: Usually I eat my breakfast while listening to the latest episode of Sasha’s “My life as a dog” podcast. Amazingly, it autoplays, …

16 March 2023: Today’s tea Moonlight Pavilion: You’ll notice the aromas undulate between floral, buttery and vegetal, with a pleasant astringency at …

16 March 2023: A fascinating 1 hour podcast episode — After an initial discussion between the hosts about whale vocalisations, Megan and Carrie talk with Rachel E. …

16 March 2023: Had this Soft Scrambled Japanese Tamago today. It’s quick, easy, delicious: whisk together eggs, mirin, sugar, and soy. Add … along with butter …

15 March 2023: This is an extreme crop of a photo at nearby Lake Puna o te Ora: two birds shaking, with water droplets spraying around them. The birds are likely …

15 March 2023: Today’s tea is golden yellow and delicious. Amber Hojicha roasted green tea: This special Hojicha tea is made with sencha leaves which are …

15 March 2023: Morning is the youth of the day, when everything is bright, fresh, and easy of attainment; we feel strong … all our faculties are completely at our …

14 March 2023: It’s been that kind of day.

14 March 2023: I was just getting nicely lined up on this Makipai | Australian Magpie at the beach — hoping it would sing — when it flew away! 🐦

14 March 2023: By 0650 the sun was rising. The paddock below the sunrise, with cows lying quietly in the autumn mist.

14 March 2023: It’s just before 6am and a chilly 7C as I take Sasha for her walk. Everything’s dark. There are stars in the clear sky, washed out by a …

13 March 2023: Today’s tea — White Moonlight: This is a fun, fragrant, light-bodied white tea with an intricate cascade of notes… I like this one. It is …

13 March 2023: Yesterday I made Deep dish apple pie. I bought the pastry. Everyone said it was delicious. Prepping 2 Kg apples took forever as they came off the tree …

12 March 2023: Aargh. I’ve been making Traditional deep dish apple pie, with ready made pastry. It’s taken all afternoon! I didn’t realise …

12 March 2023: This odd looking thing is a Red Kiwifruit: This fruit has a deliciously sweet berry-tinged flavour and vibrant red flesh … the distinctive red flesh …

11 March 2023: Courtesy of Anne Shillolo’s newsletter I downloaded her Murder At Aspen Creek prequel novella for free. It was a quick and enjoyable read — …

11 March 2023: I’m going to stop reading A Space Girl from Earth (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 1) by Christina McMullen. I’m not the target audience and …

10 March 2023: Another fascinating interview: Ann-Helén Laestadiu: Sami, the reindeer people: Stolen is the story of a young Sámi girl’s coming of age. It is …

10 March 2023: Fascinating interview: Angela Saini on the origins of patriarchy - A Podcast of One’s Own with Julia Gillard: Her latest book, The Patriarchs: …

10 March 2023: At 6 am I shone the torch into the quail run to check on lonely Fliss the quail. I spotted this Leopard Slug - Limax Maximus leaving the food dish: …

09 March 2023: The books in this series by Kris Bock are good reads: Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain (Book 4 in The Accidental Detective series). The mystery …

09 March 2023: I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to make this little Keyboard Maestro macro to convert a Markdown link to an HTML link… I’ve …

09 March 2023: 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 format. That took me ages as I blundered around …

08 March 2023: The annoying thing about cooking Foolproof slow roast chicken is I’m starving and there’s more than an hour of cooking left to go…

08 March 2023: Hah! Against Copyediting: Is It Time to Abolish the Other Department of Corrections?: I was less the advocate of adventurous commas or …

08 March 2023: Life with Sasha 🐶 these days: I start to do a thing… Sasha: Ohhh I really need to go out right now. … We walk aimlessly, or sit or just stand. 😵‍💫

08 March 2023: Dates on Micro.Blog bug me. I changed the theme on my blog and now see this date format: 1:11 PM, Mar 6. I hate it. The trouble is, to get my …

07 March 2023: I always enjoy a visit from the Eastern Rosellas. 🐦

07 March 2023: I saved out half a dozen photos of the Wrybills I watched yesterday, but this one stood out as my favourite. 🐦

06 March 2023: Thanks to @tracydurnell for linking to the recipe for Southern Buttermilk Biscuits. Friends have invited me to dinner so I experimented with making …

06 March 2023: Those Ngutuparore, Wrybill are so cute. They came within about 3 metres of me as I sat on the sand. And they run so fast (see the second half of the …

06 March 2023: Probably not technically on Micro.Blog, but I love following @Words@social.vivaldi.net because of the gorgeous daily fox photos. Followed them on …

06 March 2023: I haven’t looked through all ~150 photos I took of 3 Ngutuparore, Wrybill at the beach just now, but this shot clearly shows its bill curves to …

05 March 2023: Another very enjoyable read from Kris Bock: Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek (The Accidental Detective Book 3) 📚 Kate … receives a message claiming …

05 March 2023: I popped up the road for a quick treat today. Yum!

05 March 2023: June 2012 we went zip lining in Rotorua. I coped by clutching the safety straps so tight. The first person in this video is the guide who helped me …

05 March 2023: Heh, I was looking for a different photo but came across this one from September 2003. Remember the Iomega Zip Drives? I probably took this photo to …

04 March 2023: RIP my Japanese Quail Glee, which leaves only one now, little Fliss, the striped one. Glee was full of zip, until she wasn't. 🐦 Baby Glee hatched on …

04 March 2023: I enjoyed watching Britt-Marie Was Here 🎥: The plot follows the titular protagonist Britt-Marie, a 63-year-old homemaker … who leaves her cheating …

04 March 2023: Well, at least one of us is asleep at 1.30 a.m. 🐶

04 March 2023: Oh 1.30 a.m. I’m getting to know you all too well. 🥱

03 March 2023: I'd completely forgotten about this almost 2 minute video: Rosario Procession, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Sunday 13 September 2015.

03 March 2023: 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!) to a single site on Micro.Blog, which means …

03 March 2023: This Ring-Necked Dove was totally unfazed when Sasha and I walked past less than 2 metres away. They’re so friendly. 🐶 🐦 Now I understand why …

02 March 2023: I was enthralled by the sample: this was an immediate buy and a fantastic read. You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner. 📚 Themes of …

02 March 2023: Jana DeLeon somehow manages to keep her Miss Fortune books fresh and interesting. Clue Krewe (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 24) was another very …

02 March 2023: Hmmm, after wondering what had gone so wrong that everything Micro.Blog was down I tried Down for Everyone or Just Me which said it was just me. …

01 March 2023: This is one of my favourite trees around here — a neighbour’s tī kōuka | cabbage tree on a slightly misty morning. 🌴

28 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 deep.

28 February 2023: Dja reckon? Gonna rain?

28 February 2023: Cool! 9 minute video from Tom Scott: This is “impossible”, but New Zealand is trying anyway.: common wisdom is that, once an invasive species is …

27 February 2023: This is one of the Spinifex plants volunteers put in 4 months ago on a severely eroded part of our beach. The weather’s been perfect for plant …

26 February 2023: This mama pheasant was guarding a bevy of her babies. She stood her ground for a long time. 🐦

26 February 2023: Another photo from times gone by. 20 September 2015, a suit of armour in the hotel at Santa Cruz de Mudela. In the Region of La Mancha, this is half …

26 February 2023: Once I was used to the noirish language I enjoyed the adventure of Tropical Punch (Bubbles in Space Book 1) by S.C. Jensen. 📚 Does she like her job? …

25 February 2023: Excellent 5 minute linguistics video: Do New Zealand and Northern England have the same vowels?!

25 February 2023: And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.

25 February 2023: And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.

25 February 2023: I may have a cold so am laying low today. This photo from the archives, 02 September 2015: part of the amazing and fantastical Gaudi Cathedral in …

24 February 2023: Nearly 2 weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 50 people still unaccounted for, communities and food growing land wrecked by flood and silt and …

23 February 2023: This makes for very sobering reading: New Zealand Historic Weather Events Catalogue. So many huge storms that have caused enormous damage.

23 February 2023: Once I finished procrastinating I steeled myself to cook Chana masala with cumin rice … only to find I don’t have enough of the ingredients. …

23 February 2023: It’s Census time (07 March) and our forms were delivered yesterday. We can complete it on paper or online. The online 2018 Census had the lowest …

22 February 2023: I always enjoy a visit from an Eastern Rosella. 🐦

22 February 2023: Cyclone Gabrielle that wrought so much destruction in the north and east of Aotearoa New Zealand’s North Island didn’t affect us directly, …

21 February 2023: Apparently I walked about 11 Km (nearly 7 miles) yesterday on Kāpiti Island. Today I’m feeling it! I feel I should be fitter than that!

21 February 2023: Why women are especially vulnerable after a disaster: there is years of evidence here and overseas that family harm increases after a disaster and …

21 February 2023: This little green cutie is the Korimako | Bellbird 🐦 : Bellbirds are green with a short, curved bill, slightly forked tail, and noisy whirring, fast …

21 February 2023: One of our more colourful birds, the Tīeke | North Island saddleback. 🐦 North Island saddlebacks have striking black plumage, a rufous chestnut …

21 February 2023: Easy to photograph are Weka as they hang around on the ground looking for opportunities to break into bags to steal food. 🐦

21 February 2023: I wasn’t up to the challenge of photographing birds in dense dappled foliage. This is a Kākāriki | Red-crowned parakeet on Kāpiti Island. 🐦

21 February 2023: I asked Makewera, one of the Kāpiti Island guides, what these were. He told me they’re the fruit of the Kohekohe tree. notable for having …

20 February 2023: I had an excellent trip to Kāpiti Island today. I heard tons of birds but seeing them was a challenge with the dense dappled foliage. Luckily this …

19 February 2023: Well, that was a mistake — to watch Star Trek Picard S03E01 today. Now I have to wait a whole week to see episode 2! Pretty blimmin’ good! 🖖🏼

19 February 2023: I enjoyed the lightweight and mildly humorous sci-fi Independent Living (EarthCent Universe Book 1) by E. M. Foner. 📚 a group of retirees leaving …

19 February 2023: OK, the plan for tomorrow is to visit Kapiti Island on a day trip. Making sure my camera batteries are charged! I expect to see lots of birds.

18 February 2023: 0215 and Sasha 🐶 took me a long way down the lane before she had a pee. It’s a beautiful night though, still and not cold. The stars were so …

17 February 2023: There is so much about this book that makes it unlikely I would enjoy it — romance genre, sports, genius level maths…. I was riveted: Simply …

16 February 2023: Apparently, Kāpiti Coast earthquake upgraded to magnitude 6.3 〰️: A strong earthquake centred off the Kāpiti Coast on Wednesday night has been …

15 February 2023: I’m still shaking. This M6.1 quake started with a really loud noise followed by enough shaking to get me out of the house. No damage though. 〰️

15 February 2023: Thanks to @Cheri for mentioning Racing Hearts by Alex Washoe. I kept reading even when other things demanded my attention. 📚 a grumpy/sunshine …

15 February 2023: We had minor wind and rain. Elsewhere in Aotearoa NZ homes, towns, roads are devastated by Ex Cyclone Gabrielle. Then this — Auckland’s emergency pet …

14 February 2023: I really enjoyed this Australian light cozy mystery. A gentle fun read: Till Daph Do Us Part (Daphne Jones Mysteries) by Phillipa Nefri Clark. 📚 …

14 February 2023: My friend Chris makes the very best Afghan biscuits. It’s rare for me to buy Afghans anywhere that are as delicious.

14 February 2023: Amazing: we’re under a Strong Wind Warning here in Horowhenua yet it’s barely a bad weather day as yet. A bit grey, almost no wind, a few drops of …

14 February 2023: Deb gave me these SealSkinz Waterproof All Weather Ultra Grip Knitted Gloves for my 68th birthday. I’ll be using them as photography gloves, …

13 February 2023: Part way through a game of Carcassonne yesterday. A friend was teaching 4 of us how to play. I happened to win, thanks in large part to a farmer who …

12 February 2023: This wētā made itself big and scary when I mowed the lawn today at the house we’re selling in Ōtaki. I was accordingly cautious and kept my …

11 February 2023: We went to a friend’s 80th birthday BBQ. One of her guests had done this amazing job icing chocolate cupcakes as if they were roses. So clever! …

11 February 2023: While organising some papers I found this copy of the September 1945 letter to mum advising her that dad had been freed from the Japanese Prisoner of …

11 February 2023: The Top 5 Dogs of the Week! makes me tear up every week.

10 February 2023: ROFL: Poker Face S01E03 and the racist, fascist, sexist, homophobic MAGA dog! Natasha Lyonne is hilarious.

10 February 2023: My car problem could be the transmission, but the mechanic with decades of experience who took it for a drive thinks it’s a sensor problem. …

10 February 2023: Taking my 19 year old car in to get Dash error lights checked out. Could be an easy fix loose wire, or, my Internet research tells me, it could be …

10 February 2023: There is one single reason why I pay the NYT for games and that is to be able to do the fortnightly Acrostic. This morning I was greeted with this …

09 February 2023: Sasha seems happier now she’s had about 3 months worth of woolly coat shaved off. Plus the weather’s a bit cooler. She slept well last …

08 February 2023: I pretty much enjoyed The Unsound Theory (STAR Academy Book 1) by Emilia Zeeland. It’s a YA book — the main characters were in their late teens. …

08 February 2023: How to look 10 years younger in 90 minutes. Yesterday and today. 🐶 The same dog after being groomed.

07 February 2023: Somewhere in there is a dog. Just wait till tomorrow! 🐶

07 February 2023: Tuturiwhatu, Banded dotterels in the multiverse… 🐦

07 February 2023: I’m pretty sure this is a female Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler with her 3 babies on our nearby lake. 🐦 A medium-sized dabbling duck with a …

06 February 2023: Here’s one for the pen and pencil fans… Actually, it’s a recycled plastic fence post, about 1.5 metres long (a yard and a half), washed up …

06 February 2023: This, my friends, is almost certainly a Hemideina crassidens — Wellington tree wētā. It had made itself comfy on our neighbour’s outdoor chair. …

06 February 2023: Busy day: walk the dog (15 minutes these days) walk on the beach — took a load of photos brunch with a good friend, followed by a 15 minute walk at a …

05 February 2023: I find it interesting that the Google Alert I have in place for Waikawa Beach found me an item about Kai Iwi beach. No mention of Waikawa in the …

05 February 2023: The invitation words that always fill me with terror 😱: bring a plate to share

05 February 2023: Today’s tea is a rich golden colour. Thyolo White Peony: To create this tea, each pluck is three leaves and a bud. Gathered together, the …

04 February 2023: A pair of Eastern Rosellas has been taunting me for weeks now. Today I finally “caught” them. 🐦

04 February 2023: Not actually a floor mop. Sasha on the floor in the early morning. I’ve finally been able to get her in for a groom next week. 🐶

03 February 2023: Early in the piece I didn’t think my first loaf of bread made with our new Kitchenaid mixer would work out very well, but it looks fine fresh …

03 February 2023: This was a simple read — an easily solved murder mystery, a bit of romance. Always on Duty: Companion Novella (A Klondike Mystery) by D. B. McNicol. 📚 …

02 February 2023: These clouds seem rather opinionated. ☁︎

02 February 2023: I’m not a Royal watcher, but Princess Anne seems like the pick of the bunch. Princess Royal to visit New Zealand: Princess Anne is travelling …

02 February 2023: Today’s tea: Yunnan Yellow — It has a heady and exotic fruity and floral aroma, a thick mouthfeel with intense marmalade and papaya notes and …

02 February 2023: Sasha on another barky morning. Surely she can’t know it’s the anniversary of her brother Oshi going away and never coming home again… 🐶 …

01 February 2023: Apparently, according to Sasha 🐶, 01 February is The Day of Barking. Not sure if this is a National or even International event. In any case, …

01 February 2023: Today’s tea: Kyobancha This soothing tea is perfect for a cold day or as a night-time tea. March 2021 harvest.

31 January 2023: I’ve tried a couple of times to give blood, but they won’t let me. That could change — Ban on blood donation … likely to be lifted: A ban …

31 January 2023: Ooooh, I never knew this Backing Up MarsEdit: MarsEdit stores all its data in a folder in your home folder. To open the MarsEdit data folder, hold the …

31 January 2023: The unusual mystery writer conceit in Secret Sleuth Box Set (Books 1–2) by Patricia McLinn took a bit of getting used to, but the books were a …

31 January 2023: Enjoyed the hunt in Graves On The Fens (DI Nikki Galena Series Book 14) by Joy Ellis. 📚 It arrives in the morning. An old-fashioned airmail envelope …

31 January 2023: Today’s tea: Himalayan Evergreen Autumn, Nepal: Grown at 1850m, these leaves were hand-plucked on the sunny morning of 30 October 2021, then …

30 January 2023: My friend Chris called and said she was watching the Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian bittern nearby so I rushed down to join her. My first time seeing …

30 January 2023: I’m copying 325 blog posts from Publii to Micro.Blog via MarsEdit. AppleScript helps a lot. I was stuck on choosing the right blog. …

29 January 2023: On 20 September 2013 there was an enormous thunderclap right above our house in Wellington. Next day when I was walking the dogs I noticed a tree only …

29 January 2023: There is thunder rumbling round. So glad Sasha can no longer hear it (and react to it with terror).

29 January 2023: Fascinating read The sense-defying magic of the Pitcairn Islands: Pitcairn is so high and solitary that there is nothing out there but the Pacific. …

28 January 2023: Soooo clever: chose the theme Anatole for the new site. Downloaded the theme Arabica so I could easily search the files for stuff I wanted to change. …

28 January 2023: I’ve been active on Micro.Blog for 5 years, modified my theme a few times. Feedback on a new blog: setting up a new Micro.Blog account is hard, …

28 January 2023: 9 inches of rain in 24 hours! Auckland flooding: Auckland is under a state of emergency after being battered by torrential rain, with more than 230 …

27 January 2023: Back on 05 December 2021 I thought I’d try Publii for my Waikawa Beach blog. It works adequately, but I really truly miss being able to work …

27 January 2023: Woohoo. We’ve just ordered a Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer - KSM160. That should help a bit with our cooking explorations. Bread products here …

26 January 2023: This is Sasha, out on a walk with me specifically for the purpose of her having a pee… I guess I'll be carrying her back inside again. 9.3 Kg… 🐶

26 January 2023: You know what Plugin I’d like Micro.Blog to have? Something that puts a small banner at the top of the Timeline and says: Since midnight you …

26 January 2023: Whew, writing this 1700 word article for my Waikawa News site has actually taken weeks, including research. It should help inform local discussions to …

25 January 2023: Whew. First I did research that took at least a week. Then I spent at least another week trying to write a big article for my Waikawa Beach blog. …

25 January 2023: In written Māori macrons over vowels indicate a lengthened sound. I’m pleased to say that these days I aim to use macrons correctly. In earlier, …

25 January 2023: Apparently Seneca had thoughts on personal blogging 😆: They asked him what was the object of all this study applied to an art that would reach but …

24 January 2023: This may finally explain why I had to eventually give up trying to post faulty earbuds to Amazon — vapes confiscated from checked-in flight baggage: …

24 January 2023: Today’s walk was 6.6 Km at Mangaone Walkway: follows an old bush tramway in low hill country east of Waikanae. A very enjoyable easy walk …

23 January 2023: We heard a really loud sneeze just outside the door. When I looked though, there was no-one there. Sometimes the cows in the paddock next door cough, …

22 January 2023: The first stick insect of the season has set itself up inside the open window but on the outside of the insect screen.

22 January 2023: We’re on the move — about 4 cm so far this year thanks to a slow-slip earthquake. Not all earthquakes are short sharp shocks. GeoNet: …

22 January 2023: 98 second video shows a bit of what our recently resigned Prime Minister endured: Glimpse into the kind of daily abuse Jacinda Ardern had to weather. …

21 January 2023: Maybe this is why Apple Pay never works on my M1 MacBook Pro: With an M1 Mac, the most likely reason is you enabled its Reduced Security mode to …

21 January 2023: Today we visited the Ōtaki Pottery Show, which had a lot of craft goods for sale and a great many visitors. My photo shows only a small part of the …

21 January 2023: I use a Global Macro Palette in Keyboard Maestro to give me quick click access to some of my macros. The palette is usually collapsed but expands on …

20 January 2023: Today in Keyboard Maestro actions I discovered “Switch” instead of nested “If…Then” actions. There are 3 Facebook pages I …

20 January 2023: I was thinking we need a plainer and more powerful word than the clinical and remote misogyny. It’s all academic and posh with its Greek roots. …

20 January 2023: Re the resignation of PM Jacinda Ardern: it is becoming more challenging for women to be taken seriously… "Particularly if they are younger and …

19 January 2023: Nice: neighbours over the mountains. South Wairarapa and Carterton’s night skies will know be known under the collective name, ‘Wairarapa …

19 January 2023: In her term as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: encountered a major biosecurity incursion, a domestic terror event, a major natural disaster, a global …

19 January 2023: Hand mixed because we don’t have a kitchen mixer (yet), but I’m trying to make Crusty French Bread Rolls. Not optimistic at the moment …

19 January 2023: Sasha’s long overdue a haircut. 🐶

18 January 2023: I’m not sure what happened on the mountains this evening — I suspect it was a gap between clouds that threw sun onto one level of the hills …

18 January 2023: A particularly interesting segment of Quirks & Quarks podcast talks about how eyes work — fascinating stuff! Dec 31: Our annual holiday question …

18 January 2023: A photo achievement I’m pleased with: getting a clear shot of this dragonfly on the wing. This one was in focus; the other 20 or so …

18 January 2023: This Matuku moana | White-faced heron saw me watching and kindly fished up something out of the lake for me. 🐦

17 January 2023: Deb and I brunched at Bush Street Cafe. Deb’s coffee was great, my green tea was good. The food was delicious. I had the Caprese Toastie. And …

17 January 2023: My lying brain In a few weeks I turn 68. These days I’m only too aware of how this 68 year old body doesn’t always meet my expectations. Of course, …

17 January 2023: Yesterday I hiked Sledge Track, an hour’s drive away. I found it harder than the claimed “easy walk”, doing the 5 Km out-and-back to …

16 January 2023: Terrible photo, but it was what I could get. I thought 2 rabbits were playing in the lane way ahead of me. Then I realised one was too long in the …

16 January 2023: And another view of the day before sunrise.

16 January 2023: Look at this gorgeous morning — 20 minutes before sunrise.

15 January 2023: Bored now. My little buddy Leo. 🐈

15 January 2023: Applescript to tidy Black Ink crossword app windows: tell application "Black Ink" set baseFrame to bounds of window 1 repeat with thisWindow in …

15 January 2023: Just one reason @danielpunkass is a favourite app developer — I emailed asking for a way to tidy up Black Ink crossword windows scattered all over my …

14 January 2023: After a few hours the baling machine comes along, sweeps up the cut grass, then rolls it into big round bales, wraps them up and poops them out every …

14 January 2023: Today the farmer next door was spinning the mowed grass into piles ready for baling.

13 January 2023: As usual I was concerned when I went out that Sasha would be stressed. I came home to this! 🐶💤

13 January 2023: I’m so ‘something’ that my friend Chris has now seen the extremely cryptic and Nationally Critical Matuku-hūrepo, Australasian …

13 January 2023: This article is chock full of useful info for all users: The real secrets of iOS and accessibility.

12 January 2023: The farmer next door is mowing today.

11 January 2023: I missed the focus on this but still wanted to post this adult and two baby Oystercatchers. 🐦

11 January 2023: Heh, followed a link on a webpage to this address: h​t​t​p​s​:​/​/​b​-​o​k​.​c​c​ (I’ve added invisible characters to ‘break’ it …

11 January 2023: Whew, I’ve struggled my way through Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Translated (in 1862) by George Long. The language is dense so it’s …

11 January 2023: This post from 11 January 2022 took me by surprise today: It’s a year since I ordered my M1 MacBook Pro. I was just thinking yesterday how much I …

10 January 2023: This rather ruffled looking baby bird stumbled across the deck and took refuge in the passionfruit. 🐦

10 January 2023: These days when Sasha eats she spreads biscuits all over the floor. 🐶

09 January 2023: Just found this printed photo in the archives. When I was a teen back in the late 60’s and early 70s I begged my parents to get us a Miniature …

09 January 2023: Today I tried making Dorset apple traybake and it was delicious. We only had plain flour, not self-raising, the vanilla essence ran out, and we can’t …

09 January 2023: If you’ve never watched this 15 minute speech from 2012 then you should: Julia Gillard misogyny speech in Australian Parliament. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

09 January 2023: Sometimes it’s an old movie that brings the thought for the day: Pile up enough tomorrows and you’ll find you’ve collected nothing but a lot of …

08 January 2023: I enjoyed reading Mountain Town Murder: Jackson Hole Moose’s Bakery Not So Cozy Mystery #1 by Sue Pepper and may well read more of the series. I …

08 January 2023: I just love timeline adjacencies! M: The one downside of weekends in a house with many people? Noise. There’s always someone doing something, walking …

07 January 2023: Today’s surprise discovery 📚: the Southern Cross [constellation] hasn’t always been ours. Thanks to a phenomenon known as precession … it …

07 January 2023: Deb and I went to see the most excellent A Man Called Otto. At the same time sad, funny, and heartwarming, the movie was beautifully done. Not a thing …

07 January 2023: Like mother like daughter — Oystercatcher adult and chick. 🐦

06 January 2023: Noon was feeding time at Ngā Manu for the Longfin Eels: The longfin eel is one of the largest eels in the world and it is found only in the rivers …

06 January 2023: This Tuatara at Ngā Manu Reserve kept its back to me. Tuatara are a rare reptile found only in New Zealand. They are the last survivors of an order …

05 January 2023: Can't believe how knackered I am after today's outing (and last night's poor sleep)! One photo from today's visit to Ngā Manu Reserve, Waikanae: this …

05 January 2023: Today’s Stoic thought was “memento vivere”: remember to live. I took it to heart, ignored the rain, realised I could have an outing, …

05 January 2023: I learned so much from Dan Bailey's book about the Fuji X series cameras that his new Fujifilm Autofocus Course was an instant buy. I'll walk you …

04 January 2023: In a clean-up moment I admitted to myself that most of the sciency YouTube videos I was subscribed to via RSS I was no longer really enjoying. Also …

04 January 2023: I love it when this mother and son pair come to graze in the paddock nearby.

03 January 2023: There’s a big block of land nearby that almost always has cows in it. Whenever I bike past I get a whiff of cow poop. I actually like that — …

02 January 2023: Did a short beach walk: almost no birds — one pair of nesting Oystercatchers are hanging in there. Instead, as always at this time of year, loads of …

02 January 2023: 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 much for me: little things, bigger things, things …

01 January 2023: I don’t do reading lists and goals and all that, but have thought maybe I should deliberately include some additional variety in my 2023 …

01 January 2023: It seems I’m making a tradition of posting a selfie on 01 January each year. See 2022 and 2021. So, here’s 01 January 2023.

01 January 2023: I started this Gregorian Calendar 2023 year with a dawn visit to the beach. But I was thinking I’d like to align my personal year with the …

01 January 2023: For the first time ever I tried recording video with my Fuji X-T2. This shifty looking character is either a South Island Pied Oystercatcher or a …

01 January 2023: Mōrena. Welcome to 2023. Pahirini Chaffinch 🐦.

31 December 2022: I’ve found The Happiness Lab podcast invaluable. Now Dr Laurie Santos has created The Science of Well-Being for Teens. Parents, you may be …

31 December 2022: If you hate dogs look away. For the rest of us The Dogs of 2022 is four and a half minutes of delight. 🐶

31 December 2022: Sasha had me out taking her for a walk at dawn.

30 December 2022: Solstice and Equinox dates for the next few years Since I just looked this up for myself. Year March equinox June solstice September equinox December solstice 2022 21 March 04:33 21 June …

30 December 2022: I didn’t have my watch with me, but I got to spend maybe 20 minutes out admiring the warm, still, partly cloudy night while Sasha walked us …

29 December 2022: Another book from an author I quite like: The New Teacher (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 1) by Erin Lark Maples. 📚 The story flows well, and …

29 December 2022: Hmmm, The Raven’s Mark by Christie J Newport just wasn’t really my thing. 📚 Beth must break all the rules to stop any more girls from …

29 December 2022: I quite enjoyed Knight Trials by Alice Bienia, though it felt a little tangled in parts. One page that sticks in my mind was a couple of paras of …

28 December 2022: Today I cleaned the used straw and shavings out of the quail run and gave the girls a fresh deep layer of bedding. 🐦

27 December 2022: This was a really good TV series. I hope we’ll get a Season Two. Darby and Joan 📺 : A retired Australian detective and an English nurse work …

27 December 2022: Why herbal tea isn’t actually tea | The Tea Curator: Tea is said to have been first discovered in China way back in 2737BC by Emperor, scholar and …

26 December 2022: Oystercatcher: Ah yeah, gidday. Just sitting on my nest. You? 🐦

26 December 2022: The positive about taking Sasha out for a pee at 2 am was the gorgeous bright stars. Mars was prominent by Taurus. Orion and Sirius were ahead of us, …

25 December 2022: Christmas lunch with friends: tiger prawns and chicken on the barbie; a bowl of fresh raspberries and blueberries. Plus lots of other delicious …

25 December 2022: memento mori [is] remembering death so you don’t waste the time you have in life. Memento vivere, remember to live … is making the details of the …

24 December 2022: Superb article: Inside Wikipedia’s great macron war: In 2007, New Zealand got … its first street name with a macron: Kōkiri Place … the mayor of …

24 December 2022: Today I updated an old post which also meant I ended up finding, re-editing and re-exporting photos from my collection. It made me realise how much …

23 December 2022: 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 January 2018 I wrote on my new Micro.Blog with a link …

23 December 2022: Excited to subscribe to en clair podcast: … a casebook of forensic linguistic cases, literary detection, and language mysteries. It also looks at …

23 December 2022: Always a welcome web page: Winners of the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

23 December 2022: More good sense from @annahavron — Schedule ONE Daily Thing, That is Not Work-Related: With a daily routine that a) incorporates at least one thing …

22 December 2022: The beach was very calm this morning — almost no waves. Kāpiti Island in the background.

21 December 2022: I made 30 Minute Easy Dinner Rolls (1/3 recipe) and Mushroom soup for dinner. Left out the cream from the soup and it was still yummy. Quick and easy …

21 December 2022: Yesterday Deb brought me this wonderful and delicious treat: a yuzu tart (lemon meringue pie) from Origami in Cuba Street.

21 December 2022: I’m really enjoying this new-to-me podcast: Subtitle: A podcast about languages and the people who speak them. Fascinating episodes.

21 December 2022: Just thinking about how my ideal Christmas Day would look — in a campervan or cabin, by water — river, lake or sea — with plenty of supplies and far …

20 December 2022: No-one wants too much detail on this, but for the last week Sasha’s been having some 💩 problems. I think things are improving. Let’s just …

20 December 2022: Yesterday afternoon. I’m choosing to believe this wasn’t commentary on the lateness of dinner. 😆 🐶

19 December 2022: Oooh, pretty clouds. And someone up the road’s getting a good dump of rain.

19 December 2022: @help Seems like today I can’t get more than ~30 posts on the Timeline (Safari on web). There’s no Show More button or anything… Is it …

19 December 2022: Hmmm, had to dig deep in the memory for this. I’m trying Suzume Sparrow Kukicha, roasted green tea: made entirely from stems of summer harvest …

19 December 2022: I was already uncomfortable with Karen as a general term of abuse. Now I learn that Space Karen refers to Elon Musk, who is behaving badly. This goes …

19 December 2022: Low sun, dark sky, cabbage trees and flax spears. Ahhh morning.

18 December 2022: The Kiwi barbie: Craig from Horowhenua District Council cooks saussies on a BBQ in a trailer, under an umbrella, in the rain, for the opening of the …

17 December 2022: Interesting! I think I’ve struck this (but ended up just typing in the number): Beware When Pasting Phone Numbers Copied from Contacts - …

17 December 2022: Sasha tells me it’s breakfast time. 🐶

16 December 2022: People go on at length about how to make a cup of coffee, but no-one talks about tea… I was thrilled to discover The Tea Curator, with detailed posts …

16 December 2022: The newly completed toilet block at Waikawa Beach (replacing a 50- to 60- year old facility) also has fresh new signage — in Te Reo Māori and English …

16 December 2022: So important! Go and read and act on New Year’s Resolution: Make Information Accessible, for Those Who Survive You: My opinions here come from …

16 December 2022: CareHQ virtual GP Note for future me (and other Kiwis): CareHQ is a virtual GP consultation service that is open 7am–7pm, 7 days a week. You meet with a New …

15 December 2022: The Yellowhammers are singing a lot these days. This one was singing just by the house. Photo from January this year. 🐦

15 December 2022: 28 October 2018 I planted lemon thyme by the dog yard. Today, 15 December 2022, it looks and smells fabulous! A bit of watering and weeding from time …

14 December 2022: I’m 26% of the way through The Cardiff Killings (DI Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller Book 1) by Gaynor Torrance but have decided to read no further. …

14 December 2022: It’s barely 9 am and the Levin clock tower tells me it’s already 26C (79F). It’s gonna be a hot one today.

13 December 2022: Hmmm, I think one Kołaczki at the front maybe looks like the ones the real cook made. Some ‘squares’ were too small so I didn’t even …

13 December 2022: Sasha winning at Hunt The Anchovy on her 16th birthday. 🐶

13 December 2022: Listening to Kismet (1967). I hadn’t realised there were quite so many famous songs in this one show. I first heard “Stranger in …

13 December 2022: One of the fantastic features of MarsEdit is easily finding and fixing old posts. When I checked my On This Day page today a few photos from 2018 had …

12 December 2022: Not off to a good start cooking Kołaczki — ignored the timer for a moment to finish an email reply and burnt the pot with apricot filling. 😒

12 December 2022: Sasha, aged 15 years 364 days, snoozing. 🥰 🐶

12 December 2022: This is the kind of conversation I love on Micro.Blog.

12 December 2022: My current music fave is Korolova from Ukraine. I’m working my way through listening to all her music videos. Her music stays with me during the …

11 December 2022: I enjoyed reading Knight Blind (Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Series Book 1) by Alice Bienia. Jorja is relatable, and gradually reveals …

11 December 2022: Deb and I have been watching and enjoying Three Pines but it’s a bit grim and intense. The story lines tend to include the atrocities of the …

11 December 2022: This is such a bird-filled time of year. All the birds come and sit on the flaxes by the house. This Kōurarini European goldfinch was just outside the …

10 December 2022: Yay. Waikawa Blueberries is open again. Time for real fruit icecream, fresh blueberries and award winning olive oil. Yum!

10 December 2022: A greeting to the day: He kore, he kore He pō, he pō He ao, he ao Takiri mai te ata Korihi te manu Tino awatea Ka ao, ka ao Ka awatea Tihei Mouri Ora …

09 December 2022: Another good story and an enjoyable read. The Girl Who Lost Him (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 4) by Amy Vansant. 📚

09 December 2022: I quite enjoyed The Sled Dog (The Sheridan County Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Lark Maples: After the race, [Elizabeth] discovers an abandoned, injured …

09 December 2022: Mystery lift sign in Montserrat, Spain. No people if the lift is already occupied by bats…? // @designatednerd

09 December 2022: Listening to the most excellent The Ink Spots: Swing High Swing Low. 🎶

09 December 2022: I heard a noise this morning I couldn’t quite make out. I thought maybe it was a hawk but it was too close and repeated too often without …

08 December 2022: I’m so used to adding images to my blog posts by using Command 3 in MarsEdit I’ve had to write a Keyboard Maestro macro to use Command 3 …

08 December 2022: This kind of attention to detail and insistence on making things smooth and easy for the user is why Daniel Jalkut’s software is best-in-class. …

08 December 2022: Sasha, hanging out on the grass. 🐶

08 December 2022: This is exactly why you should give MarsEdit a try: MarsEdit’s role as a blogger’s best friend. From: MarsEdit 5: Microposting, Markdown Highlighting, …

07 December 2022: swear words around the world … lack 'approximants' – sounds made by bringing our lips, teeth, hard palate or tongue close … without making contact … …

07 December 2022: I’ve taken the extremely rare step of filing a dispute with my bank about the defective earbuds. Amazon have promised a refund when they receive …

07 December 2022: I’ve spent hours trying to return faulty earbuds Amazon shipped me. I’ve driven 3 times to the Post Office, spent hours researching… I was …

07 December 2022: I heard these Kuihi Canada Geese coming way before I could see them.

06 December 2022: Folks, you might like to see Take care for the Pied Stilt chicks about the baby birds currently trying to survive on our beach. Includes fantastic …

06 December 2022: Take care for the Pied Stilt chicks Very small baby bird sitting on beach. Photo by Corne Ferreira and used with permission. These baby birds are so hard to see they're at huge risk of …

06 December 2022: Thanks to the global Light pollution map I now know the sky where I live is almost as dark as it can get, at Class 2. On a clear night I can see the …

06 December 2022: The other morning on the beach I spotted a group of Kuaka Godwit doing their thing then realised one bird looked quite different. I believe this is a …

06 December 2022: For Micro Monday I suggest @Denny who lives a low impact life, cycles, is interested in how we live in the world in harmony with nature. He also has …

05 December 2022: This was my Sasha when she was only a couple of months old. 🐶

05 December 2022: One of these things is not like the others… Turns out the printed product manual for our UV water filter and purification system contains an incorrect …

05 December 2022: A powerful essay — Where women were cloaked in shame: We Iranian women … have been ashamed of talking about what’s been done to us, and … so scared …

05 December 2022: Kiwis, a reminder that this time of year ramps up family violence. Gift A Safe Night at Women’s Refuge and help a woman and kids escape family …

05 December 2022: Wow, 3 years today since I got my beautiful kirituhi tattoo. Still loving it! Birds, sea and cabbage tree.

04 December 2022: Thrilled with this photo from my beach walk today: Kuaka Godwit. 🐦

04 December 2022: Our neighbours are sneaky — they had a big party today for their 30th anniversary. None of us knew they were actually getting married! (Not even the …

03 December 2022: I really enjoyed this Lingthusiasm podcast episode. Question formats are surprisingly interesting in English and other languages. Who questions the …

03 December 2022: A few months ago we had Bird of the Year, now it’s New Zealand Bug of the Year 2023: Aotearoa is home to over 20,000 species of insects and …

02 December 2022: Hmmm, that quake came in two parts — I just knew it was going to get bigger. About a minute long. All good — just a shake — another day in the life of …

02 December 2022: Huh, I thought (cooking) salt was salt, but it turns out there are different types with different characteristics. Which salt is best for cooking?: …

02 December 2022: Thanks to @gregmoore and @mtt I now have the Recoleta font on my Kindle. 📚 How to Install Custom Fonts on Your Kindle

02 December 2022: As I use my Mac and iPhone and websites and apps and whatnot I realise that the more ‘security’ I have to pass through the less I pay …

02 December 2022: I had simply never registered that Z keyboard command in Photos.app and have spent a lot of time over the months trying to use the slider control to …

02 December 2022: Morning dog. Sasha, only a few days away from her 16th birthday. 🐶

01 December 2022: A couple of weeks ago I paid Amazon ~$20 on top of purchase price to ship me a pair of new earbuds. They were defective. Turns out I can’t ship …

30 November 2022: I have supervisors. A couple of little Warou, Welcome swallow spend the day sitting on the rail by the lounge. Such cuties! 🐦

30 November 2022: And for today’s yoga session we have a simple little neck twist with head tuck. 🐦

30 November 2022: Weird thing, but Aotearoa New Zealand Law says that beaches are roads. Land Transport Act 1998: In Part 1, the Interpretation, it says: “road …

29 November 2022: While one Kāhu | Hawk was flying around, another was relaxing on a fencepost. 🐦

29 November 2022: With the flax spears opening Tūī | Tui are visiting to feed. 🐦

28 November 2022: I’m outta here! 🐦

28 November 2022: My old girl Sasha, eating her dinner last night. 🐶

28 November 2022: Listening to what I think is a Korimako | Bellbird this morning. 😍

27 November 2022: This makes me happy. I’ve now sent out 10 issues of a local monthly community newsletter I write (Buttondown is great for this). My subscriber …

27 November 2022: A new skill I’ve learned today: How To Compare Two Images. Makes a web page with a slider to compare two images. See Compare 2016 and 2019 …

27 November 2022: We had 300 grams of mushrooms that were getting a bit old, so I experimented with making Mushroom soup. That was easy and delicious. I only wish …

27 November 2022: Flax spears in late sun.

26 November 2022: Not Boss at parking!

26 November 2022: When I want to learn how to best use my Apple stuff I turn to the utterly excellent Take Control Books. For a few days they are on sale: 50% off. …

26 November 2022: I just watched Why Am I Craving Sweets? | Serving Up Science: When we eat foods that contain lots of fat and sugar, it’s the natural chemical …

25 November 2022: Aaargh! I’m sitting here feeling peckish and wondering what to make for dinner. Meanwhile all my US blogpals are posting photos of Thanksgiving …

25 November 2022: I’m not in the habit of posting photos of public toilets, but March 2022 just before demolition of the ~70 year old building: 1. a row of 3 …

24 November 2022: The first time I’ve heard the Pīpīwharauroa | Shining cuckoo at Waikawa Beach. I’ve never seen one. It has the most annoying call: Voice: …

23 November 2022: Mighty disappointed that the right earbud on the pair that arrived today just won’t work in spite of charging, pairing and unpairing, resetting …

23 November 2022: Took far too long to find out if a flashing white light meant the earbuds were charging or charged. Charging the headphones: Flashing white: Charging …

23 November 2022: On 16 November 2022 I ordered two items from Amazon that I couldn’t buy from Aotearoa New Zealand (out of stock or wrong size / colour or just …

22 November 2022: Researching the topic: vehicles erode beaches. It seems fairly clear that vehicles cause damage to beaches and their structures (eg dunes), bird, …

22 November 2022: These MinuteFood videos are enjoyable and very interesting. I recommend you give them a try. Today’s watch: Why do some leftovers suck?. Rule of …

22 November 2022: I was a bit mired in a couple of books that just weren’t grabbing me. I turned to Something Deadly on Desert Drive (The Accidental Detective …

21 November 2022: I’ve always very much enjoyed SEAL Team (TV series). This Season 6 though has been truly special. No spoilers, but a few episodes have left me …

21 November 2022: Whew, I passed the squirrel test. We don’t have squirrels in Aotearoa New Zealand. I guess that top square that I only noticed when resizing …

20 November 2022: I didn’t know I could do this: Bring Yourself Recurring Joy with Apple’s New Lock Screen Photo Shuffle. Now in place. 😀

20 November 2022: The taste test left me really wishing I hadn’t halved the recipe! I hope there are some left for this afternoon’s visitors…

20 November 2022: One of the quirks of halving a recipe is ending up needing half an egg. Luckily, as I have Japanese Quail, this is no problem. 4 quail eggs …

19 November 2022: I try to avoid grumbling here but I slept poorly last night and I’m suffering hayfever symptoms — itchy eyes, nose, throat. Today I’m also …

19 November 2022: With about 70 mm rain in the past two days, our old friend the puddle in the paddock next door is back. Clearly the water table hasn’t dropped …

18 November 2022: After getting far too hot this morning weeding and mulching along the driveway I biked 5 minutes to the beach and went for a dip in the sea. This is …

17 November 2022: The native grasses beside our driveway have grown well. I had boards around the area so I could weedeat easily, but today removed the boards so I can …

16 November 2022: It took longer than I expected to mulch this bit of garden on a steep bank by the lane.

15 November 2022: A year ago I complained about publishers (incorrectly) guessing which Amazon store I’ll buy books from. I solved this annoyance with Keyboard …

15 November 2022: To be fair, I’m not the target audience for The Valentine Voyage: Book Six: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson. The main genre is het …

14 November 2022: 10 cubic metres of pine mulch will keep us busy over the summer.

13 November 2022: I read I Bury Dead People: A Hilarious Cosy Mystery by PJ Vye. I quite enjoyed it though the credibility of the unravelling didn’t really sit right …

12 November 2022: For the first time in my life I watched a rugby match (on the telly). Saw the Kiwi women’s team the Black Ferns win against the English in the …

12 November 2022: Whew, the rain stayed away for the community picnic we organised. A good number of people turned up — maybe 40? And we invited our two new Horowhenua …

11 November 2022: I’ll see your 1 and raise you 300. Auckland suburb raises solidarity flag after homophobic incidents: 🏳️‍🌈 I suggested: if they’re upset …

11 November 2022: Sasha looks good after her groom. 🐶

11 November 2022: Sasha was a good girl, quietly waiting while I hung out the washing. 🐶

11 November 2022: Excellent: Anna Havron’s Inner Trolls and Better Angels: Being a Person, Online: I see great value in sites that post personal observations. …

10 November 2022: Another in a series whose characters are so appealing: The Missing Babysitter Mystery (The Supermarket Mysteries Book 3) by Rachel Ward. 📚 a body …

10 November 2022: Crime, and also lesbian romance; I enjoyed Goslyn County by A.M. McKnight. 📚 While investigating three burglaries, Goslyn PD Detective Olivia Winston …

09 November 2022: I’m not a sports fan myself, but this level of success for women’s sport is phenomenal — Eden Park sells out for Black Ferns’ Rugby …

09 November 2022: Yesterday on a radio show the host welcomed a guest, Anjum Rahman, with “As-salamu alaikum”, a greeting seldom heard here. It could be …

08 November 2022: Those eggs I saw on the beach the other day weren’t from an Oystercatcher, but rather this dedicated gorgeous Pied Stilt. Such delicate …

08 November 2022: Four of the half dozen black swans at the lake this morning. 🐦

08 November 2022: For Micro Monday I’d very much recommend @annahavron who writes intelligent, thoughtful articles about life, but who also posts cool photos of cats, …

07 November 2022: We have 3 flavours of the food Sasha used to eat (recently). Last night and this morning she wouldn’t eat anything. Sigh. Finally I relented and …

07 November 2022: Volume up! 0900 on a Sunday morning (yesterday): the sounds of silence. Listen for the birds. One of the things I love about where I live. What does …

07 November 2022: Many thanks to @cheri who pointed out this superb 33 minute mini-documentary on Angela Lansbury’s life and work: Proud to be a Gay Icon: Angela …

06 November 2022: Restricted Area Please Keep Out.

06 November 2022: The lawn at the house we’re selling looked terrible a few days after someone we hired mowed it. This weather just makes grass grow! Today I took …

05 November 2022: I nearly stepped on this clutch of 5 Oystercatcher eggs on the beach. The birds lay them in the sand near a bit of driftwood. I was actually looking …

05 November 2022: There’s spam and then there’s ham. Supermarket ham, to be precise: Made in New Zealand from imported and local ingredients. Pork …

04 November 2022: As it was set in Aotearoa New Zealand, I had high hopes for this book but was sadly disappointed. The Long Island Iced Tea Goodbye (Career Crisis Café …

03 November 2022: Sasha and I had differing ideas about why we went out just before bedtime. The outing did not include peeing after all. Since it did include sitting, …

03 November 2022: Absolutely worth a listen — Hannah Gadsby on redefining comedy in A Podcast of One’s Own with Julia Gillard: Hannah Gadsby is an Australian …

03 November 2022: Note to future me: when Publii refuses to complete syncing this may help — Website not syncing completely - Publii Forum: remove file …

02 November 2022: Aw heck. S03E10 of My Life Is Murder seems to be the last. It was a darn good show. 📺 follows the adventures of fearless private investigator Alexa …

02 November 2022: This book’s title made me dubious about whether I should bother but I was hooked from the first paragraph. It was an excellent read: Something …

01 November 2022: A pair of Canada Geese on the lake. 🐦

01 November 2022: Yay, my new glasses are ready to be collected and it so happens Tuesdays are the day I can make a trip to Wellington. With any luck I’ll have …

31 October 2022: Here’s a new one on me: a blackmail scam that appeared in my RSS reader, courtesy of the email address Feedbin provides that I use for …

31 October 2022: The Woman King was impressive and powerful: textured, moving, absorbing, heart-breaking and thought-provoking, and inspired by true events. 🎥 the …

31 October 2022: Thanks to @cheri who drew my attention to this wonderful rap video a couple of weeks ago: Rock Wren for Bird of the Year. And look who won! Bird of …

30 October 2022: Wrong way, Sasha! 🐶

30 October 2022: Yesterday I visited my little buddy Leo, who has a play loft he likes to hang out in. Even though he’s an old boy now he’s nimble on the …

29 October 2022: Halfway I considered skipping ahead to see who the culprit was, but I persevered to the end. Buried Identity by Rosaleen Flanagan just wasn’t my …

29 October 2022: Oh, this is new: Kindle Rewards Beta. I buy a lot of Kindle books, most for less than $5. This could add up though.

29 October 2022: More conscious than ever that Sasha’s time with us is dwindling I’m trying to remember to take more photos. We no longer have …

28 October 2022: I must be learning … It’s unusually early in the season for me to realise that no, I’m not getting a cold, but instead have the start of …

28 October 2022: So here I was waiting for my toast to pop when I read the packet on the “Canadian” Brunswick sardines that would go on the top. Turns out …

28 October 2022: Three of the 4 chooks I’m looking after for a few days. They’re a bit grumpy that I haven’t let them out yet I think. 🐓

27 October 2022: The sunset became even better. By the time I returned the chooks were all tucked up on their roosts. 🐓

27 October 2022: I’m looking after a friend’s chooks, and I’m supposed to shut them up for the night. Unfortunately the two who were in bed got out …

27 October 2022: It’s baby rabbit time of year. 🐰

26 October 2022: Oops.

26 October 2022: It’s likely my lack of knowledge or understanding of Indian culture coloured my response, but I found this book melodramatic and overdone. It …

25 October 2022: The Spinoff (news site) consistently reminds me of its excellence. Who is the new British prime minister? This month: Rishi Sunak is factual. Funny. …

25 October 2022: Heh, “WARNING STRANGE DOG”. 🐶

25 October 2022: Yay, Pages 116 & following of Take Control of Ventura – Take Control Books actually explain in a way I can understand what Passkeys are and how …

25 October 2022: Nice to get a mention in macOS Ventura - New Features: Autocorrect supports three new languages: English (New Zealand)…

25 October 2022: All I can say is it’s a good thing there wasn’t any oncoming traffic. 😆 s l o w r o a d s

24 October 2022: Very much enjoying watching S10 of Doc Martin 📺: The villagers eventually discover his fear of blood, and the frequent and debilitating bouts of …

23 October 2022: The Man Who Died Twice: (The Thursday Murder Club 2) by Richard Osman continues the adventures of the Thursday Murder Club. Still amusing, its novelty …

22 October 2022: Very uncomfortable topic for a cozy mystery, but I like this series and its characters who are very real: The Missing Pets Mystery (The Supermarket …

22 October 2022: Gathering rosebuds: carpe diem: “carpe diem” [is] usually translated as “seize the day”, but it’s a lot more than that: “carpe” could also mean …

21 October 2022: I made myself teriyaki chicken bowl for lunch. It was pretty good.

21 October 2022: I’ve been reading some Horace Odes. Ponder this: What may be tomorrow, take care not to ask – whatever kind of day Fortune brings, put it down …

20 October 2022: Since a friend introduced me, I’ve enjoyed Daily Organics Summer Kombucha. Now I’ve bought a Scoby from them and am about to try making my …

19 October 2022: Spring! Spotted today at the local pond, a duck with, I believe, 10 ducklings. Look at those little mites! 🐦

19 October 2022: An often used TextExpander snippet grabs title and URL from Safari. Tab groups upset it. Updated: tell application “Safari” set theName to …

18 October 2022: Another good read from an author I enjoy: Goodbye Sky Field (A Port Alma Murder Mystery Book 6) by Anne Shillolo. 📚 DC Holly Towns is working on a …

18 October 2022: I love Welcome Swallows: they’re small, colourful, fast and generally cute. This one came to sit on our deck railing. Photos through a window. 🐦 …

18 October 2022: LOL: Underbirds are go! Aotearoa New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition has started. I think this year I might vote for the Ruru — I thought …

18 October 2022: Pleased with myself that today I checked my camera settings before getting click-happy on the shutter. This morning there were about 15 Kuaka feeding …

17 October 2022: We have some large, though pale, Kiwifruit (from the shops) at the moment. Yum. Note for people outside NZ: a Kiwi is a] a bird b] a person. A …

17 October 2022: Excellent practical steps — How To Use Stoicism To Remove False Impressions : apply calm reason to the assumptions And throw away what is obviously …

16 October 2022: Last year I gathered half a dozen delicious apples from my Granny Smith tree. Right now new blossoms are coming in.

16 October 2022: A gorgeous morning at the beach, where the sea was gently lapping tiny waves just like on a tropical island. Kāpiti Island in the background.

15 October 2022: From one part of the beach this view of cloud snugging round the Tararuas.

14 October 2022: I was heading to the deck when I pulled up short. A California Quail (a rare and occasional visitor in these parts) was hanging out on our deck …

14 October 2022: A Day In The Life Photo Challenge 2022. Taken at 08:40 at Waikawa Beach, Horowhenua, Aotearoa. Flowering Ti Kouka (Cabbage tree).

13 October 2022: I tried Mini Apple Pancakes Recipe. Turned out I didn’t have Greek Yoghurt so used 1 tablespoon Sour Cream instead. Sugar, egg, cinnamon and …

13 October 2022: Hmmm, looked up a crossword answer (a music track I’d never heard of). Now enjoying a blast from the past with Tracy Chapman, Annie Lennox, …

12 October 2022: I’ve come to like this series, and with some very interrupted sleeps I read my way through these fairly quickly. They’re good …

12 October 2022: I made French toast today for the first time and served it with icing sugar, sliced banana and maple syrup. It was pretty good. It was a great way to …

12 October 2022: I’m looking forward to A Day in the Life of Micro.blog Photo Challenge. Now to figure out when it starts in my timezone (Aotearoa New Zealand) … …

11 October 2022: I’ve owned Jigsaw Puzzle Epic for years, used to play, fell out of it for a few years, and now do a puzzle or two per day. Thank goodness for …

10 October 2022: Our tenant has left the house we’ve been renting out and the estate agent is now in charge of selling it. One of today’s jobs was to …

09 October 2022: One of our local ring-necked doves was hanging round by the house this morning. Very convenient! 🐦

09 October 2022: At least my good old point and shoot iPhone captured this small flock of Canada Geese flying by. Good way to avoid operator error.

09 October 2022: Out of 30 or so photos of Kuaka (Godwits) this is probably the only one where the bird was actually in focus. So annoyed with myself for mucking up …

09 October 2022: This is not the splendid photo of a Godwit I imagined I was taking on the beach this morning. With a 1/9 second shutter speed how could it be? I must …

08 October 2022: This morning’s job, with other community volunteers: plant thousands of young spinifex plants at the base of the dunes, to help retain and build …

07 October 2022: After peeling, coring and slicing a bunch of apples the other day for Easy Apple Crisp, I bought a device that does it all. That arrived today. I have …

06 October 2022: Today’s polar blast makes me very thankful for my wonderful warm down jacket.

06 October 2022: I’ve really tried (for a couple of months now) to like Airshow, but have given in and reverted to Overcast. I need to have more control over …

06 October 2022: I’m guessing I originally watched Andromeda week by week on actual TV back when it was new: The series premiered on October 2, 2000, and ended …

05 October 2022: 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, Dispensing Optician, who helped me choose frames …

04 October 2022: My favourite optometrist dilated my eyes so now my screen’s blurry. I was also surprised to learn my sunglasses are progressives not …

04 October 2022: I’ve always suffered from cold hands and feet. Recently some of my fingertips sometimes go white and numb. It has a name: Raynaud’s …

04 October 2022: Excellent 33 minute podcast episode: Nerd Out! The Happiness of Being a Fan: Really love a TV show; … sci fi movie; or celebrity? We’re often too …

03 October 2022: The quail run needed a refresh so yesterday I took out old straw and pine shavings and macrocarpa twigs. Today I went and bought more pine shavings, …

02 October 2022: Excited to see on my beach walk this morning that the first Kuaka (Godwits) have returned from their sojourn in the Arctic.

01 October 2022: I love these occasional Micro.Blog timeline adjacencies. // @jayeless @Burk

01 October 2022: Note to future self: don’t use this angle to take photos of food. Today I cooked Easy Apple Crisp and it was totally delish! Thanks to …

01 October 2022: Booked in for early November: Waimangu Volcanic Valley, walk down the valley and 45 minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana. …

01 October 2022: In Aotearoa there are 67 threatened [bird] species - about 30% of the country’s bird population … due to the introduction of rats, cats and …

30 September 2022: I’d seen it before, but watching Pitch Perfect 3 was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on a cool grey Friday afternoon. 🎥

30 September 2022: One freshly groomed dog. Sasha 🐶

29 September 2022: A bit of rain overnight meant it was a good time to weed this patch of garden along the lane. I haven’t finished yet, but am about half done. …

29 September 2022: Well, that was a damn good read! The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery by Rachel Ward. Great characters, a story that kept me reading. 📚 Checkout girl …

28 September 2022: This morning Sasha wanted to snack on a little grass. 🐶

28 September 2022: The book Timber City Masks (Royce Madison Mysteries Book 1) by Kieran York kept me reading but it seemed to have been marinated, and for too long, in …

28 September 2022: Read the standard marketing blurb about a name change for my phone and Internet provider — yawn. Then perked up when I saw they had also written their …

27 September 2022: Things are moving along suddenly. Signed with a real estate agent this morning to sell the property we’ve been renting out. It’s time to …

27 September 2022: Nice language use (disgorges, chthonic, skerricks, fragments, glean, tidbits): Every now and then, the Earth disgorges clues to their nature: tiny …

26 September 2022: If I sit out in the sun to read my Kindle Paperwhite (2018) sometimes refuses to turn the page. I’d persuaded myself I needed a denim blue …

26 September 2022: How would anyone even know this is the home page of the Horowhenua District Council?

25 September 2022: This morning I’m in that weird haze of “what time is it really?” as last night we changed the clocks. Ahead: changing the time on …

24 September 2022: Hah, I hate stereotypes about older people. However … 7 of us at brunch, aged between 64 and maybe 76. First topic of chat: eyesight problems. …

24 September 2022: We drove to Wellington today to help a friend celebrate her birthday at Field & Green. I had smashed peas and avocado with smoked salmon. Very …

24 September 2022: Fascinating 45 minute documentary from the most excellent Caitlin Doughty: The Forgotten Disaster of the SS Eastland (1915 in Chicago, 844 dead): A …

23 September 2022: Painters are working almost next door. Meanwhile our bathroom ceiling (~4 m2) is flaking. Last painted July 2019. Today Leon came and prepped the job. …

22 September 2022: Well a 5.8 quake is one way to be woken while just drifting off to sleep. All good. No damage etc. another day another quake in New Zealand. 〰️

22 September 2022: This 50 minute concert was a delight: Faia Younan I فايا يونان. From the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.

21 September 2022: Massively enjoyable: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Humorous, great characters (old folks in a seniors village, where ‘giving a talk …

20 September 2022: Equinox egg. First quail egg of the season. Such clever girls! 🐦

20 September 2022: Every second of the Royal Funeral is designed to reinforce status and power. The organisation of the event dwarfs something like the Olympic Games. …

20 September 2022: Dipping into The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II - BBC. Spot the Mountie (with horse), and the Kiwi soldier.

19 September 2022: This recipe looked easy and delicious and it was, but fiery hot. Next time I’ll use only 1/3 the spices I think. 🔥🔥🔥 Delicious chickpea spinach …

18 September 2022: I’ve read as much as I’m going to of Life in the Shallows The wetlands of Aotearoa New Zealand. The book is excellent (it’s just due …

18 September 2022: Sasha on the grass. 🐶

17 September 2022: A nice treat after a few errands. Chocolate ice cream at Brown Acres. Yum.

16 September 2022: A neighbour has a couple of sheep on his property, and recently lambs have appeared too. They weren’t very keen on my taking their photo.

16 September 2022: New Watch OS9 feature that I love: Save a Custom Timer — swipe left on the timer and tap the Star. I use 2 minute and 3 minute timers all day when I …

16 September 2022: A bit of 7 am drama today as the Rescue Helicopter landed at the beach entrance where apparently there were 4 cop cars. Rumour has it the cops are …

15 September 2022: Some of the most hilarious and clever scientific names have been applied to spiders or insects … a spider named Apopyllus now, a beetle named Agra …

15 September 2022: Blood in Tavasci Marsh (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 2) by Lakota Grace was a great follow-on to Book 1. I like the setting and the …

15 September 2022: I very much enjoyed Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Box Set by Lynda McDaniel. I’d already read Book 1. Book 2 was a bit preachy and put me …

14 September 2022: This is intriguing. I typed my previous post in BBEdit on Mac then copied and pasted to iPhone. Look what BBEdit did with the facepalm emoji — turned …

14 September 2022: On Monday I happened to be there when our rubbish bin was emptied. Of course, it would have been a better video if it hadn’t taken me so long to …

13 September 2022: I’ve discovered I really enjoy Andalusian music. Here’s an almost 2 hour joy: Andalusian Echoes: Abir el Abed & Amsterdam Andalusian …

12 September 2022: I visited Palmerston North today and looked at the aviaries in the public gardens. This Cockatiel was a good-looking bird.

11 September 2022: I really enjoyed spending the day reading Death In Copper Town (The Pegasus Quincy Mystery Series Book 1) by Lakota Grace. It’s very readable, …

10 September 2022: ROFL — Police respond to ‘racist’ flag in Wānaka, find Klingon insignia: Police responding to reports of a racist flag [at] a Wānaka …

10 September 2022: Aha! I wondered about this after grating the Havarti — How to Grate Soft Cheese: Place wrapped cheese in the freezer. Only keep the cheese in the …

10 September 2022: Today I made Roasted Cauliflower and Cheese Mini Frittatas. They were pretty delicious. The recipe lists red wine vinegar in its ingredients, but …

09 September 2022: The commander had to issue the “Fire” command 96 times! Clouds of smoke filled the air as the shots bounced around re-echoing off the …

09 September 2022: Here it comes (video): Queen Elizabeth II Death Gun Salute to mark her passing. At 1 round every 10 seconds (my guess), 96 guns must take ~16 minutes. …

09 September 2022: Wow — The Queen’s death: All you need to know about what happens next: There will be a 96 gun salute starting at 6pm, Friday night on the Wellington …

09 September 2022: Today’s neighbours include some who are beefier than usual.

09 September 2022: An interesting little snippet: Queen Elizabeth Sent the First-Ever Royal Email in 1976!: On March 26, 1976, the Queen visited the Royal Signals and …

09 September 2022: I’m no Monarchist but this is still a huge moment: Queen Elizabeth II … has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. her eldest …

08 September 2022: I was weeding a patch of driveway garden when a Green and Golden Bell frog appeared. It moved away. Moments later, when I moved some greenery aside to …

07 September 2022: The local rabbits must have had a working bee overnight. For months there’s been a hole in the bank, presumably leading to a burrow. This …

06 September 2022: The mountains have a touch of snow today, thanks to an icy wind straight off the Antarctic. Fujifilm Astia film simulation. Trying for a …

06 September 2022: The Orville S03 seemed different from the first 2 seasons so I went back and rewatched those seasons recently. I enjoyed them as much as the first …

06 September 2022: The neighbour’s pine tree is loaded with pollen. Ah-choo!

06 September 2022: OK, Celebrate Tongan Language Week: There are only 17 letters in the ‘alafapeti faka-Tonga: A E F H I K L M N NG O P S T U V ‘ The ‘alafapeti …

05 September 2022: Fascinating: Scientists Discover That a Surprising Factor Improved The Effects of Ketamine in Mice: ketamine worked better when administered by males …

04 September 2022: An almost pastoral idyllic scene as a cow relaxes by the shore of the rainwater lake in the paddock next door.

04 September 2022: Spotted on today’s trip to the supermarket: Wakachangi Beer. I suppose the ‘humour’ is supposed to somehow neutralise the use of a …

03 September 2022: Good grief! I was listening to some Andalusian Arabic music and wondered about an instrument that sometimes sounds like a cross between a duck …

02 September 2022: The movie Master Cheng, aka A Spice for Life, was an absolute delight. A Chinese man and his young son arrive in a tiny village in the north of …

02 September 2022: Sasha: Excuse me. I’m pretty sure it’s Anchovy time. 🐶 [Because she’s blind, she doesn’t know she’s not actually …

02 September 2022: Excellent 7.5 minute video: Where does the name “black hole” come from?: …used to be called “gravitationally completely collapsed …

01 September 2022: With the wet Winter and now Spring all the grass and weeds and whatnot are growing. I spent an hour and a half weedeating today. One small portion was …

01 September 2022: Lynda McDaniel kept me reading avidly in A Life for a Life (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 1): Laurel Falls, N.C. … looked like heaven to …

01 September 2022: Jana DeLeon manages to keep her Miss Fortune series fresh, not just repeating plots. In Swamp Spirits (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 23) one minor …

01 September 2022: A good and well-written read: The Sheriff’s Wife (The Sheridan County Mysteries) by Erin Lark Maples: When she stumbles over a body on a …

01 September 2022: Recently read a 2-book freebie with Cooking Up Trouble (The Fun Cruise Mystery Series, A Sweet Romantic Cozy Mystery 1) and Undercover On The Calypso: …

31 August 2022: This is one of 3 ring-decked doves that hang out on our lane. They let me get so close. 🐦

31 August 2022: Mother and son napping in the late afternoon sun. 🐴

30 August 2022: Loved Seasons 1 & 2 and really looking forward to S3 — My Life is Murder is Lucy Lawless’s love letter to Auckland: It’s not often a series about …

29 August 2022: Finally a duck came to explore the temporary pond on the paddock next door. Didn’t stay long though. 🐦

29 August 2022: An important woman who helped bring the Māori language to the forefront — Remembering Hana Te Hemara’s Māori language petition, 50 years on: Hana Te …

28 August 2022: I’ve used MarsEdit for >18 years now. (Back in the day it belonged to Brent Simmons.) You’d think I’d know it pretty well. …

28 August 2022: My iPad just popped up this photo of two pigeons from 2004. Taken in Wellington I think, on Oriental Parade. 🐦

28 August 2022: The good friends we’ve been helping with dog walking for the last few weeks bought us lunch at Salt & Pepper in Ōhau. I had beer battered …

27 August 2022: The pre-dawn light really shows up the two new ponds in the paddock next door. This year’s excessive rainfall has created two large ponds. The …

26 August 2022: This was fun: Medieval Hip Hop Mixtape — Bardcore / Medieval Style Instrumental Cover.

26 August 2022: I had no idea! There are two types of rain, and one of them is almost impossible to forecast. Watch the excellent 4 minute MinuteEarth video Why is …

26 August 2022: 25 minute drive each way to the vet at Ōtaki. 5 minutes max at the vet for Sasha to get her monthly Arthropen shot and anal glands done. The Arthropen …

25 August 2022: 3 am and I’ve drunk a cup of Premium Snowbuds white tea and eaten a Griffins Vanilla Wine biscuit or two. I’ve taken Sasha out for a pee. …

24 August 2022: In the last week or so I’ve noticed birds flying by, beaks stuffed full with nesting materials. Others, like the hawks and black swans, seem to …

23 August 2022: Sasha’s wellness is in a good place at the moment. Here she trots smoothly along the lane, head up. 🐶

22 August 2022: A superb explainer — What to know about monkeypox: Monkeypox is far less dangerous than Covid–19, but a severe lack of vaccines and lingering …

22 August 2022: I really wasn’t sure about Hacks (TV series) at first and almost didn’t bother watching after E01. I’m so glad I did though: by half …

21 August 2022: The Spinoff is bringing such excellent journalism. I read many more stories than from any other News website. Today’s excellence — The Sunday …

20 August 2022: One of the hazards of a rural area. This is the main entrance to our beach. Someone’s cows have bust out…

19 August 2022: An ‘atmospheric river’ of rain has dumped excessive water from the tropics on parts of Aotearoa New Zealand: Live wild weather updates: …

18 August 2022: Yumm, buttermilk hotcakes at The Gorge in Ōtaki. Delicious.

17 August 2022: Turns out it requires special skill to take good photos of a glass paperweight, and I don’t have that skill. Anyway, here’s the …

17 August 2022: Another excellent Toby Morris cartoon — The Side Eye’s Two New Zealands: The Table. Follow the link for the other panels in the essay.

16 August 2022: When I was in Whanganui the other day this interesting mural caught my eye.

16 August 2022: When they were handing out adjectives to authors this one went back for thirds. I feel like I need a shower to wipe the muck off. Book discarded. 📚

16 August 2022: I really enjoyed The Orville, all 3 seasons, and very much want it to be renewed. S1 took itself much less seriously, but all seasons explored some …

16 August 2022: Ahhh — why episodes in The Orville S3 were so much longer than in Seasons 1 & 2: the show moved from Fox to Hulu — The Orville: …Season 4 Renewal …

15 August 2022: Hooray! Maybe it is okay to not pursue potential and just be okay with being. Why must there be a reason for everything? Winnie Lim » on leading a …

14 August 2022: I’m finding I really enjoy this author. The quirky English has come to be a feature. The Season of Killing: (Lost in Alaska Book 5). In …

14 August 2022: First time ever I’ve seen a Kererū at Waikawa Beach. They do live 4 Km away (as the bird flies) but have never been down here before as far as I …

13 August 2022: At the Make a paperweight workshop in Whanganui the glassworking area is on the bottom floor. The central furnace at 1100C is a vat of molten glass. …

13 August 2022: Today I’m in Whanganui for a 30 minute glassmaking workshop. First a cup of kawakawa fire tea at the cafe next door.

13 August 2022: It’s very bracing this morning, with an overnight low of –3C, and a good frost. There’s even ice on the puddles that developed in …

12 August 2022: On a mid-winter day with no wind, clear blue skies and warm sun the sea was lapping gently against the shore as though it was a tropical island.

12 August 2022: At dawn, in the frost, I saw a beautiful full moon setting behind the lake at the end of the road.

12 August 2022: Beach mushroom.

11 August 2022: Don’t start listening to this if you’re supposed to be doing something else… 2Cellos - live at Sydney Opera House [Full Concert].

10 August 2022: Nearby land is very productive. As I drive I see teams working hard, picking veges in freezing cold or pouring rain. Many are probably seasonal …

09 August 2022: Yes, Autocorrect, I was in fact trying to buy Harraways Rolled Goats at the supermarket! Or was it Rolled Boats? 🤣

08 August 2022: A short, easy read. Shadow Council Book 1: Money Makes it Deadlier by Julie C. Gilbert. Not sure I’ll read more though, given they all seem to …

08 August 2022: We’ve now had enough rain that the paddock by the speed bump, that turns into a bit of a lake when it’s wet, has actually overflowed onto …

07 August 2022: Deb and I watched and enjoyed Falling For Figaro. No surprises in the plot, but great landscapes and singing. A perfectly pleasant way to fill a slow …

07 August 2022: Woken by heavy rain. Time for a cuppa. So glad it didn’t wake Sasha as then I might have had to take her out in it for a pee.

06 August 2022: That time in September 2015 when we went on a camel trek in Morocco. Thanks iPad for the memory.

06 August 2022: I’ve enjoyed this free 7-day email course — Discard Your Anxiety: A clear and practical Stoic pathway to start making immediate progress with …

06 August 2022: Interesting news today — Joffe Books Acquires Two Novels by Māori Writer Renée:  Otaki-based Renée is a much-loved and prolific writer … in her …

06 August 2022: Anna Havron gives us more interesting food for thought in Don’t Hold a Job, Hold an Office Instead: What if you thought of your jobs and your roles …

05 August 2022: Another enjoyable read in the series: Flame and Fortune (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 22). Not nearly as many hijinks, but that works. Take a drink at …

05 August 2022: Interesting article: The Human Mind Is Not Meant to Be Awake After Midnight, Scientists Warn: our attention to negative stimuli is unusually …

04 August 2022: My little friend Willow likes to keep one paw elevated while she eats. 🐶

04 August 2022: Our resident Kingfisher is so photogenic. 🐦

04 August 2022: About 10 days ago I reported a bloated dead sheep on the beach to Greater Wellington Regional Council, as it was in their area of responsibility. …

03 August 2022: This was intriguing and enjoyable music: DakhaBrakha - Full Performance (Live on KEXP). A group from Ukraine. Interesting listening to their rap. …

03 August 2022: Excellent Nichelle Nichols cartoon for August 3, 2022 from Kiwi cartoonist Sharon Murdoch. 🖖🏼

02 August 2022: Heh, November 1999, when I had long hair and thought having the camera automatically date stamp photos was a good thing.

01 August 2022: A nearby hill / mountain had a hat on this morning. Also, I’m messing around with edits to the image.

31 July 2022: This year so far, according to my rain gauge, we’ve had more rain than in the whole of 2020 or 2019 and we’ll soon exceed the whole of …

31 July 2022: Whew! Some server problem meant that for the last week or two I’ve completed the WSJ crossword on the web. That was a nasty experience. Finally …

30 July 2022: 186+ mystery books I've loved I read a lot of mysteries. Some are mediocre — I abandon the ones that are too rubbish — while others are good, or even excellent. I’ve now …

30 July 2022: Such an impressive channel! Anyone at all interested in languages will find this video fascinating: What Makes Papuan Languages So Unique?: Melanesia …

30 July 2022: Then I moved right along to Close to the Edge (Detective Sarah Burke Book 7) by Elizabeth Gunn because I knew it’d be a good read, and it was. 📚 …

30 July 2022: I raced through Close to Home (Detective Sarah Burke Book 6) by Elizabeth Gunn. She’s an excellent author who tells a good story. 📚 The victim …

30 July 2022: After a few days I can say that using a feedreader is the best and easiest way to catch up with the overnight Micro.Blog timeline. Thanks to @todor …

29 July 2022: December 2008: flamingos at Honolulu Zoo. What on earth is that one at the back doing with its neck?! 🐦

28 July 2022: This cabbage tree serves me as a kind of a high groundwater indicator. Normally it’s several metres from the water in the lake, but with all the …

27 July 2022: Hang in there! 🐦

27 July 2022: My thanks to whoever on my timeline mentioned enjoying Only Murders in the Building. I’m loving it so much! 📺

26 July 2022: Such a lovely short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Free Fiction Monday: Star: On the night Anna’s boyfriend tried to kill her, Anna’s badly injured …

26 July 2022: This is useful: Create Your Own Acceptance Mantra: The purpose of an acceptance mantra is to act as a sort of trigger. It can be used as part of a …

25 July 2022: Loved @Cheri’s latest book: Death at Dagger Cove (Butterfly Island Mysteries Book 2) by Cheri Baker. I’ll confess I read an advance copy, …

25 July 2022: 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. Links have been updated or adapted, or may be broken. …

25 July 2022: Looks like it was November 2011 when I was sent a 3D printer to test out and write about on my KnowIt blog (now defunct). Now the iPad stand I printed …

24 July 2022: The storms we had this month must have ripped out someone’s pine plantation. The beach is strewn with dozens of young pine trees, roots and all. …

23 July 2022: This is very interesting. Giving it a whirl: Use AssistiveTouch for Customizable Shortcuts on the iPhone and iPad - TidBITS.

23 July 2022: Another excellent read from a good author: Closing Ranks (Detective Sarah Burke Book 5) by Elizabeth Gunn. To solve a current crime Sarah has to delve …

23 July 2022: I like to add Titles to my Photos in the Photos app on Mac, but half the time what I type gets eaten up. Pasting works fine though, which led me in …

22 July 2022: I wanted a messenger style bag to carry my camera with its big lens when I walk on the beach to take bird photos. I found what turned out to be a …

21 July 2022: Darn! So intent on measuring out 710 mls from a 750 ml bottle of milk I totally forgot I was supposed to heat the milk before adding it to the rice! …

21 July 2022: This is a great little story — Taranaki man’s e-bike wheelchair carries his wife to see the sea: he explained how he made some clever …

20 July 2022: Yesterday I sponged a patch of matted hair on the back of Sasha’s neck and found an open wound (the size of a small finger nail). No idea how it …

20 July 2022: I read Micro.Blog via Safari on Mac (mainly). Every morning it’s the same thing to catch up on the timeline: refresh, scroll, scroll, click the …

19 July 2022: The first third of Murder on Sea (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 1) was a bit annoying and not really my thing. I was considering reading something …

19 July 2022: Finally had my second booster Covid jab. Hurt a bit going in but feels good being better protected. 😎

18 July 2022: Just amazed at the cleverness of NYTimes Sunday, July 17, 2022 Crossword Puzzle: Note:
Players seek to combine one or more of the cards they hold …

18 July 2022: Really enjoying listening to Sona Jobarteh & Band (1 hour): Sona Jobarteh is the first female Kora virtuoso to come from a west African Griot …

18 July 2022: Heh, the Spinoff are spending a week talking about a huge deal in the lives of over half the people in the world who are over about 12, and which is …

17 July 2022: Two free books I abandoned: Ambassador 1: Seeing Red by Patty Jansen. Should have been obvious it’d be all politics but that’s just not …

17 July 2022: Some very grim topics in Under Violent Skies (Detective Sara Hirst Book 1) are probably why I started the book months ago but only picked it up again …

17 July 2022: It’s not too surprising that I really enjoyed Old Bones Lie (Detective Clare Mackay Book 6 by Marion Todd, given I’ve enjoyed the previous …

17 July 2022: I wanted to like this writer who lives mainly in Aotearoa New Zealand, but the book simply missed its mark. It just didn’t quite work for me. …

17 July 2022: It’s 3.45 am and I’ve had a cup of tea and a biscuit after being awake for a couple of hours already. It’s that …

17 July 2022: I’ve suggested our library buy this. It looks really interesting and is relevant around here. Life in the Shallows: How wetlands work, what …

16 July 2022: Sasha, mostly blind, stopped at the white line on the road then tiptoed carefully across. Next she ended up on one side of the ‘Give Way’ …

15 July 2022: Planning a trip out for dinner tonight to nearby Shannon, a 35 minute drive away. Including say 1 hour to eat that’s a 2.25 hour trip and I can …

15 July 2022: Silver and gold: this morning Sasha and I made it all the way to the lakes (approx 500 metres away). Looking southwest I saw the setting silver almost …

15 July 2022: We’ve achieved a point where Sasha’s food, meds and the cool temperatures mean she trots happily along on our brief walks. I wanted to …

14 July 2022: The setting Supermoon at dawn.

14 July 2022: Sasha won’t go down to the dog yard any more so she now gets half a dozen ‘walks’ per day for toileting. I stopped to take a photo …

13 July 2022: It was a bit impressive down by the sea at high tide this morning. It’s winter so lots of rain, gales, high tides and big swells out in the open …

13 July 2022: Nice! Amber Clyde: never take criticism to heart from somebody you wouldn’t go to for advice. Via This is what the future of New Zealand looks like: …

13 July 2022: I’m always a bit suspicious when military helicopters fly over in gangs. Today it was a gang of three, right overhead.

13 July 2022: On Mangawhero Forest Walk I spotted these really really white fungi on a tree trunk.

13 July 2022: Rimu Walk and Mangawhero Forest Walk at Ohakune share a common entrance. I enjoyed both. Both are easy walks. On the Forest Walk I came face to face …

13 July 2022: Ohakune is a town just below the very popular Turoa skifield. Next to a walk I was about to do I found this memorial stone and info about Mollie, an …

13 July 2022: I was surprised how much I enjoyed the 1 hour 40 minute concert Loreena McKennitt - Nights From The Alhambra. Generally for me a little Celtic music …

12 July 2022: My handmade leather iPhone sleeve by @aa was so excellent (it’s serving me beautifully) that I ordered a leather wrist strap for my camera with …

12 July 2022: Ridge Track at Whakapapa is a short little trail that climbs up behind the Chateau offering views. In the last the snowy cone of Mt Taranaki is just …

12 July 2022: Chateau Tongariro at Whakapapa is an impressive building, seeming to sit alone on the landscape. It’s certainly comfortable in the lounge where …

11 July 2022: The Taranaki Falls Track The Taranaki Falls Track is a 6 Km loop on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. It passes through both native forest and open land. The Falls spill through solid …

10 July 2022: In December 2008 I taught 3 WordPress courses over a weekend as part of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Pacific New Media Outreach program. …

10 July 2022: Mounds Walk at Tongariro was another short track, with several information boards. After a few minutes there’s a view across the landscape. The …

10 July 2022: The Tawhai Falls Track was very short but led to a really nice waterfall. Midwinter and two young men were wrapped in towels having just been for a …

09 July 2022: 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 was bounteous when it came to fungi. I don’t …

09 July 2022: My Silica Rapids walk I think the Silica Rapids walk at Tongariro was my favourite, even though the weather was a bit dull and drizzly. Native forest, alpine bogs, streams. …

09 July 2022: Why is it anyone wants to live in Auckland? Three news items in a row in my feed this morning: a home shot at, a stabbing, and a woman dies after an …

07 July 2022: My Lake Rotokura walk Lake Rotokura is near Waiouru and is an easy ~30 minute walk, although there were a few fallen logs to clamber over. There were several interesting …

07 July 2022: Before I went off walking I relaced my boots. In my photo the right boot is the old way (how they came from the shop). The left boot shows the new, …

07 July 2022: It’s not fair to laugh at a dog who’s old, blind, mainly deaf, frail, etc, but sometimes I have to: Sasha was looking intently at the gap …

07 July 2022: We have to accept the little facts of life. Bland indifference is a start, but cheerful whistling is even better. Source: Accepting The Little Facts …

07 July 2022: Woohoo, the book I co-wrote in 2006 is still earning me royalties. What shall I do with my 17 cents, I wonder?

07 July 2022: This 22 minute doco is a delight: Inside the wonderful world of Hairy Maclary creator Lynley Dodd. What Kiwi doesn’t know the immortal words: …

06 July 2022: I somehow got this free: A Dealer Dead Ahead (Law & Carter Cozy Mysteries Book 1). I read it to the end but didn’t care for it a whole lot. …

06 July 2022: My Tongariro National Park visit — summary Last weekend I visited Tongariro National Park to do some short walks. The winter weather was very obliging and I had a wonderful time. My favourite …

06 July 2022: Took me a while to get to this, but then I really enjoyed The Murderer’s Son (Jackman & Evans Book 1) by Joy Ellis. Of course. Ellis is an …

05 July 2022: These fungi on the Mangawhero Forest Walk at Ohakune were very white.

05 July 2022: I rounded a corner on a trail and saw a dark lump on this branch. Then I realised it had a short tail. Then I saw the eyes and pointed beak that told …

05 July 2022: It only takes 3 and a half hours to drive home, and that includes a detour to a track. I should visit this area more often: stunning scenery, amazing …

04 July 2022: One of my favourite photos from today’s Taranaki Falls track — steps just beyond the Falls.

04 July 2022: From the road to Whakapapa — look leftish and there’s Ngauruhoe; look rightish and there’s Ruapehu.

04 July 2022: That was me, though at ~1200 metres, not the tippy-top: MetService: To anyone standing on top of Mt. Ruapehu right now, there is not a single cloud …

04 July 2022: Well that was a … relief. Things aren’t always so … convenient at 1200 meters altitude.

04 July 2022: Today’s plan is to drive to Whakapapa again, walk to Taranaki Falls — 6 Km loop, then Ridge Track — 1.4 Km return. Still thinking of …

04 July 2022: Useful words: Accept that the present moment is rarely unbearable. … Accept that the past is gone and isn’t coming back. … Accept that the future …

03 July 2022: Caution road sign: Kiwi crossing at night. With Mt Ruapehu in the background.

03 July 2022: Silica Rapids walk could be named Fungus walk. I came across black, brown, white, blue, chestnut and even gold coloured fungi. These were pretty …

03 July 2022: Silica Rapids on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. It was a fabulous walk through varied mountain landscapes.

03 July 2022: My plan for today is to visit the Silica Rapids Walk and Punaruku Falls near Whakapapa Village. I won’t walk the loop, just there and back. …

02 July 2022: Mount Ruapehu appears across Lake Rotokura. I had a lovely 75 minute walk there but saw only a very few birds.

02 July 2022: As I neared Waiouru snow-covered Mt Ruapehu made an appearance.

02 July 2022: Today’s destination: Tongariro National Park: Home to three active volcanic mountains, and iconic and majestic landscapes, Tongariro National …

02 July 2022: On the plus side: I did manage about 5-6 hours sleep and only one of Sasha’s 3 poops in the middle of the night was indoors. [yawn] Turns out we …

01 July 2022: Tomorrow I head off to Tongariro National Park for a few days of easy short walks and some lounging around. Should be fun, though chilly.

01 July 2022: Side eye. (Kingfisher) 🐦

30 June 2022: I just watched Soul and found it remarkable. Uplifting, clever, funny. Loved hearing the Kiwi actor Rachel House as Terry the accountant. Visually it …

29 June 2022: A genre I usually avoid is (heterosexual) romance, but Kristine Kathryn Rusch is such a skilled writer that I really enjoyed The Perfect Man: …

28 June 2022: I just rewatched How to Self-Publish A Novel from @Cheri in Micro Camp 2022 (17 minutes). This is such an excellent presentation, and packed full with …

28 June 2022: The government just opened up second Covid booster shots for the over-50s. I was astonished to get an appointment so quickly. Off for my boost this …

27 June 2022: Today I’m watching a bunch of videos, like this one: How to use Back button auto focus with Fujifilm camera as another step in getting to know …

27 June 2022: Waxeye stack. 🐦

26 June 2022: An article that everyone should read: The Sunday Essay: My breasts and me.

26 June 2022: We went to see Elvis (2022 film) this morning. It’s an intense movie and we all came out quite sombre. Austin Butler did a magnificent job …

26 June 2022: I did my NZ Garden Bird Survey on Saturday and saw: 6 sparrows, 3 magpies, 3 swallows, 3 waxeyes, 1 fantail, 1 blackbird, 1 kingfisher, 1 hawk, 1 …

25 June 2022: We visited the Pottery Expo at Ōtaki Racecourse today. I bought this Sea and Sky bowl by Janice McDonagh. I’ll put it in the garden somewhere as …

25 June 2022: A note for men in the US. Listen up! With the catastrophic Roe vs Wade decision you must support all women in your life. You ALSO need to tackle men: …

24 June 2022: I had no idea there are 43 different blood types! From Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 Jun 2022. most people are aware of the four main blood groups, A, B, …

24 June 2022: Mānawatia a Matariki! “Matariki is about celebrating who we were, who we are, and who we want to be.”

23 June 2022: Sasha, aged 15 and a half enjoys: walks, food, treats, bonus rabbit poop on walks, an occasional cuddle, napping. Today we did a ‘long’ …

22 June 2022: Nice! “Don’t buy presents. Be present.” Mānawatia a Matariki! Tips for how to celebrate if you don’t know where to start.

22 June 2022: Just did that thing where you write a comprehensive email, check something in an archived email before sending then close the wrong window without …

22 June 2022: Help on a small project I was feeling dispirited about has arrived from an unexpected quarter. What a boost that gives! I want to get an informational …

22 June 2022: First snow of the season on the nearby Tararuas. Brrr.

21 June 2022: I had errands in Palmerston North today so treated myself to a Chicken Teriyaki lunch at Mr Choi’s. As always, it was utterly delicious! It …

20 June 2022: Tomorrow brings us Winter Solstice. The good news is daylight hours start increasing. The bad news is now the weather will be stink till something …

20 June 2022: Storms like the ones that filled the first couple of weeks of June for us bring loads of stuff onto the beach: driftwood, weed from the river, but …

20 June 2022: Yesterday’s excellent movie — Whina: Dame Whina Cooper was a Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, …

19 June 2022: This Eastern Rosella announced herself and then stuck around long enough for me to take some photos. 🐦 Updated with better quality photo.

19 June 2022: This little Piwakawaka was flitting round me, then landed close enough for me to be able to take a couple of iPhone photos. 🐦

19 June 2022: To celebrate Deb’s upcoming birthday we went with friends to Soprano Ristorante. Pricey but delicious food. We all had different dishes and each …

18 June 2022: The river mouth was looking pretty good at dawn today.

17 June 2022: I cooked Quick Vanilla Rice Pudding while Deb was driving home. Yummm! She’d better hurry up and get here or there won’t be any left. 🤩

17 June 2022: In a quest for variety and expanding horizons I’m listening to new-to-me music each day. I go to YouTube and search for ‘traditional music …

16 June 2022: Our new Matariki national holiday, the country's first public holiday centred on Māori culture, is being celebrated on Friday 24 June this year. The …

16 June 2022: My Merrell Siren Traveller 3 Women’s Trail Shoes are my favourites, but only 7 months after purchase the stitching on the seam near the toe is …

16 June 2022: I must say, 1Password has always worked brilliantly and easily for me … until the latest version (8). Now it’s an utter pain in the bum and I …

15 June 2022: Goodnight Moon.

14 June 2022: Hooray for web searches. This solved my Quick Look ‘gone wrong’ problem: macOS 12 Monterey Quick Look preview not working? Try this …

14 June 2022: Whew. After 18.75 hours power has been restored. Now charging all the things. 😀 And looking into @jean’s suggestion of a portable power station …

14 June 2022: The power didn’t come back on overnight so that’s 15 hours now and counting. At least the thunderstorms have stopped and the gales have …

13 June 2022: 4 hours ago in mid afternoon we had yet another big thunderstorm. That’s when the power went off. Still in the dark… I sure would like a cup of …

13 June 2022: I was a bit surprised to find I really enjoyed listening to Tatar Folk Music, especially the track at 14:53 — Kirfiklere. Tatarstan … traditional …

13 June 2022: We get maybe two thunderstorms a year round here. Except for this month where intermittent storms have been rolling through for 5 days and nights now. …

12 June 2022: Signed up for a month of Disney+ to watch a few things. Finally saw and enjoyed and felt moved by Turning Red. One highlight for me: the amazing and …

12 June 2022: A couple of weeks ago I discovered, installed, paid for Grocery App: A smart shopping list, recipe manager, meal planner and inventory tracker for …

12 June 2022: This is a wonderful story for a Sunday morning — The Sunday Essay: A never-ending pot of curry: As a child in India, Perzen Patel wished for a bowl …

11 June 2022: I wanted the ‘exoticism’ of this book set in rural Sri Lanka, but the book itself just didn’t grab me. The Body in the Paddy Field …

11 June 2022: About 2 hours after high tide, with an open sea swell of 5 metres, and westerly gales so strong they just about knocked me off my feet while I took …

10 June 2022: Look who was groomed today! Sasha so clean and tidy. 🐶

10 June 2022: Rachel McAlpine on growing old: You know so much! From reading, hearing, viewing, and being there. … But which items swell up to become massively …

10 June 2022: Did you know I went to Mars? You can too: Mars Photo Booth - NASA Mars. 🤣

10 June 2022: We’re getting a lot of these at the moment. ⛈

09 June 2022: Today’s order of business. ⛈

09 June 2022: HIP (on Acorn TV, French) is a really fun show. It’s another where a solo mum of several children solves crimes while wrangling family. …

09 June 2022: Hmmm, this video by Jan Wegener, mainly about bird photography, had some very useful info: Take SHARPER Images with ANY camera! No More BLURRY Photos! …

09 June 2022: I quickly glazed over while looking at About the security of passkeys - Apple Support. Can anyone point me to a “What the heck are Passkeys?, …

08 June 2022: Today I helped a very smart friend set up a new Mac laptop with touch ID button. When it came to adding a fingerprint, she’d had a problem …

07 June 2022: Deb and I enjoyed watching the all too brief Season One of Annika. No word if there’ll be another season, so fingers crossed. Annika is a …

07 June 2022: Soon after I spent up large on a Fujinon XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR zoom lens for taking photos of birds, Fuji have come out with an even bigger …

07 June 2022: Thank you sunrise, light shower and iPhone for this early morning rainbow. 😀

07 June 2022: Realised when I opened my MacBook Pro this morning that WWDC keynote was live. Tuned in as I do every year. Actually closed the tab again within 30 …

06 June 2022: Today’s main feature: a splitting headache, eased in the end by a one hour deep sleep in the afternoon. 🤕

05 June 2022: Gorgeous 5 Km beach walk to start my Sunday. Thanks to all those on my overnight Micro.Blog timeline who mentioned going for a walk: it helped get me …

04 June 2022: 10 years ago I bought a Wacom Intuos 5 graphics tablet, upgrading from previous versions. Not for graphics, but because after a rough time getting …

03 June 2022: The sun was low behind me; the hawk circling high in front of me. 🐦

02 June 2022: Sasha has never really been the most cuddly dog. She seems to be changing her ways though. 🐶

02 June 2022: Fears cultural significance of Matariki may be lost: Matariki … is a period of solemn reflection, followed by a celebration of the present and …

01 June 2022: Leigh Mayberry has very quirky language in her books, but still I usually enjoy them. Murderous Profits (Lost in Alaska Book 7). Looks like I skipped …

01 June 2022: A couple of mornings ago I was making breakfast when I noticed the top half of the quail run door was open. I rushed out to check on the two girls, …

31 May 2022: Hey Kiwis, if you visit EECA’s tyre pressure tool it tells you what the tire pressure should be for your car. Enter your number plate and the …

31 May 2022: 10 minute video: Koko Ibaraki is a world class pole dancer at 50: pole dancing remains a challenging feat of stamina, flexibility and an incredible …

31 May 2022: Keyboard Maestro helps with so much on my Mac. Sometimes I want to have the Clipboard contents in front of me, so I made a macro. I put the clipboard …

31 May 2022: What a wonderful way to start a Tuesday morning! So energising! 2.25 hours of Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra Live in Apolo 2019 - Sandra Sangiao …

30 May 2022: The problem with buying a tray of 30 eggs from the farm gate shop is when you’re trying to manage a single trip from the car to the house with …

30 May 2022: I enjoy this series, and just read the final 4 stories: Rachel Prince Cruise Ship Mysteries: Books 1-10. That is one unlucky cruise ship! 😆

30 May 2022: Loving this morning’s random listen: Andalusian Spanish Arabic Music: الأنْدَلُس - YouTube.

29 May 2022: I glimpsed this juvenile Kōtare, Sacred Kingfisher through the window, managed a couple of shots and then it took off. I love my 100–400 zoom …

29 May 2022: It’s been a busy Sunday. Among other things, I cleaned out the old straw and sawdust from the quail run and topped up with a fresh coating. The …

29 May 2022: I’ve signed up for this 30 minute New Zealand Glassworks Make a Paperweight Workshop for August. Deb did it back in June 2018 as a birthday …

28 May 2022: Today we saw an Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand flypast: the superlative Supermarine Spitfire and three modern Beechcraft T–6C Texan …

27 May 2022: Today, for the second time in our lives, we have become mortgage-free. We have no debt and everything that comes in now is ours. 🥳

27 May 2022: I changed an account password today. Do you think I was too hasty?

26 May 2022: What an amazing resource. Thank you @scojjac I’m exploring Arabic: Language Transfer (languagetransfer.org) Fantastic audio course that teaches …

26 May 2022: The upside of ending up in Apple Music was I rediscovered a piece of music I adore: Ramirez: Misa Criolla (5 songs, 21 minutes): Ariel Ramírez (4 …

26 May 2022: Utterly bewildered that to share with my family an app I’d just bought on the App Store I had to go to iTunes/Music‼️⁉️ I’ve been using …

25 May 2022: Fungi season: I suspect this is a fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). I like to see fungi but never know what they are. Found just across the road from our …

25 May 2022: Sharon Murdoch’s excellent cartoon today: Forty kororā/little blue penguins found dead on a Far North beach. FORTY (MORE) REASONS TO FIGHT …

25 May 2022: A few years ago I bought a Korg Nanokey 2 keyboard. I can’t play… Today I finally labelled the keys and began to learn to play Mary Had A Little …

25 May 2022: Since I suggested today’s Challenge word (mountain) — I can never remember which mountain is which in the central North Island of Aotearoa New …

25 May 2022: This morning’s new-to-me music: Siberian Altai Turkic Traditional Music. I like it.

24 May 2022: Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Spoonbill parenting… Seen at the beach this morning: a juvenile Spoonbill with its parents. 🐦

23 May 2022: When I didn’t leave quickly enough one of the adult swans warned me off. I left. 🐦

23 May 2022: I think this little fantail lives in the bushes near our gate. 🐦

23 May 2022: No-one on the lake was very happy about me emerging from behind a bush to take an iPhone photo of the two black swans and their remaining 3 cygnets. 🐦

23 May 2022: This morning’s very enjoyable sound track, Afghani music: Daud Khan Sadozai - live - 2013.

22 May 2022: Hah! I always have such a feeling of achievement when I wrestle with both logic and regular expressions and win in the end. Today I amended a Keyboard …

21 May 2022: At 67 I’m neither geriatric nor elderly, but am having an issue with unintended weight loss. In December 2020 I was ~59 Kg — a good weight for …

21 May 2022: At last! Eastern Rosellas have been taunting me. I’ve heard their chattering at various times recently, then they’d shoot past and my …

20 May 2022: It’s been a bit of a morning. 24mm rain between 4 and 8 am, wind gusts up to 62Kph, thunder, lots of lightning, and a mini tornado a few Km down the …

19 May 2022: Toutouwai, North Island Robin at Bushy Park. These little birds are such cuties, and so tame! 🐦

19 May 2022: At Bushy Park near Whanganui, this huge Northern Rātā: Height 39m; Diameter 3.72m; Girth 11.70m. Detail shows a plant growing on the tree.

18 May 2022: Given it’ll be winter, and ski season, I jumped in while a room was available and booked my next long weekend holiday for early July at …

18 May 2022: The Veronica Loop Track in Egmont National Park is ~3.5 Km long, with an elevation gain of ~240 metres. This ‘moderately challenging’ …

18 May 2022: Feature request @help : after editing a Post via the web interface can we have a link to go straight to the published post please?

18 May 2022: Actual Kiwi (the birds) are rare in Aotearoa New Zealand and sadly hard to find. At least on Taranaki Mounga, although I didn’t see or hear any, …

18 May 2022: An OK read: Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by Jennifer S. Alderson 📚. This …

18 May 2022: Not great. It all seems very stuffy, old-fashioned and rather unlikely. The Death of Amelia Marsh (Sally Nimitz Mysteries Book 1) by MaryJo Dawson 📚. …

17 May 2022: I’m only just this minute home from holiday, but look at these wonderful tiny pink fungi I saw at Bushy Park near Whanganui.

16 May 2022: Steps going up Veronica Loop Track with Taranaki Maunga rising up behind. Don’t know why it’s sideways. I’ll correct that in a day …

16 May 2022: The almost 4 Km Veronica Loop Track at North Egmont National Park took me a bit over 2 hours and left me beyond knackered! The first half was steps …

15 May 2022: They’re serious about not letting dogs into Egmont National Park. 🐶

15 May 2022: You get the best views from half way up the mountain at 1150 metres (probably, if it’s not pouring with rain).

15 May 2022: I was hoping to walk a couple of 1–4 Km trails today at Egmont National Park, Te Papakura o Taranaki. However, this region’s under a Heavy Rain …

14 May 2022: Mountain shaped ginger chicken at Siam Thai restaurant in New Plymouth. Super delicious.

14 May 2022: Taranaki mounga is enormous! Very imposing from the surrounding countryside.

13 May 2022: Here’s one of our friendly neighbourhood horses enjoying the warmth of dark ground on a chilly morning.

13 May 2022: The first episode of CW ☛ Naomi was very interesting and enjoyable. Thanks to Winding up season 1 of Naomi - Old Ain’t Dead for cluing me in to …

12 May 2022: That ‘pimple’ centre screen is where I’ll be this coming weekend. 😀

12 May 2022: I have a rare holiday coming up: 4 days visiting Egmont National Park for some short walks, sightseeing and photos. Guess I’d better pack rain gear. 😒 …

11 May 2022: Sasha, still under the influence of post-surgery opiates. 🐶

11 May 2022: I’ve been a little on tenterhooks this morning as Sasha went in for dental surgery. The vet says all’s well. She took out 14 teeth! which …

11 May 2022: Hah! Picard S02E09: “We have to super urgently go there and do that. We’ll just stop every couple of minutes and explore our feelings for …

11 May 2022: This is why I can’t donate blood: perhaps you lived in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s so you’re at risk for passing on bovine spongiform …

10 May 2022: It took a rather ridiculous and surprisingly exhausting 2 hours to assemble this garden cart today. Trundles nicely though.

10 May 2022: A flock of about 20 cyclists went past while I was walking Sasha this morning. About 20 older people enjoying the fresh air. 🚴🏼

10 May 2022: Interesting short video. Ever wondered what happens to milk at the factory?: In this video, Glen explains what happens to milk at the factory. He …

09 May 2022: The Tīrairaka, New Zealand fantail is a tricky bird to photograph and I’m still on a quest to get excellent photos. It flitters and flutters and …

09 May 2022: It may be 3 months since Oshi passed away, but Sasha has finally stepped into his ‘shoes’ with the ‘it’s dinnertime’ …

09 May 2022: I was trying to take photos of the elusive fantails who were flittering just outside the window. What I did get were these European Goldfinches, with …

09 May 2022: I’ve used the wonderful Pastebot for Mac for the longest time but for some reason only today learned how to use sequential paste. 🤷🏼

08 May 2022: There’s something about the opening of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that grabbed me right by my childhood viewings in the 60s of the Original …

08 May 2022: In its second year my Granny Smith apple tree produced 7 apples. One fell off early in the season. I ate one recently. These 5 weigh 1 Kg in total. …

08 May 2022: That was a treat! Deb made a delicious omelette for breakfast. Yum.

08 May 2022: This was an enjoyable read: Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) 📚: Carl, her …

08 May 2022: This detail intrigues me: Two officers from the helicopter ran to the scene and took the seven youths into custody before they could get away. Seven …

07 May 2022: Striding. 🐦

07 May 2022: Skating! This little New Zealand dotterel turns out to be banded, when I zoom in. They’re very small, fast birds: 25 cm and about 150 grams. Perfect …

06 May 2022: I’m surprised I finished reading Murder by the Book (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery 1) by Lauren Elliott. It seemed confused and rushed, …

06 May 2022: I very nearly stopped watching Grace and Frankie in the middle of Season 7. It had been so long since the previous episodes aired and it dragged a …

05 May 2022: Misty morning. Cobweb. Flax spear.

05 May 2022: Naughty little House sparrows sitting on the roof (pooping in the gutter that supplies our drinking water). 🐦 Update: the photo I exported at Medium …

04 May 2022: Hey southern hemisphere types: do some sky watching over the next few mornings before dawn: The Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Is About to Light Up The …

04 May 2022: Meanwhile, the Australian coots were having a bit of a dust-up (volume up). 🐦

04 May 2022: To my delight, this morning’s walk brought me two Kakīānau, Black swans with 4 cygnets, already swimming. 🐦

03 May 2022: Sasha 🐶 was not a cooperative model today, either before grooming or after.

02 May 2022: Not too bad to while away a few hours: A Welsh Murder Mystery Box Set Books 1–4 by Cathy Ace 📚: women of the WISE Enquiries Agency turned their backs …

01 May 2022: The Alton Brown Shepherd’s Pie I cooked tonight was delicious. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

01 May 2022: [Accidentally, while cooking] confirmed the smoke alarm still works. 👍

01 May 2022: Touching. Pied Stilt. 🐦

30 April 2022: Kāpiti Island rises from the dawn mist.

30 April 2022: This Karoro, Black-backed gull was keeping a close eye on me this morning. 🐦

29 April 2022: I did a heap of things today that I wanted to do. Some are unfinished, and that’s fine. The sky was blue, the sun warm, the day was still. The …

29 April 2022: Fake puppies!: Police urge potential new pet owners to be wary following an influx of scams involving fake puppies and cryptocurrency. … potential …

29 April 2022: This post by @gregmoore reminded me of this day back in 2003 when Aphra 🐈, on top of the shower, was wondering if there was a yet higher place to …

29 April 2022: Aotearoa New Zealand is right in the middle of a giant high today, giving us cold clear nights and warm blue sky days. And no wind! 🤩 earth :: a …

28 April 2022: Things fell into place today for Deb and me to eat dinner out. We visited for the first time Nanyang Flavours in Shannon, a 35 minute drive from home, …

28 April 2022: Nothing special: just a photo from when I was walking Sasha 🐶 back along the lane to home, on a perfect morning. Blue skies, warm sun, not a breath of …

27 April 2022: This was such an interesting episode of Lingthusiasm: What it means for a language to be official. It’s way more complicated than I’d ever …

27 April 2022: Hah! Scifi writers note: to write a character who is… expert… Give them a deep, intense hatred of some oddly specific …

26 April 2022: Deb did a clean out and found an old iPhone 5. It’s so tiny! Look at it next to my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

26 April 2022: A friend and I drove to Foxton today to visit the Ans Westra photo exhibition. I specially loved her photo of this young Māori girl (not named) who is …

25 April 2022: Pukeko at the lake. 🐦

24 April 2022: Our dog groomer has come down with Shingles. Ouch! That means we need to find an alternative groomer for Sasha 🐶 who’s about due for a trim. 😒

24 April 2022: Something I’d like is more information in the list of Micro.Bloggers I’m following (micro.blog/[name]/following) @help. Useful would be: …

23 April 2022: Amazon have made a change I really dislike. When I look at a page of listings my eye now sees first in giant red letters a (supposed) discount amount …

22 April 2022: On a day where I seem to be feeling a bit off-colour I’ve really enjoyed eating some Celery soup. Really easy and quick to make, once …

21 April 2022: Tonight I made Roast cod on spiced Puy lentils — delicious. There was no cod available so I cooked a fish I’d never heard of before: Elephant …

21 April 2022: This month I am finally doing a chore I really have trouble getting to: selling stuff I no longer require. So far this month I’ve sold an Apple …

21 April 2022: This is interesting: The streets have eyes, including the bit that says: One of the problems is the [facial recognition] software doesn’t …

20 April 2022: Aaargh, Candice Renoir quickly became one of my favourite shows on Acorn TV. Just finished Season 4 which ended with a major event! I know 8 seasons …

20 April 2022: I think I’ve realised why my Netatmo rain gauge sometimes stops working. At this time of year we get little rain. When I go to investigate the …

19 April 2022: I’m so much enjoying Season 4 of Star Trek: Discovery. Only a couple of episodes left to watch and I’m having trouble not just bingeing …

19 April 2022: Breakfast time for Sasha. 🐶

18 April 2022: I’m especially fond of waterfalls and have just discovered: the New Zealand Waterfalls website. 🤩

17 April 2022: Sasha 🐶 very obligingly naps in the car while I water the front lawn of our rental property. We could do with some decent rain! Maybe Thursday will …

17 April 2022: I enjoyed Murder at Sugar Rush Beach (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 3) by Paula Lennon 📚: Detective Preddy hoped for a quiet start to the new …

16 April 2022: Looked out the front door and spotted these two young pheasants moseying about. 🐦 They scurried off when they saw me though.

15 April 2022: I’ve been having a great Easter Friday, doing crosswords, watching videos, and during daylight, enjoying warm sun and fresh air. Also cooked Red …

15 April 2022: In case it’s useful for someone else — I wanted to be able to grab the title and URL of an article I was viewing in NetNewsWire and make a …

15 April 2022: I find recipes on the Internet then try out some of them. I’m forever converting measures of ingredients. This is useful and 🤯: Cooking Weights …

15 April 2022: Wow. This 10 minute video An Interview with a Professional Jump Roper is quite something. Sometimes Tori Boggs and her rope are both moving so fast I …

14 April 2022: The pre-dawn sky is delightful. Look east to see Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn. On the 24th the Moon will join in. Check Stellarium Web Online Star …

13 April 2022: Whew. Finished watching Season 1 of Bel Air. That was quite an ending! Side note: I can’t get over the absolute wealth on display. It’s …

13 April 2022: Update on Sasha 🐶. Her ultrasound today went well. Her liver looks like you’d expect for a 15 year old dog, with no evidence of tumours or …

12 April 2022: This seems to be a busy week — it’s rushing by. One of my errands today though was to get this year’s flu shot. ✔︎

11 April 2022: Sasha, 15 and a half 🐶, is on her way to the doggy dentist (ie the vet) this morning for tooth surgery so we took a precautionary photo…

10 April 2022: I enjoy this author’s books and this was no exception: Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima 📚: Deputy Mattie and …

10 April 2022: En Pointe. South Island Pied Oystercatcher. 🐦

10 April 2022: We don’t often see starfish on our beach which doesn’t have the rockpools they may more usually be found in. This morning though I saw one …

09 April 2022: In February 2022 @patrickrhone linked to the Meat/Less newsletter course. I’d wanted to reduce the amount of meat I eat and took up one …

09 April 2022: Back in January of 2022 a huge branch from a 40 year old pine tree on a neighbour’s property fell down for no apparent reason. Last month they cut …

08 April 2022: New midwinter public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand In the Northern hemisphere Christmas in December is a midwinter holiday, bringing hope and the renewal of the light when life is dark and cold. In the …

07 April 2022: 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 characters did some interesting sightseeing tour and …

07 April 2022: Whiled away a day with Death of a Blogger: A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Novella by Dawn Brookes 📚: a gossip blogger joins a tour party with …

06 April 2022: I’m a bit ambivalent about Murder in Midwinter (Oxford Dog Walker Crime Thrillers Book 2) by Annie Dalton with Maria Dalton 📚. An interesting concept …

05 April 2022: It feels like it’s been forever since I took a healthy dog to the vet for routine stuff. 🐶 Sasha’s teeth need some attention, so …

05 April 2022: Interesting: Trying to Keep Aging Neurons Healthy and Growing: That set me on a tentative and then growing effort to become creative in the ways I …

05 April 2022: Unknown Baby Girl, a short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, is very powerful. As always from this author, a superbly written story. Read for free …

04 April 2022: I enjoyed These Little Lies (Detective Inspector Siv Drummond Book 1) by Gretta Mulrooney 📚. A new police procedural series from a British author I …

04 April 2022: Deb, leaving for work, told me to get out of bed and look at the sunrise. it was worth it. 😎

03 April 2022: Deb and I enjoyed Dream Horse 🎬 : the true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by Welsh bartender Jan Vokes. With very little money …

03 April 2022: I like to do my beach walks at dawn, when the sun just catches the tips of the waves.

02 April 2022: We see some excellent sights from our lounge window, like the two Air Force Hercules aircraft that just flew past really low. Air Force marks 85 years …

02 April 2022: Another in a series I enjoy: Close to Death by Elizabeth Gunn 📚. Detective Sarah Burke is called out to a mass shooting in a quiet residential street …

02 April 2022: Scenes from this morning’s dawn walk.

02 April 2022: A hard but powerful read: This is How You Died | The Order of the Good Death: A physician who worked on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic …

01 April 2022: My first attempt at a Chocolate Mini Loaf Cake, which thought it was maybe a volcano! Tasted good though!

01 April 2022: I can’t believe how many times I need to correct a Post or Reply after publishing. Thank you so much @manton for making it easy to do that! 🙌🏼

01 April 2022: A big walk for Sasha 🐶 these days is to go all the way to the speedsigns, 500 metres away. On our early morning walk today we rounded a bend in the …

31 March 2022: Ready for some feelgood, with dogs? the dogs had to learn about 80 new behaviors before they [could] get their paws on the wheel of an actual car. … …

31 March 2022: An even better morning display today at 0644: low in the eastern sky a crescent Moon, right beside mighty Jupiter. Arrayed above them, Venus, Saturn …

30 March 2022: This is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s smallest birds, often heard but seldom seen. I got lucky a few months back. Riroriro, Grey Warbler 🐦 : Length: …

30 March 2022: I had Keen shoes that were new many years ago, were demoted to dog walking several years ago and finally to gardening. This year they fell to bits. …

30 March 2022: This is bizarre: it’s not quite 5 am, pitch dark and I’ve been hearing a loud motorbike roaring around for 5 minutes or more. They may be on the beach …

29 March 2022: I had low expectations for what turned out to be an excellent book. Murder on Port Meadow (Oxford Dog Walker Crime Thrillers Book 1) by Annie Dalton …

29 March 2022: Has Apple Maps always had this? Just today I discovered Guides, and that I can add places to a Guide I’ve created. Very handy for a trip to Palmerston …

29 March 2022: At 6 am I remembered Mars, Venus and Saturn were to be close together in the morning sky. I popped outside and found the Moon hanging out too. …

28 March 2022: I’ve been listening to and enjoying @Matti’s excellent podcasts, The Early Riser and The Puppycast. That’s probably why I found myself speaking into …

28 March 2022: Just experimented with Drafts transcribing a brief Voice Memo I made. Not bad at all. The hardest thing was getting the Voice Memo into Drafts. …

27 March 2022: I suppose articles like Escape from Kyiv are ten a penny just now. It moved me deeply though. And made me think about how NZ is so remote I …

27 March 2022: I’m not given to sharing Wordle results, but today’s was very unusual: Wordle 281 3/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

26 March 2022: Abandoned 40% through: A Deadly Course (Sugarbury Falls Mysteries Book 1) by Diane Weiner 📚. Amateur detectives leap to various conclusions. I think I …

26 March 2022: I abandoned Aged for Murder (A Tuscan Vineyard Cozy Mystery—Book 1) by Fiona Grace 📚 about 33% through. The write-up didn’t make clear …

26 March 2022: I quite enjoyed Murder Under the Palms (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 2) by Paula Lennon 📚. It was a little slow though.

26 March 2022: I bought myself an autumn day treat while out and about this morning. A very delicious real fruit blackberry icecream cone at the nearby blueberry …

25 March 2022: Hah, remembering this day in 2020 when global Covid cases numbered less than 500,000.

25 March 2022: I don’t often listen to music but this morning I’ve been captivated by Deva Mahal. For example this just released All Your Ships Have …

24 March 2022: I’ve had this M1 MacBook Pro for over a year now. Today after 9 hours of use the battery has ‘already’ dropped to 50% charge from …

24 March 2022: Up, up, down, down. 🐦 Canada Geese, on the wing.

23 March 2022: These ring-necked pheasants are very common round here. They’re splendid birds, but also kind of incredible. That eye belongs in a cartoon. 🐦

23 March 2022: My new favourite — Shedunnit: a storytelling podcast that unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories. I’ve listened to 3 episodes …

22 March 2022: We see Kingfishers around here quite often — usually in the garden. I didn’t really expect to see this little one on the beach yesterday. 🐦 …

21 March 2022: I spent an age today making a Big List of Waikawa Beach Birds. Counting only live birds, not those washed up on the beach, there are over 50! 🐦

21 March 2022: These Rock pigeons, although common everywhere, are actually not that easy to find at Waikawa Beach. 🐦 I first spotted them a few months ago, but it …

21 March 2022: This spammer failed to trick the detection engines by using these intriguing font forms. However, I do like the overall look. Must have been a big job …

21 March 2022: These two annoyingly distant Spur-winged Plovers were at the beach this morning. I’ve been wanting to get photos of them, but am a bit …

21 March 2022: A few small shakes overnight, 2 very close and shallow 〰️: Sun Mar 20 2022 8:28 PM: 15 km south-east of Seddon; M4.5; Depth: 10 km. Sun Mar 20 2022 …

21 March 2022: My neighbour and no relation, Dr Jan Jordan, has just published a huge book she’s been working on for several years: Women, Rape and Justice: …

20 March 2022: I was never really very fond of gulls, but I’m coming to quite like the ones at Waikawa Beach. Tarapunga, Red-billed gull. 🐦

19 March 2022: The Kuaka, Godwits were being very obliging this morning.

19 March 2022: I really enjoyed The Girl Who Killed You (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 3) by Amy Vansant 📚: Shee quickly tracks [a missing] boy to a …

19 March 2022: Waikawa Beach at 9 am on a cool, clear, sunny, still morning. Paradise.

18 March 2022: After completely draining the batteries on my original Airpods and case as a problem solving step (I hope), today I thought it’d be good to run …

17 March 2022: Sasha getting back to basics. 🐶

17 March 2022: Some kind of spacecraft launching gantry? No. Pouring concrete at the new subdivision, starting an hour+ before sunrise at 6 am! Photo at 7 am, just …

16 March 2022: This is now my official preferred scrambled egg dish: Soft Scrambled Japanese Tamago Rice Bowl. Totally yum!

16 March 2022: The garden shop down the road has had Cabbage Trees on sale for a while now. I’ve already planted 14 in various spots but today I bought another 7 and …

15 March 2022: In the next-door-paddock-but-one the farmer grows corn or maize. Today was harvesting day. One machine harvested the maize and blew it through a chute …

15 March 2022: Another really good read in the Goodbye series: Goodbye Lake Street by Anne Shillolo 📚: Police and a secret group of citizen investigators are locked …

14 March 2022: OK. A] Add a video to Micro.Blog: click the upload button, write text, Post. 👍 B] Add a video to a static blog via Publii: log in to YouTube, upload …

14 March 2022: The public toilets at Waikawa Beach were built around 50 or 60 years ago. They’re now in a state of decay. Today builders started demolishing …

14 March 2022: This morning on the beach I was lucky enough to get a decent shot of this Tuturiwhatu, Banded dotterel 🐦: Length: 20 cm; Weight: 60 g A small compact …

13 March 2022: Someone recently was asking about women podcasters (unless I imagined that…). Here are two that are utterly superb: The Happiness Lab Podcast with …

13 March 2022: Two photos from a couple of days ago of a Kawau, Pied Shag at the beach. 🐦 Length: 65 - 85 cm; Weight: 1.3 - 2.1 kg; A large, relatively slim …shag … …

13 March 2022: This new channel was an instant subscribe: MinuteFood: MinuteFood serves up the science of what we cook, eat, and drink - all with the goal of …

13 March 2022: Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to bring us Micro Camp, and to all the presenters and those who joined in the chats etc. It was excellent!

13 March 2022: Proof that space and time are the same thing. 😆 Referring to the Micro camp online sessions I said I like the space between them. What I meant was the …

12 March 2022: On 03 March 2022 we had turf laid at the rental property we own. It must be watered daily. That water comes from a roughly 9,000 litre rainwater tank …

12 March 2022: About 5 Km away is an organic Blueberry Farm that also has olive trees and makes award winning olive oil. This morning I stopped there and bought oil, …

11 March 2022: A new favourite photo: a Kuaka Godwit at the edge of the sea today. 🐦

10 March 2022: A View to Die For by Cheri Baker 📚: When a wealthy painter is murdered at the luxurious Londonian hotel, Paul and his new partner Andrew Kim take on …

10 March 2022: Me: I wonder if I can Base64 encode text somehow on my Mac? Keyboard Maestro: I got you with one click: manual:Filters [Keyboard Maestro Wiki]. Of …

10 March 2022: Sasha was groomed yesterday. Here she is eating dinner. 😀 🐶

09 March 2022: I avoid driving my car because a] CO2 and b] petrol costs. Today I put 2/3 of a tank in: ~40 litres for almost NZ$120. The price is hovering round $3 …

09 March 2022: I’d love to see this as a movie! Great article! How Death Positive Women Kickstarted a Civil War: By October [1846 in Portugal], two …

09 March 2022: I think I’ll be watching this. It looks fun. Apollo 10 1/2 📺

08 March 2022: Before I could plant these 3 cabbage trees I spent a couple of hours over several days digging out lupins, gorse and blackberry, weedeating, gathering …

07 March 2022: Sometime I want to bike along this trail myself. Really interesting article today: Lake Dunstan Trail: 55,000 more riders than expected in first year. …

06 March 2022: Busy day but it started with a dawn beach walk and an encounter with Taranui, Caspian terns. 🐦

05 March 2022: Only 2.5 minutes in on this 12 minute video and I’ve already learned a really useful tip about longer night exposures. How to capture the night …

05 March 2022: It’s roughly new moon, very little wind, and a 0.3 metre low tide almost 2 hours before this photo. With our gently sloping beach there was a vast …

04 March 2022: I almost missed seeing this brilliant scarlet sunset.

04 March 2022: This is a very thoughtful piece by Anna Rawhiti-Connell in The Spinoff : Aotearoa is different now who reflects on the recent occupation of NZ’s …

04 March 2022: Enjoyed Broken Places (A Cass Raines Mystery Book 1) by Tracy Clark 📚: Cass Raines took a bullet in the line of duty… Now, the Chicago PD has one …

03 March 2022: 6 years ago we bought a property we’ve been renting out. The grass at the front was terrible. After a year or two we had it taken out and …

02 March 2022: The other day I found several jellyfish on the beach, mainly brown and dead looking. This 15 cm specimen was an impressive translucent red. The …

02 March 2022: Some of the (male) illegal occupiers are berating Police for advancing when there are women and children in the protest. Well, a] women can look after …

02 March 2022: At long last Police seem to be actually working on clearing the occupiers at NZ’s Parliament: Live: Anti-mandate protest enters 23rd day as …

01 March 2022: Sometimes folks fish off the beach with a kontiki — a motorised thing that takes hooks and lines up to 4 Km. Today a fellow had rods and reels set up …

01 March 2022: This is an amazing thing. Not sure I’d be brave enough to do this ‘walk’ in Fife, in the south-east of Scotland: The Elie Chainwalk …

28 February 2022: The Carrot & Coriander Soup I made tonight was delicious and really easy and quick. Next time I may try adding just a hint of ginger. Forgot a …

28 February 2022: Sometimes Sasha likes to rearrange the rugs and towels in her crate. 🐶 Today things went a bit awry… until I finally gave her a hand to sort it out. …

28 February 2022: Sand scarab 1: “Man, I was so drunk last night I nearly forgot the way home.” Sand scarab 2: “You were drunk… It took me 3 hours just to get in the …

27 February 2022: Sasha 🐶 enjoyed being one of the humans when we went with friends to Tuktuk Waikanae for Thai food lunch. Top down isn’t my preferred angle for …

26 February 2022: Swallows nest above the door to Deb’s zendo. Today we took the nests down (and won’t let them return) and cleaned masses of bird poop off …

25 February 2022: Gotta say: way back in the mists of time I enjoyed watching Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Which led me to watch the currently screening …

25 February 2022: Wowee, this was so delicious I didn’t think to take a photo. Quick and easy too: 20-Minute Chickpea Soup. Yum!

25 February 2022: In normal life I weedeated around the raspberry canes, as well as other spots. In abnormal life, NZ’s Covid case numbers doubled for the second …

24 February 2022: I think my immediate dislike of the narrator got me off to a bad start. I so much wanted to like this Australian book 📚 but it just kind of annoyed …

24 February 2022: After a rest I planted the other 4 cabbage trees. Now I just hope they actually grow.

24 February 2022: The other day I bought 7 cabbage tree plants at $3 each. Mostly they looked a bit sickly which is probably why they were so cheap. Today so far …

24 February 2022: This 40 minute podcast episode is seriously interesting for anyone who uses written English: Why Does the Letter “A” Look That Way?: …

23 February 2022: The mistakes we learn from: if a plant will get wide, plant it further from the border. A few years ago I planted flax bushes along the drive. I …

23 February 2022: Aha, learned something: Overwintering Parks in New Zealand | The Butterfly Musketeers 🦋: The overwintering stage in New Zealand starts in April or …

22 February 2022: Love this: Scientists Attached Tracking Devices to Magpies 🐦: Within 10 minutes … we witnessed an adult female … trying to remove the harness off of …

22 February 2022: Finally refreshed the straw and shavings in the front part of the quail run. 🐦 Put the soiled straw round nearby vege garden. Trimmed back flax plant …

22 February 2022: This is a very informative article: The Wellington protest is testing police independence and public tolerance – are there lessons from Canada’s …

21 February 2022: As usual, our load of firewood had a few bits that would be unlikely to fit in our woodburner. In the past I’ve chopped them up with an axe …

20 February 2022: I very much enjoyed Murder in Montego Bay (Detectives Preddy & Harris Book 1) by Paula Lennon 📚. Set in Jamaica and featuring Jamaican dialect was …

20 February 2022: OK, that’s some heavy rain right there.

19 February 2022: We live at Waikawa Beach. Travel to the two closest centres, Ōtaki and Levin, means using State Highway 1. There is no alternative. That stretch of …

19 February 2022: Folks have rights: get drunk drive vehicles smoke work in an office remain unvaxed work in proximity with other humans and responsibilities to obey …

19 February 2022: After Oshi 🐶 died I spent heaps of time going through my Photo Library finding and labelling photos of him. Then I created an album of …

18 February 2022: No photo, but today for the first and maybe only time in my life I came across a Briard 🐶: a French breed of large shepherd dog, traditionally used …

18 February 2022: This little 4 minute silent video is so powerful and thought-provoking: When the Giant Cruise Ships Came to Town: The [cruise ships] that pull into …

17 February 2022: I enoyed Safe (Merrow & Clarke Book 1) by Jane Adams 📚, though the frequently mentioned Organised Crime Gang torture was a hard read. Now 17 year …

17 February 2022: Yesterday + 2.25 hours work = today.

16 February 2022: Big congrats today to Dylan and Jeremy: NZ duo involved in music for major Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer: New Zealanders Jeremy …

15 February 2022: Weird that while Sasha was sick she didn’t snore. 🐶 Now she’s better she’s back, full throttle. Maybe she’s more relaxed now…

15 February 2022: Finished Straight Up (A Ruby Steele Mystery—Book 4) by Mia Gold 📚. I quite enjoyed it but there are things that strain credulity. [on a group …

15 February 2022: Pleasing dog news 🐶 : Sasha’s eye ulcer is almost healed. Some vascularisation that would worry the vet in another dog, but since Sasha’s …

14 February 2022: I tend to see ngutupapa, Royal Spoonbills on the beach solitary, in pairs or even three at a time. Today is the first time I’ve seen a flock of …

14 February 2022: I wonder why four military helicopters are flying south in formation? Going to help clear protesters overstaying their visit to Parliament?

13 February 2022: Cancelling the reservations I made for the bike tour in April. I just don’t want to do that any more. I may instead do some random …

13 February 2022: Many thanks to @cheri for the excellent idea of delaying the birthday I’m not in the mood for! I’ve made myself an IOU. I feel better …

13 February 2022: I slept an unbelievable 10 unbroken hours last night! Didn’t even have to get up to pee. Hope I’m not sick… 7 hours or less is more usual …

12 February 2022: Birthdays aren’t really a big thing for me but I’ve never felt less inspired by one (soon) than this year. I guess there’s a few …

12 February 2022: It’s a rainy Saturday and my wonderful partner made delicious pikelets. Yumm!

12 February 2022: The very essence of Kiwi: while the French police are readying water cannons against protestors our police are deploying lawn sprinklers to get …

12 February 2022: While I enjoyed the first 2 books in the series this third one just didn’t gel with me. Too Close to Kill (Detective Sarah Burke mystery and …

11 February 2022: Friends gave us a Leptospermum scoparium Red Damask as a remembrance of Oshi 🐶. Today I planted it on ‘Cemetery Hill’, a hillock where the …

10 February 2022: Sigh. Hundreds of times over the last x years, lift Apple Watch say: “Hey Siri, set timer [x] minutes”. Siri sets timer. Today: “Hey …

10 February 2022: Today more than 56,000 people received Covid booster shots while up to a couple of thousand protestors opposed to “Covid–19 vaccine …

09 February 2022: Crunch, crunch, crunch. 🐶

08 February 2022: The vet’s pleased with how Sasha’s 🐶 sore eye is coming along and we continue with drops. We’re now also giving Gabapentin for …

08 February 2022: Someone had fun writing this headline and teaser. Filling the big hole in Wairoa’s dental service

07 February 2022: I’m working back through my photo library finding all my photos of Sasha and Oshi and labelling them. The further back I get, the worse the …

07 February 2022: 31 December 2009. “Yes, quite comfortable, thank you. Why do you ask?” 🐶

07 February 2022: Heard a snippet of this then sought it out. Magnificent! Prefer it to the song! Leonard Cohen … poetic reading of Simon’s “Sound Of Silence.” The …

06 February 2022: I enjoyed Death by the Thames (Tyrone Swift Detective Book 9) by Gretta Mulrooney 📚: Respectable, dull Sam Goddard is found dead in the River Thames …

06 February 2022: Suffer insomnia? Sasha’s 🐶 proven tips for best sleeping position. January 2014 and February 2022 — proof of effectiveness.

06 February 2022: As I work through my photo library I find photos typical of Oshi 🐶. They make me feel fond and happy, rather than sad. He loved to roll around, …

05 February 2022: I was towelling Sasha 🐶 off after her last pee in today’s pouring rain — she’s so good and reluctantly lets me do it. When Oshi was here …

05 February 2022: This sticker I spotted on a car in 2016 gave me a laugh just now as I work though my Photo Library labelling photos of Sasha and Oshi.

05 February 2022: Love it! Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett with “Mama’s Rap” (1989). Fabulous!

04 February 2022: First time Sasha 🐶 has been home completely alone: 2.5 hours this evening. I shouldn’t have left her. 😒 Poor thing must have been ultra …

04 February 2022: I think we won’t need to water the garden this weekend. 💦

03 February 2022: And to keep our run of vet visits going, today we took Sasha in for what Mary the vet thinks is a “Melting Ulcer” on Sasha’s left …

03 February 2022: Thank you so much to the many many people who sent well wishes for Oshi 🐶 and to us. I really appreciate that I have Micro.Blog pals around the world …

03 February 2022: I firmly believe publication to be an essential step in the proofreading process…

03 February 2022: It’s new Monarch Butterfly day. The chrysalises are hatching. Life goes on. 🦋

03 February 2022: Stories of Oshi One day in February 2007 I had a brief errand in Ngauranga Gorge. Deb decided to come with me but wanted me to drop her off at the Animates pet store. …

02 February 2022: When we saw Oshi 🐶 this afternoon he was benefiting from heavy duty pain relief for his total kidney failure. I’m not sure he recognised us but …

01 February 2022: Thanks to the 36 people who joined in on my little Daylight Poll the other day. It was fun to learn that my day length in Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa New …

01 February 2022: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 58 Manga Pirau Street. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 176 m2 floor, 985 m2 Land.

01 February 2022: Tundra Courage by Brenda Bowie Wise 📚: While on a village trip to watch her students demonstrate their [nursing] skills, Meara encounters a victim of …

01 February 2022: Oshi 🐶 update: he didn’t improve since yesterday’s vet visit. Now he’s at the vet for an overnight stay with monitoring, tests, …

31 January 2022: Oshi 🐶 update: he’s had pain relief, anti-nausea shot and if he’s not a great deal better by tomorrow he’ll have a hospital visit …

31 January 2022: Things you realise too late: after Mary the vet ascertained Oshi 🐶 needed to poop I should have taken him to the dog park for 10 minutes rather than …

30 January 2022: Our 15 year old dog Oshi has always loved food. 🐶 For the last 2 or 3 days though I’ve been coaxing him to eat, with almost no success. …

30 January 2022: Deb and I have been watching some Acorn TV together. Vera’s great but can be so sad. Agatha Raisin was lightweight fun as was Queens of Mystery. …

30 January 2022: Seems I bought this 📚 7 years ago but only just finished reading Innocent in Las Vegas (Tiffany Black Mysteries Book 1). Tiffany Black is determined …

29 January 2022: When Canada Geese, Oystercatchers or Pied Stilts fly over you know all about it, thanks to the racket they make. 🐦 With other birds you hear the …

28 January 2022: It's a while since I read others in this series so the style of Murder in Pembrokeshire (Tyrone Swift Detective Book 8) by Gretta Mulrooney was a …

28 January 2022: New fave TV quote. Legends of Tomorrow S07E10, ~20 minutes in: Sarah: I always used to know what the next move was, now … I don’t know, …

28 January 2022: Having trouble with my posts taking ages to show up on the timeline — for example, one from 2022-01-28 9:13 am hasn’t shown up while other folks …

28 January 2022: Quick poll of Micro.Bloggers, with my answers: where are you? (Waikawa Beach, Aotearoa New Zealand) date? 28 January 2022 sunrise? 06:22 sunset? …

27 January 2022: Today’s discovery: a 2012 Māori language scifi book — Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira. 📚 4 teenagers live on Rēhua, a planet …

27 January 2022: It was pretty nice this morning at sunrise.

27 January 2022: 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 organise it. Today I submitted the final project …

26 January 2022: New Zealand retains top spot in global anti-corruption rankings Good to see: The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index released by global anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International, ranks New Zealand …

25 January 2022: The amazing Kuaka, Godwit flies between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Arctic every year to feed and breed. 🐦 They are a similar size to the more …

24 January 2022: Enjoyed very much: Murder Across the Lines (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 2) by Janice Frost. 📚 At a busy crossing in Lincoln city a …

24 January 2022: Our dog Sasha, who’s 15, is pretty much blind. 🐶 She does not approve of the massive rearrangement of the furniture. What’s more I’m …

24 January 2022: It’s ~6 years since we moved to Waikawa Beach and yesterday we finally achieved the ‘right’ arrangement of furniture in the living …

24 January 2022: Another in an excellent series: Goodbye Haldane Hill (A DC Holly Towns Murder Mystery) by Anne Shillolo. 📚 the body of a young woman in Haldane Hill …

23 January 2022: Sasha was a reluctant participant in this selfie. 🐶

22 January 2022: Came across this photo of Harriette the Fox Terrier from back in 2004 when she was about 14. Taken at the top of Mt Victoria, Matairangi, in …

22 January 2022: The other day I took photos of a Karoro, Southern black-backed gull as it flew by. Hand held. Pretty pleased with the results. 🐦 Black-backed gulls …

21 January 2022: Dr Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford does excellent monthly night sky updates. She includes how the sky will look for us …

21 January 2022: Excellent article: Love letter to the electric bike 🚴🏼‍♀️: New Zealand imports of new e-bikes … are on track to outstrip imports of new cars. For …

20 January 2022: This is a really interesting 30 minute video about concussion — Why I stopped watching football: I discovered so many awful truths about football …

20 January 2022: This is a learning site I want to explore more: BBC Bitesize. For example, my Physics education was over 50 years ago and I suspect things have …

19 January 2022: I really enjoyed At Close Range (Detective Sarah Burke Book 2) by Elizabeth Gunn. 📚 … a double homicide in a rich neighborhood. While the property …

19 January 2022: Eating oneself out of house and home… The multitudinous Monarch caterpillars have stripped every leaf from the Swan Plants and now, in desperation, …

18 January 2022: Tonga may not get comms back any time soon: Tonga’s undersea cable could take weeks to repair: The cable carries … internet and phone …

18 January 2022: Tonga is tiny islands in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. It’s no surprise that a huge volcanic eruption on the doorstep of the capital cut …

17 January 2022: Many thanks to Batch Resize Images Quickly in the OS X Terminal for giving me a quick and perfectly adequate way to make thumbnails for a web page …

17 January 2022: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 75 Strathnaver Drive; Offers over $849,000; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 95m2 floor area, 8794m2 land area, 2 garages.

17 January 2022: I haven’t spotted any Pukeko at the lakes recently so was glad to see a couple at sunrise today. 🐦

16 January 2022: Fiji to Tonga is 800 Km! Turn up the volume and watch this video clip of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption as heard in Fiji. Must …

16 January 2022: It seems the Hunga eruption in Tonga was a one-in–1000-year event: Radiocarbon dating suggested one major eruption of this scale occurred about …

16 January 2022: I very much enjoyed the Swedish book Still Waters (Sandhamn Murders Book 1) by Viveca Sten (Author), Marlaine Delargy (Translator) 📚 On a hot July …

15 January 2022: Watch these videos at Stunning satellite animations of extremely powerful volcanic eruption in Tonga. That’s amazing stuff. Hunga Tonga-Hunga …

15 January 2022: What’s that repeated thumping / booming we asked one another as we ate dinner outside. It sounded like maybe the army shelling nearby. The …

15 January 2022: Kee-yah!

15 January 2022: On our Swan Plants some Monarch caterpillars are thriving. Meanwhile, the gory scene in the second photo shows a Paper Wasp devouring a young …

14 January 2022: This proved very handy today when I had 32 photos to deal with: Create a Contact Sheet of Thumbnails with Automator in Mac OS X. Slightly outdated, …

14 January 2022: How lucky was I to get this shot of a Greenfinch on a moving flax spear! The flax spear was waving around all over the place, yet on this one shot the …

13 January 2022: I know others have felt unwell for a day after their Covid booster. I’m not quite up to par after yesterday’s jab, but it’s mainly …

13 January 2022: Murder mystery with a huge helping of travel writing: Destination: Maui (Destination Murder Mysteries Book 1) by Ann Shepphird. 📚 I liked it well …

13 January 2022: I borrowed on paper from the Library Backyard Bird Photography: How to Attract Birds to Your Home and Create Beautiful Photographs, 2014, by Mathew …

13 January 2022: Wow, this 28 minute film is entrancing: Hargila 🐦 : Through the efforts of a remarkable conservation leader, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman … the …

12 January 2022: As all us ‘rich’ folks get Covid jabs 1, 2 and 3, The World Health Organisation now says that Africa (the entire continent of 1.3 …

12 January 2022: Covid boosted. 💉

12 January 2022: If you enjoy reading mystery stories by excellent authors then you may be interested in Make 100 Mystery Stories: Crimes Collide: 100 Mystery Short …

11 January 2022: Little Yellowhammer on a flax spear, singin' away!

11 January 2022: Errands in Levin today. As we drove north past the consecutive rail and river bridges and round a bend we passed a petrol tanker stationary on the …

11 January 2022: It’s a year since I ordered my M1 MacBook Pro. I was worried about moving from a 15“ to a 13” screen. Took me forever to get used to …

10 January 2022: Having recently bought mini loaf tins I thought I should actually use them. Found and cooked this: Mini Gingerbread Loaf for Two. It was delicious! …

10 January 2022: I’ve seen a few Spur-winged plovers around recently but haven’t had a chance to take a photo of them yet. This picture from October 2018 …

10 January 2022: For sale: 10 Arthur Street, Waikawa Beach: Offers Over $709,000; 2 bedrooms; 1 bathroom; 70m2 floor area; 809m2 land area.

09 January 2022: Interesting: Risk of Death For Female Patients Is Much Higher if Surgeon Is a Man, Study Reveals. It’d be interesting to know data for …

09 January 2022: Sometimes I try reading romance, but it’s unsatisfying like when hot chocolate is all froth… When Love Wins by Sherryl Hancock. 📚 Tyler has …

09 January 2022: This photo from February 2020 turns out the be the only one I have of a Goldfinch. 😒 Poor little mite flew into our window and was stunned. 🐦 Need to …

08 January 2022: So pleased with my new zoom lens. Juvenile Starling on a flax spear; rabbit on the grass.

08 January 2022: Hey @g see how you get on with this Applescript you asked for. Copy the contents into Script Editor and see if it works for what you want. I bet …

08 January 2022: I chose dawn today to bike round the village. Slightly chilly but perfect conditions, with no wind. The river was super low, despite it being 2 hours …

07 January 2022: Enjoyed, in spite of numerous typos: Unknown Victim (Gina Santoro Mysteries Book 1) by Kay Hadashi. 📚 Rookie Police Officer Gina Santoro … makes a …

07 January 2022: Last night I met that rare and elusive beast, 8 hours good sleep. 😴 It’s life-changing! 💪🏼

06 January 2022: I got lucky today: Wordle 200 3/6 🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

05 January 2022: Tonight we visited our weekender neighbours. Amy, the vet assistant, brought Doodlebug, the rescue guinea pig to the beach for a holiday. I got a …

05 January 2022: Oh my! ❤️‍🔥Katharine Hepburn as a boy in 1935’s Sylvia Scarlett 🎥: as she chops off her hair she declares, “I won’t be a girl. I won’t be weak, …

05 January 2022: Some folks are so desperate to get their vehicles onto the beach they’ll even drive through a high tide.

05 January 2022: Well, today I achieved variety, with breakfast anyway. Someone accidentally switched the locations of ground chilli and cinnamon in the pantry and I …

05 January 2022: This morning we’re heading out to a Waikanae Estuary Bird Tour. It’s only a 40 minute drive south. Mik will show you where to find …

05 January 2022: I wasn’t entirely sure about Close to Her (Detective Sarah Burke mystery and suspense Book 1) by Elizabeth Gunn at first. Then I loved it and am …

04 January 2022: Today I kayaked 2 Km upriver. It was sunny and peaceful. After watching some ‘how to paddle’ videos I think my paddling technique has …

03 January 2022: I’m learning a heap of useful info from the free videos from The Cornell Lab Bird Academy. Here’s one example: Inside Birding: Size & …

03 January 2022: I have a huge job ahead of me over the next unknown amount of time. I’ve been very poor at labelling the photos in my Apple Photos.app …

02 January 2022: With temps in the high 20sC we took the for us unusual step of going down to the beach for a “swim”. For me that means jumping over waves. …

02 January 2022: It was a perfect sunset last night. I found I could even see the Makara Wind Farm (via binoculars) some 100 Km away. In the third photo most of the …

01 January 2022: I love that BBEdit can compare documents and I can selectively copy text between windows.

01 January 2022: I have a lot to learn about taking photos of shags in trees. Just look at this dork though! 😆 🐦 Try zooming in.

01 January 2022: This is for @Cheri. Deb and I both looked at this Facebook Post and couldn’t figure out at first why someone wanted to give away half a bathroom …

01 January 2022: I don’t post my daily selfies, but did on 01 January 2021. So here’s my New Year’s Day 2022 selfie. 😀 On the beach at dawn, waiting for sunrise to see …

31 December 2021: I don’t do reviews, resolutions or plans these days — not sure I ever did really anyway. But this evening the thought popped into my head that I …

31 December 2021: Every year a local couple mount a huge display of Christmas Lights on their house. The lights tell a story as Santa and elves move around delivering …

31 December 2021: Initial results of my new zoom lens are very pleasing. Two different Oystercatcher chicks at the beach. 🐦

31 December 2021: I hadn’t realised just how ginormous my new zoom lens is compared to the old. Camera: Fuji X-T2. Old lens: Fujifilm XC 50–230mm …

30 December 2021: Trip to Wellington today. Photo of the Wellington waterfront on a nice summer’s day from a 9th floor apartment on Oriental Bay.

30 December 2021: Haere rā, e hoa. RIP, Alana.

29 December 2021: Hmmm, this book didn’t quite gel with me: Nookie (Alex Dixon Humorous Mysteries Book 1) by Katrina Kyle. 📚 Alex Dixon has problems. …

29 December 2021: For a while now I’ve been eying up the Fujifilm XF 100–400mm F4.5–5.6 lens to attach to my Fuji X-T2 camera. I was planning on …

28 December 2021: Out of nowhere the other day, I wondered what a Mint Julep tasted like. I don’t drink alcohol so made a Virgin Mint Julep. It was easy and …

28 December 2021: The other day on a whim I bought a couple of mini loaf tins. Today I baked White Bread Mini Yeast Loaf. I brushed on egg white to make a shiny crust. …

27 December 2021: Today I noticed the Australian coots on our nearby little lake have babies. 🐦 When I arrived with my camera they hurried off, but a couple of …

27 December 2021: A very useful read: 😀 Baking and baked goods are a perennial source of US/UK miscommunication—in large part because most of our current baking/eating …

27 December 2021: Yesterday I learned a good lesson about getting the right light for photos of birds on a lake. 🐦 I went back in the afternoon and managed to …

26 December 2021: At the lake this morning, I was unsuccessful in my attempts to take a good photo of the New Zealand Dabchick. I did manage to capture a photo of the …

26 December 2021: The introduced Green and Golden Bell Frogs down at the lake this morning were making a racket: Waaaahhhhh woof woof. 🐸

25 December 2021: The Oystercatchers were protecting eggs recently. Now we have a fluffy grey baby to watch out for! 🐦

25 December 2021: Caught in the act! This Banded Dotterel, Tuturiwhatu, found something yummy! 🐦

25 December 2021: Many beach birds are quite big really: Gulls, Terns Oystercatchers, Pied Stilts. The ‘nationally vulnerable’ Tuturiwhatu or Banded …

25 December 2021: Royal Spoonbill, feeding, flanked by two Pied Stilts, with a Black-backed Gull in the background. 🐦

25 December 2021: Merry Christmas, folks. At 7.30 am the beach was for the birds, including this group of Black Swans. Can you spot the odd one out — the …

24 December 2021: It’s so trivial, but this “Enter This Side” sign at the store’s exit, irritates me every time. Unless they consider …

23 December 2021: Remembering Alana Bowman. RIP.

23 December 2021: Word's out about the railing! Today a Warou, Welcome Swallow, opted for the full photo shoot, even including the over-the-shoulder pose! 🐦 …

23 December 2021: Vehicles on the beach is a hot topic where I live, so this is interesting: Vehicle access to popular Auckland beach to close over holidays A permit …

23 December 2021: We seem to have our very own house Sparrow. This little cutie likes to sit on the railing outside the east door to our deck from the lounge and either …

22 December 2021: Noone tends the grass verges along our private lane but I hate when they get too overgrown, so today I tidied things a bit with the weedeater. An …

21 December 2021: Today the farmer came and picked up the bales of hay. That was a two tractor job.

21 December 2021: This is cool. 5.5 minute video. Folks who write detective fic with high tech elements would like this. Comes under Linguistics! Hidden background …

21 December 2021: A couple of days ago the farmer next door mowed the cow paddock. Later he came back with his tractor and spinner to flip the grass and rake it into …

20 December 2021: Every single time I use Regular Expressions in BBEdit I just want to shout out my joy! Before and after screenshots.

19 December 2021: Today I made Courgette frittatas for breakfast. They were pretty good. Fresh courgettes from the tunnel house and a very small stick of finely chopped …

19 December 2021: In the last 2 weeks we’ve had almost 200 mm rain (over 7 inches), and variously heat, high winds from several quarters, still days, cool grey …

18 December 2021: The Royal Spoonbill was also a little wind-ruffled, while at least one of the nearby ducks was keeping a close watch on me.

18 December 2021: Annoying: I put my bike on its side stand so I could take photos of a Royal Spoonbill at the lake. A big gust of wind blew my bike over (it’s …

18 December 2021: Rats! Apple Watch Locking: Other issues that can impact sensor performance include wrist tattoos. Thanks to an inconvenient mosquito bite overnight …

17 December 2021: My friend Alana, and fellow Xena fan, gave me this fridge magnet many many years ago. Alana is very much in my thoughts at the moment.

16 December 2021: That was a cool little 20 minute film: Little Miss Sumo. It’s worth a watch (Netflix) 🎬: The premise revolves around the 20-year-old sumo …

16 December 2021: I’m glad these girls get to expand horizons: When I first came to New Zealand, I didn’t know what sport was …because I’m a …

16 December 2021: Uh oh: Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has confirmed the country’s first case of the Omicron variant has been found at a MIQ …

16 December 2021: Hooray for the NZ Invertebrate ID group on Facebook. I now know this insect is a Bush gadfly (Scaptia adrel). It was hanging out on the wall of our …

16 December 2021: I have two Japanese quail. Today, less than 2 Km from our house, I spotted a not-very-often-seen-round-here California Quail. 🐦 Pretty …

15 December 2021: I enjoyed A Mumbai Murder Mystery by Meeti Shroff-Shah. 📚 Some great turns of phrase, insight into a culture I’m not familiar with. So much food …

15 December 2021: This was long overdue but today I finally took all the dirty straw out of the quail run and added fresh straw and pine shavings. 🐦 That all …

14 December 2021: Some publishers use a service that detects which Amazon Store a newsletter reader might want to use and sends me incorrectly to Amazon Australia when …

14 December 2021: Love this music! Dufay is famous for being the first really major Renaissance composer and breaking from the medieval traditions, … his isorhythmic …

13 December 2021: Oshi, 🐶 aged 15, is arthritic, has a heart murmur and doesn’t see so well. He can now walk ~500 metres max, and still enjoys peeing on …

13 December 2021: Sasha, 🐶 aged 15, is pretty much blind and almost deaf, arthritic and has weak legs. I have to lift her up and down steps, on and off the bed. Her …

13 December 2021: Sasha and Oshi turn 15 today! 🎉 They had some extra treats in their breakfast. Here are some silly birthday photos. 😀

13 December 2021: Happily noted: Nichelle Nichols played the role of Nyota Uhura on Star Trek: The Original Series. 🖖🏼 Recently, Astronaut Appearance …

12 December 2021: From a couple of days ago: Thrush on a fence post.

11 December 2021: I enjoy Anne Shillolo’s Port Alma mysteries very much. Unfortunately, I found Frozen Fear, part of a different series, somewhat annoying. I …

11 December 2021: Peekaboo. Cloud over the Tararuas.

11 December 2021: At the start of this week we had almost 100 mm rain over 2 or 3 days, with associated flooding around the place. Now there’s another 100 mm …

10 December 2021: The Welcome Swallow, on the other hand, just seemed inscrutable.

10 December 2021: This waxeye on the flax spear was a bit grumpy looking.

10 December 2021: This little Yellowhammer was also busy singing out loud on a flax bush yesterday. 🐦

09 December 2021: A late afternoon songster, this European greenfinch. 🐦 😀

09 December 2021: Time flies! Thought I should get ready to be able to easily type 2023 now we’re soon to be in 2022. Found my TextExpander snippet of y3 still …

08 December 2021: It was time to replace lamp and filters on our Puretec HYBRID-G9 UV water treatment unit. I watched a maintenance video and noted 35 steps then took …

08 December 2021: We had 100 mm rain (4 inches) in the last 2–3 days. I’ve written about it with photos on the Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association blog: A …

07 December 2021: With all the rain the last couple of days this wild baby rabbit found a sheltered spot under the overhang of the quail palace roof. Handy nibbles …

06 December 2021: I went out when it wasn’t raining quite so hard to check on things in this area. There was heaps more rain in the mountains than here so the …

06 December 2021: This boy Oshi 🐶 has no manners — he barges in, pushes himself around, generally has no regard for anyone else. Except when he’s on my bed. Then …

06 December 2021: I’m finding the Publii documentation to be excellent. Clear, well laid out, comprehensive.

05 December 2021: I’m giving Publii a try, with good results so far: Publii is an open-source static site generator for every skill level, from beginner to …

05 December 2021: Yesterday a starling flew right in through the open door and fetched up in the corner of the kitchen. It was not happy. It looked like it could …

05 December 2021: The forecast is for a heap of rain in the next few days. We’ll see how much actually arrives. At least it’ll help fill the water tank.

04 December 2021: I recently took a deep breath and bought an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Then I wanted to protect it properly with a leather sleeve. After some missteps I …

03 December 2021: There are days when the sea is so calm I could be enjoying a tropical Pacific atoll. Very soothing!

03 December 2021: I made a smart choice today: was boiling with rage about something going on locally, selected an appropriate person to chat with about it. She cooled …

02 December 2021: XKCD’s Edge Cake is particularly excellent. For those who don’t know: hover to get additional text.

02 December 2021: Love, love, love the “dog who looks like Patrick Stewart”: Dogs That Look Like Celebrities 🖖🏼

02 December 2021: Ever since I discovered the New York Times Acrostic I’ve been doing one per day, starting with the first in the archive. Sadly, that binge means …

01 December 2021: Your place or mine?

01 December 2021: For Sale: 38 Manga Pirau Street, Waikawa Beach: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 80m2 floor area, 809m2 land area.

30 November 2021: Yet another brilliant animated cartoon-style explainer (maybe 30 seconds) — this time about Antimicrobial Resistance from Dr Siouxsie Wiles and Toby …

30 November 2021: Centuries of colonisation, racism and neglect have put Māori in a very bad position. Now (as always) they fight back: Low Māori vax rates not …

30 November 2021: 7.15 am. This is the hour or two when the dogs check in every 15 minutes or so in case it’s breakfast time. 🐶 They have another 45 minutes to …

29 November 2021: One of the tracks to the beach that I use has flaxes either side of the entrance. Sometimes the leaves grow right across the track. I couldn’t …

28 November 2021: I don’t always find the lead character endearing, but I enjoyed The Rachel Prince Mystery Series: Books 4–6 by Dawn Brookes 📚: a …

28 November 2021: Keeping tempers cool at Waikawa: Community irefighting.

28 November 2021: There are several interesting points in Declining Eyesight Could Be Given a Boost by Short Morning Doses of Seeing Red, including: Longer wavelengths …

27 November 2021: Hmmm, now we’re getting a handle on Covid Delta, this from WHO: Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Source: …

26 November 2021: Our Swan Plant had one microscopic Monarch caterpillar on it when a friend offered to bring some of her surplus caterpillars round. Of course I …

25 November 2021: Because I was sitting quietly on a log, the Pied Stilt came closer, checking me out.

25 November 2021: Pied Stilt, strutting her stuff. 🐦

25 November 2021: Saw these little birds at the beach today. Thought they were one thing, but a search eventually told me they are New Zealand dotterels. One photo has …

25 November 2021: My brain doesn’t do well with pictures that replace words: on the cooktop it always takes me time to figure out which knob controls which …

24 November 2021: Near the beach is a house being built from the outside in. After laying the floor they put up door jambs and installed the doors. Next come the …

24 November 2021: It was stunning at the beach before 7 am today. In the photo, about one third of the way across the horizon from the right, you can just make out Mt …

23 November 2021: Blackbird.

23 November 2021: For no special reason, a photo from August 2012, at Ha’atafu resort in Tonga. Reading.

22 November 2021: How do these adjacencies happen so often? Is this really just a coincidence? No one talks about ravens then suddenly @cheri and @hollyhoneychurch both …

21 November 2021: Well, well, well: Kobayashi Maru 🖖🏼📺

21 November 2021: Misremembering Something May Be Evidence That Your Memory Is Actually Working 🤔: people tend to remember the general gist of an item … while …

20 November 2021: The Grey warbler, Riroriro has a very distinctive song that I’ve often heard. I’d never seen the bird though until today. Very excited to …

20 November 2021: Happened to have camera in hand when I saw this Tui on the flaxes.

20 November 2021: Ahhhh, mystery solved. I wondered why my author friend @cheri kept leaving out words in her blog posts. Now I know to blame Reader mode on Safari, …

20 November 2021: Blood moon November 2021 notes I caught some glimpses of the eclipse last night, between cloud. Just after 10 pm, it looked just like this, in binoculars. My couple of photos were …

19 November 2021: I managed to see the almost total lunar eclipse in spite of loads of cloud. Pretty darned special, particularly with good binoculars. Took two bad …

19 November 2021: Absent-mindedly opened Camera app on my phone instead of the Covid–19 Tracer app to record a visit. Camera kindly offered to open the correct …

18 November 2021: My Granny Smith apple tree should produce a good crop this year.

17 November 2021: LOL juxtapositions. On Netflix: The Flash with Dash and Lily.

17 November 2021: I’ve really enjoyed this series. Just finished 3rd Tango: (Schock Sisters Mystery Series) by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano. 📚 Looks like the …

17 November 2021: Hmmm, hope this URL works. I keep a diary / journal /TODO thing in a file on my Mac using OmniOutliner (OO). I’ve created a calendar document …

16 November 2021: These maps are really interesting: Ancient Earth globe. For example, 240 million years ago Aotearoa New Zealand was situated close to the South Pole. …

16 November 2021: I really enjoyed this 45 minute doco: No one had ever asked the journalist and broadcaster why he drank, but when he stopped everyone asked him why …

16 November 2021: This is handy: Apple has quietly added a new tool in macOS Monterey for measuring your device’s Internet connectivity quality. You can simply call …

15 November 2021: From a neighbour’s place, a view across to the Tararuas. Our house is the pale building on the right, our garage the pale building on the left.

14 November 2021: New shoes day: Merrell Siren Traveller 3. Great shoes! designed for women’s feet.

14 November 2021: I found 2nd Strike: Book 2 of 3: Schock Sisters Mystery Series by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano as compelling as Book 1. 📚 Now on to Book 3. …

14 November 2021: I really enjoyed Juniper 🎬 : a self-destructive teenager is … asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother … the crazy time they spend …

13 November 2021: There are special bars across our footbridge designed to stop motorbikes from getting onto the bridge. What they actually do is make it very hard for …

13 November 2021: This test of @manton’s script: Micro.blog via AppleScript has worked well. 😀 Thanks Manton.

12 November 2021: For sale 18 Henham Lane, Waikawa Beach: Bareland, 22155 m².

12 November 2021: Intense and very readable: 1st Shock: A Schock Sisters Private Investigator Mystery by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano. 📚 Elite forensic sculptor …

11 November 2021: Sometimes our military helicopters like to do a little bit of formation flying — directly overhead.

11 November 2021: Until this year we always said “If Oshi won’t eat, we know there’s a problem”. 🐶 This year it’s been …

10 November 2021: Today I was looking at the Coastal Risk Screening Tool and suddenly recalled seeing the tsunami siren in Niue. That whole coral island is at least 25 …

09 November 2021: Breakfast … with friends.

08 November 2021: This grew on me: The Rachel Prince Mystery Series: Books 1–3 by Dawn Brookes 📚 The language is kind of prissy, but I got used to it …

08 November 2021: 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 stunning day!

07 November 2021: A bit of an earthquake 〰️ just to keep us on our toes. Not far away but quite deep. Magnitude: 5.4 Depth: 189 km

07 November 2021: Waikawa Beach For Sale: 13 Holly Way. 2.01ha Land.

06 November 2021: We really enjoyed The Starling 🎬 As if Lilly’s troubles weren’t bad enough, a starling whose nest is in a tree in her backyard …

06 November 2021: Wowee: parrots have names and use their own and one another’s names too. They learn the names in the nest. How a Parrot Learns Its Name in the …

06 November 2021: These are my special friends for a few days while their mum takes a break.

05 November 2021: The majority opinion was in favour of an afternoon nap. Who was I to stand agin them? 😴

05 November 2021: From 2018: a small boat being launched off Waikawa Beach. // @odd

05 November 2021: With a barely perceptible easterly this morning our West Coast sea had almost no waves at all. So still and quiet!

05 November 2021: I love my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I was worried it would be too large, but it feels great in the hand and the camera is performing nicely. The blue is …

04 November 2021: For Sale: 53a Reay Mackay Grove, Waikawa Beach This house will be visible from our place.

04 November 2021: Our unfriendly roads An email to NZTA today: For exercise and also to do my bit to reduce car use and save putting some CO2 into the atmosphere I biked from my home at …

04 November 2021: For Sale: 8 Sand Dune Grove, Waikawa Beach.

03 November 2021: That time when setting up a new watch led me to discover my phone was set to use Icelandic as a secondary language…

02 November 2021: I’ve finally found my perfect use case for the Apple Pencil on iPad: solving crossword puzzles that otherwise must be printed out, for example, …

02 November 2021: Every November the tree lupins Lupinus arboreus come into full flower and play havoc with my allergies. I get itchy throat, nose, eyes along with …

01 November 2021: I’m booked on a bike tour for next April. The company will now require Covid vaccination certificates for all participants. Seems like a good …

01 November 2021: I like the idea that after my death my body could become compost, feeding plants that nourish and protect animals, continuing the cycle of life. I …

01 November 2021: Last night Sasha 🐶 had to go out about midnight then started being restless again, wandering round the house. I put on a little solar powered lamp as …

31 October 2021: Lying awake in the night sped me through this very good read: Next in Line (Detective Clare Mackay Book 5) by Marion Todd 📚 Clare wonders why …

31 October 2021: We had a difficult night with Sasha the dog 🐶 who is almost 15, pretty much blind, and hard of hearing. It may be a signal she has dementia. She was …

30 October 2021: An author, some of whose books I enjoy, wants to be helpful and send customers to the ‘right’ Amazon Store, based on geolocation. …

29 October 2021: A pleasant read: Swamp Sweets (Miss Fortune Mysteries Book 21) by Jana DeLeon 📚

29 October 2021: My favourite time, when cabbage trees flower — those white panicles. Their perfume is utterly gorgeous.

29 October 2021: Cows in the mist.

29 October 2021: Don’t Choose Extinction: At least we had an asteroid. What’s your excuse?

28 October 2021: I had an idea, worked on it with a friend and today we’re launching a summer photo event for Waikawa Beach: Wow Waikawa! Folks submit photos that show …

28 October 2021: Feature request, @manton — today, using the web interface, I hit Post instead of Add Photo. Then I had to go back and mess about to add the pic. …

28 October 2021: This 5 minute video was really interesting: Why Some Fruits Won’t Ripen On Your Counter: Trying to ripen some fruits on your kitchen counter is …

27 October 2021: Tonight the mountain peak directly east of us was absolutely luminous in the sunset.

27 October 2021: Wow. A word puzzle led me to discover Yma Sumac, 1932-2008, a Peruvian singer with a range of at least four and a half octaves. Listen to Yma Sumac …

26 October 2021: My Granny Smith Apple tree is covered in blossom. That’s good for the bees. 🐝

26 October 2021: macOS Monterey Day. Version 12.0.1. 🎉

26 October 2021: I like this Wind Turbine Wall idea: Designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional, this “kinetic wall” is made up of an array of …

25 October 2021: I love TextExpander. Used it for years. Setting up a new email address for the local Association. I type the trigger and now I can choose the old …

25 October 2021: Apple Mail is OK, but I’ve sent emails from the wrong account because Mail chose the sender on my behalf. I need to be more in charge. This tip …

24 October 2021: A brilliant book by a favourite author: Unbreakable by Cari Hunter. 📚 Dr. Grace Kendal never stands a chance. The injured woman comes out of nowhere, …

24 October 2021: Short on sleep this morning, so my brain cells are groggy. Not convenient when I have a committee meeting for Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association to …

24 October 2021: I’m slowly learning that as I get older my body is less able to handle sugar. At a friend’s birthday party last night I drank ~500 mls of …

23 October 2021: Is this new in Find My? When I checked on Deb’s progress as she drove home last night I got a Live view where the blue dot moved in real time. …

22 October 2021: Darn it! Spent ages hunting for the ‘right’ sleeve for my new iPhone 13 Pro Max. Recalled years ago I had a nice sleeve from Pack and …

21 October 2021: I need to listen again to this invaluable 45 minute podcast: You Can’t Always Want What You Like why our brains don’t encourage us to do things that …

21 October 2021: Five quail eggs in a box. Four of them, as usual, weigh 11 grams. The other one weighs 15 grams! Last time this happened the larger one was a …

20 October 2021: Sunset / moonrise straight out of the iPhone. 3x telephoto.

20 October 2021: The other thing to arrive in the mail today was my new iPhone 13 Pro Max (blue). Setting it up between various other activities…

20 October 2021: This was one of two good things to arrive in the mail this morning: Letter advising “no evidence of breast cancer” after a recent routine …

19 October 2021: I want to include this photo in a (mainly birds 🤓) quiz. Trying to decide which one of these military helicopters it is. Hmmm, I’m thinking …

18 October 2021: Another excellent read from a favourite author: Fear on the Fens: (DI Nikki Galena Series Book 13) by Joy Ellis 📚 [they] must find a man who’s been …

17 October 2021: The dogs don’t like it when the grass in the dog yard gets too long. 🐶 It must tickle their bottoms or something and then they poop on …

16 October 2021: I spotted this small yellowish-green bird on a flax spear but couldn’t make out what it was. I took a couple of photos through the window, but …

15 October 2021: It’s duckling season. 😀

15 October 2021: One reason I’m looking forward to an extremely high Covid vaccination rate in Aotearoa New Zealand is so the flood of [everything] encouraging …

15 October 2021: Mysteries featuring black lesbians, with a touch of romance, are few and far between. Smoke Before Fire by A.M. McKnight 📚 I give this developing …

15 October 2021: Yay, Apple are finally thinking about shipping me the iPhone I ordered a month ago. Selling some shares to cover the cost. Bought Applecare for this …

14 October 2021: Today I was rung by someone from LINZ who asked if I could put the broken marker post I reported yesterday back in the ground. When I dug into the …

13 October 2021: Waikawa Beach, 3 properties for sale: 13 Drake Street 27 Sarah Street 33 Sarah Street

13 October 2021: Way back in February 2017 I noticed small white posts appearing around the place — as in the background of this selfie. The closeup shows more …

12 October 2021: Another excellent read: What They Knew: (Detective Clare Mackay 4) by Marion Todd 📚: there’s a strong chance that there’s a …

12 October 2021: Apparently critics really didn’t like Q-Force. I, on the other hand, really enjoyed it: Queer Force (Q-Force) [is] a group of undervalued LGBT …

12 October 2021: 3 am: Sasha 🐶, on my bed: I need to go out … Ohh noo, it’s raining out there … back on the bed instead. I’m awake, read, settle back to …

11 October 2021: Heh: Bird of the Year: Bats join the competition Including the mammals in the Bird of the Year competition is certainly setting the bat amongst the …

11 October 2021: My 🐈 buddy Leo has an excellent view from his spot on the sofa. This was taken yesterday.

10 October 2021: My 🐈 buddy Leo’s family have a spa pool they urged me to use. That’s a nice way to begin a cool and grey Sunday. Ahhhh.

10 October 2021: I really enjoy this writer. Goodbye Sea Angel: A Port Alma Murder Mystery by Anne Shillolo 📚 was another great read: DC Holly Towns takes an …

09 October 2021: My buddy Leo was relaxing in the play loft today. 🐈 I enticed him down the steps though.

09 October 2021: It was high tide when I took the dogs to the beach, so we had to negotiate our way through driftwood.

08 October 2021: I’m visiting my buddy Leo today. 🐈

08 October 2021: Finally, yesterday, the part of our shared private lane closest to the road was resurfaced. The existing surface was scraped off, shingle laid and …

07 October 2021: By the time I came home this morning the part of our driveway from the garage out past the gate had been completed. Thanks to the rain it’s all …