Miraz Jordan

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:42:23 +1200

Now it's Sunday afternoon and the worst of Cyclone Vaianu has moved south of us. While others north and south have had a rough time, again we escaped the worst weather.

The ground is wet and apparently the river's very high.

At breakfast time I took this photo of rough seas.

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:03:40 +1200

This was a well-written and gripping story which took off in unexpected but interesting directions — Murder on the Norfolk Broads (Detective Geldard Mysteries Book 1) by Heather Peck. 📚

A human skeleton is unearthed in a forgotten World War 2 bunker on a remote Yorkshire farm.

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:55:38 +1200

It's almost 4 a.m. and ex-Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is bringing us rain — and probably wind, but it's too dark to see out, and the sturdy house means we don't feel it.

There are other parts of the country where the effects will be felt much more strongly.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:31:47 +1200

The Artemis 2 mission to the moon leaves me in awe — of what 'we' can achieve when we turn our minds and money and skills and training to a goal. When 'we' work together to research and plan and execute in detail.

I'm a dreamer. What say 'our' goal were to make sure every human has enough to eat?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:13:15 +1200

Hah, excellent, on Integrity splashdown: 🚀

Captain Wiseman reporting 4 green crew members. That's not their complexion, but their status.

🤣

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:33:01 +1200

Some people pay a lot of money to get an armchair that vibrates. For us it's free … thanks to the ongoing earthworks next door but one. 🤣

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:25:07 +1200

What I liked most about this book was that it was written by a Kiwi in NZ English and set in Aotearoa in places I'm a little familiar with. Those are exceptionally rare for books I read. Dark Sky: Murder Among the Stars by Marie Connolly. 📚

a professor of astronomy is found dead at Tekapo’s Mt John Observatory during its internationally-attended 50th anniversary conference celebrations

I warmed up to the plot as the book went on and there were some surprises worth waiting for.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:44:59 +1200

I presume we're about to have many more praying mantises …

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:26:25 +1200

It’s a very pleasant day so I stopped at the information centre for a cup of tea on my way to pick up Deb at the airport.

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:32:45 +1200

Well, it's been a really rainy and windy week. Now we have a few days reprieve before Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to hit.

This afternoon: sunshine and muggy heat. 😅

I managed a brief bike ride to enjoy the air and sun.

MetService says the incoming Tropical Cyclone Vaianu could bring life-threatening winds to the North Island on Sunday.

Via: 'Damaging, potentially life-threatening' Cyclone Vaianu increasingly likely to hit NZ | RNZ News.

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:08:48 +1200

Leaders: down or up?

Last night I saw Nicola Willis on TV talking about the fuel crisis and was struck by the weird camera angle, looking down on her.

Today on Radio NZ we see a still from that (less obviously so than in the video) and nearby a shot of Wayne Brown talking about money. The camera angle for him is definitely looking up. Hmmm …

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:53:56 +1200

I really like this whole series and Book 5 does not disappoint. Keen to read more in the series. The Mystery of the Village Theatre (The Antique Shop Mysteries Book 5) by . 📚

Things aren’t looking bright for Lina. A flashy new antique centre has opened in the Kentish village of Bredeham, stealing her customers and threatening the future of her beloved shop.

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:43 +1200

Several weeks ago I thought I'd make an effort to go to the beach 2 or 3 times a week. How many times have I done that? Ummm …

Today's walk bumped into nearly high tide, with an easterly breeze driving in the waves. On the horizon, two cargo ships approaching or leaving Northport.

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:46:53 +1200

Finally went to the gym today for a brief weights session — the effects of the flu jab have receded. In the women's loo was an inspiration board. 💪🏼

My favourite read: You haven't come this far to only come this far.

I also liked one that said: Don't compare your Day 1 to someone's Day 100.

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:19:33 +1200

Move over brain surgeons — I think an organist, simultaneously using 3 keyboards for their hands and another for the feet, along with all kinds of buttons and whatnot, has amazing skills. How does a pipe organ actually work? | Anna Lapwood:

Organist Anna Lapwood presents a beginner’s guide to the organ, from stops, pedals and manuals to pipes and wind chests.
Filmed at St John's Smith Square in London – home to a magnificent organ made up of a whopping 3,574 pipes.

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:52:20 +1200

In this book Gabe's childhood trauma reaches a troubling crescendo while conflicting accounts in the current case prove hard to resolve. A good read. Left in the Ashes (Detectives Martin & Stern Book 3) by Anna Britton. 📚

A derelict building in the New Forest burns down with someone inside it. Believed to be arson, DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin are called onto the scene to investigate. No one knows who the victim is or how they came to be there.

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:32:42 +1200

Oh, that's right. It's time to not Spring Forward, but to Autumn Back. 🤣

Daylight Saving ends on the first Sunday in April

Reminder: Put your clock back for the winter.

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:40:13 +1200

'Our' white-faced heron continues to delight me. This was its second visit today as it inspected me (inside) from about 4 metres away. 🐦

Earlier I'd seen a movement in my peripheral vision and saw the heron closer, walking past the window, watching me carefully. At the 'end' it turned and went back.

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:12:06 +1200

Amazingly creative — made me laugh with delight — and immediately brought to mind The Fifth Element and its opera scene : Rosalía Berghain Live:

the official video of Berghain by Rosalía (feat. Björk & Yves Tumor)

See also [www.youtube.com/watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fyufPkXLbs) in case the above link dies.

Update: I read the lyrics and that was very sobering.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:51:54 +1200

I think Wednesday's flu jab has caught up with me. A wee lunchtime nap on the couch turned into a 2 hour sleep, and I think an early night is ahead of me. 🥱

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:52:21 +1200

Silver lining to the fuel crisis cloud: EV 'fomo' drives sales to their highest level in years amid fuel crisis, dealer says | RNZ News:

Waka Kotahi data shows monthly registrations of full battery EVs last month jumped nearly four-fold from recent levels, from an average of 800 a month in the last two years, to 3100.
Registrations of plug-in hybrid vehicles almost tripled, from a monthly average of 540 to nearly 1600 in March.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:28:23 +1300

I've tuned in to the Live TV for NASA:

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Launches to the Moon

Less than an hour to go now.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:47:00 +1300

Heh, 5.45 am and I'm back from dropping Deb off at the airport (45 minute drive each way) for her regular Zen retreat.

Surprised to see they're pouring concrete at this early hour (in the dark) for the new house on Lot 1.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:31:08 +1300

This was actually a good read, and the Jersey setting was a bonus. The Channel Islands Mystery (The Gull Bay Mysteries Book 1) by Ashley Cain. 📚

April has poured every penny she owns into renovating the rundown beachfront café she inherited from her grandma. …
the missing cake is only the beginning.
As the incidents grow increasingly sinister, April begins to suspect her café is being deliberately targeted. And if she doesn’t find the culprit — and soon — it’s not just her cosy little café that’s at risk.
It’s her life.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:29 +1300

The section we bought for our house was Lot 3 in the development. A few weeks ago work began on Lot 1 where the house now has foundations.

Today earthworks have begun on Lot 5.