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. Switched my location with Unlocator away from my own ISP and behold: everything Micro.Blog is working just fine. Whew.
This is one of my favourite trees around here — a neighbour’s tī kōuka | cabbage tree on a slightly misty morning. 🌴
A wee shake just to keep us on our toes. 〰️
M4.6, 46 Km deep.
Update: later settled at M4.8, 28 Km deep.
Dja reckon? Gonna rain?
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 truly established, it can’t be eradicated — but the team from Predator Free Wellington think they can do just that.
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 growth, warm, wet, warm, wet etc. So pleasing to see such growth.
This mama pheasant was guarding a bevy of her babies. She stood her ground for a long time. 🐦
Another photo from times gone by. 20 September 2015, a suit of armour in the hotel at Santa Cruz de Mudela. In the Region of La Mancha, this is half way between Granada and Madrid.
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? No. Is she good at it? Also no. She can’t afford to be too good. The last time … cost her a job, a limb, and almost her life.
Excellent 5 minute linguistics video: Do New Zealand and Northern England have the same vowels?!
And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.
And another: Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona, Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus.
I may have a cold so am laying low today. This photo from the archives, 02 September 2015: part of the amazing and fantastical Gaudi Cathedral in Barcelona.
Nearly 2 weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 50 people still unaccounted for, communities and food growing land wrecked by flood and silt and forestry slash. More heavy rain on the way. Toby Morris cuts through the sludge with The Side Eye: A climate change reality check.
This makes for very sobering reading: New Zealand Historic Weather Events Catalogue. So many huge storms that have caused enormous damage.
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. Postponed till after I go to town tomorrow and can shop.
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 response in more than 50 years and the 2011 Census was postponed to 2013 because of the Christchurch earthquake. Third time lucky.
I always enjoy a visit from an Eastern Rosella. 🐦
Cyclone Gabrielle that wrought so much destruction in the north and east of Aotearoa New Zealand’s North Island didn’t affect us directly, beyond a bit of ‘normal’ wind and rain.
But we do get the indirect effects of food-growing land being flooded, roads being torn up.
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!