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 was able to walk to quite a lot of towns.
All those traditional values about owning (strategic) assets…
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 distance.
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!
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 War camp. Even though it's almost 80 years ago, I've obscured a few details.
The Top 5 Dogs of the Week! makes me tear up every week.
ROFL: Poker Face S01E03 and the racist, fascist, sexist, homophobic MAGA dog! Natasha Lyonne is hilarious.
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. Booked for a sensor replacement in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile I can still drive the car. Such a relief.
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 super-expensive problems. Of course, I’m hoping for the loose wire. Meanwhile nervous about the 25 minute drive to the mechanic. 🚗
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 notice, followed by incredible stupidity about how to cancel.
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 night (which means we did too) and has been settled today. She seems less old and more sprightly than a couple of days ago. 🐶
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. Somewhat interesting ideas. Not sure I’ll read the rest of the series though. 📚
How to look 10 years younger in 90 minutes. Yesterday and today. 🐶
Somewhere in there is a dog. Just wait till tomorrow! 🐶
Tuturiwhatu, Banded dotterels in the multiverse… 🐦
I’m pretty sure this is a female Kuruwhengi | Australasian shoveler with her 3 babies on our nearby lake. 🐦
A medium-sized dabbling duck with a large black spoon-shaped bill … females are mottled light brown with a dull brown bill and eyes, and brown-orange legs.
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 on the beach.
This, my friends, is almost certainly a Hemideina crassidens — Wellington tree wētā.
It had made itself comfy on our neighbour’s outdoor chair. Probably about the size of my index finger (or maybe longer).
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 nearby reserve
- teaching someone how to post to the local Ratepayer Association’s WordPress website
- afternoon tea with friends
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 source.
The invitation words that always fill me with terror 😱:
bring a plate to share
