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 not available here). Amazon told me the items would deliver on 06 December. Today (23 November) they arrived. 😀


Researching the topic: vehicles erode beaches. It seems fairly clear that vehicles cause damage to beaches and their structures (eg dunes), bird, insect and other life, and are a danger to humans, dogs etc who also use the beaches.
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 thumb:
better by cooking longer ☛ better by sitting longer
gotta cook fast!! ☛ gotta eat fast!!

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 Book 2) by Kris Bock. As with the first book, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Bock knows how to grab and maintain interest. 📚

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 very deeply moved, shocked even. Excellent drama and not actually just all about war and fighting. 📺

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 the screenshot was a clue…
I didn’t know I could do this: Bring Yourself Recurring Joy with Apple’s New Lock Screen Photo Shuffle. Now in place. 😀
The taste test left me really wishing I hadn’t halved the recipe! I hope there are some left for this afternoon’s visitors…

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 ‘equal’ a hen’s egg, ergo 2 quail eggs do just fine. Lemon Butter Biscuits. 🐦


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 a bit foggy and ‘skin crawly’. I can’t settle. Not enjoying either of the two books I’m reading. What a first-world problem to have! 😵💫
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 that much.


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 pushing my comfort zone. I waded in a bit then, when the waves seemed suitably far apart, dipped down to my shoulders. 🙌🏼

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 weedeat right up to the grasses and have a more integrated look. This area is a work in progress.

It took longer than I expected to mulch this bit of garden on a steep bank by the lane.

A year ago I complained about publishers (incorrectly) guessing which Amazon store I’ll buy books from. I solved this annoyance with Keyboard Maestro. I just tried Redirect Web for Safari which may work more seamlessly. HT: Redirect Web for Safari takes me to the right places. 📚

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 romance, with a side of mystery. It was an easy read but the romance resolution was kind of annoying — perfect
this and that. 📚

10 cubic metres of pine mulch will keep us busy over the summer.



I read I Bury Dead People: A Hilarious Cosy Mystery by PJ Vye. I quite enjoyed it though the credibility of the unravelling didn’t really sit right with me. A fair few typos that need sorting out. 📚

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 Rugby World Cup. Even I got invested in a close match. Well done the women!
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 District Councillors who joined us for the whole time. Lots of food and chat. I believe it was a success.


