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 this beach photowalk so badly. 🐦
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 learn to check the settings on my camera before enthusiastically taking a load of photos. 📷
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 the beach. Here are just a few of the plants in their root trainers.
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 yet to try it out. My previous device cored and ‘eighthed’, but didn’t peel.
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 what I listen to and when.
Whew, no more automatically moving to the next podcast in the queue, unless I choose that.
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 on May 13, 2005.
Rewatching via Prime Video. I suspect I never saw the first few eps, but recall really enjoying the series. 📺
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 and lens options for my new specs. Roger also identified that my current everyday lenses (progressives, not dispensed by him) aren’t set correctly.
That probably explains why I constantly feel as though I can’t see right, especially when driving. I have trouble reading road signs with my regular glasses, while if I’m wearing my sunglasses I can see them just fine.
Before I moved up the coast I always had eye tests with Anne and dispensing by Roger, so I know they do excellent work.
Once the new frames and lenses arrive Roger will spend a while with me checking that everything’s correct and making micro adjustments to ensure my glasses are just right.
While I’ve been happy with my Levin optometrist for annual eye tests, I think any time I decide to get new lenses or frames I’ll be sure to go back to Anne and Roger. Their level of expertise and service is superb. The only problem is the 2 hour trip each way to visit.
I think my new ones will look like this in Moonlight Blue — pretty much identical to my current glasses. (After an hour of detailed discussion of possibilities, millimetres of this and that, my brain was fried!)
My favourite optometrist dilated my eyes so now my screen’s blurry. I was also surprised to learn my sunglasses are progressives not single-focus as I thought. Well, well, well. New progressives in my future, once I’ve chosen frames.
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 syndrome:
The colour change is due to changes in blood circulation with narrowing in the small blood vessels in the skin of hands and feet.
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 embarrassed to admit adoring some things … but we may be missing out on the happiness benefits that geeking out can bring.
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, then loaded up the run with fresh materials. Can you spot the stripey quail in the last photo? 🐦
Excited to see on my beach walk this morning that the first Kuaka (Godwits) have returned from their sojourn in the Arctic.
I love these occasional Micro.Blog timeline adjacencies.
// @jayeless @Burk
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 @tracydurnell who linked to the recipe back in September.
In Aotearoa New Zealand we’d call this Apple Crumble.
Booked in for early November: Waimangu Volcanic Valley, walk down the valley and 45 minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana. I’ve visited before, but too briefly to really soak it all in. Photo: Inferno Crater, August 2020.
In Aotearoa there are 67 threatened [bird] species - about 30% of the country’s bird population
… due to the introduction of rats, cats and possums which had devastated bird numbers.
Source: Climate change a growing factor in dismal fate of many bird species
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. 🎥
One freshly groomed dog. Sasha 🐶
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. The lavender and leucodendron are flowering nicely.
