Tomorrow I head off to Tongariro National Park for a few days of easy short walks and some lounging around. Should be fun, though chilly.

Side eye. (Kingfisher) 🐦

Kingfisher on a flax stalk, with head turned to the side.

I just watched Soul and found it remarkable. Uplifting, clever, funny. Loved hearing the Kiwi actor Rachel House as Terry the accountant. Visually it was amazing: the way the light played on Joe’s hands as he played the piano… 🎥

Movie poster for Soul.

A genre I usually avoid is (heterosexual) romance, but Kristine Kathryn Rusch is such a skilled writer that I really enjoyed The Perfect Man:

[detective] Tasha Morgan finds herself dangerously attracted to sexy, mysterious Rick Chance … whose secret could get her killed.

Book cover: The Perfect Man.

I just rewatched How to Self-Publish A Novel from @Cheri in Micro Camp 2022 (17 minutes). This is such an excellent presentation, and packed full with useful info. If you’re thinking of publishing a novel then definitely watch. Shame I’m not writing a novel…

The government just opened up second Covid booster shots for the over-50s. I was astonished to get an appointment so quickly. Off for my boost this morning.

Covid booster booking confirmation.

Today I’m watching a bunch of videos, like this one: How to use Back button auto focus with Fujifilm camera as another step in getting to know my camera better and maybe taking better photos.

Hope I remember I’ve changed how the Shutter button works next time I take a photo!

Waxeye stack. 🐦

4 waxeyes in a row eating at a feeder.

An article that everyone should read: The Sunday Essay: My breasts and me.

We went to see Elvis (2022 film) this morning. It’s an intense movie and we all came out quite sombre. Austin Butler did a magnificent job playing Elvis. Meanwhile Elvis’s manager Col. Tom Parker was revealed to be a man without an iota of humanity.

Movie poster for Elvis.

I did my NZ Garden Bird Survey on Saturday and saw: 6 sparrows, 3 magpies, 3 swallows, 3 waxeyes, 1 fantail, 1 blackbird, 1 kingfisher, 1 hawk, 1 chaffinch, 1 pheasant.

Tupu-a-rangi, one of the Matariki stars, is connected to all birds of the air…

Kingfisher on a flax spear.

We visited the Pottery Expo at Ōtaki Racecourse today. I bought this Sea and Sky bowl by Janice McDonagh. I’ll put it in the garden somewhere as a water bowl for wildlife.

Shaoow pottery bowl loosely depicting sea and sky.

A note for men in the US. Listen up! With the catastrophic Roe vs Wade decision you must support all women in your life. You ALSO need to tackle men: stop men’s violence against women (from tiny sexism to outright torture). What can men do to improve women’s lives in every way?

I had no idea there are 43 different blood types! From Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 Jun 2022.

most people are aware of the four main blood groups, A, B, AB and O…blood can be divided into …43 recognised types… A very rare type called Jk3… is found in … Māori and Pasifika donors.

Screenshot from article mentioning 43 different blood types.

Mānawatia a Matariki!

“Matariki is about celebrating who we were, who we are, and who we want to be.”

Sasha, aged 15 and a half enjoys: walks, food, treats, bonus rabbit poop on walks, an occasional cuddle, napping. Today we did a ‘long’ walk: ~1.2 Km return. 🐶

Sasha inside the front door.
Sasha inside the front door almost looking at the camera.

Just did that thing where you write a comprehensive email, check something in an archived email before sending then close the wrong window without saving by mistake!!! 👿

Help on a small project I was feeling dispirited about has arrived from an unexpected quarter. What a boost that gives! I want to get an informational sign restored. It’s about an important part of our local history but was destroyed by a driver who crashed into a fence.

Historic Waikawa Heritage sign before it was destroyed.

First snow of the season on the nearby Tararuas. Brrr.

Lightly snow topped mountain seen across a green paddock with two sheep.