In Whangārei.
Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on against a backdrop of a frustrating system. Meanwhile doggedness and persistence eventually winkle out a couple of clues in an apparently intractable case. In Harm’s Way (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 3) by Judith Cutler. 📚
I started out 'naming' this year Surprise
. After immediately getting Covid I changed it to Spontaneity
. Apparently that change didn't stick though, as various events this year could attest.
My latest surprise is that I'm about to join a gym. I had an intro session with a trainer yesterday.
First glimpse for this year of a visiting Kererū, well hidden in the tree lucerne. Can you find it?
Yesterday's mist also highlighted a large spider web in the flax.
It's been misty the last couple of mornings.
Sigh, somehow I skipped Book 3, so a few elements in here were a little surprising … It was another good read in a series I like. No Harm Done (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 4) by Judith Cutler 📚:
Fran’s no stranger to murder on her patch. But not like this…
There was a lot for Jorja to unravel in this book. I enjoyed the read. Knight Vision (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Book 4) by Alice Bienia. 📚 :
as Jorja begins her hunt for the predicted killer, her client’s lookalike is found dead.
Another excellent science-based video from MinuteFood: Dishwashers vs hand-washing: which wins? (8.5 minutes).
You’ve got a pile of dirty dishes…should you hand-wash them or use the dishwasher?
Goose and ducks at the Auckland Domain duck pond.
We've had a great lightning visit to Auckland to celebrate two birthdays with friends.
lightninCyclists: beware the troughs in the surface!
It’ll be Gate 16 for us this morning.
In June 2022 we had a 19-hour power cut and @jean suggested a small portable generator.
Now, 2 years later I've finally bought a Yeti 200x Portable Power Station from Goal Zero.
Up in Northland some homes are without power days after a pylon fell over: Northland power cuts.
Knowledge that isn't shared is not knowledge.
Source: Kōkōrangi: Māori astronomer guiding crowds into the New Year.
Happy New Year! Today is the June Solstice and the start of my personal new year — Day 01.
It's a cold, crisp morning, the (98%) full moon is on its way to setting and the sun will rise at 0743.
What a great day to be alive! 🥳
There was no wind this morning, though if there had been it was nominally from the east. For this west coast beach that means a very calm sea.
From the top of a nearby sand dune it almost looked like a millpond.
For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
This morning's tea: a lightly roasted oolong: Bagua Shan Siji Chun 2024:
Following oxidation, compression, rolling and curing, they are gently roasted at the end of processing. The result is a light and silky-soft infusion with moreish notes of sweetened cream, caramelised sugar and flowers.
A Google image search led me to Megabalanus, and then I found my way to Pink Barnacles (Beach Barnacles Of New Zealand) · iNaturalist NZ.
Of course I'd heard of barnacles but I had no idea that's what this is. It's not uncommon to find these on Waikawa Beach.
See also Beloved Barnacles.