Using a 2012 MacBook Pro while I wait for my new one. I didn’t install anything that isn’t essential. I had to have 1Password, TextExpander, BarTender, Keyboard Maestro, Pastebot, SoundSource, Drafts, BBEdit, Micro.Blog, OmniOutliner, Black Ink, Magic Lasso, NetNewsWire.

Woohoo, my new MacBook Pro is closer. Can’t wait to get set up on the new machine so I can stop using this temporary 2012 model and then figure out how to handle the misbehaving 2016 model.

 MacBook Pro has arrived in Auckland from China.

The weedspraying getup, backpack, long-sleeved shirt etc are hot, heavy, make me breathe hard and sweat a lot — horrible! But protecting myself from poison spray is more important than comfort.

Today I sprayed gorse, lupin and blackberry on our 3,300 m2 property.

#3: comfort

Me in breathing mask, protective googles, long sleeved shirt.

Tonight I actually thought to come down to the beach to watch the sunset. Picnic table is working well.

Pucnic table with island and setting sun behind.

Morning Beverage: Premium China White Snowbuds, in the sun, on the deck.

#2

Adirondack chair with mug of tea on the arm.

There are several baby rabbits that live near our front door. They just don’t seem to be getting bigger and are fairly tame. I’m calling this one Bella. Rabbits are a pest in Aotearoa New Zealand, but these babies are so cute!

A baby rabbit on our driveway.

I was reminded that I bought my electric bike exactly one year ago. So far I’ve ridden it for 880 Km, and it’s fallen over only twice, including today. I need to work out how to stop the front mudguard from now rubbing on the tire.

Oh, well said! —

Anniversary days are vestiges of occasions now disregarded and obscure. Let’s replace them with something positive and relevant for today.

Why NZ’s outdated regional anniversaries should be ditched

I was saying to Deb that Anniversary Days are colonial and should go. Now: Why NZ’s outdated regional anniversaries should be ditched:

Wellington – mark the landing of the first(-ish) ship of settlers … an advance party arrived in… 1839, but the anniversary is for… 1840.

February 2021 Photoblogging Challenge: #1 close up — sand scarab tracks. 📷

A loop of tiny marks in the sand.

I am deeply suspicious about that number of unread messages in my email InBox.

Screenshot showing a number in the quadrillions or more.

A very happy blue morning at the beach. A (rare for this summer) perfectly blue sky, no wind, tiny waves. Kāpiti Island in the distance. Air so clear we could also see Taranaki and Ruapehu in the distance (not shown).

Blue sky, blue sea, Kāpiti Island, few waves.

We watched and enjoyed Alaska Is a Drag. 🎬

It’s an off-beat, curious but intriguing movie about a gay guy and his twin sister in Alaska who dream of escaping to California.

Includes a fish factory, boxing, drag, fights and drinking…

Alaska is a Drag screenshot.

Good to see this: Tailor-made hijab now part of NZ Police uniform for Muslim female officers:

Females of the Muslim faith, if they choose to wear the hijab, it is available for them. It is an approved official piece of New Zealand police uniform.

Includes safety features too.

I’ve just enjoyed another excellent Kat Voyzey Mystery from @cheri: Cutting the Track! Cheri’s craft is really maturing. If I was in a pickle I’d definitely want Kat Voyzey on my side. 📚

Elated at the prospect of a real missing persons case, Kat jumps in to track her down.

Cutting The Track book cover.

OK, as a dog owner I have something to say to other dog owners. If your dog comes up to mine to ‘play’ and I know my dog probably doesn’t want to play, then when I ask you to call your dog, your correct response is: “Sure. Here dog!”

If your dog starts humping mine then that’s an even bigger clue that “They’re only playing” and “Dogs do that” and “If my dog gets bitten by yours then that’s my dog’s problem” are all incorrect responses.

Our dogs are 14 now, nearly blind and arthritic. They’re fine with most dogs but aren’t always. If other dogs annoy them they may gang up on that dog and things can get a bit tense. I don’t want my dogs to end up injured, and actually I don’t want other dogs to end up injured either.

Rule of thumb: the correct response to “Please call your dog” is “Of course, Here dog!”

🐶

I enjoyed All Together Now, a happy-ending movie about a super-angelic homeless teen, the tragedy that takes her off-course, and how her community helps. 🎬

Rotten Tomatoes:

an uplifting drama that stays largely on the right side of the line between sweet and cloying.

Movie poster.

At last they’ve stopped polishing my new MacBook Pro and now they’re lovingly handcrafting the box.

Screenshot of  MacBook Pro order status: preparing to ship.

Today the electrician wired in the UV filter we had installed just before Christmas. He cut out a section of the house’s baseboards (replaced later with screws for easy removal in future) and installed the necessary power point under the house. Another job complete. 👍

Section of baseboards cut away. Plug installed under house.

Our garage was put up about 4 years ago and the personal access door lock has been a pain ever since. We just left it unlocked most of the time. Now we have more stuff we want to secure so today a locksmith replaced the lock and made it work with the house key too. Bliss! 🔑

Door handle with key in the lock.