I was thinking of visiting the Zoo when we make a quick family-related trip soon to Hamilton, and noticed they have Fishing Cats I wanted to see. Then look what turned up in my On This Day page today from 2020: Fishing Cat: The Cat That Hunts Underwater. Coincidence.

Hey @JohnPhilpin A year ago today you visited me at Waikawa Beach: miraz.me/2020/03/2… 😎

Almost 48 hours since a sudden new allergy to Nurofen (probably) made my face swell up. Finally the puffiness around my eyes has almost gone. Plus, after taking an antihistamine yesterday lunchtime, I also feel almost normal again. Another ‘attack’ could be more sudden and worse.

I quite enjoyed Detective Hillary Greene Books 1–5 box set by Faith Martin. There’s something about the female characters and their sexual relationships that doesn’t sit quite right with me, but I’ll read more in the series. 📚

adversity has never stopped her from doing her job.

Box set cover.

For the longest time I thought we had Banded dotterels at Waikawa Beach but after close investigation I now think they are the very similar Wrybills. I’m pretty sure that beak has a curve to the right.

Length: 20 cm; Weight: 55 grams.

🐦

Very small seabird with a wry bill. Small bird plucking a meal from wet sand. SMall bird with a tiny sand creature in its bill.

Really enjoyed Moxie at Netflix:

Fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school, a shy 16-year-old finds inspiration from her mother’s rebellious past and anonymously publishes a zine that sparks a school-wide, coming-of-rage revolution.

Actual feminist themes!

Moxie movie poster.

Hmmm, for decades I’ve used Nurofen to help with headaches. Last night I had quite an allergic reaction that we attribute to Nurofen: swollen face, constricted throat. Today the doctor gave me an antihistamine to help with the swelling. Sasha and Oshi lent moral support. 🐶 🤕

Pill packet for Cetirizine. Two small dogs in a car.

I should have taken some photos of the Pukeko chicks at the nearby lake a couple of weeks ago when they were fluffier. Look at these ridiculous gangly legs. And when the chicks run their legs look like cartwheels, like Roadrunner in the cartoons. Photos: chick; adult. 🐦

Gangly pukeko chick. Adult pukeko.

Bumblebee, meet pollen.

Bumblebee covered in pollen on a dandelion flower.

It’s not often we see one of these around here. They didn’t stay long. And I’ve never noticed the “Highway Patrol” text on the car before either. What are we, in an episode of CHIPS? We don’t much use the word ‘highway’ in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Police car on a local road.

A few years ago now I spotted a cop in Wellington who looked like he should have had a note from mum to be off school… So this is good: NZ’s oldest police graduate celebrates after 40 year wait:

Perry, 57, has finally realised her dream of putting on the blue uniform

In the middle of this year we hope to be cruising with neighbours round Rakiura (Stewart Island) at the southern tip of Aotearoa New Zealand. After that we'll be hiring a car and visiting the Catlins. It'll be our biggest holiday since 2015 when we went to Spain. 🛳 (My 1st cruise.)

NZ map shows a line between Wellington in the North Island and Rakiura, far to the south.

I have now learned the correct way to put the chain back on my bike. Now I need to learn how to remove the chain guard, which would make it easier.

I learned Latin for 2 years at school. It’s invaluable for understanding English (and some other languages). However, that understanding could be gained in other ways and perhaps dropping Latin would make way for more currently relevant languages. Latin lovers mourn language loss

Yucca in the dunes with Kāpiti Island beyond.

Yucca flowers and a fresh yucca spear.

Oshi eating. 🐶 He’s doing fine now! Even came and lined up for breakfast like he’s supposed to, rather than me having to tempt him off his bed.

Small dog eating from a bowl.

Thanks to a word puzzle, today I learned about Machicolation:

a floor opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement, through which stones or other material, such as boiling water or boiling cooking oil, could be dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall.

Oshi update 🐶: he’s still not quite 100% but he’s so much more himself — played with his stuffed duck after dinner, scrunched up the bedding to be just right, other very normal behaviours. 👍

The Monarch caterpillars seemed to arrive late in the season, but they’re growing nicely on our swan plants. Some pretty long and chunky caterpillars there. Equinox is only a few days away now and we’re on our way towards winter.

Caterpillars on plant stems.
Caterpillars on plant stems.

Teishoku Traditional Japanese Breakfast

This week’s International Breakfast was a version of Teishoku Traditional Japanese Breakfast. It was delicious, though a bit of a faff to make. The omelette in particular was very yum. For various reasons we didn’t have any pickles, but their sharpness would have been good.

Rice, spinach, salmon, omelette, miso. A bowl of food ready to eat.