We really enjoyed Concrete Cowboy 🎬, though we had to turn on subtitles.
a fictionalization of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club an urban African-American horseriding culture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger was a really interesting read. Thanks to @cheri for the tip. 📚
a clear concise analysis of the heroine’s journey, how it differs from the hero’s journey
Casts a new light on so much!

Permanently retiring a 2012 MacBook Pro and a 2013 MacBook Pro. This time I’m remembering to follow the instructions at What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support.
Still good machines, though flawed with age. Hoping I can get ~NZ$200 each.
Our boy Oshi 🐶 always has to be at the centre of things. If we’re patting Sasha he inserts himself.
Your Dog May Get Jealous Even if It Just Imagines You Petting Another Dog:
research suggests jealousy can be triggered even if a supposed rival … is out of sight.
This is interesting: Here’s Why Our Brains Solve Problems by Adding Things, Not Removing:
The first thing that comes to our minds is, what can we add to make it better? Our paper shows we do this to our detriment, even when the only right answer is to subtract.
Less is more?
We enjoyed Thunder Force 🎬:
two childhood friends invent a way to become superheroes in a world where criminals have developed superpowers.
It was suitably silly, had some decent laughs and was pretty gentle.
Thanks to @gaby for alerting me to it.
41 gun salute! Wow.
A 41-gun salute will be held in Wellington at midday tomorrow in honour of Prince Philip.
When we lived in Wellington we used to be able to hear the salutes from home.
With the Covid vaccine still a couple of months away for me, and winter approaching, it’s time for my free flu shot. Booked for Wednesday. Mind you, with last year’s border closures and other restrictions, flu was pretty much a non-event. This year should be similar.


We suddenly have new neighbours in our little lane. This extremely tiny ‘tiny house’ turned up today. Presumably for weekenders rather than permanent residents. The front side view also shows part of the house behind. It’s facing the ‘wrong' way, so I guess they’ll turn it round.


Deb has a complex family and decided to do a DNA test from Ancestry.com.au. I’m keeping her company. Today we spit into the little plastic tubes and sent them off. In about a month we should get results. Maybe I’ll find some of dad’s relatives. He was one of 10.





After 1,000 Km my 1 year old electric bike was due thorough maintenance. Dropped it off with the bike guy in Raumati South, then had the most delicious brunch at Longbeach in Waikanae. I’m looking forward to getting it back tomorrow with everything tightened and lubricated. 🚲
I put the spare key to my bicycle battery in A Very Safe Place. Don’t know where that is? Funnily enough, neither do I…
And somehow the very act of writing that, after searching the house twice, reminded me I’d put it in the car!
Sasha and Oshi are preparing for the synchronised napping competition in the next doggie Olympics. I think they’re in with a good chance! 🐶 Oshi maybe needs to work slightly on his tail placement.
With autumn heading towards winter we’ve cleared nearly everything out of our tunnelhouse. In future we aren’t going to plant directly in the soil, but will set up a hydroponic system of pots, like the two in the photo. Next I need to clean the plastic. 🌱
My Sasha has a dream. 🐶
I’m all caught up on watching For All Mankind on TV+. It was compelling viewing. So glad to know a Season 3 is on the cards.
I always have tinnitus. It’s worse when I’m tired. When I’m stressed I don’t get back to sleep after waking in the night. That makes me tired and gives me a headache. Then the tinnitus gets worse which stresses me more. Today it all reached a crescendo. Luckily a nap helped. 🤯
Glee the Japanese Quail decided to sit on eggs a couple of weeks ago. Her sister Fliss helps occasionally. I thought they’d pretty much stopped laying so left them to it, but now there are a good dozen toasty eggs in the nest. There’s no male, so nothing will come of it… 🐦


It’s a miracle! About 10 hours of sleep and I’m not even sick. Amazing. Normally I’m pretty happy if I can get it up to 8 hours. Hooray for circumstances aligning.
In getting ahead of things: I’ve changed the analogue kitchen clock, toothbrush clock, 2 cameras, oven clock. Yet to change: the car clock.