It doesn’t snow in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, but it did on 15 August 2011. Pretty frosty. Pretty pretty too. ❄️
These photos from our old house on Mt Victoria. Front deck, and back yard.
I enjoy the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries by Margaret Mizushima. 📚 Burning Ridge really held my attention and was a great read.
On a rugged Colorado mountain ridge, Mattie Cobb and her police dog partner Robo make a grisly discovery—and become the targets of a ruthless killer.
Sorry I didn’t respond sooner @PaulGit re your question about Shangai topiary. The photo info is below. We were only in Shanghai for a day or two. I have absolutely no idea where I was! Hope this helps.
Graceful: this humpback whale cutting through the water beside our boat on a whale watching trip in Tonga.
Today I was one of a dozen volunteers who planted out 3,000 spinifex and 500 pingao plants at Waikawa Beach. They help retain the dunes and build the coast. One chap with a powered auger dug holes. We took plants from the root trainers, dropped them in the holes and covered them.
Wait… that’s a funny looking chook! 🐓
My friend’s chooks, who I’m feeding for the weekend, enjoy a little art critique in their home. 🐓
Well, today is less than 4 months since a friend of the last 2 or 3 decades was diagnosed with cancer. Today she passed away — the first of our larger ‘Brunch Group’. She was a few days short of her 71st birthday. We’re all of that kind of age I guess. Sad news. Haere rā Helen.
Without a doubt Walkers Shortbread is the best shortbread. Excellent flavour and the perfect amount of crunch. So glad to be able to buy these again. 🏴
This (free) Wu Fei track put me so much in mind of Bear McCreary’s work on Battlestar Galactica Gulibita:
I knew this song as Why Is The Rose So Red (花儿为什么这样红) from childhood. As far as I can find out, the melody is adapted from a Tajik folk song.
🎶
Yay, it is properly raining. We haven’t had much rain for a while, and there’s about 40 mm forecast over the next few days. 🤞🏼 40 mm would give us about 2,600 litres in the rainwater tank.
I really enjoyed chatting with @martinfeld, who managed to draw thoughts from me I didn't even realise I had. Listen in to save the planet. Heh.
For episode 40 of Lounge Ruminator, @miraz joined me to discuss the value of simplicity, whether in using plain language, finding ways to be kinder to the planet or even being willing to leave a TV show halfway through a season. You can find it on Apple Podcasts and Overcast. 🎙
I bought the Mysterious Women story bundle. I really enjoyed Paper Bullets by Annie Reed. Well written, easy to read, held my attention.
One simple favor for her ex plunges private investigator Abby Maxon into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
I’ll read more of hers. 📚
In August 2015 we spent a couple of days in Shanghai. They had amazing topiary. I’d give this a gold ribbon.
Today’s newly learned word to save up for Scrabble:
Xiphoid — Shaped like a sword, gladiate.
“Our” black swans have so far managed to keep all 5 cygnets alive. Perhaps the alarm calls even as I was still quite far away are an element of their success? 🐦
Grids everywhere. Before Covid-19 Wellington used to be a destination for summer cruise ships which berthed beside the logs for export and opposite the Westpac Stadium. The huge ships were higher than the stadium.
Oshi saw his vet Mary today, who confirmed he’s having a huge problem with his eye. She’s testing his swollen lymph nodes, but he may soon be visiting Wellington to see Dr Kellam Bayley BVSc MVSc(dist) CertVOphthal MANZCVS Dip ECVO. Who knew there were eye specialists for dogs!?