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? 🐦

Two black swans on a lake with 5 white cygnets between them and another water bird in the foreground.

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.

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Sapphire Princess cruise ship with grids of cabin windows, next to a grid of logs waiting for export.

This fern is growing its own grid.

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Fern with central stem and branches at regular intervals, forming a grid.

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!?

This cuddly little bundle went on to become my boy Ares. Photo from March 2002 before he was even 3 months old and came to live with us. 🐈

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Fluffy black kitten.

ROFL: “Well I’m Australian and you’re wrong.”

A favourite quote from Martin Feld. 39. International Mac Nerds with Special Guests Andrew Canion and Jason Burk — Lounge Ruminator

So, our election has been delayed by 4 weeks. It’s the Prime Minister’s decision, but so glad to hear she first conferred with all the other parties in parliament, and even with business and other interests. We have a robust democracy. 🇳🇿

In other news: Sasha enjoys some sunshine. 🐶

Small black dog in the sun.

I’m feeling very unsettled today. News soon about if our General Election scheduled for 19 September will be postponed. Worried about Oshi 🐶 who’s just not come right after last week’s surgery. Had a stress dream about him. We’re off to see the vet soon for a checkup.

Oshi in a favourite stiff-legged pose.

One of the things I love about cameras (even the iPhone 4S in this case) is their ability to freeze the moving, to catch the water in the blowholes so it appears stationary. At Mapu’a ‘a Vaea Blowholes in Tonga in August 2012.

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Water on the coast emerging from blowholes.

This article has a clear explanation — Why Does Some Rain Fall Harder Than Other Rain? :

When clouds are thin and the air is moving slowly, you get nice calm rain.

Hard rainstorms happen when there is a lot of moisture in the air and the air moves upwards very fast.

Half an hour till dawn and the Moon and Venus are leading the way for the sun.

Dark blue sky, flax spear, Venus and crescent Moon.

I’d read this before, but enjoyed it again. An alternate universe novella by Kristine Kathryn Rush: Recovering Apollo 8 📚:

Richard dedicates his life to recovering the lost capsule…causing him to question the meaning of life, the meaning of death and the heroisms in between.

Book cover: Recovering Apollo 8.

Another excellent read from a favourite author: Judge Me When I’m Wrong (A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Book 4) 📚

I wondered where this was going at first, but enjoyed the twist.

Charlie reports for jury duty and begins to unravel a disturbing plan to alter the outcome.

Book cover: Judge Me When I'm Wrong.

This silhouette from looking southwest at sunset, earlier this year.

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Trees and a couple of houses silhouetted against an orange and blue sky.

Question to US sports and/or Star Trek fans.

A crossword clue and answer was: “College player sitting out a year: Redshirt”.

On Star Trek redshirts on away missions generally got killed or whatever.

Are these two things related? 🤔🖖🏼

My Honda del Sol was first backed into by a very apologetic neighbour. One time a fire engine took off a corner. Various folks crashed into it, smashed windows, scraped past on our narrow, winding road. One guy tried to jimmy off the spoiler. All while parked. 🚘

Back in 1998 I bought a brand-new to me second hand Honda del Sol sports car. Within a week it had been damaged — only 1 among many incidents (18, I think). The worst <6 months later was when thieves took all 4 wheels overnight. Trouble magnet car. 🚘

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Shiny red sports car. Car on bricks with wheels gone.

As expected, I very much enjoyed Catch Me When I’m Falling (A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Book 3) 📚:

Someone is murdering the homeless in Detroit’s Cass Corridor… These horrific crimes wouldn’t require an investigation… except one of the bodies is Charlie’s mother’s friend.

Book cover, Catch Me When I'm Falling.