That’s what I wanted. Tired at the end of the day but had the urge to go for a little bike ride. eBike FTW. 9.02 km round the local area. Getting the hang of the bike and which way to turn the gear thingummy (I’m used to gear levers, not a twist thing).
I read and very much enjoyed Triana Moore, Space Janitor: The Complete Humorous Sci Fi Mystery Series by Julia Huni. The stories were interesting and fun. The lead character was smart and self-assured, but far from perfect, which made her relatable. Great world building too. 📚
It’s not just me and folks I know: How employers are freezing the over 50s out of the job market:
the “more suitable candidates” line was one older generations … despised. “It is challenging … to get rejected … with the platitude ‘we’ve found someone who’s a better fit’.”
This sight has dominated our local summer. A dreary landscape. Grey skies, drizzly mist. I’m sick of it!
Odd but pleasing dreams: a stunningly iridescent blue butterfly 3 times the size of a Monarch, that I then realised was a bird. A large tan brown fuzzy ‘bird’ that flew to me and curled up against my legs so I realised it was a flying cat. How cool!
Although I did my best to clean our gutter recently it was seeming to overflow when we had any actual rain. I got the professionals in. Martyn came with his gutter vacuum and camera and sorted it out. Various gunk and a dead baby bird were sucked out. All clean now!
I took my new bike for a ride beyond the village on to the ‘open' road. 13 Km all up. I started with an extra loop where I stopped and chatted with neighbours a bit. There were a couple of minor hillocks that usually strain my legs but were no problem with the motor.
Turns out buying this Gepida Reptila 800 electric bike took most of the day. I’ve had one quick 8.6 Km ride and it'll be great. I test rode several different bikes and was humming and hawwing between the first two. Then I rode this and knew immediately it was right for me.
Nice: Picard S1E2: people are working on a formerly Borg cube and a sign says: “This facility has gone 5843 days without an assimilation”. LOL
Not only is Kristine Kathryn Rusch my favourite author in the sci-fi genre, but she also writes extremely good posts about the business of being a writer. Nobody Cares makes a superb point about courage:
Nobody cares if I can’t do this project.
Nobody…except me. I care.
Good news for Waikawa Beach: we’re to get a new road:
Three of New Zealand’s top 100 dangerous intersections are along this route. In the five years to 2017, there were 49 deaths and serious injuries …, making it one of the country’s most dangerous sections of road to drive.
This was a truly interesting 25 minute video with two of my favourite YouTubers: What should museums do with their dead?.
Many museums house significant numbers of human remains, many of which were acquired without the consent of the individual in question.
I am so glad to see a little sun after a week of unrelenting drizzle. My mood lifted almost immediately.
At Taper cafe in Levin I had my first ever (onion-free) quesadilla. It was so delicious! At a nearby table an older woman collapsed out of her chair. She seemed OK, but the cafe owner called an ambulance to be sure. In Aotearoa New Zealand such health care is free.
It’s mid-summer, theoretically. We’re having day after day after day after day of cool, grey drizzle and it gets me down. The odd day of sunshine is a huge lift. The highlight today was when this flock of maybe 50 geese flew right by the window, though I was slow to capture it.
I just loved The Case of the Karaoke Killer by @cheri . It flowed very smoothly and the story was completely believable. I think Ellie is a very authentic character and I enjoyed her interactions with other characters. Now I can’t wait for Cheri’s next cozy cruise mystery.
Here are some views from the motorcycle level of the numerous cars on the ground floor. So many cars: tiny and enormous, a gangster car with bullet holes, a steam car, a de Lorean. Some old cars are utterly enormous.
Then look at this 1895 Benz Velo.
The Southward Car Museum has something for everyone, even those not interested in vehicles. Look at this motorcycle with tank treads, for example. Or the Werner from 1900.
This 5.4 quake 67Km deep shook us awake. There was a gentler one 4 hours ago, just to get us in the mood.
Moderate earthquake occurred 45 km north-west of Paraparaumu: www.geonet.org.nz/earthquak…