And in today’s superb news: ‘our’ swans at the lake a couple of hundred metres away have 5 babies. 🥳 🐦
I thought I’d sneaked up, but no… Two of the cygnets hitched a ride on mum as they all glided away.
Last year most babies disappeared. I hope things go better this year.
Remind me why anyone wants to live in Auckland … Volcanic Auckland: Which type of eruption happens where? 🌋:
For the elevated region immediately to the south of the CBD … the most likely scenario is a magmatic eruption – or one that involves fire fountaining of lava
That church in my photo? Hooray for Google Street View: Église Saint-Roch du Muret. Almost 40 years on and it looks just the same…
Waaay back in April 1982 my friend Janet had a VW Bug. We and 2 friends drove from Hamburg, through France and Andorra to Madrid and Valencia and back to Germany. In this photo we’d stopped in Le Muret for lunch of bread and cheese. I’m leaning against the back of the car. #mbaug
We watched NZIFF ☛ Some Kind of Heaven 🎬:
American documentary film — a stylized portrait of four residents living within The Villages (retirement community), Florida struggling to find happiness and meaning in life’s final chapters.
Grimly fascinating. Like a trainwreck.
I enjoyed From Beer to Eternity (A Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery) by Sherry Harris to ~80% through 📚:
A whip smart librarian’s fresh start comes with a tart twist in this perfect cocktail of murder and mystery—with a romance chaser.
Ending was rushed, confusing.
We made a 300 Km round trip to Ototaka Beach near Whanganui. The cliffs are 1–2 million years old, show sea level change and include shell fossils.
It was a great day out.
These cliffs are famous for recording changes in sea water depth associated with ice age cycles.
We really enjoyed the NZIFF Australian film ☛ Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) 🎬 🏳️🌈:
a girl awkwardly angles for the attention of her high school crush with a little help from the ghost of her aunt, a queer activist.
Includes Kiwi actor Rachel House.
Floating in the air near treetops, this Microlight flyer near Whanganui. At first I thought it was a parachute but saw no plane that would have dropped them off. Then I could hear the small engine. A close crop shows it clearly. #mbaug
We were up and out early today. We were the first customers for the day at our favourite local Fruit and Veg shop, Garden of York in Levin. They grow a lot of the produce right next door. Such gorgeously fully stacked shelves. We’ll be eating well!
We were up by dawn and watched this splendid sunrise. Yesterday’s was sheer vermilion; today’s more fiery orange.
We really enjoyed Mi Vida 🎬:
Defying family expectations, 63-year-old hairdresser Lou travels to start a new life in the Spanish port city of Cádiz, where adventures in language and friendship await.
Beautiful Spain! Delightfully slow and steady development of the story.
We started our Film Festival with Steelers: The World’s First Gay Rugby Club, directed by Eammon Ashton-Atkinson 🎬 🏳️🌈:
we meet one of the newer players on the team, battling depression; a key forward who dabbles in drag; and the female coach who still has to battle sexism
An upside of Covid-19: the New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 has gone online (NZ credit card required). 🎬
I plan to watch a few movies. First time in years…
In the Muslim calendar it is Eid al-Adha when an animal, usually a sheep, is sacrificed ritually to commemorate God’s intervention before Ibrahim could sacrifice his son.
We were in Morocco at Eid in 2015 and saw many folks taking sheep home using all manner of vehicles.
I very much enjoyed reading Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. 📚
The book cover may be execrable, but the book itself was interesting and useful and stunningly readable. He has many many delightful turns of phrase.
Important fact: our brains lie to us all the time.
Vermilion sky at sunrise, and a blackbird (I think) welcoming the dawn.
Yay, my favourite author, Kristine Rusch, has early copies of her next books on Kickstarter 📚:
Boss, main character of Diving Universe … finally! returns in Thieves.
Squishy sent out teams to destroy something the Empire calls stealth tech.
Two excellent books for US$10!
Started watching TVNZ ☛ Rebecka Martinsson: Arctic Murders 📺:
When a childhood friend suddenly dies Rebecka Martinsson returns home to the north of Kiruna. But not everything is what it seems.
OK so far and Swedish scenery. 👍
Usually my photos of Kapiti Island are taken from Waikawa Beach, 20 Km north of here. Today we’re up close from Waikanae Beach.
