Yup, that worked last night.
Finally went for a dawn beach walk again. The view across the little lake was good.
Although mainly overcast, the sun peeked through briefly to light the wave caps. For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
Well, this is unusual round these parts: today both high and low temperature forecast are 16/16C — all day it'll be 16C!
Putting up gib board continues at our new build. 🏡
The builder was standing at the front door to take this photo through to the back of the house.
I enjoyed reading the Library ebook Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi. 📚
This was a creative and interesting story, well presented. Project Nought is a 336 page LGBTQ+ Sci-fi graphic novel by a New Zealand author and set in Auckland.
Ren Mittal's last memory in the year 1996 is getting on a bus to escape his life at home. When he wakes up in 2122, he thinks he might be hallucinating...he's not!
This worked well on my iPad, using the Libby app.
How cool — NZ wool being used to make eco-friendly caskets:
Low-emissions caskets and urns made from New Zealand wool are an environmentally friendly option for eternal rest …
Three fleeces worth of wool go into each casket.
They're made in the UK by an old mill … Manufacturing limitations in New Zealand mean they can’t be made here
From the Whangārei District Library I borrowed the ebook of The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish. 📚
A young lesbian in Maine and a young gay guy in New Orleans swap homes for a month. Romance ensues for each.
I enjoyed the read, but there was some rather didactic relationship advice from the author.
Today's random interesting fact — What Would You Win in an Elizabethan Lottery? | History Hit:
The first lottery in England was held during the reign of Elizabeth I, on 11 January, 1567. England’s power was growing and more funds were needed to build ships and harbour facilities. Rather than raise taxes, Elizabeth opted to raise the money through a lottery instead.
When we returned from our visit up north I found this delight in the letterbox.
My thanks to @jean for this gift. 😁
I enjoyed reading Killing a Stranger (Naomi Blake Mysteries Book 4) by Jane Adams. 📚
Teenager Rob Beresford stumbles home in the middle of the night, drenched in blood and claiming to have killed a man.
Rather than Naomi, it was actually the friend group who mainly worked out what had happened.
Today the builder sent us more progress photos of gib board being put up in our new house. I've digitally removed a worker from the photo below. 🏡
This approximately 25 minute speech on Yale's Class Day by The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand is absolutely worth your time.
She was one of our best leaders and speaks about leadership, and how we deal with a chaotic world. 👏🏼👏🏼
It was so blimmin cold this morning that today I went down to the shed and retrieved the extra winter bedding.
We don't have very much firewood left and won't be buying more before we move. I don't want to use it all up before even June rolls around …
When I first glimpsed a black bird hopping along the railing I assumed it was 'our' Blackbird. Then I realised it was actually a Tui. See the white bobbles on its throat in this terrible quick iPhone snap through the window. 🐦
The builders have started putting up Gib board in our new house. 🏡
Photo by the builder. There was a better photo but it shows three workers too clearly and it doesn't feel OK to me to put that online.
Our Whangārei friends are incredibly hospitable and generous and their house is very comfortable, but it's so good to be back home. First really good night's sleep in a week. Two cups of tea before 7 a.m. Ahhhh.
OTOH, our house was only 11C when I woke; couldn't light the woodburner fast enough!
I love the creativity of the Hundertwasser museum and precinct in Whangārei Basin. This area of paving could have been simply flat. Instead it has a flat trail for those who need level ground, with small bumps, hillocks and curves for aesthetic appeal.
We ate lunch at Deluca Cafe (FB link), 6/8 Rust Avenue, Whangarei 0110. That's pretty much opposite the Library.
My hot chocolate wasn't anything special, but it wasn't bad.
My fried eggs on wholegrain toast with grilled tomatoes and chicken tenders was good. The watercress was a nice touch.
Yesterday afternoon we went with our friends to visit friends of theirs in Waipu which is about 10 Km south of our soon to be home in Ruakākā.
We made pizzas in an outdoor pizza oven and spent a while chatting.
My pizza toppings were a bit on the sparse side, but it tasted good.
These books were good enough, but not brilliant. Havard and Lambert Books 1–5 by Pippa McCathie. 📚
My biggest problem is the author uses the technique of hiding information from the reader, like this example (one of many):
“Do you mean you know who–”
“Not know, but I have a very strong feeling about it.”
“So, who do you think it was?”
Fabia told her, and Bella didn’t pour scorn on this idea either, but she did say, “I really don’t think that’s very likely, Fabia.”
