We also visited the gym where we were alone for a while so I had some fun trying out the various machines. Made a pleasant change from dumbbells.
I was disturbed to find I just couldn't do lying leg curls, even with only a 5 Kg weight. 😳
For our third and final Open Home Deb and I took ourselves to Old Courthouse Eatery in Levin for lunch. I had a Steak Sammy: seared steak, brie and salad, which was fine. I wish they'd asked me how I like the steak as it was a bit too red for me.
Noone attended the open home. 😒
If you're even remotely interested in wildlife or amazing scenery then the TVNZ documentary series Endangered Species Aotearoa is a must see. I hope my overseas pals get a chance to view it too.
It's perfectly put together, as the hosts and camera crew use local specialists to find and discuss birds, sea creatures, insects and other wildlife.
Join comedian Pax Assadi and conservationist Nicola Toki on a journey of discovery to learn about the vulnerable wildlife species facing extinction in Aotearoa and the South Pacific.
This 50 minute podcast episode is just mind-blowing. With AI we may soon be able to translate between animal 'languages'. But should we? Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence:
Chris talks to Aza Raskin, co-founder of Earth Species Project and Karen Bakker, a professor at the University of British Columbia, about animal communication and the pros and cons of the latest AI technology.
Work continues on our new house up north. 🏡
This week the roof trusses were put in place.
Photos courtesy of the builder.
I usually visit Harrison's Cafe and Garden Centre with my good friend J but she's away at the moment. I had hoped they'd have their excellent ginger gems, but I was unlucky with that. Hence a hot chocolate and gingerbread person were consumed solo.
Nevertheless, it was good to get out of the house.
It was so blimmin cold this morning I went down to the shed in the dark and brought up firewood for our first fire of the year. 14C in the house and 6C outside.
Luckily I took a photo and looked at it soon after as I'd forgotten to remove items we'd stored on top, including a fly spray dispenser!
This morning's dawn beach walk netted me a Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦
And just like on this day, 06 March 2023, a Ngutuparore | Wrybill. Note how the bill curves to the bird's right.
Half a dozen things in our house beep when power is restored after an outage — that's why I woke from a sound sleep at around 0230 this morning. However, it must have gone out again straight away.
It was an hour or two before it was back again.
After a cup of tea I managed another hour of sleep.
Apparently Whangārei offers free parking for the over 70's. I've just spotted this in the Bream Bay News, 27 February 2025:
Sounds like finding somewhere to park is a whole other issue though. 😆
We used to have Micro Monday around here, to help community members be discovered. Here are a dozen of the many Micro.Bloggers I enjoy:
Another engrossing read from Anna Britton: Close to the Edge (Detectives Martin & Stern Book 2). 📚
I like the way the author intersperses interview transcripts, text messages, emails, narrative, reports and other forms of information.
Chaos breaks out as DS Gabe Martin leaves Southampton Crown Court. Gunshots ring out. She and DI Juliet Stern are hit. The culprit disappears without a trace.
We loved the film Tinā. 🎥
It should win a load of awards. Excellent story, excellent actors, excellent singing. Tears, funny bits, and a feeling of satisfaction at the end.
I grew up in Christchurch, so there was a whole extra layer for me.
Also read: How Tinā found its home in Christchurch.
Every day I check earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions to see what's up in the weather around us.
Today's map was interesting with 6 cyclones all around us being held off by a high overhead.
Then there's also this warning about the dangers of cuts at NOAA.
For the last few days this happens once per day. It forces me to restart because I can't connect to any website at all:
The setting's off in Apple Settings on my MacBook Pro but I'm unable to turn it back on.
It's starting to annoy me.
As I lay awake in the middle of the night I wondered if animals suffer from insomnia. Is there some little bird out there, clinging to her perch, worrying about whether she'll find enough food come daylight? How will she survive the next storm? How are her babies coping? 🐦
Then I went back to sleep.
Excellent turn of phrase, referring to our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. "Wind sock", hah! :
He seems to wait until public opinion can be gauged before sharing his own. If he has convictions, they are starting to resemble a wind sock to those looking on.
Via Gabi Lardies: The Weekend: Leaders with poor convictions and scripted communications | The Spinoff.
Having enjoyed another series by this author, I was gripped by this book too. Litany For A Broken World by LJ Cohen. 📚
When the three strangers, each broken in some way, are pulled into a conflict between those with the ability to travel the multiverse and the organization seeking to exploit them, they must risk everything that matters to heal the fractured places in themselves and throughout reality
The ending was a little unsatisfactory — I didn't realise it had finished — but we're definitely set up for the next novel.
About a week before we expected it the frames on our new house were stood. The panorama photo from the builder gives a probably much more accurate impression of the size — after all, it'll be twice as long as our current house and somewhat wider. 🏡
It does also include a garage.
After the near approach of Chinese warships recently I was inspired to try learning Mandarin.
After watching some introductory videos and signing up for an inexpensive (with coupon) Udemy course I'm now also going to sign up to the free Mandarin Blueprint Challenge.
It all looks interesting. 你好