Busy reading a jargon-filled (appropriately) geomorphological assessment of our river and shoreline, making notes and ‘translating’ into plain language. On Saturday our Ratepayers Committee will be considering the report as presented by Horizons Regional Council.
I’ve changed my main email address and it sure is quiet while the forwarder from the old address isn’t working. 🧐 Currently trying to get Support to see what’s happening. I’ve used the old address for at least a couple of decades… Not missing the spam one bit though.
The dogs visited the vet in Ōtaki today for their annual checkup and shots (all good). We took the opportunity to walk a bit along the Ōtaki riverbank at the mouth. Photos: looking east, west towards the sea, and across the wetland.
Why kiwi and moa became flightless
Researchers discovered new evidence of what made some of NZ’s iconic birds, such as the kiwi and extinct moa, flightless. … change in the regulation of protein genes, rather than proteins themselves is … responsible for the loss-of-flight.
Study Shows Our Cats Do Know Their Names
most of the time cats can indeed distinguish between their names being said and other words, even if they are similar-sounding words, and regardless of whether it’s their owner or another unfamiliar person who is doing the talking.
I had enough stain left in the tin for 3 outdoor chairs. Now I need to buy more for the tables. This should help them weather winter.
Occasionally exchange rate fluctuations work in my favour. Siteground renewed automatically an account I wanted to cancel. Thanks to exchange rate fluctuations, the refund was greater than the original charge. Now, how to make the most of my $1.43 windfall?
4 Pied shags, kawau had attitude on the beach this morning. By lucky chance I managed some photos I just love.
Pied shags weigh 1 to 2 Kg, and are about 65 to 85 cm long.
At sunset tonight the Tararuas shone red below a pink-clouded sky. This photo straight out of the camera.
A friend caught several Snapper from his sea kayak this morning and gave us one. It was delicious cooked on the BBQ with lemon and butter, baked potatoes and steamed carrots and green beans. Freshest fish I’ve ever eaten.
The neighbours are having landscaping done on the area across our boundary. Now I need to try to clear a strip beside the fence on our side. There’s a lot to do.
Scientist finds link to ancient home of Māori
A Northland scientist has … pinpointed the origin of early Māori artefacts found in New Zealand to a precise location in eastern Polynesia.… the island of Mehetia, about 100km southeast of Tahiti in French Polynesia.
It’s been so long since I last lit the fire I’d forgotten how. Now, finally, it seems to have caught. It’s been a cool day today.
Video (11 minutes): Grass Roots: the women of Hikurangi Enterprises
Grass Roots looks at the wāhine behind Hikurangi Enterprises, a cannabis co-op looking to revitalise Ruatoria, a Ngāti Porou stronghold with a long and turbulent relationship to the plant.
If this forecast holds true (unlikely — we usually get less rain than forecast) it’ll add nearly 4,000 litres to our rainwater tank. At an average use of ~1300 litres per week that should give us about 3 weeks of water. Hooray! The tank’s getting low. Last full 14 January 2019.
I’m so relieved — Siteground renewed web hosting automatically for me 2 weeks before I expected it. NZ$350 at stake. I actually wanted to cancel the service. A Support Live Chat just sorted it out easily and my refund is on its way.
Oh, time to start paying attention to Apple Pay, as it is now available with Westpac in New Zealand. Will I be able to use it in small-town New Zealand though?
In 2.5 hours in Levin waiting for my car’s new windscreen to be installed I: had a flu shot, visited my dental hygienist, and discovered that to use the free WiFi at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō (the Library) a Mac user needs Firefox to be able to get online.
Our dog Sasha loves to chase a ball. This cool early morning on the beach she had a heap of energy. Her eyesight’s poor so I have to be sure she’s looking the right way then almost roll the ball so she can see and follow it. She was having a great time! No actual fetching…
Our barking dog got me outside at 0524, just in time to see a sliver of moon rise below Venus over the Tararuas into a clear sky filled with stars. The Milky Way was bright, splitting by Scorpius, where Jupiter also hung out. Thank you, barking dog.