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.”
No onion in my meals please
We visited Acropolis Cafe, Bar And Grill in Whangārei for dinner last night. The environment is lovely (and unusual, being out in the 'wilderness' of the port).
I enjoyed the chicken element in my souvlaki wrap, and the others enjoyed their meals.
My meal was very much spoiled though by containing raw onion when I'd had a protracted prior discussion with the server about making sure there was no onion in my food.
Rather than replacing my dish when I pointed this out it seems they simply removed the onion from it and brought back the remains. I was disinclined to eat what they brought back to me.
I was disappointed and definitely unimpressed by the service at Acropolis.
Most people at Barge Park today, including us, were walking dogs. Then there were a dozen or more doing something different.
We encourage you to bring along your own miniature pony or you are most welcome to hire one of ours. All the miniature ponies competing will have to pass vet checks throughout the event to be able to continue as their health and welfare is of utmost importance to us.
It was a gorgeous and hot day at Ruakākā beach today. A few people were swimming.
Taranga (Hen), Marotiri (Chickens) and Taturu (Sail Rock) lie on the horizon of Te Ākau (Bream Bay). In the distant far right is Hauturu o Toi (Little Barrier Island) New Zealand's first nature reserve.
An exciting time today as we saw our new house for the first time "in the flesh". 🏡
We didn't know it had already been insulated and today it passed the inspection that allows gib board to go up next week.
We flew over our new house as we came in to land at Whangārei. It's in the green area in the bottom right quadrant of the photo. 🏡
Threading through the top half is the Ruakākā River flowing from right to left. The riverbank walk is only a couple of minutes on foot from our place.
Yay. Boarded our plane to Whangārei, taxied, sat, returned to terminal, engineers fixed a small problem but noticed a complication. Now we’re sitting in the terminal again.
Mountain rises above the clouds in central North Island.
Sunrise above the clouds.
After leaving the house at 5 a.m. airport eggs on toast was not only welcome but very delicious! 
Energy Farm goodness at Ruakākā
It's very heartening to read about the positives of the new energy farm underway at Ruakākā.
Renewable innovation: The Ruakākā Energy Park | New Zealand Infrastructure Review:
Wetland restoration and enhancement
An existing wetland on the project site will be protected, ensuring that it remains a valuable habitat for native bird species such as the bittern and dabchick ducks. A new native habitat, including a new wetland, will be created on another part of the site, improving ecological outcomes. This new wetland will help to cleanse stormwater from the energy park and wider catchment before it flows into the Ruakākā River, delivering significant environmental benefits.
Native planting and landscape improvements
The perimeter of the BESS [battery energy storage system] has been planted with eco‑sourced native species like cabbage trees, kōwhai, harakeke and pittosporums. This planting effort, undertaken in partnership with local hapū Patuharakeke, not only improves the visual aesthetics of the site, but also creates a natural habitat for local wildlife. Biodegradable hemp/wool matting has been used to retain moisture, and irrigation will support plant growth during the first two years.
This morning the bricks were half way up the wall on our new build. By the end of the afternoon the photo from our builder's rep shows a lot has been done. 🏡
This photo from the south.
Favourite typo in a book I'm reading (my emphasis):
Fabia got out pickles and took a cucumber from the vegetable wrack and handed it to Dilys.
Vegetable wrack
conjures up images of wilted lettuce, aged mushrooms, sad celery …
Our building company rep sent a photo of bricklayers hard at work this morning on our new place. 🏡
This is a view from the east.
I guess once the brickwork is complete the house will be 'weathertight', triggering another progress payment.
Our government: protectors of profit above all else! 🤮
Forest & Bird Says National Parks Not Game Parks:
“The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to Wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park – home to unique and much-loved endangered species such as kākāpō, kiwi, kea, pīwauwau rock wren, and whio blue duck.”