Ages ago I watched the first episode of Schitt's Creek and immediately saw it wasn't for me. After about 10 different people, over the years, said how brilliant it was I relented. The first season was definitely iffy, but now, I'm loving it. So funny! All the characters and actors are so good.
Whangārei’s cruise ships
Whangārei’s fledgling cruise ship industry expected to boom:
Four cruise ships are expected into Northport at Marsden Point, about 35km from Whangārei, between January and March.…
Whangārei’s fourth cruise ship visitor will kick off the 2024/2025 season on January 18, with a maximum of 770 passengers.
The Azamara Pursuit will be followed by the Azamara Onward on Waitangi Day, with the same number of passengers. The Seven Seas Voyager will arrive four days later with a maximum of 705 passengers. Nautica, the season’s final cruise ship, is scheduled for March 24 with a maximum of 685 passengers.
On 03 June 2024 the Beach Access post by the north track off Reay Mackay Grove is gradually disappearing. Note how the sand comes up to just below the bottom S.
On 01 October 2024 that bottom S has almost been buried.
Here it was on 15 July 2020 when it was installed.
Census data has revealed one in 20 New Zealand adults identify as LGBTIQ+ - or part of the rainbow communities.
For the first time ever, the 2023 Census collected data about gender, sexual identity and variations of sex characteristics.
The LGBTIQ+ or rainbow population includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex, or have other "minority genders or sexual identities", StatsNZ said.
Via: Census 2023: First-ever Census data on NZ's rainbow communities released.
Quite often when I sit on the deck to read in the sun a little friend joins me for a chat. 🐦
Bit of a rattle this afternoon. 〰️
This was another reread from 2009 and was a bit all over the place. Maybe the fan fiction aspect explains that somewhat. Tropical Convergence: Book 7 in The Dar & Kerry Series by Melissa Good. 📚
There's trouble on the horizon for ILS when a rival challenges them head on, and their best weapons, Dar and Kerry, are distracted by life instead of focusing on the business.
When these two little Barbary doves saw me coming along the lane they flew over to the gate to check me out more closely. 🐦 😍
Down at lake Puna o te Ora today the Southern Bell Frogs were in full voice.
And as I listened to the recording, I realised the birds were busy chirping too.
A quote for the day from my friend Debra, who is not only working hard at her own job, but putting a lot of effort into the local community:
I'm trying to get some change because it's all too annoying!
That's an excellent reason to try to change things. 😁
Consent granted for large solar power station at Ruakākā
Consent granted for large solar power station at Ruakākā in Northland | RNZ News:
Consent has been granted for a solar power station at Ruakākā in Northland that will produce more than three times the energy of the biggest solar farm currently operating in New Zealand.
If all goes to plan, Meridian's Ruakākā Solar Farm will start producing power in late 2026.
The 200,000-panel solar farm will be spread over three sites at Marsden Point totalling 172 hectares, with a peak output of 120 megawatts (MW).
About half an hour before sunrise I noticed a sliver of yellow crescent moon rising above the hills.
The birds were welcoming dawn with their chorus (volume up).
Finally seen my first comet: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), approx 90 minutes before dawn. Couldn't see it with naked eye but binoculars were great.
Nice to see horses on the beach today. For a while now it's been tricky for them to gain access, thanks to changes in terrain. Today: 3 riders, two on beautiful Arab horses.
Sometimes they ride flat out, like this person in 2016.
When we first came here a fellow used to train his horses.
It's 3 months to Christmas Day. Farmers in Levin has a whole Christmas shop up and running with trees, and baubles and stuff.
3 months!
This really interesting 15 minute Howtown video explores nuances of measuring happiness — The happiness contest Finland keeps winning:
- Origins of the happiness list
- The data source
- The ladder question
- Positive emotions
- Cultural response styles
- What makes us happy
Good news up north near Whangārei:
Two hundred thousand solar panels [will] be installed to construct the 100-150MW [Ruakākā Energy Park] which would produce 150-200GWh of electricity annually.
Via: Consent granted for 172-hectare Bream Bay solar farm - Northland Regional Council.
172-hectare solar farm to be built at Ruakākā Energy Park
Independent hearings commissioners have granted an application by Meridian Energy Limited (MEL) to build a multi-million dollar 172-hectare solar farm across three sites at Marsden Pt, Ruakākā. …
The application also proposed the creation, enhancement and restoration of 18.86ha of wetland across the three sites to offset the permanent removal of 17.06ha of wetlands. …
“This culminated in the purchase of three sites at Marsden Point, and the consenting and construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on the northern-most site (corner Rama Road and SH15) as the first stage of the Ruakākā Energy Park.”
Two hundred thousand solar panels would be installed to construct the 100-150MW farm which would produce 150-200GWh of electricity annually.
Via: Consent granted for 172-hectare Bream Bay solar farm - Northland Regional Council.
I've spent years working on building up my sleep duration and this year am doing pretty well on it. This interesting 9 minute video by researcher Nessy Hill also mentions the importance of other factors such as sleep regularity. The Formula to Stop Feeling Tired.
Recent evidence indicates that sleep regularity, defined as the day-to-day consistency of sleep–wake timing, is a stronger predictor of some health outcomes than average sleep duration.