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.
Things that puzzle from a book published around 2011:
Luckily I'm old enough to remember that once upon a time we had to sign a piece of paper when making a credit card purchase — something I haven't done for so long now it's ancient history. What would kids make of this puzzling passage?
I warmed up to and enjoyed Terrors of the High Seas: Book 6 in The Dar & Kerry Series by Melissa Good. I bought it back in 2011 so this was a reread. 📚
This is essentially a fanfic for the Xena TV series, a show I used to really enjoy.
Expect a high over-the-top quotient.
The Kuaka | Godwits are back after their epic journey from the top of the northern hemisphere and they're hungry. 🐦
It's spring and this beautiful little Weweia | New Zealand dabchick was watching me from lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦
Today Deb and I went to the gym at Paraparaumu where I had a very successful workout. Afterwards we went to Longbeach Cafe where I enjoyed delicious fish, chips and salad. The batter was rather indifferent, but everything else was very good.
