Coconut palms (without coconuts). 🇼🇸
There are quite a few Red-vented Bulbul around the resort. They behave like sparrows, popping into the dining fale to check for crumbs. 🐦 🇼🇸
Oi! I did not give you permission to take my photo!
Pacific Black Skink at Sinalei Resort, Samoa. 🇼🇸
It was a bit of a pain to haul my camera and large heavy lens along, but I'm so glad I did. I believe this is a Pacific Black Skink. I've seen quite a few here at the resort. 🇼🇸
Not entirely happy with A Death at Seascape House (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 1) by Emma Jameson. Such a lot of miserable people and a couple of poorly thought out scenes, eg how did the killer get out of the ‘locked room’? Scilly Isles setting was interesting. 📚
These birds seem common around the resort. I believe this is a Miti Tai | Polynesian Triller. 🐦 🇼🇸
A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head … black crown, eye-stripe, back, and tail with a prominent white eyebrow, wide white wingbar, and white underside often barred brown or gray. Female is similar, but rusty-brown
The pool is great for cooling off of course. Behind is the distinctive roof of a traditional style fale — in this case it’s the bar. 🇼🇸
The resort has a friendly little dog called Princess who has recently had pups. She’s a pro at declaring herself starving. 🤣 🇼🇸
This little yellow lizard was hanging around the dining fale last night. 🇼🇸
This little Ve'a | Buff-banded Rail potters around on the grass at our Resort. It seems like a smaller version of a NZ Weka. 🐦
The gardens here are lush and I've seen other birds flying around. Making the most of a post-breakfast laze though. 🇼🇸
Sinalei Resort in Samoa. Bit different from Waikawa Beach eh! Also, about 25C. 🇼🇸
This is Bellabot which brings plates of food to the tables at the Sudima Hotel in Auckland. It takes away the empty plates too.
The cloud lifted enough to show snow on the foothills near us. Brrr. 🥶
Perfect weather for going somewhere else. 😆 🇼🇸
I totally enjoyed the 4 episode French series The Best of Us on Acorn TV. 📺
When local star athlete Abel Guérin is found dead in a snowy field, a bullet in his head, his little village is in shock. Awa Sissako, a young police captain from the city, is dispatched on the case to support the local lieutenant.
Another enjoyable read from Marion Todd: A Blind Eye (Detective Clare Mackay Book 7). 📚
a local solicitor is found in his car, throat slit.
DI Clare Mackay … learns that Harry was not the upstanding man he seemed to be. … Then the wife of one of Harry’s colleagues is discovered dead…
Waikawa Beach where I live is at about 40° south of the Equator. We get a great view of the Southern Cross, but never see Ursa Major.
Samoa however is about 14° south of the Equator. On checking Stellarium today I find I should be able to see both constellations! ✨ 🇼🇸
Last year the Blackbird couldn’t figure out how to get at the feeder. This year’s another story. 🐦
The birds queue up to let me know it’s dinner time! 🐦
There is also some grumpiness about the throng at the feeder.
Others, like this Waxeye, wait patiently.
Today I drove to Paraparaumu — the closest location for my phone provider One (was Vodafone) — and they switched me to use the eSIM in my iPhone 13 Pro Max. Then I started packing for Samoa. Luckily we can take 1 carryon and 1 checked bag each and we'll be staying in one place. 🇼🇸