Well, just talking to Deb who's driving home and everything was plunged into darkness.
Three minutes later and a couple of lights came on, then everything went off again.
Oh well, at least the woodburner's keeping me warm.
Today, with a cold southerly wind, but in the sun, I took part in the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, with poor results.
- blackbird : 2
- magpie : 2
- sparrow : 1
- spur-winged plover : 2
- starling : 2
- thrush : 1
- waxeye : 2
Pathetic!
Aargh! New Zealand standardised its recycling rules – why is it still so confusing?:
On average, each New Zealander is estimated to have generated 700kg of waste that ended up in landfills in 2021, meaning that New Zealand is one of the highest waste producers in the OECD.
Second gym session today and we did some stretches and also some work with 5 Kg or 2 Kg dumbbells. That included squats and lifts.
The trainer and I have differing opinions on whether I'll be able to walk tomorrow. 🤣
I really enjoyed the movie Wicked Little Letters 🎥:
Based on a true scandal, it follows an investigation into the anonymous author of numerous crudely insulting letters sent to the residents of seaside town Littlehampton.
So clever and funny, with excellent actors.
BTW: the language is truly explicit.
Interesting definition of 'meal', AirNZ. Not sure the knife and fork will be useful.
Today I took photos of Ngunguru. It's very pretty, warm and relaxing.
We visited Ngunguru (Apple Maps link) today — about 30 Km from Whangārei. Gorgeous place, but I didn't take photos …
Just off the Ngunguru coast are the Poor Knights Islands, a protected marine reserve. Ngunguru is a Māori-language word meaning "rumbling tides".
I started Murder at the Opera House (A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Book 1) by Dawn Brookes ages ago then stopped for long enough I'd forgotten how it started. 📚
Finished now, and it was OK but I probably won't bother with more in the series.
Mt Manaia from Ruakaka Beach.
In Whangārei.
Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harman works on against a backdrop of a frustrating system. Meanwhile doggedness and persistence eventually winkle out a couple of clues in an apparently intractable case. In Harm’s Way (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 3) by Judith Cutler. 📚
I started out 'naming' this year Surprise
. After immediately getting Covid I changed it to Spontaneity
. Apparently that change didn't stick though, as various events this year could attest.
My latest surprise is that I'm about to join a gym. I had an intro session with a trainer yesterday.
First glimpse for this year of a visiting Kererū, well hidden in the tree lucerne. Can you find it?
Yesterday's mist also highlighted a large spider web in the flax.
It's been misty the last couple of mornings.
Sigh, somehow I skipped Book 3, so a few elements in here were a little surprising … It was another good read in a series I like. No Harm Done (Detective Fran Harman Mysteries Book 4) by Judith Cutler 📚:
Fran’s no stranger to murder on her patch. But not like this…
There was a lot for Jorja to unravel in this book. I enjoyed the read. Knight Vision (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery Book 4) by Alice Bienia. 📚 :
as Jorja begins her hunt for the predicted killer, her client’s lookalike is found dead.
Another excellent science-based video from MinuteFood: Dishwashers vs hand-washing: which wins? (8.5 minutes).
You’ve got a pile of dirty dishes…should you hand-wash them or use the dishwasher?
Goose and ducks at the Auckland Domain duck pond.
We've had a great lightning visit to Auckland to celebrate two birthdays with friends.