Our new garden features 3 2 large rocks. Manoeuvering them into place takes finesse. Here are two.
These are lava flow rocks from the Hikurangi area. They were blessed before they left the collection site — they are of 'unknown' origin and could have been at one time near burial places.
The landscapers worked hard yesterday putting the 'bones' of our garden in place. Today the plants arrive, along with a couple of big rocks, about 1.2 metres tall. They need a different digger to handle that weight.
Dr Geoff Lindsey does a very interesting experiment at the end of this 27 minute video. The results really interested me — What if Gary Stevenson and Jimmy the Giant spoke British Received Pronunciation? :
YouTubers Gary Stevenson and Jimmy the Giant say their working-class accents make it harder for some people to take them seriously. In this video I look at accents and class, why “RP” causes so much confusion, and I explore their claim by giving them AI-generated “middle-class” voices. What effect, if any, does this have on how you perceive them?
At Ruakākā — For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
Through a window on a dreary morning, but although I often hear the pheasant, today I actually saw it. 🐦
The transformation of our 'lawn' is underway. This will be a path through various sections of mainly native plants.
Another good read in a series I enjoy — Murder at Miners Bluff (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 6) by Anne Shillolo. 📚
The remote location has no road access and the terrain is so extreme that a helicopter can’t land. … Can they apprehend a killer and escape the confines of the canyon before rains and flash floods threaten the bluff, destroying precious evidence and trapping the team?
Yesterday we lunched with our friends R and R at Schnappa Rock Restaurant at Tutukaka.
My panfried tarakihi with chips and an Iceberg Wedge was very delicious.
Oh, and there was live jazz that we enjoyed too. An unexpected surprise for a Sunday afternoon.
We took our visiting Wellington friends R & R to the Helena Bay Gallery today, north of Whangārei. On the way home we visited a few eastern beaches, including Matapōuri Bay, which was rather lovely.
Note: that's Sugarloaf Rock on the right, not Sail Rock (visible only from further south).
Luckily this enormous Newfoundland dog I saw today belonged to the Helena Bay Cafe and Art Gallery, and not to the owner of the teeny tiny Triumph sports car in the carpark. 🐶 😆
(There were two tiny red sports cars in the carpark!)
Less than 10 metres from me : adult heron grooming. 🐦
Another chick at the river mouth the other day — this time a dotterel. These birds are so hard to see: follow the post at mid-top down to the bottom third of the photo to see the chick. Its parent is on guard nearby. Oystercatcher in the background. 🐦
At the river mouth the other morning I spotted this Oystercatcher with two tiny chicks. 🐦
View from our front door this morning. @crossingthethreshold 🌈
When we moved in to our new house we had a tiny bit of garden and the rest in grass. Today the team are ripping up most of the grass so they can install more privacy panels, gardens and paths. Nothing grand: the whole section is only 600 m2 and the house takes up a large chunk of that.
Caitlin Doughty delivers a very thoughtful consideration of the issues in this 15 minute video — Watching AI Testimony at a Real Murder Trial:
Would you want an AI version of you speaking from beyond the grave?
Another from a series I quite like: 4th Silence (Schock Sisters Mystery Series) by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano. 📚
Thirty years ago, eight-year-old Tiffany was found murdered … Now, as the anniversary of her death looms, sisters Charlie and Meg Schock are pulled into their most chilling investigation yet. When their mother launches a campaign to reopen the case, it ignites a media storm and political backlash.
Those white-faced heron chicks are getting quite big. The parents seem to leave them alone a bit more now. 🐦
Cooked Easy Balsamic Chicken:
Succulent baked balsamic chicken, loaded with flavor from a bold balsamic marinade with garlic, lemon juice, and herbs!
The recipe neglects to mention marinade time, and the extra 30 minutes or so if you make your own balsamic glaze.
Pretty yummy though.
What is the right (affordable) ebike for me?
Back in February 2020 I bought a Gepida Reptila urban ebike, just before lockdown, and I love it.
Nearly 6 years on though and I'm learning that while the Reptila is excellent on smooth roads and paved paths, it's not really the right bike for the shingle, rougher surfaced and potholed roads and trails I'm encountering more frequently.
Now I'm engaged in seemingly endless research about gravel ebikes and other off-road ebikes.
What's heartening is that Gepida have two models, at a somewhat affordable price, that could perhaps be better for me if we're going to attempt more bike trails: the Gepida Berig ATB Step Through and the Gepida Ruga Pro Tour (Step Thru), which I may have a small preference for.
I want to try a test ride on them both, but the "problem" is that the closest stockist is in Auckland, a 90 minute drive from here. It'll be a few weeks before we can arrange that.