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.
Cyclists: beware the troughs in the surface!
It’ll be Gate 16 for us this morning.
In June 2022 we had a 19-hour power cut and @jean suggested a small portable generator.
Now, 2 years later I've finally bought a Yeti 200x Portable Power Station from Goal Zero.
Up in Northland some homes are without power days after a pylon fell over: Northland power cuts.
Knowledge that isn't shared is not knowledge.
Source: Kōkōrangi: Māori astronomer guiding crowds into the New Year.
Happy New Year! Today is the June Solstice and the start of my personal new year — Day 01.
It's a cold, crisp morning, the (98%) full moon is on its way to setting and the sun will rise at 0743.
What a great day to be alive! 🥳
There was no wind this morning, though if there had been it was nominally from the east. For this west coast beach that means a very calm sea.
From the top of a nearby sand dune it almost looked like a millpond.
For the Pacific Wave Appreciation Society. 🌊
This morning's tea: a lightly roasted oolong: Bagua Shan Siji Chun 2024:
Following oxidation, compression, rolling and curing, they are gently roasted at the end of processing. The result is a light and silky-soft infusion with moreish notes of sweetened cream, caramelised sugar and flowers.
A Google image search led me to Megabalanus, and then I found my way to Pink Barnacles (Beach Barnacles Of New Zealand) · iNaturalist NZ.
Of course I'd heard of barnacles but I had no idea that's what this is. It's not uncommon to find these on Waikawa Beach.
See also Beloved Barnacles.
This was a quick read, thanks to my enjoying this series so much. I find the main characters very appealing. A False Report by Veronica Heley 📚:
Bea’s investigation leads to the discovery of a circle of crooks with links to high society.
This book introduced me to a nasty practice called The Badger Game.
Interesting — Should you add milk to tea?:
In European salons [in the 1600s], tea was served in delicate fine bone china, easily cracked by the shock of hot tea being poured into the cup. Adding milk first served to reduce the temperature of the infusion, preserving the fragile teaware.
What to expect from 'seal silly season':
Vomiting in public. Snoozing in the middle of busy roads. Hanging out in KFC car parks, and waking up on strangers' couches. … all activities that perfectly normal juvenile seals get up to at this time of year.
Dr Jody Weir, a marine science adviser …, said the period from June to September was commonly referred to as "seal silly season".
Ah, yes, we see young seals on the beach sometimes at this time of year.
