The Matuku-hūrepo | Australasian Bittern is an extremely rare and endangered bird, but one sometimes turns up in these parts.
Last night a large dark bird startled beside the road and flew off. In those few seconds I didn't see what it was, but believe it could have been that. Older photo below. 🐦
Thanks to my many Micro.Blog pals who sent good wishes for my partner Deb's gallbladder surgery. Five days after first rolling up at the Emergency Department she's finally had the gallbladder out and is now sleeping off the anaesthetic. All seems well. 🙌🏼
With luck, I'll take her home tomorrow.
Uh oh. Arrived at Deb's hospital room at 9 am and it seems she's been abducted by aliens. Awaiting the ransom demand!
After 5 days sitting beside a hospital bed (still no op for Deb) I'm missing the beach and the bird babies. This afternoon I came home early. This little Oystercatcher chick was sticking close to mum. 🐦
It's still dark so this photo is from a week ago. Fliss the Japanese quail turns 5 today. What a survivor. Her sister died a year ago. Fliss is still going strong! Occasionally she even lets me 'pat' her. 🐦
Oh, OK, Netflix — is there something I can watch? Oooh, Star Trek: Prodigy — at last!
Seeing a fair bit of this view these days as Deb waits for gallbladder removal surgery. Could be worse.
A bit of Christmas in the Women’s Assessment Surgical Unit at Palmerston North hospital where Deb is awaiting a gallbladder removal operation.
Turns out the wee 3 in 1 Foldable Wireless Charging Dock I bought myself a few months ago is invaluable for Deb in hospital.
I've just taken advantage of a Boxing Day Sale
(yes, on 24 December) to buy another.
Deb's gall bladder removal was supposed to be today: first at 11 am then shunted to 5 pm. After 5 the nurse came in and said it wouldn't be today, but might be tomorrow. Deb was very relieved to be able to have a cup of tea at last. Painkillers and antibiotics are doing their job, thank goodness.
Keeping Deb company as she waits for the op to have her gallbladder removed. This dog poster is good for a smile.
How cool is this! People using mobile devices with low data but needing info from a load of different Government websites (health, benefits, etc etc) can visit a special site to get access at no cost to their data.
An off-duty ultrasound machine at Palmerston North Hospital. The operator was amazing, looking at what I saw as some kind of blurry moonscape and knowing exactly what was what. There's the gallstone
and That's the liver …
. Respect!
When we left the house at 07.30 after Deb suffered a night of probably gallbladder pain, I didn't really expect to still be sitting in Palmerston North Emergency Department at 4.30 pm waiting for a bed to free up so Deb can be admitted. With any luck the gallbladder will be removed tomorrow.
Another Oystercatcher baby! 🐦
So pleased (and relieved) to see a Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill in the estuary again (at last). I hope more turn up soon. 🐦
Not very happy with an invoice I received. Back in October we had a charger installed for our new EV. There were glitches and I was advised there would be extra costs. OK.
We received a poorly worded invoice that we paid.
Now there's another invoice for install
for the extra costs. Grrrr.
I find this just gobsmacking! I don't even know what to say …
It's part awe, part disgust.
It represents almost $50 per person in Aotearoa!
Needed to renew the firstbite domain name I've had for ~25 years. Renewing several years at a time saves money. I thought about going with 10 years. In the end I went with 2 years, renewing 2 other domains at the same time.
But, here's the thing: at not far off 70 will I renew anything for 10 years?