Apparently non-alcoholic alternatives are becoming widely popular these days.
On the other hand, I've been having an occasional half glass to work my way through the remains of the bottles under the sink bench. It's taking a long time; unaccustomed I am to lone wine-bibbing (or in this case something stronger) I forget about it for weeks at a time. C
urrently finishing off what's left of Nana's Crème de Cacao, which leaves the remains of the Cointreau.
Apparently non-alcoholic alternatives are becoming widely popular these days.
On the other hand, I've been having an occasional half glass to work my way through the remains of the bottles under the sink bench. It's taking a long time; unaccustomed I am to lone wine-bibbing (or in this case something stronger) I forget about it for weeks at a time. Currently finishing off what's left of Nana's Crème de Cacao, which leaves the remains of the Cointreau.
Yes. I get through quite a lot of "non-alcoholic" beer; legally in Australia this means <0.5%. Which means I can have a social and tasty drink without having adverse effects - and the lower alcohol means also lower price (though not hugely so).
I was looking forward to August as July was so wet. here, but some places on the West Coast have already had twicetheir usual rainfall for the month and this is the region in Aotearoa/NZ that has the highest rainfall in the country. It is also my favourite part of the country because of the rainforests. Unfortunately I need to be near a good library and to live there I would also need a car.
Just heard from my daughter in the Far North of North Island. They have had torrential rain. School is closed for the kids as the school is cut off by flood waters. Lots of trees down and livestock swimming for their lives!
She lives on a hill and is currently not flooded but it is still raining heavily.....
Thinking lots about you all in the southern hemisphere!
Just heard from my daughter in the Far North of North Island. They have had torrential rain. School is closed for the kids as the school is cut off by flood waters. Lots of trees down and livestock swimming for their lives!
She lives on a hill and is currently not flooded but it is still raining heavily.....
Thinking lots about you all in the southern hemisphere!
Dry right now in Eastern Oz and has been for several weeks; however this could change in the twinkling of an eye
I think any rain which should have fallen on Eastern Oz, was donated to Western NZ, and it looks like Christchurch, on the east coast will get an extra dollop tonight. I must check the timing of the tides in the river.
Thunderbunk - if it were in my power you would have all you wanted. I'm collecting some of the excess to use when summer turns the Port Hill brown and my roses are gasping.
Today has been showery, sunny, grey and at one point bright blue sky. Supposed to have a bit more rain next week. Have been surprised to see a pair of black swans on the pond over the road and today a very cheeky magpie walked right up to our dining room looking at the snoozing cat!! This year we've had the most bird life that I've seen since the bad bushfire summer.
No, we were lucky a small outburst for a couple of hours, that didn't coincide with high tide. I slept through it.
The top of both the North and South islands were not as fortunate. I watched the news footage on Stuff, which is the non paywalled news site with local reporters throughout the country, and was horrified. I don't know the far north very well, but Nelson and Blenheim, at the top of the South I do know. They were both very badly affected. Someone likened the soil washing down a hillside in Nelson as flowing like yoghurt. In hilly areas the roads turned into rivers.
The most chilling announcement was one from Civil Defence and suggested people hold onto the sandbags they had been issued as there could be a repeat of the rain and wind in coming weeks.
LKK: You did well to avoid having even one coronary artery completely blocked, which constitutes a mild heart attack. I know as that's what I got 12 years ago. That artery is still 100% blocked, but fortunately, the other 2 are still healthy. If 2 or (worse) all 3 get blocked that's a serious , possibly fatal heart attack. As it happens, the rest of my heart was strong from lots of exercise and so a bunch of smaller blood vessels continue to cut in when under load to provide a "natural" coronary bypass.
Six years today since my quadruple bypass surgery (CABG). There were few (no) warning signs, and now I do not feel limited in what I do.
On 9 August I marked 10 years since the cardiologist uttered the immortal words "Actually, Mr Curly, your cardiac arteries are ratshit." He suspected I had pericarditis, but instead proceeded to put stents in several places.
Like LKK, feeling fit and well. And remembering our dear friend Lothlorian, who was very thoughtful to me at that time.
Little flooding in Wellington because so much is on hills. — which have been chopped and shaped in order to put houses everywhere that persistent heavy rain has soaked in and caused innumerable slips, blocking roads and sometimes removing the earth that a house has been sitting securely on for ten years or eighty.
Last week on the Coromandel, where our holiday bach is, every road between towns was blocked by slips. On our local Facebook group page there was a message 'Grant is driving as far as Simpson's Beach after work and walking round the slip for me to pick him up — anyone else coming home from Whitianga want to join us?'
GG, I'm glad you posted as I was concerned. Many places in the Wellington region that are usually OK seem to have slips, over the last week. I was actually hoping for heavy rain around Parliament on Tuesday*, but it didn't happen.
* there was a march on Parliament by self appointed Bishop, Brian Tamaki and his supporters who staged some kind of trial of various politicians and their handling of the pandemic. They are also trying to form a coalition political party of the various groups who oppose measure taken to mitigate the the effects of covid. This coalition would have people standing for Parliament in next year's General Election. At least they are open about their allegiances, unlike some of those standing in local body elections, who have a more stealthy approach.
They are also trying to form a coalition political party of the various groups who oppose measure taken to mitigate the the effects of covid. This coalition would have people standing for Parliament in next year's General Election.
One of the main other groups repudiated "Bishop" Tamaki's inclusion — he had no intention of joining a coalition. There's something very sinister about his black-clad leadership and followers. 'Church?'— what would Jesus say?
LKK: You did well to avoid having even one coronary artery completely blocked, which constitutes a mild heart attack. I know as that's what I got 12 years ago. That artery is still 100% blocked, but fortunately, the other 2 are still healthy. If 2 or (worse) all 3 get blocked that's a serious , possibly fatal heart attack. As it happens, the rest of my heart was strong from lots of exercise and so a bunch of smaller blood vessels continue to cut in when under load to provide a "natural" coronary bypass.
On the way to the hospital I was thrombolysed, described as draino for the arteries. There was too much blockage for stents and so I had CABG.
About three years ago I asked the doctor how much my heart had been damaged and he said there was no permanent damage. He also said I'd be good for another 10 years. That reminded me of when a doctor said to my son at his valve replacement at 17 that he'd be good for another 40 years. The idea of dying at 57 got to him.
LKK: You did well to avoid having even one coronary artery completely blocked, which constitutes a mild heart attack. I know as that's what I got 12 years ago. That artery is still 100% blocked, but fortunately, the other 2 are still healthy. If 2 or (worse) all 3 get blocked that's a serious , possibly fatal heart attack. As it happens, the rest of my heart was strong from lots of exercise and so a bunch of smaller blood vessels continue to cut in when under load to provide a "natural" coronary bypass.
On the way to the hospital I was thrombolysed, described as draino for the arteries. There was too much blockage for stents and so I had CABG.
About three years ago I asked the doctor how much my heart had been damaged and he said there was no permanent damage. He also said I'd be good for another 10 years. That reminded me of when a doctor said to my son at his valve replacement at 17 that he'd be good for another 40 years. The idea of dying at 57 got to him.
Piglet, these people would have approved of far less state intervention. Some of them are QAnon followers others are influenced by various conspiracy theories and God alone knows what influences others. Usually I try to understand why people believe what they do, but the hate and anger, the mock trials and hangings are far beyond my understanding.
I think Huia meant hanging effigies. Capital punishment was abolished in NZ ( and Australia) decades ago. From memory, the last execution in Australia was of Ronald Ryan in the mid- to late-60s. The last execution in my State was pre-WW II (although the statutory abolition for murder was not until the mid-50's (and for treason a couple of decades later).
Piglet, these people would have approved of far less state intervention. Some of them are QAnon followers others are influenced by various conspiracy theories and God alone knows what influences others. Usually I try to understand why people believe what they do, but the hate and anger, the mock trials and hangings are far beyond my understanding.
I know someone who went to the protest last week and there were no hangings, effigies or otherwise. The trial was of "the government", not individuals, and the people giving evidence were describing their vaccine injuries and in one case domestic violence they suffered during the lockdown.
Piglet, sorry I should have worded that more carefully - mock trials and mock hangings. During the occupation of Parliament grounds someone had effigies of the PM and various other people attached to a gibbet, while Destiny Church (Brian Tamaki's demo) had a mock trial.
Gustava there may have been similar protests here with people discussing their own experiences, but both the ones I mentioned were fairly high profile and took place on Parliament grounds. The first one, where the grounds and streets around them were occupied for several weeks, ended in violence, multiple arrests and the burning of the children's playground, the second with the formation of a new political party.
The first day of spring , officially, and I came across a 2 metre carpet python making its way from one neighbour across our deck to the neighbour on the other side.
The first day of spring , officially, and I came across a 2 metre carpet python making its way from one neighbour across our deck to the neighbour on the other side.
I'm am so glad we don't have snakes here - but I just looked it up and it's quite good looking- at a distance.
I've spent a large part of the morning transplanting the rooted cuttings of miniature roses into larger pots in the hope that by the time we have the open day at the community Library some at least may be in bloom. I was warm work as the temperature was around 21C - the warmest for quite a while.
I also took some cuttings of an Iceberg rose while I was pruning it. If they don't strike it doesn't really matter, because it was more out of curiosity to see if they would grow than anything else. According to a gardening article I read some years ago Iceberg was Nz's favourite rose at that time. Given that mine has been in flower through most of winter I can understand that. although I think the flower is a bit boring.
The first day of spring , officially, and I came across a 2 metre carpet python making its way from one neighbour across our deck to the neighbour on the other side.
We have had two blue tongues, mother and child, sunbathing at the front gate for the last three days. They frighten the life out of me until I realise they are not snakes!!
The first day of spring , officially, and I came across a 2 metre carpet python making its way from one neighbour across our deck to the neighbour on the other side.
We have had two blue tongues, mother and child, sunbathing at the front gate for the last three days. They frighten the life out of me until I realise they are not snakes!!
Lucky you - blue tongues are lovely creatures. And they eat funnelwebs!
The first day of spring , officially, and I came across a 2 metre carpet python making its way from one neighbour across our deck to the neighbour on the other side.
We have had two blue tongues, mother and child, sunbathing at the front gate for the last three days. They frighten the life out of me until I realise they are not snakes!!
When we restumped our Brisbane house (the timber in the ground was just mush) in the early 80s blue tongues were living around the depressions. Whenever the workmen found them they called us to move them as they were nervous of them - to my surprise.
Yesterday there was an item on the news that the first godwits had started their long flights from the other side of the world to NZ. I think they arrive at the local estuary sometime in November. Before the quakes wrecked the Cathedral the bells were always rung to welcome, then to farewell them. Apparently local schools are in contact with schools overseas that are on their flight path.
Then, today it was announced on the news that the first albatross chick hatched this year has taken off from Tairoa Heads in Dunedin. She wasn't expected to leave just yet so hasn't been named. She's expected back to lay her eggs in four years time, all going well.
I visited Tairoa Heads over 48 years ago to see the Albatrosses, but at that time there weren't as many of them and the Visitors' centre hadn't been built. I want to go back some time, but I will check out the Godwits when they arrive,and it might make it to their farewell at the end of summer.
I love this time of year, and it gets even better when Papango (blackscaup), which are small black diving ducks, hatch. Their hatchlings are the size of fat sparrows and even when they are only a few days old can dive five feet down in the river.
I think their collective name should be an unexpectedness of Papango because of the way they disappear, then pop up several metres away.
It's in the process of being rebuilt and the bells have been shipped off to the UK to be recast.
I'm not sure whether there is even a hint of a completion date though. It will be easier for the Catholic cathedral as they are building in a different part of town, to where they were, although the start of building was held up by an endangered flock of seagulls colonising the site part of which used to be the swimming pools. I walked past it several years ago and was amused to see someone had added some decoy ducks to bob in the water.
Comments
Indeed - very enjoyable. Although I seem to know more of the answers whenever I watch a 15 year old rerun!
mr curly
On the other hand, I've been having an occasional half glass to work my way through the remains of the bottles under the sink bench. It's taking a long time; unaccustomed I am to lone wine-bibbing (or in this case something stronger) I forget about it for weeks at a time. C
urrently finishing off what's left of Nana's Crème de Cacao, which leaves the remains of the Cointreau.
Cointreau is a delicious addition to cut-up fresh fruit. Let it sit for a few hours before serving.
Yes. I get through quite a lot of "non-alcoholic" beer; legally in Australia this means <0.5%. Which means I can have a social and tasty drink without having adverse effects - and the lower alcohol means also lower price (though not hugely so).
She lives on a hill and is currently not flooded but it is still raining heavily.....
Thinking lots about you all in the southern hemisphere!
Dry right now in Eastern Oz and has been for several weeks; however this could change in the twinkling of an eye
Thunderbunk - if it were in my power you would have all you wanted. I'm collecting some of the excess to use when summer turns the Port Hill brown and my roses are gasping.
The top of both the North and South islands were not as fortunate. I watched the news footage on Stuff, which is the non paywalled news site with local reporters throughout the country, and was horrified. I don't know the far north very well, but Nelson and Blenheim, at the top of the South I do know. They were both very badly affected. Someone likened the soil washing down a hillside in Nelson as flowing like yoghurt. In hilly areas the roads turned into rivers.
The most chilling announcement was one from Civil Defence and suggested people hold onto the sandbags they had been issued as there could be a repeat of the rain and wind in coming weeks.
On 9 August I marked 10 years since the cardiologist uttered the immortal words "Actually, Mr Curly, your cardiac arteries are ratshit." He suspected I had pericarditis, but instead proceeded to put stents in several places.
Like LKK, feeling fit and well. And remembering our dear friend Lothlorian, who was very thoughtful to me at that time.
mr curly
Little flooding in Wellington because so much is on hills. — which have been chopped and shaped in order to put houses everywhere that persistent heavy rain has soaked in and caused innumerable slips, blocking roads and sometimes removing the earth that a house has been sitting securely on for ten years or eighty.
Last week on the Coromandel, where our holiday bach is, every road between towns was blocked by slips. On our local Facebook group page there was a message 'Grant is driving as far as Simpson's Beach after work and walking round the slip for me to pick him up — anyone else coming home from Whitianga want to join us?'
* there was a march on Parliament by self appointed Bishop, Brian Tamaki and his supporters who staged some kind of trial of various politicians and their handling of the pandemic. They are also trying to form a coalition political party of the various groups who oppose measure taken to mitigate the the effects of covid. This coalition would have people standing for Parliament in next year's General Election. At least they are open about their allegiances, unlike some of those standing in local body elections, who have a more stealthy approach.
On the way to the hospital I was thrombolysed, described as draino for the arteries. There was too much blockage for stents and so I had CABG.
About three years ago I asked the doctor how much my heart had been damaged and he said there was no permanent damage. He also said I'd be good for another 10 years. That reminded me of when a doctor said to my son at his valve replacement at 17 that he'd be good for another 40 years. The idea of dying at 57 got to him.
On the way to the hospital I was thrombolysed, described as draino for the arteries. There was too much blockage for stents and so I had CABG.
About three years ago I asked the doctor how much my heart had been damaged and he said there was no permanent damage. He also said I'd be good for another 10 years. That reminded me of when a doctor said to my son at his valve replacement at 17 that he'd be good for another 40 years. The idea of dying at 57 got to him.
I don't understand them either.
I think Huia meant hanging effigies. Capital punishment was abolished in NZ ( and Australia) decades ago. From memory, the last execution in Australia was of Ronald Ryan in the mid- to late-60s. The last execution in my State was pre-WW II (although the statutory abolition for murder was not until the mid-50's (and for treason a couple of decades later).
I know someone who went to the protest last week and there were no hangings, effigies or otherwise. The trial was of "the government", not individuals, and the people giving evidence were describing their vaccine injuries and in one case domestic violence they suffered during the lockdown.
Gustava there may have been similar protests here with people discussing their own experiences, but both the ones I mentioned were fairly high profile and took place on Parliament grounds. The first one, where the grounds and streets around them were occupied for several weeks, ended in violence, multiple arrests and the burning of the children's playground, the second with the formation of a new political party.
I've spent a large part of the morning transplanting the rooted cuttings of miniature roses into larger pots in the hope that by the time we have the open day at the community Library some at least may be in bloom. I was warm work as the temperature was around 21C - the warmest for quite a while.
I also took some cuttings of an Iceberg rose while I was pruning it. If they don't strike it doesn't really matter, because it was more out of curiosity to see if they would grow than anything else. According to a gardening article I read some years ago Iceberg was Nz's favourite rose at that time. Given that mine has been in flower through most of winter I can understand that. although I think the flower is a bit boring.
Carpet python has no bulges.
Good!
We have had two blue tongues, mother and child, sunbathing at the front gate for the last three days. They frighten the life out of me until I realise they are not snakes!!
Lucky you - blue tongues are lovely creatures. And they eat funnelwebs!
When we restumped our Brisbane house (the timber in the ground was just mush) in the early 80s blue tongues were living around the depressions. Whenever the workmen found them they called us to move them as they were nervous of them - to my surprise.
Then, today it was announced on the news that the first albatross chick hatched this year has taken off from Tairoa Heads in Dunedin. She wasn't expected to leave just yet so hasn't been named. She's expected back to lay her eggs in four years time, all going well.
I visited Tairoa Heads over 48 years ago to see the Albatrosses, but at that time there weren't as many of them and the Visitors' centre hadn't been built. I want to go back some time, but I will check out the Godwits when they arrive,and it might make it to their farewell at the end of summer.
I love this time of year, and it gets even better when Papango (blackscaup), which are small black diving ducks, hatch. Their hatchlings are the size of fat sparrows and even when they are only a few days old can dive five feet down in the river.
I think their collective name should be an unexpectedness of Papango because of the way they disappear, then pop up several metres away.
Code fixed - Piglet, AS host [/s]
I'm not sure whether there is even a hint of a completion date though. It will be easier for the Catholic cathedral as they are building in a different part of town, to where they were, although the start of building was held up by an endangered flock of seagulls colonising the site part of which used to be the swimming pools. I walked past it several years ago and was amused to see someone had added some decoy ducks to bob in the water.