I am generally a supporter of AT but they're not coping with the chaos wrought by Brian Tamaki and his goons.

Hard to believe it's 40 years since the Challenger disaster. Such an awful event, but the inquiry was fascinating and illuminating.

The current times should be a golden age for protest songs. Onya Bruce.

The Torbay Poetry Stand is bringing it strong today:

FFS, MetService have changed their Android widget to be primarily an advert, with a tiny bit of weather content on the side.

I keep my work internet activity as separate as I can from my personal web activity (separate browser instances, logged into separate Google accounts). Why, then, am I seeing adverts in my personal Meta feeds for things I only searched on a work account?

Not generally what you'd expect to see in a Salvation Army op shop window.

Hope my friends around the motu stay safe in this weather. Other than a slightly soggy dogwalk this morning, things aren't too bad in Tāmaki Makaurau.

One minute after my meeting ended the power went out.

In any sane world, that letter from Trump to Norway would be enough for him to be immediately removed from power. I doubt that even the Democrats will say anything substantial about it. We're all fucked.

New year, new beers. Our first episode of the year is live! The centrepiece is a great interview by Michael - he chatted to Joe Emans from Three Sisters Brewing in Taranaki about their successful crowdfunding and opening of a new bar in Wellington. linktr.ee/third.pint.t...

I spent the day judging the BBQ competition at the Kumeu classic car show. Great fun with a good bunch of people. We have some seriously good BBQ cooks in Aotearoa. This is my judging placemat from the ribs round, with the identifying entry numbers scrubbed out. Sleepy now.

I'm judging BBQ at what must be bogan Disneyland: the Kumeu classic car show.

I intend to write more this year. If I were to publish it, where should it be? I understand that Substack is a bit dodgy.

Girding my loins (well, my stomach, which is reasonably close) for a day of BBQ judging tomorrow. Much meat shall be eaten.

If an Olympic gold medal winner gives me their medal, I don't become an Olympic champion. That's not how it works. Same thing with Nobel Peace Prizes.

The humidity in Tāmaki Makurau is seriously sapping my productivity. Windows open, fan and evaporative cooler on, and I'm still sweating like a very sweaty thing. Should have gone into the office today.

This is insane. 'Sheer panic': Dual-citizenship Brits have to get UK passport to return www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Tonight was my 13th plasma donation and 18th in total since NZ Blood lifted the Mad Cow restrictions. The new NZ Blood donation centre on the Shore was celebrating its 100th plasma donation since opening late last year. It's really easy and valuable. Cmon, give an armful.

First day back "on the tools" and feeling thankful that I wrote myself a "This is what you need to be doing" document and attached it to a calendar invite for 8am. Equally thankful for coffee after an interrupted sleep due to a whining pooch.

I want to leave my home office and go to bed, but the dog is sprawled out behind my chair and is clearly dreaming, based on the yelps and leg twitches. Guess I'm sleeping in my office chair tonight.

I was asked for my UK National Insurance number on a call (to my old pension provider in the UK) and by some miracle that 9 digit code is still lodged in my brain. I haven't needed it for nearly 20 years. Yet I often can't remember why I walked into a room.

I've reached the "having to wear jandles to light the smoker coz the deck is to hot to walk on barefoot" stage of the summer.

Trying out a pizza stone on the BBQ. Seems to work OK.

This year will be our 19th in Auckland, which is the longest I've ever spent in one city in my life. I left my home town at 18 to go to uni, then spent 15 years working in London (with a two year interlude in Wellington/Sydney). I guess I'm a proper Aucklander.

One of my jobs these holidays was to sort through my Cable Drawer. A large amount of stuff is now destined for e-waste, but I also re-discovered a box which contained a bunch of USB sticks and, randomly, my old D&D dice. Expect more work decisions to be made on the result of a D20 roll this year.

Ten years ago today David Bowie released Blackstar. Two days later he was gone, and the End Times began.

I just posted a video of me drinking a beer (which I was sent for free) while wearing boxing gloves, to the soundtrack of "Eye of the Tiger". Yes, I have no shame. #beerfluencer

So many of my friends (and I include acquaintances from the socials) are in Japan at the moment. I am very jealous.

Yesterday I did my first gym workout for the year, and it was a pretty tough one. Today I spent the afternoon chopping down and trimming a whole heap of bamboo in the garden. Tomorrow I do not expect my body to work.

For the #cocktailhour tonight we have the French 75

What’s everyone getting sworn in on? Has to be The Good Beer Guide.

Mai Tai O'clock. I might have to institute the Cocktail Hour in 2026, especially as I got a new cocktail book for Christmas (The Cocktail Codex).

Our poor doggo was spooked by loud fireworks from the neighbours at midnight, and spent an hour crying outside our bedroom door in the middle of the night. Hence my level of spoons today is limited.

Happy New Year everyone. Fingers crossed for a better 2026.

Early NYE dinner: glazed salmon with okonomiyaki toppings, plus a mocha pav. Not pictured: dauphinoise spuds and peas with the salmon. 🍽️

How I'm walking out of 2025

Went to see the new Avatar movie tonight. It was my son's request for his birthday. It's not as awful as the reviews might suggest, but it could easily have been an hour shorter. The dialogue is clunky as hell and some bits make no sense but it is entertaining.

I love tūī, but I could happily wring the neck of the little motherfucker in our neighbourhood who has decided that the dawn chorus starts at 4.30am.

It was really nice to have a houseful on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but it has been delightful to have a quiet people-free day today. I've walked the dog and done a limited supermarket shop, very little else.

While dealing with a family drama on the phone (mum left a bag containing dad's medication and their devices in an Uber) the dog snuck in and ate my cheese off my plate. Way to undo a good day, Universe. Fuck you.

Meri Kirihimete! Merry Christmas to one and all. I hope you all manage to find some joy somewhere in the day.

Sat on the deck listening to crickets chirping and tūi calling, plus laughter from one of the neighbouring houses. Someone else has spoiled the mood by putting on loud shitty dance music.

My own rough experience last year reminded me that things can go off the rails for many people at this time of year. Be ready to help out, and be ready to hear "Actually, it was a bit shit" in answer to your cheery "So did you have a good Christmas?".

Went to Galbraith's this afternoon for our traditional Christmas Eve drinks. We've been doing the same thing for sixteen years. Big crowd today, and my dad was able to make it. Good bunch of people.

Yay, the Christmas salmon has been delivered. All systems go.

I've really loved working on this podcast with Michael this year. I hope people have enjoyed listening to it. If you need something to listen to over the Christmas break, there are about 18 episodes to work through.

Survived the grocery shop....

Survived my final gym session before Christmas without being Whammed. However, tomorrow I have to do the grocery shopping. I don't rate my chances. #Whammageddon

Timesheet done, invoice sent, out-of-office on, document reminding me what my job is written and attached to a calendar reminder for 13th January. Time for a beer, methinks.