If I was a journalist I would have also mentioned how funding for wilding pine control was cut by two thirds by the same government in 2023/24. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

The Cuban revolution drove the US gangsters out of Cuba, now Trump and his crooked mates are lining up to come back in. Trump hotels and casinos everywhere will be the plan.

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/act-leade... Only corrects it after he gets caught. Will he be treated the same as Michael Wood or will Seymour get away with it like he did his links with Tim Jago? #nzpol

This grift has been going on forever: Nat MP owns BUT DOES NOT LIVE IN Wellington apartment. Nat MP RENTS their apartment to ACT MP (who ALSO owns but does not live in a Wellington apartment) Nat MP rents NZF MP's Wellington apartment. All claim $1000/wk allowance while bashing beneficiaries.

All the political news this week has been absolute garbage. It feels overwhelming and that’s on purpose. So it’s more important to seek out the people and causes that give you hope. And give them your time, money and attention. It can be better. We just have to work together.

Thanks to guvmint mouthpiece Benedict Collins we learn that Willis delivered a note to Press Gallery saying she regrets using the “win the Lotto” phrase. Hey she damn well doesn’t get away with that. Let’s call her Nicola Lotto Willis everywhere, all the time. Today’s Ruthenasia. Rotten person.

A quote for our times!

Don’t know if it’s the chilling Nicola/unemployment/oil crisis or what but both the popular cafe and our local supermarket were much quieter than usual this morning. And it was a nice morning to be out.

Interesting report from the frontline in Ukraine showing drone warfare realities. x.com/mylovanov/st...

These stupid, stupid men will be the death of us.

Interesting feedback from a visitor to Ōtautahi this weekend. Te Pae is a very good conference centre, they really enjoyed The Monday Room and Google Maps had them walking through Te Kaha! Plus Tūranga is still a visitor destination.

Just had a lovely catchup with a cousin. She is so relieved her newly graduated scientist son has a well paid job after months of rejections. I guess she was afraid he’d head to Australia.

Sneaking a giant screen into the flagshagger march is one of the funniest things @ledbydonkeys.org have ever done. "STAY HYDRATED" 😂🤣😂

Perfect day for gardening in Ōtautahi. Not too hot, no wind. The autumn cleanup continues. Vege garden is getting close to being put to bed. Only problem is my back - after about three hours it says enough.

Family in Auckland had what appears to be a vampire movie shot in their street the other day. Their house and garage featured in the action including my sister in law’s impressive preserves cupboard. Whether it survives the cutting floor or not 🤷‍♂️

Overheard conversation this morning. Woman says The Tannery is going solar, cool eh. Her friend says no it’s very environmentally bad, panels have to be replaced after 9 years! She pushes back, no with the new ones they last much longer. It’s a fertile field for liars like Seymour isn’t it.

Just spent the morning hanging with my girls and it was the best. Shopping at The Tannery, brunch and op shopping in Opawa. Now home and blasting Annie Lennox and eating macarons. Mother is having the best day early day.

Here’s a poem called ‘Life of a Naturalist’.

Never met Tony Peters, don’t know who he is, but a million years ago on Facebook he posted this and I don’t think anyone’s ever put it better.

Escaped the fog and greyness around Christchurch and went to Castle Hill and had a picnic lunch at Cass station. Beautiful inland.

No wonder I blimmin froze hanging washing on the deck. It’s 7.5 in Ōtautahi at 11am this morning. Greyish, mistyish and dampish. Let’s call it Luxon weather.

Noooooooo!!!!

Christchurch you beauty, what a lovely day. Just back from a lightly boozy lunch with friends. Sitting on a sunny deck being serenaded by bellbirds and grey warblers. Bliss.

My cartoon for Friday's Metro (about the possibility of drone attacks on our wind farms. But you knew that.)

Mike Luckovich

If TVNZ was feeling bitchy they would play any interview with Winston Peters with subtitles. The old bloke just garbles.

When you look at video of the Golders Green knife attacker being tasered and arrested you see him being kicked in the head multiple times by police as he lies on the ground helpless. BBC and Guardian don’t bother to report that fact. Is it just normal arresting technique now?

Horrible. Best thing is to document it, report to council and police. If they’re not on site cleaning it same day or next, start cleaning it yourself and report to media. Zero tolerance in children’s spaces.Perps want it to be seen so the sooner it disappears. www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

In today’s NZ Herald

Nothing like using small, battery powered hand tools in the garden to create an illusion of neatness. Plus lavender and thyme, nice smells.

Beginner surfer dude practicing staying upright on a perfect morning at Sumner. Christchurch is so lucky. Everyone out walking or biking, dogs, babies, grandkids, friends walking and gossiping, perfection.

Excellent caricatures by @martje.bsky.social

Went to the Avebury House market this morning. You can have a nice time, especially if you’re into skulls and toys.

Immigration does not drive down wages, employers do.

Roses and rosemary for remembrance.

Tonight’s family dinner indulgence - all we have to bring is a bottle of wine.

Here’s to all the folk working their butts off in Christchurch this weekend in hospo, transport, security etc.

How quick the Coalition crew is to descend on the new stadium opening. Compare and contrast with their almost total disinterest in storm affected Wellington or any other climate affected disaster.

Luxon is having his Taco moment. Is it Laco or Caco? Gutless any way. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

Library/cafe/supermarket run this morning. Disinterested service/lovely smiling service/packed the bags in a jumble service. Am I a fussy old cow?

In today’s NZ Herald

J is a bit pissy with TVNZ+! “We are being used as your beta testers not your customers! Fix it!”

This Is Just To Say I have turned off the AI features that were in the update and which you were probably hoping to monetize Fuck you they were stupid so unnecessary and so annoying

J is on a kitchen run today. First up curried sausage casserole for dinner. House smells divine. Now making tomato and apple chutney. Smells are intense.

I’d like to electrify our politicians pls as a priority. Shock them into positive actions around climate change and three waters.

Over the past ten years NZ has averaged 55.9 days annually under a State of Emergency each year, and 66.6 days over the last five. In the 10 years prior to this, NZ averaged only 13.4 days per year. Consider the implications of central government continuing to refuse to believe in climate change.

In today’s Weekend Herald

From today's @financialtimes.com #straitofhormuz #blockade

Now I know why we have a bellbird about. Kowhai out the front is in flower. Seems incredibly early.

Off to Penny Lane this morning to collect a belated Christmas present. The Cecilia Bartoli was a little bonus. It is a beautiful day.