Been learning to do cryptic crossword clues lately, and Google AI has been a really big help 👍

I've eaten breakfast every day for the last 3 weeks, the first time I've done that since I was at primary school 30ish years ago. Gotta say, it's pretty weird eating when you're not properly awake yet. Not sure I'm a fan.

It's Kāpiti Hot Chocolate Competition time! Tried the Arancia al Cioccolato from Passo first up. It was perfect, 10/10. Italian dark hot choc w/ orange & green cardamom, topped w/ cinnamon cream, candied orange, dehydrated orange, pistachio & almond tuile, and pistachio crumb. #KapitiHotChoc2026

My little ray of sunshine

Hurricanes Poua Aupiki winning streak continues! Leeesssssgggooo Ladies!!!!!

We won! 45-30 to the Poua against a Blues team absolutely stacked with Black Ferns. Glorious victory, it truly is the Hurricanes' year! #SuperRugbyAupiki

I've been a Poua season ticket holder every year since the start. This season is the best I've seen us play I reckon. To beat the Manawa last week and be ahead of the Blues 23-15 at halftime today? Bloody brilliant. #SuperRugbyAupiki

Check out the latest (June 27) episode of Alternative Jewish Voices, where you can hear the first half of an interview with me. My bit starts 20 mins into this podcast, and goes for about 10 minutes. accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcas...

Earthquake?

We did it!

All Whites are over, now it's time for Super Rugby Aupiki. Come on the Poua, time for our first win of the season!

Strikes me that one doesn't have to think Jeremy Corbyn was right about everything (I don't) to realise that the people who successfully white anted and replaced him have by now been proven to be wrong about pretty close to everything and everyone that matters.

Lost by 3 points but that was a much improved second half. If we can bring that energy from the start of a game we're in with a good shot at causing some upsets this season. Go the Poua! #SuperRugbyAupiki

Massively improved Poua performance since the break. Great to see! #SuperRugbyAupiki

Elinor-Plum King, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Hannah King. Three of Matatū's best so far today all ex-Poua players. Wish we could hold onto our talent. #SuperRugbyAupiki

First home game of the season for the Poua, warming up ahead of the battle with Matatū. 15 mins to go, can't wait!

I had season tickets for the early Super seasons at Athletic Park where expecting the unexpected was the best we could hope for. I've supported them through the Cake Tin years, part of ever shrinking crowds. To be there for tonight's performance means everything. Love the Canes.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

We played better in that first half than we did in our dominant win in the semifinal, against a much better team. Now we've just got to keep it up in the second half. Come on the Hurricanes!

Ruben scoring tries, DMac having a mare, there's your AB 10 decision sorted #HURvCHI

Bagpiper outside the Cake Tin playing Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi. Not bad! Go the Hurricanes!

Great to see the predatory delay tactics have their final victory today. I hope those responsible celebrate every injury on a slippery Lambton Quay tile, every late bus due to Courtenay Place congestion, and every restaurant they can't get into due to a lack of outdoor seating, just as much.

Got an A for my final major Masters of Public Management assignment, a 4000-odd word mini thesis. Stoked with that! Looked at how public service structures, political influence and inertia prevent a shift from focusing on delivering outputs to achieving outcomes.

It's me, on a podcast. Do I make any sense? Am I worth listening to? There's only one way to find out!

HBO Max say no timeline on getting a Samsung app, even though they already have one in other countries.

For anyone thinking about signing up to HBO Max now it's out in NZ, important to know that there's currently no app available for Samsung TVs, so you'll need to plug in a laptop or use a Chromecast if you want to watch it on your TV. Pretty shit tbh

If you missed out on tickets to the Super Rugby final, there's another Hurricanes team playing on Sunday in Upper Hutt that could really use your support! Entry is free if you're happy to stand, or $15 to get a seat hurricanes.flicket.co.nz/events/fdb21...

What a season for Eli Just! Fantastic in Scotland, and phenomenal in his first ever World Cup game today. Let's go All Whites!

I had access to tickets an hour before public sale (because I went last week) and as I was trying to find 7 consecutive seats I could see the gaps all around disappearing quickly. So glad I got them!

Got my tickets to the Super Rugby final on Saturday, then heading to the Poua's first home game of the season on Sunday - hopefully will be a great weekend to be a Hurricanes fan

Depressing start to the tournament. Lost the game in the field. Congrats to the Windies. #NZvWI

Our catching has been absolutely atrocious all day. Is that 6 dropped catches now? All but one pretty straightforward. No way we'll have a shot of retaining the title if we keep playing like this. Might not even make it out of the group stage. #NZvWI

Damn, pitching outside the line from Melie. We really needed that breakthrough. Got to pick up a wicket soon, preferably Hayley Matthews, who's looking as dangerous as ever.

What a game, what a win! Bring on next week, bring on the Chiefs! Let's go Hurricanes!

Great start from the Poua in the season opener! So close to a try inside four mins against the defending champions. Would be nice for both our Super Rugby teams to beat the Blues in one day! #SuperRugbyAupiki

Someone really doesn't want me to get out of bed this morning

I've just handed in my last assignment for my Masters of Public Management through Victoria University of Wellington. 26 years ago I dropped out of school, School Cert my highest qualification. I never thought I'd have any sort of university qualification, let alone a Masters.

Some good news for a change - our organising worked, a number of councillors changed their minds and this motion was defeated 10-1, with even the councillor that seconded the motion seeing the writing on the wall and voting against it.

Our press release. 1 of 2.

This is a terrible response to black people having their homes torched by roaming bands of masked racists, from anyone, let alone a sitting New Zealand MP Crossposted with @openvibe.social

Kāpiti people: The Council debate on "reviewing" Kāpiti's climate emergency declaration is tomorrow Thursday. If you'd like to speak in the public speaking time (starting 9.30am), you need to register by midday today (Wed) by emailing [email protected] (further details below) 1/2

This one from @emilywrites.co.nz really hurts and makes me very VERY angry. Parents fined $30 a day for having unwell, dying, or disabled kids. www.emilywrites.co.nz/parents-fine...

Started a new job today. Turns out in addition to the friend/ex-colleague I already knew was in my new team, I have two more ex-colleagues in the team too. The Wellington public sector comms merry-go-round is too real eh.

Pretty decent result for the All Whites, defence held strong for basically the whole game. Found it difficult to keep the ball and move forward but that's to be expected against a vastly superior England. Disappointed the TVNZ coverage doesn't include any post-match interviews!

My childhood dream was to host a talkback show on Sports Roundup and to commentator on cricket.

Kāpiti Coast District Council are considering a motion at their next meeting that could see them withdraw their declaration of a climate emergency. I wrote to the Mayor and my Ward and Districtwide councillors this afternoon to ask them to stand strong for the climate and vote this down.

Someone sitting near me on the train is talking about a friend (or child?) called Asher and I'm really not used to hearing people say my name when they're not talking about me eh, it's uncommon enough that it almost never happens. Involuntarily looking up every time she says it.

Great win from the Hurricanes, utterly dominant. Bring on next week and the semi final! I'll be there, can't wait

Let's go finals footy! Up the Hurricanes!

Tūī convention on our new fence