This turned up in today's Steam Discovery Queue: I Am Jesus Christ - "Walk in the footsteps of Jesus in this immersive first-person retelling of His life..." Think I'll pass, 10% introductory discount not withstanding... store.steampowered.com/app/1198970/...

Slightly livelier visit to North City than usual.

Found a stash of old SPI wargames online, including Mech War '77: As a background to this game, a future history was written postulating a Soviet attack on the NATO forces in Germany. Derived from this history are eight scenarios.... Man, I feel old...

This hero was my mum’s GP. 💪

Up earlier than I'd like for a Saturday to watch Eastercon Iridescence programme items from the UK!

Turned up in my Steam discovery queue: Non-Euclidean Design - "Design your home in the non-Euclidean world." What's the worst that could happen? store.steampowered.com/app/3474670/...

Season finale of Paradise season 2: whoa...

At Poirurua Park with @aeshna.bsky.social to see Wellington Phoenix women vs Western Sydney Wanderers. Bit damp out...

Wow. Six years already? Been a pretty mad six years...

Watching Spider-Man: Homecoming. Suddenly thought that the hotel on screen looked like the hotel I stayed in in Atlanta. Looked up filming locations and, yep, they include the Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Center. Place was clearly more memorable than I realized!

Heh. This IranianTours video from 7 months ago about visiting Kharg Island just turned up in my YouTube feed. I guess I have been watching a lot of videos about how many people may be heading there soon... www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyf8...

Be afraid, be very afraid - Steam Sale on. OTOH, it includes Tabletop Simulator which would provide access to all those converted SPI wargames. Think I'll have to give it a try!

Went to the Lantern Festival display at the Wellington Botanic Gardens with @aeshna.bsky.social

Catching up on Arsenal-Everton highlights. Probably best for my blood pressure I wasn't following live but better two late than too late! Does the second count as scoring from a corner (just an Everton one)? Watching the reaction videos is also bringing home the difference a good microphone makes!

Recently discovered an SPI wargames group on Facebook, reawakening my fascination. Have since also discovered scans of old issues of Strategy and Tactics(c/w game maps and counters), a myriad of SPI game modules for Vassal and Tabletop Simulator (latter has a VR mode!). I think I may be doomed.

Just seen the season finale of Blue Murder Motel. Didn't think it was as good as Brokenwood Mysteries but it does fill that Kiwi As cosy murder mystery gap while waiting for the next season. Do wonder how the murder rates in Brokenwood and Mōwai Bay compare with NZ averages though :-)

Just seen the last episode of Renegade Nell. Damn it, I was enjoying that!

Anyone know what the Ukrainian for "What goes around, comes around" is?

Just discovered Renegade Nell on Disney+ and loving it so far. Shame it only ran for one season.

Quite possibly the first time I've wished I'd been at a cricket match.... New Zealand players in hysterics at sped-up national anthem sports.yahoo.com/articles/wat...

Great work by the Facebook algorithms!

Sunset last night at a friend's place in Kelson.

At the Hnry Stadium with @aeshna.bsky.social for Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney. We're here courtesy of free tickets handed out as an apology for last week's 5-0 Los to Auckland. Pre-match songs included Why Does Love So This To Me? What could possibly go wrong?

PSA: A collection of all three titles in the Three-Body Problem/Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is in today Amazon UK Kindle Deal of the Day sale at GDP2.89. www.amazon.co.uk/Remembrance-...

So, Iron Maiden are doing a 50th anniversary tour gig in Auckland on 7 November. Guess we have an outer limit for our visit IKEA then!

Attempted intrusion by Ollie! Guess he's allowed out now.

Spotted this sticker (sadly, no fridge magnets) in a Wellie Collective store this evening. Wonder if Ea-nāṣir had any idea people would still be talking about him some 3,776 years later. Reminds me of that games industry quote: "Late is just for a little while. Suck is forever."

At the Cavern Club with @aeshna.bsky.social for A Complete Idiot's Guide to Great Britain, part of the Fringe programme. Apparently based on having done the UK nationality test so this should bring back fun memories for me!

Just caught opener for Paradise season 2. Good start...

45 minutes at station, on third train attempting to get home. Metlink is so Donald Ducked tonight (lot of vague apologies for an "operational error"), it's starting to remind me of UK trains.

We recently had the rear garden terraces cleared and looks like someone came to explore. Decided demanding of attention and has what looks like a biro ink stain. According to the neighbours at the back, her name is Snuggles and she lives across the road from them!

Finished The Regicide Report, the final Laundry Files novel - enjoyed it a lot. The New Management books were OK but I've missed Bob and Mo. Scary how long the series has been running!

Back on the waterfront again with @aeshna.bsky.social for New Year festivities, after last night's drumming, dragon dance and fireworks. Think we got the last two portions of chicken curry nasi lemak at the Malaysian stall.

Ooh... Sagradia Familia completed: Sidetrip to Barcelona on our next European trip! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Finally got round to seeing Peacemaker season 2: glorious, demented fun! Gutted about there being no form plans for a third season!

Happy New Year! Looking forward to weekend celebrations in Wellington.

Judging from the news, we got off very lightly with our two-minute power outage. With all the warnings and train cancellations, going to be a work from home day. So, anyone have any recs for a domestic UPS, including use with a Synology NAS?

Just had a brief power outage in Tawa. Not entirely unexpected given the "lively" weather outside... Think the gardening guys may have been optimistic about starting tomorrow!

The neighborhood is down one cicada. We were on the deck talking to someone about quotes for garden work when this blackbird landed in front of us and proceeded to munch on its insect snack. #birds

Seen a great comment about Ratcliffe's UK immigration/colonisation comments: "It's representation without taxation"!

Hmm... Elon Musk wants to have a mass driver on the moon. Does he also have a fluffy white cat or has he just been reading Heinlein? techcrunch.com/2026/02/12/m...

Neighborhood cat appears to be vexed by the cicadas.

What?! Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is 40 years old?!!!

You know, for the first time ever, I feel inclined to check out a Superbowl halftime show!

Another cicada, spotted (more accurately, heard) near the local New World. Unhelpful sod stopped clicking/buzzing as soon as I hit the video button on my phone!

Well, talk about a contrast between the Wellington Phoenix women's and men's teams!

Ooh... Chaosium Con in Wellington 21-22 November. Yeah, think I'll be going! www.chaosium.com/blogsave-the...

Waitangi Day in Te Rauparaha Park in Poirurua with @aeshna.bsky.social. Huh. Autocorrect tried to change Poirurua to Peoria!

@aeshna.bsky.social spotted a newly emerged cicada struggling with high winds so moved it to a sheltered spot behind the fence.