Ōtepoti - don’t forget, free buses to and from George street markets today (Saturday). Go enjoy the vibe.

Also the village was packed this morning too with the Masters half marathon and the waka ama . We, the village, are not particularly well set up for big events (need more bike parking and options other than cars to get here) but I hope the cafe and dairy are getting a boost.

Brilliant to see town absolutely packed for the George Street market! I hope that it’s massively successful

Yup - what Hannah says.

I'm finding Mansfield Park so much slower than Sense and Sensibility and I'm not loving it quite as much. Austen aficionados, I'm here for your MP opinions and thoughts..

Such a rich text! www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

I went to a uni ecology field camp last night to talk about our work. so lovely to be there and see old colleagues but the relief that I was not in charge of the logistics, the food or the student’s learning was surprising massive.

@apocalypseelf.bsky.social Happy Birthday P!

New rocky fishway opens at Kāpiti Coast stream www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

Tomorrow i'm off to chat to ecology students at a field camp about co-developing environmental plans. Such a good way to start a week.

A small girl is learning to ride her bike without stabilizers on the school tennis court, cheered on by Mum and a baby sibling in a pram.

It’s the first deck-sofa time we have had in weeks and the flowers are out so please forgive me yet another small one picture

All the clashing colours. And a tiny and shiny small one.

The absolute joy of watching @alisonwriting.bsky.social turn into a nature nerd is very real!

This, from the High Commissioner (who happens to be a childhood friend, cos the world is small) explains some of the UK passport faff. www.instagram.com/rnznewzealan...

Not sure what happened at the start of that sentence. theconversation.com/do-trees-pre... www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609... Key point from Dr Andrew Stolte: “Removing trees could contribute, but can I point my finger and say this caused it? No... It’s a lot of factors adding up.”

What seems don't quite articulate is tree roots maintain slope stability for many years post felling. When I was doing reveg work in pine cutover we work on a 5-7 year time frame for maximum slope instability as roots rot out and create gaps for water ingress. Macrocarpa would last much longer.

Every single booth and assistant at the local post office is helping folks with accents like mine send incredibly precious documents to the UK for new passports. There must have been 6 of us in the 45 minutes it took me to get it organised

I’ve a colleague who is banding bats this week, and they caught 82 bats last night!! Getting the morning bat-gossip from the field is Such A Joy.

Saw: An old colleague who was going to have tea with one of my neighbours - a joy The scruffy baby matuku moana/white faced heron up in a tree. Still scruffy, still cross. The man with the out of control dogs who, last time, told me to "get fucked, bitch" when his dogs harassed the small one.

Who's your girl, folks? I'm on team Margaret-Maree, cos I slept next to her nest one night, many years ago.

One of my best friend's sisters moved from Lagos to Saskatoon a few years ago. They are thriving but there's a few weeks in winter when it's -32 centigrade and we get pictures of her Lagos-raised-kids heading to school and uni wearing basically all the clothes, and we all laugh a lot.

Meeting so long that even my eyes lost the ability to focus. It is, however, such a joy to watch my smart, kind and supportive colleagues presenting their brilliant work and backing each other up.

There is a scruffy baby white faced heron in the trees on the dog-walking hill and we’re all hoping that they are nesting there!

Delighted with self that I didn't say "bugger it, cheese sammie for supper"but instead had: Baked crispy chickpeas (1/2 can leftover from last week) tomato couscous salad with garden greens and fridge pickles Large glass of ice cold elderflower cordial Yoghurt with a swirl of homemade jam.

I did not rest up enough this weekend, but hung out with friends instead. And I didn’t sleep well (also my fault) so this week is going to be brutal.

I just brought shoes without crying! This is basically unprecedented.

I went to drop some things at a colleague’s house last night and her daughters: Told me many many facts about camels Insisted I watch their backflips Handed me cats to cuddle. such joyful chaos. It was the best.

It was never about the money, but here we have the Minister’s rates capping proposal exposed as the cynical sloganeering that it is.

I have initiated the “getting through no energy weeks” protocol including Bowling Club supper delivered to the village tonight. the wheels don’t usually fall off this close to the new year and a holiday but here we are.

Was that alert only Dunedin?

Freshwater is just saltwater manqué, right?

People who's dogs are not under their control are exhausting. If you can't recall your dog, pop them on a lead when you see another dog on a lead. Really, it's that simple.

My face when my work bestie (still on holiday) tells me that she is off to sea to see albatross and cake pigeons this afternoon. And yes, that spelling is on purpose and yes, I do know.

It’s soft drizzle here with amazing morning light and my sunflowers are starting to flower. We got through the first week of work folks. How are you celebrating?

I live in hope that this list is now too long for the Whenua Hou freezer

Did you know octopuses have three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood. Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps to the rest of the body. The one systemic heart actually stops when they swim, meaning they prefer crawling. 🌊🐙🦑🧪

The dog has a clean bill of health from the vets and us vaccinated for the year (in this house we very much believe in vaccines) and I have some rare native broom seedlings ( in this house we also believe in plants). So the day is not a complete bust.

Sesame fried seitan with a cucumber salad, then the best ice cream left over from Christmas

We had all the windows open at work today as none of us are yet used to being inside and sitting down all day

This article is so worth your time

Happy new year, from me, the small one, the basically endless birdsong and my beloved garden.

Speaking of housing, if anyone in Dunedin knows of a self-contained unit that's: -close to public transit -under $500pw -ideally pet-friendly (no current pet, but I'd like to get a dog) -quiet, warm and fairly low maintenance I'm looking, and would love something that works long-term.

Day spent reading a very enjoyable mystery. The only slight bum note was that I knew on page 1 that the author isn't British, despite it being set in England. "Our brave boys of the RAF had valiantly defended the homeland" will just not pass and I can't for the life of me say why.

I can't quite face the room of doom or the cupboard of despair, but I did start on the shelf of unhappiness so we're heading in the right direction.

Meri kirihimete folks. Have a restful and peaceful day.

I just had a play on the newest version of the e-trike and it was so much better for my body. The handlebars can be adjusted so that they are closer to my body so easier for my dodgy shoulders and elbows. I am sold, and will be starting a new savings account to bring one home next spring!

My, slightly damp, small one

The birdsong this morning was pealing through the trees and the rain. special mention needs to go to the chickens up the road who were adding some deep base notes and, it seems, some very exciting eggs, to the medley.