What Are The Odds?

You go walking along the Wellington waterfront and... end up on the 6 o'clock news on TV.

Apparently not so low. Check the last interviewee on http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1842042 . Ah yes, that's me. Now I must admit this is at least my second performance on the biggish screen. I remember my primary school class being used as in the opening to Nice One Stu - a popular 1970s, kids after school TV programme in NZ.

Fortunately I suspect the video clip will be archived fairly soon. But it's good to know that in little 'ol NZ it's not that hard to end up in the media:)

From a recent trip to India

In Mumbai an elephant is stuck in a traffic jam while a young woman wearing dirt covered rags sits on a pile of rubbish and combs her hair, in another world she could be a model. In the far reaches of a rough shop in Agra sits a derelict life size wooden statue of a Hindu god, intricately carved, old and dirty, why isn't it out the front in place of the tacky tourist baubles? On the road to Delhi a camel pulls a cart in the early morning while just off the road men squat and presumably undertake morning ablutions. In Bangalore high technology campuses with green grounds and gates and walls and guards provide paradise away from the daily grime of the city. Contrasts run so great that senses are initially sent awray until a form of acceptance comes in and you now longer lift an eyelid at the sights in front of you. I liked it, a lot.

Wellington Weather...

...is incomprehensible!

Yesterday morning I awoke to howling westerlies and heavy rain in Paraparaumu, then exited the train in Wellington (50km distance) to a warm, dry, windy day with the sun shining!

This morning I awake to incredibly heavy rain, take the train to Wellington and find it cold with a strong damp southerly.

What will it be tomorrow? Heck, what will it be tonight?

Living here you know that you just don't know. Looking on the bright side, at least we have something to talk about.

And as for tonight, best advice I can give is follow the MetVUW site (and keep looking out the window). Based upon the forecast for 7pm, I'm guessing it may have cleared up again!

Whales off the Beach

Wonderful sight - whales off the beach, maybe 300m from shore on a beautiful still, sunny day. Not sure what type, but I don't think they were Orcas - they didn't seem large enough. The shame of it is that if it weren't for the cold I've had for the last few days, my plan was to be out kayaking this morning. Wouldn't that have been amazing!

Oh, perhaps a bigger shame, especially from the point of view of the whales, was the idiot out there going round and round in circles on a jetski. Confirms every opinion I've ever had of them.

Update: Talking to someone this morning I found out they were indeed Orcas. Now I really wish I'd been up to going out on the kayak.

Ducks do damage

Goldfish gone. Prior to yesterday there were in excess of 30 happily living in the pond. I haven't cared greatly for them. At times the water has leaked out to leave an uncomfortably shallow puddle. I feed them once in a blue moon. But by crikey they survived the last 2 years well enough, at least until last night.

Two ducks swimming in the pool. How nice I thought - nature at play. Oh yes, and then I saw a duck with a large goldfish hanging out of its beak. And now, it seems they're all gone - except for a big one floating under an overhanging bush:(

Corsair in Kapiti

Didn't see a seal this time, but I did see a Corsair flying over the house. It seems to have taken off from the local airfield in Kapiti. Very loud! There's a good description on the Corsair at http://www.aviation-history.com/vought/f4u.html.

Seal crosses road

I saw a seal crossing the road today. We were on our way home - it was dark, and cold; a southerly had blown in this morning. And on the wet and windy 4 lanes with cars everywhere was a seal. We all stopped - my daughter said "where? where?? where???", and I stared.

It appeared to have come from the entrance to the Pauatahanui inlet. It must have decided to take a short cut across State Highway 1. Fortunately it appeared to make it intact across the road. A couple of people hopped out to take a look. We decided to move along. My daughter will have exciting news for her return from the school holidays!