Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Incoming: Summer

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  • Russell Brown,

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    I know I bang on about how nice Point Chevalier is in summer (Aucklanders used to take their holidays here!) – but it really is.

    Here’s the beach just now, the pohutukawa at the end of the deck, buzzing with life yesterday, and Western Springs park on Christmas Day.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Ben Austin,

    As close as you’ll find today, I think.
    We Shetlanders are a bit diehard about this sort of thing :-)

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Ben Austin,

    That Norn is it?

    Near as.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin, in reply to Farmer Green,

    I wasn't aware anyone spoke Norn. That being said, when I was up in Orkney and the Shetlands last Summer, looking at the ancestral graves (around Tingwall), I did find that when the older locals spoke to each other it was basically impossible to understand. Although apparently younger locals /long term residents find the same.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Emma Hart,

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    Our flax flowers bring all the birds to the yard…. oh dear god. #sorrynotsorry

    sun tolerance of an Irish redhead

    Can I suggest you throw some shade… over yourself?

    What a perfect day though, yesterday. Tempted to fly down for tomorrow. Like, seriously tempted.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Ben Austin,

    I wasn’t aware anyone spoke Norn.

    That is right ; Faroese is the closest living remnant.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Farmer Green,

    My ancestral home is the village of Pennan, in Aberdeenshire. My grandfather was born there and his dad built clinker fishing boats in a shed on the bankhead. It's famous as the main location for Bill Forsyth's film Local Hero.

    The first time we stayed there we overheard two farmers in the pub speaking Buchan, and while the Scots' accent is usually quite broad, this dialect is impossible for any mere sassenach to understand. I doubt there are many fluent speakers left now.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

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    I’m quite enjoying being back in the right hemisphere. Three shots from this morning’s trip to Staglands.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Thomas Lumley,

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    The new Onehunga beach/foreshore on Christmas Day, late afternoon.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2013 • 50 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

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    I think I found the husk of some ancient crocopig...

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

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    DON'T PANIC...
    I am sure it is just a holiday thing...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

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    I’m sorry the technical quality, and composition, are not as excellent as some of our frequent photographic contributors… but this was pretty special to see just off a suburban Auckland beach on Boxing Day…

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

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    This was just at the northern end of Eastern Beach, near Musick Point.. Howick Golf Course on the top of those cliffs in the background…

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB, in reply to FletcherB,

    Sorry- edit window closed....

    What is in my pics does not fully represent the spectacle we were treated to... There was a mother with calf, and three or four others in the pod- possibly even a few more? They were not in tight formation, and it was difficult to keep track of... We saw three together at one time, and a couple more too shortly thereafter, and too distant from the three, to expect it was duplicate sightings....

    We saw one apparently spinning along it's axis... flashes of white and black, with pectoral and dorsal fins flipping up in the air as it cork-screwed along the surface... One jumped up, 3/4 out of the water and breached on it's back... and another swam along the surface, and lifted it's tail out of the water, and then slammed it down on the water, rhythmically, making a thwack, thwack, thwack, sound... I believe I may have seen this in a nature documentary suggesting they use it to disturb stingray (food) off the sea-floor?

    All of this in just 20 min or so... and then we felt guilty for disturbing such beautiful creatures and left them to their business...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to FletcherB,

    I’m sorry the technical quality, and composition, are not as excellent as some of our frequent photographic contributors… but this was pretty special to see just off a suburban Auckland beach on Boxing Day…

    Indeed! Thanks for posting.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to FletcherB,

    Going coastal!

    then we felt guilty for disturbing such beautiful creatures and left them to their business...

    What a wonderful treat though.
    Just off suburban Orcaland can be a beautiful place...
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Emma Hart,

    We spent all yesterday at the cricket. Boxing Day

    Peter likewise; although there in spirit rather than in his post chemo body.

    A former sun nut who seldom burned, the chemo done 'orrible things to his skin. The last actual match he went to was Sri Lanka (bring on those drums and cymbals!) v Blackcaps at Seddon Park last January.

    We used to go to the cricket...and get our wee possie up by the sightscreen where after a cooling cider I could go to sleep in the shade while himself watched every ball. Then they revamped Seddon Park and ruined it. Management got really pissy about folk bringing in shade materials(never mind your chilly bin full of refreshments.)

    However, they got the message from other wheelchair users and for the game last January set up a terraced area for wheelchair users and carers....with SUN UMBRELLAS. We had to be a bit pro active (stroppy) to get these...

    If you go today Emma...Peter will be listening to the game, ball by bleeding ball, on the radio...in the shade...jealous. Be well.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Thomas Lumley,

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    The new Onehunga beach/foreshore on Christmas Day, late afternoon.

    We just ventured down there too. Good to see some wildlife settling in. Although I think it is best suited to joggers and cyclists passing through.

    Good walking connections from different sides of motorway.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Great that the ODI game is available live on Prime today.

    It's looking like the cricketing gods are mindful of Emma's desire to not stay in the heat too long ... Sri Lanka are crumbling - I'm wondering if they'll even get to a 100...

    But why do they have to play music between overs at the site, I still find it really intrusive and jarring - bring back the village green preservation society.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I'm wondering if they'll even get to a 100...

    okay, it was 117!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    High noon
    Feeling sorry for the caterers and food carts at the cricket - looks like it'll all be over by the lunch break 108/0 after 8 overs!!!
    (and I suspect even Emma didn't want it over that fast either...)

    <sorry for live spoilers>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Great that the ODI game is available live on Prime today.

    What?

    How about the next one? (so we can steal a telly)

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    What a wonderful treat though.
    Just off suburban Orcaland can be a beautiful place…

    And the orcas come in so close! I've watched them from a Waiheke ferry, right into the port. Never got pics like Fletcher's, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to JacksonP,

    We just ventured down there too. Good to see some wildlife settling in. Although I think it is best suited to joggers and cyclists passing through.

    Does anyone swim?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    How about the next one?

    No such luck for the Nelson game...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

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