Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Together Alone

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  • Trevor Nicholls,

    Damn, I wish we had set up a greenhouse at the end of last year. It was on the list of nice-to-do's but we were just finishing remodelling the house to accommodate my wife's 90yo mother and funding was a bit tight. Now of course it looks like an essential investment rather than a luxury. Too bad.
    The freezer which was adequate for two of us is under a bit of stress for three.
    We live a short distance from Moore Wilson's in Porirua and most of the route involves a reasonably new cycleway so that will be my main exercise I think.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    You can get little ones online. Good enough to get seedlings established, then plant out in the garden. Mine is actually a carport, which I decided to put clear roofing on because who the hell wastes building space on a car? I'm running out of shelf space though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Alfie,

    I'd have to say that despite the darkness covid is bringing to the world, there's a shared sentiment that when this is over, we can rebuild the world as a better place. This is a giant reset. We all know that we're living through one of history's bigger bits.

    Lovely to read you all :) And thanks, Alfie. Been thinking about this a lot, and I'm half optimistic. How can we keep this in mind, and return to a world altered in kinder, more thoughtful ways? That's worth pondering. (My pessimistic side says there is likely to be a dreadful toll in the developing world - better to be lucky than good, they say :( And that authoritarians might just cement their nasty grip) Finding ourselves watching al jazeera more and more for a bigger (less anglo-centric) picture.
    But. We have a glorious place to self-isolate, small farm in Lyttelton harbour - definitely can't complain. Extra family home, lots to do - it would be perfect but for this 'work from home' thing!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • lprent,

    Good to see PA winding a bit more up again. I just finished yesterday running around having a look at why the TS RSS/Atom feeds were breaking (updated libcurl issue). So while I was at it and because I was blocked on a unittest, I did a health check through all of the attached blogs. There are quite a few that look like they're waking up.

    Just have to figure out the systematic issue about how to collect some of the feedburner RSS like RealClimate. Feedburner neither serve a atom or RSS feed any more. Might have to annoy google with writing a flexible scraper.

    Anyone have any suggestions for someone else with an existing solution?

    Since May 2008 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to BenWilson,

    We got a little Vegepod earlier this year after being impressed with the neighbours' large one which we were watering while they were away. It was delivered as a dreaded flat pack but with instructions in NZ English, and after filling it with some bags of stuff and seedlings, it has been very prolific. The most successful vegetable gardening I have ever done, in a small space. But not much use telling people about this at this time, sorry.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to BenWilson,

    We have a reasonable garden already which is still giving us enough vegetables for each day's dinner, but at this time of year I am usually sowing mustard or lupin to put in the compost bin when I empty it at the end of winter. Which is still what I will end up doing while muttering about how short-sighted I was :-)

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • JLM, in reply to Alfie,

    Hmmm - beach walks, small forest - wonder if it's the same as my local. Blackberries perchance? We could wave at a safe distance. Our local tai chi matriarch is threatening to lead respectfully distanced sessions on the beach but I don't think that will pass the regulations somehow.

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Late to the party I see, oh well.
    I'm spending my lockdown (thank goodness for autocorrect, does anyone else keep accidentally typing lickdown?!) feeling tired and behind and wondering why exactly I put up my hand to work my uncommitted hours (and the rest of them) on the response, when I could be enjoying just working half time and hanging out with my family and pottering in the garden.
    I mean, I know why, just feeling a little wistful about what it could have looked like.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong,

    Well, fancy seeing you here! Interesting that at least some of my remaining neutrons still steer me to PA in times of need... Splendid timing.

    Key preparation in our household has been two days of building a bike track around our house, including a "berm" and a "gap" (we would have called these a "corner" and a "ramp" respectively in 1979.) Ten-year-olds ready to go, and I am praying that their brake cables hold..

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong,

    Neutrons!

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    From yesterday afternoon: the suitably-distanced queue for last orders at Westmere Butchery.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Attachment

    Kia ora, Good to be back, for I had drifted away, to less interesting places, over the past year or two. I have sort of inundated my social media with my proudest horticultural achievement but if I could be permitted one more posting: a large bunch of bananas (Cavendish Dwarf variety) harvested from our garden yesterday, They should get us through a few muffins and banana bread in the next four weeks.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Attachment

    Holding my baby. This morning’s job is to finish raising the fencing around the run for our three newly-acquired Light Sussex chickens. They escaped on their first night and caused much alarm.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Oops..apologies if you have to crane your neck. I thought I chose the right photo size.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    Thursday morning rush hour on the northwestern motorway.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Reminds me of this ‘cheery’ movie ending…
    If ya wanna see how it might all end up in Australia
    On the Beach 1959

    Ya gotta watch those ‘psychos’ and their social distancing lapses!

    Plus the cheesiest ’Waltzing Matilda’ version ever!

    <edit> Not helping?
    try this - The last ever Goon Show!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Moz,

    let the baby chickens out into the tomato bed yesterday. Since then I've got a cheap IP camera so now a bunch of friends and family are watching the wee cheepers in real time. Sadly you mob will have to live with delayed digging.

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Harvey, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Gosh it's great that this blog has been revived, thanks Russell. And in line with Ian's reference to 'Music Helps', and also the theme of being kind, I submit a tune that boomers may remember, from 1954.
    "Be Kind To Your Web-Footed Friends", aka "Crazy Mixed Up Song".

    Westmere • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I’ve posted this elsewhere but I know there’s a few muso’s follow PA might appreciate it

    My daughter and her band The Dawns were so excited to release their first single “Oblivious” last week but it’s been obviously overshadowed by COVID events.
    They also had a couple of gigs lined up that were cancelled like everyone :-)

    The song is about a boy, “Oblivious” to their attentions

    The are all girls and only 14 years old but they can play a bit

    Spotify

    https://open.spotify.com/album/1BVBqK02TKKC3apxitEbFt

    iTunes

    https://music.apple.com/nz/album/oblivious-single/1501011914

    Live Video

    ** They had to change the band name to The Dawns since that video

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Glenn Pearce,

    They had to change the band name to The Dawns since that video

    Understandable, Swiss lawyers aside, you wouldn't want to cross pollinate with Atomic Flower's fanbase!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Yes, I think that was the impetus behind the change. Not easy coming up with unique name without resorting to the names of obscure medical procedures

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Moz, in reply to Glenn Pearce,

    Not easy coming up with unique name

    There are quite a few band name generators online... "Chicks Dig Tomatoes" works...

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

  • Neil,

    Meth prices have skyrocketed.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Went out for a walk today, more people walking in the neighbourhood than usual, people carefully keeping distance, walking into the street - but absolutely everyone said "hi!" and smiled

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Moz,

    Neil, I was thinking of all the burglars who are now faced with most houses being occupied all the time. And they can't exactly drive round looking for targets if the streets are empty. What are they supposed to do?

    A quick snap of rush hour in Wiley Park, Sydney. I think the traffic is lighter than usual but it's definitely not Auckland's empty streets.

    https://i.imgur.com/ZLtq4sb.png

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

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