🇳🇿 Shayne Parkinson

Writer of New Zealand historical novels. Countryside dweller in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Last Notes

2026-07-29 00:51:05 UTC

View from Rangikapiti Pa, Doubtless Bay.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/117/000/509/924/387/478/original/e7b2c8d695dbb366.jpg

2026-07-15 09:07:21 UTC

It's that time of year when the kererū remember the tender new growth on the kōwhai. #birds #BirdsOfAotearoa
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/923/184/245/255/914/original/8786039952bdf977.jpg

2026-06-21 00:42:09 UTC

After some unseasonably warm and sunny days lately, today it's grey and chilly, with fitful patches of watery sunlight. It's also my birthday! We took a walk earlier, but I think the rest of the day will involve lazing around by the fire.

2026-05-30 00:06:10 UTC

Today we had to replace our digital kitchen scales. Roger's repaired them several times over the years, re-soldering wires and fixing general wibbly-wobblyness, but this time they were beyond help.
We bought the old ones some time in the 1980s, so they've served us well for c.40 years. They don't make them like they used to.

2026-04-13 03:39:48 UTC

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@nprofile…nqtz @nprofile…gydw @nprofile…ffxt !!!
Meanwhile, we've been easily harvesting a bucketful a day - not counting the ones we give the sheep.

2026-04-11 02:22:30 UTC

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It's been deceptively calm all day, but now the wind is picking up.

2026-04-11 02:21:19 UTC

Just got a emergency alert re Cyclone Vaianu - good to see the system at work.
We're doing the basic things like bringing anything likely to fly away under cover and taking down the awning from over the terrace. Sheep are in their most sheltered paddock. Batteries are charged. We have food, and plenty of water (a very full rain water tank that we can access even when the power's out). Ready to hunker down in relative comfort.

2026-04-02 23:35:51 UTC

Covid-19 immunisation guidance updated after eligibility confusion - Newsroom
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/01/covid-19-immunisation-guidance-updated-after-eligibility-confusion/
In particular, these two pieces of contradictory advice were impossible to reconcile:
"Although one part of the guidance stated, “all other adults aged 30 years and over are also eligible for additional doses of mRNA-CV (30µg) if requested, every six months”, another section said, “one dose is available annually, but not generally recommended” for healthy adults under 65."
No wonder people were being turned away. Good that this has been updated, at least.

2026-03-31 09:19:20 UTC

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@nprofile…vksx So disappointing. I was wondering what Michael Baker had to say about this - no surprise to see that he's not happy:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/591172/health-nz-changes-advice-on-covid-19-vaccinations

2026-03-31 08:22:36 UTC

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@nprofile…epgu what a wonderful story!

2026-03-27 23:24:57 UTC

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@nprofile…j4kx we went here a few years back:
https://theringofkerry.com/tetrapod-tracks-on-valentia
It turned out to be too late to tell the critter to reconsider.

2026-03-27 23:11:53 UTC

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@nprofile…e8mx happy birthday!

2026-03-27 22:36:32 UTC

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Betty in the orchard, taking treats from @nprofile…v23w Roger's hand. #sheep
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/303/520/166/690/428/original/3e497d13ed220619.jpg

2026-03-27 22:33:18 UTC

Moved the sheep to the orchard this morning.
Betty announcing she's going nowhere until she gets a treat. Milly in background, waiting to see what happens next. #sheep
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/303/498/630/061/899/original/e88238359c84263e.jpg

2026-03-27 21:25:36 UTC

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@nprofile…jtp0 I've been happily with Smashwords for years. They've now merged with Draft2Digital, whom I'm also happy with so far. No exclusivity, and lots of outlets.

2026-03-27 09:17:25 UTC

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@nprofile…kxuf wow!

2026-03-27 08:09:12 UTC

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@nprofile…kxuf that's vast! Ours yield well, but in the dozens, not the hundreds.
Do you do anything with them other than eating them fresh?

2026-03-25 23:28:28 UTC

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@nprofile…2uej Alas, no, although it's been his passion project for years (currently on theback-burner, as life has got in the way). He did present it to a Select Committee a few years ago, to polite interest but no more.

2026-03-25 18:42:59 UTC

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@nprofile…2uej what that could look like:
https://www.futurerailnz.com/
(Disclosure: this is by a friend of ours)

2026-03-25 08:07:16 UTC

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@nprofile…gtt6 Wonderful!

2026-03-25 05:31:51 UTC

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@nprofile…6g3g so sorry to hear that, Trudy. As Paul says, unsettling at the very.

2026-03-25 00:42:28 UTC

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@nprofile…69x8 yes, I very much enjoyed the audiobook. Haven't seen the movie yet - it takes a lot to get us to the cinema these days - but are both quite tempted.

2026-03-24 23:50:32 UTC

Just finished reading "Nobody's Baby", the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman series by Olivia Waite @nprofile…y9lu . These are great fun: cozy mysteries in space, warm-hearted, clever plotting. And knitting 😀
Some info on Book One, "Murder by Memory":
https://www.oliviawaite.com/blog/2024/11/9/cover-reveal-murder-by-memory

2026-03-24 08:16:27 UTC

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@nprofile…7760 I've only seen the first two episodes, but it's charming so far! Mary's a very believable character, sympathetic rather than a figure of fun.

2026-03-23 02:03:00 UTC

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@nprofile…y7wt what a great result from a relatively simple action!
I make sauerkraut, and we have it a couple of times a week, which is no doubt helping keep the gut flora cheerful.

2026-03-21 05:00:51 UTC

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@nprofile…v9er earlier this week there was actually a person (other than @nprofile…v23w and me) wearing a mask. We all stopped and beamed delightedly at each other.
In February we flew to and from Te Wai Pounamu and were the only mask-wearers.

2026-03-21 02:58:44 UTC

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Feijoa chutney turned out quite delicious. Definitely one to try again.

2026-03-21 01:47:50 UTC

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Crabapple jelly is so pretty.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/264/634/843/830/038/original/2285c1398fc594e0.jpg

2026-03-21 01:42:23 UTC

A productive couple of days. So far I've made:
- cereal
- walnut crackers
- crabapple jelly (so much of it that I ran out of "real" jars and used some of those might-be-useful-and-too-pretty-to-discard ones as well)
Feijoa chutney is currently simmering in the jam pan, and for afternoon tea I'm enjoying a delicious feijoa cake @nprofile…v23w made this morning.

2026-03-19 09:23:47 UTC

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@nprofile…gydw what a marvellous project! I do hope you'll post more about it as it proceeds.

2026-03-19 08:19:55 UTC

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@nprofile…urmy so good to hear that! Fingers crossed that things continue to go well.

2026-03-19 05:42:32 UTC

Had a really nice morning at Tawharunui Regional Park. The beaches were busy with school groups, but the nature walk (predator fenced) was very quiet. We saw tūī, korimako/bellbirds, tieke/saddlebacks, hihi/stitchbirds, pātete/brown teal, kereru, piwakawaka ... and takahe! We've seen them in this park before, but only a glimpse in the distance. Today they were ambling along very close to us and quite unconcerned. #Birds #NZBirds
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/254/213/286/693/722/original/25cc5f11c1b9789c.jpg
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/254/226/624/075/367/original/33b6775019fbfc2a.jpg

2026-03-11 03:04:17 UTC

Four carboys of feijoa wine now on the go. This should keep us going for a while.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/208/303/938/180/147/original/1f9f378fd6160f12.jpg

2026-03-07 22:35:44 UTC

Feijoa and ginger ice-cream duly made. Verdict: delicious.

2026-03-07 20:45:45 UTC

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@nprofile…gtt6 thanks for the review, Paul. I've read the book, and found it very moving, but am in two minds over seeing the movie, in case "almost unbearable" tips over into actually unbearable. I might re-read the book before I decide.

2026-03-06 23:16:37 UTC

Busy and productive morning. Along with the usual Saturday tasks (washing, etc), between us we've:
- made meringues for a Blackberry Mess
- bottled a batch of cider
- made sourdough starter crackers
- prepped a large amount of feijoas for wine
Still to go: making feijoa icecream, and pickling some cucumbers.
Now enjoying a lunchtime break:) A ploughmans with bread, elderberry relish, tomatoes, pickled cucumber and cheese - all bar the cheese is homegrown/homemade.

2026-03-06 21:07:11 UTC

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@nprofile…xvcz it really is a lovely place.

2026-03-06 05:07:48 UTC

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Really good to see the council, who look after this area, taking bio security very seriously. Everyone with watercraft is stopped, given information and asked relevant questions, and they power-washed our kayak. This lake is so far free of pest weeds and clams, and they're working hard to keep it that way.

2026-03-06 05:05:30 UTC

Such a lovely day. We headed up to Kai Iwi Lakes for a glorious time #kayaking, swimming and picnicking. Kayaked over to a white sand beach that we had to ourselves right until we were getting ready to leave. Only one small fizz boat on the lake, and it kept well out of our way then went off altogether. Really, really nice.
I'm still a little sad that the lovely Middle Eastern cafe we used to stop at on the way home has closed down, but am grateful for all the delicious treats we enjoyed there.
This photo is from a few years ago, but the lake still looks just the same.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/180/474/713/183/634/original/6b86b274edb7d66e.jpg

2026-03-05 05:18:04 UTC

I've taken some time off to recharge since I released my latest novel in December, but at last I'm feeling ready to get back into writing. This project is very different from my previous books: my first work of non-fiction. It's based around a scandal from 19th century Wellington, the resulting court cases, and their aftermath.
I actually started it some years ago, and did a pile of research, mainly in National Archives, but as the project grew so did the pressure to get back to fiction, so it's been on the back-burner for a while. First step is to go over what I've already written. Verdict: I'm finding it as fascinating as before. And there's a lot of work still to be done to turn it into a decent piece of narrative non-fiction. I'm feeling cautiously positive, though. #AmWriting

2026-03-05 05:02:39 UTC

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@nprofile…9xaz @nprofile…gtt6 @nprofile…rp72 @nprofile…urmy Yes. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360946408/cases-rise-ninth-wave-covid-19

2026-03-04 04:21:44 UTC

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@nprofile…urmy A nice tribute in the Heritage NZ newsletter:
https://www.heritage.org.nz/news/stories/tribute-emeritus-professor-helen-leach-nee-keedwell

2026-03-03 21:28:58 UTC

A lovely morning to sit on the terrace, lingering over coffee. Hearing much bustling in the hedgerow: two very happy kererū scarfing elderberries.

2026-03-03 21:11:37 UTC

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@nprofile…f3cq Roses. I love lots of other flowers, but they're my favourite.

2026-03-03 20:15:57 UTC

Cucumbers. So many cucumbers. Just when I think I've caught up with them, I part a few leaves and a new behemoth appears. And there are small ones, and tiny ones, and flowers just waiting to turn into yet more.
I'm very glad I decided one plant would be enough.
#garden

2026-03-03 17:36:45 UTC

Got up at midnight to see the eclipse. The sky was clear, and the moon blood-red. A fine sight.

2026-03-02 23:42:16 UTC

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@nprofile…f3cq you're a lovely girl, Maple ❤️

2026-03-01 19:25:28 UTC

Happy Read an Ebook Week! My entire collection at 50% off at @Smashwords from March 1 - March 7 (free ones are still free). Find my books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/shaynep #ebookweek26 #Smashwords

2026-03-01 08:19:22 UTC

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@nprofile…urmy it's a lovely spot. We stayed there a few years ago, and enjoyed exploring the area. Roger's gt-gt-grandfather was (briefly) one of the many, many goldminers there in the 1860s.

2026-02-28 05:19:15 UTC

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@nprofile…2wxk such an amazing place - and the only one where I've seen kiwi in the wild. I'm so glad you made it there.

2026-02-28 05:17:27 UTC

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@nprofile…2wxk such an amazing place - and the only one where I've seen kiwi in the wild. I'm so glad you made it there.

2026-02-28 02:01:06 UTC

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@nprofile…f3cq Wow! How lovely to hear that! Thanks so much for letting me know.

2026-02-27 04:18:47 UTC

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It got up to 32.8 before starting to creep down a bit. Still over 30, though.

2026-02-27 04:17:20 UTC

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@nprofile…n4hg we're a bit further north.

2026-02-27 02:58:52 UTC

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@nprofile…ywqs a wonderful feeling! I've enjoyed taking a break from mine, but am now easing back in.

2026-02-27 02:43:30 UTC

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@nprofile…m2wh very sorry to hear about your sister.
A friend caught Covid (for the first time) at a cancer treatment centre :(. As you say, nowhere is safe.

2026-02-27 02:13:28 UTC

I think that's the highest temperature I've ever seen here.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/140/167/269/398/043/original/ed85d10b0fc94704.jpg

2026-02-26 05:07:58 UTC

Such a helpful error message. I was just uploading a book description to a retailer's website when I was advised to "remove all invisible characters" first. "But I can't see them!" was my plaintive response.
(Not actually that hard to fix by running it through a text editor first. But it did amuse me).

2026-02-26 04:21:50 UTC

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@nprofile…7760 Those look lovely! And your post made me smile - a flower press is a plot point in one of my books 😀

2026-02-24 08:30:49 UTC

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@nprofile…kxuf @nprofile…5974 our persimmons are still determinedly green, but there's a good lot of them.
The first feijoa of the season tastes so good! A real seasonal treat on the eve of "maybe we could put some in [insert foodstuff of choice] and use up a few more."

2026-02-24 08:08:36 UTC

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@nprofile…5974 Yes! The best season we've had for a while.
I'm in the north, so our season might be earlier than yours.

2026-02-24 05:27:24 UTC

It's that time of year again. Contents of the freezer examined with narrowed eyes: as much as possible will be turned into jam, paste, or just meals. Any remaining needs to be repacked with topological precision. Because:
It's feijoa season.
We just went out to check the orchard (after being away the last couple of weeks) and scored a nice lot of figs, some macadamia and apples, and enough quinces to make a batch of paste. Roger thought he might be over-optimistic in taking a bucket as well as bags. Then we did a pass along our main patch of feijoa trees.
Reader, the bucket was full to overflowing within minutes.
So it begins.
#fruit #orchard #produce

2026-02-22 23:27:58 UTC

Thanks, Ōtepoti, for a lovely few days (unreasonable chilliness notwithstanding) with which to end our holiday. Some things we did:
- wildlife cruise - close-up sightings of albatross landing and taking off particularly fab
- Pyramids and Victory Beach walk
- Huriawa Pā walk, Karitane
- a visit to the Regent Booksale - scored a nice load, and fortunately had packed lightly enough that we managed to fit it all in
- reminded self how pleasant it is just strolling around the university, getting things fresh in my mind for when I start writing the next book in the series
In retrospect, staying so close to the university during O Week maybe wasn't the brightest of moves when it came to sleeping, but that didn't spoil a very nice visit.

2026-02-22 23:12:42 UTC

Back on the ground in the Winterless North, and I can announce that my best (small) purchase in a long time was a mask clip. In the past, from an hour or so into a flight (or any prolonged mask requirement) my ears would be horribly painful. Now, after wearing a mask for close to three hours they're just fine.

2026-02-22 08:33:40 UTC

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@nprofile…92lc that's a fabulous spot! We went to the moa cave, too, when we were staying in the area. And walked the beginning of the Heaphy Track - that Nikau forest is one of the loveliest things I've ever seen.

2026-02-21 09:00:45 UTC

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@nprofile…5w5c I tend to read more ebooks than print books these days, mostly because print has mysteriously become smaller and fainter as my eyes have grown older.
It does seem odd that ebooks are typically so highly priced compared to their print counterparts. As a self-pubbed author I have more control over my pricing - the ebooks are much cheaper, I receive a similar margin on both, and ebooks make up well over 90% of my sales.

2026-02-08 23:35:19 UTC

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@nprofile…7760 so sad to lose a well-loved tree. We don't have a suitable climate for lilacs, but there was a lovely one at my childhood home (in the Bay of Plenty).

2026-01-31 05:33:33 UTC

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@nprofile…2wxk Kia ora! Haere mai - welcome.

2026-01-31 04:25:36 UTC

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@nprofile…v23w Cottage cheese duly made, and cannelés delicious with the lemon curd I made yesterday.

2026-01-31 03:31:54 UTC

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@nprofile…p3nf Congratulations! What a beautiful place for a joyous occasion.

2026-01-29 09:28:21 UTC

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@nprofile…stwa congratulations to Tracy! Just making the longlist is a huge achievement.

2026-01-27 02:18:25 UTC

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@nprofile…urmy oh, that's sad to hear. I enjoyed Helen's writing, and loved her use of resources that are frequently overlooked (and undervalued). I have copies of a couple of the books she wrote with her sisters, too.
She's left some fine work for us to remember her by.

2026-01-16 05:00:00 UTC

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@nprofile…6g3g I'd forgotten just how delicious they are! The joy of seasonal eating.

2026-01-16 04:44:21 UTC

Tonight we had the first beetroot of the season, roasted and served with walnuts, goat cheese and greens. Really, really nice, and plenty more beetroot coming on in the garden.

2026-01-13 06:11:21 UTC

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@nprofile…gtt6 That's awful, Paul. I'm so sorry.

2026-01-13 06:00:20 UTC

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@nprofile…urmy Oh, thank you so much, Ali! What a lovely post to see.

2025-12-30 08:01:31 UTC

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@nprofile…4gxv @nprofile…l0et it looks great! And very challenging. Well done.

2025-12-24 18:40:31 UTC

A Christmas tradition starting a few years ago: breakfast trifle.
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/775/996/378/908/110/original/38b7f6c4bf21fbf1.jpg

2025-12-24 17:30:13 UTC

Mere Kirihimete!

2025-12-24 09:03:25 UTC

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@nprofile…pnfg we are, too! Despite doing our usual supermarket runs, we struck it lucky this year. Just two hours to go.

2025-12-21 20:20:10 UTC

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I should add that while it might feel like more than 20 years to those readers who wait so patiently for the next book, it's actually a mere 17 years since I launched the first one into the world.

2025-12-21 20:17:55 UTC

I'm at the stage of watching with mixed anticipation and trepidation as the reviews trickle in. This first UK one was nice to wake up to:
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/759/392/926/675/036/original/67b57749e9ca51ac.png

2025-12-19 22:55:48 UTC

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@nprofile…qhz3 wonderful news! Congratulations!

2025-12-17 08:30:31 UTC

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@nprofile…4gxv he apparently was a very capable Speaker - when sober.

2025-12-17 08:14:47 UTC

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@nprofile…4gxv and then there was the late 19th century Speaker Sir Maurice O'Rorke:
"Sometimes ‘the Speaker has the influenza’, and does not appear for two or three days. He is then to be found in public houses, watched by a judicious attendant who interferes if he begins to disclose state secrets. But in spite of this trait which everyone knows and deplores they will not sack him, because he is so popular and so efficient.”

2025-12-16 23:07:58 UTC

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@nprofile…fwwf magnificent!

2025-12-16 04:50:14 UTC

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@nprofile…etrn I just got that message, too. Very disappointing - and short-sighted.

2025-12-15 04:26:11 UTC

https://events.massey.ac.nz/quote-of-the-year/vote/

2025-12-12 20:16:20 UTC

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Eventually everything left that wanted to, and I had a huge sleep. So far so good this morning - I had some fruit and there have been no complaints so far. I'll take things quiet this morning, though.

2025-12-12 07:19:15 UTC

I'm decidedly under the weather this evening. Have taken to my bed with a bucket handily within reach.

2025-12-08 21:17:54 UTC

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@nprofile…4gxv I had many, many gasp aloud moments when delving into the details of that saga.

2025-12-07 02:18:23 UTC

Currently 31 degrees.

2025-12-07 02:17:06 UTC

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@nprofile…wcg4 looking forward to seeing this! We don't have Netflix, but occasionally find ourselves staying somewhere it's available. I've enjoyed the books, and Helen Mirren is so perfect for Elizabeth that it feels as if Osman wrote the character with her in mind.

2025-11-29 22:55:13 UTC

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@nprofile…3nu3 It looks like a piece of art! The fringed edging is particularly striking.

2025-11-28 21:20:09 UTC

Scones with homemade lemon curd for morning tea. So nice.

2025-11-28 08:09:48 UTC

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@nprofile…pnfg I bought nothing, too! Very satisfied with my non-purchase.

2025-11-28 00:04:17 UTC

So hot and humid today. I do have a surprisingly effective USB-run fan, which is helping.

2025-11-27 19:46:07 UTC

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@nprofile…5hpn a lovely story!

2025-11-25 08:25:52 UTC

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@nprofile…fwwf 132 years might be pushing it, though.

2025-11-25 08:15:46 UTC

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@nprofile…fwwf not a place I've ever been! Isn't it for rather more recent articles?