And so it goes....

Next few days

Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
14°C	11°C	11°C	12°C

more soon m'dears,
meanwhile my towels will dry on my clothes line,
in the wind and no rain come Tuesday

Valerie Strikes Again

Valerie Vili wins shot put world title

"Valerie Vili's global domination of women's shot put continued at the athletics world championships in Berlin today.

New Zealand's queen of the field won a second successive world title with a put of 20.44m, well short of her personal best but still more than enough for her to claim the gold medal by 24cm.

She finished comfortably ahead of silver medallist, German Nadine Kleinert, who threw a career best 20.20m, and China's bronze medallist Lijao Gong, who managed a personal best of 19.89m.

"I'm just very happy and overwhelmed," Vili said.

"We've done all this preparation and to come over here and defend it is ... well, two world titles, I'm pretty happy about that.""

(From Fairfax site stuff.co.nz)

Mickle says WOOHOO

Our Weather is very Changable

Today's 20C was compeltely unexpected

Next few days

Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed
20°C	15°C	12°C	13°C	11°C
10°C	9°C	9°C	7°C	6°C

Sadly is Avalanche Season

In New Zealand's North Island ski fields there is a less likely risk of avalanches, but there is a risk of the above. This photo is from Winter 1996. The two main North Island ski fields are on an active volcano - Mt Ruapehu. No molten lava when this girl blows - but masses of smoke, steam, rocks and mud. So ski season cancelled and all aeroplane flights on alert and on a restricted )stay well clear) flight path.

Thankfully Ruapehu has been quiet this year. Down in the South Island there were very early falls of snow - a bumper ski season. Now there is active avalanche control with daily inspections and blasts.

Yet still over this week and the two preceding it there have been big avalanches, 3 separate deaths. And others injured. This geologically young land can be fiercely rugged and a major challenge.

Special thoughts to the families of those who died, those injured and to our dedicated specialist land and mountain rescue teams.

(The search and rescue people (LANDSARS) are pretty much all volunteers. They work very closely with the Mountain safety people, Ham radio volunteers who co-ordinate the communications and our Police).

It had to End

Next few days

Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue
16°C	16°C	12°C	12°C	13°C
11°C	11°C	7°C	8°C	7°C

Still Fine and Dry

We Wellingtonians are kind of stunned - fine dry weather for nearly two weeks! Maybe a positive side to Global warming?

All of June and much of July were so grey and chilly and damp and dismal. See usually Wellywood gets a blast from the North, then a blast from the South, a blast from the North ...... only this had been all from the South. I mean - straight from the Antarctic.

The Northerlies started so good a couple of weeks back - blustery and dry and drying. Have been less drying but still good for the last few days.

Friday will be the last of it. With a forecast high of 17C I'm looking forward to it. My much ignored wilderness/aka garden is threatened with my presence in a few hours time.

Of course Zebbycat will supervise - until he gets bored or hungry again.

After the weekend's forecast soggy spell it may fine up again, and Mickle will have to think to use more sunblock than now, and to cover up with long sleeved and long legged clothing just as it all warms up. The NZ and Aussie sunshine really is as harshly burningly fierce as reported.

And Zebby will snoozle, snuggle and cuddle, and dream of lamb - raw or roasted, he's not fussy.

Early Springtime

Considering that Winter started here a month early I think it is only fair that Spring has too. Passed several trees blossoming today. My grape hyacinths have lots of blue spikey flowers growing upwards and the Sun Shone.....

Next few days

Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon
12°C	14°C	12°C	12°C	13°C
4°C	4°C	6°C	7°C	7°C

Yes, several days in a row with drying winds and sunshine. AND this will continue until at least Monday.

Can you tell I've also had my medication altered? No - thought not (LOL).