You can never have enough...

[harm_less]

I agree, harm_less.  As a 'frequent flyer' (not literally!) on the Kaimai Range, I've pretty much seen the lot.  BUT in saying that, there was a double yellow line and a blind corner coming up.  Quite the risk to take.  Damed if you do, damed if you don't.  Just glad it wasn't us coming round that blind corner, and it could easily have been us.  Am really tempted to put a dash cam in our car, it would save a lot of he-said-she-said-they-said.

I fitted a dashcam to our Polestar after reading posts on the owners forum of collision damage where replies almost always include "did you get it on dashcam" which prompted a 'what if' alert to me. They can make for incontrovertible evidence in the case of an insurance claim for sure.

Interesting to revisit close shaves later, though it does impress on me that video footage can so easily be 'clipped' to change the impact of what's being viewed. Also those minor transgressions by others that happen on the periphery of your vision IRL can be variously chilling or dismissed in review.

[Olive]

I watched that video clip in horror.   I wonder if the driver was properly licensed?   The company owning the truck isn't exactly renowned for its integrity.    A few years ago there was a big scandal about corruption in several Waikato branches of VTNZ whereby some officials were selling licences, particularly heavy truck licenses.   Every time I see a badly behaved truck I wonder about the capability of the driver.   

We've seen some horrible truck driving when driving back from Auckland late at night - articulated trucks driving in convoys and having fun by overtaking one another on narrow country roads.

This report in the Herald includes the speed of the vehicle whose dashcam was recording the incident (which the TV footage chose to crop out at the crucial time). I can totally understand the truckie's frustration with a slow car in the 'passing lane' doing around 45kph as the truck was trying to maintain momentum on a long uphill climb. Once the truck loses that momentum it becomes a real grind for them as they juggle between low gears. The overtaken car is just fortunate that the truck didn't choose to overtake them on the left, as I would have done in the same situation (though in rewatching the video the truck being overtaken by both of them would have prevented this).

My observation is that the truck travelling at speed came upon a car hogging the passing lane who failed to move over or accelerate when the truck started filling his rear vision mirror (possibly also warning the car with a horn blast but no audio on the dashcam video) so was forced to decide whether to brake and lose his uphill momentum or use his speed to overtake, admittedly with some risk involved. Also the front pillar and speed recorded by the dashcam would suggest it was in another truck which the J-Swap truck was just completing an overtaking move on so what added risk was then presented if the overtaking truck chose to stay behind the white car? Cut in short on the other truck or be beside it as the passing lane finished?

Having travelled that road many times I know that similar situations aren't uncommon and that the behaviour of light vehicles is often very inconsiderate and frequently dangerous to other road users and particular heavy vehicles.

Be that as it may, and the truckie wasn't the only inconsiderate driver, I don't think there is any excuse for passing on a no-passing line.   That road is a particularly dangerous one, having been built when trucks were considerably smaller and the overall traffic much lighter.   If the truck has to lose his/her uphill momentum then so be it.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies Another hot day on its way.

The roses need dead heading and there are a few weeds to pull so I'll get onto that shortly. MrK is emptying one of the compost bins, love the compost he makes. It's lovely and dark and full of soil goodies. There is something satisfying seeing our garden and food waste being turned into beautiful soil. The bird bath needs it's daily clean and top up. By late afternoon it is pretty much empty.

We have a shelf full of National Geographic magazines I need to find a home for. I might see if the op shop would like some and the local kindies. Buggar, should have asked our daughter if she wanted some for her pre-schoolers. The shelf they are on is needed for more books

I've started stitching now and so far, so good. There is a lot of cutwork, and it looked a little confusing as to where I will be cutting. I've traced the design into my workbook and shaded in the areas to be cut to make things a little clearer.

The Furry One has gone back to bed, guess I'll be doing the garden 'rounds' on my own this morning.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

The sun is well up. Was a lovely days yesterday.

Woke up massively sore, but meds have worked and now I've eaten I wont feel so wobbly. The sciatic nerve also reared its ugly head for a second or two but seems to have hidden again.. Thanks Goodness Been a long time since that showed up.

Back in the sewing room again today. Yesterday was more about getting the rubbish and recyclables out. One small area to do that to and then I have a few crates to check. Then a resort to figure out what I plan on keeping and what I wont. Thats the hard part lol.

It is nice having music on, Missy popping in every so often and checking on me. The garage will need a re tidy too but that can be next weekend.

Have a wonderful day everyone

[Niger Lover]

morning ladies   Another hot day on its way.

The roses need dead heading and there are a few weeds to pull so I'll get onto that shortly.  MrK is emptying one of the compost bins, love the compost he makes.  It's lovely and dark and full of soil goodies.  There is something satisfying seeing our garden and food waste being turned into beautiful soil.  The bird bath needs it's daily clean and top up.  By late afternoon it is pretty much empty.

We have a shelf full of National Geographic magazines I need to find a home for.  I might see if the op shop would like some and the local kindies.  Buggar, should have asked our daughter if she wanted some for her pre-schoolers.  The shelf they are on is needed for more books

I've started stitching now and so far, so good.  There is a lot of cutwork, and it looked a little confusing as to where I will be cutting.  I've traced the design into my workbook and shaded in the areas to be cut to make things a little clearer. 

The Furry One has gone back to bed, guess I'll be doing the garden 'rounds' on my own this morning.

Happy crafting

Good morning. I myself was out in the garden yesterday. I do need to start a compost bin myself but my house is currently on the market... next house. We had one when I was a snot and it was amazing, nice dark soil. Might get back out in the garden today now that you've posted this lol.

[Mica]

Morning all 
Cold and raining talk  about seesaw weather


Collected friend from hospital yesterday and went to beach side cafe and spent a couple of hours yakking. She said it was good to get out. Her DH is still in critical care and of course future  is unknown which makes it hard to plan.

Had nice evening at another friend drinks and nibbles night always good to chat and get to know new people.

Indoors day thinking of making a little cross body clutch using dress fabric scraps to hols my phone and sun glasses  will have a play later 

Enjoy your day

[kiwimade64]

Welcome Niger Lover, so good to have another friendly face to chat too   Omg yes, a compost is a 'must have' for the garden.  Saves all those $$$ to dump good green waste only to buy compost in.  Never made sense to us.  And so good to be able to take what you want, when you want.

Roses have been dead headed and Raspberry Ice put in its place lol.  The canes were taller than me.  We suspect it is celebrating now the tree has gone   I have three vases of roses from it as well.  Legacy is a bit of a disappointment as the flowers ball when wet.  A bit like some Austins.  Graham Thomas has rewarded me with some gorgeous flowers, I'm so glad I didn't pull him out when he was smashed to bits by the tree.  Just noticed I've been bleeding, I guess Raspberry Ice had the last laugh today

Edited to add, Niger Lover, when my sister-in-law moved a couple of years ago, she bagged up most of the compost and took it with her.  She was starting a garden from scratch and the new owner wasn't fussed if it went.  Could be something to think about.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I love my compost bins, I just don't enjoy the emptying task but have learned a few tricks over the years that make it easier, more old lady sized! A few old planks for the edges to sit on means they don't embed themselves and the chicken netting still sits neatly to keep out opportunist meeces and their bigger cousins. Makes it easier to pull the bin off the contents once it has had a year to cook and then that heap can be easily harvested or just spread if I have positioned the bin in the right spot. And like you KM I find green bins a bit of a scam, they should be paying us for all that good stuff, not the other way round. We have one provided, but I only use it for grasses and at autumn pruning time when our many hydrangeas and roses would make short work of the three black bins I have around the place. And slowly but surely I have convinced one other resident to use them rather than stink up their council rubbish bins with green waste, the others are not quite so garden minded.

Still, it means I get all the pleasure of the results...

[Niger Lover]

Welcome Niger Lover, so good to have another friendly face to chat too

Edited to add, Niger Lover, when my sister-in-law moved a couple of years ago, she bagged up most of the compost and took it with her.  She was starting a garden from scratch and the new owner wasn't fussed if it went.  Could be something to think about.

Thank you.  My stuff will be in storage for quite a while unfortunately. If my house sells that is. Ive been chucking everything into the hedge, not sure if it has any effect lol.

[harm_less]

I love my compost bins, ..... Makes it easier to pull the bin off the contents once it has had a year to cook and then that heap can be easily harvested or just spread if I have positioned the bin in the right spot......
Still, it means I get all the pleasure of the results...

An alternative method I've seen in gardens opened during the Taranaki Garden Festival in the Sustainable Backyards category is to cut (hole drill) the lower section of a 10L paint bucket and then bury it to near the top in your vege garden. Put your kitchen scraps into the 'sunken' bucket and then fit the lid to keep opportunists out of its contents. The earthworms will then consume and transport the contents into the surrounding garden. Genius combined compost and worm farm method without the vermin risk and heavy work involved in conventional composting systems.

[Niger Lover]

I love my compost bins, ..... Makes it easier to pull the bin off the contents once it has had a year to cook and then that heap can be easily harvested or just spread if I have positioned the bin in the right spot......
Still, it means I get all the pleasure of the results...

An alternative method I've seen in gardens opened during the Taranaki Garden Festival in the Sustainable Backyards category is to cut (hole drill) the lower section of a 10L paint bucket and then bury it to near the top in your vege garden. Put your kitchen scraps into the 'sunken' bucket and then fit the lid to keep opportunists out of its contents. The earthworms will then consume and transport the contents into the surrounding garden. Genius combined compost and worm farm method without the vermin risk and heavy work involved in conventional composting systems.

Cut the entire bottom out of the bucket?

[harm_less]

An alternative method I've seen in gardens opened during the Taranaki Garden Festival in the Sustainable Backyards category is to cut (hole drill) the lower section of a 10L paint bucket and then bury it to near the top in your vege garden. Put your kitchen scraps into the 'sunken' bucket and then fit the lid to keep opportunists out of its contents. The earthworms will then consume and transport the contents into the surrounding garden. Genius combined compost and worm farm method without the vermin risk and heavy work involved in conventional composting systems.

Cut the entire bottom out of the bucket?

Not in the examples I've seen. Just use a hole saw or large (auger) drill bit to provide access for the worms but the integrity of the bucket remains so you can relocate it complete if required.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I have done that, but even easier is to just dig a hole and bury non protein kitchen waste, being sure to make it deep enough to be beyond seedling planting depth. That works really well for new gardens that have little organic matter already in place.

Btw, I have used a box cutter blade on a bucket to make a hole, done carefully it works for those with minimal tools.

[Niger Lover]

Cut the entire bottom out of the bucket?

Not in the examples I've seen. Just use a hole saw or large (auger) drill bit to provide access for the worms but the integrity of the bucket remains so you can relocate it complete if required.

Thank you. Ive soaked this into my memory and will try it in the future.

[kiwimade64]

absolutely genius, harm_less! We have a worm farm and MrK has siphoned off at least 20 liters of worm wee! I love the stuff and use it with great abundance lol. But this seems a better idea.

[harm_less]

I have done that, but even easier is to just dig a hole and bury non protein kitchen waste, being sure to make it deep enough to be beyond seedling planting depth. That works really well for new gardens that have little organic matter already in place.

.....

I've used the garden burial method when we lived in town but one of our neighbours had a dog they let run loose at nights and we often used to discover holes dug in our vege garden with half rotted scraps strewn around. Lovely!  

I far prefer living rurally as one of the accepted norms is that stray dogs are soon dispatched (shot) as they pose unacceptable dangers to livestock.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

There are one or two not so stray ones I'd like to put a bullet in round here. Some people should not be allowed to have animal companions.

Or children for that matter.

[Jan]

Tried to put up a link of the humongous waves at the Whirinaki beach - have scuttled up here for the night while the grandchildren deal with my foul smelling domestic problem .I have been away for a few days - as soon as I opened my door I thought somebody had crawled in there and died but it was my fridge freezer - my grandchildren are emptying the freezer for me and moving a new fridge in - they don’t trust me to not salvage something - the week before I went away I had a box of field mushrooms given to me - had cooked them and frozen in small portions- probably would have been tempted to keep at least one bag - such a waste
When I moved in here there was a bokashi composting system - you could put everything in it but you had to feed it pellets which I kept running out of - I swapped it for a small normal compost bin which my garden man keeps working very efficiently
My 82 year old cousin inherited by grandmothers house and he has lived in it for 50 years - she had an amazing garden so she left her house to my cousin as he helped her often and she knew the garden would flourish under his care - it’s a spectacular garden - nearly an acre - a very upmarket spec home was built on the neighbouring half acre - it was sold before it was finished to kiwis returning from Oz - it has turned out horrific - it is a 501 and his family - there are 11 adults and 9 children but they aren’t his problem - they have been there 6 months - the SPCA counted 22 cats - my cousin and his wife can not leave their doors or windows open as kittens having kittens use their house as a birthing unit as there are a breeding pair of pit bulls so they come to my cousins constantly- his veggie garden is decimated - the SPCA put some traps in my cousins garden but one of the teenagers put a rock through his window - police were called told him it would be safer not to trap the cats - they have both worked so hard all their working lives it’s simply not right - they are going to have to move - maybe if they weren’t animal lovers it would be easier they could take matters into their own hands
Think I might be not going to have a lot of sleep - the sea is roaring

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies Summer is here in the Waikato, still have that chilly southerly though.

Ohhh buggar about the freezer, Jan. I can only imagine the smell as you came through the door. We were lucky with ours, MrK spotted it defrosting before we lost anything. As for those people, there are no words for them. I don't know how they can have so many uncared for pets. I know there are people who think cats and dogs have to have a litter before desexing which is a load of rubbish.

Not sure what we are doing today, I have an ECG this morning but other than that the day is ours. MrK has a bit more of the compost bin to empty and then it can be filled again. The lavatera needs a really good prune back so that will start it off. Tomorrow, we have someone coming to fit the grab handle in the bathroom. I wasn't happy about MrK standing in the bath to fit it.

The embroidery piece is starting to come together LOTS of padded satin stitch lol and some split stitch. It will be in a soft sage green.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Good morning everyone

Not a breath of wind here. but nice and cool.

Ohh Jan what a horrid mess to deal with. Im glad the family are helping. Make sure they take photos for the insurance.

So sad re the beautiful house and garden and dead beats next door. Id hate to walk away but you cannot live your life in fear.

I was sooo sore last night. A little better today. But have taken meds. I have to pick up my prescription and I thought if I have to get dressed to go there. I might as well go to the home. I wouldn't have if I hadn't needed to go out. but its also a way to make me rest.

Have been finding more photos. Normally I am an organized person so dont know why photos are turning up in odd places. The three pantries to do then I can figure out what is going and what is staying.

I started the fourth tree last night. I wasnt sure I was going to like this one but its really cool. I will put a photo up when done. Must show you some of the others too.

Have a fab day all