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Hocus has been in a fight. Weeping bite marks from probably a dog.

Robot cats.

@littleK We will try seeds this year - last year the garden centre had a sale on seedlings and as we were new to the whole thing, we thought they would be easier and went with those which meant everything grew pretty much at the same rate. They also came in packs of six and of course, we could not throw any away, so we had a serious overload! Gave lots away at work and to neighbours. It's great having neighbours who also overproduce as you get different things back. Although the old couple next door left us a whole load of silverbeet on the doorstep and I didn't have the heart to tell them we were already drowning in the stuff.

@boristrump Thanks for the book recommendation. The couple next door are great; every time we speak to them they have some tips: "it's time for xyz, you must thin them out, don't do that..."

@Aroogah We had a number like that. They were supposed to be globe carrots but the compacted soil and lack of thinning resulted in these orange nightmares. Tasted OK though and we took more care with the long ones which turned out great - planted them in really loose compost/soil mix in a barrel, resulting in some quite girthy 8-inchers.

@hugo7 Thanks- it is quite a rewarding pastime. Re: photos, I just selected multiple files when uploading from files on my PC.

Some photos from FB

Getting into the gardening thing now we have a large garden.

Previous rental place, grew stuff like lettuce, tomatoes, peas in gro-bags and pots.

Now having bought a house, we have a raised bed veg patch which we planted last summer (New Zealand) with lots different things to see what grew well and how big they got: sugar snap peas, different lettuces, asian greens, corn, carrots, leeks, spring onions, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, courgettes, cucumber, kale, rhubarb, radishes. Had potatoes in a half-barrel, tomatoes in long planters, have limes, lemons & blackcurrants in pots, lot of herbs in pots.

We also have a peach tree which is pretty cool!

The lawn was very poor when we bought the house from dogs pissing and digging but is now pretty lush after over-seeding.

The old couple next door have been growing veg for their extended family for years and years so lots of tips and help. They pass on any unwanted produce and seedlings as well.

This year, we will be a bit more conservative with our planting and put more effort into timing. Last year we planted everything at once and then had shit loads of veg to eat all at the same time! Lots of blanching and freezing helped but we need to spread it out over the year. Currently (it's getting towards winter here) the veg plot is being dug over thoroughly, down to a depth of 2 feet with plenty of rotted donkey manure and sawdust going in. The soil was a bit clay-ey and compacted (see carrot...) and the previous owners did not really use it.

I will try to find more photos from last year, it was pretty full, probably overfull but was certainly our healthiest summer ever!

New tree

You don't have to go to work, just sit here all day and stroke me.....

Looks nice and people-free.
Did the crossing a few years ago in the summer, lovely weather but too many people.

@andy_k
Looks like a nice day on Mount Taranaki!
Are you you doing a tour of all NZ?

I am about to try this very thing, just waiting for the guards to arrive. SKS Longboard 45mm, Tektro RX5 mini-v, 35mm Continental CycloCross Speed tyres on a Bombtrack Arise. Will update with success/failure.

New project, 2016 Bombtrack Arise. Will be a Bomb(track)proof commuter complete with guards and rack for the coming winter here in New Zealand. Maybe single speed, maybe 5 speed - the hub has a shortened freehub body so I think that is the max I can get on there if I use 7 speed spacing. Will use either bar-end, mtb thumbie or band-on downtube shifter. Completely flat commute but the wind can be a bitch and I have been using about 3 gears when using my road bike over the summer. Might need to change the mini-vs for cantis to get big tyres and guards in. Long term plan is 1x10 speed with different wheels for excursions/touring.

He seems to know his way around our house too, so maybe used to come in before we moved here a couple of years ago. Also very sheddy so rather he stayed outside!

Un-rotated photo

(cute) thieving bastard from down the road. Initially came over to try and chat up our two girls, now he seems to think it's his house too and nonchalantly strolls in and steals their food. And eats it ALL if not chased off. Need to get a new cat-flap with a chip sensor.

Pocus looking at the camera for once.

Baby Blue Fixies now available in New Zealand....
https://fixie.co.nz/collections/on-sale/products/baby-blue
http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cycling/road-bikes/other/auction-1257576057.htm

And Happy 1st Birthday to our girls, Hocus (pink collar) and Pocus (green collar).

The sun shade is the latest place to be. You can see through it and it is flexy and they love chasing a stick run around the underneath. Until they forget they are up high, get carried away and slip off the edge....

Yes, I mentioned the socks and they said to photograph and get costs for everything that was damaged, so they will be added to the list. Bike is totalled, should be able to salvage some parts though.

Yes, I'm Ok thanks, checked over by the ambos. Just a bit stiff today and a little cut on my ankle. Very lucky really, managed to bounce off the bonnet and roll along the road rather than smashing into it. The driver has accepted liability, his insurance have already contacted me to say they will cover the bike replacement so should be all good.

Bad mood commute home due to Trump victory compounded by old duffer who can't brake. Luckily I bounced off the bonnet, tucked and rolled and only sustained a minor cut to my ankle. My wife was more concerned about the hole in my new birthday cycling socks which were "expensive". Turns out the driver is some famous NZ airforce pilot who went on Antartica expeditions with Edmund Hillary in the 50s.

Hocus is climbing EVERYTHING. Current fad is climbing up into bushes and then popping out at the top/side. Slightly worried the wooden electricity/phone poles will be next.

Summit Road?

Our new arrivals, Hocus (right) and Pocus.

This problem happened to me this morning, pushing the button did nothing to help, even after borrowing some pliers from a lawnmower shop and tightening the valve core. And removing the hose from the pump itself. Tried again with the pliers, fucked up the threads and bent the stem so couldn't even thread the pump hose on or tighten the knurled nut. Luckily they had a compressed air line so I jammed some silicone tubing over the whole valve and managed that way. (I should have explained what I needed the pliers for when I first asked, instead of looking like a twat pumping madly but getting nowhere (no air?) with my stupid little pump).

So I have just had a look at my tubes and pump - the pump hose head screws directly onto the valve core threads, which on these tubes (Continental Race 28) is the SAME thread the cap screws on to. There is a flat side on the threads to help screw the core into the stem. You can screw on the cap and pull the core out of the valve body if loose enough. Neither the cap nor the pump hose engages on the valve body outer threads at all and there is no other thread. If the core is really tight you can get away with it but it is not just a case of the seal and pressure with these tubes.