Short stroll, st along a short part of the the Bethells Coast to Taetahinga Point and back to the track carpark… More to maintain (Hiking specific) Fitness or at least hopefully stop it from falling away too much!!
Short Bethells Walk
98 RON Petrol in a Toyota D4 Motor
Updated: 25 July 2020 – Still no issues with the motor. Also fixed up some errors and typos in this post.
From the “Individual experience not matching conventional wisdom” files…
The NZ AA have expressed concerns surrounding the “D4” (including the 1AZ-FSE) or GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) motors on their publications due to issues of Potential carbon build up on the intake valves, potentially restricting the airflow to the engine as a result of the petrol being injected directly into the combustion chamber as opposed to washing over the intake valves as per normal port injected engines. They also recommend running Toyota D4 motors on the “Highest Octane possible”. Continue reading “98 RON Petrol in a Toyota D4 Motor”
Port Waikato and Harker Reserve Exploration
6th to 7th May 2017 – Explore around Port Waikato and Harker Reserve. Originally meant to be a comet shower observation trip though Forecasts weren’t correct. Click here for Album
Unethics
Indeed, I personally knew the guy behind Ronovationz… but that was 10 or so years ago. Please don’t go asking me about him and his recently exposed behaviour in the media.
In context, it looks like he pushed it a little bit too far over the edge, particularly considering given the climate of housing unaffordability issues which really are a political hot potato at the moment. (There is no two ways about it, Australasian property prices in the main centres are way out of line relative to things globally… being other real estate markets in the world, and relative to other economic factors)
The fact that “Every investor does it”, doesn’t make it right as such.
Walk to Crosbie’s Hut
29th April 2017 to 30th April 2017, Walk to Crosbie’s hut (in the Coromandels) via Tararu Track and back down via Te Puru Track. Pictures posted here
With Glen Doughty, Carl Brett, Lina Zhou, Juliaty Jap, Helen Zhang and myself (I’m taking the picture above)
For me, due to the proximity to the Taranaki Trip and the fact that I hadn’t yet unpacked my tramping pack, this trip pretty much felt like a continuation of the Taranaki Trip.
Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit Trip Notes
Pictures from Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit have been posted to NUI.NZ
With Matt Davison, Nicole Scheid, Brody Radford and myself. Flew down from Auckland very early Saturday Morning and flew back up to Auckland on the ANZAC Tuesday
T’was a very tough going track, mainly due to the steep and sharp undulations. Oaonui Track was pretty rough and took a lot of energy to do. Was pretty much drained out at the end of both day 2 and day 3 of the Walk. Continue reading “Taranaki Around the Mountain Circuit Trip Notes”
Russell + Whananaki and Surrounds
15th April to 17th April 2017 – A rather spontaneous Explore around Russell, Whananaki and surrounds. Photos posted here
Unpredictability of the Financial Markets
This is a price chart of what particular financial security / instrument?
Continue reading “Unpredictability of the Financial Markets”
Leigh to Pakiri Coastal Walk
Some pictures from an easy and leisurely coastal walk around Leigh and Pakiri with the Auckland Hiking Group Meetup. Pictures posted on NUI.NZ.
Been quite a number of months (Approximately 4 months) since I last went out with the Auckland Hiking Group. Was great to catch up with some old faces again.
Swanson Pipeline Waitakere Dam loop Redux
Did a rather short “reconditioning” hike in the morning (before heading off to afternoon family activities), photos posted to NUI.NZ (as per usual).
Route by pure chance ended up being almost exactly identical the Swanson Pipeline Waitakere Dam loop I did last year with the Auckland Hiking Group where the dam was perhaps more spectacular then with water going gushing down it. My own photos for that hike have been posted here.
Almost feel like combining the two albums.
Air New Zealand Farewells last 767 in the fleet
Staff and friends events with Air New Zealand farewelling the last 767 in the fleet. T’was a splendid Morning.
Indonesian Festival 2017
Photos from the Auckland Indonesian Festival 2017
Small and quaint little festival held on the Grounds of the AUT Wellesley Campus celebrating Indonesia and it’s culture
Forecasting weather like the financial markets
While I am fairly sure that the folks at MetService try to do their best, the Auckland Regional Rain forecasts specifically have not been particularly dependable. I did have a First world problem where I missed out on hiking this weekend due to acting on MetService’s warnings for the Auckland Region that did not eventuate (except for parts of the Waitakare ranges) until well into the Evening.
It would be timely to Note, this non-expert opinion from myself does not include MetService’s Marine (Swell and Wind), Mountain and inland forecasts, which I hear are at least a little bit more on the mark if not more, with the Mountain forecasts being reasonable enough in the times I’ve needed to refer to them.
I’m not quite sure what it is, I do get the weather is simply the weather, but to date, much of the rain forecasting for Auckland just “isn’t quite there” to be of tangible enough benefit. It’s almost despite advances in technology, we’ve hit right into the walls of diminishing returns, as in, every Dollar being put into improving weather forecasting accuracy is now returning very little, if any improvement… as if we’ve hit a ceiling.
Some critics whom are more critical of the MetService forecasts suggest using MetVUW instead, to be honest, I don’t know how much better MetVUW are… While I’ve found the longer term rain forecasts perhaps slightly more on the mark, they may not be that much more reliable as people are lead to believe.
One of the reasons offered for the current state of Auckland’s rain forecasts appear to be that we’re coastal and that there are far less data points available to go on as opposed to an inland location on a larger continent, where there will often be many more weather stations and monitors in between the said Inland location and the coast.
I’ve called financial market and economic forecasting a “mug’s game” before. Could the same term apply to weather forecasting at least with regards to the rain forecast specifically in Auckland? It would seem that both forecasting systems rely, at least in substantial part, on computers crunching numbers. Anyway, It would be fair to say, there is undeniably perhaps a bit of “Boy who cried wolf” effect creeping in to my psychology as the MetService has issued multiple rain Warnings in the past only to have no or not very much rain occur in the majority of the Auckland Region.
The plan from here on in. If the MetService issues rain warnings again and we’re planning to head out for a day hike or other activity, on the Morning of the Activity…
- Look at the Rain radar on the MetService website.
- Briefly review the Rain forecast maps on both the MetVUW and MetService website.
- Look out the Windows or go outside to assess.
If the live rain map really is looking dire, then cancel or perhaps delay departure, if not (only patches of isolated rain), then continue with plans. Regardless of the forecast, always be prepared for change of weather, bring rain gear always and be prepared to abort if the weather changes en-route.
Something Crumbles and everyone cheers
General random photos from today. 25th Pasifika Festival at Western Springs during the day and later on “While you were sleeping” feature consisting of an iceberg texture projected on the walls of the Auckland Museum.
Having watched the awe inspiring trailer on the “While you were sleeping” page combined with the word “cinematic” along with the recommendation to “bring a blanket and a themo” at the bottom of the page, I have to admit, I was perhaps anticipating may be some transition to different varied imagery or may be even a few photo snap shots or videos of some Antarctic expeditions being creatively incorporated with the display.
The display itself was more maybe a slow gradual animating texture with an orchestral musical score playing in the background rather than being a “cinematic” show. In my mind, it didn’t quite lend itself to being a “sit back and watch” affair. In order to get the most out of the evening display itself, it requires one to circumnavigate the Museum Building… albeit slowly. Was good in itself as a 10 minute side visit (drop in) while going to or from one’s main evening activities in town.
Binary Options Warning + ineffectual ASIC supervision and enforcement
Please note, As always, These are my own personal (non-expert) opinions and should under no circumstances be purported as fact
I’m going to be direct, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have in my own personal (non-expert) opinion been derelict in their duty to oversee and enforce financial regulations. May be it’s not entirely their fault, I wouldn’t know, all I know is that there is a proliferation of dodgy investment products being promoted on Australian Shores by way of high pressure cold calls to prospective investors.
In my own personal mind, It beggars belief that outfits such as World Binary Exchange (WBE) among others have been allowed to continue to promote their services from Australia to Australians and beyond (in my case, living in New Zealand) without an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) for as long as they have.
I recall being contacted by this Entity (being World Binary Exchange) several times about a year ago engaging in what I feel was some pretty high pressure cold calling to try and sign me on to some unusual product trial. I told them I wasn’t interested and then blocked their number (with multiple attempts recorded). Continue reading “Binary Options Warning + ineffectual ASIC supervision and enforcement”
Vehicle Fire
Parked Vehicle spontaneously catches fire. Fire Brigade called and arrived in 2 minutes.
Not sure what caused it. Neighbour saw it and said the engine bay started smoking. Firefighters did a jolly good job in putting it out. Continue reading “Vehicle Fire”
Auckland Arts Festival
General Snaps from various Auckland CBD locations.
Watched Indiana Jones – “Raiders of the lost ark” + Orchestral performance by the Auckland Philharmonia at the Civic Theatre in town, which was quite a jolly performance. Continue reading “Auckland Arts Festival”
Wellington to Auckland Road Trip
Flew to Wellington, stayed overnight in Wellington at the Cambridge Hotel near town. Visited Te Papa, Parliament (doing the Parliaments Highlights tour), Botanic Gardens (Taking the cable car up), Mount Victoria. Weather was wet pretty much the entire time I was there, with some brief periods of the sun trying to break through.
Next day, decided to leave the wet weather behind, grabbed a hire car from the Wellington Thrifty Branch and headed north, via Wairarapa before staying the night in Palmerston North / Manuwatu
On the next morning, the Wet weather had caught me up, visited Manawatu Gorge then drove onwards to Whanganui before heading to Taumarunui for a snooze.
On the final leg, stopped by Ruakuri caves and then headed directly back to Auckland.
Return to Cowan Stream
Returned back to Cowan Stream. It’s a goodie which I’ve done several times in the past. Really enjoy the soak there and the opportunities to jump of rocks into the pools below. Including a friendly Eel at the base of one of the falls.
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Pictures of Epiphyllum Oxypetalum Flowers. Opens only once a year at night.
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23rd June 2020: This plant is no longer in my possession and has since been given to a relative down country.
Have been receiving the occasional inquiry about where to possibly acquire this plant (or clippings of) from site visitors both locally and overseas. If people know of any Garden centres (or otherwise) in New Zealand that may be able to supply this plant or otherwise assist, please do state in the comments below to help out fellow Netizens :o) Thanks!
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum