Mike Riversdale

Castlepoint is a very well photographed place, especially the lighthouse, and so I won't share my tourist take on the standard views. When the tide is out there is a 'bay' right next to the lighthouse promontory that I think is stunning.

Plenty of time for that after the fact

It's quite some years since I had my mental collapse. The memories of the weekend have already moved into myth inside my head and so it's was with a little trepidation that I scrolled through the remaining photos looking for a suitable  daily post . A beautifully wild, rugged, and nature controlled scene viewed through a dark harsh filter reflects my memory of the inner world view Highly filtered view of Castlepoint beach

Can't really tell whether #Wellington photos of cranes are ones of buildings going up or ones of building coming down. This one, taken on March 12th 2016 on Boulcott Street, is ...

The only way to go with life, dive head first into it and enjoy the colours

Sometimes it's not as obvious as it should. When I lose the words amongst the everyday foreground of life know, my amazing kids, that I Love You

The festive season is upon us and I Am Ready. Don your Yuletide jacket, adjust those Christmas undies, and prepare your eyebrows of merriment.

Of all the roofs, I choose you

[Update: Poppy Hillstead was removed from the line-up in 2020 and all of series 1 - 3, in which she was a part, has been deleted. I would suggest not bothering with Gossipmongers anymore as this incident left a very bad taste in my mouth. And of course there is no longer anything to embed around the Space Worm, sorry folks] The GOSSIPMONGERS podcast has David Earl, Joe Wilkinson, Poppy Hillstead sharing gossip and rumours which are mostly hilarious, often scatalogical, and sometimes the greatest stories you've ever heard. The 2019 supreme champion is the TRUE Space Worm , listen up (starts at 37:35) and prepare to snort LOL Subscribe to GOSSIPMONGERS

I love big things ... by that I mean big versions of things that are normally everyday size ... you know what I mean! Big tyres at the 2016 Southern Fieldays

There's something both horrendous (cramped, the smells, tiny cooking facilities) and appealing (compact, the memories, tiny cooking facilities) that appeals to holidaying in a classic caravan. I also love 1950s holiday destination posters and a caravan plays into that big time. YOU in the 1950s!

This Invercargill building was surely painted for that very wispy blue sky (1 Don Street, Invercargill)

Keeping this blog's  tradition  going, this is my Yuletide posting about all that you should know for Christmas. But let's just take a moment in the busy day to remember what it's all about - the people you love. I'm thinking of the people you love right now ... are you thinking of mine? Of course, it's not just about family and friends (if that's who I was thinking of) but also presents, alcohol and oodles of sitting around in the sun (hardy har har Northern Hempishpereans!). If Jesus is your thing, I mean, if he's your bag, what you're into man then do the religious thing as well. Just don't get all "God" over Christmas and try to remember that it was  originally a pagan festival  around the longest day, certainly don't want you Christians foisting your ideas on people and trying to subvert the real message! Fun. that's the real message. Believe in Father Christmas (who shats all over Santa) and have too much laughter with t...

Easily the best way to get to the beach is the transporter beam

Filters eh

"The first time is the worse", I was told whilst being strapped to Judith for my second bungy back in 1994. This advice turned out to be bollocks. I knew what was coming this time and so I departed the platform with all the grace of a sack of potatoes casually thrown down a well. Queenstown view, upside down

Whilst this sunset isn't from the 2019 NSW fires we've certainly been 'enjoying' similar views caused by the smoke across many parts of New Zealand Miramar sunset, Feb 2016

So many Christmas rituals we have, even here in New Zealand Aotearoa, but where do they all come from? And are the myths true, did Coke give Father Christmas his red coat, why is he Father Christmas and not Santa, and what about those weird Victorian Christmas cards! Many of the UK’s best-loved Christmas traditions first became popular in the Victorian era. In a special edition of the You’re Dead To Me podcast , Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Fern Riddell and comedian Russell Kane to discuss the 19th-century festive customs that are still central to our seasonal celebrations today – from crackers to Christmas cards. Here are eight of the most surprising things we learned ... The first Christmas crackers were known as ‘Bangs of Expectation’ Victorian Christmas cards were the stuff of nightmares Beer was once a popular present for young boys Our Christmas tree tradition came from Germany The idea that Coca Cola first dressed Father Christmas in red and white is a myth...

A novel's cover just waiting for the title. I'm thinking Gothic adventure with an overwhelming sense of foreboding set in Victorian London circa 1891. A golem may be involved. (stylised photo of raindrops on a window)

Friday 20th December sees Lady Lucks Pies , the finest pie shop in Wellington nay the whole of New Zealand, closing their oven doors for the final time. I urge you all to get along and taste what you're gonna remember for the rest of your born days. AND, you can buy frozen pies to eek out the taste memories for as long as you can! The loss of Lady Luck is a sad time but don't forget the best f&c isn't far way at  Souvlaki At Acropolis (yes, you might recognise that name, especially if you visit them at Press Hall on Willis Street in the Wellington CBD).

If you guessed from yesterday that Gromit was tending to his giant marrow in order to hold aloft the Golden Carrot Award, well done Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

What is our favourite doggy companion growing? Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

With all the lies, fake photos, silence, and general misdirection by the UK Conservative Party and their ongoing attempt to fool the British public one action stands out as being dropped by the mainstream media, the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (well, his "office" at least which I'm sure would've included Dominic Cummings ), and the November 2019 decision not  to release a report on Russian meddling in the democratic process as produced by the UK Parliament's own cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee . It is understood that the dossier examines allegations that Russian money has flowed into British politics in general and to the Conservative party in particular. It also includes claims that Russia launched a major influence operation in 2016 in support of Brexit.  source: The Guardian, Sat 2 Nov 2019 17.25: Dominic Grieve calls for release of report on Russian meddling Why and how has this been quietly dropped by the UK radio, TV, and tra...

Such a simple and effective way of allowing both the tree and the cables to exist at the same time. Top work the person that first thought of this and to all those that keep it going.

"Oh you are such a brave chief, we prostate ourselves to you and in your leadership we believe. One more step and we too can be in the light. We are right behind you sire. Step forth ..."

I am emotionally torn when it comes to zoos and wildlife parks ✅ amazing for us to see these animals so close, ❌ they mostly look like they really don't want to be there. (2016 lion at Orana Wildlife Park , Christchurch)

A 1923 archive article from The Guardian still seems very valid for today's voters, no matter your gender. 5. She should put aside all trivial personalities and the petty slanders and insinuations that grow rankly each election-time. Her vote is to be given to the man or woman whose policy seems to her the most sound and constructive, and the elected candidate will stand in Parliament for the opinions of herself and of the community in which she lives. In the US and the UK this is very difficult to do as old style media (TV, radio, newspapers) and social media is almost entirely made up of "trivial personalities", and thrives upon, "petty slanders and insinuations". New Zealand is on the cusp, especially with the National Party using the Republican / Conservative / Liberal playbook of division, we see you Judith Collins. Of course, the 1923 article points out that we should remember why one is voting. This seems to me be lost in those that are older ...

Green and blue are two of my  favourite colours - WHAT ARE YOURS?

How joyous to live in a country, New Zealand, that has an official Wizard* as appointed in 1990. The Wizard Of New Zealand  QSM (born Ian Brackenbury Channell) * previously the "Cosmologer, Living Work of Art and Shaman" at Melbourne University

Always best to leave the event / relationship / meeting / car with a sense of style and elegance - imagine swishing down these stairs each time (Heritage hotel, Christchurch)

Antique Milners 'Fire-Resisting Thief-Resisting' brass safe plaque

And look sharp about it or you'll soon be dancing with Jack Ketch.

Is this where I can use the word, "literally"?

Hope you have a wonderful Monday. Have a perfumed rose to start your day, you deserve it

It was OK, nothing to write home about, so I wrote this instead. As part of an ongoing and never ending I've Never Seen Star Wars -esque series of things that many others have have tried but I haven't, I bought myself a Pop-Tart and gave it a go. I can't remember who, if anyone, on the radio show had this but I do know it was the first thing on my list. And so, on with the experience. I was first surprised how thin it was, even when I was buying it I was thinking, "Hmm, this is a *lot* thinner, aren't they meant to be all puffed up and full of fruit that will become piping hot and burn the inside of my mouth." ... when I got it home I discover the thin packet contained TWO.     I had an official Pop-Tart that was much less wheleming that I had imagined. I took some photos, read the *very* small print, turned the toaster setting to lowest and in they both went ... wait ... done, yeah, my tart has popped, let's nosh on down. Smelled like cardbo...

I see my 2019 son is being inspired by 2007 Mark Cubey at Webstock, noice

Room to grow, stretch our filaments, and become the great plant expected by the universe

Spotted in the wild at Christchurch's Northlands Shopping Centre in December 2015

I am a loud, active, and bloody pain in the arse advocate of people getting out of Facebook (+ Instagram + WhatsApp + Messenger), this has been clear to many over the past few years. A while ago I was curious why so many still use Facebook when surely they have heard the word from above, the guru online has spoken, and the way is clear. Maybe, just maybe, people get something out of Facebook that I (and many others who are equally as annoying) haven't experienced. So I asked the question (on Twitter, I know but I don't actually have a Facebook account so, well, here we are) What are your 3 worries about deleting your account? The responses seem to fall into four categories: It's where I chat to my friends and family I'll miss out on events I have history on there, especially photos There are groups I belong to that exist nowhere else I also believe there is an underlying one of, "I'm no geek like you Mike and this is my website presence coz we all...

I know as a kid I thought adults knew everything - all adults knew all things, nope. Here's one I have long pondered and had concept what the answer could be, but now I know. "... that's why you can't get a sun tan through glass" ... heck, I didn't even know that.

Cropped and done, sometimes arty farty is a doddle Clarence, New Zealand