Rising up

Majoribanks Street, Mt Victoria, Pลneke.

(Street is pronounced โ€œMarsh-banksโ€ and was named after Stewart Marjoribanks (1774 โ€“ 1863), a wealthy wine merchant and โ€˜Whigโ€™ M.P in the British House of Commons; who never visited New Zealand).


Dark trails

Early morning winter walk under the trees of Matairangi, Pลneke.


City lights

Early morning view from the slopes of Matairangi


Finished reading: Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance by Bronwen Everill ๐Ÿ“š

Good overview of the misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions that have blighted Western economic interventions in Africa.


Harbour Lights


Hansโ€™ birthday lunch


Path of light

Oriental Bay


Winter Tails

All dressed up to go to โ€œCabaretโ€ at Ivy.


Installed book display shelves; hat hooks and re-arranged art in my room.


Finished reading: The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong ๐Ÿ“š

Heartbreaking yet strangely comforting. Connection and community across age, gender, race and surrounded by addiction and poverty.


Finished reading: Our New Gods by Thomas Vowles ๐Ÿ“š

Well that was nasty. But excellently written.


June reading summary


Wellington morning

โค๏ธ this city


Evening walk


Finished reading: Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire ๐Ÿ“š

A fun but thought provoking romp with an assortment of odd folk, wizards, fungus goblins, talking donkeys and basil plants, and plenty of murder. And all kinds of transitions.


Rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ morning


Finished reading: The World After Gaza by Pankaj Mishra ๐Ÿ“š

A challenging but ultimately somewhat nihilistic take on the atrocity of Gaza. Some important points but fails to see a way forward.


Finished reading: Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart ๐Ÿ“š

An inspiring and surprisingly hopefully assessment of what it is to be Jewish in the aftermath of Gaza (and indeed decades of the denial of Palestinian rights). Suggests that there is still - that there is always - opportunity for collective liberation of both Israelis and Palestinians. That, in fact, this is the only future where liberty is possible.


Streets of Wellington


Dune Dawgs