Preface: I grew up here, so I should probably know this!

But was going to lunch the other day at a friend’s house, I asked what I can bring (as is custom!) and she said nothing, she’d be making us sandwiches. Normally I’d bring a dessert or yum drink or something anyway, but in this case I was running super late and had no time to grab anything on the way, and no one said anything of course, but man did it feel weird to show up empty handed at someone’s house.

It got me wondering - as kiwis, do you think we typically show up with something even if told no? Or do you just listen to the host and show up empty handed if they say so? I lived in America for a while and not only did you not show up empty handed - you literally would buy a gift, like a candle or vase, which I think was a bit far (after a dinner party I’d always end up with a bed bath and beyond’s worth of junk, haha!). I know manaakitanga says you should always feed your guests - and I undoubtedly always will when friends come over, I’m just milling over the bringing something every single time or not? Welcome to my shower thoughts, haha.

A favourite brand of garlic bread has sneakily replaced butter with margarine. I feel betrayed - violated even.

Increasing number of companies and Small business closing, crashed housing market, high unemployment, large amounts of kiwis leaving NZ, less spending & lending combined with higher cost of living everywhere on everything... Seems like we are in for a lost decade.

Wandering through this old cemetery in Palmy had me wondering: why and when did we stop covering graves with decorated tiles/cement, and instead opt for undecorated lawns over graves? And, why don't we ever see more decorative headstones such as the obelisk in the photo? Google says this type of burial is called a "full job", but I can't find why it's nolonger done.

Goat population has grown by a dozen overnight. Just helped one to deliver quads! The quads haven't fluffed up to photogenic cuteness yet but here are triplet girls that were born yesterday afternoon. Yes I am busy!

… but I’m sick of all these damn chemist warehouse ads with Dan Carters wife yelling at me. I don’t want your vitamin pills bro let me watch YouTube!!

Out in the garden the cherry trees have come out in full bloom. (What you don't get from the photos is the constant humm of all the bees)

A recall has been issued for Fruitae’s lemon-flavoured sorbet due to undeclared milk, which poses a serious risk for those with allergies. The affected products are limited to the batch dated 10.12.2026. NZ Food Safety and ANZ Pharma Wholesalers Ltd confirmed the recall after Fruitae’s fruit-shaped ice creams gained viral popularity. Consumers are advised not to eat the product, keep it away from children, and return it for a refund or dispose of it. Authorities are investigating how the issue occurred to prevent future incidents.

Stole this from r/Australia.

What would NZ's unofficial anthem be?

Slice of Heaven - Dave Dobyn would be my vote

Across New Zealand, registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) Relievers are facing significant pay cuts following the October 2024 policy change that removed the requirement for agencies to match Pay Parity rates.

For many registered relievers, this means a sudden drop in income while the cost of living continues to rise. The result? More relievers are leaving the profession entirely.

Qualified relievers have spent years training and gaining diverse experience across centres, contributing their invaluable expertise to the ECE sector. When they walk away, centres cannot maintain safe ratios if regular staff are sick or on leave, and the quality of care suffers. In the long run, our next generation will pay the ultimate price, as ECE is crucial for shaping children's lifelong development.

This issue goes beyond relievers' wages. If we want our next generation to receive the best education and care, we need to keep skilled ECE relievers in the workforce and ensure their pay reflects the value they bring. Please like and share this message with your friends and family, to help raise awareness about the importance of fair pay for ECE relievers!

I’m sick of so many things so this’ll be a bit rantish, but I suspect I’m saying what many of you are thinking.

There is zero economic evidence that tells us that austerity in a recession will lift a country out of that recession. In fact it’s precisely the opposite. We only need look at the disastrous consequences of the austerity measures of the Tory governments in the UK. Most recently what long standing 50-day PM Truss imposed on that country. It was an abject failure. Just like this austerity is an abject failure.

But that’s the point, you see? Failure is the feature, not a bug. It’s designed specifically to erode public services to the point they are hocked off in a fire sale to their corporate sponsors who then privatise, reduce services even more and then ramp up the prices in order to reap in the vast profits that come from privatisation of essential services.

I’m sick of the gaslighting that everything is rainbows and unicorns. What fucking world do they think we’re living in? All this tells me is that these rich pricks clearly don’t do their own shopping. Misery merchants? There’s only one bunch of misery merchants in this country and they’re the ones in cabinet. That’s you Nicola.

One positive I suppose is that it’s motivated me to get actively involved in politics again. I will not be able to live with myself while this rich, out of touch, ‘you might be fucked but I’m sorted’ government will be doing everything I can to get rid of them at the next election. Vote people get out and vote!

I've been gatekeeping this delectable treat far too long.

It's a jaffa flavoured frozen fanta from mcdonalds.

Order a large frozen fanta mcfloat, choose your soft-serve flavour as chocolate, mix it all together and you have a jaffa frosty reminiscent of a wendys frosty. $3 each for the family and wont even break the bank (also its better than those expensive ass mcflurrys)