Gillian, from Waimakariri 🇳🇿

Pale sparrow on shed roof

Pale sparrow on shed roof

Pale sparrow at bird feeder

Wondering if people more knowledgeable than me can confirm my suspicion that we have a leucistic sparrow here? Please excuse photo quality- taken through window and flyscreen. #birds #birding #birdwatching

Everyone suggesting this wasn't a problem, I suffered regular calls from a minor pervert who was unknown to me. When I moved cities, he found my new number in the public phone book. The police had no way to trace him. I told him that I now had a tracer on my phone (a lie), and it finally stopped.

They tried to ‘pray the devil out’ of him - now trans man is thriving in NZ Isaac Loyola, 36, moved to Aotearoa to support his sister, not knowing the country would eventually give him the freedom to live as himself.

Wonders will never cease. A positive article about trans people on an NZ news site.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
#nzpol

Oil will be part of it, but given Trump's previous record, I reckon the rare earth minerals on the Jos plateau are more likely what's caught his imagination.
rareearthexchanges.com/news/nigeria...

I don't want to see any more stories about current or past leader's bladder issues. When did we start mocking people with catheters or wearing pads? What makes us think it affects their abilities to lead? Imagine how it feels to others with similar disabilities leading perfectly normal lives.

Pure gold!

#nz #dcis #breastcancer

I have a wonderful husband who, after I pleaded for his opinion, has told me what he would choose in my place, but emphasised that I am different. Very helpful.

I think I may come back to remove the other side. Being flat is easier to cope with, but I'm not sure yet. In NZ, symmeterisation is the woman's choice, is free, and can be delayed. At every stage, choices have been given.

Now I wait for pathology again, but the risks of progression are tiny ATM (less than 1%). No radiotherapy needed. If i left it, it would have a 30-50% chance of becoming invasive. So yee ha. I feel like the cloud has lifted. And I'm not leaving in debt!

So we went in for a re-excision, less than 10% chance of disease being left. Two weeks later, margins were still not clear.
I could go ahead with radiotherapy and surveillance but it was risky. This morning I had a flat closure mastectomy on the diseased side.

10% chance they wouldn't get it all. I was offered and accepted symmetising surgery and gave permission for extra tissue to be taken to lessen the chance that disease might be left. Two weeks later, pathology showed that the margins weren't clear.

The biopsy showed DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) aka Stage 0 cancer or precancer. But it was Grade 3 with comedo necrosis, so higher chance of progressing to invasive cancer. Preferred treatment was lumpectomy and radiation. I was happy to take that advice.

After more scans it was decided that a biopsy was needed - 20% chance it would require more investigation. But I'd had a bad reaction to local anesthetic at the dentist. Six weeks wait for that to be tested. Cleared for a biopsy.

This long, personal story takes place in New Zealand, where healthcare is free. Hope it might help someone.
In May I was visiting my Dad in the hospital after he had a heart attack. While I was there Canterbury Breastcare rang to say there was something unusual on my Mammogram.

Not to negate the awfulness of this, but one of my bi, female students told me that the participants exchanged contact details to support each other, and often paired off via the group chat. So I reckon we should all train as leaders and go undercover to facilitate this.

It's time to make other Shakespearean insults a Kiwi thing. I use "cankerblossom" instead of the other c word. Much ruder. What about "three inch fool"? Shakespeare had seriously good insults.

We don't have Walmart in NZ. Do they ship? 🤣💀
(Imagine the reaction at Customs.)

Multiple things fly through my mind:
- puberty blockers are under fire when they are a way to give breathing space while establishing the person is ready for permanent change
- successful transitions are often invisible because why would people out themselves to face the criticism
Etc, etc.

I had to look up what Gavi was, but this is great.

I am so relieved to read this. I read the comments on a couple of posts, including Chris Hipkins, and was dismayed. Peters is a cankerblossom and a boil, but he has family, pets, and neighbours. His home is oob.

Hold Brian Tamaki Accountable Support Rainbow Storytime NZ: Holding Brian Tamaki & Destiny Church Accountable

We've been watching John Cambell's series on Destiny Church. We were inspired to donate to Rainbow Reading's Givealittle page to fund their lawsuit after Destiny ruined their business. You can help too. Here is the link:
givealittle.co.nz/cause/drag-q...
#nz #nzpol

We live in a caravan with a domestic heat pump, and for two of us, we pay just over $100 per month. Highly recommended. But you have kids and dogs so probably not an option. We moved after the kids left home.

Excellent news about the media council decision. As for Michael Organ... what a _______ (insert insult/ expletive here).

Trump (and others, but mainly him) has taken civility and wit out of the world and we are the worse for it.

Agree! We are not who we were.

NZ ‘not ready’ to recognise Palestinian statehood, Winston Peters tells UN The foreign secretary is expected to declare whether New Zealand recognises a Palestinian state.

He lies. Most of New Zealand is more than ready, but adapting the words of Chloe Swarbrick, we can't find enough coalition politicians with a spine.
#nzpol
www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/3...

If you got up closer, the hair was gross. My Dad looked like he hadn't washed it in months.

#nzpol

I just finished the Eyes of the Dragon. LOVED IT! Thank you.