#Spotted Recently While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand: A young human (9?) is walking through a shopping arcade at Mum's side. Suddenly she realizes that all the floor tiles are an imaginary hopscotch grid! (Yay!) She hops ahead, roaring back over her shoulder for Mum to copy. (Mum does.) A small human (3?) has decided that colouring in is nonsense. She does not approve of her pencils. She does not approve of her colouring in book and she CERTAINLY does not approve of her big brother colouring in the lines. Maybe scribbling on his page would make things more interesting... A tiny human (2?) is watching Christmas carollers sing. Tiny Human is showing all signs of enjoyment but something is missing... She frowns. Hmm... Maybe... a finger up her nose would amplify this experience? Problem solved, she gets on with watching the show. A tiny human (2?) in a fairy costume is stomping along a busy footpath. Tiny Human Fairy is wielding a Christmas lily like a magic wand and is waving it around with much abandon. A Christmas spell here... A Christmas spell there... Fairying is a tough job but she's got it covered. In a toy shop, a small human (6?) is closely examining the plastic animal display with a fierce frown. Mum asks if he's decided and he gives her a decisive nod. "I'm getting the whale for Grandad and the pterodactyl for Granny." Mum agrees that these are all admirable Christmas gift choices. (Continued Below)

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand: A woman (20s?) is walking down the street with a GIANT armful of tinsel that's doing its best to escape. Red, green and gold delightful nonsense going everywhere! Passers-by sharing her laughter as they go about their day. A teen (13?) is standing before a music shop window. Nodding to a blue electric guitar and talking to his friend with a thoughtful voice he says, "I reckon I could learn that in a month. Whadd'ya think?" His friend nods. "More like weeks, eh." Satisfied with this conclusion, they walk on. A woman (30s?) greets a friend in the street with a hug, asking: "Christmas shopping?" Her friend nods: "Yeah. We're doing op shop* Christmas again this year. We did it last year and it was AWESOME." A man (20s?) wearing board shorts, a yellow T-shirt and jandals* is standing at the back of a small camper van parked in a bustling street. He's got the back open and is brewing a pot of coffee on a small stove. Vibe totally chill as people walk briskly by at the end of a busy work day. A small human (6?) has lost the use of his legs! (Oh no!) They're tucked up under his T-shirt and he can't POSSIBLY leave the park and get in the car. Mum does not seem convinced by his very convincing argument and is poking him in the ribs to tickle him. Giggle snorts ringing through the air. (Continued Below)

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand: A man (20s?) in farm clothes spots another man (70s?) approaching. Grinning, he yells: "Grandad! Christmas at your place this year?" Grandad frowns: "You cookin'?" "Yeah." "You bringin' the beer?" "'Course!" "Pav?"* "Can do." "Don't see why not." At the busy fishing beach. A battered 4WD is attempting to tow a boat up the sand to the road. The engine roars, They almost get bogged... And... Phew! An onlooker says: "Good job!" The driver (60s?) grins and says: "Yeah. Didn't want to get stuck like last time with everyone watching!" A group of three small humans (4 to 6?) are officiously marching around a beach-side park armed with Special Poking Sticks. Be it a pinecone, a light post or Dad's bottom while he bends over to get a drink from the chilly bin,* if poking needs to happen they're the ones to do it! Two grinning women (20s?) with shaved heads are riding in a budget camper van. Windows down in the heat. Metal music roaring. Heads banging. The lights go green. And they're off! ... At a safe sedate pace along a beach road. Music trailing behind them as they go. A woman (60s?) is riding a reclining pushbike along a country beach-side path. A halo of colourful flowers stuck to her cycle helmet. The faint sound of rousing classical music (Wagner?) drifting from her phone. (continued Below)

#Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand: A tiny human (2?) is hugging Dad around the neck. But wait! He's not a tiny human! He's a BIG SHARK! And he's gonna eat Dad's face! Making mighty munching "UM UM UM" noises as laughter bubbles up from Dad's tummy. A woman (40s?) is standing by her open car door. Groceries loosely placed on her back seat. A tray of fresh strawberries in her hand. She's got to get her market veges home but first... maybe she should eat some of these strawberries. A small smile as she tries her first one. A teen (13?) has been given the task of carrying a bunch of asparagus while Mum chooses tomatoes. But wait. This is not asparagus! It's a microphone for broadcasting all of Mum's movements and motivations! Wearing a devilishly cheeky smile. Ducking Mum's swat with a laugh and a yelp. A man (50s?) in a faded band T-shirt, paint-flecked shorts and boots is quickly striding through the markets while wearing a determined expression. He's got multiple packets of bratwurst sausages in his arms. He's got places to go and things to do. And they most likely involve barbeque. A woman (18?), the spitting image of a young Joni Mitchell is inspecting a cherry stall. Long blonde hair, a white crochet top, flair jeans and bare feet. She picks up a bag of cherries and looks at it thoughtfully before turning to grin at a nearby busker who grins back. (Continued below)

#Spotted on a Country Walk in Aotearoa New Zealand: In a stunning valley: A couple (20s?) in comfy clothes throw a frisbee for a VERY energetic dog. Energetic Dog is racing here to CATCH. And there to LEAP. Running circles as her humans leisurely steal a smooch. Bird song drifting on the air. A big brown cow MOOOOS to her calf as it gambols in a field strewn with white daisies and long grass. Meanwhile a group of four small humans (1-4?) playing in a nearby park freeze and turn as one to look wide-eyed at the noise. What WAS that magnificent sound? A woman in a flowing dress and gold jandals* (40s?) and a goth teen (14?) are walking companionably along a tree-lined river walking track. Teen's talking through some big problems and is being listened too with calm kindness and the odd, "Yeah, that sounds tough." Caring through listening. A man (20s?) wearing high vis and paint splattered clothes is ambling along with a button eyed, jolly miniature poodle. Tiny Poodle is a woolly cloud of adoration and wants to share the love with everyone, but High Vis Man is training her to heel with treats, the odd kind word and many a pat. A mountain biking man (20s?) with a wild head of hair crammed under a helmet runs into a teen (17?) biking the other way. With a big grin he roars: "How ya goin mate! How goes it?" "Super good!" "Fuck yeah!" Enthusiastic plans are now being made to catch up for a weekend ride. (Continued Below)

So... guys... just... guys... I think my next door neighbour's cat Lady Oblong The Destroyer* has upped her game as a Professional People Judger and has outright signed a pact with Satan. (Allegedly) I'm not saying that she's now demon possessed, spying for the great hairy hooved man downstairs, but there are beginning to be some signs that something is afoot... (ahoof?) #catsofmastodon

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand: In a carpark, a woman (70s?) finishes packing groceries into the boot* of her car. She begins to take her trolley to the return when a passing man (20s?) in business casual offers to do it for her. He gets a cheerful, "Yes please!" in return. A massive dog (moose?) is trotting next to his human showing all signs of good health. Suddenly, crisis! He flops dramatically on the ground. A big OOF noise. A long agonized groan. His leash is being tugged but Flop Dog is IMPERVIOUS. But wait! He's being offered a treat? Miraculously cured!** In a supermarket, the music selection is delightfully eclectic.*** A laughing customer (30s?) asks what the deal is and is told the owner's digitized a massive record collection. Another customer stops to voice his approval. Soon involved vinyl chat is happening by the breakfast cereal! In a post office a small human (3?) has been given the important task of holding a parcel for Mum. Waiting in line, he asks: "Mum, WILL Nana like her present?" "Mum, DOES Nana like presents?" "Mum, WHY does Nana like presents?" Mum answers all questions with an amused calm assuredness. A woman (50s?) spots another (20s?) in the street. Frowning, she says: "You still sick darl?" "Yeah. A bit under the weather." "Got food in the fridge?" "Was about to do that." "No you're not. Go home. I'll be round in twenty. Made a big Shepherd's pie last night and you can have half of it." (Continued Below)

The sign to my office (*cough* our living room) has been upgraded yet again! Tony has contravened the NO SPACE FACTS BEFORE GEORGE'S FIRST CUP OF TEA OR WHILE GEORGE IS SWEARING AT HER MANUSCRIPT and ventured forth this morning to deliver not one but MANY space facts. It was a cavalcade of space facts. I am now smeared over the event horizon of a space fact black hole, which sounds far dodgier than it probably would be. Yes, the man is back to writing another science fiction novel so it's technically *brainstorming* but I shall persevere! The first cup of tea has yet to be drunk. The rules must stand! *Insert threatening sounds of thunder rolling, maybe sound of the odd lightning strike hitting someone armed with a space fact for any occasion for added emphasis. followed by maniacal gleeful cackling.* #sciencefiction #science #astrophysics #writing #writingcommunity