That Noah must have been a panicky sort. If the Bible is to be believed - and who wouldn't believe a revealed text from thousands of years ago? - the Good Lord told him H had decided to wash away a sinful wo with 40 days and 40 nights of rain. W did Nervous Noah do after hearing this extended forecast? He freaked out, and on advice from the man upstairs, built himself an ark.
Lord knows how he would have coped out here on the North Island's east coast in 2023, where it has been raining for what feels like 400 days and 400 nights.
At Lush Places, by the end of June, we had had showers or rain on 97 of 180 days - delivering about a year's rainfall in six months and there will be many more days of it before winter and the spring rains are done.
With the water table now so high, it takes little more than an hour of steady rain for big pools to form around the place. One of our paddocks has even started growing rushes, while our gardens have become watery graves.
Despite this, during a brief pause between downpours, Michele, ever the optimist, planted some celery seedlings. Ever the pessimist, she is resigned to the prospect of them floating away.
Denne historien er fra July 8 - 14, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra July 8 - 14, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
