Grrrr .... summer time beach restrictions.

“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be INSANE by those who could not hear the music.” 

... a quote credited to Friedrick Nietzsche, a German philosopher and poet.

I MUST be insane.

Grrrrr .... along with daylight saving come summer hound times on our beaches. NO hounds on the beach between 9am and 7pm .... not even on lead. Yes, I know .... I’ve been on my soapbox about this issue before and the times ... they be a-changing .... but not at a speed that I’m happy with!!

Very low tides mean more fish than the gulls can eat

I’m NOT even supposed to let her off-lead before 9 in the morning. I’m on the beach from 6.30! 

Who in their right mind is going to be on the beach at that time in the morning unless they’ve got a hound?

The Dog Wardens ... that’s who! 

I CAN’T wait for the new regulations that have been proposed, to come into force! It will be a victory for dog-owners throughout Auckland. BAH HUMBUG to those who said it couldn’t be done and an avid THANK YOU to all those who’ve made it happen.

It was WORTH collecting all those signatures!

Our weather is STILL dismal. I think summer’s gone on holiday and it’s certainly NOT here in Auckland. Rain is the order of the day .... and clouds .... heavy grey ones. I’m even beginning to forget what that big yellow orb in the sky looks like.

Despite the rain, despite the gloomy weather outlook, I LOVE my rambles. I don’t mind getting wet .... or cold .... and I certainly don’t mind getting muddy! Thankfully my camera’s quite robust and able to tolerate the drizzle and mud and sand and whatever else rambling with the hound might throw at it. Smudges in photos are more often the result of raindrops or mud splatters on the lens. It’s one of the pitfalls of rambling with water-loving Labradors ....  and "pseudo"  Labradors.

The reflections on the beach today, albeit sans sunshine, were brilliant! Low tide was at 7.10 and the ocean was like a mirror ... even Rangitoto at that early hour in the morning had a reflection. 

Not only can I photograph raindrops on roses but raindrops on swans too! The Black Swan family put on an impromptu photo-shoot this morning to introduce us to their babies ... though their babies are NOT so little anymore. 

Neither adult swan was happy with Shadow (he of the pseudo Labrador fame) prancing around like a lunatic on the water’s edge ... yes, he’s insane too. Dad sailed rapidly forward hissing loudly at Shadow as Mom, hissing just as furiously, gathered the youngsters around her. They didn’t seem to mind US being there but they weren’t happy with the hounds. 

I’ve seen the swans regularly in the distance but it’s the first time I’ve seen all of them up close and personal. They’re so beautiful and just so elegant .... it was awesomeness and beyond to snap photos of them like that this morning!

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."

~ Roald Dahl