Author: brian

Just some of the pica I have been taking on the T90. Took a while to get through that film.

I have had a little play with AI, asking it to create an image of a BMW F800 GSA in the style of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

This is what I got

And then asking for some grey and more abstract, got to the below.

Interesting and impressive what the free version of chatgpt can do. Usually though my use for it is answering technical questions.

It is pretty good at coming up with Python code too I have found out.

This weekend just gone I went to offthegrid.nz with my brothers for the weekend. It is in Te Akau where we grew up, out side of the time we were at boarding school.

Our parents lived there until I was 21 I think.

Left this halfway out the track to the bach, as it wasn’t quite so cross country as my bike and Allans ute.

Got there and got settled in and had dinner.

We didn’t end up managing to get the BBQ going, but the gas stove inside worked fine.

In the background of the one sitting drinking beers, note the west coast wind effect on the trees in the background.

In the morning down to the beach. Karioi down by Raglan in the background.

Then we drove of around Te Akau a bit and to Raglan.

Once back lunch

Then back down to the beach.

The place we stayed you can just make out up that valley.

I love those limestone rockforms in the Northwest Waikato too.

Mussels at the beach too, took some back but I was the only one to eat them.

Then dinner prep time

Not really sure what I was trying to convince Allan of there.

A good weekend away

And what is really my sort of landscape.

Goodnight.

I have a plan, have had it for a while really, making an art work.

Thinking it will look a bit like the below, but it will be alive!

Hope to get a chance to progress soon.

Starting with Moira, and the beginning of playing around acting. A friend of hers got a grant to make a movie, a documentary, but there’s a Desperate Housewives subplot, and she gets to be that.

In the other pictures she was looking comfortable with a wine glass in front of her.

In front of our house is a not yet large Magnolia, one day it will be I guess, might not be here then.

More flowers, not winter yet!

We went to Tauranga, and on the way called in on my brother Allan, and took a picture of the painting brother Kevin did for him. Kevin was navigating in rallies with him back when I was in Germany.

As kids we used to be at Mount Maunganui quite often I think, it has great appeal.

The beach

And the Mount, Mauao

Those fellas flying around there bring Hanspeter and others to mind, that have died doing that sort of thing. I can see the appeal though.

The place we stayed in Tauranga was great, maybe the best all round Airbnb place I have ever stayed in.

After we checked in, we wandered over the ridge into the CBD, to check it out.

Nice public art there, and a great railway bridge

Lots of interesting bits and pieces too.

We had a mission though, climb Mauao!

So the next day. Starting down on the port side

And up to encounter this dystopic entity

The water pressure of Mt Maunganui.

It was a 45min to an hour walk to the top, no idea why I have never been there before, maybe the access/ownership was different back then.

Looking out to the west over Matakana Island.

And a reminder that it is a little steep in places.

Once you get to the top though, there are great views.

It was a bit of a hazy day, but below looking North.

Then down

To sit and have coffee and cake and chat away with Jeff.

The next day we headed home, via Cambridge. Where they had a pic of Billy T. James, who was from Leamington.

He was a funny guy and a great Kiwi comedian. Also featuring on lamp posts in Balmoral. Not sure I under stand this

But then not sure I understand the Cambridge horse either

All in all a great break. That Airbnb was good, going up Mauao was great, not too challenging, with forest and views, should do the walk around it too.

Back home and back at work now. More breaks coming soon.

Went to day 1 of motofest at Hampton Downs.

That’s me the fatty!

I have always found the Brittens fascinating, ever since he came to Fisher and Paykel to tell us about it all.

Didn’t know that starter motors were not built in.

But anyway later Andrew Stroud had it running for a demo lap or two, along with the other classics and outsiders.

Outstanding also were the KTM guys, they had a good day

Finished 1, 2 and 4 in the 300 class after being 1,2,3 most of the way.

Going back tomorrow.

Port Waikato to the Nikau Cafe in Waikaretu

For a cold drink and some strawberry and rhubarb pie.
New BMW 900 Enduros and GS1300s there, along with a very red Ducati Panigale.

Things are looking quite dry out there in the Waikato, there have been a couple fires alongsode the road to Port Waikato.

Mt. Karioi out there in the background.

I went to Te Akau, then down the Ruakiwi Rd to Raglan.

Talked to the people at the canoe hire there, my old classmate Harry is still living over the other side and paddling across regularly.
Raglan was full of bikes.

Went to see my friends from University Ian and Karen for a cup of tea. Was great to catch up, and keep contact.

Got to look at Mt. Karioi again through their very finely situated lounge window.

A 2017 BMW F800GS Adventure

Ingredients before

And product after, an old favourite, Harissa lamb on eggplants, tomatoes, and red onoins, then with added coriander, pistachios, and pomegranate.

And for myself I finally managed to get the ABS controller coded on my Audi. My mechanic friend left me with the programming device.

What you are seeing there is no error indications.

I managed to get the aircon fan working again too.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.