#buy bedding nz

[linensnz]

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[bestbeds-nz]

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[garfieldbabe]

Mmmm yummy yummy lemon beer

[smartbuyfurniture]

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[idontknowreallywhy]

Father’s Day

A little something for today - I maintain the Tracys would follow the US/Europe date for it rather than AUS/NZ. That’s my excuse anyway…

💛💙❤️

It had gone well. The atmosphere had been joyful. Hugs had been plentiful and the little tears of happiness badly concealed. Every scrap of the mighty takeout feast Scott had fetched from their favourite Auckland steak house had been demolished. Balloons littered the villa. MAX, in collaboration with EOS, had created a playlist that reflected every family member’s favourites spanning a good seven decades.

There had been singing, both tuneful and otherwise.

Six cards graced the mantelpiece, each varied in decoration as befitted the personality of the giver, but all containing a version of the same message - we are so glad you are home. We missed you. We love you. All but one had some reference to pink flamingos. The sixth had a remarkably detailed diagram of Thunderbird Three’s circuit of the sun.

The Man of the Moment had finally been chivvied off to bed by his mother when his head started nodding where he sat on the couch amongst his family. In her words, nobody needed to hear his boar-like snorting, but the flicker of concern in her eyes betrayed the real need to ensure he didn’t overdo it.

The eldest son of the Man of the Moment leant on the balustrade, watching the stars come out and absently swirling the whisky in his glass. The air was still warm and he had to slowly adjust the movement of his wrist to maintain the rhythm of the rapidly shrinking ‘rocks’. He’d come to prefer it un-iced anyway, but when your long-lost father offers you a sample of his secret, secret stash… well. Scott would have taken it with gravel and he would have enjoyed it.

It was good, if a little chilly. And the day had been wonderful, if a little strange. Like stretching a muscle that had gone untested for eight years. Maybe longer.

They’d never really made a big deal of the day before that in any case - even when he was alive their father had often been absent.

But there were always cards (some somewhat delayed in receipt). And he hadn’t realised until today, until he helped Dad drag a large flat box out from underneath his bed, that every card had been kept - from the first one picked out by Mom and signed on behalf of a 2-month old Scott - right up to the year Jeff disappeared. There wasn’t even a gap whilst Scott himself had been missing, thanks to the ingrained military practice of buying and writing cards in advance of deployments. Toddler scribbles, homemade masterpieces, that 4ft monstrosity Gordon had dragged home aged 10… even the obviously-last-minute convenience store purchases hurriedly signed 3 minutes before the still-damp envelope seal was broken. All were bundled together by year, little elastic bands and post-it notes delineating the passage of time.

There had been a lot of laughter, a fair amount of cringing and a few sniffles as those were explored. Happy times.

What Scott didn’t mention, what he’d never mention, was that when Jeff went missing, the cards didn’t stop. Not completely.

Every year except the first, where everything was still so raw and chaotic the day passed with nobody even knowing what date it was, there had been three Fathers’ Day cards written by the Tracy family.

Two were quietly slipped together under Scott’s door - a rare moment of collaboration between the Tinies. They were never the traditional kind, didn’t ACTUALLY mention Fathers Day on the front, but a would be a ‘blank for your own message’ card with a funny or interesting picture. Often an aircraft or some kind of bird. The contents would often be daft nonsense - silly puns, banter about the grey hairs and denial of liability for them, once a comedy poem about an albatross and the Kraken which had kept him smiling for days. But next to the signature, there’d be a little “you’re not so bad after all” or “thanks for everything, big bro” or even once a “Just wanted you to know it doesn’t go unnoticed xxx”

Nothing was ever said, but he’d find them later in the day and squeeze their shoulders or drop a kiss on the top of each head. Maybe there would be less squabbling and teenage stroppiness that day… often there wouldn’t. But things would feel lighter between the three of them for a while.

The third card was more of a letter, more of an incoherent flood of news, worries… regrets… requests for forgiveness. But it was always folded like a card for… reasons. And then folded again. And again until it was halved 7 times and couldn’t physically be squished up any smaller. Then, late at night when everyone else was asleep it would be set aflame right here on the balcony. Scott would watch the sparks fly into the sky and nurture a moment’s foolish hope that the message would be received.

No need for that this year. Dad was right here. Scott could tell him anything he wished at any moment, seek his advice, share his concerns, ask for… approval? All of that. He was right here.

And yet…

He shook himself. And downed the remainder of the whisky, flinching a little at the cold on his teeth and eyed the glass, wondering whether he could risk another one… a less rocky one. There was time for all the talking later. When he was well. When it was safe to burden him with such things. Not yet.

His pondering was interrupted by scuffling and heated whispering from just inside the balcony door behind him. He braced himself to mediate the latest nonsense from the Tinies but all went quiet and there was just a quite clack-swish of something falling through the doorway and sliding a little across the ground. Then running feet as they departed.

He looked down to see a single blue envelope at his feet. Unaddressed but for a tiny cartoon of a child’s scooter…

He rolled his eyes. Suspecting a prank was pending but, too tired to resist the inevitable, he crouched to retrieve it and slid his finger under the flap of the envelope to peer inside. Then closed it again, hurriedly. A chunky font screamed “BESTEST DAD EVER!” from the midst of a multicoloured explosion. They’d got the envelopes mixed up, clearly. He went to call after the two idiots but they were long gone.

With a sigh, he stood back up and decided he’d better chase them down but was arrested by curiosity. Both had given Dad cards earlier… what was this for? He hoped it wasn’t a prank… he didn’t think Dad was ready for that yet… they were trying to keep surprises to a minimum until his heart started behaving more reliably.

They wouldn’t, would they?

Hmm.

He’d better check.

Leaning back on to the railings with a good portion of free space in front to fling anything unpleasant into… he pulled the card from the envelope and opened it… very carefully.

Nothing exploded. Or popped out at him. There was no glitter in his eyeballs nor squeaky earworm tunes blasted from tinny micro speakers.

And yet he gasped harshly as his heart raced and his eyes blurred with sudden tears.

The card was empty but for his name at the top, Alan and Gordon’s at the bottom and two words in the middle, underlined and emphasised with a heavy full stop:

Still True.

Part 2

Part 3

[candyfloss-kittens]

22 years….

I've known of the trio for… as long as I can remember, given my dad would watch them way back when they were still on Top Gear. I don't know when Top Gear first aired on TV in New Zealand, I guess when the show first started to get popular world wide? I don't know…. Though, I do have some very vague recollections of seeing news reports about Hammond's big crash back in 2006 when I was 8, but I really don't know. I might've just heard of it back then, not necessarily seen anything about it.

Now, while I had watched bits of Top Gear over the years, and back in primary school, I'd tend to hang more around boys at school rather than girls (I do recall at one point with the desk layouts I was the only girl in one group alongside five other boys), and if I recall correctly, a lot of them would talk about Top Gear. I think I might've even watched some of Top Gear with one of my closest childhood friends many years ago, we might've even watched the Botswana special together when it first aired in NZ, though I genuinely can't remember if that actually happened or not (my memory is… not great). But given me and him did do a lot of things together, and we were both interested in most of the same things, it's possible (I've not seen that old friend in years now, though. Last I heard, he's got three kids…).

I do remember back in 2015 hearing about Jeremy essentially being fired from the BBC, and James and Richard leaving alongside him. Though, I cannot remember what my thoughts on that while situation was, given I at the time I didn't care about them.

It wasn't until late 2021 that I actually started getting into Clarkson, Hammond, and May. I think right as the Grand Tour's Carnage A Trois released. Pretty sure it was a result of some YouTube compilation of the trio popping up on my YouTube feed. At like 1:30am in the morning after i had gotten home from working night shift at my previous job at a mussel factory (that has unfortunately, and frustratingly, now closed down). How, when I've never been interested in cars at all, I have no idea. Then I started mostly just watching YouTube compilation videos of them after work before getting to bed. Then, I had ended up finding a copy of one of the sampler DVDs that came with the Top Gear magazines, the Supercars one, at one of the op shops near me for $2. I kind of just… fell head first into the trio after that. Buying every book and DVD of theirs that I could find, which was a lot easier than I had thought. Found many of my TG books and DVDs at the op shops near me (still had to get a few online, though, because some weren't easy to find, like May's Cars of the People).

Then at one point, I got curious about if there was fanfic written about them. I'm no stranger to rpf fanfic, so while I was surprised to find that there is, I sort of expected there to be? Because if it exists, there's bound to be fanfic for it. What was a surprise though, is just how into writing fanfic of the trio I got. Especially considering at the time I was trying to move away from writing rpf. So, thanks for that, guys.

I still find myself curious whether or not the guys know that there's fanfic about them, and what their thoughts are on it, though. I'd like to think that they just don't give a fuck, because surely if they had a problem with it (if they're aware of it), then they would've said something about it by now.

So… yeah. Known of them since forever, but never really cared much for them until late 2021 at 23. And now in 2024, at 26, I'm still very much into them, despite not really caring about cars (with the exception of collecting die-cast cars, and putting together model kit cars). I don't even have my driver's license.

While I definitely got into the fandom late, it's been very fun. And in terms of my Ao3 fics for the trio, I still have many more ideas to come, so even though the Grand Tour has now ended, I'm not going to be stopping writing fic for them anytime soon. And definitely won't stop me from finishing off my collection of all their books and DVDs they've released over the years.

[madhatterbri]

Parent Trap | Finn Balor Part 2

Summary: How about a part 2 of Gracie telling reader what Demon said about Becky being her real Mom. I need to know what the reader does.

Parent Trap Part 1

Finn Balor Masterlist

Requested by: @terrortwinunicorn

Taglist: @theworldofotps @smallestsnarkestgirl @miss-kuki-nz @new-zealand-chic @magicalbuttertarts

Y/N stormed to the door. She half expected it to be locked. To her surprise, the door opened when she twisted the doorknob. The Demon sat with his arms crossed. His bottom lip pouted. She swore she saw tears in his eyes. All the rage inside of her subsided.

"Are you.... crying?" The concerned woman asked. She didn't even know he could cry. The Demon had been a royal pain in the ass.

"No, I'm not some weak human," he sniffled. The Demon rolled over to his side to face the wall. His body twitched slightly to signal he was still crying. His arms moved to wipe away his tears.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying. I just have something in my eyes,"

"Demon,"

"She doesn't want to play with me anymore, okay?" The Demon asked. He sat up in his bed and stared at her. More tears fell down his face. The poor thing had never looked so pathetic in her eyes.

Y/N's mouth dropped open in shock. "Demon, she loves you,"

"She is growing up and forgetting about me. Grace used to play with me like that. Now she is always going over to friend's houses or having them here. I.... I miss when it was just her and I," he confessed. His light eyes stared at his hands.

"Demon," Y/N sighed and sat on his bed. He backed away from her. His legs pulled to his chest. Well, at least he still detested her. That would never change. "Why don't the two of you do something fun tonight? We can get your favorites and build a fort in the living room,"

The Demon perked up slightly. "Really?"

"Yes, Finn went to take her out to calm her down after what you did. We can start working on it now," she offered.

The Demon scrunched his face. "I don't need help from a human,"

"Great," she sighed and stood up from the bed. "You know if you are ever sad, you can talk to Finn or I. We can help you,"

"Why would I ever want to ask humans for help?"

Y/N bit back a remark and walked out of the room. She texted Finn about the situation at the house. Her husband decided to buy some treats to help with the slumber party. The Demon was hard at work in the living room. Black blankets in different shapes and sizes filled the room. Different sized pillows were laid out for them to enjoy.

The Demon was finished with his fort in no time. He added all of Grace's favorite things inside. A sign hung up in the entrance read No Humans Grace OK. After he was done with the finishing touches, he supervised Y/N and her cooking.

"She doesn't like the crusts on her peanut butter and jelly," he pointed out.

"Yes, Demon, I know," Y/N spoke.

"And make sure you don't burn the pizza rolls this time. Finn hasn't had time to buy another fire extinguisher," The Demon reminded. Y/N swallowed another insult. He eyed the platter next to him. It had some of their favorites: cheese sticks, pretzels, and ... carrots. His face scrunched at the healthy snack. "Carrots? Who is eating that? It's disgusting,"

"They are there so I can sharpen a side and stab you," she muttered under breath.

The Demon seemingly didn't hear her. "Well, I am going to get ready. Try to not burn the apartment down,"

The Demon left to put on his pajamas. The front door to the apartment opened. Grace came in carrying a box of Capri Sun. Finn carried a couple of bags inside.

"You doing better, sweetheart?" Y/N asked. She noticed some chocolate syrup on the side of her mouth. Finn must have taken her to the ice cream shop after the park.

"What Demon did was mean," she pouted and crossed her arms.

"Yes, Gracie, but he loves you," Y/N reminded. The Demon came out seconds later. "And I think he has something he wants to show you,"

Grace slowly walked towards the Demon. As soon as she saw the fort, her eyes lit up. "Really?"

She ran inside the fort. The doll house was in there along with her tea table set. Grace ran out with a huge smile on her face. She ran and gave him a big hug. "I love it, Demon!"

Y/N swore she saw more tears in his eyes. He blinked them back quickly and cleared his throat. "Go get changed so we can play,"

While Grace was in her room, Finn and Y/N rushed to get everything ready for the slumber party. They placed the food on the tea table for them to snack on. Grace walked out of her room with three of her favorite stuffed animals in tow. She walked inside the entrance to check out more of the inside of the fort.

"Wow, carrots? I love them. Thanks, Mommy!" Grace complimented.

"Yeah, those are my favorite too," the Demon commented.

Finn and Y/N found themselves inside their bedroom. They tried to minimize leaving the room to avoid disturbing the Demon and Grace. At around midnight, the noises in the living room turned to soft snores. Finn and Y/N walked out to investigate.

Inside the fort, Grace was snuggled into the Demon. Her head rested comfortably on his chest. One of the Demon's arms wrapped securely around her body. In the Demon's other hand clutched a picture that Grace drew of them together.

[sapphia]

i wanna tell the US the thing actually good about NZ's democracy.

because we have a lot of things that suck. we have a single house. we have some of the weakest lobbying laws in the world, and at this very second we have a government selling out our environment and our future to mining and oil and tobacco companies because of it. we have an MMP system that gives too much power to far right parties while somehow limiting the power of the left. we have a central right party that spent two decades sponsoring our further right libertarian party into parliament in an underhanded way that has pushed this country to the right in a divisive manner. we have a total lack of accountability for pre-election promises, and a modern political discourse built on lies and manipulation and neoliberalism.

but the one thing we do have is this guy:

this little orange man rises like a cryptid every three years to incessantly tell the people of aotearoa to vote. you will find him in your mailbox, in your phone, on your tv, at the end of your bed, at your local mall, and if you are not careful, while you are walking home at night when he spots you from his orange van and kidnaps you to enrol you by force.

okay, that last one isn't true. but he's the mascot of our electoral commission and they will do anything to get you to vote. australia have their democracy sausage to bribe people but here, we just make things literally as easy as it possibly can be to participate in democracy. there are sign-up stations in every language in every city and town for months before the election. people go around door-knocking to sign you up. you can sign up on the day and still vote. if you don't have an address or a phone number or ID to use, they'll probably give you one. the philosophy is generally that everyone who is entitled to vote should be fully facilitated to do so.

and then our early voting opens weeks before election day so people can just... vote whenever they want. about half of the country do. for three weeks or so, aotearoa turns into an orange maze of pop up voting booths and pensioners. they're in every mall, every school, every hospital, half our workplaces, they drive around retirement homes and villages, they will assail you as you walk past stores -- literally, during our pandemic elections, i was heading into my local shopping center from my car when some middle-aged lady all but leapt out at me from a hidden alcove to ask me if i'd voted yet. i'd only gone down to buy some groceries, but i came back from the shops having spent approximately 2 minutes from start to end casting my vote for my preferred party. democractic duty done.

it actually makes me sometimes tear up with pride a little to think of the work that goes into encouraging voter participation in this country, and just how important it is that that the work done is seen is bipartisan and a key consideration for a strong democracy. what is most broken about american politics, in my opinion, is your established voter disenfranchisement; the years of blatant racism that has made a sport out of the right preventing your poor and your minorities from voting. nz is perhaps a bit different on this front culturally, as we put (perhaps too much) pride in being the first country to give women the vote, and our early indigenous representation in parliament and later MMP system has gone a long way to ensuring our maori voter enrolments are upkept, which is strategically sort of the same as democrats signing up black voters, we've just been much more successful and long-term about it.

but the outcome, oh the outcome -- not only are our eligible voter percentages so much greater, so our are voter turnouts. 77% voter turnout in the last election. sure, we got from it the worst government since muldoon, but even in our year of democratic apathy and exhaustion, three quarters of our population voted.

if there's any hope for us, it's got to be in that.

[misplacedmidlanders]

Friday, May 10th 2024. Wellington.

It's officially been one week today that we first flew to NZ, and much like the after-effects of a dodgy kebab, things are moving far too quickly. For our hotel room we flipped a coin to see who would have the bed with a beautiful view of Lambton Harbour vs. the bedroom that looks like an abandoned dungeon. Jake won the nicer room, but at least I've got a mirror next to my bed to look at myself whenever I want to (so who's the real winner here).

Our first stop today was Mount Victoria, where we got to see the area that the hobbits first hid from a Nazgûl shortly after they left the Shire, as well as some other nearby areas in the films. For any fortune Kiwis who were passing us by they got to see a bunch of nutters pose for photos recreating these scenes (if you thought we were cool up until now you may want to re-check the previous blog posts). We also had a wander up to Mount Victoria Lookout which gave us a 360⁰ view of the entirety of Wellington (not too shabby, in all honesty).

Afterwards things started to get really ugly for my bank account, as were taken to a place called the Weta Cave - which is essentially the DLC of our tour, in that we paid a lot of money for things that we didn't actually need. I picked up a Fellowship poster, pins and magnets, whist Jake paid for one of every item (or thereabouts) in the gift shop and now has to figure out how to pack these items into his suitcase. It is definitely a place I would like to revisit when I've won the lottery, if for nothing else I still wouldn't be able to afford a house but I could buy myself some more hobbit pins (as Tolkien would have wanted).

We finished off the day by having a lovely lunch at The Roxy Cinema, a vintage but classy venue that had all manner of film memorabilia, posters, and ice cream options (I had the plum, which looked like an alien's brekkie but tasted incredible), and then headed to Weta Workshop where we crafted our own keyrings and then were given a tour of the company's history of prosthetics, costume and set building, and learned about their invaluable contributions to Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Prometheus and various other projects (but strangely not mentioning any of the bad ones they worked on, I guess they forgot about these).

We had dinner at a place called September Vegan Food with two Alabamians and two Scots who are also on our tour, both of whom, as it transpired, have a shared dislike of vegan food. But we tore down some cultural barriers and, dare I say it, made some friends tonight (which is good cos maybe I could trade one of them for Jake). Tomorrow, we are meeting a calligrapher from the films, and then we will have the afternoon free to ourselves, and I, for one, couldn't be more excited to get some laundry done.

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I have a severe phobia of snakes, but I think it’s been at least some time since it’s come up. It’s not a phobia that interferes with my life every day or anything, but it does impact me more significantly than you’d expect, given that I live in an urban area. Here are some effects of my extreme snake phobia:

- I love hiking and camping and other outdoor activities, and snakes aren’t common around here even out in the woods, but it’s still possible to see one, and that means I cannot do anything like that without snake-based anxiety. I didn’t even realize how high my baseline level of snake-based hiking anxiety was until in 2016 I went hiking in New Zealand, and had been told there were no wild snakes anywhere on the island. I still don’t know for sure if that’s true, I can’t Google it because pictures of snakes will come up in the search results (another little way this affects me – I cannot Google anything related to it), but I chose to believe it. And then, for the only time in my life, I got to go hiking in summer without any fear of seeing a snake, and it felt so glorious and freeing. I enjoy winter hiking, partly because I love snow and I hate heat, but also because it’s the only way I can go out in nature, outside of New Zealand apparently, without that underlying fear.

- I can’t go into toy stores because around any corner could be the rubber snake bin. One time, when I was about twelve, my mother was inside the toy store shopping, and I, as always, was waiting outside the store. My brother thought it would be funny to reach outside the store with a rubber snake in his hand and shove it in my face. I screamed and ran out of the mall, causing too much of a commotion. So that was fun.

After that, if I got into a fight with my brother, he could easily win just by threatening to buy a rubber snake and put it in my bed. For years, if I’d had any kind of fight with him, or even if I’d just gotten it into my head that he might follow through on this prank, I was scared to get into bed and had to get my parents to take off the covers and check it was safe first. All this over a rubber snake. I never thought there was any danger of a real snake being in there. The thought of how terrifying it would be to jump into bed and be confronted by a rubber snake was enough to make me concede a sibling fight.

- On that subject: last year, Taskmaster NZ had a task in which they opened the mailbox and found it was full of rubber snakes. They made fun of Chris Parker for how far he jumped in fear and surprise, but as far as I’m concerned, every contestant underreacted. If I ever opened a mailbox expecting it to just have paper in it, and a bunch of rubber snakes popped out… I genuinely think I’d have punched Paul Williams in the face, not even out of anger but just out of instinct. Whatever my instinctual reaction would have been, it would have been so violent that they’d have to stop filming and scrap the task.

Anyway, the way that one’s affected my life is I now get instinctively anxious whenever I re-watch any task from any season of Taskmaster NZ and I see them open the mailbox. Fuck whoever’s idea that prank was.

- Can’t properly enjoy any TV show or movie where there’s any possibility of seeing a snake, I have to watch it through my fingers and be ready to look away quickly. I watched the entire Australian road trip episodes of The Last Leg with my eyes half shut. I was a huge Harry Potter fan as a kid (different time, it was a different time), I read the books over and over but used to hold them by the very edges because I got scared to even put my finger on the word “snake” while I was reading, and the word was written so often. When the movies came out, I saw them all in theatres pretty much closed my eyes every time a new scene started, until I’d heard the first few words and could be sure there was no snake on screen. When they came out on DVD, I watched them with my parents and we wrote down the timestamps for each snake appearance, so that I could re-watch them on my own and know when to close my eyes.

For some reason, if I tell someone who didn’t already know that I have a phobia of snakes, two questions they frequently ask are “Have you seen Anacondas?” and “Have you seen Snakes on a Plane?” And… no. Obviously not. It’s weird that people ask that so much, because obviously not. Though I did used to appreciate that the Snakes on a Plane advertisements started with the words “SNAKES” in gigantic letters across a black screen. That’s nice. I wish everything would put the word “SNAKES” in gigantic letters across a black screen before actually putting any snakes on screen, as a warning. Would make my life much easier.

- Science class fucking sucked when I was in school. Do you know how many different types of studies can involve showing us pictures of snakes? Obviously, units on animals that we did when I was young. I still recall a video they showed us during a unit on the rainforest in grade eight that had a snake suddenly appear and I didn’t close my eyes in time so I saw it and that thing still turns up in my nightmares sometimes. Biology textbooks manage to get pictures of snakes in there in so many ways.

In university, I studied psychology, and my intro course had a unit on phobias. That unit listed the most common phobia, one of which was snakes, and it illustrated this with a picture of a snake. Apparently it did not occur to that author that since this is such a common phobia, maybe some people taking the course will have that phobia, and won’t want that picture in their textbook. I spent the first few weeks of the semester afraid to open my textbook, I had to open it very carefully and just look at the page numbers in the corner until I found the page I wanted, to avoid accidentally opening it to the page with the snake. After a few weeks, I got my friend to put duct tape over the picture so I could open my textbook without worrying.

And it’s still happening. Just a few months ago I had to renew my first aid certification, and the course had a bit about how to treat snake bites, I didn’t close my eyes before they put up the slide with a picture of snake on it. I gasped extremely loudly and instinctively hid my head in my lap. The class stopped, and when I managed to look up, I saw all the students and the instructor staring at me. I had to explain that I have a phobia, the instructor was very kind about it and took the slide down, but still, not a great thing to have happen when you’re 32 years old.

On the subject of snakes turning up in vaguely educational things, do you know how many letters of the alphabet have a type of snake that starts with that letter? Quite a few of them, it turns out. I learned that from QI, with each season having an episode on “[that season’s letter]-animals”. Have to watch those episodes ready to close my eyes every time they start a new topic.

- I’ve gotten pretty fucking good, over the years, at detecting the warning signs that a snake is about to appear on a screen, and closing my eyes or looking away. Looking away or blocking my view, if possible, tends to be better than closing my eyes. Because if I close my eyes while I know a snake is on the screen, I just see snakes in my head anyway.

And that’s the problem. I’ve gotten so good at this because when I fail to look away in time, which I sometimes do, it causes big problems. I see it every time I close my eyes for a while. I can’t sleep that night, or normally for a few nights after that, because I see the snake. And when I do manage to fall asleep, I have nightmares about it.

This was worse when I was younger. As a kid, I used to get into bed and then have panic attacks in which I’d become convinced my bed was full of snakes. So I’d get out of bed and lie on my bedroom floor, but then I’d still be convinced there was snakes underneath me, so I’d get up and pace back and forth to avoid them. Sometimes I’d be up all night pacing, cry because I was so tired but not be able to get in bed, and go to school on no sleep. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time, but I have had nights where I’ve gotten into bed, felt like there were snakes in there, freaked out, and had to get out of bed and do something else until I’m sufficiently distracted.

Every time I see an image of a snake, it gets added to the repertoire of what I see when I close my eyes with snakes in my mind. Which means vigilance about avoiding seeing them on TV really is worth it, not just to avoid short-term nightmares, but to avoid adding to the long-term repertoire. Like I said, I can still see the one from the rainforest movie in grade eight.

- One of the worst times it’s affected me was only a couple of years ago, at my grandparents’ place. My grandparents have this place in rural Nova Scotia, on Canada’s East Coast, and it’s my favourite place in the entire world. They’re right next to the ocean on one side and a forest on another, I’ve been going there once or twice a year for my whole life, it’s incredibly beautiful. A couple of years ago, I saw a snake while heading down their driveway with the bike I ride out there. They’re out in the country and don’t have many neighbours, but they do have some neighbours, enough to hear the screaming. I threw the bike at it, damaging the bike, before running into the house. I was panicking for about an hour, and then too afraid to leave their house for a couple of days. Once I did start leaving their house, I started getting to the ocean via their yard, I couldn’t go on their driveway anymore. I tried to go up in the forest one time, looked around, saw that everything on the ground looked like a snake, panicked and went back inside. I love that forest, and couldn’t go in there anymore. I love that whole place, and had become unable to be there without anxiety.

So at that point I decided this was getting serious enough so I should actually do something about it. Which you’d think I’d have done earlier, but the cure for phobias is exposure therapy, that’s always sounded painful enough so I’ve avoided it. That incident at my grandparents’ place made me read a bunch of books on exposure therapy, and then start doing some very low levels of it (I started by looking at pictures of very non-realistic and friendly-looking cartoon snakes, which was still tough), I think it was starting to get a bit better, and then some other things in my personal life went to hell, I had a bit of a breakdown, and decided I could not deal with that while also subjecting myself to snake images at the same time. Exposure therapy, as far as I can tell, does work. But only if you’re willing to submit to a lot of torment in the short term. I know I should go back to it at some point.

The second most common question I get when I tell people I’m scared of snakes, after “Have you seen [insert snake-based movie that I’ve not fucking seen]?”, is “Why?” So to answer that, I don’t know. I’m aware that it’s irrational, that any snake I’d have any chance of encountering in the wild in Canada could not harm me. I’ve been told that they’re more scared of me than I am of them, which I think is unlikely, but I know it’s a close call.

I didn’t have any traumatic encounter with snakes as a kid or anything. Our best guess as to what happens is my mother says when I was about three years old, she heard me screaming in the middle of the night. She said it terrified her, the screaming was so bad that she was convinced her young child had been seriously injured. She came into my bedroom and found that I’d rolled my blanket into a cylinder, and had my arms wrapped around it. She woke me up and I continued screaming, telling her there was a snake in my bed. She turned on the light and pulled all the sheets and blankets off my bed, even pulled off the fitted sheet and mattress cover, to show me there was nothing there. But I kept screaming and crying that there was a snake in my bed. I refused to get back in bed and she finally let me sleep in her bed for the night. She says she doesn’t remember me expressing a fear of snakes before that, so either it developed because of that nightmare, or it was already there and that’s just the first time it came up. But she thinks the dream was caused by my blanket being rolled up into the shape of a snake. Which means it’s possible that I was fucked up for life because one time when I was three years old I got my blanket tangled into the wrong shape.

I say all this to try to explain how much I mean when I say I don't like snakes. Because just the words "I'm scared of snakes", or even the word "phobia", doesn't seem to quite convey the gravity of the situation. Now that I’ve conveyed a bit of that gravity, I would like to say I really enjoyed that Bob’s Burger’s episode, when I first saw it years ago, that features Gene being terrified of snakes. It ends with Gene singing a song about how scared he is of snakes, which I found hilarious.

I’d forgotten about that song, hadn’t thought of it in years, until today, when I watched a documentary about Eugene Mirman, the American comedian who’s Gene’s voice actor on Bob’s Burgers. The documentary ends with Eugene Mirman singing that song, along with a bunch of other comedians, including Daniel Kitson. The fact that I'd heard Kitson was involved is the main reason I watched it (the whole documentary, that is, not just the song), but it ended up being a fascinating and moving documentary that I’d have enjoyed even if he hadn’t been there, I’m really glad I watched it and recommend it to anyone who wants to see what the coolest comedians in New York were doing between 2008 and 2018. It's called It Started as a Joke.

I'm glad I watched it for a lot of reasons, it was a great (though very sad, at times) story with some really interesting footage. But this song at the end was a total surprise, and so much fucking fun. Absolutely excellent. I think I might have to set the audio from this as my new alarm to wake me up in the mornings.

I am, by the way, fine with spiders. The only non-snake animals that scare me at all are if a lizard or alligator or other reptile looks too much like a snake. Where are their arms and legs? It's not okay.

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[andromedasummer]

Yeah I’m currently studying atm and honestly have been failing every single year since 2019, so my student loan is already pretty high lol. I’m doing social sciences and whilst I do love them, idk…I don’t think I’m cut out for actually studying them. I actually did think of going to vic uni as well, but I always chickened out just cause welly is so far from my parents. I started at Auckland uni which I did enjoy, the year was just horrible, and now I’m at Waikato uni which I’ve grown to appreciate. Moreso appreciate the fact that it’s smaller so you know your lecturers a lot more, as well as it being cheaper and easy to navigate, hate the fact there aren’t as many options or opportunities in a lot of subjects here

I know that feeling. Auckland is pretty intense, from what my datacom/sci friends who went up there to study tell me. I don't blame you for needing to leave. I'm glad Waikato is suiting you better, I can absolutely see why it would be a nicer experience with a smaller crowd. Fucking sucks about the lack of subjects though. For me I went to vic because I needed that wide range to keep me invested and interested. But I do not miss the commute. $8-10 a day on a bus that only came every hour and took 45 minutes back and forth was hell. And when I lived in a hall, it meant walking up the terrace and mountain for 20-30 minutes every day to get to Kelburn campus or waste $2 going up the hill. It's what made me start exercising, actually. I was sick of wasting $2 every morning just to walk down the hill again hours later and i wanted to get the stamina to get up there faster. I got it down to 15-20 minutes but it still wasn't pleasant arriving at my courses sweaty and out of breath. That was back when. I was doing in person courses, covid changed that of course and the sudden flexibility about in person courses and tutorials was a blessing when my chronic issues flared up and i was unable to get out of bed.

Lecturers literally make the university. Part of shy I continued classics for so long was because the classics department at vic are the most wonderful, fun people. There was only one lecturer in my time who was an asshole about my illness, (a media lecturer) and I dropped her courses pretty smartly after that. Everyone else was exceedingly chill. Special shoutout to my media lecturer Peter who taught my policy course and has written so many awesome papers about media in NZ and was super understanding about my illness, my poetry lecturer Anna whose anthologies I buy whenever I see it on shelves and who had a lovely voice and gave me As on all my poetry, she's the reason I still write. Also Harry, fantastic NZ poet with multiple publications and taught out shakespeare and popular lit course. I had the honour of attending his final lecture before he retired and it was wonderful.

Final special mention Dougal, who scared me in 2018 when shouting "RED CARDIGAN. STOP" at me for talking in a narrative lecture like it was a power word kill spell. It put the fear god god in me. Funniest lecturer I have ever had, he once went on an 30 minute rant about how much he hates Avatar as a sci fi text and white saviour narrative. Taught my sci-fi lit course and my post-colonial lit course. Devastatingly intelligent and strong willed. He's the head of the union for the lecturers and thank god for that because theyve been going through some shit with the current govt. Most impressively to me, he held a stand in protest with a palestinian-jewish coalition of students at the university when they allowed two IDF soldiers who participated in a raid that killed civilians to give a talk on their campus years back. Never in my life have I been so intimidated and impressed by a man.

[safaritrailers]

Top-Rated Trailers for Sale in NZ: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to buying a trailer, whether for work or leisure, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. With so many options available in New Zealand, it’s important to know what to look for in a high-quality trailer. From utility to car and boat trailers, this comprehensive guide will take you through the top-rated trailers for sale in NZ, their features, and how to choose the best one for your needs.

Why Investing in a Good Trailer Matters

Trailers are incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, from transporting heavy loads for construction projects to towing boats or cars. But not all trailers are made the same. A quality trailer will ensure durability, safety, and longevity, making it a smart investment in the long run.

Whether you’re a tradesperson, farmer, or an adventurer, finding the right trailers for sale NZ can save you time, money, and stress down the line. Here’s what to keep in mind when looking for the best options on the market.

Types of Trailers Available in NZ

New Zealand offers a wide range of trailers designed to meet various needs. Knowing the different types of trailers available can help you narrow down your options and find the one that fits your specific requirements. Below are some of the most common types of trailers for sale NZ:

1. Utility Trailers

Utility trailers are among the most versatile options you can find. They are perfect for hauling everything from tools and materials to large equipment. These trailers typically have open sides and are made from strong materials like steel or aluminum. The advantage of a utility trailer is its ability to accommodate various sizes of loads, making it a favorite for many tradespeople and homeowners in New Zealand.

Utility trailers often come with features such as removable sides, ramps for easy loading, and tie-down points to secure your cargo. For those who need a do-it-all trailer, utility trailers are definitely a go-to option.

2. Box Trailers

Box trailers are similar to utility trailers but typically come with enclosed sides, making them ideal for protecting your cargo. These trailers are commonly used for transporting fragile goods, garden waste, or even equipment for small business owners.

One of the best aspects of box trailers is that they come in different sizes to suit your needs. Whether you need a compact version for home use or a larger one for business purposes, you’ll find plenty of trailers for sale NZ in this category.

3. Car Trailers

Car trailers, also known as vehicle transport trailers, are designed to haul vehicles. These trailers come with built-in ramps or tilting platforms to make loading and unloading your vehicle easy.

If you’re a car enthusiast or someone who regularly transports vehicles, investing in a car trailer is essential. These trailers are built to handle heavy loads and often include additional features such as electric brakes and suspension systems to ensure the safe transportation of your vehicle.

4. Boat Trailers

New Zealand’s stunning coastlines make owning a boat a dream for many Kiwis. However, getting your boat to the water requires a reliable boat trailer. Boat trailers are specially designed to handle the weight and shape of a boat, with adjustable rollers and bunks to cradle your vessel securely during transport.

Boat trailers come in various sizes to match the size and weight of your boat, and they are often equipped with features like winches and submersible lights for ease of use.

5. Tipping Trailers

If you’re in the landscaping or construction business, a tipping trailer is a must-have. These trailers have hydraulic systems that allow the bed of the trailer to tilt, making it easy to unload bulk materials like gravel, sand, or soil. This feature saves time and reduces manual labor, making it an invaluable tool for professionals who frequently transport loose materials.

Key Features to Look for in Trailers

When searching for trailers for sale NZ, there are several key features to consider to ensure you’re getting a trailer that will meet your needs and last for years to come. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Build Quality and Materials

The materials used in constructing the trailer will directly affect its durability and performance. Most trailers are made from steel or aluminum, with each offering distinct advantages. Steel is incredibly strong and durable, while aluminum is lightweight and resistant to rust, making it ideal for coastal regions.

Load Capacity

One of the most important factors to consider is the trailer’s load capacity. Always ensure that the trailer you choose can handle the weight of the items you intend to transport. Overloading a trailer can lead to damage or even accidents, so it’s crucial to choose one with the right capacity for your needs.

Braking System

For larger trailers or those carrying heavy loads, a reliable braking system is essential. Many trailers come with electric or hydraulic brakes that engage when you apply the brakes on your towing vehicle, ensuring safe and smooth stopping power.

Suspension

A good suspension system will ensure that your trailer rides smoothly, even over rough terrain. This is particularly important if you plan to tow heavy loads or delicate cargo, as it can reduce wear and tear on your trailer and the items inside.

Top Brands Offering Trailers in NZ

New Zealand is home to several reputable trailer manufacturers, offering a range of high-quality trailers for all needs. Here are some top brands to consider when searching for trailers for sale NZ:

Briford Trailers

Briford Trailers is one of the leading manufacturers of trailers in New Zealand. Known for their durable and versatile designs, they offer everything from small box trailers to heavy-duty car and utility trailers. Their products are built to withstand New Zealand’s harsh conditions, making them a reliable choice for all your towing needs.

Trailequip

Trailequip offers a wide range of trailers, including tipping, flatbed, and utility trailers. They are well-regarded for their attention to detail and high-quality craftsmanship. Trailequip trailers are designed with both functionality and style in mind, ensuring that you get a trailer that performs well and looks great.

Tuff Trailers

Tuff Trailers is another brand to keep an eye on when looking for trailers for sale NZ. They specialize in heavy-duty trailers that are designed for tradespeople and businesses. Their trailers are built tough to handle the demands of daily use, making them a popular choice for professionals.

Tips for Choosing the Right Trailer

Choosing the right trailer can feel overwhelming, but with a few considerations, you can find the perfect match for your needs. Here are some tips to help guide you:

Assess Your Needs

What will you be using the trailer for? Whether it’s for personal use, like towing a boat or motorcycle, or professional use, like transporting materials, knowing your primary purpose will help narrow down the options.

Consider Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

Always check your vehicle’s towing capacity before purchasing a trailer. This ensures that your vehicle can safely tow the weight of the trailer and its cargo without strain.

Think About Storage

Consider where you’ll be storing your trailer when it’s not in use. If space is tight, you may want to opt for a smaller or foldable trailer that can be easily stored.

Conclusion: Invest in the Best Trailers for Sale in NZ

Whether you need a trailer for work or recreation, finding the right heavy duty trailer nz is essential to ensuring durability, safety, and efficiency. With a variety of options like utility trailers, boat trailers, and tipping trailers, there’s a perfect match for every need. By understanding the key features and brands, you can make an informed decision and invest in a trailer that will serve you for years to come.

Take your time to explore your options, assess your specific needs, and consider key factors such as build quality, load capacity, and towing compatibility. With the right trailer, you’ll be able to handle any job or adventure with ease.

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How Can the Right Disability Equipment Improve Daily Life?

 Ever wonder how a little tweak in your daily routine could make all the difference? Imagine a world where every challenge is met with ease and every task is a breeze. That’s not a dream—it’s a reality waiting to happen with the right disability equipment in NZ. Whether looking at wheelchair hire or exploring other solutions, the right equipment can transform your daily life. Let’s dive into how these innovations can bring a touch of magic to your everyday routine!

1. Unlocking Freedom with Wheelchair Hire

Imagine rolling into your favourite café or strolling through the park without a hitch. With the right wheelchair hire, this isn’t just a pipe dream. Modern wheelchairs are designed for comfort, ease of use, and style, making them perfect for enhancing mobility and independence. Whether you're looking for something sleek and modern or a bit more robust, there’s a wheelchair hire option that suits your needs. It's all about finding that perfect match to allow you to explore without limits.

2. Tailored Comfort with Adaptive Furniture

Your home should be your haven, where every detail is tailored to your comfort. Adaptive furniture, like adjustable beds and specialised chairs, can significantly affect how you experience daily life. Imagine a bed that adjusts to your perfect angle or a chair that supports you precisely where you need it. Investing in the right disability equipment means you’re not just buying furniture but investing in your well-being and comfort.

3. The Power of Accessibility Aids

From grab bars to stairlifts, accessibility aids are the unsung heroes of the disability equipment world. These tools are designed to make everyday tasks easier and safer. For instance, installing grab bars in your bathroom can prevent falls and give you peace of mind. Stairlifts can help you quickly navigate multi-story homes, ensuring you get all the parts of your home. The right disability equipment can make your home more accessible and safer, empowering you to live more independently.

4. Enhancing Mobility with Cutting-edge Technology

Technology is not just for tech enthusiasts—it’s a game-changer in disability equipment. Advanced mobility aids like electric scooters and smart wheelchairs are designed with technology that makes navigating the world more accessible than ever. With features like intuitive controls and long-lasting batteries, these devices ensure you stay on the move without the hassle. Opting for a wheelchair hire that incorporates the latest technology means you’re not just getting a chair; you’re getting a cutting-edge mobility solution.

5. The Joy of Personalisation

One of the most significant benefits of modern disability equipment in NZ is the ability to personalise. From choosing the colour of your wheelchair to selecting the features of your adaptive technology, customisation allows you to make your equipment truly yours. This personal touch can significantly enhance your confidence and comfort, making daily activities manageable and enjoyable. After all, when your equipment fits you perfectly, it’s not just about functionality—it’s about feeling great while using it.

6. Breaking Down Barriers to Independence

The right disability equipment doesn’t just help with daily tasks; it opens doors to new opportunities. By removing physical barriers, you can participate more fully in activities you love, whether travelling, socialising, or pursuing hobbies. Access to the best wheelchair hire or disability aids means you’re not just coping with challenges—you’re overcoming them and thriving in your unique way.

Conclusion

Embracing the right disability equipment in NZ can transform your life in ways you never imagined. The benefits are profound and far-reaching, from enhancing mobility and comfort to opening up new possibilities. So, next time you consider wheelchair hire or other adaptive solutions, remember—it’s not just about getting by. It’s about thriving and making the most of every moment.

Equip yourself with the right tools, and watch as your daily life becomes a series of new opportunities and joys. Here’s to a future where every day is a little bit easier and much brighter!