Martin
@mandab.com
Beer, cooking, tech, kindness, music. He/him/his
Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa NZ 🇳🇿
Also on Mastodon at @[email protected]
Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa NZ 🇳🇿
Also on Mastodon at @[email protected]
I am generally a supporter of AT but they're not coping with the chaos wrought by Brian Tamaki and his goons.
January 31, 2026 at 12:12 AM
I am generally a supporter of AT but they're not coping with the chaos wrought by Brian Tamaki and his goons.
Hard to believe it's 40 years since the Challenger disaster. Such an awful event, but the inquiry was fascinating and illuminating.
January 28, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Hard to believe it's 40 years since the Challenger disaster. Such an awful event, but the inquiry was fascinating and illuminating.
The current times should be a golden age for protest songs. Onya Bruce.
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 6:57 PM
The current times should be a golden age for protest songs. Onya Bruce.
The Torbay Poetry Stand is bringing it strong today:
January 23, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The Torbay Poetry Stand is bringing it strong today:
FFS, MetService have changed their Android widget to be primarily an advert, with a tiny bit of weather content on the side.
January 23, 2026 at 11:11 AM
FFS, MetService have changed their Android widget to be primarily an advert, with a tiny bit of weather content on the side.
I keep my work internet activity as separate as I can from my personal web activity (separate browser instances, logged into separate Google accounts).
Why, then, am I seeing adverts in my personal Meta feeds for things I only searched on a work account?
Why, then, am I seeing adverts in my personal Meta feeds for things I only searched on a work account?
January 22, 2026 at 6:35 AM
I keep my work internet activity as separate as I can from my personal web activity (separate browser instances, logged into separate Google accounts).
Why, then, am I seeing adverts in my personal Meta feeds for things I only searched on a work account?
Why, then, am I seeing adverts in my personal Meta feeds for things I only searched on a work account?
Not generally what you'd expect to see in a Salvation Army op shop window.
January 22, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Not generally what you'd expect to see in a Salvation Army op shop window.
Hope my friends around the motu stay safe in this weather. Other than a slightly soggy dogwalk this morning, things aren't too bad in Tāmaki Makaurau.
January 20, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Hope my friends around the motu stay safe in this weather. Other than a slightly soggy dogwalk this morning, things aren't too bad in Tāmaki Makaurau.
One minute after my meeting ended the power went out.
January 19, 2026 at 11:19 PM
One minute after my meeting ended the power went out.
In any sane world, that letter from Trump to Norway would be enough for him to be immediately removed from power. I doubt that even the Democrats will say anything substantial about it. We're all fucked.
January 19, 2026 at 9:22 PM
In any sane world, that letter from Trump to Norway would be enough for him to be immediately removed from power. I doubt that even the Democrats will say anything substantial about it. We're all fucked.
Reposted by Martin
New year, new beers. Our first episode of the year is live! The centrepiece is a great interview by Michael - he chatted to Joe Emans from Three Sisters Brewing in Taranaki about their successful crowdfunding and opening of a new bar in Wellington.
linktr.ee/third.pint.t...
linktr.ee/third.pint.t...
January 19, 2026 at 1:00 AM
New year, new beers. Our first episode of the year is live! The centrepiece is a great interview by Michael - he chatted to Joe Emans from Three Sisters Brewing in Taranaki about their successful crowdfunding and opening of a new bar in Wellington.
linktr.ee/third.pint.t...
linktr.ee/third.pint.t...
I spent the day judging the BBQ competition at the Kumeu classic car show. Great fun with a good bunch of people. We have some seriously good BBQ cooks in Aotearoa. This is my judging placemat from the ribs round, with the identifying entry numbers scrubbed out. Sleepy now.
January 17, 2026 at 5:57 AM
I spent the day judging the BBQ competition at the Kumeu classic car show. Great fun with a good bunch of people. We have some seriously good BBQ cooks in Aotearoa. This is my judging placemat from the ribs round, with the identifying entry numbers scrubbed out. Sleepy now.
I'm judging BBQ at what must be bogan Disneyland: the Kumeu classic car show.
January 17, 2026 at 1:23 AM
I'm judging BBQ at what must be bogan Disneyland: the Kumeu classic car show.
I intend to write more this year. If I were to publish it, where should it be? I understand that Substack is a bit dodgy.
January 16, 2026 at 10:11 AM
I intend to write more this year. If I were to publish it, where should it be? I understand that Substack is a bit dodgy.
Girding my loins (well, my stomach, which is reasonably close) for a day of BBQ judging tomorrow. Much meat shall be eaten.
January 16, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Girding my loins (well, my stomach, which is reasonably close) for a day of BBQ judging tomorrow. Much meat shall be eaten.
If an Olympic gold medal winner gives me their medal, I don't become an Olympic champion. That's not how it works. Same thing with Nobel Peace Prizes.
January 16, 2026 at 2:57 AM
If an Olympic gold medal winner gives me their medal, I don't become an Olympic champion. That's not how it works. Same thing with Nobel Peace Prizes.
The humidity in Tāmaki Makurau is seriously sapping my productivity. Windows open, fan and evaporative cooler on, and I'm still sweating like a very sweaty thing. Should have gone into the office today.
January 14, 2026 at 11:49 PM
The humidity in Tāmaki Makurau is seriously sapping my productivity. Windows open, fan and evaporative cooler on, and I'm still sweating like a very sweaty thing. Should have gone into the office today.
This is insane. 'Sheer panic': Dual-citizenship Brits have to get UK passport to return www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
'Sheer panic': Dual-citizenship Brits have to get UK passport to return
Travel agents are warning many are unaware of the change coming into effect soon.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 13, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This is insane. 'Sheer panic': Dual-citizenship Brits have to get UK passport to return www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Tonight was my 13th plasma donation and 18th in total since NZ Blood lifted the Mad Cow restrictions. The new NZ Blood donation centre on the Shore was celebrating its 100th plasma donation since opening late last year.
It's really easy and valuable. Cmon, give an armful.
It's really easy and valuable. Cmon, give an armful.
January 13, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Tonight was my 13th plasma donation and 18th in total since NZ Blood lifted the Mad Cow restrictions. The new NZ Blood donation centre on the Shore was celebrating its 100th plasma donation since opening late last year.
It's really easy and valuable. Cmon, give an armful.
It's really easy and valuable. Cmon, give an armful.
First day back "on the tools" and feeling thankful that I wrote myself a "This is what you need to be doing" document and attached it to a calendar invite for 8am. Equally thankful for coffee after an interrupted sleep due to a whining pooch.
January 12, 2026 at 7:15 PM
First day back "on the tools" and feeling thankful that I wrote myself a "This is what you need to be doing" document and attached it to a calendar invite for 8am. Equally thankful for coffee after an interrupted sleep due to a whining pooch.
I want to leave my home office and go to bed, but the dog is sprawled out behind my chair and is clearly dreaming, based on the yelps and leg twitches. Guess I'm sleeping in my office chair tonight.
January 12, 2026 at 8:52 AM
I want to leave my home office and go to bed, but the dog is sprawled out behind my chair and is clearly dreaming, based on the yelps and leg twitches. Guess I'm sleeping in my office chair tonight.
I was asked for my UK National Insurance number on a call (to my old pension provider in the UK) and by some miracle that 9 digit code is still lodged in my brain. I haven't needed it for nearly 20 years.
Yet I often can't remember why I walked into a room.
Yet I often can't remember why I walked into a room.
January 12, 2026 at 8:48 AM
I was asked for my UK National Insurance number on a call (to my old pension provider in the UK) and by some miracle that 9 digit code is still lodged in my brain. I haven't needed it for nearly 20 years.
Yet I often can't remember why I walked into a room.
Yet I often can't remember why I walked into a room.
I've reached the "having to wear jandles to light the smoker coz the deck is to hot to walk on barefoot" stage of the summer.
January 11, 2026 at 12:15 AM
I've reached the "having to wear jandles to light the smoker coz the deck is to hot to walk on barefoot" stage of the summer.
Trying out a pizza stone on the BBQ. Seems to work OK.
January 9, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Trying out a pizza stone on the BBQ. Seems to work OK.
This year will be our 19th in Auckland, which is the longest I've ever spent in one city in my life. I left my home town at 18 to go to uni, then spent 15 years working in London (with a two year interlude in Wellington/Sydney).
I guess I'm a proper Aucklander.
I guess I'm a proper Aucklander.
January 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
This year will be our 19th in Auckland, which is the longest I've ever spent in one city in my life. I left my home town at 18 to go to uni, then spent 15 years working in London (with a two year interlude in Wellington/Sydney).
I guess I'm a proper Aucklander.
I guess I'm a proper Aucklander.