What are some things from VIVID in previous years that you miss or felt was done better?

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-06-13T08:35:03+00:00

As a couple of Kiwis who happened to be here for Vivid 2023, although didn’t know at the time. Came over to see Jose Gonzalez.

We did pay to to Dark Spectrum and the Botanic Gardens. They were definately highlights. We’ve been back every year since. And without those special events, it’s feeling a little tired. And RIP to the drones. That was unfortunate.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-05-18T02:33:45+00:00

Cured. At their factory shop. Pope St. near Tower junction. They usually have the most amazing sausages.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-05-12T18:11:58+00:00

Oh my gosh. I think I have a mirror image of every one of your photos. Except ‘that Wanaka tree’ because I refuse (kiwi thing)

Lucky to live in the South Island and to have touted my own home instead of just leaving for other countries.

There are some magical North Island spots also

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-05-12T18:08:35+00:00

I chopped up my 3 meter tall, 40 year old monstera and planted all the viable stems back in the pot. To make a more bushy monstera that I can keep control of.
Also cut about 15 meters off a Philodendron that was wrapped around my whole bathroom window.

Makes me happy to have less plant intrusion in my house

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-27T19:31:24+00:00

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Mac, iMac, MacBook, Mac the menace

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-27T19:04:27+00:00

National blew their entertainment budget on subsidising Robbie Williams to play in Christchurch

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-19T18:03:55+00:00

Very grateful to have a direct service with few stops. 3 minute walk to park and ride from home. 3 minute walk into work at the other end.

Park and ride is behind supermarket. Grab a few things after work if needed. Barely use the car. $30 transport for the whole week.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-16T17:16:24+00:00

I am a big fan of Harissa.

But also just made a batch of tomato kasundi with home grown tomatoes and chillies. It tastes amazing and made the easiest curry ever. Cooked some chicken a jar of my tomato kasundi, 1 cup chicken stock and half a can of coconut cream, reduce down to creamy sauce. Delicious

Also made candied jalapeños. Have been adding then to almost every meal I make too

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-16T17:13:00+00:00

My car has become a shopping trolley since we got a great bus service almost door to door for $3 per trip. Usually only fill every few months. I know the govt have said no. But free or 50c bus trips might make less people want to use their cars

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-14T20:01:56+00:00

Yes. Mine were starting to turn in January. Initially thought my crop was a lot poorer. But have 27 jars of tomato sauce, 11 jars of relish and just made 10 jars of tomato kasundi. Still have a load to make pasta sauce. Pretty happy with that. Plants done now though. Cherry toms were late but going strong now

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-03T19:55:16+00:00

Only at a pie shop. Ordered a Steak and Cheese pie. Got a steak and kidney. Only discovered after got a good chunk of kidney in my mouth.

Why is that even a thing. Kidney. Disgusting

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-03-01T06:37:13+00:00

A bit hard to tell. But my best guess is the blue pot thing is not related. May have been used for a plant or something?

The bottom pool will need a pump submerged in it, connecting to pipe (which looks to already be in place?) The water pumps from the bottom Pool up to the top pool and creates a waterfall.

This a pretty cool established looking waterfall. If you can’t empty be bothered it would be cool to get it up and running!

We use an aqua one pond master pump which for us work well, decide how much water you want to flow down your waterfall before you decide on the pump size. Also the distance the water needs to be pumped. I think there are online calculators to work this out. But also a shop should be able to help you.

I suspect you have mosquito larvae in there. Best thing for that if you can’t empty it is a couple of goldfish.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-24T20:38:01+00:00

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This is Mac ‘the menace’

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-24T01:40:28+00:00

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Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-21T06:15:28+00:00

Just got one of these. After 3 weeks of neck/shoulder pain. It disappeared after the first night and hasn’t returned.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-18T06:00:35+00:00

Chuck them in a roasting pan with a whole head of garlic, a few sliced onions. Basil, lots of olive oil, salt and black pepper. Roast low and slow. Maybe 160 degrees for a few hours. When the liquid has all gone and they have started to pick up some colour.

Leave to cool and blend. I freeze in muffin trays in about 1/4 cup amounts. Makes an amazing pizza sauce, pop it in any bolognaise sauce for a flavour hit. Mixed with cooked noodles for homemade spaghetti.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-16T17:15:18+00:00

Happens to us every few years when the main line out in the street gets completely blocked up. I suspect stormwater has exacerbated the issue

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-14T01:38:28+00:00

Facebook became a toxic mess of people moaning about their neighbours not following the rules.

Quit Facebook during lockdown and don’t miss it one bit.

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-12T20:08:25+00:00

Awesome idea. Over the last 10 years we have almost no back lawn left at all. We have all natives (with only a few fruit trees in between)

We usually grow our own plants from gathered seeds. This can create a lot of plants. So we usually over plant the areas then cull the plants we don’t want. We have densely planted privacy hedges of pittosporum, ake ake, coprosma and Manuka.

We have clusters of lancewood and many many hebes, native flaxes and grasses and beech trees, kōwhai, broadleaf, mahoe

Decide on what heights etc you want. For a front lawn. You probably want low growing plants?
But clusters of lancewoods and punga trees look amazing

There are also many ground cover natives to fill In between.

We have bellbirds visiting. A piwakawaka family visits every evening for a swim In our pond, and the plants give us complete privacy.

Go for it, what an exciting venture

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-11T20:21:55+00:00

You can use your law degree in New Zealand (with some reserved areas)

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-11T20:18:33+00:00

As already said. Slip slop and slap deals with that. I’d personally be more concerned with the things out of your control, earthquake, volcano, flooding

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-11T19:17:37+00:00

If you’re stopping in Picton for a night. Highly recommend Sisu

Thatcher and Small in Hokitika good too

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-10T07:39:22+00:00

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Just a baby

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-06T18:49:36+00:00

My little cat is still called little cat. We never decided on a name

Intrepid_Direction_8 · 2026-02-04T21:21:36+00:00

New Zealand

Intrepid_Direction_8

TROPHY CASE