#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A mustard yellow VW Kombi is motoring along a winding country road.
Past vineyards, cow paddocks and apple orchards.
A happy looking black dog (staffy?) poking its head out the window.
Eyes closed in doggy bliss, getting smell drunk as they go.

Two women (80s?) with sleeve and neck tattoos, wearing colourful floral dresses, are sitting in a sunbeam.
Sharing a pot of tea between them.
Cheerfully chatting as they solve all life and the universe's problems.

A small human (4?) is very committed to swatting a fly.
It's a very pesky fly and is buzzing all of the place at his Mum and Dad's cafe table, but he's going to catch it! Flailing with absolute purpose, roaring: "STAY STILL SO I CAN SMASH YOU!"
For some reason the Mister Fly isn't listening!

A barefoot hitchhiker (Late teens?), wearing a tie dye T-shirt, is waving a sunflower at approaching cars.
A little pink hatchback driven by a woman (20s?) pulls over to offer her a lift and she climbs in for a grin.
Off for a new adventure!

A woman (50s?) is standing in front of a country-road-side stall trying to make a big decision.
Will she buy some homemade cucumber relish?
Preserved lemons?
Hmm, what about homemade fudge?
Maybe she'll get them all.
Dropping money in an honesty box, jauntily walking back to her campervan.

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#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A man (30s?) is drawing big chalk love hearts on the pavement in front of his tattoo shop. A friend calls out a hello and he pauses to give her a welcoming smile.
Pink chalk streaked across his cheek but he doesn't seem to mind.

A tall and lean bar owner (30s?) gazelle-runs after a customer who has left their jacket on their chair.
Long legs eating up the pavement. They've got a head start, but she's a runner and she'll catch them!

A couple (60s?) are sitting on a bench at the seaside, companionably chatting.
Her hijab is fluttering against his shoulder in the breeze.
He's placidly puffing a pipe through a majestic bushy moustache.
Tweed flat cap firmly in place.
A waft of tobacco smoke in the air.

A very sweet, very big dog with a very big grin (pit bull cross rhinoceros?) is wandering from table to table in a quiet bar.
Getting pats everywhere he goes, tail wagging gently.
He's a good boy.

A pensive individual (20s?) is sitting deep in thought in a chill beer garden. A bunch of mathematics textbooks in front of them, a pen in hand.
Equations zooming across their notepad.
A pint of hazy beer at their elbow.
This is the way to study.

Any typos spotted in this post are currently hard at work on the home stretch of a novel. If typos spotted, please remind them to drink water and maybe top up their teapot every now and then. Caffeine is ruling the day!

The typos would like to wish their fellow Kiwis a happy Waitangi Day! May you be spending your day doing whatever feels meaningful to you to celebrate this marvellous country and its people, with people who love and care for you.

*Wekas are brown wood hens. Native to New Zealand. Beloved. Unrepentant kleptomaniacs who'd steal the shoes off your feet if they thought they could get away with it.

*Whanau is the Māori language word for family, extended family and is a also a greeting for a large number of people.

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Also, if it's your cup of tea, the typos have a rather spiffy Patreon with around 500 of these posts and stories and the option to have them emailed to you daily.

https://www.patreon.com/georgepenney

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The typos also have a rather spiffy Buy Me a Coffee if you'd like to contribute to their caffeination fund so they can continue roaming all over the place. https://buymeacoffee.com/georgepenney

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And finally, if you like books (ooh books) Tiny Moments of Joy is a collection of posts from a year of Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Prices NZD, so cheaper in AUD/USD/GBP/Euro and gold doubloons) https://www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments-of-joy

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Thank you so much for reading my promo malarkey.️ Here's a picture of the beach this morning from the very quiet end. (More info in alt text.)

#Spotted at the Beach on Waitangi Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A tiny human (2?) clutching a Barbie toddle-races down to the surf.
Dad yells out: "Where ya goin' Maudie?"
"TO WASH DOLLY'S HAIR!"
"Ya sure Dolly needs a it?"
"It's an EMERGENCY!"
Dad chuckling as he wanders down to supervise.

A weka* slowly creeps out of some bushes next to a car with a whole lot of beach supplies next to it.
Slowly, quietly it approaches some colourful buckets and then SNAFFLES them, dragging them back into the bushes.
Anyone notice?
Nope?
Well now... how about that beach towel?

A small human (4) is making a sandcastle with Nan.
This is a very special sand castle with spectacular crenelations and towers created by Nan's marvellous assortment of recycled seedling pots. They've got a whole big bucket of all different sizes, and they're using them all!

A cheerful stocky man (30s?) is pulling a body board along the sand with a tiny human (1?) sitting on it imperiously.
All around them cousins, aunties and uncles are playing and cheering them on but Tiny Human is not phased.
When one is so regal, one must ride one's chariot stoically.

A man (50s?) and his mum (80s?) are waiting in a fish and chip shop.
Mum is reminiscing about her childhood, smile on her face, asking if Son's definitely ordered enough fish for the whanau*.
They collect their order and walk off to the car, arm in arm, heads bowed companionably together.

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