Metta & Light

24/01/2026

A small collection of images from last nights rainy evening. Always worth getting the shoes wet 😊
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22/11/2025

📰 DOC Criticised for Releasing 30 ‘Rehabilitated’ Possums Back Into West Coast Township

Locals say the animals were “definitely not rehabilitated” and “caused chaos.”

WEST COAST — The Department of Conservation is under fire this week after proudly announcing the first graduates of its new Possum Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programme — only for all 30 “reformed” possums to immediately start creating havoc in the streets and gardens of a West Coast township.

DOC spokesperson Jack Toff said the programme was created as a “compassion-forward alternative” to traditional pest management, noting that instead of culling the animals, staff had spent months attempting to “heal their inner fluffiness.”

“We believe every possum deserves a second chance,” Toff said. “Or in this case, 30 second chances, all released at once, into the unsuspecting community.”

Locals say the results were predictable.

Westport pensioner Terry Bull, who witnessed the incident, said the possums “came out of the DOC van like a storm of fur,” with one immediately scaling a streetlamp and another raiding a neighbour’s compost bin.

“They weren’t rehabilitated,” Bull said. “They were amped. Chaos everywhere. One even stole a sandwich off my windowsill.”

Greymouth tradie Hugh Manatee said the animals appeared to have picked up some unexpected behaviours during their time in DOC care.

“One of them kept doing yoga stretches like he was practising mindfulness,” Manatee said. “Then it bit a letterbox clean off. Compassion doesn’t always translate into obedience.”

DOC insists the programme is still in its “early experimental phase,” admitting small tweaks may be needed.

“We might reconsider releasing them directly into town during daylight hours,” Toff said. “But overall, we see this as a win for compassion.”

Town officials are now considering temporary measures to prevent further possum “incidents,” including reinforced rubbish bins and optional mindfulness workshops for residents.

02/11/2025

I first saw the monks (my obvious subject) then I noticed the yellow sign and the bus number plate so quickly composed and got this image.
Captured during the early morning commute in Anuradhapura.
When I'm wandering about I try to always have my camera set exactly as I would like it to be in case I need to grab an image quickly.

31/10/2025

Just a couple of tourist who wanted their photo taken 😊🙃

31/10/2025