iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

youtu.be/O2SYvLZnSS4?... There was a story on Seven Sharp this evening about elephants and the Limpopo river. I lost all details about the story because it evoked such a powerful childhood memory about the great grey green greasy Limpopo River the Just So Stories narrated by Sterling Holloway

youtu.be

Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories (DQ-1268) | Vintage Disney Vinyl Restored

YouTube video by Disney Recordland

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

35th wedding anniversary. Fabulous day enjoying local wineries. Youngest son,partner and grandson due round for dinner soon. Middle son often noted for cheek bones and jaw line - here is the origin pic 1987.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

The lovely bloke at my house has given our kids classic Tonka trucks a tickle up for our grandy for Christmas. They’ve had a repaint and a bit of detailing. Our eldest is 30 & our 3 all enjoyed them - they’ve even had a few years with a friends son. We are looking futon seeing them used again.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Proud mumma today. My middle son graduated from Melbourne university as a Master of Genomics and Health.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Thank you Santa! What a wonderful collection. I have just about made it to the end of term. Sanity is quickly restored by Joy - and you have brought that! Love your ice dyed fabrics, the beautiful yarn, lucet fork, cat purse and range of fabulous fidgety things 😍 #SecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

11 year anniversary of my Dad’s death. Here he is in his ‘pocket Burt Reynolds’ phase. His words.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

My Christmas tree is up! Totally over the top as usual. I suspect there to be some toddler carnage to the lower branches when the fam come for dinner tonight. #SecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I have taken a closer look at this gorgeous pouch of purr-fection and it is hand knitted with this wonderful yarn that looks like a tangle of spider legs. I love it even more. Santa you are obviously a super clever human. N.B I had permission to open this bit early #SescretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Feeling very spoilt and quite naughty opening presents before the official day. This brought me so much joy this morning 😍 Thank you Santa! Gorgeous wrapping - love love love the little cat pouch. It’s going to be hard waiting til opening day for the other parcels. #SecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Thank you to my Santa. I’ve been stressing about not getting to hints. One of our lovely elves let me know not to stress that my midwinter hints will suffice. Thank you It’s been a big couple of weeks #SecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Oooh exciting #SecretSantaAoNZ matching day! Sorry I have been very distracted by trying to navigate a school community safely to the end of a challenging year - there will be hints. Stay tuned. In the meantime here’s a pic of Trev the dog!

A large black dog with white flash on his chest. Looking distinguished with some white around his muzzle - he’s only three so much more doofus than distinguished. He is sitting gazing expectantly in hope of a game, walk or treat. Ears pinned back ready for action.

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Secret Santa Aotearoa @secretsanta.nz · 03/11/2025

The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot. And now we are going to tell it again. But different. This time, we're bringing Mastodon in for the fun. Sign-ups open on November 10th. Check out secretsanta.nz for more information

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Teachers, drs, nurses, etc are dealing with a government that has refused to listen and has steadily stripped away anything that is useful and makes it possible to do a great job. The strike on the 23 Oct is 100% necessary. The strike on the 23 Oct is 100% justified.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

There are lots of changes for our community coming up. I am standing for a 4th term on the Cromwell Community Board. With changes to representation, delegations and district wide funding making sure our growing and changing community has a voice is crucial.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Our wee walking visitor this evening. He loved his homemade bread and pasta with meatballs too 😍

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Winter faves for dinner at the Harry house. Polpette Soup and home made ciabatta. We have the very rare moment where the gluten free bread looks better than the regular.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

If you are in Central Otago and you are interested in standing in the upcoming local government elections then get along to one of these drop in sessions. There are lots of changes afoot around representation and localism so this is a really crucial election.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Yummy sushi rice bowls for dinner with pork and ginger meatballs. My jammy eggs are a bit runny but they’ll still be the best bit.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Final parcel opened by Zuko. He loves the book and the wrapping paper 😍

Yay wrapping paper. Baby standing playing with wrapping paper.

Baby standing moving the counter in a book.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

How wonderful is opening day? There is so much warmth and joy in every post. Santa’s feeling relieved that their gift is loved and giftees showing so much gratitude. #MWSecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ My Santa has done such an amazing job. I am blown away by the thought and care that has gone into my gift. The picture book is beautiful and complex and thought provoking. Trev loooves his treats. The chocs are works of art. Zuko will get to open his gift later. Thank you 🤩

A peek inside the bag showing three beautifully wrapped gifts and a bag of dog treats.

Exciting! A gift for Trev, a gift for Zuko and two for me.

Hand made chocolates that look like planets from distant galaxies. A hard back picture book with a yellow cover titled ‘Once upon a Home upon a Home’ by Kenya Hirata with illustrations by Kunio Kato. It is beautiful.

Trev, a black dog with a bit of white round his muzzle using his best manners to try a special treat from Santa. He is now my best friend (he always was)

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

MWSecretSantaAoNZ IT HAS ARRIVED! YES I AM SHOUTING - YAY!

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

My dog looks so much like this gorgeous beast but we’ve never had beverages like this 🤣

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I've had a really tough week and a particularly tough day and was feeling quite low. I've just had the news that my Santa has got my parcel in the post and that has cheered me right up - I'm feeling excited!!!

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Just checked the tracking on the parcel I sent - and it’s been delivered! And my giftee has popped up a post to confirm yay!

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Phew made it just in time. My gift has been on a lovely trip to and from Dunedin and is finally winging its way now I’m home. #MWSecretSantaAoNZ

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Super special celebration at our place yesterday our wee grandson Zuko turned 1.

Baby boy standing at a table opening a parcel wrapped in blue paper with dinosaurs on it. His dad a young man with long dark hair tied back and a beard looks on.

Baby boy standing at a table. He is grinning and holding a whale Pokémon plushie.

A dinosaur birthday cake with bright green icing. Surrounded by cookies with green icing and googly eyes. The name ZUKO is spelled out by some of the cookies.

Baby boy using both hands to make sure the banana cake with green icing all gets in his mouth. He’s never had so much sugar and he is here for it.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Crafting all done, gift elements all gathered. Just need to pull it all together, write the card, wrap and send. Sounds so easy 😅

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ The mod podge is out so the bespoke gift box creation is getting serious!

A pile of images of songs from various artists.

Partially completed decoupage of song images onto a black box.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I’ve been thinking about my previous Santas and the gifts I received in the past. My very first Santa wrote me a card that brought a tear to my eye and gifted me a picture book her own children had cherished. I love picture books & receiving one that had been loved, perfect! 🧵1/4

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ There’s the start of something on the needles for my giftee…

View inside the knitting bag to a partially completed piece. Green wool in a cabled pattern.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ we always have an enormous completely over the top Christmas. We have a wonderful family celebration for Matariki that always includes feasting, reflecting and the outside fire roaring. Love having an AoNZ midwinter celebration.

Enormous Christmas tree dripping with decorations and lights.

Table set for Matariki feasting with a gift of homemade foody goodies on the plates. The table setting is white and silver with 9 star lights hanging from the ceiling.

Family gathered around the outdoor fire with platters and drinks and conversation for Matariki.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

2025 can just get in the sea. My school community is grieving after the cancer death of a 6 year old in the holidays. We have also lost two past students. I taught both as 5 year olds. One in a senseless traffic accident last term and the other took his own life yesterday. It is too much

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon

Title:
SOME GRAMMATICAL VOICES FOR USE IN SCIENTIFIC WRITING

ACTIVE VOICE
e.g.
Our team collected samples and then we tested them.

CLICKBAIT VOICE
e.g.
We collected some samples...
You won't believe what happened next!

PASSIVE VOICE
e.g.
Samples were collected and tested.

HAIKU VOICE
e.g.
Quiet science lab.
Workers arrive with samples.
The testing begins.

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE VOICE
e.g. We did all the collecting and testing.
No need to thank us.
Just doing our job.

CONSPIRACY VOICE
e.g.
Mysterious "Samples" were harvested and covertly "tested" by so-called scientists.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I have eclectic music tastes but I’m GenX at heart so it’s… The Clash Madness The Specials The Cure The Jam Hoodoo Gurus Hunters & Collectors Bowie The Beat When I’m being cool and… The Bangles Bananarama Madonna Yazoo Simple Minds Depeche Mode Culture Club When I’m being dancy

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I am not a frequent poster so apologies to my Santa I have 3 adult sons & an 11 month old grandson. I have a rescue pup named Trev. I’m a coffee and wine drinker. I love picture books I sing lots of silly songs to make children smile I love to make & cook and create.

Trev a 3 year old mixed breed dog of unknown origin. Found abandoned & tied up in a warehouse in Dunedin. Now living his best life in luxury in Central Otago. He is tall and lanky, mostly black but with a white flash on his chest and white tips on his paws and tail. He spends his day being pampered by primary school children or sleeping under the principal’s desk.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I’ve had a quick trip to Melbourne to introduce Zuko to his great grandma. She lit up every time she saw him. She’s aged so much since I saw her a year ago and confusion and paranoia are making her world hard to navigate. We were glad to bring her some joy.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I’m so excited this is back. Time for hints. Things I love Knitting 🧵 1/6

A middle aged woman in a pink beanie with a fluffy Pom Pom.

Baby beanie in cream merino 4 ply wool. Delicate cables and a Pom Pom

A newborn knitted baby hooded cardigan in cream 4 ply merino the cardie is moss stitch with wooden buttons.

Classic knitted baby jacket in navy merino. Swing style with a pixie hood.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Among the lost positives consigned to the dusty corners of the dictionary is ‘reck’, meaning ‘care’, ‘heed’, and ‘consideration’. Which means we can be reckful instead of reckless (and feckful, gormful, ruthful, ept, kempt, couth, consolate, and many more).

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Foxes @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Exciting (informal) announcement: We are bringing Aotearoa Secret Santa back (again) this time to Bluesky, it seems we are destined to resurrect & breathe life back into the much loved game Mid Winter will coincide with my 50th Birthday, so we are making that Opening Weekend More details soon...

A Foxy Santa and Kitty Elves on a slay pulled by a Hogswatch Hog

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Ben Hughes @benbo2013.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Dementia is losing the person bit by bit, slowly, one piece at a time. Sometimes, getting the wrong word can seem funny but it becomes a cruel, fragmented loss which affects everyone around the person at the centre.

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The Princessipal @annabatalya.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Susie is always right on the button

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