Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
Beavers get the job done
This is a rather uplifting tale that yet again illustrates the pluck and ingenuity of our animal pals. A dam project in the Czech Republic had stalled and the government faced huge costs and the usual delays due to securing planning permits. The whole project looked as if it were going nowhere – that is until eight beavers threw caution to the wind and just got on with the job themselves.
“Speaking to Radio Prague, Jaroslav Obermajer, head of the Central Bohemian office of the Czech Nature and Landscape Protection Agency, said: ‘Beavers always know best.’ Using their powerful incisors, the semi-aquatic rodents fell trees to create wetland areas – known as ‘beaver ponds’ – which they then use as sources of food and protection from predators.
“According to the Brdy Protected Land Administration (PLA), which was managing the human project, the beavers constructed dams in almost the same spots that constructions were planned.
“’The Military Forest Management and the Vltava River Basin were negotiating with each other to set up the project and address issues regarding ownership of land. The beavers beat them to it, saving us CZK 30 million (NZ$2.18m),” said Bohumil Fišer, the Brdy PlA chief. ‘They built the dams without any project documentation and for free.'” (Source: “Beavers finish seven-year dam project in two days,” by Harriet Barber, February 10, www.stuff.co.nz).
5 stars – great stuff. Shame we don’t have any beavers in New Zealand to help out with our stalled infrastructure projects!
Hercules sign off in style
Last week I had the privilege to see three of our retiring Hercules C-130s flying in tight formation low over the suburbs of Christchurch. They had flown over most of the the country as a farewell nod and the sight was more thrilling than I had envisioned.
One of the planes will make an historic return to Christchurch before becoming a part of the Wigram Air Force Museum’s displays.
“The plane will land at the Air Force’s first operational base, the Wigram Aerodrome in Christchurch, which is now the home of the Air Force Museum. The plane will be delivered within the next month and stored in preparation for its permanent display at the museum. The Hercules will fly in via a low approach over Corsair Drive, making it the first time a plane has landed at the base in nearly 16 years. Wigram Aerodrome was used for Air Force training and operations until 1995, but it was closed to commercial air traffic in March 2009.” (Source: “Retiring Hercules plane to have one final landing at spiritual home of NZ Air Force,” by Sam Smith February 13, www.stuff.co.nz)
After over 60 years of service the five retiring Hercules will be replaced by new C-130 models.
5 stars – I think I may well wander closer to Wigram aerodrome when the last Hercules makes its final touchdown. Why not?
Man wants to buy dump to recover lost fortune
This is a story I’ve followed for a while and its had its fair share of twists and turns. James Howells from South Wales believes that his girlfriend threw out his computer that had thousands of bitcoins on it in 2013. He says they are worth over 600 million pounds and he cannot recover them without his laptop. That’s when the lawyers got involved and the case has gone through the courts with a judge deciding that the laptop, if it does exist, is the property of the dump where Mr Howells believes his lost laptop ended up.
Now it seems the dump is up for sale and Mr Howells is gathering interested investors to purchase and then hopefully locate his lost laptop and his rather sizable treasure.
“”If Newport City Council would be willing, I would potentially be interested in purchasing the landfill site ‘as is’ and have discussed this option with investment partners and it is something that is very much on the table,’ Mr Howells said. (Source: “Man who lost £600m Bitcoin fortune considers buying landfill site to search for it,” February 11, www.news.sky.com).
Well, I for one, certainly wish him luck!
5 stars – most treasure hunts don’t usually involve a dump and this tale has all the hallmarks of a real classic.
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