ONLINE NATIONWIDE WWW.SEASONSMAG.CO.NZ FREE COPY Life Beyond 50 December 2022 • Greater Auckland magazine seasons Christmas Memories Susan Mellsopp Christmas Helpers When Moment Christine Munday Trumps Composition Kim Westerskov

If you’re looking to move into a retirement village, Radius Care’s Matamata Country Lodge is one of Waikato’s most picturesque locations. The small Village is ideal for those who prefer quiet and space while also being close to the town centre for cafe catchups and a spot of shopping. Our villas and serviced apartments are perfect for those who wish to live independently yet would like a little extra help to make the retirement years as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Book a personalised tour with Kerry to discover what makes the Village unique. She will set aside plenty of time to chat about your situation, what you are looking for and the options and benefits of being a resident here. radiusmatamata.co.nz Matamata Country Lodge 2 Bedroom Villas Enquiries from $595,000 To book a viewing call Kerry Brazier today. Caring is our calling A special place, in a special town. Serviced Apartments Starting at $395,000 0800 567 004 Matamata Country Lodge 20 Elizabeth Street, Matamata Settle before Christmas and receive $10,000 cashback

Contents 15 28 10 16 06 20 04 Founder’s Note 06 Christmas Memories – Susan Mellsopp 10 Christmas Helpers – Christine Munday 15 Picnic Time – Fiona Sullivan 16 When Moment Trumps... – Kim Westerskov 20 David Hartnell’s Hollywood 26 Kiwilaw 28 Christmas in India – Kinsa Hays 31 Carol Singers with a Difference – Chris King 35 Christmases Hot and Cold – Carolyn Nimmo 36 Replacing the Old – Christine Munday 48 Recipes 51 Calendar 52 Jokes 55 Puzzles Personal care Palliative care Home help Companionship Convalescent care and rehabilitation Additional support within current care environments What we do Supporting health in your community for over a decade. Professional care and support from experienced nurses and healthcare assistants when you need it most. Waikato • Bay of Plenty • Auckland www.novahealth.co.nz | [email protected]

And Loving It’ event, which has returned to its origins at Hamilton Gardens and will combine a free concert/festival to have businesses and services on show for visitors to see what is new and good in the market today for them. Grant IMPORTANT NOTICE Due to huge rises in costs relating to print, freight, and production in the publishing sector, Seasons magazine starting 2023 will have a sale price of two dollars per issue. We have kept this to a minimum to keep it affordable for all of our fantastic readers and to keep our supportive advertisers costs down low. We hope everyone can see "We are keeping it real" Subscribe to receive your magazines for $9.00* per issue (6 months $54, 12 months $108) *postage and packaging costs only 4 seasons

ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: FOR THE BEST IN THE WEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! NORTH WEST WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTER 57 MAKI STREET 09 837 7385 HENDERSON CORNER OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD 09 837 0917 Queen Refresh Adjustable Base with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattress! Value $4794 Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7698 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $3295! PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $5390! waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz FOR THE BEST IN THE WEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! NORTH WEST WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTER 57 MAKI STREET 09 837 7385 HENDERSON CORNER OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD 09 837 0917 Queen Refresh Adjustable Base with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattress! Value $4594 Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $2895! PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz FOR THE BEST IN THE WEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! NORTH WEST WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTER 57 MAKI STREET 09 837 7385 HENDERSON CORNER OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD 09 837 0917 Queen Refresh Adjustable Base with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattress! Value $4594 Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $2895! PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz FOR THE BEST IN THE WEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! NORTH WEST WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTER 57 MAKI STREET 09 837 7385 HENDERSON CORNER OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD 09 837 0917 Queen Refresh Adjustable Base with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattress! Value $4594 Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $2895! PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! BEST ADJUSTABLE waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide:BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz BEST ADJUSTABLE 6 shops Auckland-wide: BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/01/23: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz BEST ADJ 6 shops Auckland-wide: US TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUS TABLE BED PACKAGES! Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases combined with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Long Single: Only $2595! King Single: Only $2750! Queen: Only $2895! Super King Split: Only $4990! California King Plus: Only $5500! Special Only until 30/11/22: Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Value $7498 Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Adjustable Bed with King Koil Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: ABLE T US BEST ADJ ACKAGES! P BED Size package options: all with Refresh Adjustable Bases ekapo T combined with King Koil Plush Pocket Spring Mattresses! Only $2595! Long Single: Only $2750! King Single: Only $2895! Queen: Only $4990! Super King Split: Only $5500! California King Plus: : 30/11/22 Special Only until Only $1 (Yes, One Dollar!) for Delivery & Setup and another $1 to take your old bed away! Super King Split Refresh Adjustable Bed with King Koil Tekapo Plush Mattresses! Value $7498 PACKAGE PRICE ONLY $4990! 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD (CNR OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD) 09 837 0917 16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK (BEHIND ‘RUGS AND MORE’) 09 444 0244 16 BISHOP DUNN PLACE, BOTANY SOUTH 09 271 5080 45 MT. WELLINGTON HWY (OPPOSITE NICK SCALI) 09 570 7315 SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST. (NEXT TO ‘RIB ’N ROAST’) 09 421 1307 WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTRE 57 MAKI STREET MASSEY 09 837 7385 waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz 6 shops Auckland-wide: BEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES! 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Dear Santa, I remember the Christmas I got chickenpox. I must have been about nine and my uncle had driven up from the Bay of Plenty to spend Christmas with both his sisters, one being my mother. I had woken in the night feeling very ill, and the ensuing spots soon meant that for me the special day was cancelled that year. Very disappointed, my uncle took my sister and went to our aunt’s home to enjoy the chicken, ham, and plentiful salads. From memory he took the Spanish Cream my mother had made. I couldn’t face food and was covered in pink calamine lotion to help with the itching. Santa, you still came in the night, leaving the requisite orange in the toe of the large sock, a book, some lollies, and one of those paper cut out doll craft books. There may have been a banana in the sock also. You were not overly generous. I don’t remember many more of my childhood Christmases, they were much of a muchness. One year we were at the beach with my aunt and I panicked that you would not know where I was Santa. Reassured you would fi nd me, even though the bach didn’t have a chimney, I fi nally slept soundly listening to the crashing waves and inhaling the salty air. Yes Santa, you did fi nd me, leaving the usual small gifts plus a new pair of togs. Presents from family members often consisted of packets of beautifully embroidered handkerchiefs, writing paper of which I had more than most people can use in a lifetime, and sometimes books that were usually far below my reading level. China ornaments and an illustrated bible I still have were other gifts. The only other Christmas I really remember was at my English Aunt’s home in Pakuranga. Everything had to be perfect, breakfast was almost non-existent, and by 2pm we were starving. I had been designated the family photographer so at least was busy. Finally sitting down with a wide selection of relations of all ages, about 18 in total, the food was plentiful, rich, and very British. This Christmas was also very sad. It was my beloved cousin’s last. Several months later he died of cancer. As we drove through the streets of Howick behind the hearse to the cemetery, I watched fascinated as men removed their hats and dipped their heads to honour him. I wondered if they realised he was a successful representative athlete. Several years later and newly married, Santa, I discovered on Christmas Eve I was pregnant. Threatening to miscarry, I was told bed rest was essential. This did not go down well with my new in-laws who seemed to think I was trying to avoid them. I had no desire at that early stage to discuss my fi rst pregnancy. Spending much of the day alone, that baby is now 48 with a family of his own. Before marrying I had asked my future mother-in-law if she liked Christmas mince pies. She had no idea what I was talking about. Having made my own fruit mince and pastry for years, I took her some. They seemed to mystify her. I understood a little more when having my fi rst Christmas dinner there. Everything was very formal and presents were still unopened in the evening. I was astounded at dinner that the tomatoes were rationed, we could have only half a one each. This was something I had never experienced. Christmas always meant unlimited food and treats, presents when we woke, games, fun and endless chatter. I took my children to church on Christmas morning then home for scrambled eggs and as much home-grown bacon and toast as they could consume. Santa, thankfully you only brought them small gifts, anything large was from their parents. I too used a large sock but put extra gifts on the end of their beds. How I struggled to stay up late until they went to sleep. Alternating between families, it became highly embarrassing when one person always refused to join in, made us late, and one year lay on the fl oor where people needed to walk and went to sleep. Somehow the joys of the yuletide season failed to fi ll him with happiness. Having Christmas at home outside on our large dining room table under the birch trees was fun. Unfortunately some of my inventive cooking did not go down well. I made avocado ice cream one year; I was the only one who ate this delicious concoction. Piling up the mince pies on a silver platter with a handle, my daughter stepped off the terrace and the whole lot slid to the ground. Thankfully I had more in the tin and the dogs had an unexpected feast. Homegrown hams were an essential part of the menu. I always had to soak them before cooking, and one year the ham mysteriously disappeared while I was out working on the farm. This was in the time before we locked or even shut doors, I suspect the farm dogs had a real treat. One also stole a Christmas cake left out to cool. Then Christmas changed forever. One fateful December my son chose to leave this world. A policeman arrived on my doorstep just as I was taking the rich fruity Christmas cake out of the oven. I instantly became a diff erent person. While this is now 25 years ago, it will seem especially poignant this year on the 25th of December. It feels like yesterday and eventually destroyed a whole family. A funeral with a large tree beautifully decorated, the blur of kind words, and some intrusive questions. Weeks feeling tense, raw, disbelieving. Did he choose this time of year as a refl ection of all the unusual Christmas experiences which had been predicated on him. I will never know. Several years later Santa I am sure you will remember I had eye surgery just before my fi rst Christmas on my own. I had made the chocolate I always cooked for my children, and bought chips and dip along with a large chicken to cook. I was extremely happy apart from all the pain in my eye. My daughter decided to come and stay, so we devoured all the treats while I had to remain inside wearing sunglasses. A visit and huge hugs from new and amazing friends made this a special celebration. Santa, now I spend the holy day with friends enjoying a plethora of wonderful home-made food and slow cooked meats; and often more desserts than one can consume. A vanilla and lime cheesecake tops the list of my favourite sweet treats. I have enjoyed the festive season with a variety of wonderful kind people. Occasionally it has been surprising to only be off ered alcohol to drink, no salads or fruits among the wonderful spreads, or been told off by someone for not using my guide dog just to move from room to room. By Susan Mellsopp Christmas Mem ies 6 seasons

Do you remember the very sad Christmas of 2018 Santa? My old retired guide dog Chocolat was 15 on the 25th of December, and was obviously failing. Her chocolate coat was still shining, but her face was almost completely grey. Stiff and sore, I stayed home alone with her, knowing this would be her last birthday. The next morning she came to me, put her head on my lap, and just stared at me. I cried as I looked into those beautiful milky dark eyes and knew she was telling me that now she had reached such an amazing age it was time to go. Early in the new year my beloved fi rst guide dog was asleep forever. Her life of service and love still aff ects me deeply. My next dog Jay thought you were his best friend Santa. Even his retirement was delayed so he could visit you one last time at the mall. Jay’s overwhelming joy at seeing the man in red sitting on his large upholstered chair brought joy to all who watched his excitement as he licked and nuzzled into you. With his tail wagging he even jumped the fence around your grotto once just to be near to you. One year you whispered “are you ok Susan,” this was so surprising as I could not understand how you would remember me from so long ago. Santa, as a present to all the newly widowed, divorced, recently separated, bereaved or just alone, please suggest to people they invite them for Christmas lunch or dinner. Many have been abandoned by family due to lies and unkind words and often do not feel like being sociable or unwelcome. They just need a friend to ensure they are not lonely on that special day. In time they will recover and rejoice with new kin, new friends and a new partner and their families. Please encourage people to remember why we have Christmas and that it is about love and kindness to others. Expensive presents, imbibing excessive alcohol and anger and violence are not what Christmas is about. Santa Claus, your biggest gift to everyone is to ensure that no one is left out in this season of love and goodwill. Merry Christmas Santa, Susan.

The very last release of new homes at Tamahere Country Club is now available. Now’s the time to make your choice, and with just 19 homes set on some of our most spacious sites you’ll be spoilt for choice. Located within a stone’s throw of the picturesque village lake and lake house, Stage 2C also features a range of new facilities on your doorstep including the country club’s café, croquet lawn, tennis court and an outdoor amphitheatre. If your dream for the next chapter of your life includes luxury living amongst a vibrant social community and acres of atmosphere, Tamahere Country Club will be just perfect for you. Full plans and specifications for the new villas can be viewed at our sales office. tamaherecountryclub.co.nz | Monday – Friday, 10am – 2pm (excluding public holidays) For sales enquiries call Sandy Turner on 021 628 385 A very special release J003908 DEVCICH.CO.NZ AIRPORT RD (SH21) TAMAHERE DR Stage 1 Stage 2 Final Release Artist impression only, subject to change without notice.

A Message from MP for Mt Roskill Michael Wood Getting Auckland moving Helping to get Aucklanders moving has been a key focus of mine in recent months. As many of you have undoubtedly experienced, public transport throughout the city is under considerable pressure. The driver shortage we are currently experiencing has been driven by an outdated contracting system that forces operators to lower drivers’ pay and conditions to compete commercially. In August I announced that we were moving ahead with a new operating model which will have public transport users and workers at its heart. In the short term, the government has come to the table by providing an additional $61 million to lift bus driver pay and conditions. Poor pay and conditions have been one of the reasons for the bus driver shortage, and the whole sector has welcomed our announcement as an important part of stabilising the workforce. This investment will bring drivers’ pay closer to the median wage, where it is eligible for international recruitment. Providing more transport choices for Aucklanders and New Zealand is a priority for our government, and crucial to achieving this is accessibility. Whether it’s on the bus, train or ferry, we want you to be able to choose what payment method works best for you. To make this happen we have announced that we are moving ahead with the National Ticketing Solution. Once rolled out you will be able to pay for public transport using contactless debit or credit cards, as well as digital payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay, while still off ering the option of using a pre-paid transit card. Another added benefi t will be the ability to use the same payment method anywhere in the country during your travels. We’ve also been tackling some of the long-term transport challenges facing our city. As part of our work upgrading New Zealand’s transport infrastructure to future-proof the system for future generations to come, we have been making progress on the two largest projects ahead for Auckland, the new Waitematā Harbour crossing and Auckland Light Rail. As part of the development of options for the next crossing across the Waitematā Harbour, the project team has started a period of consultation to understand Aucklanders’ aspirations for a future crossing. The study will look at future options for people wanting to drive, walk, cycle, transport freight, take the bus or perhaps travel by light rail across the Waitematā Harbour. This will support us to confi rm what new infrastructure is needed to cater for these modes, where it will go, and how to make the best use of our existing infrastructure, including the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Where previous governments failed to plan for the long term, we are committed to preparing for and safeguarding our country’s economic future, which is why we have brought forward planning for the crossing to ensure a fully integrated transport network for Auckland. I encourage you to have your say. Work on the fi nal design for Auckland Light Rail continues at pace, with the design teams in place and early works on track to start next year. Together these projects will have far-reaching benefi ts city-wide, transforming the way people can get around our beautiful city by giving them more travel choices. You can share your views on the next Waitematā Harbour crossing at nzta.govt.nz/awhc seasons 9

By Christine Munday Christmas helpers “Make a wish, Rose,” said Mum. Her fi ve-year old daughter struggled to stir the stiff mixture of fl our, dried fruit, nuts, sugar and eggs which when baked would be a rich Christmas cake. “My turn now,” piped up Lily. Lily was two years younger than her sister, but made sure that whatever Rose did, she had a go also. “It’s too hard for you,” retorted her big sister, but Lily was determined. She turned red in the face as she struggled with the big wooden spoon. “All done now. Let’s put it in the oven,” their mother said fi rmly, before any arguments arose between the siblings. That had been several weeks ago and since then the sisters had ‘helped’ their Mum with the cake twice more. Once to make and cover the cake with soft, almond-tasting marzipan and then a week later to envelop it in shiny smooth white icing. “It will just need decorating now,” said Mum. “We’ll just put it in the cupboard for now.” On Christmas Eve Grandma came over for the afternoon to look after the girls. Mum had to rush to the shops for groceries, last minute presents and other bits and pieces. There was to be a big party the next day with all the family arriving. “There’s been such a lot to do,” she sighed. “I’ve still got the cake to decorate. I’ll have to do it tonight.” Rose and Lily loved spending time with Grandma because she always played games with them and read lots of stories. This afternoon, however, Mum had explained that Grandma was quite old and hadn’t been very well so they were not to bother her, but play quietly by themselves. Grandma did seem tired. After they had all played a few games together, she suggested that Rose and Lily should play with their dolls while she had a little rest. Grandma settled herself comfortably in an armchair and soon her eyelids began to droop and she began to snore quietly. Rose and Lily soon tired of their dolls. They usually had a biscuit in the afternoon so they went into the kitchen and opened the cupboard in search of a gingernut. That was when they espied the cake in its shiny white icing jacket. Mum hadn’t had time to decorate it. They could do it. Save Mum the trouble. She would be so pleased. Rose stood on a chair and carefully lifted the cake down from the top shelf. Lily rummaged in the pantry for cake decorations. There was plenty of scope. Sugar balls in shiny silver and other bright colours, chocolate sugar coated beans in all shades, chocolate hail and gummy aeroplanes in garish hues. Decorating the cake with these would be fun. Rose said that Lily could do the top of the cake and she would do the sides. Rose found paper, coloured pens and scissors and said that she planned to draw Santas to put all around. However, she found Father Christmas rather diffi cult to draw so she decided instead on a row of fairies. Fairies were her current forte. Soon she had a pile of cut-out stick people sprouting wings. Lily admired her handiwork and pronounced them ‘just the thing.’ But how to stick them onto the smooth slippery surface. Rose remembered that Mum had stuck the marzipan onto the cake with orange jam. There was only red, plum jam in the cupboard so that would have to do. Try as she might, however, the jam refused to stay where she had smeared it, but ran in a sticky stream down the sides of the cake. The fairies became streaked with it and the felt tip colours became a bit smudgy. Still, if you didn’t look too closely, the girls thought the eff ect was quite magical. Lily had a similar problem sticking on her baubles so she also adopted jam as the adhesive. She carefully put a circle of coloured chocolate beans around the edge of the cake as she had seen Mum do on birthday cakes. It ended up a bit wiggly but not too bad. Placing one sweet at a time became rather tedious so she settled for little clumps instead. The silver balls tended to run everywhere in a very frustrating way and needed plenty of jam. But soon it was fi nished to her satisfaction. Rose said that it looked messy but then her big sister always criticised so that was nothing to worry about. A louder snore than usual woke Grandma up and she walked into the kitchen in search of a cup of tea. A look of horror came over her face as she surveyed the scene of devastation. “What have you been doing!” The delight on the children’s faces turned to uncertainty as they saw Grandma’s expression. “Mum has been too busy to decorate the cake so we’ve done it for her as a surprise,” explained Rose. “We were only trying to help Mummy,” added Lily, looking as if she would cry.

Grandma swallowed hard, glancing between the sticky wreck of the cake and her granddaughters’ innocent yet anxious expressions. “Well it will certainly be a surprise,” she agreed. “It was nice of you to try and help,” she added. “But let’s put the cake away now so you can surprise Mum later. Perhaps you could both help to clear the mess away?” It took some time to remove the patches of jam and replace the sweets back into packets and wipe everything clean again. Jam was even plastered over the pens and the scissors. But order was restored just before the sound of a car driving into the garage was heard. “Don’t forget. The cake is a secret for now,” commanded Grandma. “Don’t tell, Lily,” said Rose. Lily wasn’t very good at keeping secrets. Grandma made a cup of tea for her fl ustered and exhausted daughter and sent the children outside to play. Then she confessed her lapse in supervision and expressed her fi rm belief that the girls had really been trying to help. The cake was now a disaster, but it was only a cake after all. It would be a good story to laugh about in years to come. Grandma’s advocacy was rewarded. Mum, when surprised with the cake by her daughters, managed to suppress her dismay and thanked them for trying to help although she did fi nd it hard to admire the result of their labours. “Next year, we’ll decorate the cake together” she promised. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K TFK Packaging Sleeve Artwork 160x330 2.0F.pdf 1 10/10/20 21:27 ORDER ONLINE thefamilykitchen.co.nz PHONE ORDERS 07 262 1055 SUBSCRIPTION MEAL PLANS Our kids’ meals are all around 200g. In our adult sizes, regular is approximately 320g – perfect for a light eater – while hearty ranges from about 420g to 480g and satisfi es larger appetites. All subscription meal plans are cooked fresh on Wednesday and delivered on Thursday. Most meal orders will arrive the same day, but please allow up to 48 hours for delivery. Email [email protected] to place email orders which we will individually invoice. Spend $60 (only 4 meals) and receive free shipping. *Minimum order for free shipping $60. Hearty Meal Plan from $70 Regular Meal Plan from $55 A wide range of meals to suit all tastes and health requirements from $10.99 - $14.99 View meal options: thefamilykitchen.co.nz *Care packages and kids options also available MAIN MEALS EMAIL ORDERS [email protected]

Care means different things to different people. For the teams at Matamata Country Lodge and Windsor Court, it means everything. From the moment you first contact us we care for you. We answer your questions, calm your concerns and guide you forward. Compassionately. Then, we provide world-class aged care for your loved one that places their quality of life at its heart. We offer a complete and diverse activities schedule that keeps residents engaged and in touch with their local communities. Nutritious meals are cooked on site daily that look, taste and smell delicious. Care is delivered by qualified, experienced and understanding staff. Because at Radius Care, caring is our calling. Caring is our calling. 0800 737 2273 Find out more at radiuscare.co.nz Radius Windsor Court 20 Sandes Street Ohaupo Matamata Country Lodge 20 Elizabeth Street Matamata

Age Concern Auckland – Caring at Christmas Age Concern Auckland provides services for older people, their families and caregivers. Our services are free to older people. • Visiting Service • Social Connections Service • Elder Abuse Response Service • Health Promotion • Community Social Work • Asian Service 09 820 0184 [email protected] www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz As we approach Christmas, Age Concern Auckland is preparing to deliver our Christmas Care Packs. These packs contain some simple Christmas treats, including some that are homemade, and are delivered to older people we are working with who are spending Christmas alone. The Christmas Care Packs bring so much joy, not because of the treats, although these are enjoyed, but because they show the recipient that they have been remembered about. It is lonely all year round for many of the older people we work with, but Christmas can be particularly difficult as we think about those we have lost and are reminded of our aloneness. This year, we are preparing to deliver around 200 Christmas Care Packs across Auckland, my special thanks to the companies, individuals, schools and community groups that have donated items for our Christmas Care Packs, your support is amazing! I’d also like to thank all those people who support our work throughout the year via membership and donations. Age Concern Auckland is a charity and relies on donations and membership subscriptions to provide our services and support, which are free to those who need them, thank you for your crucial support. If you are keen to support us through a donation, you can do this by contacting us on the numbers below or through our website www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz. I hope that you all have a relaxing holiday period and can enjoy the longer, warmer days of summer. And let’s hope that 2023 is a great year for us all. Please also to remember to reach out if you need our help, information or advice: Central & West Auckland 09 820 0184 Counties Manukau 09 279 4331 North Shore 09 489 4975 Kevin Lamb | CEO | Age Concern Auckland www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz seasons 13

Christmas is coming and then it’s almost here and then it’s gone and then the holidays stretch ahead. You may have been left with the beloved mokopuna, there may just be the two of you or you may be alone or have guests. What to do? Enough money has been spent, all are partied out; do something simple, go for a picnic. How could we forget Marmite and lettuce sandwiches; they’re still valid. Another white bread one if you want to splash out on a little prep time, is curried egg. You’ll be amazed at the enhancing eff ects of sun on a jam sandwich from a child’s point of view. A standard ‘fi ll to the top’ adult sandwich is spelt and fl axseed bread, thinly sliced onions, lots, chutney and good thick slabs of tasty cheese. Although that’s a luxury with the price of cheese, it’s still sticking to the basics and one per adult is enough. Throw in a cake, make one if you’re so inclined. Otherwise there’s a cheap local supermarket where the bakeries always seem to be striving for more excellence. Nothing wrong with a packet of biscuits at a picnic; plain round wine or gingernuts, perhaps Krispies, a sugar hit to perk everyone up. Cordial is traditional or why not water. The kids won’t mind, they’ll be too busy exploring. If you’ve got adults you’ll have to take wine which involves ice or chilly bin or newspaper wrapping or some such fuss but plastic glasses are fi ne on a picnic. A rug, picnic rug, classic, or a big towel or two will do. If you’re going to the beach take a brolly as well as a ball and a book. Just getting out, a change of environment and pace, is nice, particularly if you can limit mobile phone use and take the time to relax and connect with nature. Threats can work, ‘Give me your phone to look after or I will never cook for you again,’ or reward, “Put your phone in my bag during the picnic and we’ll get a tub of ice cream on the way home which you can eat then, as much as you like.’ The ideal picnic has a walk, somewhere to swim and shade to retreat to. The local park may be good, check out what’s near to you. Little ones like playgrounds but adults like views and bucolic ambience. If you’re thinking of Coromandel go through Thames and have the beautiful drive up the Firth. Then over the hills with stunning views and you come to down to Manaia harbour. Cross the one lane bridge and keep going over the next set of hills and on the left is the road to Te Kouma. On this you wind around the harbour past the ferry wharf and come to a sandy beach with shade and grassy banks, perfect for a picnic and swimming for all ages. Less than an hour from Thames. If you keep going right into Coromandel shops and go left at the roundabout, follow that road and at the end, not far, is Long Bay; tidal, shallow and safe for the little ones. Once again there’s shade, tree shade, it’s the coolest. For something diff erent take the 309 Road on the right a bit past Te Kouma. Not far along there’s a pig farm. On the road, off the road, in the fi elds around the road, near the sheds, roaming, eating, doing what pigs do are pigs of every size and colour just being pigs. Free unfettered natural swine. Don’t feed them. Then there’s the Waterworks with sculptures and fun made for and with water. That costs but is good for a coff ee and then not far past there’s a swimming hole on the left down the bank. That‘s the spot for a picnic. Further along there’s a white concrete bridge with space to park before it. Leave your car there and walk down to Waiau Falls. Five minutes. The stream drops straight down into a clear deep pool. There’s not space for a picnic but it’s always romantic to visit. Nice for a cool dip on a hot day. Further along is the top spot. On a bend up on the right is car parking space then cross the road to walk to the Kauri Grove. There’s a foot wash then well maintained walkways, bridges and board walks. Up through the bush with ferns and the stream, through exquisite plant life and up to majestic kauri trees. Huge and huggable, said to be about six hundred years old. Towering up holding whole ecosystems in their branches, looking into the wind and cradling the past. The peninsula was covered with ancient kauri and these ones survived the rampant logging as they were too hard to get to. Now we have seats there and can just sit and listen. Come to Coro and if you can’t fi nd what to do the lady in the info hut in the centre of the village is keen to tell you. Fiona is a writer, photographer and poet who returned to Aotearoa after many years away. When young she worked as an artist in Tauranga and Wellington under the name of Fino. Visit photosbyfi no.com By Fiona Sullivan Picnic Time seasons 15

Yes, of course, composition usually matters. A lot. But sometimes “The Moment” trumps composition. Imagine you’re standing with your camera next to Neil Armstrong on the moon or looking out of your submersible’s window at a colossal squid fi ghting a sperm whale. At times like this, “The Moment” is everything. Getting it onto fi lm - or the camera’s sensor - is what matters. No-one is going to say “Getting that neverbefore-photographed colossal squid was good, but it’s not a great composition, is it?” And if they do, feel free to ignore them [there will always be critics, whatever you do]. Many notable moments in recent history were captured by photographers, but even more were undoubtedly missed. Dramatic historical photos include the Hindenburg zeppelin exploding in a ball of fl ame, and 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc “Napalm Girl” running screaming from a napalm attack. Composition? Didn’t really matter. Good enough. That one photo “Napalm Girl” was seen around the world and helped bring the Vietnam War to an end. Life has many special moments for us, and our job as photographers is to catch at least some of them. A touch. A kiss. A smile. An embrace. A bird landing or taking off . A whale surfacing. Moments. Precious moments. The moment your son kisses his new bride at their wedding, or your daughter proudly holds her new-born baby for the fi rst time are moments to be cherished, and hopefully “caught on fi lm” (“caught on sensor” doesn’t have the same ring to it). Catch “The Moment” and worry about “The Composition” later. If there’s enough time, catch the moment with reasonable composition, otherwise, just catch “The Moment.” Most of my photos are later cropped in Photoshop to create a tighter, simpler composition. Sometimes I just straighten the horizon or make some other minor crop. Other times I’ll make a big crop if it’s needed. That’s the thing about our modern digital cameras. They are so good that you can crop out a lot of your original photo and the fi nal image is still a perfectly good fi le, sharp and detailed enough for most uses except maybe a two-metre wide print on your wall. Then again, a lot of the photos we take wouldn’t be quite up to it as two-metre wide prints on the wall, cropped or not. I don’t try to get the fi nal composition dead right when taking the photo. I typically leave a bit of extra room around each margin (top and bottom, left and right) and later crop carefully to achieve the fi nal composition in Photoshop. We all witness many special moments, sometimes with family and friends, sometimes wildlife, sometimes other stuff happening “out there” in the wide, wide world. If it’s a moment that matters, catch it. Preferably get it sharp and at least “about right,” but – most importantly – catch it. So if it’s the “special moments” we’re really after, and we often can’t tell beforehand exactly when they will happen, what’s our best approach? Be ready and use your camera’s motor drive (burst mode) are two obvious answers. Then again, back in the days of fi lm and no motor drives or auto focus I captured many special moments too. Luck? Partly. But then as my old friend and mentor Lynton Diggle would often say “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Sometimes you’ll miss the moment totally, or partially. I have a photo of the back half of a huge humpback whale rising almost totally clear of the water right next to our yacht in Tonga. I didn’t know it was about to happen. I was quick, but not quick enough. So the closest I’ve ever been to a large breaching whale resulted in a reasonably sharp (i.e. focused) photo of the back half of the whale. C’est la vie. Good people photography is often about capturing the precise moment when somebody does something interesting and diff erent: they jump, turn, reach out, smile, wink, laugh, or their eyes momentarily connect with you. Or it can even be moments when their attention is elsewhere but that for other reasons it’s simply a good moment. That it works somehow. It’s pretty much the same when photographing animals, waves, or anything else that moves. There are simply some moments that look better than those before or after. In my photo of the albatross soaring over stormy seas, the presence of the bird achieves a number of things: [1] It gives scale. Article and photos by Kim Westerskov Photography – When Moment Trumps Composition

We all know that albatrosses are big birds, so it being in the photo shows the size of the ocean swells (you’re quite right, there weren’t many in the mess room for lunch or dinner that day) [2] It adds considerable extra interest to the photo, something for the viewer to connect with, and [3] it’s a good moment. There are one or two other places in the photo where the albatross would have looked good as well, but this one will do just fine. Too close to either side of the photo would have looked awkward. So would right above the wave crest. It was a film camera I was using. No autofocus, no motor drive, no auto exposure, so I got just the one chance. There’s quite a few “rules” about composition, but slavishly following them all will result in photos that look pretty much like everybody else’s photos. A photo of a lighthouse lined up perfectly on the right third and with the sea’s horizon on lower third will have followed the “rule of thirds” nicely and will look at least “pretty good” but will also look like thousands of other photos of lighthouses where the photographers followed “the rules.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to take photos that look like everybody else’s photos. I’m always trying for “new and different,” “new and different”. Do I achieve “new and different” all the time? Of course not, but it’s great when I do. However, some photographic rules are pretty much set in concrete. For example, if the photo is meant to be sharp (which is most photos apart from deliberately blurred photos) then the photo has to be sharp. Or at least the most important bits have to be sharp. If there’s a person or animal in the photo, then at least the eye or eyes have to be sharp. But other rules can happily be broken. We’ve all heard of “The Rule of Thirds,” and if you’ve been to my workshops, you’ll know what I think of that rule – not much! The Rule of Thirds can be useful for beginner or intermediate photographers who don’t have a good artistic eye, but it’s a “rule” that has led to too many predictable photos over the years. The main use of the “Rule of Thirds” is keeping the main subject away from the edges, and making sure that the subject isn’t dead centre, though with some subjects dead centre can work just fine. Looking at the winners in recent BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitions, I was struck by how many times “the rules” were broken. When done well, usually by photographers who understand the “rules” in the first place, breaking the rules can lead to original, dramatic compositions. So don’t worry too much about the rules. Just take good photos. Whatever works. And catch the special moments. PRIVATE TUITION & WORKSHOPS Because of Covid, Kim is not running normal photo workshops at present but is offering “Private Workshops” instead. In these, he covers everything he’d cover in normal workshops [and summarized in detailed handouts] and you have his full attention the whole time. Expect great results – and fun. You choose your own topic from all the workshops he has run over the last 15 years, including Landscapes and Seascapes, Photo Essentials, Photo Art, Photo Impressionism, Exciting New Techniques, Close Up Magic, Long Exposures, Black and White, and Travel Photography. There’s a full list in Newsletter #98 at https://www.kimwesterskov.com/newsletters-1 Cost: 4 hours - $245. 6 hours - $345. Or you may be interested in “Private Tuition” – to give you a ton of techniques, tips, and inspiration - $245 for 4 hours. GIFT CERTIFICATES Wondering what to give that special photographer for their birthday, or any other special occasion? Christmas? Here’s an idea: a gift certificate for private tuition with Kim Westerskov. For $245, they receive four hours of one-on-one expert photography tuition. Each gift certificate is individually crafted, with the words chosen by you and printed on a photo especially chosen by you. Kim Westerskov Phone: 07 578 5138 or 07 578 0086 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kimwesterskov.com seasons 17

At Davis we provide tailored guidance and support to those dealing with loss. Whether it’s pre-planning your own farewell, or navigating the loss of a loved one, we help you to curate a meaningful goodbye, and to build lasting memories from grief, while we deal professionally with all the practicalities of death. We have been a guiding light for families for over 80 years and are experienced in many unique requirements including cultural and religious rituals and traditions right through to advising and informing those that have never been confronted with a death before. We are experts in repatriation both to and from New Zealand. We can handle all aspects of the journey from working with embassies, consulates, travel insurers and airlines on your behalf, to handling all the paperwork that adheres to national and international laws, airline regulations, and local customs. Our experience and expertise mean that whatever the situation, we can take care of the details leaving you to concentrate on spending time with family and friends, sharing stories and creating new memories that come from grief. 09 638 9062 DAVISFUNERALS.CO.NZ CREATING MEANINGFUL GOODBYES AND LASTING MEMORIES

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat Please put a penny in the old man’s hat If you haven’t got a penny, a ha-penny will do If you haven’t got a ha-penny then God bless you. This lovely old traditional nursery rhyme carried forward over the generations by such artists as Bing Crosby, the Kingston Trio, and for our grandchildren by John Denver and The Muppets has a rather ironic ring to it for the upcoming festive season. For our third festive season with COVID around the goose will be a little on the thin side and there a quite a number of old men with their hats out seeking pennies. It has been a really tough time for those who have lost their jobs, the business people who have seriously struggled, the frontline heroes in the hospitals and vaccination centres, the police, and other all who worked tirelessly to keep us safe. Many Kiwis have caught the virus, and a sad number, mainly our senior peers, have passed on. For them and their families, the pandemic loss has been particularly difficult. The darkest days have passed but COVID is still with us now semi -accepted as part of life. All Kiwis, especially our senior community, have missed the social interaction with loved ones and friends. Many with family overseas, like mine in the US, have had no close contact in almost three years. A special thought for those of us in rest homes who have been unable to have their family visit, a particularly sad situation. And also spare a thought for our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Dr Ashley Bloomfield and their colleagues who have the thankless responsibility of second guessing the COVID19 virus impacts, making the tough calls that affect us all. Done under a public scrutiny that is relentless and often cruel and hurtful. We should count our lucky stars that we live in New Zealand where we really do know each other and our politicians and senior officials are people, not just faces on television. But the light at the end of the tunnel has arrived. All COVID restrictions have gone allowing people to travel for Christmas and the summer holidays. Our family had the wonderful experience of our son who lives in the US came down for a week in September with the whole family coming next July. Understandably the airlines are experiencing record bookings regardless of high fares and full flights for the holiday season as Kiwis flock together. About Christmas, Fat Geese and Lockdowns Past AUCKLAND Christmas is always a special time, not just for the faith element of the Christian community. It is one of our oldest cultural ‘folk’ festivals, with its unique focus on family relationship, connection and affection. A joyous time for friends and family getting together sharing food and fun, a key aspect of important festivals in all cultures. Even New Zealand, far from the Northern Hemisphere roots of Christmas, we maintain the core festival components of the Christ story, Santa, snow, Xmas trees, presents, and a major feast featuring turkey rather than goose. All in the summer sun, with Boxing Day, a relic of the times when the servants got their presents in Victorian England, spent at the beach or the races. I recall reading many years ago of “a place at the table”, the importance and strength of the family connection at Christmas where all family members were welcome at the Christmas feast regardless of personality, past disputes, or misdemeanours. They had “ a place at the table.” For seniors, grandparents, this is a poignant time, surrounded by family, enjoying the love and excitement and recalling the many Christmases past, aware that the years are ticking by. Remembering the homemade toy truck you got as your Christmas present in war years, or the much loved golliwog no longer on the children’s play list, and the weddings and the christenings as the family grew. This Christmas will continue to be unusual for many of us, but the spirit of Christmas is alive and well - enjoy and share the season, family and friends, in spite of the difficulties. That’s the Kiwi way. And remember the old man’s hat of the nursery rhyme and reach out to those who will need a little help. And send Jacinda a card. Merry Christmas to everyone Bill Rayner President Grey Power North Shore To join or contact Grey Power Auckland Associations P.O.Box 272-1719, Papakura 2244 Ph 0800 473 979 - 09 299 2113 Email [email protected] Learn about Grey Power at: www.greypower.co.nz seasons 19

I’m not one to gossip but... A documentary movie called Poitier explores the life and career of the late Sidney Poitier, it features contributions from the likes of Denzel Washington and Spike Lee, as well as interviews with the great man himself (it was made just before his death last year). It provides “fascinating” insights into how Sidney’s upbringing in the Bahamas gave him “the fortitude to become not just the fi rst black leading man in Hollywood history, but one of the fi lm industry’s top box-offi ce draws.” Sidney is not only a reminder of his immense charisma – palpable in fi lms such as In the Heat of the Night and To Sir, with Love – but of his immense contribution to civil rights and the advancement of black actors. It’ll leave you desperate to revisit at least half-a-dozen of his best fi lms. “Painstakingly thorough” though this documentary is, said Jeannette Catsoulis in The New York Times, “a compendium of hero worship.” The fi lm was produced by Sidney’s friend Oprah Winfrey, and it feels a bit “peak Oprah Winfrey.” Still, there are moments where it shrugs off its “hagiographic shackles,” such as when Sidney’s fi rst wife discusses the breakdown of their marriage following his aff air with Diahann Carroll. These scenes “act like lemon juice squirted on heavy cream, brief reagents in a movie that, despite the meticulousness of its making, seems a peculiarly orthodox tribute to a revolutionary life.” I interviewed him many years ago and found him so humble about his career in the movies. He is one Hollywood star I will never forget. Andy Warhol was the king of Pop Art and one of the greatest eccentrics of his time. Take, for instance, his 610 time capsules. Over the last 13 years of his life, Warhol sealed away 300,000 pieces of his personal possessions. You see, he was an unbelievable hoarder. According to his artist assistant, Warhol was entranced by anything a celebrity had touched. To him, these objects had deep artistic and monetary value. On May 30, 2014, it was fi nally time to crack open Warhol’s capsules, an exciting moment for art enthusiasts everywhere. Simply put, they found everything: thousands of stamps torn from envelopes, fan-letters, junk mail, LPs, sweets, unopened Campbell’s soup cans… But not all the objects were so innocent in nature. Warhol certainly had an unabashed nasty side. Some of the boxes revealed dead ants, toenail clippings, a lump of concrete—and most disturbingly—a real mummifi ed foot. What may seem like “trash” were pieces Warhol had meticulously chosen. And unsurprisingly, his fans loved his ephemera just as much as he did. When it came to the very last capsule, one anonymous bidder paid $30,000 (US) just to have the privilege of opening it. A statue of Rat Pack superstar and former club member Dean Martin is unveiled at the Las Vegas Country Club during an event announcing renovations in beautifi cation, technological upgrades and historic landmarks, such as the Martin statue. DAVID HARTNELL’S everywhere. Simply Warhol had meticulously chosen. And unsurprisingly, his fans loved his ephemera just as much as he bidder paid $30,000 (US) just to have the privilege of opening it.

Actress Ann Miller only loved one man, but the story behind their romance is so heart-breaking—it’s unbelievable. When Ann stumbled across William O’Connor’s picture in the newspaper, she felt immediately drawn to him, and exclaimed to her mother, “You see that man? I’m going to fall in love with him.” Ann was right, and from the moment they met, both Ann and O’Connor shared an undeniable chemistry. They fell deeply in love...but there was just one problem. O’Connor was a married man and his wife refused to sign their divorce papers. As a strict Catholic, this meant that he and Ann could never be together. Devastated, the couple called it off . Ann ended up settling for a rich oilman, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t forget O’Connor. On the day of her wedding, her old beau had a sudden change of heart: He wanted to leave his religion just to be with her. He called her over and over again. But it was too late... Ann had already said “I do” to a man she didn’t love. Despite the fact that Erich von Stroheim plays a butler/ chauff eur in the movie “Sunset Boulevard” (1950), he could not drive in real life. During the scenes in which he drove, the car was towed by another car. In the scene in which he drives Norma to Paramount Pictures at the studio gates, the car was pulled with a rope by off -camera grips; despite that, von Stroheim “still managed to hit the gates, he had no coordination,” said Billy Wilder in an interview for the book “Sunset Boulevard: From Movie to Musical.” If you haven’t seen the movie you are missing a real treat, I thoroughly recommend it. While going through my picture fi les, I came across a picture from years back when I interviewed Clint Eastwood. It reminded me of something that happened just moments before we started the interview I heard the theme to The Good, The Bad & The Ugly and thought someone was messing around with him. He looked around, too, seeming to wonder where it was coming from – then pulled out his phone, answered it and winked at me. Christopher Guest who is Jamie Lee’s husband is a real life English Lord, he became the 5th Lord Haden-Guest when his father died back in 1966. By rights, you should always address Jamie as Lady Haden-Guest. The shark in Jaws doesn’t have a name per se. Director Steven Spielberg named the shark “Bruce,” after his lawyer. Did you know that when Ella Fitzgerald couldn’t get a booking because she was black, Marilyn Monroe off ered to come to a nightclub every night and sit in the front row if they let Ella sing. That’s how to use your privilege for good. That’s how to use your privilege for good. On Elizabeth Taylor’s 16th birthday, her parents presented her with a baby blue Cadillac, but they wouldn’t let her take driving lessons. Elizabeth didn’t learn to drive until 1989, when she was well into her 50s. In 1944 after she’d completed the movie “National Velvet” the MGM studio gave her a small birthday party and gifted the 13 year old with her co-star the horse, called The Pie (short for Pirate) whose real name was King Charles. You’ve got to love Dame Judi Dench, she has the James Bond theme as a ring tone on her phone. When her cell phone rings it causes great hilarity for people in ear shot when it rings. Until next month... MY Lips Are Sealed! Actress Ann Miller only loved one man, but the story behind their romance is so heart-breaking—it’s

Have you ever wondered how a town gets its name? Take Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula. Is there a connection with the River Thames that fl ows through London? There certainly is, dating back to November 1769. After leaving Mercury Bay, Lieutenant James Cook sailed the Endeavour around the peninsula and anchored off -shore from Waiomu. Heading south next day in the ship’s longboats, Cook noticed many pā and kāinga along the shore in the area Māori called Kauaeranga, meaning the piling up of whale jawbones. He visited a pā on the Waihou riverbank, and went ashore again about 20 kilometres upriver, near the place on Hauraki Road now called Cook’s Landing. This was the furthest inland he ventured anywhere during his fi rst voyage to Aotearoa. Impressed by its similarity to the River Thames in London, Cook renamed our river and Tīkapa Moana/the fi rth the River Thames.* Decades passed, bringing forestry workers and sawmills, traders and whalers. A Christian Mission moved from Puriri to Pārāwai on the Kauaeranga River in the 1830s where there was a signifi cant Māori settlement. However, when the goldfi eld opened in August 1867, there still wasn’t a township: just a trading port on the Kauaeranga River with fewer than 50 pākehā, and a general store which quickly became a hotel. The place where the men hoped to fi nd their fortunes was however referred to as the Thames. Prospectors, arriving in their hundreds, lived in tents while Shortland town was mapped out near the Kauaeranga River mouth. Soon there was a second settlement, called Grahamstown. As well as goldmining, the district hummed with the building of many fi ne homes, civic buildings, wharves, churches and pubs. Settlements fl ourished and in 1873 the Borough of Thames was formed. Its population of 18,000 outgrew that of Auckland: it was one of the largest towns in New Zealand in the 1870s. Unfortunately, this rapid growth meant that most traces of pā and kāinga were lost. Theatre groups, musicians, magicians, singers and dancers all performed in Thames to enthusiastic audiences at the town’s theatres and music halls. For miners living in shanties in the hills, pubs were popular meeting places and there were around 140 of them (but not all operating at the same time). Although Thames no longer has a theatre and the Junction and the Imperial are the only hotels still in business, other evidence of those heady goldrush years is never far away. Former hotels the By Carolyn McKenzie Bella Street Pumphouse 212 Bella Street, Thames Phone Merv: 07 868 1027 Open Saturday & Sunday 10 - 3pm Pre-booked tours welcome: times as requested www.bellastreetpumphouse.com Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga Corner Cochrane & Pollen Sts, Thames Ph 07 868 8509 / 027 868 6072 [email protected] Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 1pm Pre-booked tours welcome: times as requested thameshistoricalmuseum.weebly.com The Treasury Research Centre and Archive 705 Queen Street Ph 07 868 8827 OPEN 11am - 3pm, Monday, Thursday, Friday. Closed Public Holidays and between Christmas and New Year. www.thetreasury.org.nz/

Brian Boru and the Shortland, tower over their neighbours at the main street’s southern end. To the north, A & G Price Ltd occupies an enormous industrial building on the same site where Arthur and George Price set up their foundry and engineering works during the goldrush. In neighbouring streets more former hotels, the Cornwall Arms, the Wharf, the original Lady Bowen (now a boutique B&B) and the Royal are all testimony to those pioneer builders. Notice how the balconies over the front entrances are wide enough to provide shelter for patrons arriving in a downpour. In the residential streets all around Thames more reminders of the town’s past include humble miners’ cottages, some refurbished, some languishing, centuries-old villas and more imposing homes, such as the residence of the Reverend Vicesimus Lush, the first Anglican vicar of Thames (1868-1882). The house was later the Thames Club and is now a café. Situated at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, today’s Thames is shrugging off its ‘gateway to…’ image and reinventing itself as a destination. An easy drive from Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, its heritage attractions range from the Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga, celebrating many centuries of the district’s social history; to the Thames School of Mines with its rock shop and Mineral Museum; the Bella Street Pumphouse whose massive building and huge pump quadrants form part of the Museum of Technology; and the Thames Goldmine Experience which includes visiting a mine tunnel (with resident weta colony) and experiencing the spectacular stamper battery in action (earmuffs provided). These four attractions are within about 500 metres of each other. Thames is home to the John William Hall Arboretum, planted in the 1870s; and the churches of St James and St George, both dating from the late-1800s. A favourite with children of all ages is the Thames Small Gauge Railway. When goldmining ended, people drifted away from Thames meaning that today, all around the country, many of us have a Thames/Kauaeranga connection in our family tree. The Treasury Research Centre and Archive is great place to further your family history research. A visit to Thames and its attractions is an ideal way to find out what life on the goldfields was really like. *The river reverted to its original name, Waihou, meaning new water, in the 1940s. The Thames Goldmine Experience SH25 / Queen Street Ph / Fax: 07 868 8514 [email protected] Pre-booked tours welcome: times as requested Open daily until 24 Dec, 10am - 1pm. 27 Dec through Autumn, 10am - 4pm daily. www.goldmine-experience.co.nz Lady Bowen Bed & Breakfast Heritage accommodation in the original Lady Bowen Hotel 506 Brown St Ph 07 868 8878 / 021 125 6868 [email protected] www.ladybowen.co.nz Thames School of Mines 101 Cochrane Street, Thames 3500 Ph 07 868 6227 Open Wed - Sun 10am - 4pm Pre-booked tours welcome: times as requested www.heritage.org.nz

NEW ADVENTURES FOR 2023 0800 853 276 | [email protected] www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz Costa Rica Discover Costa Rica 8 – 26 April 2023 | 16 nights CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Visit this small country that really packs a punch. Coastal Jungles, rain and cloud forest and diverse wildlife and birdlife. Japan Walking in Japan 25 Oct – 10 Nov 2023 | 16 nights Walk the historic Nakasendo way through rural Japan. Visit Kyoto and Tokyo. Stay in charming inns and eat delectable Japanese food. Italy Walking in Italy 9 – 29 September 2023 | 19 nights Stunning coastal scenery on the Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast. Walks, art and history in Siena, Florence and Rome. Normandy, Channel islands, Cornwall Normandy, Channel Islands and Cornwall 24 July – 8 Aug 2023 | 15 nights Visit Monet’s garden, the Bayeux tapestry and Mont St Michel in Normandy. Fascinating history in the Channel Islands. Picturesque harbours, quaint fi shing villages and gorgeous gardens. Uluru and the Red Centre Walking in the Red Centre of Australia 10-17 July 2023 | 7 nights Escape the NZ winter with a week of walking in the heart of Australia. See Uluru, the Olgas, Kings Canyon and walk sections of the Larapinta trail. Slovenia & Croatia E-Bike and Sail Slovenia & Croatia 21 May – 10 June 2023 | 18 nights Cycle through gorgeous Slovenia and the Istrian Peninsula. Island hop Croatian islands by yacht, riding each day and returning to your fl oating home each evening.

Wishing you and yours a safe and merry end to the year. Why not take the opportunity to ensure your personal affairs are up to date and in order? Everyone over 18 should have a will www.kiwilaw.co.nz/wills Remember, if you are bereaved, Kiwilaw's nationwide online services can make your legal paperwork easier, less expensive, readily accessible, and still legally accurate www.kiwilaw.co.nz/probate Wishing you all the very best for 2023. Available onlline and by email throughout Christmas/New Year except statutory holidays. Wishing you and yours a safe and merry end to the year. Why not take the opportunity to ensure your personal affairs are up to date and in order? Everyone over 18 should have a will www.kiwilaw.co.nz/wills Remember, if you are bereaved, Kiwilaw's nationwide online services can make your legal paperwork easier, less expensive, readily accessible, and still legally accurate www.kiwilaw.co.nz/probate Wishing you all the very best for 2023. Available onlline and by email throughout Christmas/New Year except statutory holidays. Wishing you and yours a safe and merry end to the year. Why not take the opportunity to ensure your personal affairs are up to date and in order? Everyone over 18 should have a will www.kiwilaw.co.nz/wills Remember, if you are bereaved, Kiwilaw's nationwide online services can make your legal paperwork easier, less expensive, readily accessible, and still legally accurate www.kiwilaw.co.nz/probate Wishing you all the very best for 2023. Available onlline and by email throughout Christmas/New Year except statutory holidays.

House of Science – growing future problem solvers Scientific literacy is one of the most important and useful skills that our future generations can have. It helps with our ability to develop critical thinking and teaches us ways to interpret and interact with the world around us. In a world where digital media is becoming increasingly popular and most students now hop online to read the news or what is happening in the world, we have a desperate need to teach our children how to decipher misinformation and make their own informed choices about things that impact our environment, communities, and ourselves. Research has shown that at the age of 10 years old, most children have already made up their minds about what career paths they are not interested in. If they haven’t been exposed to science by this age, there goes our potential next generation of scientists. This is where the House of Science comes in with the vision to help ensure every New Zealand child is scientifically literate. How it all started CEO Chris Duggan is a former secondary school science teacher and after many years in the classroom, she noticed that there was a significant lack of scientific knowledge when students started high school, so she decided to do something about it. In 2013, Chris Duggan quit teaching and founded House of Science, a charitable trust dedicated to raising scientific literacy in New Zealand. The first branch was opened in Tauranga and served the Western Bay of Plenty area. Since its beginning in 2013, the charity has grown to 19 branches around New Zealand and currently has 631 schools registered: that’s 30% of all primary and intermediates in the country. A library of science resources To empower teachers to raise scientific literacy, House of Science provides comprehensive science resources for all New Zealand primary and intermediate schools, catering to all Year 0-8 teaching environments. These science resources come in the form of science boxes – blue 80-litre fish bins, each of which has a particular theme that aligns with the current school curriculum. Teachers book kits online and they are delivered, collected, and maintained by teams of volunteers. On average, 436 kits are delivered to schools each fortnight, reaching approximately 30,000 students every time. Each kit comes complete with activities, all required materials which include worksheets, teacher manuals, and consumables/equipment to run the activities. All items in these science kits are in both English and te reo Māori, this helps not only service our full-immersion schools but also to provide an opportunity for teachers when running the activities to incorporate te reo Māori into their classroom settings. Each of the kits also contains a Māori cultural link whether it be a legend or an item of significance to Māori culture e.g our Mighty Microbes kit contains a cultural link about the blue fungus – blue Entoloma mushroom on our $50 note. The Māori traditionally used several fungi as part of their rongoā to help staunch bleeding and as anaesthetics. The Ngāi Tūhoe call this mushroom werewere-kōkako as the Kōkako bird allegedly got its blue wattles from rubbing its cheeks against the mushroom. Extending the Learning Other services offered that help enriches teacher and student learning is Professional Learning and Development (PLD) to help give teachers the boost of confidence needed for them to successfully teach science and Enriching the Local Curriculum (ELC) which has experts in various science fields coming in to talk/show students about what they do and how it connects with House of Science kits. The feedback received proves that students are getting excited about science. Here is some of the great feedback received to date: “This was the first time I had ever used a kit and we really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to using the next one. As we become more familiar with the kits I’m sure we will be able to integrate them more into our classroom programmes. Such a fantastic resource” Food For Thought Kit – Andrea Johns – Maranui School. “The kits are an excellent resource and have definitely made it easier to teach science in our primary school. They give a starting point from where teachers can go in lots of directions. We couldn’t afford to buy all the equipment provided in the kits so they are an excellent resource”. Water Analysis – Pahoia School. “It was fantastic. We had a blast. The children were really enthusiastic and interested in what was happening. There was a lot of science and questioning that took place in our classroom. We are very lucky to have been able to use it.” Wonderful Wai – Marilyn Whitely – Eketuahuna School. How you can help House of Science NZ is a charitable trust and relies heavily on the support and funding of the community via donations, sponsorship, and volunteers. Help today to pave the way for our future generations by making a charitable donation to House of Science NZ at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/house-of-science-nz or for more information on how to get involved, head to our website https://houseofscience.nz/get-involved/ or email [email protected] T E W H A R E P Ū TAIA O HOUSE OF SCIENCE ® seasons 27

By Kinsa Hays A Christmasin India Doing this just for myself was a fi rst for me. Why do some of us put ourselves last? School holidays provided an opportunity to organise a trip from Upper Hutt to India and fi nd a person who’d been to Puttaparthi before to be my guide. A follow-up trip with a tour group around Rajasthan would be perfect, so I arranged that. I would have stayed in the ashram in Puttaparthi (pronounced puta-party) but single people are accommodated in a dormitory-like shed with 150 others. So Ken, my guide, had booked rooms at the Sai Sadan Hotel in the village where his wife would join him later. We arrived at the amazing Bangalore airport at midnight. A taxi took us on the 2-hour journey to Puttaparthi. I was so glad I could just follow in Ken’s footsteps. Next morning we walked the 15-minute journey past beggars and fl ower sellers to the ashram main gate, the Ganesh Gate, one entrance queue for gents, one for ladies. I was going to become accustomed to this ashram arrangement. First we were frisked, then freed to gaze about in awe and wonder. Prasanthi Nilayam or The Abode of Peace is an extensive ashram with shrines in unexpected corners, landscaped gardens, shops, three canteentype restaurants and accommodation for visitors and permanent residents; three-storey apartments built of marble and set amongst the spacious grounds. The open-air temple, the centre of the ashram, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It caters for 20,000 souls entering for darshan (the blessings of Sathya Sai Baba), then leaving, morning and evening. Devotees go to Puttaparthi to deepen their spiritual growth and receive darshan. Now aging, he no longer holds interviews with groups or individuals. It was a warm 27° and I stuck out in western clothes. Ken guided me to the shop and told me the rules. I ventured in amongst the women-only crowd. Men have their turn for two hours in the afternoon. Indian women are used to pushing to get what they want. General merchandise and food downstairs, clothing upstairs. I managed to fi nd two salwar kameez in blues that I could mix and match, including the long scarves which must be worn. Puttaparthi is a place for spiritual growth and decorum. I queued up to pay and escaped. The ashram is run by hundreds of volunteers, seva dals, who permit no nonsense and strictly enforce the code of silence within the ashram. They safeguard entrances to the apartment buildings, care for the beautiful grounds, work in the canteens and prepare the food. They earn only the equivalent of spiritual brownie points and often come annually, as service, to help run the ashram. Communication is done by whispers and body language, even amongst volunteers mixing and carrying concrete for a garden project. I wandered around, fi nding a bakery, library, radio station, noted where Sai Baba lived in a modest 2-room upstairs fl at, and admin buildings. A notice requested singers, and I decided I’d join the choir performing for Sai Baba at Christmas. The practice room was an old wooden ashram building. We sat on the fl oor. From the hotel I’d hired a cushion with a back support created by tapes each side, held taut by your own weight. I learned to love my cushion because we practised singing for two hours twice a day sitting on it. I also used it for darshan which could take 2-3 hours. Eventually, 500 women and 250 men joined the choir, a blend of 69 nationalities. Some women brought toddlers, who were quiet and well-behaved. Maybe the atmosphere calmed them too. Anyone with an instrument could join, creating a ‘band.’ The conductors and Sylvia who taught us had to be versatile, and patient. We had over a dozen bhajans, songs and a chant to learn, mostly espousing the similar beliefs that religions hold: love, faith, service, right thinking and non-violence. The ashram welcomes and celebrates diff erent religions from Hindu festivals to Chinese New Year and Christmas. It’s said that to experience the Nilayam and have darshan, to study and meditate is to discover your higher self and go home a better Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or whatever is your belief system. There wasn’t much time to explore but when Ken’s wife Jacqueline arrived, I took a morning off . We hired a tuk-tuk with the charming Nagesh to drive. He took us around the town and its environs. We were staggered by the wonderful architecture especially the Super Specialty Hospital, painted in cream, pink and pale blue, as was the police station. Nagesh’s wife was expecting a birth and had gone back to her mother’s as was the custom. Nagesh tried to get Jaqueline to give money to support his study to be a policeman. She was friendlier to him than me. I was too absorbed in the scenes around me. She’d seen it before. Choir members were permitted to breakfast early; the best porridge I’ve ever had, and tasty Indian breads for only a few cents. Canteens were not permitted to open before darshan fi nished, and then there’d be long queues. I favoured the Western canteen, while the other two served food from North Indian and South Indian cuisines. After evening darshan fi nished, I was too tired to queue. Back at the hotel I’d open a tin of tuna that I’d brought from home, with whatever salad veggies which could be peeled that I’d bought off street vendors. I’d soak them in a baking soda solution to kill bugs fi rst. Baby chokos made a crunchy salad addition. My third-fl oor room boasted a screened balcony to keep monkeys out. They’d make a fi ne mess if they got inside. I observed a family 28 seasons

living beneath corrugated iron sheets in the backyard behind a shop. I was unwell because I’d brought a skin condition with me to India. I’d lie on the bed with my swollen feet up the wall and watch ants heading towards the refrigerator, only to be foiled as it stood in a container of water. Later I learned that Puttaparthi means ‘the place of ant hills.’ Darshan was an experience in itself: 10,000 women. 20,000 shoes left outside to be located by owners afterwards in the dark with bare feet. The same for the men on the other side of the temple. We were only allowed to take our cushion, a small shoulder bag containing a few coins and nothing else. We were frisked and inspected for modesty and clothing correctly worn. Seva dals corralled us into smaller and smaller roped-off areas on the fl oor as the temple fi lled. If we wanted water, we raised an arm. Eventually a seva dal would bring a tray with mugs of water. The Indian ladies were expert at pouring water down their throat without touching the mug. When I tried it, I just got water down my front. Pigeons would alight on the chandeliers and seva dals attempted to dislodge them with a tool that looked like a spiderweb brush on a long handle. The pigeons fl ew outside as it’s an open-air temple, or onto another chandelier. The boys choir began bhajans (pronounced budgin) and everyone would take them up. I was unfamiliar with most of them, so stuck to watching. We waited for Sai Baba to arrive. When he did, the expectant, palpable hush of 20,000 people in his divine presence is something I’ll never forget. If devotees stood to see him, seva dals motioned furiously for them to sit. The guru arrived on the stage in a small white car and transferred to a wheelchair. His afro hairstyle was reduced to that of an aged and unwell man. He was pushed around some aisles so early devotees might proff er envelopes with requests. Back on stage, he’d open each, give blessings and depart. This signalled the crush to get out. Once I was frightened I’d be pushed down under thousands of bare feet as we were swept remorselessly towards an exit. Christmas grew closer. The ashram sprouted incongruous decorations; a sleigh with reindeer on tropical grass, a life-size nativity scene, the temple decorated extravagantly. The choir ladies were to wear a white sari and white fl owers in our hair. I wore fl owers daily, preferring little yellow roses edged with red. I purchased fabric and had a top made. You’d hear townsfolk singing bhajans like Italians sing opera. Finally Christmas Eve arrived. We and other choirs were to perform at evening darshan. A tiny maid at the hotel dressed me in my sari. In the afternoon we waited at the ashram for our fl owers, then queued to enter. We were packed like sardines on the fl oor. My arthritic joints complained of the discomfort as we waited for Sai Baba. The show began and we sang a few songs, but temple passers-by were talking out loud, something that irritated Sai Baba so much that he cancelled the performance. I felt sorry for the children’s choir missing out, but was more relieved to be able to stand and stretch. Next day was Christmas Day and my birthday. No darshan. No canteens open either. An ashram resident guided us to a café in town. We had an organic breakfast starting with a green smoothie made with barley grass snipped before our eyes. Jacqueline gave me a tiny brass elephant for holding incense sticks which I use in my studio. My skin condition fl ared up and I was in such discomfort that the resident suggested I go to the local hospital, established by Sai Baba. She guided us there up the hill and Jacqueline stayed with me. I fi lled in a form at the front desk, run by a seva dal, who sent us to the emergency ward. An old lady in a wheelchair looked close to dying while her agitated son tried to get attention. Many other patients waited in seats around the room. The doctor was a lady in her fi fties who spoke perfect English. “Ah, cellulitis,” she diagnosed, prescribing the same medication I’d been given back home – but a quarter of the amount. Luckily, I had a private stash of painkillers. “You probably won’t fi nd a pharmacy open today. You might as well get them here,” she said reluctantly. Seva dals dispensed the pills into envelopes handmade from newspaper. I don’t remember much of that day, but the hospital trip was the highlight. I packed my belongings because I was leaving the next day. Three others shared the taxi back to Bangalore. With no common language it was a pretty quiet trip. I stayed a night in Bangalore and had enough confi dence to walk alone around the spacious Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens. Locals ate barbecued corn, held by its long stalk, or picnicked on the grass at dusk. The next morning I fl ew north to Delhi where further adventures awaited. Note: Sathya Sai Baba passed away three months later on 24 April, 2011. India regarded him as their national treasure. Further reading: this is where I began my research of Sathya Sai Baba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sathya_Sai_Baba

It was quite the very best time of the year. The weather was cold and the nights were long. There seemed to be very little daylight but it all added up to that exciting feeling; Christmas was fast approaching. In fact, in another day or so Christmas Eve would be upon us. However, the evening we had planned and practised for, so many times was this very week. During November we had gathered in the Gethen’s lounge around the grand piano to practise singing carols. We learnt and rehearsed them so many times that we all knew them by heart, then came the exciting day when Colonel Gethen took us out to the stables with his piano accordion and with the ponies gathered together we practised again and again till the ponies were quite comfortable with the music, the singing and the lanterns which hung on the end of poles just above their heads. Now the day was here. The weather was calm, cold and frosty. The ponies were brushed and combed and looking their best; we saddled up, mounted and we were off for this year’s carol singing. This was the highlight of the year in the village where we lived. In all, there were 8 ponies, Joe, Rufus, Bracken, Strawberry-pie, Flit, Gina, Snowball and Bambino. 8 of us children rode the ponies and another 8 walked, swapping places half way around. Mary Gethen, our riding teacher, her Father, Colonel Gethen with his piano accordion and usually a couple of other parents made up the party of carol singers. So we set off down the long drive and into the lane, our lit lanterns glowing merrily in the darkness, the ponies’ hooves clattering on the road. During the evening we rode into at least 8 to 10 houses. They all had fairly long drives and a reasonably open space in front of the front door that could accommodate the equines and people. We gathered around the door or porch and started to sing. The owners immediately fl ung open wide the door and the household gathered to listen very often joining in with us. Then came the best part; the adults were generally served with a small glass of mulled wine whilst us kids were given hot Ribena or orange squash and everyone managed a mince-pie. The best loved households were the ones kind enough to serve sugar lumps on a little platter that was handed around the ponies. Looking back, I guess we were on the road, so to speak, for a couple of hours. We were stuff ed full of mince-pies and drink and although I don’t remember, I’m sure the adults were warm and merry by the time we’d fi nished. A collection was taken with the proceeds going to the “retired war horse fund.” It was a wonderful evening. The houses radiated warmth and friendliness; the people were excited and loved both the ponies and the kids. Most houses had huge Christmas trees which were beautifully lit and holly, ivy and mistletoe hung in the porches. I learned in later years that there was quite a queue of residents wanting the riding school to visit their place so there was never a shortage of recipients. I vividly remember the cold, the dark, the magic, the coloured lights, the smell of the ponies and the wonder of those nights and having the Christmas star pointed out to us so no-one forgot the true message of Christmas. I was lucky enough to be part of those Christmas rides for quite some years. It’s a memory that’ll be with me for always and although I say it myself the carols really sounded good as the music echoed in the frosty air. By Chris King Carol Singers with a diff erence By Chris King Send in your best joke to Seasons Magazine and go in the draw to win! A 10 MEAL PACK FROM THE FAMILY KITCHEN DELIVERED TO YOU Send jokes to [email protected] www.thefamilykitchen.co.nz

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When the Christmas decorations and food appear in the shops, Alicia reminisces. Her family hasn’t given gifts for years now – they all have everything they need, no little children at this stage and some of the older children are living overseas, so they can avoid the hype, crowds and costs – hallelujah! It’s hot so the Santa suits and snow look ridiculous, and the cheap crackers with a plastic toy and paper hat inside are so wasteful. And she feels sad that many more animals than usual will die for people’s meals that day. But Alicia is not a total grinch: she looks forward to the family get-together that begins at 11am on Christmas morning with Uncle Paul’s traditional egg and herring on rye bread from their Russian heritage, washed down with vodka (or juice in her case) and toasts to the Queen – this year they must remember that it is now to the King – from their Irish side! Christmas lunch is a mix of traditional foods with summertime adjustments, eaten out on the deck, while they silently estimate how long it will be before Peter and Suzie have their fi rst disagreement. And they must all be quiet during the Queen’s (King’s) Christmas message in the evening or Peter will get annoyed. Always a fun day! Alicia also remembers one Christmas, thirty years ago, when they lived in rural Queensland. Keith always insisted on the traditional ham and Christmas pudding and gifts because he had grown up in a poor family and wanted his children to have better memories. The day went well, despite the heat and lack of air conditioning. But the fridge, full of leftovers and fresh food since the shops were miles away, couldn’t cope. Soon the cream was off and the lettuce was going slimy. At least they didn’t have to eat ham for days on end – the dog gratefully wolfed that down. Alicia’s most special Christmas, though, was a decade earlier than that. It was in the Scottish winter during her year of overseas experience, while working on a pretty farm in the south-west overlooking the Solway Firth and the Lake District. Alicia’s job was mostly cooking and housekeeping, as well as feeding the horses (she didn’t ride) and helping with some farm work. Her host, Catherine, loved show-jumping in summer and hunting in winter while Dougie, the cattle man and Hamish, the sheep man (who both lived in cottages on the farm with their families) ran the farm. December was frosty, no snow yet, and full of memorable smells: preparing warm sugar beet pulp for the horses; manure and warm bodies of a hundred cattle in the huge barn; beer and male bodies at the pub after the Young Farmers’ concert rehearsals; candles at the little stone church; mulled wine and cinnamon shortcake being prepared in the kitchen. Christmas was a busy time. For the eighteen guests at the Christmas Eve party Alicia glazed a ham with sugar and mustard, made potato salad, beetroot and brussels sprouts and cooked two loaves of bread. Catherine made more salads and baked potatoes. Alicia also made fruit salad and trifl e, crushed meringues to mix with cream & peaches and prepared a platter of biscuits, cheese and fruit. She hardly sat down or had time to eat all day and then cleaned up while Catherine and the guests went to church to sing carols at 11pm. But she felt very grown up and enjoyed the praise for her role in her fi rst big dinner party. Dougie and Hamish had the Christmas-New Year period off so Alicia and Catherine fed the animals on Christmas morning then took the fruit cakes she had iced and decorated with real holly, rosehips and hawthorn berries - and presents Catherine had bought - to the men and their families. After a lunch with Catherine’s friends - whole salmon and salad, followed by chocolate mousse and orange compote - it was time to feed the animals again. Then out to a family dinner for ten: soup with sherry (too strong, she thought), turkey, vegetables and chestnuts, Christmas pudding with fl aming brandy and mince pies. What a day! The next morning they awoke to snow on the ground. A week of heavy labour compensated – somewhat - for the festive indulgences. That’s a real Christmas, Alicia thought: exquisite food on a cold day, with family and friends, followed by healthy work in mud and manure. The perfect balance. She’s never had another one like it. By Carolyn Nimmo Christmases hot and cold seasons 35

“Would the noise and dust never stop?” Jean sipped her tea, while sitting in her old comfortable chair in the roomy old-fashioned house she had occupied since her marriage over forty years ago. Through the window she looked down a long expanse of lawn and fl ower beds. Beyond were fruit trees and a rather overgrown veggie patch, which was bordered by the boundary fence of the park. She loved this outlook. She loved the old gum trees, standing tall and elegant, their trunks shiny white and from whose sheltering branches moreporks called in the dark, rosellas and starlings made their nests, tuis fed from the blossoms and monarch butterfl ies found refuge from the winter cold. She hoped the park would always stay as it was even though the neighbourhood surrounding it was changing rapidly. Old houses, like hers, on big sections were being bought up by developers to be demolished and multiple dwellings built in their stead. She knew that the country needed more housing and that by replacing oneperson properties many more families could be housed, but did it have to be right next door to her? She and her neighbour had been on very friendly terms and had been company for one another. Lately, Susan’s health has become a concern and she had bowed to pressure from a developer and from her family to sell up and move to a retirement village. She had encouraged Jean to do the same. However, Jean liked her own space and was not by nature gregarious so had stubbornly refused to budge. Anyway there was her ageing dog, Jack, to consider. He had been her companion since her husband had died. She couldn’t abandon her trusty, loyal little friend. So consequently, for the last few months, she had endured the growl of bulldozers and concrete lorries and all the sounds of building work. She had to keep reminding herself that it was only temporary. Temporary it turned out to be. Eventually a smart two-storey house stood alongside hers and in what had been the long garden were two low units facing the park. All her new neighbours seemed very pleasant. Jean has taken each a plate of scones and introduced herself soon after each new arrival. There was a family with teenage children in the big house and young couples in the small units. As they were all away from home during daytime she saw little of them. They greeted her with a friendly wave and maybe a few short comments about the weather if she did encounter them. Quiet stability and normalcy returned to the street. Jean was lonely without her friend Susan living next door. She still visited, but it wasn’t the same as when they had frequent chats over the garden fence. What made it worse was that her daughter and family were overseas on an extended holiday. Jean had a nasty bout of fl u which left her feeling weak and lacking in energy. Weeds sprouted in the garden and the sight of the unmown lawn fretted her. Then one day the gas fi re, which she relied on for much of her heating refused to light. The repairman, when summoned, pronounced it obsolete and irreparable. Not only that, but in his opinion, a new one could not be fi tted because the chimney was ‘non-compliant.’ What to do? Well, it was nearly summer, but she’d have to have found a solution before next winter. Susan listened sympathetically to her problem as they sat, warm and cosy in the new unit at the retirement village. “You probably need a heat-pump,” was her advice. “Here, I’ve got double glazing and good insulation too, which keeps me very warm,” Susan continued. “I never get that awful condensation on the windows now either.” Jean sighed, remembering how many times she had wiped streams of water from her windows. Then, one rainy day, she noticed a damp patch appear on the ceiling. The roof contractor replaced a tile but declared that the whole roof needed attention. Apparently it should be ‘re-pointed.’ Jean wasn’t too sure what that entailed, but it sounded expensive. Oh dear! Then, the drain blocked, the shower began to drip and one of the electric sockets refused to work. All little annoyances, but it seemed her problems would never end. Another blow came in the shape of a letter from her sister in England. Apparently she was seriously ill and needed a radical surgical procedure. She had no family to rely on for help as she recovered. Then came the most bitter pill of all. Jack, her beloved companion developed an aggressive tumour. As she gazed into his soft brown eyes and ran her fi ngers through his silky fur for the last time, the vet mercifully put an end to his suff ering. Jean was overwhelmed with sadness and the tears fl owed. Without Jack there was no impetus to take a walk, so no opportunity for cheery chats with other dogwalking friends. Jean’s world collapsed into darkness and depression. One day, when she had been forced by necessity to go to the supermarket for groceries, she met her neighbour from the big house next door, as she returned home. “Hello. How are you?” Greeted Maria. All Jean’s grief burst upon her in a fl ood and, to her embarrassment, she burst into sobbing. Tears coursed down her face as she fumbled for her handkerchief. Although taken by surprise, Maria placed an arm around the old lady’s heaving shoulders. “You need a nice cup of tea,” she said. “Come on inside and I’ll make you one.” By Christine Munday Replacing the old 36 seasons

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With Christmas upon us I’d like to give you a little gift – a little something that will make you look and feel better, not just for now but for the rest of your life. Most of us have some challenges with our posture, and the way we move and exercise. You may get some stiff ness and discomfort in your neck, shoulders, or lower back, or in your knees or hips. Often people assume it’s just part of ageing and there’s not much you can do about it! Well do I have news for you! As I discussed in last month’s article, we need to develop more awareness of how we are moving and supporting our bodies, not just when we exercise but also when we sit, stand, walk, and move through our day. Look at yourself in a mirror, standing front on and side on. What do you see? Alarm bells if you see any of the following: • Hunched shoulders and forward or dropped head • Rounded upper back • Excessive arch or no arch in the lower back • Ribcage tilted forward or ribcage tilted back • Locked knees when standing • One or both knees turning inward when sitting, standing, walking, lunging, or squatting There’s more, but these are some of the obvious ones. This month I’m going to share a few simple tips to help you straighten yourself out and get yourself feeling and looking better in everything that you do. Basically, you need to wake up and strengthen the muscles in your midback, belly and butt. The best way to do that is: 1. Lift your chin and chest Whether you’re standing, sitting, walking, squatting, twisting, or turning, lifting your chin and chest will help you engage your mid back muscles, taking the strain off your neck and shoulders. It helps prevents rounding of your upper back and helps you regain or retain that all-important neutral spine which is a small arch in your lower back. 2. Soften your knees ALWAYS have a slight bend in your knees when you stand or walk. We call this “soft knees”, and this will help you to align and strengthen the muscles around your knee joints, reducing pain and wear and tear, improving your balance, AND making it easier to engage the muscles of your belly and butt which is point 3. 3. Lightly draw your belly IN toward your spine and slightly squeeze your butt cheeks together. Feel how together with your lifting your chin and chest, this centres and aligns your ribcage. Notice how this “lifts” and supports your upper body, reducing pressure on your lower back, hips, and knees. 4. Keep your knees aligned with your feet Whether sitting or standing, keeping your knees aligned with your feet will keep your leg muscles more balanced and your joints more aligned, again helping prevent pain and excessive wear and tear in the knee joints and the hips. It really is that simple! Take some time to make these little adjustments part of everything that you do, and you’ll be ready for a fi tter, stronger and more pain-free 2023.

There’s something about the skirl, the sound, of a bagpipe. It’s at once stirring, refl ective, exultant, and mournful. It’s a sound that can travel for miles, designed to carry variously hope and warning over rough landscapes to people of opposing agendas. Notes that can rouse to battle, make dancing irresistible, or elicit gentle smiles by the evening fi re. Bagpipes have been played for centuries in parts of continental Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia and parts of South Asia. But nowhere has the instrument been taken to a nation’s heart as it has in Scotland. Here, it represents the very essence of Scottishness, especially when played by a kilt-attired piper. Scottish migrants have brought the pipes to all corners of the world, inviting people to enjoy the inspiring music - and to take the opportunity to practice Scottish expressions, such as “och aye the noo.” The Mussila website rates the bagpipes the fourth hardest instrument to learn, stating it can take years to master it. (The three hardest are the violin, the French horn, and the organ.) For the player not only has to produce the music, but also keep in check the many parts attached to the soft bag at the centre, including maintaining a constant pressure in the bag. One person who has undoubtedly mastered the bagpipes is David Moon. Now retired and living in Matamata with his wife Penny, the bagpipes have been a big part of his life since the age of 11. “However, there was a break from when I was about 15 until I was about 30, as playing bagpipes was not considered cool then,” he says. David was born and raised in Hamilton, and had fi ve sisters. “My father had come out from Scotland, and mother’s parents were Scots,” he says. “Dad was a good musician. He could play many instruments, including piano and violin. But not the bagpipes.” His sisters engaged in singing and dancing – their mother taught them highland dancing. At the Hamilton Caledonian Society, David was introduced to Scottish Pipe Major Bill Robertson, who set about teaching the 11-year old boy to play the instrument. David learnt on the practice chanter. “I had to play that for 18 months before I was allowed near the full bagpipes,” he says. When he was 13, he was allowed to play with the band in practice, but not on parade. That took another twelve months. David’s pipes, which are of the McDougal variant, were made some time before 1898, the year the maker died. Taking the instrument apart to show how it works, David explains that everything is connected to the bag, into which the piper constantly blows air when playing. There are three pipes sticking out from the top of the bag: a bass drone, and two tenor drones. Between them, they produce the constant humming sound that emanates from the instrument when it is in full fl ow. “The drones are made of African blackwood, one of the densest woods in the world,” says David. “The drones have sliding joints that allow the drones to be tuned accurately together by adjusting the pitch. The turnings on these drones are of ivory, a material that cannot be used in modern bagpipes, for obvious reasons.” The chanter is the pipe on which the melody is played. It has eight holes, requiring both the piper’s hands to be used when playing. The notes from the chanter are produced by a reed at its top. The air that fl ows through the pipes, producing the music, comes from the bag, which the player holds in place by pressing it with the bent left arm against the bottom of his rib cage. He must keep the pressure just right by a combination of continuously blowing air into the bag through the blowstick, and alternately increasing and easing the pressure on the bag with his arm. The bagpipe has a range of only one octave. To make up for the musical shortfall, the piper makes technical movements designed to break up notes and create the illusion of articulation. These ‘embellishments’ by the player take years to master. And you can’t just turn up at a venue, get the bagpipe out of the boot of the car, and start playing. “You have to blow for about half an hour to warm up the instrument and get the right pitch,” says David. “Another challenge, particularly if you are in a band, is that you have to know all the tunes off by heart. The piper has his two hands full, playing the chanter, and there is no sheet music holder on the instrument. A piper needs a good sense of timing and a good memory.” David started his working life as a butcher before entering the construction sector. This career took him to Tauranga, Spain, Whangarei, Auckland, Christchurch, and Waipu. He also spent two years in Dubai. He was fascinated to witness the popularity of bagpipes in that region. “There were seven emirates in the UAE, and each had a police bagpipe band,” he says. These days, David plays with the Cambridge & Districts Pipe Band. He also undertakes solo assignments, playing at social functions, such as weddings, funerals, and others. With Christmas and Hogmanay coming up, he is in for a busy period. And so, to borrow the greeting Scots exchange with each other on New Year’s Eve, “lang may yer lum reek” to all readers! Which means “long may your chimney smoke!” What else do you need to say? By Kjell Yri The skirl �hat conquered �he wo�ld A PIPER’S CREED Through howl of wind and showers of rain, We play for the living, the dead, and the slain, Our notes are the sound of an angel’s swoon, For our enemies, the sound of their coming doom, Be you married or buried, our pipes sound true, Whenever we’re needed, we’ll play them for you. - Author unknown. The skirl �hat

Ride the five trail sections that follow New Zealand’s longest river through native bush, exotic forest, remote farmland, boardwalks, streams, suspension bridges and magnificent hydropower dams. 0800 874 978 www.waikatorivertrails.co.nz Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature Ride the five trail sections that follow New Zealand’s longest river through native bush, exotic forest, remote farmland, boardwalks, streams, suspension bridges and magnificent hydropower dams. 0800 874 978 www.waikatorivertrails.co.nz Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature

Ride the five trail sections that follow New Zealand’s longest river through native bush, exotic forest, remote farmland, boardwalks, streams, suspension bridges and magnificent hydropower dams. 0800 874 978 www.waikatorivertrails.co.nz Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature Meet at Village Cafes Bike racks laden are a common sight along the Trail, Dam Café Whakamaru, Bus Stop café Mangakino and Rhubarb café Arapuni are each an oasis and all super close to the Trail. Ride, refresh, ride seems to be the essence of Trail time for many. Ride Trails, Easy The Waikato River Trails are graded intermediate in most parts and advanced in the remainder. Across those intermediate sections you will fi nd plenty of kind gradient. The skill set you need to enjoy the Trails is about cornering well, handling the gravel surface and navigating with those coming in the opposite direction. Take in Unique Art Works Pieces of art have been installed along the Trail , each has a story and relevance to some aspect of Trail life. Some refl ect the life forces of the River, like most art ,the pieces have many layers for you to interpret , touch and get alongside. Discover Stunning Dams Waikato River Trails major sponsor Mercury own and manage Hydro Dams and Power stations along the Waikato River Trails. These structures are of epic proportions creating renewable energy powering New Zealand communities and business. No where in New Zealand can you see so much amazing hydro infrastructure up close. Stay in Lakeside Reserves The Trails are blessed with several amazing lakeside reserves. Thanks to local Councils the reserves have great facilities are a stones throw from the River. Whether it’s a tent, Caravan or Motorhome there is plenty of space for everyone. Enjoy Epic Scenery Around every bend in the River as your journey unfolds the scenery lifts the spirits. The river itself refl ects the sky, earth and trees. Slow down to take it all in , please don’t get too distracted by all the beauty and come a cropper. waikatorivertrails.co.nz Ride the five trail sections that follow New Zealand’s longest river through native bush, exotic forest, remote farmland, boardwalks, streams, suspension bridges and magnificent hydropower dams. 0800 874 978 www.waikatorivertrails.co.nz Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature

Like a lot of fellas these days, I’m inclined to leave things to the last minute. It was Christmas eve, and I was doing those hidden exercises in getting top-up apology presents to stick into the main ones to reduce disappointments a bit for the recipients. After spending my budget dollars on these in the big name shop (I thought that name labels would do no harm stuck on my cheap gift wrappings) I walked down the road a bit and into a small side street coff ee bar so I could check there were enough fi llers to give a slight bulge to the stockings if carefully wrapped. A chap was sitting on his own at a small outside table and looked a bit under the weather. His clothing was nondescript and a trifl e scruff y and looked as though it had been thrown on in a hurry, and his manner was somewhat edgy. I thought I’d try and cheer him up. “Done all your Christmas shopping?” I opened cheerily. His face twitched a little as he looked about the street. “Oh, yes, thank you.” As he ventured nothing more, I continued, “I reckon sales will be down a lot this year, what with Covid and the like.” “Yes, probably,” he returned, and then it happened. From the inside of his shirt a lump of something squeezed out and fell on the table – it was a white whiskered beard! He grabbed it and quickly concealed it on his person, and I laughed. “Hello, Santa!” I off ered, “Don’t be shy! I saw you inside the store – you’re very popular!” The man’s face continued to twitch. He leaned forward close to my face. “I AM SANTA!” he whispered. “I am here on an emergency escape! No one must know, you must keep this absolutely hushhush.” I was taken aback – Santa already here in secret! What was going on? He twitched again. “Quickly, I will tell you. He leaned closer. “It’s those blessed reindeer. Either they’re on heat or something – they fi ght and clash antlers, scuffl e and scramble, leg kicking, all over who leads the team. Dasher and Comet, Vixen and Cupid, always squirming and squealing. I can get no teamwork this year. I just had to get away to let them fi ght it out. Otherwise the sleigh will overturn and whoosh! Presents everywhere! It could happen! I just have to leave them to sort it out.” I was lost for words. “Has this happened before?” I asked. Santa looked tired as he replied. “Oh, once or twice. I have diff erent escape valves all round the world. Fortunately, Rudolph understands and camps in the atmosphere for me while I drone down for this break.0therwise, there would be Christmas world chaos. Imagine if I didn’t come AT ALL! Anyway, I’d better be getting back – they should be sorted out by now and all sorry and apologetic! An extra bucket of carrots and apples all round should bring good cheer and togetherness once more. Don’t forget, keep the peace, happy Christmas, BUT, don’t tell you’ve ever seen me!” And off to his hidden drone he scuttled. As if I would! By Hugh Edwards SOMETHING YOU SHOULD NEVER KNOW ABOUT SANTA 42 seasons

Why not? Everyone’s preening themselves, squinting in the mirror and otherwise self-examining to confi rm their acceptance into our cesspit of humanity, fi t for display and inclusion into this daily world of ours. The very volume of activity, interaction and commotion itself is a kaleidoscope of intrigue and interest. At this end of year I’m going to dig out chunks I feel might interest, amuse or horrify you at absolutely no cost just to put a colourful little postscript on 2022. House marketing always comes with its own packet of intricacies. It’s timely to relate a situation with a couple selling a property. Having enlisted an agent to quickly dispose of said house, a buyer was found, who, after much investigating, limming, engineering and neighbour querying, put in an off er, had it accepted, and at the last minute, coitus interrptus, so to speak. Devastation set in, the agent was sent packing with a fl ea in her orifi ce, another agent was appointed “SOLE.” Would you believe, the day after this signing, the fi rst buyer returned, saying; All is forgive, I WILL buy unconditional, and I want to get in soon!” When the new company heard of this, all Gehenna broke loose. “We’ll sue you to the gunwales, in court, wherever, you’ll pay us the commission, you dastards.” Wrangling continued, the deal stood on hold, and it took much heat and many aspirins to smooth things out. A man well known went to the doctor and said, “I’m worried about my wife. I think she’s going deaf.” “OK,” he said. “Here’s what we do. You stand 15 feet away from her, and ask her a question. If she doesn’t hear, go to 10 feet. Then 5. This way, we’ll ascertain the level of her hearing problem.” He did so, in the kitchen. At 15 feet, he said, “What are we having for dinner tonight, pet?” No reply. Then 10 feet, he repeated the question. No answer. At 5 feet, the same. Right up close, he asked one more time. She replied rather irritably, “For the fourth time, I said casserole.” So you can never be sure of yourself, can you. My friend Ben needed a second hand double bed. He went to an ordinary house in an ordinary street where one was advertised. A rather old lady showed him a bed which he was satisfi ed with, paid for by cheque and carried away. Several days later, there came a knock on his door and on opening it, Ben was confronted by a large muscular gentleman who came straight to the point. “Do you have our double bed?” “Yes,” murmured Ben, conjuring up frightful scenes in his mind. “But you can have it back for what I paid for it!” Without replying, the giant brushed past him into the corridor. “Where is it?” he demanded. On sighting the bed, the big man lifted it up and unscrewed a back leg. From within he extracted a grubby wad of notes and counted them carefully. At last, he seemed satisfi ed. “Hmm… all there. Keep the... bed.” And with that he stomped out of the house without further ado. My friend Anton was playing in a jazz group at a local shopping mall. He noticed a couple in the crowd. They appeared to be enjoying the music, the man in particular peering intently at him on occasions. Anton himself is a fairly well-known artist, and thinking the onlooker had recognised him, he nodded and winked as he played on. At the end of the little concert, he half expected the couple to approach and make themselves known, but to his surprise, they turned abruptly away. It was then that Anton noticed the man was carrying a white stick. Our friend Jill experienced a one-off fright on a shopping trip in Auckland once. She was among a crowd of bargain hunters, the sun was shining and life felt good. She had about four parcels and was stepping out up the footpath to catch the bus home. She hadn’t been to town for a while and glanced with interest at the new buildings rising on the skyline. Whoops! She failed to notice an uneven paving slab, stubbed her toes and felt herself falling forward! Instinctively she stretched out her arms to grasp something solid – and luckily for her but not for the lady in front of her whose skirt she grabbed to break her fall! Whoa! YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD HER YELL! She thought she was being attacked and took off with shrieks of fear, her skirt tangled around her ankles. My friend went splat! down and her shopping scattered everywhere. People came to help gather it up but the poor lady just kept scrambling into the distance and there was no chance to apologise and reassure her it wasn’t a mugging! It’s become a party story and one of Jill’s embarrassing moments! To end my assortment, my Dear Jane had one unforgettable incident that fi ts the bill nicely. “No kidding, it was defi nitely a Wednesday, because I had a standing appointment with my hair salon Wednesdays. It was also the day for visits or special occasions, so I needed to look my best. Anyway, this particular day included a visit to Richard, the chiropractor, to ease a niggling nerve in my back. Call him what you like, but for this he required me in the ‘altogether.’ After a successful ‘laying on of hands’ I repaired to the dressing room to re-robe. Bracing myself against the door I wrestled with my pantyhose, overbalanced and tumbled starkers butt-fi rst into the next consultation room. Dr Richard and his male client were as bereft of words as I was of clothing.” Long ago, as we drifted off to sleep one night, Jane playfully drummed her fi ngers, fi rst on my temples, then on the pseudomahogany bedhead behind. “There’s no comparison,” she murmured. “I should think not,” I retorted. That’s imitation.” And so I close with apologies for stealing some of your remaining 2022 minutes and leave you with a few Tom Swifties – If clergymen can be defrocked, for instance, does it not follow that musicians can be denoted, models deposed, drycleaners depressed and depleted etc, etc? I guess so. By Hugh Edwards A Collection of Recollections seasons 43

1980 in Zambia was probably one of the most diffi cult years we experienced during our twenty years there. The Rhodesian War had ended the previous year with Mugabe claiming the presidency of the renamed Zimbabwe. As a result of well-supplied Guerilla fi ghters, the now redundant arms and ammunition supplies found their way into the hands of the anarchic Zaire population, only 22 miles from the Copperbelt where we lived. Petty crime had always existed but now organised crime was becoming the norm and was more than a little frightening. A whole new ball game altogether. Supply routes to Zambia from the south and west had been cut off due to apartheid and civil wars; shortages of just about anything you cared to name abounded. However, our engineering business was going well under contract to the copper mines and we had just welcomed our second son three weeks earlier, his nearly two-year old brother a busy toddler. It was early July, mid-winter for us, cold enough for welcome log fi res in the evenings. This particular Sunday I was trying to relax in the warm early afternoon sunshine, having got the baby to sleep at last. I was demand feeding and as he demanded up to ten times in 24 hours, I was exhausted. Michael was playing happily with his toys beside me on our verandah and I had the two French doors open wide. My husband was away for the weekend on business in Lusaka and would not be home until Monday evening. Andrew and Sally, our house-servant and nanny, had left for the day so I was alone with my two boys. It was time for Michael’s afternoon snack and drink so I got up to go into the kitchen. He followed me into our walk-in larder, which was about three-square metres in size, and whilst I was looking on the shelf for some biscuits I’d made, Michael pushed the door closed, leaving us both locked in the larder. The reason we were locked in was there was no handle on the inside of the door. The whole house had been rather shoddily built and although we’d noticed the lack of a handle, it had not occurred to us during the four years we lived in this house to fi t one. The full horror of our predicament hit me like a sledgehammer. We were locked in, no one was due back to our house before 7 o’clock the following morning, the front French doors were wide open to the world of opportunist thieves passing by and worst of all, my three-week-old baby was asleep but could wake up at any time. There were no tools in the larder but there was a ventilation gap in the wall high up, too high to reach and certainly too small to crawl through. I had never experienced claustrophobia before but here it was, big time. I screamed, a blood-curdling scream of panic, which in turn made poor wee Michael jump and burst into terrifi ed tears. I couldn’t think, panic blinded me, fogged my brain. What on earth was I going to do? I could hear our next-door neighbours at No. 8. They were obviously having a gathering of some sort. I never knew where they came from, they didn’t speak the local language and their high gate was covered in galvanized sheets which scraped along the ground every time the gates were opened. As they opened frequently day and night, I suspected they had an illegal business of some sort going, possibly emerald mining. Anyhow, they were my only hope. I tried hard to calm myself, for Michael’s sake as well as my own. I began to shout “Help” as loudly as I could. Their chattering next door was constant but if ever I sensed a gap in their conversation I’d shout again. Their chatter would then stop as they clearly had heard me, but then it would restart as if my shouts were not of their concern. I could only go on shouting, hoping against hope that they would at last realise that I was in deep trouble and needed help. I don’t know how long I shouted for; my voice was becoming croaky but I had to keep going. Michael had become quiet and was clinging onto my skirt. The baby was going to wake any minute but he would at least be safe, if furious, in his cot. But also of great concern was the fact that my front verandah doors were wide open to the thieving world. Anyone could come in and take whatever they wanted. I had no choice but to keep on shouting and calling for help. I don’t remember crying, just calling in between trying verbally and physically to calm myself down. I think we were in there for about half an hour when I suddenly heard Norah’s voice. Norah was my next-door neighbour from No. 6 on the other side, a good friend with whom I shared child minding. I heard her voice at our gate. “Prue? Is that you? What is the matter? Are you OK? Have you been attacked? I thought I could hear you shouting for help? Where are you?” I shouted back. “Norah! Thank God! Come in the front verandah doors. Michael and I are locked in the larder off the kitchen. Please can you let us out.” With a bit more coaching as to where we were By Prue Green Help 44 seasons

and what had happened, reassurance that we were in fact OK and not being attacked, Norah found the door and opened it. Imagine my hysterical relief at seeing my friend, her face a picture of astonishment and curiosity, but my relief turned to horror as standing next to her was a stout Zambian man - with a gun held high in his hand, pointing at me! I fell sobbing into Norah’s arms whilst the astonished black “sheriff ” looked on. Apparently, Norah had heard my shouts for help and thinking that maybe I was being attacked, was afraid to come on her own. Her husband Barry was away. Quite by chance, her landlord arrived to check on the house and Norah explained about hearing screams and shouts for help from next door. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I have a gun in my car. Let me fetch it and we’ll go over together.” And so they did, very bravely really as they had no idea what they were going to fi nd. I think that Michael and I being locked in our larder was probably the last thing to cross their minds! Once I had calmed down, we all had a good laugh over a cup of tea, rather hysterical on my part I suspect. Michael was fi ne and, mercifully the baby had not woken, remaining blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding in the kitchen. Yes, a handle was swiftly fi tted to the inside of our larder door so that such a thing could not happen again. It taught me the lesson that if you notice something is not right or you perceive a possible dangerous situation, do something about it right away. “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” Yes, indeed.

I will always be grateful to my mother, a ballroom dancing teacher, she enrolled me into ballet classes when I was ten, a little latter than most children commence. Another person who put me in the right direction was my wonderful dance teacher. Da Katipa taught ballet at the same studio where Mum was teaching ballroom. Being a late starter with a rather stiff body I decided to teach. This decision planted the seed for my lifelong passion. At the age of seventeen my fi rst concert was staged and that continued for more than half a century. Juggling a career with family life had it problems but I persevered. Some years later I discovered another interest that complimented my career, that being, writing children’s books. I enrolled in correspondence course with NZ Business Institute. One of my book writing projects was a set of books ‘Dance a Poem’ These are ideal for preschool dance classes, early childhood teachers and children’s birthday parties ‘Journey of a Dance Teacher’ a memoir of my life was published in 2018. In the year 2000 Christina Productions a non-profi t incorporated society was formed. We are able to assist with funding and time to local events. Although I am no longer teaching dance to children I am reluctant to hang up my dance shoes so I hold a weekly Adults/Plus dance class in Katikati. A visit to my web page will reveal other activities I am evolved with www.christinaproductions.nz MAY THE DANCE NEVER END By Gaye Hemsley Seventy years teaching dance

Why give half your profits to the banks? *Blue Sky Nominees is offering investment in debt equity financial products to wholesale investors. This is not a regulated offer, and no offer is made to retail investors. Evidence of an applicant’s status will be required prior to any application for investment being accepted. blueskynominees.co.nz For more information: Email: [email protected] Phone: John 022 4110 020 Post: PO Box 54159, Auckland 2012 ( Interest paid monthly. Zero fees. Zero charges. ( Family owned. All profits stay in New Zealand. ( Minimum term 12 months. Minimum investment $30,000. Term Deposits 7% Blue Sky helps fund cancer and sustainable energy research. A simple story of recalling a moment of my life and learning to write a fi rst short story (or maybe prose) feels like all the phobias, fears and struggles that are a part of my memories have coloured my life in the colours of my own masterpiece with no blunt pencils. So I’ll start in the garage in Hull Place, the family home provided by my birth fathers war eff ort payout. He was a brave man well mentioned in Despatches. Big and roomy for lots of nothing stored. Such a waste of even owning in a neighborhood of false belonging. A Never to Belong place of unrest with a mother unconnected. But we were the fi rst to own one in our neighborhood so it must have counted. Many days I spent in this garage monument rummaging at the back creating make believe and fi nding my own company, my own playgroup of imagined friends. It smelt damp and unfi nished in ugliness. Some days etched in my mind as a remembered importance for my existence. Many hours not wasted and only a necessary occasional break with my cordial and marmite wedges called sandwiches. This day was one. Leaving the house for the garage early seemed so much more desired. I had a plan but not totally understanding its importance. Nonetheless it became a place of inspiration, beginning my day with a discarded near empty sack void of but a few pine cones used for the attempt of heating the family home. The inability of warming a cold house. The sanctuary garage was so much warmer. Finding all I needed in my time of creation. Stuffi ng this old sack with straw left from the unsuccessful gardening attempts, I worked with vigor. Finding the red insulation wire all in readiness just for comfort for molded the right shape, lengths and ready for the right end result. It was a busy two days of creating this saddle for my make believe horse Together. My place of peace for riding was the green rickety fence at the back of the property away from the garage. Slung on the gate with my saddle I rode into the wind for hours. No watching of time, no demands, I rode and trusted where I was going alone, happily alone and relaxed. What’s in the way of recall and writing this story? The stark realization that my life was pretty well tormented and alone. I had to create my stories and peace. I could create my own space of peace. I even could supply my own picnic of cordial and wedges. I could create my own story. This memory had a reason for a story to remember. By Helene Evans In The Way?

Holiday Recipes 0800 896 772 proudly sponsored by Nova Health Ingredients • 2 granny smith apples, chopped into cubes • 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries or raspberries • 2 limes sliced into small wedges • 1 cup sparkling grape juice (red or white) • 1 (750ml) bottle of champagne or prosecco • Sprigs of rosemary, washed - for serving 1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, empty the champagne or prosecco then stir in the apples, berries, and lime wedges. Pour over the sparkling grape juice and stir well. Ice can be added to keep cool before serving. 2. Pour into champagne fl utes or cocktail glasses over ice and garnish with a rosemary sprig. 3. For a non-alcoholic version, try substituting the champagne or prosecco for sparkling apple juice or lemonade. Variations could include using diff erent combinations of berries, oranges or pomegranate. Method Festive Cocktails PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING Submitted by Alice Jackson Ingredients • 1 kg ground beef • 1 brown onion (chopped into small pieces) • 2 tsp crushed garlic • 1 tbsp salt • 1 tsp black pepper • 1 tsp dried rosemary • 3 tbsp bbq sauce • 12 burger buns • Tomato ketchup • Garlic aioli or mayo • 3 large tomatoes sliced thinly • Caramelised onion chutney • 1 large lettuce (washed) • 12 slices of cheese • 1 can of beetroot, drained and sliced 1. In a large bowl, place the ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary and the bbq sauce. Mix well until all is combined. 2. Shape the beef mix into 12 patties and press onto a plate ready for cooking. 3. BBQ the patties for your desired cooking time, fl ipping halfway through. Leave the patties to rest for a minute and place cheese on top to melt. 4. Construct your burger with the buns, ketchup, garlic aioli/mayo, tomato, chutney, lettuce leaves and beetroot. 5. Enjoy the burger on its own or with a side salad. You could also try adding other ingredients like onion rings, pickles, eggs or avocado for variation. Method BBQ Burgers A KIWI SUMMER CLASSIC Submitted by Janet Baker

Ingredients • 1/4 loaf of bread (white or brown) • 1 tbsp brown sugar, plus extra for sprinkling • 1 tsp allspice • 1 egg • 1 tbsp Butter • 1 cup raisins or mixed dried fruit • 1 tsp vanilla essence (optional) 1. Place the bread in a large bowl and cover with water, soak for 1 hour. 2. Tip bread into a sieve and remove as much water as possible, then break up the bread (using your hands to do this is easiest). 3. Add all the rest of the ingredients and mix well by hand. 4. Grease a medium baking dish and tip in mixture, spread evenly. 5. Sprinkle the top liberally with extra brown sugar. 6. Bake 45 minutes – 1 hour until a skewer comes out clean. NOTE: This is a great way to use up stale bread and can be eaten hot with custard (or ice cream), or eaten cold as a cake. Method Bread Pudding EASY AND DELICIOUS Submitted by Doris Smith Ingredients • 24 ice cream wafers • 300ml tub thickened cream • 270ml can coconut cream • 395g can sweetened condensed milk • 1 cup frozen raspberries • 1/2 cup shredded coconut • 1/3 cup caramel sauce 1. Line a 20 x 30cm lamington tin with baking paper extending paper over the edges. 2. Lay half the wafers into the tin. 3. Beat cream, coconut cream, and condensed milk in a large bowl of an electric mixer until thick and peaky. Fold in raspberries and coconut. Pour over the wafers in the pan. 4. Dollop caramel sauce over the mixture and swirl through. 5. Arrange remaining wafers over the top in the same direction as the base. 6. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight. 7. Lift out of tin using the extended paper. Cut out following the shape of the wafers and then cut in half. VARIATIONS: Caramelised condensed milk, various types of berries, toasted coconut, chocolate fl akes, diff erent liquor fl avours Method Ice Cream Sandwiches DELICIOUS SUMMER TREAT Submitted by Chris Howlett 0800 896 772 New World voucher for your best recipe! Go in the draw for a chance each month to win Submit your recipes and go in the draw [email protected] | PO Box5197, Frankton WIN $100 0800 896 772 New World voucher for your best recipe! Go in the draw for a chance each month to win Submit your recipes and go in the draw [email protected] | PO Box5197, Frankton WIN $100 0800 896 772 New World voucher for your best recipe! Go in the draw for a chance each month to win Submit your recipes and go in the draw [email protected] | PO Box5197, Frankton WIN $100 0800 896 772 New World voucher for your best recipe! Go in the draw for a chance each month to win Submit your recipes and go in the draw [email protected] | PO Box5197, Frankton WIN $100