Bilbao story

My story on this glorious Spanish city is published in the Flight Centre blog (click here to read).

Toronto

Yes, yes I know I've been back over a month but in the nightmare that has become my life, I forgot to share photos of our three nights in Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America.

It was the rump end of our Adventure World media trip and we were a bit shattered but had a fabulous time (how could you not in this city?) with lots of sight-seeing, a food walking tour for a food magazine story and lots and lots of eating and shopping. It should come as a surprise to exactly no-one why Toronto is regularly voted one of the world's most liveable cities.  

Here's a few of the zilllions of photos taken by the Animator.

Check out us, sitting in the 'O' (there's a sentence you don't get to type every day).

More lovely review books

Just when you think it's all turned to crap, you get home to find these on your doorstep.

If only I had time to read them all...

Light relief

The world, it seems, has gone mad. Currencies are tumbling off the cliff and aftershocks from political earthquakes on the other side of the globe are being felt everywhere (including here, as far as you can go before you fall off the planet).

I'm supposed to be writing about art trails and luxury accommodation, about a landscaping firm and an amazingly successful skincare company whose tendrils reach into global markets. Instead, my gaze keeps returning to the car crash that's currently happening in Europe. Is there anyway to stop the world and get off?

Because today, of all days, we need something beautiful to rest our eyes upon, here's a story I did on a gorgeous Kelburn house in this month's Your Home & Garden Magazine (click here to read).

#shakesherheadandwondersabouttheworld

          
   

The launch of the film festival programme

How did it get to this time of the year already? Tonight we've been invited to the launch of the NZ International Film Festival, the two weeks of every winter when film buffs gorge themselves silly on quality films that don't feature car chases or meat-head story arcs (usually).

It doesn't seem so long ago that we went to the 2015 launch. This year is going far too fast.

     

A staycation

Tomorrow night we get to play hooky from the week with a night at this gorgeous place up the coast. And on Wednesday our dance card is filled with activities for a story.

It's just what I need to get me through a wintry week.

   
(Pic credit: Atahuri)

Where Are They Now?

The first in my new series for North & South Magazine - tracking down what formerly 'famous' Kiwis are up to now - is featured in the July issue.

I was honoured to be able to interview the charming 70/80s telly personality, Roger Gascoigne, for the first ever profile (click here to read). 

Is this week over yet?

I will be glad to see the back of it. There has been too much to do and not enough time to do it. I've forgotten to return library books, to file an urgent story, what my name is. The one glimmer of good news - that I'm getting a nice chunk of cash back from the tax man - was promptly quashed when my accountant told me I need to pay it all back, and more, in my next provisional tax payment. Oy vey.

But tonight I'm hoping to restore a little of the karmic balance with this fundraising dinner that friends are organising for an orphanage in India. It will also be good to catch up with a couple of former colleagues I haven't seen for ages.

Happy weekend, y'all.

      

Little Slice of Paradise

My story on a garden makeover in Hobsonville is featured in the latest Zones publication (click here to read).

(Pic credit: Zones Landscaping) 

Only in Australia

I know I should be working - I have two stories due on Monday and have barely cracked the first - but falling down the rabbit hole of the Internet is so much more fun.

Especially when it unearths stories such as this relationship between a kangaroo and a pig. The Guardian tells it better than I ever could (click here to read).

You'd think by now I'd be mature enough to suppress a giggle at the kangaroo's name. But that would be a big fat no...

 
(Photo credit: The Guardian)

First Vancouver cab off the rank

My first story from last month's Adventure World media famil to Canada and the US is one of two stories I have in this week's NZ Woman's Weekly (click here to read).

    
(pic credit: Tourism Vancouver) 

Renovate Magazine

My first story in this publication, about a remodelled 70s bathroom in Auckland's Titirangi,  is published in the current issue (click here to read).

Thanks to the God Of Books for this month's booty

Which arrived in the post today.

I've already chosen the book for my August  North & South review but once that's done I'm very much looking forward to diving into this pile to choose one for the September review.

To all of you in Aotearoa, happy long weekend.