Saturday 25 February 2017

Aural Agony

My story about misaphonia, the neuro-physiological disorder caused by certain sounds that literally drives people into a rage, is published in today's NZ Herald Canvas Magazine (click here to read).

I have to admit, when I was interviewing the Auckland psychologist about this little-known disorder, I recognised that I'm probably more than a little susceptible to this disease, but only in terms of nightmare neighbours and their doof doof stereos which make me want to do unspeakable things to them.

Thankfully, we have nice neighbours now but a few years ago, I had to put up with dickhead renters who were convinced that everyone had a burning desire to listen to their music as loudly as possible. I thought deeply, deeply bad thoughts about them and their even worse landlord who refused to do anything about it; I'm convinced there's a special place in hell for that chap.

  

  

Thursday 23 February 2017

The Ones That Got Away

Years and years ago, not long after we'd returned from London, I did a three-month contract at the NZ Film Commission where I worked with Kathleen Drumm, then an amazing marketing manager.

Drumm has since climbed the film ladder and is now industry director for the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in the world. My story about her is in the March issue of North & South Magazine (click here to read).



Wednesday 22 February 2017

That moment

when you get home to find the courier has left this parcel of goodness on the doorstep.

Have I mentioned how much I love book-reviewing for North & South Magazine?


Sunday 19 February 2017

The Best of Belfast

My story on this delightful city is published in this week's NZ Woman's Weekly (click here to read).


(Pic credit: Azamara Cruises)

Saturday 18 February 2017

At home

My story about Prak Sritharan, the owner of uber cool Welly homewares store Precinct 35 is published in the latest Urbis Magazine (click here to read).



Thursday 16 February 2017

Sex After 60

That got your attention, didn't it?!

I'm hardly the demographic but my interview with Marie de Hennezel, the French psychologist and author of Sex After 60: A French Guide to Loving Intimacy was published in the NZ Herald's Canvas Magazine last Saturday (sorry for the delay, am playing catch-up after being overseas for a week). Here's the link to the online version.



       

Tuesday 14 February 2017

More Taiwan

Apologies for being a bad blogger (AGAIN) - but there has been too much to see and not enough time to do it in. There have been lantern festivals and night markets and national parks and far too much (good) food.

Here's some more photographic evidence of my brief media trip to this tiny but fascinating nation. Thanks to the Animator for these great photos.











Sunday 12 February 2017

Here's what I've done this week

Apologies, I have been a bad blogger - but after a long day on Wednesday  (Wgtn-Syd-HK-Taiwan) we finally arrived in this magical nation,

There have been visits to Yangminghanshan National Park whee I plunged my legs up to my knees in 43 degree hot springs water, a couple of museums in Taipei and then onto the High Speed Train (like Japan's Bullet Train) to Yunlin where last night we had the pleasure of seeing the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

There have also been a couple of night markets and, today, a cruise up Taiwan's largest lagoon, a kind of mini-me Amazon River.

It has been all manner of fun and I'm pleased I finally get to tick the heart of Asia off my bucket list.

Here for your viewing pleasure, in no particular order, are some of the visuals from the last few days.


















   

Tuesday 7 February 2017

Taiwan here I come

I will spend almost all day tomorrow getting to Taiwan (the PR has, for some reason, booked me the long way round, including six hours in bloody Sydney airport!) but I have a couple of stories to write so that should keep me out of trouble.

I'm really looking forward to this media trip and lots of lovely things to write the shizzle out of when I return. I will, of course, miss this little fella...but he will be in good hands.

See you on the other side.

  

Monday 6 February 2017

Births and deaths

Today is New Zealand's birthday, Waitangi Day, which celebrates the signing of our nation's founding document on 6 February, 1840. So happy birthday to my favourite country in the world.

Sadly, today is also about death. Later I will walk down the road to attend the wake of a former colleague and good mate of mine, Allen, who died of cancer yesterday.

Allen had been ill for a while, had been receiving experimental treatment and was well enough to text me as recently as last Friday to set up a coffee date. We've being doing these every few months since we both left the horrid organisation where we'd been in the comms team (Allen as a permanent, me as a three-day-a-week contractor).

We'd take turns to buy the coffee and I'd always scold  Allen for his need for something sweet ("You watch your weight and leave mine alone," he liked to say). And then we'd settle in to gossip and bitch and laugh like drains. Allen had the wickedest sense of humour, he was super intelligent and had a calm way about him which I always envied.

He leaves behind a wife, two small children and a huge hole in all our lives.

Rest in peace, my friend.

          

Sunday 5 February 2017

Saturday night is going to be alright

My story about a wee ritual we started when we lived in Bristol - Fish Curry Saturday Nights - is published in today's Sunday Magazine (Sunday Star Times). Click here to read.


  

Saturday 4 February 2017

Nature's Bounty

My first story in the new-ish Nadia Magazine, about the stunningly delicious Food Forest Organics in Greytown, is published in the Feb/March issue of Nadia Magazine (click here to read).



Friday 3 February 2017

Hanging with the First Lady

Spent a few hours this morning at Premier House, the official residence of NZ's Prime Minister, interviewing Dr Mary English, the wife of NZ's Prime Minister, for a national magazine (Mary, btw, also just happens to be my GP!)

Here's a shot of the photographers and the makeup artist with Mary (in white). A lovely day and it never gets old schleping around Premier House.



Thursday 2 February 2017

A Ghost Called Alice

My story about one of Wellington's oldest cinemas in Lyall Bay which, apparently, has a resident ghost called Alice and which was lovingly converted into a home is published in the February issue of NZ House & Garden Magazine (click here to read the online version).


Wednesday 1 February 2017

Gorgeous hilltop eyrie

Spent a good chunk of this morning interviewing a very cool creative couple - she's a well-known fashion designer, he's an illustrator - at their Eastbourne home which had the most stunning views across the water.

So high up on the hill was their house, in fact, that the only access was via a vertiginous cable car. Some days (most days, actually, since I chucked in government contacting) I adore my job.





(Pic credit: Deb Sweeney)

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