Goldie....

I can't, in good conscience, place my hand on my heart and declare it to be my favourite place on the planet BUT tomorrow I'm off on a media trip to the Gold Coast to do a few stories. And then to hang with the parentals for a few days at the end.

See you on the other side.

 
(Pic credit: Gold Coast Tourism)
  

Delightful Dunners

Just back from the deep south and I had a lovely time...now I just have to write the bleeding story.

There was a lot of eating and drinking (it's for a food-related story) and much meeting of, and chatting to, interesting chefs, producers and restaurateurs. There was also time for a quick squiz at some of the city's famed street art.

All in all, a lovely, albeit brief, media trip.

   

A flying visit south

It's been a long time between drinks but tomorrow I fly down to Dunedin for a couple of days to write about the city's bars, restaurants and cafes for a national magazine.

Yes I have packed my elastic-waisted trousers (goodbye diet) and also my woollies because even though it's officially Spring in Aotearoa, someone forgot to tell them down there. Wish me luck.

 

(Pic credit: Google Images) 

Mirror Mirror

A couple of weeks back I had the pleasure of interviewing actress/model/IT girl Cara Delevingne about her first YA novel (sadly not in person).

That story ran in Saturday's NZ Herald Canvas Magazine (click here for the online version).

 

The sleep thief

I've been an insomniac as long as I can recall. Last month, a sleep expert I spoke to for a story told me I was a "classic chronic insomniac - tired and wired".

That story is in today's Your Weekend Magazine (click here to read).

Island in the Sun

A few months back I was lucky enough to do a media trip to the Philippines. One of those stories is published in the October issue of Good Health Choices magazine.

  

World Animal Day

Three years ago I went to my first Wellington SPCA Blessing of the Animals which celebrates World Animal Day/the feast of St Francis of Assisi. It was so much fun that I vowed to attend every year.

Except the last two years I've been out of the country/at a work event I couldn't get out of, respectively. So this year, when the invite plopped into my inbox, I was keen as could be.

Yesterday, around a hundred of us - and assorted dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and even a llama - braved the rain to crowd into Wellington Cathedral and give thanks for our furry friends. It was so lovely to see old mates and Bristol was beside himself with excitement. In fact, he's still sleeping it off.

    

Tantalising Taiwan

My story from our media trip earlier this year to Taiwan is published in the October issue of Dish Magazine (click here to read). Images courteousy of the talented Animator.

Beautiful Bali

Take five luxury resorts, six nights and a very rushed media trip to the largest of Indonesia's 18,000 islands and what do you get?

Hopefully a good travel story for a national magazine which I filed today (yay me). And these images of some of the most stunning places I have ever had the joy of laying my head and the things I got up to (in no particular order).