“What did Grandma always say?” “Never let them know you’re in a hurry.” It was fourteen minutes until the car park closed with a crash of steel and blanket of darkness. Forty four minutes until he finished work. Maia’s hand was cold in hers. It was past dinner-time but she didn’t complain. Mother would like …
In the 17th century, most doctors thought that babies were made by God blessing a moral union. Even in the 20th century, the popular opinion was that eating fat was bad and smoking was good for you. You get the idea, facts are fluid. Or at least subjective. The philosopher Immanuel Kant ran with this …
With what seemed a single movement she tore off her clothes and flung them disdainfully aside. Her body was white and smooth, but it aroused no desire in him, indeed he barely looked at it. What overwhelmed him in that instant was admiration for the gesture with which she had thrown her clothes aside. With …
The boom and crack of fireworks echoed around, evoking the wonder of childhood. Tonight we were not eating grapes and cheese, snuggled en famille on a picnic rug, under the blossoming light show. My little 5-year-old ripped off her oxygen mask to run to the hospital window.
I nibbled my way through some really great books last year. I mean, really great. I’d like to share the best books I read in case anyone is looking for recommendations. Put down that Vikings box-set and READ! Without further ado, I’ll count down my top five (totally subjective, as always) from last year’s Read …
The whinny of a horse slashed the dusk. Victory songs twisted into prayers as a blur of white invaded the clearing. One young guard, not long out of naps, left to protect the king. I resisted the urge to fling the board. “Think you’re gifted at chess, don’t you?” This is a piece of flash …
One of my resolutions for 2018 is to read more books by New Zealanders. So I’m starting an NZ Books spotlight. Of course, I have read and love Jenny Pattrick, Stevan Eldred-Grigg and Janet Frame. But I owe it to the country and myself to branch out and find some new favourites. So far in …
Plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean, getting tangled around fish and turtles. Mountains of plastic rubbish in China. We have all seen the images. But what can we do? Well, we can find ways to reduce plastic at home and hope others follow suit. Recycling used to be the buzzword. This is one solution but …
Motivation (n) is defined as ‘a reason or reasons for acting in a particular way’. I am sure you all know the meaning of the word but the real challenge is where to find it and how to keep finding it day after day. At the bottom of the third cup of coffee, perhaps. Or …
Menu of Kings Take some pig ears and cut them by halves; next, cut them into very fine fillets, put them on a plate; cut some onions into slices and next, cut them in fillets like the ears; take a dish and put a bit of butter into it and put in your onions and pass …