The two hour time difference between Wellington and Melbourne played to my advantage to enjoy the early morning sun as it sat on the Exhibition Hall in Melbourne. Not a bad view from your hotel window. Am looking forward to exploring the rest of the architectural... NgÄ mihi o te Kirihimete ki a koe. Christmas Greetings to You. For once Christmas is turning out to be the traditional kiwi experience I’ve heard so much about in the last five years. The time to ditch the traditional festive trimmings and go native and head... The summer solstice passed this week in a flurry of rain and gale winds. The kitchen garden was battered by the elements and by some small miracle seemed to have survived. We’ve been busy harvesting broad beans and freezing them for later. The peas, beans,... With my in-laws in residence we’ve been working our way through out “must do again” list of recipes. Catering has become a social whirl with chatter and laughter as we improvise our way through the cooking process. Every now and again... Like every other year I’ve tackled Christmas like a bull in a china shop dashing around at the last minute to get those festive preparations sorted. My best laid plans with copious to do lists seemed to get lost under the debris on my desk. I have tried hard... 