Hound Dogs

Hound Dogs

People often mistake a basset’s doleful looks as a sign of low intelligence. But no, bassets are deeply thoughtful dogs who act almost entirely in service of themselves. Asking a basset hound to co-operate for your benefit is a short cut to insanity. They will...
Sweet As: Winter Warmer

Sweet As: Winter Warmer

Tomorrow marks the passing of another season when we will slip officially into winter.  This takes away any legitimate reason for any of us in New Zealand to moan and gripe about the cold, wind, rain or any other form of inclement weather. After all it’s winter and...
The Boys Are Back Nose To Ground

The Boys Are Back Nose To Ground

Loitering at the lunch table of a workshop last week whilst I contemplated whether to snaffle the last chicken satay my ears pricked up to a conversation about the annoyance someone felt about the invasion of pet photographs on the internet.  Listening in on a story...
Food and Fifty

Food and Fifty

If ever I needed a lie flat-bed on an airplane it was when flying home from Melbourne last Sunday.  After several days of eating and walking and eating, my body needed more TLC than being slumped into the window seat confined for several hours.  There is so much to...
Seasonal Transitions of the Culinary Kind

Seasonal Transitions of the Culinary Kind

As if having a significant birthday this week wasn’t enough of a reminder of the passing of time, there is plenty of evidence in the kitchen garden to remind me that the summer growing season is over.  Spring is always a race against nature to lay out the crops and...