The first marine reserve in New Zealand was created in 1975 and takes its name from the small island not far from the shore. Goat Island Marine Reserve is 518 hectares in size, and more than 100 species of fish have been identified within the reserve. The reserve is a real success story. It’s the perfect place to snorkel, scuba dive, kayak, or for those who don’t like to get wet, explore the...
I'm visiting Not Your Usual Suspects today where I'm talking about teeth and the forensic dentist. I hope to see you there.
Before hubby and I visited Barcelona, I’d never heard of Gaudi, but I challenge anyone to visit this vibrant city and leave without learning about this famous architect. Gaudi was born on 25 June 1852 and died on 7 June 1926 after being struck by a tram during his...
This magnificent arch is the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. It was designed by Josep Vilaseca to celebrate the 1888 World Expo. The arch was the entrance to the exposition, and it’s built of red bricks. I liked all the detailed carvings, and this one below is my...
I found this recipe when I was flicking through a cook book by Allyson Gofton, a chef who used to be a familiar face on New Zealand television. The combination of ginger and pepper sounded interesting, and I decided to give them a try. The result was a crisp and...
Recently I’ve been plotting and planning a new series called Middlemarch Capture. One of the fun things about writing is you get to research all sorts of interesting things. This week I’ve been researching baboons and frogs for the first two books in my series....
When we visited Shanghai everyone in our group was eager to experience the fast train. It’s a high-speed magnetic levitation train. The train travels the 30 km (18.6 miles) in seven minutes and twenty seconds. All I know is that it was incredibly fast. The scenery...
