YOU February 2012

you

February 2012

magazine

SNOWDENS’ PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 030212-TM-247

Juggling work, children and sport

P4-5

Miriam’s baby publication

Ready to do battle

Our hero

YOU social scene

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you

Summerr Sin nging School concert

What’s in

Publisher

Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd

307-7900 l ashburtonguardian.co.nz

magazine P2-3

who’s out and about

P4-5

COVER STORY: life with the Snowdens

P6-7

ready for the ring

P8-9

couch potato

Material in YOU is copyright to the Ashburton Guardian and can not be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers

P20-21

Japanese recipe

P22-23

loving her Mustang

P24-25

roses and more roses

P26

travel: Uruguay

P27

fix those leaks

P28

unsung hero: Don Kirdy

200112-JH-001

PHOTOS JOHNNY HOUSTON 200112-JH-004

This year’s Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School concert was enjoyed by (from left) Molly and Nicky Milmine, Bridget Danielson and Averil Danielson.

Elizabeth Till.

200112-JH-004 200112-JH-002

Above (from left) – Royce, Bill and Lynwen Morgans.

Above – Mary Smith (left) and Jenny Jackson.

Below – Averil Bradshaw (left) and Debbie Prouting.

Editorial contact Lisa Fenwick • 307-7929 lisa.f@theguardian.co.nz

Advertising contact 200112-JH-007

Nancye Pitt • 307-7974 nancye.p@theguardian.co.nz 200112-JH-006

Above – Anne Taylor and Bruce White.

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YOU social scene

3

Filippino Farmers Christian Community anniversary

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030212-TM-225

John and Coby Snowden and their brood – Megan, 12, Lillian, 3½, and Natalie, 17 months.

YOU cover story

5

The Snowden kids of Ashburton live in a blended family, have older parents who are high achievers in the sport of shooting, while mum works fulltime and dad runs a farm. Life is chaotic in this modern family, finds YOU’s Susan Sandys.

Familyinlives life the fast lane T

welve-year-old Megan remembers when her step-dad proposed to her mum.

John Snowden, the man who had been taking her mum out for nine months, had taken the mother-anddaughter pair for a walk on Mt Peel. John said to Coby, “I bought you something in Canada”. He had been in the country competing in the shooting world championships. Coby opened a small unwrapped box to reveal a ring. She put it on her right ring finger. “He said ‘I want you to wear it on the other finger’.”

Megan was just as thrilled as her mum.

“I was happy before she said ‘yes’. I complained about me not getting a ring,” she said.

For John, he didn’t think twice about whether Megan should be there. Any future together would be about the three of them, and Megan was just as important to him as Coby.

John and Coby had met as members of the same squad at the national shooting championships in Wellington. Coby lived in the capital and was corporate services st manager for Crown Forestry. The first ohn year they met, Coby could not get John to say “boo” to her, but they ended up dancing together at a party at the end of the champs. One year later at the same event they picked up where they left off, getting to know each other better.

Five years later they are married and living in John’s home town of Ashburton, and Megan has two little sisters.

In their 40s, John and Coby Snowden had not expected to have more children, but felt blessed when Coby became pregnant with Lillian, now three-and-a-half. They thought that was it, and were not planning on having any more. However, when Coby was 46, she fell pregnant with Natalie, who is now 17 months.

Coby said motherhood in her 40s had been a dream with just one baby. She had given up work as an accountant and loved every minute of her new life. She got involved in community groups, became treasurer of a number of organisations, and was involved with Plunket.

“She was the perfect baby, I just loved it,” she said. But, as any parent of more than one child knows, having another baby changes everything.

“Then suddenly Natalie came along.

I found it a lot harder, having a toddler and a baby.”

Natalie was just as adorable, but a completely different nature, not placid like Lillian, but all go, a bit of a live-wire.

As Coby carried on the day-to-day tasks of parenting two small children, John ran the family’s 200-hectare crop and cattle farm at Westerfield, travelling out there each day, and the pair kept up their sport of shooting.

Coby had always had in the back of her mind that she would return to work at some time, but she did not realise the perfect opportunity would arise when Natalie was just three months old. She saw an advertisement for an accountant at RX Plastics.

“I remember saying ‘Bugger, bugger, bugger’. I said they (those types of jobs) don’t come up often.”

She did not want to put the children in daycare, so ruled out applying, but then John suggested he take care of the children. Not only would the job give Coby the life outside of the home that she craved, but it would bring in a muchneeded income.

There’s a lot of jobs that don’t get done. It’s just finding the right balance ...

‘

“He said ‘I can look after them, how hard can it be’?”

She applied, got the job, and successfully managed to trade off a higher pay packet for a little flexibility in her general routine of 8am to 5pm five days per week.

“I love working, it gets my brain going again,” she said.

As for John, he admits he has changed his mind about how hard staying home with the children can be.

“It’s very tiring, because you don’t get a chance to stop, so you do find you are actually quite tired. You can’t sit down for 10 minutes and have smoko like you can when you are working. It’s amazing how much difference that makes.”

He has been taking the girls with him to work on the farm each day, and has had to cut his usual eight-hour day down

to half that, and simplify his duties. He can drive around in the farm truck checking on stock, but either gets contractors to undertake major jobs such as tractor work or does them himself on evenings or weekends when Coby can have the children.

“There’s a lot of jobs that don’t get done. It’s just finding the right balance, I could push the farm a lot harder. I perhaps farm in a more conservative way than I used to.”

And being an older dad meant he had a lot of farm experience behind him, and he was more organised than he used to be, and could get tasks done in less time.

“I think ‘What was I doing before?’ The basics are still getting done.”

And when it comes to mixing sporting achievement with parenting, John says the two go together perfectly.

He achieved a sporting career highlight of winning gold in the pairs shoot at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, shortly after Natalie was born. Because he was a busy dad at the time, he did not have as much time for practising as he had leading up to the previous Commonwealth Games in 2006 in Melbourne. At those games he came seventh in the pairs match.

“There’s no doubt it (parenting) changes your whole perspective on life. What you thought was important suddenly isn’t anymore,” he said.

Compared to parenting three beautiful daughters, competing at the Delhi games was “not important” at all. He had been aiming to have fun more than anything, and it was that relaxed attitude that ended up being a winning attitude.

“It didn’t matter whether I got first or last, the sun was still going to come up the next morning and the kids were still going to call me dad,” he said.

Natalie has this term started daycare in Ashburton from 9am to 3pm.

It gives John a little more freedom during the day to do the farmwork, but as for peace of mind, that’s another thing altogether.

“I’m a bit unsure with it, just the way she is, she’s not upset. She just gets this bewildered look when you drop her off, she just doesn’t understand.”

Easing his parental guilt is the fact that she is settling in well, and enjoys her time at the crèche. Natalie is joined

by Lillian one day a week, and Lillian will increase her days as space becomes available at the centre.

Coby said there had been mainly positives in being an older mum. Physically,

the natural births of her two youngest had gone smoothly, just the recovery time was a little longer than if she had been younger.

She remembers talking to the pregnant partner of her nephew when she was expecting Lillian. Both mums-to-be were complaining of fatigue – that was one thing that was no different despite the 20-year difference in their ages. What was different was the younger woman felt she was missing out on being able to go out as much as she used to, and on being able to wear all the clothes she used to.

“All those things just didn’t matter to me, that’s the age thing,” Coby said.

A few months ago when she was asked to be a guest speaker at the family’s St David’s Union Church parish, it was put to her she could talk about how she juggles the demands of a family and work.

“I never think of it as juggling, juggling is a negative word. You juggle bills, but not family life. We just do things we love to do. Shooting, family things, our jobs.

But we don’t do everything perfectly, far from it.”

Just as Coby made this comment, little Natalie walked into the room with a piece of toast she had found on the floor somewhere in the house. No-one was quite sure whether it had been dropped there from that morning’s breakfast, or a previous day’s meal. Natalie proceeded to eat the toast, protesting at Megan’s efforts to take it off her.

John and Coby take the children with them each Sunday afternoon to the rifle range, and Megan is involved in gymnastics.

Another thing Coby spoke about in her talk at the church was the extra pressures many parents put themselves under, out every night after work taking their kids to sports and activities.

“All kids don’t have to go to swimming, piano, Scouts,” she said.

As for Megan, she may sometimes miss the peace and quiet of life before her two little sisters arrived on the scene, but adores them all the same – the sweet and placid Lillian and the up-andgo Natalie. She identifies with Natalie the most, she said, she’s the sporty one, like her.

She likes living in Ashburton compared to Wellington, with town facilities closer to home. So all-in-all things have worked out not too bad since that walk on Mt Peel four years ago.

6

Above – Megan has delicate hands for car grooming by day but fists of fury by night.

Right – Megan throws the left hand in a sparring session with one of the boys at the Ashburton Boxing Club.

YOU feature

YOU feature

7

Megan’s ready for the ring It takes a lot of guts to get into the ring when someone wants to knock your block off, but Megan Woolley is not scared as YOU writer JONATHAN LEASK found out. She runs her own business grooming cars by day and by night she is groomed into a fighter, the only female boxer in Ashburton awaiting her first official bout.

M

egan Woolley is unconventional. A former motocross rider, she now grooms cars by day and boxes by night.

To look at her, you would not pick it.

Megan casts an unassuming figure, not one that would suggest she is a motorbike-riding woman who enjoys punching people.

But that is exactly what she is.

Taking up boxing, she could be perceived to have a stereotypical anger issue, but again this is not the case with Megan.

“I’m not an angry person and even in the ring I sometimes have trouble.

“When I’m sparring sometimes I hit the boys wrong or a bit hard and I say ‘sorry’ then I get told off for apologising.

“But when you get hit it makes you want to respond.

“No-one likes getting hit and the point is to hit them more than they hit you.”

And how did her love of boxing begin?

“I left school at the start of Year 13 and had a gap year of sorts.

“I took up motocross fulltime but needed a job to pay for it.

“That is when I took over at a car grooming service for someone while they were on maternity leave.

“I did it for eight months until she came back and then I job hunted for a while before I started my own car grooming service.”

Having a business to run meant the motorbike went away – there was no time to go riding.

However, Woolley is not one to sit still.

“I didn’t have time for motocross anymore, but I’m the kind of person who hates not doing

something.” Wanting to keep her fitness up, she decided to train at the Ashburton Boxing Club.

“I started going just to do fitness at first but they approached me to see if I was interested in taking up boxing. I decided to give it a go and it has been something to work towards.

“I love it.

“I would rather do boxing fulltime but you have to pay the bills.” That means she has to groom cars 9-5pm during the week, but it does have more than a monetary benefit.

She is not the karate kid, but the wax-on-wax-off theory still rings true.

“It does have its benefits.

“The polishing and buffing is really good for my arms because the equipment is so heavy.”

“I’ve seen some pretty terrible cars but I get through probably two cars a day. A full groom takes about six hours with full interior and full exterior clean.”

She has always been considered an unconventional sportswoman having been a successful motocross rider and now taking up boxing. She is the only female boxer in the Ashburton Boxing Club.

“Apparently we have had a couple of women registered in the past but never a bout,” Ashburton Boxing Club’s Colin Sheehan said.

“It’s set to be a busy calendar in the Canterbury region this year so she will hopefully get in the ring at some stage, if not a few times.”

Her first fight is likely to come in March and the reality of jumping in the ring for real is already starting to kick in.

“I’m not really sure what to expect. It will be totally different from sparring.

“When you are sparring you know who you’re up against, you’re comfortable in the environment and you don’t go hard out.

“In a competitive fight it gets serious and you want to knock your opponent out and they want to do the same.”

The world of motocross demands a certain level of fearlessness, which will help her in the ring, but with someone trying to hit her back, she will have to call on all her training.

As the only female in the club, she has to spar with the boys, an intimidating prospect at first.

“I was a bit wary the first time but I just told myself not to let them beat me up and remember what I had learned.

“It’s also a good thing because I know they are more advanced than me so that makes me need to work harder.”

YOU couch potato challenge

8

Couch potatoes

stand up

Move to improve

By Amanda Niblett Goal Setting. It’s something we should all do on a regular basis, but for whatever reason, days, weeks and months tick by, and before we know it, years later we still haven’t made any progress towards our hopes and dreams.

A lot of us amble through life without any specific purpose; taking life as it comes without feeling the need to set specific targets or goals. Taking the “live life as it comes” approach often doesn’t work very well. Setting goals can help to give your life a sense of purpose and direction.

Knowing that exercise is good for you is one thing, but finding the motivation to make it part of your lifestyle is another.

The thought of exercise may be overwhelming, but slowly increasing activity by just 10 minutes a day adds up weekly and is enough to provide health benefits.

Even small increases in physical activity will enhance protection against chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes.

Setting measurable and achievable fitness goals will encourage increased daily movement. Try scheduling fitness onto your phone or calendar. Make plans to exercise during breaks with workmates or neighbours.

Even set out your exercise gear and a pedometer the evening before so it’s ready to go first thing in the morning.

Short-term goals could include walking four times for 30 minutes this week, going to two yoga classes this week or something similar that can be completed in a short time.

Your short-term goals should help you reach your long-term goals. A long-term goal should still be specific, challenging and realistic, but require more time to reach. An example of a long-term goal could be to complete a five-kilometer race in less than 30 minutes within six months. As you reach your long-term goals, set new ones, and make them more challenging.

For our Couch Potatoes, goal setting is imperative to their success. The daily goal of increasing movement.

The weekly goal of increasing distance. The monthly goal of weight-loss and the six monthly goal of being able to complete 10km.

And thus far, all of our couch potatoes have improved their fitness, and are finding day-to-day activities easier to manage. With advice and support from Rachael Rickard from Studio Fit, they are scheduling set exercise times into their day, and changing disruptive habits to ensure increased daily movement.

One person who knows all about setting goals to achieve what they originally thought unachievable is

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a contestant from our previous weight-loss challenge.

Anna Johnson started the Ashburton Guardian’s weight loss challenge one year ago, and has continued to achieve phenomenal results.

After the birth of her second child, Anna struggled with post-natal depression, and was determined to lose weight to turn her life around.

During the six months of our challenge, she lost an incredible 24kg of weight, a staggering 27% of her total body weight. She achieved this despite facing challenges, such as an injured foot and an overseas holiday to Phuket.

Since completing the challenge, she has continued to work on her fitness and has now lost more than 30kg. Last month she travelled to Wanaka to compete in a half iron-man competition, which will consist of a 2km swim, 90km bike ride and a 21km run.

We at the Ashburton Guardian congratulate Anna on her continued determination to turn her life around, and wish her all the best for any future events she participates in.

Anna’s success will surely be an inspiration to the competitors of our current Couch Potato challenge, and to our readers, who are looking at making positive changes in their own lives.

Well that time again and all I can say is I feel better than I have in a long time.

First I had a long overdue holiday to Auckland with my husband to, and we went to A day on the green at Villia Maria Winery. We watched some great bands Goodshirt, Icehouse, Hall and Oates.

While I was there I also spotted Wayne, one of the other contestants there. It was a great time and great to get away to have some fun.

I walked all over Auckland, including up and down Custom Street, which is about eight kilometres in length, and Queen Street, which is about 10 kilometres in length.

I also have been doing a fair bit of gardening over the last few weekends, digging out a fish pond, and lots of weeding which has all helped to keep me active.

I have also been carrying on with a lot of walking. My fitness is starting to benefit from all the added movement that I put into my daily routine now.

I recently found that I can get into clothes that I brought 4 years ago, which was leather pants and motorcycle jacket, that I hadn’t been able to wear until now. That was a fantastic feeling.

Time for me to keep on training.

YOU couch potato challenge

9

Jeff Withington

Geoff Laird

Well wouldn’t it be nice if there was just one month where nothing went wrong and the exercise programme could be in full swing. We took a trip up North to a family wedding but stopped over in Ohakune and Waitomo first, and planned to do bushwalks each night after dinner. This would have been unheard of four months ago. We would have arrived and crashed in front of the telly or just completely R&R’d our way through the trip.

The first night I ate some dodgy chicken and ended up with food poisoning. I was either completely horizontal or “facing South through the porcelain window” for three of the eight days we were away. So no evening bushwalks however the clean out was probably better than the detox I did prior to surgery last year.

At the time of the last article I had just completed the 7 km challenge. A week later I did it again hoping to beat my first time but it came through at an hour again.

My workout is much better at the Gym Company now, and walking to and from bowls, (approximately 2 km) now is so easy compared to how it was when I started I don’t think anything of it now.

I’ve registered for the relay for life which if I keep going as long as possible with that, will certainly put me in good stead for the 10 km challenge in a couple of months.

Since our last report I managed to complete the 7km walking challenge right after finishing an eight hour night shift. I had doubts that I would even finish this, as the greatest distance I had previously walked was approximately four kilometres.

I’m happy to say that I managed to finish in one hour and six minutes, which I was pleasantly surprised with.

I thought it would take me a lot longer.

I have been using the exercise bike at home a bit more and making an effort to go to the gym more often. I have really noticed the fitness levels improving.

The challenge now is to keep focused, as the 10km challenge target will soon be in our sights.

Wayne Rodgers

Cathie Withington

Where has the last month gone?

It doesn’t seem that long since I last had to write a diary note.

Over the last month it may not have been fantastic weather for a summer, but it has been great weather to go out for a run in.

With the cooler evenings it hasn’t been too bad to get out and do some exercise.

Some people may be shocked to hear this from me, but once you get out and start running the worst is over. I just have to ignore that little voice in my head saying “just go tomorrow”. So I just plug in the earphones turn on the sounds and go out before I change my mind.

Each week I keep challenging myself by trying to run further.

Thanks to all the people who toot and wave as they pass me out exercising, I am improving the skill of waving back.

If there's one thing I've learned doing this challenge, it's that there will always be a reason not to get moving. Injury, illness, family commitments, work commitments, death and disaster. But as John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”. So if even superstars found that things keep getting in the way, who am I to quibble?

This month there have been so many things that went wrong. And I certainly didn't get things right. When Jeff was ill I still could have gone walking in the evening. He didn't want me to go out alone, so I didn't go at all.

But my commitment to being fitter isn't about getting it right every time.

Fortunately. That commitment means that I take opportunities that present themselves and that I make other opportunities when I can. Even when I don't want to.

So I’ve signed up for the Real Women’s Duathlon on March 18th; that’s a 3.5 km walk, 10 km bike ride and 1.5 km walk. The following week I’m participating in the Relay for Life with my work colleagues. No doubt my times will be abysmal. But that’s not the point. I’m getting out there and doing it.

It’s doable. Won’t be easy, but it’s certainly doable. Fortunately.

10

YOU Kitchen renovation

advertising feature

Put the pleasure back in cooking

Before New kitchen plan in 3D

By Amanda Niblett The kitchen is the heart of a kiwi home, so Carolyn and Stuart Walkham decided to up-grade their drab brown kitchen into a radiant, modern culinary delight. /Ŷ Ă ƟŵĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ Ăƚ ŚŽŵĞ ŝƐ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ increasingly popular, having a kitchen to impress has leaped up the list in importance for many kiwi families.

Carolyn and Stuart had discussed a new kitchen for a number of months before they ƚŽŽŬ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƐƚĞƉƐ ƚŽ ƌĞŶŽǀĂƚĞ͘ ƚ ĮƌƐƚ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂĚ ŶŽ ŝĚĞĂ ǁŚĂƚ it was that they wanted, they just knew that they wanted something bright and elegant.

“It was a rainy day so Stuart didn’t have work, so we went into Mitre 10 to have a look at what they had ŽŶ ŽīĞƌ͘ tĞ ŵĞƚ :ŝůů ĂŶĚ ƐŚĞ was able to give us a lot of ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĂƟŽŶƐ͘ tĞ ůĞŌ ŝƚ in her hands, only needing to ŵĂŬĞ Ă ĨĞǁ ŵŝŶŽƌ ĂůƚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ŵĂƚĐŚ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ũƵƐƚ Ă ĨĞǁ ĚĂLJƐ ůĂƚĞƌ our plans were ready to go,” Carolyn said.

DŝƚƌĞ ϭϬ͛Ɛ ŵŽĚƵůĂƌ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶƐ ĂƌĞ Ăůů ĂďŽƵƚ ŇĞdžŝďůĞ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ͘ tŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĞdžĐŝƟŶŐ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ďĞŶĐŚ ƚŽƉ ĐŽůŽƵƌƐ͕ ŵŝdž ĂŶĚ ŵĂƚĐŚ ĚŽŽƌƐ͕ ĐĂďŝŶĞƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂŶĚůĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĞŶĚůĞƐƐ͘ Ɛ Carolyn and Stuart discovered, Mitre 10 was able to build the ŶĞǁ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ĨŽƌ Ă ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ĮŶŝƐŚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐƐ͘ “I wanted to keep the lead light cupboards that were in the old kitchen, as I love the look of the glass design, so Mitre 10 designed these to be painted to match the new cabinetry.

We also have a striking copper range hood which is hard to ĮŶĚ ŶŽǁ͕ ƐŽ ǁĞ ŬĞƉƚ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƐ Ă ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŶĞǁ ĂŶĚ ŽůĚ ŚĂƐ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌŶ

LJĞƚ ƌƵƐƟĐ ůŽŽŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ůŽŽŬƐ ĨĂďƵůŽƵƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ŽƵƌ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ďƌŝĐŬ serving arch.

“The light colours of the cabinetry have made our kitchen space appear bigger and brighter. On an overcast day, when we had the old brown kitchen we had to have the lights on, even in the middle of the day, but now, even on an overcast day, ƚŚĞ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůŝŐŚƚ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵůůLJ͕ ƐŽ ŝƚ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ radiant,” Carolyn said.

The kitchen was completed in October 2010, yet more than Ă LJĞĂƌ ůĂƚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚͲƚŽƉ ƐƟůů New kitchen looks shiny and fabulous.

“Stuart chose the bench-top, ǁĞ ƵƐƵĂůůLJ ŚĂǀĞ ƋƵŝƚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ tastes but this I was delighted we agreed upon.

“The features I love in our new kitchen is the blue splashback, I think it looks lovely against our sage green walls, and the wine rack.

“It’s nice to enjoy being in the kitchen again. I like to have baking ready for lunches, and ŝƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ an area that is a joy to be in,” Carolyn said.

The process was stress-free, and Carolyn would happily recommend Mitre 10 to anyone considering a new kitchen.

“Mitre 10 was brilliant to deal with helpful, friendly and ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďůĞ ƐƚĂī͘ dŚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞƐͲƉĞŽƉůĞ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶƐƚĂůů ƚŚĞ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ ǁĞƌĞ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ĂůƐŽ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ I have already recommended them to friends of ours who are talking about a new kitchen. We constantly receive nice comments from our guests about how lovely the new kitchen looks.”

If you have been dreaming of a new kitchen, whether you’re ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶ͕ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ Žƌ ĂƌĞ ƌĞĂĚLJ ƚŽ ƐƚĂƌƚ͕ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞ helpful team at Mitre 10 to begin turning your dream into a reality.

FREE IN-HOME

CONSULTATIONS Looking for a stylish new kitchen especially designed for your needs at a price you can afford? Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton can design your dream kitchen.

Kitchen consulting Bathroom & renovation consulting

3DLQWLQJ Á RRULQJ consulting

Gardening consulting

Lighting consulting

Thinking of renovating your bathroom?

Need help ZLWK Á RRULQJ and colours?

Get the right plants for your section!

Time to update your lights?

Phone today and talk to Debbie our paint specialist about decorating.

Phone today and talk to Jane for advice.

Phone today and talk to Carol our lighting specialist.

Phone today and talk to Rob our plumbing & bathroom specialist.

Is it time for a new kitchen?

To help you see your dream kitchen in perfect 3D colour simply bring your plan and measurements into your local Mitre 10 store for a free consultation.

Phone Jill at Mitre 10 Mega to arrange your FREE in-home kitchen consultation and you will be able to show off your culinary skills in your new kitchen soon.

Our specialist consultants can come to your house to help you make the best choices.

Ashburton 81 West Street Phone: 308 5119

Opening Hours Monday - Friday: 7.00am - 6:00pm Saturday: 8.00am - 6.00pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 8.00am - 5.00pm HOME IMPROVEMENT WAREHOUSE

YOUR Fashion Forward

11

Making YOU feel good, inside and out.

IT’S PARTY DRESS SEASON

Get the look you desire from Sparrows.

dŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ďƵƩĞƌŇLJ͛Ɛ ŚŽƩĞƐƚ ƐƉŽƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌ͘ ŽĐŬƚĂŝů ƉĂƌƟĞƐ͕ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ Y͛Ɛ͕ ǁĞĚĚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ďĂĐŚĞůŽƌĞƩĞ ƉĂƌƟĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ďƵƐLJ ƐŽĐŝĂů ƟŵĞ ƐĞƚƐ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ LJĞĂƌ Žī ǁŝƚŚ Ă ďĂŶŐ͕ ďƵƚ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ƐŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ĂŌĞƌ ŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐ ĂŶĚ EĞǁ zĞĂƌ ĨĞƐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ ƉĂƌƚLJ ĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚ ĂƉƉĞĂƌĂŶĐĞƐ͘ &Žƌ Ă ŶĞǁ ƐƉůĂƐŚ ŽĨ ĐŽůŽƵƌ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ƐĞdžLJ ƐƉĂƌŬůĞ ĂŶĚ ŇŝƌƚĂƟŽƵƐ ĨƌŝůůƐ͕ ^ƉĂƌƌŽǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĨƵŶ ĂŶĚ ĂīŽƌĚĂďůĞ ĨƌŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ LJŽƵ ƚŚĞ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƚLJ͘

Tip: Accessories can transform a dress from snore to sensation.

Mix and match chunky necklaces and wide belts to give your dress new life.

Get the Look!

Available from Sparrowss Ashburton $69.90

Available from Sparrows Ashburton $69.90

Conditions Apply

East Street, Ashburton | Phone 308 5771

Available from Sparrows Ashburton $89.90

Available from Sparrows Ashburton $69.90

House

12

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YOU lifestyle

The perfect paradise ƐƉĂĐŝŽƵƐ͘ WůĂŶƚĞƌ ďŽdžĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽůŽƵƌĨƵů ĐŽŵƉĂĐƚ ŐĂƌĚĞŶƐ ĂĚĚ Ă ƐƉůĂƐŚ ŽĨ ĐŽůŽƵƌ͕ LJĞƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ŵŝŶŝŵĂů ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĞƚŚ͘ ͞/ƚ ƚĂŬĞƐ ŵĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ϮϬ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ƚŽ ŵŽǁ ƚŚĞ ůĂǁŶ ĂŶĚ ǁĞĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂƌĚĞŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ũƵƐƚ ĨĂŶƚĂƐƟĐ͘ >ĞƐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ / ďŽƚŚ ǁŽƌŬ ĨƵůůͲƟŵĞ͕ ƐŽ ƐƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ůĞƐƐ ƟŵĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ LJĂƌĚ

By Amanda Niblett ŵĞĂŶƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƟŵĞ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕͟ ĞƚŚ ƐĂŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ĞdžƚĞƌŝŽƌ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ Ă ŵƵůƟͲĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚ ƌĞĂƟŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ƐůŝĐĞ ŽĨ ŚĞĂǀĞŶ ĐůŽƐĞ ďƌŝĐŬ͕ ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŽǁŶ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ĞĂƐLJ͕ ĐŽŵŵŽŶůLJ ƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĞdžƚĞƌŝŽƌƐ͘ ďƵƚ ĂŌĞƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨŽƵƌƚŚ ŚŽƵƐĞ ͞tĞ ĐŚŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ďƌŝĐŬƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ďƵŝůƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ ĞƚŚ ĂŶĚ >ĞƐƚĞƌ DĐ>ĞĂŶ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĂƉƉĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ͘ /ƚ ŚĂƐ Ă ŚĂǀĞ ŵĞƌŐĞĚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƵƌďĂŶ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐƉůĂƐŚ ŽĨ ŐƌĞLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞ ŵĂƚĐŚĞĚ ƚŽ ůŝŶĞĂƌ ƐĞƌĞŶĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘ ďŽĂƌĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚĞƌŝŽƌ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƐƟŶŐ ƚĞdžƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐƵĂů ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ďƌĞĂŬŝŶŐ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ƵƉŽŶ Ă ĐŽƌŶĞƌ ƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŚĂƐ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ĞƚŚ ĂŶĚ >ĞƐƚĞƌ Ă ǀŝĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƉĂŶƐ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ĐŽůŽƵƌ͕͟ >ĞƐƚĞƌ ƐĂŝĚ dŚĞ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ ƐƚĂƌƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƉĂƐƚ ƚƌĞĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ Ă ŐƌĞĞŶ ĮĞůĚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽ ƐŚĞůƚĞƌĞĚ Y ƐƉĂĐĞ͕ ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĞĚ ĐŚĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ďƵŝůĚ ďLJ ĞdžƉŽƐĞĚ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ ĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞ͕ ĐƵƚ ƚŽ ŝŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƉŽŝů ƚŚĞŝƌ ǀŝĞǁ͘ dŚŝƐ ůŽŽŬ ůŝŬĞ ůĂƌŐĞ ƉĂǀĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂĚĚ ƚĞdžƚƵƌĞ ƉĂŶŽƌĂŵĂ ŝƐ ŽŌĞŶ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ǁŚĞŶ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƉƚŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ dŚĞ Y ǁĂƐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŽǁŶ͘ Ă ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ĞƚŚ ƚŽ dŚĞ ƐĞĐƟŽŶ ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ ĐŽŵƉĂĐƚ Ăƚ ĮƌƐƚ >ĞƐƚĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƉƌŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƉůĂĐĞ ďĞƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŐůĂŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͕ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ĨƵƌŶŝƚƵƌĞ͕ ƐĞƫŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐĐĞŶĞ ĨŽƌ ďƵƚ ŽŶĐĞ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůƵƐŚ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ͘ ŐƌĂƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƐLJͲĐĂƌĞ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƐƉĂĐĞ dŚĞ ƐĞĐƟŽŶ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞƐ ĂůůͲĚĂLJ ƐƵŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƐ ǀŝďƌĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂƌŵŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůLJ

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR BETH AND LESTER

dŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĐŽĂů ŐƌĞLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶĞĂƌ ďŽĂƌĚ ŝƐ ƌĞŇĞĐƚĞĚ ĚĞůŝĐĂƚĞůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ exterior brick colour. The grounds are lush, featuring splashes of vibrant colour while remaining easy to maintain.

BEAUTIFY YOUR BATHROOM INSPIRING BATHROOM STYLE

A new bathroom is one of the best, and with our help, one of the easiest improvements you can make to your home. Whether you’re starting from scratch or renovating, a well designed bathroom built with quality materials and stylish fittings can add convenience, comfort and value.

SHOWERS - KNOW HOW TIP

Choose the biggest shower you have room for.

By choosing an angled shower, you may be able to fit in a larger size without interrupting the flow of the room.

If you have very tall people in your household, look for a shower option with ‘over height’ walls. Moulded liners are easy to clean and give you somewhere to put all your bottles, etc.

BATHROOM MIRRORS KNOW HOW TIP

A good mirror is essential for any bathroom, not only for practical reasons but because it creates an illusion of space in what is often a very small room. By installing a mirror demister you will save yourself the time and hassle of trying to clear steam away before you can use it.

115 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton - Ph 308 9099 TOGETHER, WE’RE BUILDING NEW ZEALAND one job at a time

Pleased to be main contractor and project manager on the McLean home.

No 104634

Renovations Alterations New Housing Bathrooms Free quotes See Ivan Moore Construction for a complete professional job. Ivan takes care of the entire project, meaning you don’t have to deal with numerous tradespeople.

For a complete, quality job call Ivan Moore Construction.

Ph/Fax (03) 308 9908 Mobile 0274 150 471

YOU lifestyle

House

13

advertising feature

The perfect paradise

The outdoor entertainment area captures all-day sun, while remaining sheltered from the wind. The exposed aggregate concrete adds texture and contrasts against the dark stain of the furniture.

remaining hidden from the wind, Ä?ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ć&#x;ĹśĹ? ƚŚĞ Ć‰ÄžĆŒÄ¨ÄžÄ?Ćš ĆŒÄžĹŻÄ‚Ç†Ä‚Ć&#x;ŽŜ ĚĞĆ?Ć&#x;ŜĂĆ&#x;ŽŜ Ä‚ĹŒÄžĆŒ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ ĂŜĚ ŽŜ Ç ÄžÄžĹŹÄžĹśÄšĆ?͘ /ĹśÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ĺ˝ĆľĆšÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ĺ‡Ĺ˝Ç Ĺ?Ć? Ä‚Ä?ĹšĹ?ĞǀĞĚ Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ĹŻÄ‚ĆŒĹ?Äž ĨŽůĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒĆ? ŽƉĞŜĹ?ĹśĹ? ƾƉ Ä¨ĆŒĹ˝Ĺľ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞŜ ƉůĂŜ ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ ĂŜĚ ÄšĹ?ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚ĆŒÄžÄ‚Í• ÄšĹ?ĆŒÄžÄ?ƚůLJ Ĺ?ŜƚŽ ƚŚĞ Ĺ˝ĆľĆšÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒ ÄžĹśĆšÄžĆŒĆšÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚ĆŒÄžÄ‚Í˜ dĹšĹ?Ć? ŚĂĆ? Ä‚ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ç ÄžÄš ƚŚĞ Ć?ƉĂÄ?Ĺ?ŽƾĆ? ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ ƚŽ Ä?ÄžÄ?ŽžĞ ƚŚĞ Ä?ÄžĹśĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹŻ Ć?Ĺ˝Ä?Ĺ?Ä‚ĹŻ ŚƾÄ? ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽžĞ͕ Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ Ĺ?ƾĞĆ?ĆšĆ? Ä¨ĆŒÄžÄžĹŻÇ‡ žŽǀĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä¨ĆŒĹ˝Ĺľ ƚŚĞ ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Ĺ˝ĆľĆšÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒĆ?͘ dŚĞ Ĺ?ĹśĆšÄžĆŒĹ?Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ä¨ÄžÄ‚ĆšĆľĆŒÄžĆ? ĹľĹ˝ÄšÄžĆŒĹśÍ• Ä?ĆŒĹ?Ć?Ɖ ĹŻĹ?ŜĞĆ?Í• Ä‚ÄšĹ˝ĆŒĹśÄžÄš Ĺ?Ĺś ƉůƾĆ?Ĺš Ä¨ĆľĆŒĹśĹ?Ć?ĹšĹ?ĹśĹ?Ć?͘ ĹŻÄ‚Ä?ĹŹÍ• Ć?Ĺ?ĹŻÇ€ÄžĆŒ ĂŜĚ Ć?ƉůĂĆ?ŚĞĆ? ŽĨ ƉĂĆ?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜĂƚĞ ĆŒÄžÄš Ä‚ĆŒÄž a theme dominant throughout the home, žĂŏĹ?ĹśĹ? ÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒÇ‡ ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ˝Ĺľ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƾĆ?Äž ĨĞĞů ĞůĞĹ?ĂŜƚ ĂŜĚ ĆšĆŒÄžĹśÄšÇ‡Í˜ dŚĞ ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ Ĺ?Ć? Ć?ƉĂÄ?Ĺ?ŽƾĆ?Í• Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ĂžƉůĞ Ć?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?Äž ƚŽ ŏĞĞƉ ÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒÇ‡ĆšĹšĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚Ćš Ä‚ĆŒĹľĆ? ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ä?Ś͕ ĹŠĆľĆ?Ćš Ç ĹšÄ‚Ćš ÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒÇ‡ Ĺ?ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ćš Ä?ŽŽŏ ĚĞĆ?Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĆ?͘ /Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŜĹ?ĹśĹ? > ĹŻĹ?Ĺ?ŚƚĆ? ĹŻĹ?ŜĞ ƚŚĞ ĆľĹśÄšÄžĆŒĹśÄžÄ‚ĆšĹš ĆšĆŒĹ?Ĺľ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ä?ĆŒÄžÄ‚ĹŹÄ¨Ä‚Ć?Ćš Ä?Ä‚ĆŒÍ• ĂŜĚ ĂůŽŜĹ? ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ä?ĹšÄ‚ĆŒÄ?ŽĂů Ĺ?ĆŒÄžÇ‡ Ć?ƉůĂĆ?ŚͲ Ä?Ä‚Ä?ĹŹÍ• ĂĚĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ĂƚžŽĆ?Ć‰ĹšÄžĆŒÄž ƚŽ ĹśĹ?Ĺ?Śƚ Ć&#x;žĞ ÄžĹśĆšÄžĆŒĆšÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ?͘ dĹ˝ Ć?ÄžĆ‰Ä‚ĆŒÄ‚ĆšÄž ƚŚĞ ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ Ä¨ĆŒĹ˝Ĺľ ƚŚĞ ůŽƾŜĹ?Ğ͕ Ä‚ Ä?ĹŻÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒ ĹšĹ?ÄšÄžÍ˛Ä‚Ç Ä‚Ç‡ ŽĸÄ?Äž ĂŜĚ Ä‚ĆŒĆš Ć?ƚĂĆ&#x;ŽŜ ŚĂĆ? Ä?ĞĞŜ Ä?ĆľĹ?ĹŻĆšÍ˜

ÍžtÄž Ä?Ä‚Ĺś Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ Ĺ?Ĺś Ĺ˝ĆľĆŒ ŽĸÄ?Äž Ç ĹšĹ?ĹŻÄž Ć?Ć&#x;ĹŻĹŻ ĆŒÄžĹľÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä?ÄžĹśĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹŻ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĹŻĹ?Ç€Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ć?Í• Ć?Ĺ˝ Ç Äž Ä‚ĆŒÄžĹśÍ›Ćš Ć?Śƾƚ Ä‚Ç Ä‚Ç‡ Ĺ?Ĺś Ä‚ ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ˝Ĺľ ÄšĹ˝Ç Ĺś ƚŚĞ Ĺ˝ĆšĹšÄžĆŒ ĞŜĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƾĆ?Ğ͘ tŚĞŜ Ç Äž Ä?ĹŻĹ˝Ć?Äž ƾƉ ƚŚĞ ÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒĆ?Í• LJŽƾ Ç Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄšĹśÍ›Ćš ĞǀĞŜ ŜŽĆ&#x;Ä?Äž ƚŚĂƚ Ĺ?Ćš Ç Ä‚Ć? Ć‰Ä‚ĆŒĆš ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĹŹĹ?ĆšÄ?ŚĞŜ͕Í&#x; >ÄžĆ?ĆšÄžĆŒ Ć?Ä‚Ĺ?Ě͘ dŚĞ ůŽƾŜĹ?Äž Ĺ?Ć? Ä‚ Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľÄ¨Ĺ˝ĆŒĆšÄ‚Ä?ĹŻÄž ĆŒÄžĆšĆŒÄžÄ‚Ćš Ĺ˝ÄŤÄžĆŒĹ?ĹśĹ? Ć‰ĆŒĹ?ǀĂÄ?LJ ĂŜĚ ĆŒÄžĹŻÄ‚Ç†Ä‚Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśÍ˜ Ĺś ĞůĞÄ?ĆšĆŒĹ˝ĹśĹ?Ä? ÄŽĆŒÄž ĂŜĚ žĂŜƚĞůƉĹ?ÄžÄ?Äž Ç Ä‚Ć? Ä?ĆľĹ?ĹŻĆš Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŽ ĂĚĚ ĂƚžŽĆ?Ć‰ĹšÄžĆŒÄžÍ˜ ŚĞĂƚ ƉƾžƉ ĂŜĚ Ĩƾůů s^ ƾŜĹ?Ćš Ĺ?Ć? Ĺ?ĹśĆ?ƚĂůůĞĚ͕ Ć?Ĺ˝ ƚŚĞ ÄŽĆŒÄžĆ‰ĹŻÄ‚Ä?Äž Ĺ?Ć? ĆŒÄ‚ĆŒÄžĹŻÇ‡ ĆľĆ?ĞĚ Ä‚Ć? Ä‚ ŚĞĂĆ&#x;ĹśĹ? Ć?Ĺ˝ĆľĆŒÄ?Ğ͘ ĞƚŚ Ĺ?Ć? Ä‚ ĹŻĹ˝Ç€ÄžĆŒ ŽĨ ĹšĆŒĹ?Ć?ƚžĂĆ?Í• ĂŜĚ Ĺ?Ĺś Ć‰Ä‚ĆŒĆ&#x;Ä?ĆľĹŻÄ‚ĆŒ ĹšĆŒĹ?Ć?ƚžĂĆ? ĚĞÄ?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ć&#x;ĹśĹ?͘ dŚĞ ŚŽžĞ Ĺ?Ć? Ĺ˝ĹŒÄžĹś ĆŒÄžÄ¨ÄžĆŒĆŒÄžÄš ƚŽ Ä‚Ć? ^ĂŜƚĂ͛Ć? ĂǀĞ ÄšĆľĆŒĹ?ĹśĹ? ÄžÄ?ĞžÄ?ÄžĆŒÍ• ĂŜĚ žĂŜLJ Ä¨ĆŒĹ?ĞŜĚĆ? ĂŜĚ ĨĂžĹ?ůLJ ĆšĹ˝ĆľĆŒ ƚŚĞ ŚŽžĞ ƚŽ Ć?ŽĂŏ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĨĞĆ?Ć&#x;ǀĞ ĂƚžŽĆ?Ć‰ĹšÄžĆŒÄžÍ˜ dŚĞ ÄŽĆŒÄžĆ‰ĹŻÄ‚Ä?Äž ĂŜĚ žĂŜƚůĞ Ĺ?Ć? Ä‚Ĺś ÄžĆ?Ć?ĞŜĆ&#x;Ä‚ĹŻ Ä?ÄžĹśĆšĆŒÄžĆ‰Ĺ?ÄžÄ?Äž Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ ƚŚĞ ĚĞÄ?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ć&#x;ĹśĹ? ƚŽ Ä?ŽžžĞŜÄ?Äž Ä¨ĆŒĹ˝ĹľÍ˜ >ĆľÄ?ĹŹĹ?ůLJ ƚŚĞ Ĺ?Ä‚ĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?Äž Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ Ĺ?ĹśĆšÄžĆŒĹśÄ‚ĹŻ Ä‚Ä?Ä?ÄžĆ?Ć? ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŽžĞ ŚĂĆ? ĂžƉůĞ Ć?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?Äž Ä?ĆľĹ?ůƚͲĹ?Ŝ͕ ƚŽ Ć?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÄž ƚŚĞ ĚĞÄ?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ć&#x;ŽŜĆ? ĆšĹšĆŒĹ˝ĆľĹ?ŚŽƾƚ ƚŚĞ ĆŒÄžĆ?Ćš ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ç‡ÄžÄ‚ĆŒÍ˜ ÄžĆ?ƉĹ?ƚĞ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? ĨƾůůͲĆ&#x;žĞ͕ ĞƚŚ ŚĂĆ? Ä‚ ƉĂĆ?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ä‚ĆŒĆšĆ? ĂŜĚ Ä?ĆŒÄ‚ĹŒĆ?Í• ĂůƚŚŽƾĹ?Ĺš Ĺ?Ĩ LJŽƾ Ä‚Ć?ŏĞĚ ĹšÄžĆŒ Ć?ŚĞ Ç Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄš ĚĞŜLJ ĂŜLJ ĆšÄ‚ĹŻÄžĹśĆšÍ˜

When quality counts, you need the right person for your home decorating.

Available for professional painting and wallpapering of home interiors.

45 years professional experience in the Ashburton District.

PIONEERING THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED GARAGE DOORS SYSTEMS Produced here in New Zealand, DominatorŽ have a complete range of custom-made garage door systems and accessories for residential and industrial environments, including sectional, roller and cedar garage doors, and automatic openers.

Call today to arrange your free appraisal, or visit us online at www.dominator.co.nz for further examples and information.

Call now for a free quote Graeme W Pitt Painter & Decorator Telephone 03 308 3914 or Mobile 027 297 5000

Beth and Lester McLean have built three new homes and chose the same painter and decorator every time!

The team at Skip-2-it can show you what a little bit of time and effort with the vinyl tiles can give your own little masterpiece!

The advantages

Would you like of vinyl tiles: to have the perfect ¡ Variety of tiles, stone, slate and wood looks à RRULQJ LQ \RXU ¡ Easy to clean and to for NLWFKHQ EDWKURRP" ¡care Soft and warm feel +DYH \RX WKRXJKW RI underfoot ¡ Durable YLQ\O WLOHV"

SUPERIOR STYLE, FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF BUILD AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH YOUR DOMINATOR ÂŽ DISTRIBUTOR

Cnr South and Cass Streets, Ashburton.

Phone 308-5560 Mobile 027-433-6050 Proud to be the chosen garage door provider for Beth and Lester McLean

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SKIP-2-IT TM

240 Burnett Street, Ashburton Phone 308 0266

House

14

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The perfect paradise

dŚĞ ŚŽŵĞ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJƐ ĐŚŝĐ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ůŝŐŚƟŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ĐĂƐƟŶŐ ƐŽŌ ŝůůƵŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ͘ ůĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ŝƐ ƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶĂƚĞ ƌĞĚ ďƵƌƐƟŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ Ă ďŽůĚ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ͘ ĞƚŚ͛Ɛ ĂƌƚǁŽƌŬ ĂĚĚƐ ĨƵŶŬ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ŝŶ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƌŽŽŵ͘ Throughout the home the walls are adorned by the unique and funky designs that she has created. In the master ďĞĚƌŽŽŵ Ă ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ ƉŝĞĐĞ ŽĨ Ăƌƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ŽƵƚ ŝƐ Ă ϯͲ ĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƐŵĂůů black polystyrene balls have been used to create music notes, set amongst a deep-set frame where old music paper has been used as a background. Even the bedspread she made by hand from ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ǁŚĞŶ ƐŚĞ ĐŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ĮŶĚ a cover that suited the look she was hoping to accomplish for the room.

KŶĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŚŽŵĞ ŝƐ that Beth and Lester designed and built to suit what they wanted. It wasn’t built with anyone else in mind or re-sale value in mind, every feature was what they

ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƌĞŇĞĐƚĞĚ in the wider than normal hallway, and in ƚŚĞ ďĂƚŚƌŽŽŵ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ͘ The main bathroom which is normally only used by guests is in fact the smaller ďĂƚŚƌŽŽŵ͘ dŚĞ ĞŶͲƐƵŝƚĞ ĂƩĂĐŚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ master bedroom is the larger bathroom, with his and her basins and a deep bath tub.

They used to great advantage their life experience to create their unique dream home. Beth works in the building industry, while Lester had previously been a real estate agent, so their ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂŌĞƌ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ ŵĂŶLJ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ ǁĂƐ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ space that they wanted to spend their ƟŵĞ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ͘

͞tĞ ĐŚŽƐĞ /ǀĂŶ DŽŽƌĞ ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ because he was able to complete ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞͲĨƌĂŵĞ ǁĞ ŚĂĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ factor for us.

“We had the permit in February and by the end of November we were in with everything complete. The process was very smooth and stress-free,” Beth said. ŌĞƌ ĨŽƵƌ ŚŽƵƐĞͲďƵŝůĚƐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞLJ have learnt a few things along the way ĂŶĚ ŚĂƉƉŝůLJ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ ĨŽƌ ĮƌƐƚͲ ƟŵĞ ďƵŝůĚĞƌƐ͘ “The most important factor is to set LJŽƵƌ ďƵĚŐĞƚ ĂŶĚ ƐƟĐŬ ƚŽ ŝƚ͘ ŽŶ͛ƚ ŐĞƚ swept up in the romance of details by trying to up-grade everything you see. dŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ĂůǁĂLJƐ ďĞ Ă ŶŝĐĞƌ ƚĂƉ ĮƫŶŐ͕ Žƌ

Another quality Paveco project

Renovating your kitchen?

Commercial or domestic, our services are: $GYLFH $OWHUDWLRQV %XLOGLQJ 'HVLJQ 5HQRYDWLQJ

Contact Tony Worsfold today to get the right advice for your new driveway or patio

Proud installers of the driveway and the courtyard 51 Robinson Street, Industrial Estate, Ashburton Ph 307-6466 or 0274-508-191 www.paveco.co.nz

shower head, or cupboard handle, but as long as you are choosing a nice looking ŝƚĞŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ŐŽŽĚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ƐƟĐŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƉƟŽŶ͘ WŝĐŬŝŶŐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĞůƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƚǁŝĐĞ ĂƐ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ǁŝůů ŽŌĞŶ ŶŽƚ ŵĂŬĞ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ůŽŽŬ͕ or even the re-sale value. ͞tŚĞŶ LJŽƵ ĮŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ both like, then stop looking, as there will always be something else that strikes your fancy in the next shop, and the next ƐŚŽƉ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƐŵĂůů ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƟůĞƐ͕ ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶƐ͕ ĐĂƌƉĞƚƐ͕ ǁĂůůƉĂƉĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ on will end up becoming issues rather than purchases to be happy with. When Beth and I came across something that we both liked, we stopped looking and moved on to the next item,” Lester said.

Anderson Joinery

Members of the New Zealand Joiners Federation (Master Joiners)

Phone/Fax 308 2988 117 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton

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Time for Diamonds Panache Hair Studio Allenton Florist Unique Jewellery Madison Hair Studio ^ŚŽƉ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ ϰƚŚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ ϭϭƚŚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚƌĂǁ͘ tŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚƌĂǁŶ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ 'ƵĂƌĚŝĂŶ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ϭϯƚŚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ͘ tŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŶŽƟĮĞĚ ŽŶ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞƐ ĂLJ ʹ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ϭϰƚŚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ͘ tŝŶŶĞƌ ŵĂLJ ďĞ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƉƌŽŵŽƟŽŶĂů ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ŝŶ Ă ĐŽƉLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ 'ƵĂƌĚŝĂŶ͘

PRIZES

ͻ WŝŶŬ ĐƵďŝĐ njŝƌĐŽŶŝĂ ĞĂƌƌŝŶŐƐ Ͳ dŝŵĞ ĨŽƌ ŝĂŵŽŶĚƐ ͻ >ŽƌĞĂů WƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ŚĂŝƌ ĚƌLJĞƌ Ͳ WĂŶĂĐŚĞ ͻ Ψϯϱ ŐŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŐŝŌ ǀŽƵĐŚĞƌ Ͳ DĂĚŝƐŽŶ ,Ăŝƌ ^ƚƵĚŝŽ ͻ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ Ͳ ůůĞŶƚŽŶ &ůŽƌŝƐƚ ͻ ^ƟƌůŝŶŐ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ƐƚƵĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ũĞƚ ĐƵďŝĐ njŝƌĐŽŶŝĂ ŚĞĂƌƚ͘ Ͳ hŶŝƋƵĞ :ĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ ͻ ĂŶĚ Ă ĨĞǁ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞƐ͘​͘​͘

Valentines Day Offer!

Are you looking for the perfect Valentines day gift for your sweetheart?

Whatever the occasion...

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Flowers are that special gift that women love but don’t receive often enough.

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Purchase a gift voucher before February 14th and go in the draw to win a voucher to the same value AND Use your loyalty card and go in the draw to win return flights and 5 nights stay in Fiji for 1.

AND Spend $130 in one visit at Panache Hair Studio and receive a $20.00 voucher to spend at Robbies bar & Bistro.

Surprise her this Valentines’ Day ZLWK ÁRZHUV IURP $OOHQWRQ )ORULVW

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When it’s time for romance, it’s Time for Diamonds Stainless Steel Men’s Bracelet Was $149

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Sterling Silver Bangle Was $125 9ct Gold and Diamond Ring Was $499

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Check us out on Facebook to be informed of up-coming sales!

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Madison Hair Studio Open 6 days with 3 late nights - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Saturday 9am - 2pm. Late night by appointment only. P | 308 3486

16

Girls on Bikes

YOU lifestyle

advertising feature

Pushing the pedals – girl style!

By Amanda Niblett Grab your mum, daughter, best friend or neighbour and enter the third Braziers Girls on Bikes road cycling race, just for women! Methven is gripping itself to handle an invasion of more than 800 nervous and excited bike-crazy ladies, descending on the alpine town for a day of ĮƚŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ friendship.

Sorry fellas but this is a girl’s weekend of fun, frivolity and cycling but by all means come along and support your gal, wife, partner, friend or daughter as they take on the challenge of either the 37km or 76km circuit.

Even if you aren’t familiar ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ĐLJĐůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ circuits are ideal as an intro ƚŽ ŵĂƐƐ ĐLJĐůĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ 150m of climbing on the short course and not much more on the long course. Compared to many other New Zealand road cycling events, this course ŝƐ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉƌĞƩLJ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ŵŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐ ŽŶ the course are the ones you get to look at, which are the stunning Southern Alps that ĨƌĂŵĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƚǁŽ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů courses. dŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĐĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ for every level of women’s cycling from the absolute beginner with the shorter ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ warrior princesses for either course to the fast-paced ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ cyclists.

So that means there are ŚĞĂƉƐ ŽĨ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŐĞ group categories for both distances plus A, B, C and D grade categories for the long course. If you are entering in A, B, C or D grade, you must ďĞ Ă ŝŬĞ E ĂĸůŝĂƚĞĚ ƌŝĚĞƌ͕ but if you’re not, there’s nothing stopping you from ĞŶƚĞƌŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů rider.

Entries have been ŇLJŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ the country, as more and more women are

taking to the road to build ƚŚĞŝƌ ĮƚŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ͕ but it’s not too late to enter.

On-line entries close at 10am ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ϭϰƚŚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ďƵƚ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĞŶƚĞƌ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƵƉ ƵŶƟů ϵĂŵ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ďLJ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ Ă ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ǀĞŶƵĞ͘ ĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ϯϳŬŵ ŽƵƌƐĞ dŚŝƐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƚĂƌƚƐ ƌŝŐŚƚ out in front of the Methven Resort on Main Street and riders will head due north through the township and then into the Mount ,ƵƩ ^ƚĂƟŽŶ ZĚ͘ ŌĞƌ approximately 12 kilometres ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ŽŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd and ƌŝĚĞ ŝŶ Ă ƐŽƵƚŚĞƌůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ along this road. At the 21km ŵĂƌŬ ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ŝŶƚŽ Pudding Hill Rd and ride in ĂŶ ĞĂƐƚĞƌůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ͘ &ƌŽŵ Pudding Hill Rd riders will take an ever so slight right hand turn into Dip Road. Riders ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ Ă ůĞŌ ŚĂŶĚ ƚƵƌŶ ŝŶƚŽ Reynolds Rd that then runs naturally into Ledgerwood ZĚ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ledgerwood Rd and SH ϳϳ ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂĚ ĚƵĞ ŶŽƌƚŚ ƚŽ ĮŶŝƐŚ back outside the Methven resort having completed approximately 37km of riding their bikes. ĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ϳϲŬŵ ŽƵƌƐĞ dŚŝƐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĂůƐŽ ƐƚĂƌƚƐ ŝŶ front of the Methven Resort and riders will ride through the centre of town in a ŶŽƌƚŚĞƌůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ϯŬŵ ŵĂƌŬ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ŝŶƚŽ tĂŝŵĂƌĂŵĂ ZĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ƚĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ĚƵĞ ǁĞƐƚ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞLJ Śŝƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ

ASHBURTON

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arts P 4 / 3 orts h S s acket J s ’ y ries o s s e Jerse c s & Ac e s s a l G

FREE BIKE SERVICE CHECK FOR GIRLS ON BIKES.

Womens Avanti and Scott bikes

Come and talk to the team at Avanti Plus

Ashburton Cycles 28 Moore Street (Mitre 10 Mega Complex) Phone 308 2668

Girls on Bikes

YOU lifestyle

17

advertising feature

Pushing the pedals – girl style!

Waimarama Rd and Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd. ZŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ŝŶƚŽ ƌƵŶĚĞů ZĂŬĂŝĂ 'ŽƌŐĞ ZĚ travelling due south and stay on this stretch of ƌŽĂĚ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ϰϰŬŵ ŵĂƌŬ͘ dŚĞ ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞŶ ƚƵƌŶ ŚĂƌĚ ůĞŌ ŝŶƚŽ DĂLJĮĞůĚ sĂůĞƩĂ ZĚ ŝŶ Ă ŶŽƌƚŚ ĞĂƐƚĞƌůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞŶ ƌƵŶƐ ŶĂƚƵƌĂůůLJ ŝŶƚŽ dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶƐ dƌĂĐŬ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶƐ dƌĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DĞƚŚǀĞŶ ,ŝŐŚǁĂLJ ;ϲϰ͘ϱŬŵ ŵĂƌŬͿ ƌŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ƚƵƌŶ ůĞŌ ŽŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ DĞƚŚǀĞŶ ,ŝŐŚǁĂLJ ĂŶĚ ƌŝĚĞ ĚƵĞ ŶŽƌƚŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĮŶŝƐŚ ůŝŶĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ DĞƚŚǀĞŶ ZĞƐŽƌƚ͘ /ƚ Ăůů ƐƚĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĮŶŝƐŚĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂďƵůŽƵƐ DĞƚŚǀĞŶ ZĞƐŽƌƚ͕ ƐŽ ĂŌĞƌ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ Ɛŝƚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŽů ĂŶĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŝŶ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĨƵŶ ĂŶĚ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŵĞŶƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ƉƌŝnjĞͲ

ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚLJ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ĨĂŶƚĂƐƟĐ ďƵŶĚůĞ ŽĨ ƉƌŝnjĞƐ ƵƉ ĨŽƌ ŐƌĂďƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂĐĞ ƉĂĐŬƐ ĂƌĞ ůŽĂĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĨƌĞĞ ŐŽŽĚŝĞƐ͕ ƐŽ LJŽƵ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƐĐŽƌĞ ƐŽŵĞ ĨĂďƵůŽƵƐ ƚƌĞĂƚƐ͘ dŚĞ 'ŝƌůƐ ŽŶ ŝŬĞƐ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ŚĂƐ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ LJŽƵ ǁŝůů ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ĞŶƚĞƌ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶͲůŝŶĞ ĞŶƚƌLJ ĨŽƌŵ͕ ĐŽƐƚƐ ŽĨ ĞŶƚƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƟŵĞƐ͘ zŽƵ ǁŝůů ĂůƐŽ ĮŶĚ ǀĞƌLJ ƵƐĞĨƵů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƌŝĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ďƵŶĐŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŶƵƚƌŝƟŽŶ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ͕ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌůLJ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͘ WƌĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŬĞLJ ƚŽ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ͕ ƐŽ ŐĞƚ LJŽƵƌ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ͕ ƚĂŬĞ ƉůĞŶƚLJ ŽĨ ǁĂƚĞƌ and have fun!

EVENT: Girls on Bikes LOCATION: Methven, Saturday 18th February Visit on-line for entry details: www.girlsonbikes.co.nz For Entries after the 14th of February Thursday 16th: 5pm - 9pm at Brazier Properties Offices, 838 Columbo Street, Christchurch Friday 17th: 1pm - 8pm at Methven Resort, Methven Saturday 18th: 7am - 9am at Methven Resort, Methven COURSES AVAILABLE: Registered Riders 76km (Must be affiliated with Bike NZ) Recreational 76km Recreational 37km

For girls who know that cycling isn t the only way to have fun! art gallery

Heritage cafe Try one of Sandra’s delicious fruit smoothies!

Go for

Gold...

Jeff Bradley Bruce Exhibition

attraction NZ Alpine & Agriculture Encounter

FREE BIKE CHECK We have a full range of women’s bikes and a great selection of parts, accessories, clothing, helmets and shoes.

PAUL WYLIE CYCLERAMA

211 Burnett Street, Ashburton Phone 307 6443

pm ily 9 - 5 a d n e Op 160 Main Street, Methven P:(03)302-9666 E: info@methvenheritagecentre.co.nz

18

Weddings

advertising feature

YOU lifestyle

A moment that lasts a lifetime

Kylie, baby Riley and Shaun Fitzgerald.

Shaun and Kylie Fitzgerald sharing a married moment.

Shaun Fitzgerald and Kylie Tull were married on Daydream Island Resort, Australia on 22nd October 2010.

Are you looking for that wedding cake you’ve always dreamt of for your special day?

Let Sims’ Bakery look after you and bake your perfect wedding cake.

dŝŵ ĂǀŝƐ ĂŶĚ EŝĐŽůĞ WĞĂĐŽĐŬ ǁĞƌĞ ŵĂƌƌŝĞĚ Ăƚ dƌŽƩƐ 'ĂƌĚĞŶƐ͕ Ashburton on 28th October, 2011.

At Sims’ Bakery, we treat every cake as special.

Our recipes are all family favourites and made by hand with attention to detail. The taste of your cake will be loved and delicious.

Come and talk to our friendly team today and organise your perfect wedding cake.

Nicole and Tim Davis, married Ăƚ dƌŽƩƐ 'ĂƌĚĞŶƐ͘

The bridal party sisters, ĨƌŽŵ ůĞŌ͗ ďƌŝĚĞƐŵĂŝĚ DŝĐŚĞůůĞ Peacock, bride Nicole Davis (nee Peacock), bridesmaid Amy Peacock.

YOU Mobilehomes extravaganza

advertising feature

19

An extravaganza on wheels

By Amanda Niblett

If you ask anyone who owns a motorhome when the right ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJ ŽŶĞ ŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ǁŝůů ƵƐƵĂůůLJ ďĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƟŵĞ͘ EŽǁ ŝƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ĞŶƚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝĨ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ Ăƚ ŐĞƫŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉůĂĐĞƐ LJŽƵ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ Ăƚ ĂƐ Ă ĐŚŝůĚ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŵŽǀĞ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ ŽǁŶŝŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ DŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ džƚƌĂǀĂŐĂŶnjĂ ŝƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ƚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƟŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ŝƐ Ă ďŝŐ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĂĚǀŝƐĞĚ ƚŽ ŶŽƚ ƌƵƐŚ ŝŶƚŽ ƉŝĐŬŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ ďƵƚ ƚŽ ůŽŽŬ Ăƚ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ͘ ŌĞƌ Ăůů͕ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ůŝŬĞ Ă ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ŚŽŵĞ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉƵƚ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝƚ ĂƐ LJŽƵ ǁŽƵůĚ Ă ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͘ dŚĞ ĞdžƚƌĂǀĂŐĂŶnjĂ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ƐŚŽǁ ŝŶ EĞǁ ĞĂůĂŶĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƐĞƚ ƚŽ ĞŵďĂƌŬ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ ^ŚŽǁŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŽŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ͘ dŚĞ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ĞǀĞŶƚ ŝƐ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ƚĞŶƚŚ LJĞĂƌ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ă ŵƵƐƚͲĂƩĞŶĚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďƵLJĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞůůĞƌƐ ŽĨ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞƐ͕ ĐĂƌĂǀĂŶƐ͕ ĐĂŵƉĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŽƌŝĞƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ůŝĨĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ĞdžĐĞƉƟŽŶĂů ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ƐŚŽǁĐĂƐĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ

ĂŶLJ ŽǁŶĞƌ ŽĨ Ă ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ĐĂŶ ƐĞƚ ƵƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƌŝĚĞ ĂŶĚ ũŽLJ ĨŽƌ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJ͘ ǀĞŶ ŝĨ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƚĞĐŚŶŝĐĂůůLJ ŶŽƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ĐĂŶ ůŝƐƚ ĂŶ ĂƐŬŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĞ ǁŚĂƚ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĂƌƌŝǀĞ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͘ DŽƐƚ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĮůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌŝĚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚŽŵĞ ŽŶ ǁŚĞĞůƐ͕ ƐŽ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ůŝŬĞͲ ŵŝŶĚĞĚ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƵŶŝƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵŽƌĞ ůŝŬĞ Ă ŐŝĂŶƚ ƌĂůůLJ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ĞdžŚŝďŝƟŽŶ͘ tŽƌĚ ŽĨ ŵŽƵƚŚ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ƚŽŽůƐ ŽĨ Ăůů ǁŚĞŶ ďƵLJŝŶŐ Ă ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ͘ dĂůŬ ƚŽ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ the motorhome owners at the ĞdžƚƌĂǀĂŐĂŶnjĂ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ͛ůů ƐŽŽŶ ůĞĂƌŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďƌĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJŝŶŐ Ă ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞ ŝƐ

ŝŶĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĞdžŚŝďŝƟŶŐ ƐŚŽǁƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞƐ ŽŶ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ĂƩƌĂĐƚƐ ĂŶ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ǀŝĞǁĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽďŝůĞ ŚŽŵĞƐ ŽŶ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJ ŝƐ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǀĂƌŝĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŽĨ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞƌƐ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĞŶƚƌLJ ůĞǀĞů ƵŶŝƚƐ Ăƚ Ψϲ͕ϬϬϬ͕ right through to the most ůƵdžƵƌŝŽƵƐ ƵŶŝƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǀĂůƵĞĚ Ăƚ ĂƉƉƌŽdž ΨϴϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͘ tŚĞƚŚĞƌ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ŽǁŶĞĚ ŵĂŶLJ ŵŽƚŽƌŚŽŵĞƐ͕ ĂƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ market for a new motorhome or ĂƌĞ ũƵƐƚ ĐƵƌŝŽƵƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ďƌŽǁƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ DŽďŝůĞŚŽŵĞ džƚƌĂǀĂŐĂŶnjĂ ŝƐ Ă ĨƵŶ ĚĂLJ ŽƵƚ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůLJ͘

Building dreams... :H FXVWRP EXLOG WR \RXU UHTXLUHPHQWV :H DUH D RQH VWRS 59 VKRS 'HVLJQ PDQXIDFWXUHV RI TXDOLW\ PRWRU KRPHV :HDWKHU SURRI PHPEUDQH %XV FRQYHUVLRQV P WR P $OO WUDGHV XQGHU RQH URRI UHIXUELVKPHQWV UHSDLUV PDLQWHQDQFH DFFHVVRULHV SDUWV LQVXUDQFH ZRUN :H ZRUN RQ FDUDYDQV KRUVH WUDLOHUV PRWRU KRPHV DQG ÀIWK ZKHHOHUV

Come and check out our motor homes at the Ashburton Showgrounds on the 18th-19th February

0274-344-939 0800-287-284 Ph: 03-308-6627

Cnr Chalmers Ave & Dobson St, Ashburton (turn at KFC) www.life-style.co.nz enquiries@life-style.co.nz

Specialist’s in all motorhome maintenance Specialising in:

Spray painting and panelbeating Painting of cars, caravans, trucks, tractors, motorhomes, heavy and light machinery horse ÀRDWV DQG PRUH

Rust repairs Insurance work Fibreglass repairs Light engineering Fleet painting

LÕÃÊÊÌÀÕV E Ìi` Phone 307 0378 Mobile 0274 274 007 17 Range Street, Ashburton

20

multi-cultural YOU

Food from Japan

Recipe of the month

W

hen Tetsu and Mineko sit down for dinner it’s most often to a Japanese meal, but they’re both fans of traditional Kiwi food too. Mineko is usually the cook.

Most of the ingredients they need for Japanese dishes can be sourced in Ashburton and from their vegetable garden in the back yard. Tetsu’s favourite traditional food is sashimi (raw seafood) and for Mineko it’s anything involving fish. The biggest challenge is to source very fresh tuna and salmon.

Mineko’s ginger chicken dish is something she whips up often as part of a meal or just as a nibble. It’s simple, never fails and tastes great, she said.

Congratulations to last months winner Bev Johnson Ashburton

Pavlova Roll Serves 8 Ingredients 4 egg whites ¾ cup caster sugar ¾ cup long thread coconut, toasted 1/2 cup cream, whipped 1 pack Barker’s Patisserie Filling (400g) (any flavour)

Preparation Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a 26cm x 32cm Swiss roll tin with baking paper leaving 5cm excess on sides of tin.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, add sugar a little at a time. Beat well after each addition. Pour mixture into tin and spread with a spatula.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove from oven and lay out another sheet of baking paper sprinkled with toasted coconut. Turn pavolva out onto the coconut. Peel away baking paper used for cooking. Cool for 5 minutes.

Spread with whipped cream and pipe over half the bag of Barker’s Patisserie filling. Roll pavlova from the short side up, using the paper as a guide.

Refrigerate until serving.

Tasty treats since 1969.

They’re all here for sampling at our Geraldine shop.

010212-KG-031

Delicious-looking ginger chicken is an easy meal that never fails and tastes great.

Make remaining Patisserie filling into a sauce by adding hot water a little at a time to give a pouring consistency.

Serve the sauce alongside the roll with extra whipped cream if wished.

WIN

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9.00 0 am 00 m to 5.

5.30 5.30 30pm pm Phon Ph one/ e//Fa e/Fa Fax: ax: x: 033 693 6993 977277

Ginger chicken

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A fabulous Barker’s Summer Entertaining Tub Post your self addressed envelope to: Barkers Giveaway, Amanda Niblett, PO Box 77, Ashburton 7700. E-mail: amanda.n@theguardian.co.nz, subject header: Barkers Giveaway.

Please include your name, address and phone number. Only complete entries will be included in the draw.

Ingredients 1kg chicken nibbles or thighs 2T raw surgar 2T soy sauce 2T Japanese sake or dry white wine Thumb-sized ginger (thinly sliced)

TO TEKAPO

Method

TO TIMARU

TALBOT ST TO CHRISTCHURCH

• Heat oil in a fry pan on high heat.

• Put chicken skin side down first, cook until golden.

• Cook all other surfaces until brown again.

• Add remaining ingredients to the pan.

• Put lid on pan and simmer until chicken is cooked.

• Remove lid and cook on higher heat until all liquid is absorbed.

multi-cultural YOU

21 PHOTO KIRSTY GRAHAM 010212-KG-050

Tetsu Mitomo (left) and Mineko Ito and canine friends Lyn (left) and Cha Cha – happily swapping life in Japan for a quieter pace of life in New Zealand.

NZ

where Tetsu’s heart is

By Sue Newman

A

sk Tetsu Mitomo where he calls home and the ex-pat Japanese has no hesitation in saying New Zealand; his partner Mineko Ito is a little more hesitant when it comes to swapping allegiance.

But in spite of Mineko’s emotional links to her homeland, the couple say they’re loving life in a country where there are fewer people, where life is lived at a slower pace and where working days don’t involve more than 12 hours.

For Tetsu, becoming a New Zealand resident has been a long journey. He visited 17 years ago on a working holiday, loved what he saw and the immigration seeds were sown.

“I really felt this was a good country to live. I had to go back to Japan, but I’d already decided I was coming back even then.”

Tetsu graduated from university and worked as an engineer in the plastics industry for several years, but in his heart he knew his time in Japan was running out. The biggest hurdle he had to face, however, was telling his family he was leaving.

“I resigned from my job and then I told my parents. My dad didn’t say much but my mum was quite upset. I had to resign first because I knew she’d try to talk me out of it, to stop me,” he said.

He grew up on the outskirts of Tokyo and while that was removed from the frenetic pace of life in the Japanese capital, Tetsu said it was still far busier than life in New Zealand.

He went to university and worked post-

graduation in the Gunma prefecture, living in a smaller city, about the size of Auckland.

With his engineering degree and a package of skills acquired through his hobby, photography, Tetsu packed up his world, left home and arrived in New Zealand. That hobby was to become his lifeline, the key to securing his first job as a wedding photographer.

For Mineko, her association with New Zealand had been an on-and-off affair over several years.

“I was working in Japan as a ski instructor with children and I used to come over here to Mt Hutt in the school holidays for three weeks with children. I just loved the country.”

As fate would have it, Tetsu was working at the lodge that accommodated her school groups. They met and that meeting was the catalyst for a decision to start a new life together in New Zealand.

For Mineko that meeting came at a perfect time. She was becoming increasingly attached to the country she visited for three weeks each year and had a longer working holiday on her agenda.

“It was such good timing. The first time, I stayed here for 10 months, then went back to Japan, made some money and came back.”

Now she’s a New Zealand resident, but unlike Tetsu, deep inside she still considers herself a Japanese citizen. It’s been three years since she’s been back to Japan and she admits she sometimes gets quite homesick.

Later this year Mineko will head to Japan for a few weeks, but Tetsu said he has no desire to go back. His last trip home was three years ago and he’s using the need for someone to look after their two dogs as his

excuse for not returning.

Making the move to New Zealand was a good decision, Tetsu said.

Life in New Zealand is much freer and less tradition bound than it would have been in Japan, particularly for Mineko who may have found herself living either with her parentsin-law or close by.

And in Japan, many women and their children rarely see their husband or partner, who may leave for work before 7am and not return until very late at night. When he is there he’s often too tired or too preoccupied to be involved with his family, Tetsu said.

In New Zealand, Mineko is free to make her own choices, to live the life she chooses and for now that’s working in a West Melton vineyard. She’d love to return to Mt Hutt as a ski instructor, but feels her spoken English is still not good enough. She’s practising, so maybe this winter, she said.

While New Zealand is now very much Tetsu and Mineko’s home, they say the thing they miss the most about Japan is snow.

Both grew up in areas where snow lay on the ground for many winter weeks. Mineko grew up on Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido, and said there are many similarities between her home island and New Zealand.

She still nurtures a desire to return to Japan at some time in the future. Tetsu does not and he hopes that, with time, Mineko will find regular visits back are enough to keep homesickness at bay. And there’s every disincentive not to return because of Japan’s tight job market.

“In Japan at our age, it is very difficult to find a job. Jobs are more for young people but it’s difficult for everyone now,” Tetsu said.

Tetsu’s mum is the only member of either family who has visited New Zealand and as an avid tramper she’s fallen in love with back country tracks and trails. He expects she’ll be a regular visitor.

Mineko says her family is sad that she’s now a New Zealander and to date no family members have visited. Both families still struggle to understand how their children can prefer another country to Japan.

“It’s not so common for Japanese to leave their own country to live. They’ll go for work and often people are sent overseas by their company for three or four years, but they always come back home,” Tetsu said.

And in Japan you normally stay in your first job for years, but that’s slowly changing.

Family values are also changing and that’s not necessarily good, he said.

“There is still quite traditional family thinking but the kids are now not really respecting their parents the same. These days parents are both working long hours.”

For now they’re committed to Ashburton.

They’ve bought a large home on a section that’s enough to give their two dogs, Lyn and Cha Cha, plenty of exercise room. They’re enjoying the Kiwi backyard tradition of vegetable gardening and barbecues.

Tetsu is working as a photographer in Ashburton and Mineko is looking forward to finding work closer to home so she can become part of the community. She’s not enjoying the reverse of the Japanese trend, being a woman, rather than a man, travelling long distances to work.

“While I’m doing this, making friends and getting to know people is a bit hard,” she said.

22

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By Amanda Niblett When Electricity Ashburton increased ƚŚĞŝƌ ŇĞĞƚ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ŝŶƚŽ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŚŽǁ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐĂůůLJ ǀŝĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ dŽLJŽƚĂ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ ƟĐŬĞĚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ďŽdžĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ŝůƵdž͕ ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ,ŝĂĐĞ͘ >ŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ ŝƐ Ăůů ĂďŽƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ Įƚ ŝŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ dŽLJŽƚĂ ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚĞƌ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂů ďŽĚLJ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĨŽƌ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ůŝĨĞ͘ dŚĞ ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚĞƌ ĚƌŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂŶĚůĞƐ ůŝŬĞ Ă ĐĂƌ͕ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ Ă ƐƚĂƟŽŶ ǁĂŐŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ ĐůĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶ ^hs ƚŽ ƚĂĐŬůĞ ŽīͲƌŽĂĚ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĞǀĞŶ ƐĞĂƚƐ ůŝŬĞ Ă ŵŝŶŝǀĂŶ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ǁŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ ůĞŝƐƵƌĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ĨŽƌ :ĞƌĞŵLJ ĚĂŵƐŽŶ͕ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů DĂŶĂŐĞƌ Ăƚ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ͘ ͞dŚĞ ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚĞƌ ŝƐ Ă ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ƌĞĂůůLJ ĞŶũŽLJ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ͘ / ƚƌĂǀĞů Ă ůŽƚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ DŝĚ ĂŶƚĞƌďƵƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĂĮĞůĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ /ƐůĂŶĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚĞƌ ǀĞƌLJ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƐLJ ƚŽ ĚƌŝǀĞ ŽŶ ůŽŶŐ ƚƌŝƉƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂů ƐƉĂĐĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĨŽƌ ǁŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂǀĞů͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉůĞŶƚLJ ŽĨ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞǀĞƌƐŝŶŐ ĐĂŵĞƌĂ ŝƐ

Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ƚŽŽ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƉĂƌŬŝŶŐ Ă ďƌĞĞnjĞ͘͟ tŚĞŶ ŝƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĞƋƵŝƌŝŶŐ Ă ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ƚŽ ƉĂĐŬ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ŐĞĂƌ ŝŶƚŽ͕ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ dŽLJŽƚĂ ,ŝĂĐĞ͘ tŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƐŚŽƌƚ ŚĂƵů ĐŝƚLJ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝĞƐ Žƌ ĐĂƌƌLJŝŶŐ ůĂƌŐĞ ďƵůŬLJ ŝƚĞŵƐ ůŽŶŐ ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ ,ŝĂĐĞ ǀĂŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĚĞƐĞƌǀĞĚ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůŝĂďůĞ ǁŽƌŬŚŽƌƐĞ͘ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ,ŝĂĐĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĞŵƉƚLJ ƐŚĞůů͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽ ƐĞĂƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ͕ ƚŽ ĂůůŽǁ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵͲĮƚ ĐĂďŝŶĞƚƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƐƚŽƌĂŐĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ͘ WĂƵů >ĂǁƌĞŶĐĞ͕ ĮďƌĞ ƚĞĐŚŶŝĐŝĂŶ ĨŽƌ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƐŚďƵƌƚŽŶ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ƐƉĞŶĚƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϱϬй ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĚĂLJ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŚĞĞů͕ ƐŽ Ă ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĞƌƐĂƟůĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ĚĂŝůLJ ůŝĨĞ͘ ͞ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ďŝŐ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ŝĂĐĞ ŝƐ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĚƌŝǀĞ͘ tŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ƉƌĞǀĂŝůŝŶŐ ŶŽƌͲǁĞƐƚ ǁŝŶĚƐ͕ / ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ŵĂLJ ďĞ ƐƵƐĐĞƉƟďůĞ ƚŽ ďĞŝŶŐ ďůŽǁŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ďLJ ĐƌŽƐƐͲǁŝŶĚƐ͕ ďƵƚ / ǁĂƐ ƉůĞĂƐĂŶƚůLJ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƌĞĂůůLJ ƐƚĂďůĞ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŽŶ ŐƵƐƚLJ ĚĂLJƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ ůŽĂĚƐ ŽĨ ƐƉĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ŽĨ ŵLJ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚůLJ ƚŚĞ ĚƵĂů ĐƵƉͲŚŽůĚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŽŶƚ ŝƐ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů ĨŽƌ ŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ ŵLJ ĐŽīĞĞ ƐƚĂďůĞ͕͟ ůĂƵŐŚƐ WĂƵů͘

YOU car mania

PHOTOS TETSURO MITOMO 030212-TM-08

Miriam Davison with her pride and joy, a 1965 notchback.

23

Miriam’s

Mustang – the real American deal 030212-TM-112

American-made muscle. Miriam’s Mustang is powered by a 302 Ford motor.

Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are seen on Mid Canterbury roads.

The classic Mustang is one that will always catch the eye. Just for YOU, Jonathan Leask looks at a racing-red beauty belonging to Miriam Davison.

T 030212-TM-067

Miles per hour, the mark of a classic.

030212-TM-068

The character-filled interior, one of the reasons Miriam chose to go classic.

he Mustang is one of the most iconic of American muscle cars, and the one car Miriam Davison wanted.

“I had a Mustang back in my early 20s, and after I sold it I always promised myself I would get one again.

Now, an undisclosed number of years later, she owns another one.

Miriam had always had her heart set on owning a Mustang again and after deciding to sell her XR6 Falcon, she thought it was time.

“I challenged myself by setting a window of two years to buy one and I spent hours trawling online for the right one.

“I had a friend constantly asking ‘have you bought a Mustang yet’ every time I saw them which kept the pressure on.

“In the end it only took four months.”

A racing-red 1965 notchback.

“I bought it seven months ago from a guy in Motueka, who had imported it straight from America,” Miriam said.

“It is exactly what I wanted. It’s just great.”

There was no lure to get a modern Mustang or other muscle car for Miriam, she wanted a classic, a Mustang.

“All the modern ones do look nice but once you get inside it is all generic and you could just as well be driving anything.

“The older classics are all different inside and there is just something about the Mustang that I’ve always liked.

“And there is no power steering so you actually have to drive the thing.”

Her Mustang is even different to the other originals.

“The only thing standard about it is the shape. It has a 302 instead of a 289, is a five-speed manual, has disc brakes and tightened suspension. It’s all been done up.”

However, with left-hand drive, it is the real American deal.

“It wasn’t that hard to get used to because my old Mustang was left-hand drive.

“Passing lanes are great but getting stuck behind slow traffic driving by yourself is a pain.

“However, you do have to be trusting of whoever is in the suicide seat.”

There seems to be a thing with the Davisons and their American muscles cars, her brother Chris has a thing for Corvettes.

“I’m not sure exactly but I would say dad has a lot to do with it.”

The classic also sees a lot of the road, being driven almost every day.

“I have a work car but when I get home from work it’s out of the Corolla and into the Mustang to wherever I need to go.”

One place it will not be going is into competition.

“I’m a member of the Ashburton Car Club but I won’t be taking it into any events, it’s strictly for on the road, even though I’d love to give it a run.”

Her temptation could stem from the roar of the Mustang when she fires it up and the sweet rumble of the engine.

Alternatively, because as the saying goes, red cars go faster.

“My old one was a green 1966 notchback and it was not as fast. It only had a 289 engine.”

YOU great gardens

24

The joy of working

By Sue Newman

W

hile many home gardeners count their roses in dozens, Pauline O’Leary counts hers by the hundreds.

So it should come as no surprise that she’s a national rose judge, president of the South Canterbury Rose Society and a past president of the Ashburton society. Quite simply, Pauline loves roses.

And with a large rural garden she has more than enough room to buy and plant to her heart’s content.

For someone who’s made her mark as a rose grower of note, Pauline was a late and perhaps reluctant convert. She blames gardening guru Maggie Barry for getting her hooked on gardening.

“We lived in Wellington then and until my children started leaving home I wasn’t really interested in gardening. It was really when I was working all day and I found that when I came home from work it was relaxing to get out in the garden,” she said.

Since the days of the small Wellington garden with a handful of rose bushes, Pauline and gardening have come a long way together. She started growing roses, started taking rose judging exams and says she’s now developed a hobby that’s likely to be life-long.

“At the start I was just dabbling. We had a 550 square metre section in Wellington and I just kept buying roses and I did end up with quite a nice rose garden. Then we moved to Miller Ave in Ashburton and I had heaps of roses there. We moved here and I’ve got more than 200 now.”

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YOU great gardens

25

with roses

Rose grower and national rose judge Pauline O’Leary in her garden that is home to more than 200 roses.

PHOTOS KIRSTY GRAHAM 310112-KG-034

310112-KG-009

in. My problem is I love everything in the garden. I fall in love with things and I have to have them.”

She’s no purist when it comes to what grows where. While she maintains rose-only beds around her house, the big borders that line the O’Leary garden are a happy mix of trees, shrubs, perennials and roses. Everything is thriving and if it’s not, it’s popped in the wheelbarrow and trundled off to a new spot. Buying a rose does not have to be a relationship for life, Pauline said.

“Don’t be afraid to take a rose out or get rid of it if you’re not happy with it or it’s not performing. They’ll last for years but some don’t produce a lot of new canes. People say they prune hard, but if you prune too hard the canes will die back and you’ll have nothing.”

And she doesn’t restrict her rose growing to just one style – bush, floribunda, mini, climbers and old-fashioned, she loves them all.

Perhaps surprisingly for someone who grows magnificent roses, Pauline does not maintain a strict spraying regime. She prunes with care and she tries to disbud to ensure every bloom has the space to grow to perfection.

“I do spray in the winter with copper and oil when I prune, but I’ve been a bit remiss since Christmas with my spraying and I definitely don’t spray every two weeks. I spray when I can and when I have to.”

Rose growing, she admits, is not for everyone. Young people in particular perceive roses as too high maintenance and will often pull them out of their gardens. That’s a real shame, Pauline said, as with a bit of knowledge they’d realise those plants would reward them with months of flowers.

Pauline said she’s ever hopeful that today’s young gardeners who opt for backyards sans flowers, with time will discover the joy of working in a garden filled with colour.

310112-KG-012

That figure is probably conservative; while Pauline might know each rose by name, she prefers not to know exactly how many she has – or how much each plant represents in dollar terms.

“I just love them, the different colours and the fact that you have them for so long because you get a lovely second flush of flowers. Yes, there’s a lot involved with roses, but there is with all flowers.”

If Pauline enjoys growing roses, she loves showing her blooms. As a national judge she says she feels privileged to be able to assess some of the best flowers in the country, but she still enjoys picking roses to put on the competition table at local shows, where others will be the judge.

Table shows at rose society meetings are a great way for fellow rose lovers to discover new treasures and to swap notes, she said.

Among her vast collection of roses, it’s inevitable Pauline will have favourites. Anything that’s pink is likely to be near the top of the list, but she still has a soft spot for a rose her husband Joe bought her, a velvet red floribunda, Intrigue. Catherine McCreedy and Paddy Stevens are two of her favourites, but she said like all flowers, fashions come and go and tastes change.

“There are no roses really that I don’t like, but I’m not so keen on striped flowers.”

When she travels around New Zealand, Pauline is always on the look-out for new roses. She has no preferred suppliers, buying when something takes her fancy and on occasion striking cuttings from fellow growers’ bushes. She suggests she’s managed to get her buying habits under control in the past few years. There’s always something on the must-have list and Empress Farah tops that at the moment.

“I’ve been a bit stronger because I realise now I can’t look after them all, but in saying that I can always fit a new mini rose

YOU and your travels

26 PHOTOS SUPPLIED

1 – Old Spanish house in Colonia De Sacramento.

Cecilia heads home

2 – View of Piriapolis Town.

3 – Piriapolis Beach.

for a holiday

4 – Punta Del Este.

5 – Cecilia Perez at Punta Del Este.

By Erin Tasker

I

4 The harsh and hauntingly beautiful landscapes surrounding the lodge will take your breath away.

Stroll up near-by Mt Sunday, made world-famous as the backdrop to ‘Edoras’ in the Lord of the Rings films.

Then come and dine in our newly opened restaurant, experience fine dining, sumptuous desserts and a drink whilst continuing to admire the beautiful scenery that is Mt Potts.

Bar service operating all day .

Restaurant and bar service open year round, Wednesday – Sunday, 12noon – 9pm Driving directions - Drive past Lake Clearwater village for 10 minutes and you’ll arrive at Mt.Potts Lodge.

For information and reservations please call | 03 303 9060

t’s been five years since Cecilia Perez left Uruguay.

That’s where she was born and bred, but now she calls New Zealand home and when she returned to Uruguay for five weeks over Christmas and New Year, it was a holiday.

After five years, she looked at the South American country she called home for most of her life dierently.

She likes the laid-back attitude of New Zealanders better than the culture she grew up with, but she loved her five weeks with her family.

The trip was a surprise – only her mum and dad knew she was coming – and her sisters were over the moon when she turned up.

She spent time with family and friends exploring the country, travelling from one end to the other, and spending more than her fair share of time at the beach.

Uruguay isn’t very wide; it takes only about eight hours to drive from one side to the other, but in the middle there are countless gems which attract tourists from around the world, and many of the world’s rich and famous.

Cecilia is from Punta Del Este; a place where the rich and famous holiday. The country has

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail�

Ralph Waldo Emerson

a population of about three million, but at the peak of summer, that swells to around six million and most of those people go to Punta Del Este. “If you want to rent an apartment for about 15 days it will cost about $US20,000,� Cecilia says.

It’s a hot country, but not as hot as nearby Brazil. While Cecilia was there the temperature generally ranged between 25°C and 27°C, but did get as hot as 40°C. The country’s capital, Montevideo, is about two hours away and she visited and toured around there, as well as the town where she was born, San Jose, and also Colonia Del Sacramento, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful towns which used to be surrounded by a wall.

The country has Spanish roots and that’s primarily the language spoken in Uruguay.

If you’re up for a night out in Punta Del Este, Cecilia says you have to be hardy as the nightlife doesn’t get going until well after midnight.

And if you’re after a spot of shopping during the middle of the day you might be hard pushed – many places shut up shop for their afternoon siesta. And that’s something Cecilia got the hang of while on holiday. “I never used to have a siesta, but I did while I was over there because it was so hot,� Cecilia says.

The security of travellers cheques Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ƚŚĞ Ä?ŽŜǀĞŜĹ?ĞŜÄ?Äž ŽĨ ƉůĂĆ?Ć&#x;Ä?͘ The Cash Passport is the secure and convenient way to manage your budget when travelling overseas.

Key benefits: t $BSE TFDVSJUZ t "CJMJUZ UP MPDL JO UIF FYDIBOHF SBUF QSJPS UP USBWFMMJOH t .JMMJPO NFSDIBOU GBDJMJUJFT BWBJMBCMF XPSMEXJEF XJUI .BTUFS $BSE t 6OQBSBMMFMFE HMPCBM FNFSHFODZ BTTJTUBODF t "WBJMBCMF JO DVSSFODJFT &6 (# 64 "6 /; t 3FMPBEBCMF WJB JOUFSOFU CBOLJOH Âť 304-312 East Street, Ashburton Âť 03 308 0635 Âť bnz_ashburton@bnz.co.nz

YOU do-it-yourself

27

Deal to your leaks

A

good plumbing system is worth maintaining, and simple plumbing problems can often easily be handled by the homeowner. So if you are tired of hearing your leaky tap dripping, chances are all it needs is a new washer or cartridge, and it can be a simple repair job, ideal for the home DIY project.

Regulations covering what plumbing the do-it-yourselfer can and cannot do have been eased in the past few years, but it is worth remembering that plumbing is a specialised field and generally pipe work and installing new should be done by a professional. Often the product warranty is void if not done by a registered plumber.

There is a huge range of taps, mixers and fittings on the market which make it difficult even for the professionals to keep up. Even the humble tap washer has undergone a revolution, with ceramic washers and many proprietary systems taking over.

Leaking taps should be dealt with quickly, as, over time, the tap can be irreparably damaged. Many homes will still have the oldfashioned taps with a rubber washer, which eventually wears out. Others will dry out, get hard and crack or break. Just the wear and

Shane Woods Ordinary Kiwi bloke Shane ‘Woodsy’ Woods is handy around the house with a hammer. Each month we’ll check in on what his latest DIY project has been.

tear of turning taps on and off can damage the washer until it no longer works.

When choosing taps for your home it is also a good idea to check if parts can be easily purchased. A replacement part for some taps on the market is often more expensive than the entire tap system itself. And with mixer cartridges there are plenty of different kinds on the market, but you may still find it difficult to find some imported brands.

Replacing a tap washer is a fairly simple task and only takes a few minutes, even if you have no plumbing experience. You will first need to turn off the water supply.

If you are changing a hot water tap, you may choose to shut off the water at the pipe that leads out of the hot water cylinder.

Once the water is off, turn on the tap to relieve the pressure in the pipe. Indoor taps usu-

ally have a cover that needs to be removed, outdoor taps don’t. The cover may be formed by the handle, or the handle may be separate.

Depending on the design of the tap, you may also need to remove the handle.

There is usually a small screw on the top of the handle, usually under a plastic cap which should lift off, or under a steel cap which unscrews.

For cross-handled taps you will also need to remove the cover. The cover should unscrew, anticlockwise, to reveal the inside of the tap.

You should be able to unscrew the cover by hand by gripping it tightly and turning, but you may need to use groove joint pump pliers with a rag in the jaws to prevent damage to the cover.

The tap mechanism can then be unscrewed from the body with an adjustable wrench. This will reveal the washer, which is held on by a small nut.

Replacing the washer is a matter of simply removing the nut and washer and fitting the new one. Make sure everything is free of grit or dirt, including the body of the tap where the washer will be in contact, before reassembling.

When fitting the mechanism back into the

body of the tap, ensure the tap is in the open position and operates freely when the tap is tightened together.

Then turn the tap off, turn the water back on and check your work.

If your tap continues to leak after replacing the washer, it may need reseating. Regular maintenance of taps should prevent the need for this, but if left too long, a leak can wear a channel in the seat of the tap and instead of a simple washer, you will need to reseat it.

Reseating resurfaces your tap, so that the washer has a tight seal. The simplest way to do this is to purchase a reseating kit which comes with all of the washers and seals you will need to fully recondition any old tap.

While it is apart, replace the O ring, grease it and install a new body washer.

It is also a good idea to make sure you have IDs or indicators in place on your taps as a safety precaution. And remember to turn on taps which don’t get used often like the cistern and washing machine taps, to prevent them seizing up.

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364 West Street, Ashburton

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YOU unsung hero

28

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Don Kirdy is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to cycling. He’s always there to help and isn’t afraid to put in the hard yards for the youngsters at the Tinwald Cycling Club.

Meet our cycling

By Amanda Durry

A

typical week for Don Kirdy is pretty standard.

Monday – training with young cyclists at the Tinwald velodrome from 1pm to 3pm and in the evening, he could be there helping out people who come along to start out in riding or to sort out a bike.

Tuesday – He’s back at the velodrome with youngsters wanting extra training or to try out different equipment. In the evenings, he will take a vanload of young people to Timaru to race.

Wednesday – A free day, but you can guarantee something will come up that requires his help, even down to mowing the grass inside the track.

Thursday – Youngsters at the velodrome again.

Friday – There’s anywhere up to 70 young cyclists on the track.

Saturday – Social wheelers with older riders or anyone that wishes to give it a go.

Sunday – Main race day. He can be found helping out with timing, taking placings or helping to get young people organised.

Between those times, he can often be found camped outside supermarkets selling raffle tickets, picking up pieces for bikes, fixing or rebuilding bikes from scratch.

But it isn’t a big deal for the 77-year-old.

His love of cycling and helping out is enough to keep him going.

And his ever-supportive wife also helps with that – she deserves a gold medal, he says.

“I used to ride years ago and really en-

Don

joyed it so when we shifted from Christchurch to Ashburton (around 20 years ago), I got involved with the club. Back then, it was getting low on numbers in the under-17s, but then it had a wee surge.

“The track wasn’t being used that much so it was decided to get the youngsters out on it and there was a big boom. If it wasn’t for those young people coming through, it would be gone,” he said.

While he did enjoy success in his time as a rider, most notably placing second in the Canterbury championship time trial his first year in the juniors, it’s not medals or ribbons that make him proud of his charges.

“The biggest reward for me is when they do something unexpected. It’s not about the winning, it’s when they’re coming down the back straight and they get off their seat and just move, which makes you go ‘wow’,”

he said. He also enjoys watching the young cyclists improve.

But those cyclists still need support.

“In my day, you rode because you enjoyed it and that was it. But today, youngsters need a lot of support and they have to have somebody they can come to.

“Having our own track at Tinwald is invaluable and the standard that continues to come out of Tinwald is high and they just keep coming,” he said.

The latest star to come out of the track is Olympic medallist Lauren Ellis, who was a perfect example of how having so much support can help.

“We’re pretty blessed with what we have here but there’s no getting away from the fact we need a new velodrome. We do make a big impression for such a small town and it’s only going to keep getting better.”