you
SEPTEMBER 2011
Homeward P4-5
magazine
LOTUS POWER
AFRICAN MAGIC
LAKESIDE LUXURY Your Yo Y our u A Ashburton sh hburt bu urt r on G Guardian ua ardia rd dian ia an pu publ publication bllic cat atio io ion on
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you What’s in
magazine P3 P4-5
new to town COVER STORY: rocker coming home
P6
unsung hero
P7
couch potato
P8-9
travel to Africa
P12-13 do it yourself with Woodsy P14-15
alpine treasures
P16
street smart what’s with iPads?
P18
you and your family wedded bliss
P19 P20-21
this month O
h for the love of a child. What a great cover story we’ve got this month with Doppler drummer Simon Christensen se ng aside his music career to come home to Ashburton to be near his daughter. Being dad-at-a-distance for the past year has been just too tough, so he’s called me on his 10-year musical odyssey. He talks about that odyssey to Sue Newman on Page 5, and how the call to come home became too strong. Our weight loss challenge over the past six months was a huge success, so now we’ve come up with a replacement programme. This me we’re looking for couch potatoes to volunteer for a life-changing experience. Find out how on Page 7. YOU’s travel story this month comes out of Africa, one of those safaris we all say we’d love to do one day. Well, an Ashburton couple has, and they share it with us on pages 8 and 9. We visit a dream house at Lake Hood; our featured garden is full of small surprises (every day); and our home handyman advises on simple measures you can take yourself to deter would-be thieves. In the kitch-
Editorial contact Peter O’Neill
Peter O’Neill • 307-7959 peter.o@theguardian.co.nz
YOU Editor
Advertising contact en we con nue a Romanian theme following the visit by the World Cup rugby team from that country, with a recipe out of Transylvania. So many of us love our cars, and it’s amazing who in our community has what. This month we feature a man who’s built his own sports car … well, to be more accurate, he’s s ll building it. He just can’t leave it alone. Someone else who can’t help herself is our unsung hero. She’s involved in so many groups helping others you’ll get red just reading about her. We ask what all the fuss is about with iPads, while also bringing you our usual jewellery and fashion features, along with some wedding and social scene photos. Pour yourself a coffee, sit yourself down and enjoy.
Nancye Pitt • 307-7974 nancye.p@theguardian.co.nz
Publisher Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd 307-77900 ashburtonguardian.co.nz Material in YOU is copyright to the Ashburton Guardian and can not be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers
Cover photo Breaking up is hard to do – Doppler drummer Simon Christensen (front) played his last gig with the band in Ashburton last week. When fellow band members (from left) James Brown, Adam Wilson and Ben Healy return to Auckland, they’ll have a new drummer on stage. PHOTO CARMEN ROONEY 020911-CR-061
your gems Lotus power
P22
food from Romania
Gardening P14-15
P23
passion: rugby
Alpine treasures
P24
who’s out and about?
YOU foodies P22 Recipe from Romania
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YOU new to town
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Roots in two countries By Sue Newman
PHOTO SARAH CHAMBERLAIN 300811-SC-126
Simona and Dan Mihailescu and daughter Laura have their feet firmly in Ashburton, but their hearts and their roots are divided between their homeland, Romania and the adopted country, New Zealand.
Simona and Dan Mihailescu love Romania – but they also love New Zealand. The accountant and automo ve electrician were well se led in their home city of Sibiu, they had good jobs and were making good money, but they wanted something more, something different. “It was not right for us, we felt we could do something be er,” Dan said. That was nine years ago. Friends had moved to New Zealand and loved their new country. The Mihailescus were intrigued. They wanted to know more. They researched, they asked ques ons. The more they discovered, the more they became convinced that New Zealand could become their new home, but making the decision to leave your country, your friends and your family was a tough call, Simona said. “This was a long way to come, but even if it had been Hungary next door, I s ll wouldn’t have moved there without all the knowledge,” she said. The final incen ve to leave Romania came when Dan was offered a job with Gluyas Motor Group in Ashburton. The decision to leave may have been made, but that didn’t make the leaving easy. “It was hard, I can’t say it wasn’t and every me I go back it is hard,” Simona said. Dan, who had worked in the automo ve industry for 15 years and had owned his own business for five years, might have found work, but for Simona, moving to New Zealand meant she could no longer prac ce as an accountant. She swapped accountancy for a factory job at Talleys and it would take five years before she was able to resume her career in New Zealand, with Myers and Co. Yes, it was difficult swapping a profession for factory work, but it also had some compensaons. In her workplace she was the only accountant among a staff of 150 and that meant 10-hour days were the norm. “At the me it was money and it was a job. My job over there was very stressful and when I started at Talleys it was great for a while, I didn’t have to think.” The Mihailescu family may be well-se led New Zealanders, with their daughter born here,
but they say they are a family with roots in two countries. That will never change. “We love it here and it depends what people want and value in their lives. If you want a quiet life, this is the place to be. In Romania, I used to say that everyone is running, but I don’t know why or where. When we came here we felt we were on holiday. It’s different, but we love it,” Dan said. They’ve tried to persuade family members to join them, but so far have had li le luck, but the lack of family is made up for to some degree by the large and growing Romanian community in Ashburton. Like their fellow countrymen, they’ll be following the fortunes of Romania during the Rugby World Cup, but Dan admits he’s a relavely new rugby fan. “We only started to be rugby fans when we came here. The Romanian team was good in the 1980s but a er that it was not so much and it was mainly soccer.” Five-year-old Laura is every inch a Kiwi girl and her parents believe child rearing is easier and more affordable in New Zealand than in Romania. The educa on system appears to be much easier, but Dan also believes that at the end of their schooling, students end up with a pre y similar educa on. “In our high schools we learn a lot, but do we use it? Possibly, no, but it is good for your brain. A few years ago, you needed to get your exams with seven subjects and a pass of 50 per cent.” He believes children have more opportuni es in New Zealand. Here you can afford for your child to take part in two or three sports and a er school ac vi es. The standard of living in the two countries is similar, but in Romania there is more stress, he said. New Zealand is now home, but Simona and Dan s ll carry Romania in their hearts. “Anywhere you go, you don’t abandon your country. I love my country, but unfortunately for a period a few years back, Romania had the wrong people in front. We’ve been back and every me we go back, we start to see things differently than we did before coming to New Zealand,” Dan said. “We love both countries very much, but when you leave, you don’t have roots anywhere, you are somewhere in-between,” Simona said.
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YOU cover story
5
Home-time
for home-grown rocker
Never underes mate the power of love, par cularly when it comes to the love of a father for his child. For rock band drummer Simon Christensen, that love means he’s hanging up his drum s cks, turning his back on fellow Doppler band members and heading home to Ashburton. And that’s all for the love of a browneyed, fairhaired baby called Emma. YOU writer Sue Newman caught up with Simon recently.
S
imon is high energy. He darts from subject to subject, he talks at speed, switches subjects in the bat of an eyelid and when there’s a break in the conversa on, he ra les out a coffee table rhythm with is drums cks. He’s as cool as cool gets, looks every inch an Auckland rock band member and has a smile that lights up the room. He’s also a devoted dad who melts at the men on of his daughter. Underneath the rock star image there’s s ll the boy from Ashvegas, the boy who’s had a life-long love affair with music, the boy who’s had to ba le ADD and dyslexia. He’s a 27 yearold making life-changing choices. Simon is one of a group of Ashburton school leavers of his era who have chased the magic of music and who’ve succeeded. For him, making music has been something that was never an op on, always a passion. He was playing the trumpet at two, encouraged by a father and grandfather who both played brass. Braces at the age of 13, however, stymied his big band career. It all became too painful. For a while Simon said he was lost in a musical wilderness, not sure what instrument to pick up next. Like most wannabe rock stars he yearned to be a guitarist, but big hands and dodgy co-ordina on meant that was never going to be a marriage made in heaven. He was 16, an age when you find idols. His was a boy called Todd Hallam who was a drummer in the Ashburton Silver Band. Then he discovered singer/guitarist Eddie Castelow in the high school band. “All I wanted to do was be like him and one of my mates, Lynton Wilson, played drums. He wanted to play guitar, so we swapped.” Simon’s drumming career was born on a
set of garage sale drums and for his parents, quiet evenings were over. The swap was done on a $20 note, but Simon s ll had to find money for drum skins. That le him out of pocket for drum s cks. His friends came to the rescue and a band was born. The non-churchgoer found himself playing gigs in the New Life Church as part of a high school band. He bought into music, but not religion. “I didn’t do the church thing; I just turned up to their gigs.” Jamming and church s nts eventually led to the forma on of his first band, Picture. The band became a small success, cu ng a New Zealand Music Week CD and playing regularly in Christchurch. During that me, Simon and fellow band members juggled work, study, life in Christchurch, life in Ashburton and life in the band. Along the way he met Adam Wilson, with whom he would go on to form Doppler. Eventually Picture broke up and Doppler was born. Four passionate Ashburton boys with music in their hearts and souls, dreaming of life in the fast lane. “One good thing about being in Ashburton was that there weren’t many other bands. Once we got good enough the work started to come and we played a lot in Methven’s Blue Pub and made quite a bit of coin.” The band saved what it made and made an EP. It cut 500 copies – all sold and the feedback was good. The band con nued to play at the Blue Pub, opening for bigger bands and gaining exposure. Its members con nued to balance work and the band, hoping for a break that would catapult them into the big me. They wrote
their own music, and that meant a constant round of trying to get air me. And they did. Juice TV, C4, rock radio. It was fun, but it was also sheer hard work, Simon said. The band’s big hit, Oblivion, was wri en during a weekend of wall-to-wall music in Owaka. It was recorded and it went na onwide. Everyone in the industry they talked to said that without moving to Auckland, the band would stagnate. “We kept thinking it through, talking about it and we knew we had to move. Then things went pear shaped.” One had a girlfriend, another a wife and child. Neither wanted to move. That le Adam and Simon and the dream. ndeterred, they found another guitarist, headed for Auckland and found themselves a fourth band member. Doppler, reformed, was on its way. For Simon, however, the dream was almost over before it began. His ex-girlfriend discovered she was pregnant and he was torn between staying for the unborn child or fulfilling the dream he’d nurtured for years. “It came down to knowing that if I didn’t go I would never know if I could make it, so I decided I’d work really hard up there and then come down every month.” The decision was the easy part but Simon kept his end of the bargain. He came back for Emma’s birth, but that also meant saying goodbye again. “But a er Emma was born it was hard, really hard. Every day I’d think about her. I’d lie in bed some mes and just think. I wanted to stay so much, I tried to stay. . .” Inevitably the pull to be closer to his child saw Simon make a plan – work hard for one
U
year in Auckland and then return home. His year is almost up. But nothing in life is simple. Along the way, he says, he met the love of his life ... in Auckland. She’s a drummer in an all-girl band but is also happy to leave the city and move south. Simon is in Auckland un l November then his band es are severed. He won’t be selling out on music, however. “I don’t want to be in a rock band, if I did I’d be going back to Auckland, but I do want to keep drumming down here.” How that will pan out, he’s not quite sure, but with the big decision to move back to Ashburton made, Simon is confident the rest will fall into place. With the tug-of-love over and Emma just a short drive away, he knows he’ll be in a good head space to plan his future. Breaking up with the band won’t be easy, he knows that. It’s a bit like breaking up a long-term rela onship, he said. “We’re really ght, we’ve known each other a long me.” He’s 27 and it’s me to get life sorted, and coming home is just part of that, he said. “I’m not going for father of the year, don’t even think that. Emma’s mum is doing a terrific job with her, I just want to be around. I want to be here as my daughter is growing up and I want to be part of her life.” Being dad-at-a-distance for 12 months has been super-tough. There were many days when Simon felt his heart was breaking with the need to hold Emma, days when he wanted to toss in work, toss in the band and fly home. He’s been on a 10-year musical odyssey, a journey that’s taken him around the country, but in many ways, he said, his life’s journey is just beginning.
YOU unsung hero
6
Volunteer extraordinaire By Erin Bishop Jill Newton likes to be busy. She volunteers for a number of organisa ons and it doesn’t leave her with much spare me, but that’s the way she likes it. Behind the volunteer though, lies a story of a woman who has ba led many health problems. Thirty-eight years ago, the birth of her daughter did irreparable damage to her body. She ba led incon nence and has endured 18 surgical procedures over the years. Now, the na onal ostomy society is just one of the several organisa ons Jill volunteers her me to. She’s been on the na onal execu ve for 12 years, the editor of the society’s magazine for eight years and was recently made na onal vice-president. She began volunteering when her children were young, volunteering as a lifeguard where the children swam. That was 28 years ago and she’s s ll going, about once a week. Twenty-seven years ago she started volunteering with the evening district nurse, a Red Cross ini a ve which Ashburton was the first place to adopt. She s ll does about five nights a month. Eighteen years ago she joined Ashburton Town Watch – a voluntary organisaon which patrols the streets of Ashburton on Friday and Saturday nights, being another set of eyes and ears for the police. She’s secretary/treasurer and goes out on patrol about once every three weeks. Ten years ago she became part of Ashburton’s Vic m Support network and she chaired the local commi ee for eight years. She sees that as a way of helping people in their me of need, and has added to that by joining the board of Ashburton’s Neighbourhood Support. The founda on member of the Ashburton branch of the Kidney Society is also part of the Red Cross emergency response team and put that hat on a er the Canterbury earthquakes, also a ending as part of Vic m Support to help people come to terms with their grief following the deadly February quake. She might have had her own problems to deal with over the years, but that hasn’t stopped her. “People do dwell on these things and I just don’t see the point in it. There’s always someone worse off around the corner,” she said. “I think it’s sad that young people don’t come forward to do these things because it really is quite rewarding.” Too many people these days would only do something if there was something in it for them. But for Jill, seeing the change in people once you’ve helped them is be er than any financial reward. The 62-year-old likes to keep fit, walking eight to 10km a day and swimming three mes a week, and while her voluntary roles don’t leave much me for herself, she isn’t bothered. She doesn’t like having spare me.
Jill Newton – volunteer extraordinaire.
PHOTO CARMEN ROONEY 010911-CR-126
When you buy or list your home with Margaret Wilson you get... • 100% Communication from Margaret • 100% Enjoyable professional experience with Margaret • 100% Passion for successful results from Margaret • Top 10 salespeople in the region: 6th place • Diamond Sales Award • Top dollar value of confirmed sales
Margaret’s proven success means you can be confident your property purchase or sale is in the best hands for a successful outcome Margaret Wilson - Consistently the top performer at the recent First National Real Estate regional awards held at Dunedin. Margaret Wilson
Selling homes just like yours M: 021 221 2544 P: 03 307 8317 www.margaretwilson.co.nz
Mid Canterbury (A member of the First National Group) Licensed Sales Person (REAA 2008)
YOU couch potato
Calling all
couch potatoes
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NT YO A W E U! W
Are you ready to become a part of our exciting new challenge?
Do you even remember the last time you did a push-up?
Do you have a desire to be fitter,
Is the remote control your best friend?
faster and stronger?
The YOU Magazine team are looking for six self-confessed ‘couch potatoes’ to join us on a public journey to obtain a higher level of fitness. There will be sweat, there may even be tears, and we hope there won’t be any blood, but it will most certainly change your life. The only pre-requisite is that you must be unfit. If you get pued walking to the corner dairy, then this is the challenge for you. To find out more and to receive an applica on form, please contact: Amanda Nible . Phone: 307-7927 Email: Amanda.n@theguardian.co.nz
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YOU and your travels
8
Lions are captured on film frolicking in the African sunshine.
PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Where animals
have the right of way
By Erin Bishop Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and hearing a hippopotamus playing in the water just a few metres away. That’s the kind of thing that Ashburton’s Colin and Kath Bryant experienced on their recent African safari. The Bryants were one of a number of Mid Canterbury couples who embarked on the 35 day tour of Africa in June. The Swahili Safari started off as a 20-day trip which began in Tanzania, but they also did an add-on, which included going to Zanzibar and Zambia, where they took microlight and helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls. They finished their trip in Botswana. It was a trip that Colin had always wanted to make, and it turned out he wasn’t the only one. “I always wanted to go to Africa. Kath was never that keen but she really enjoyed it, everyone did I’m really sure,” he said. “I saw it adver sed and said to friends of ours that we would quite like to go and would they consider it as well, and there was no hesita on.” And when the tour group met for its pre-trip mee ngs they discovered a number of Mid Cantabrians were going on the 30-person trip. The group consisted of 26 people from Canterbury, two from Australia and two from the North Island and their tour guide was former Ashburton woman Sue Verrall.
It was a safari trip, and while most of the accommoda on wasn’t five-star, they didn’t rough it either. They stayed in large tents while on safari. They had canvas walls, but permanent fixtures. “You weren’t allowed to walk around outside by yourself at night, you had to have a guide,” Colin said. “One night we were being escorted back to the tent and we got to ours, and the next couple got to theirs, and our friends were the last ones to get to theirs and there was an elephant standing on the track. So they had to back track a li le bit. “So the animals are about but they don’t seem to worry about the humans.” One night the Bryants’ tent was only a few metres from water, where hippos could be heard in the water at night, which was a surreal experience. The group saw what’s known as the “big five” – the elephant, the lion, the rhino, the leopard and the buffalo, and that was special, Colin said. Some of them were even close enough to touch, but you wouldn’t – for obvious reasons. They had one hairy experience when the convoy came to a herd of elephants wan ng to cross the road. “They had the right of way, I tell you that,” Mr Bryant said. The Bryants had travelled before, but for them, their trip to Africa was like nothing they’d ever experienced before.
Elephants get up close and personal with the tour party.
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African buffalo and zebra roam the land.
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A hippopotamus lounges in the water.
YOU and your travels
9
Elephants make their way across the African landscape.
Colin and Kath Bryant prepare for a meal during their African safari.
The Masai people were among those met on the way.
African buffalo graze on the wide African landscape.
A leopard climbs a tree to check no other predators are around after making a kill.
www.pggwre.co.nz
THE WINNING REAL ESTATE TEAM! Robin Ford Fourth place in the Rural / Total Revenue Award The winning team
Vince Carr
Left to right, back row: Colin Gilbert, Robin Ford, Vince Carr; Front row: Cathy Corah, Christine Carr, Liz Christian, Theresa Husband
First place in the Residential/Lifestyle Unit Sales Award and fourth in the Residential/Lifestyle Total Revenue Award.
Top Office - Residential/Lifestyle Award - 3-5 Salespeople Christine Carr, Colin Gilbert, Vince Carr and Theresa Husband
PGW’s Ashburton office arrived home from the 2011 Annual Real Estate Awards with a very impressive lineup of trophies and awards as they proved to be the best in the country against their peers in many categories. The winning team was photographed with their large collection of individual and team awards t Vince Carr was awarded first place in the Residential/Lifestyle Unit Sales Award and fourth in the Residential/Lifestyle Total Revenue Award t Robin Ford was awarded fourth place in the Total Revenue Award for Rural Sales t Christine Carr was awarded tenth place in the Residential/Lifestyle Total Revenue Award t Christine Carr, Vince Carr, Colin Gilbert, Theresa Husband and Robin Ford won the award for Top Office Residential/Lifestyle Award - 3-5 salespeople
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YOU house advertising feature
10
Lakeside luxury Le : John Skevington and Jo Ruane wouldn’t change a thing two years a er they built their dream home on the shore of Lake Hood. The open plan living, dining and kitchen area opens up fully to the tranquillity of the water through the large folding doors.
Story: Amanda Niblett Photos: Sarah Chamberlain It takes stunning architecture and superb cra smanship to walk into a home and be “wowed”. Add to the mix breathtaking scenery and water-front breakfasts, and a dream home is born. John Skevington and Jo Ruane built their dream home on the shores of Lake Hood, and two years later, there is s ll nothing they would change. “When we began the planning and construc on, we knew what we wanted, which helped to create an end result we are thrilled with. We wanted a home with a very modern look, which was achieved beau fully by the builder. With the intricate design features, we needed to ensure we had a cra sman. “We aren’t a fan of narrow hallways, and we wanted to be able to see the view of Lake Hood as soon as the front door is opened, so with the cleverly designed curving wall and layout of the living areas, we were able to get that effect. “The house had to be warm, so everything is double glazed, with argon gas between the layers of glass.” The lower level is all led with more
than 300 square metres of ling, heated by hot water pipes laid into the concrete founda on. The water through the pipes is heated by a diesel burner, and this heats the lower and upper ling areas, plus all of the heated towel rails throughout the house. It is the only hea ng John and Jo use, with no need to operate their gas fire. “We don’t have to shut off any rooms of the house to keep it warm, or run from one warm room to another, the en re house stays a comfortable temperature, from your toes up, which seems to warm everything right from the core. It’s a beau ful warmth,” Jo said. John lived locally while Lake Hood was being constructed, and when he saw the sec ons being created, he knew that Lake Hood was where he wanted to live. “We just love waking up by the water every morning, and some mes can’t believe how lucky we are to have this gorgeous view. I o en think that as New Zealanders, we tend to undervalue our scenery and lifestyle. For a sec on of this size, with a lake lapping its shores on our back lawn, and snow-capped mountain views out of the windows, this would be incredibly expensive and una ainable overseas. story conƟnues on facing page...
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The living area features a beloved piece of artwork, painted for John and Jo while on holiday on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. The high ceiling lets in abundant light, while the back of the room opens to a private terrace, and the front opens to the manicured lawn, leading to the lake front. The master bedroom opens to a glass-framed balcony with magnificent lake views, in a spacious, open plan design with the ensuite bathroom. With a stylish stand alone soak tub with lake views and his and her vani es, the space promotes pure serenity and relaxa on. The entrance is grand and spacious, le ng in glorious light and facilita ng a magnificent view, which allows sight of the lake from the front door. The curved wall which houses an office space is visually and architecturally magnificent. This wide open design has created an easy flow throughout the house, with no need for a narrow hallway.
YOU house advertising feature
from proceeding page...
“It may sound a bit cheesy, but every morning I wake early and read The Guardian here in the living room, and watch the sun rise over the lake. There are two white ducks that visit each morning, and that’s how I start every day. It’s just beau ful, so peaceful, calming and scenic,” John said. The construc on of the home was designed to make the most of the lake-side views, while aligning with the morning sun, and being protected from the prevailing nor-west winds. The main living area consists of grand height, featuring folding doors and addi onal windows, le ng in maximum light and uninterrupted views of the lake. The height allows for a bright piece of signature art-work, which comes with its own interes ng story. “We were at the Eumundi Market on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, where we met an interes ng ar st selling eyecatching pain ngs. He didn’t have quite what we were looking for, but he said to us ‘tell you what, let me know what you want, and I will do my best to re-create it, you don’t even have to buy it’. So we gave him an idea of what we wanted and what colours would match our decor.
“We came back three days later, and it was just perfect. He did an amazing job, the mountains, lake, boats, colours, it was exactly what we were looking for. It was quite a challenge ge ng it back home though, it wouldn’t fit properly in any vehicle and I had a lot of ques ons asked when I was trying to get it through the airport,” John said. To make the most of the stunning view over the lake, the master bedroom has been built above the open kitchen / dining area, with folding doors that open to a balcony that offers 180 degree views across the water. The ensuite master bathroom features a stand-alone tub that also soaks up the lake views, his and her fi ngs in chic black, large mirrors and heated towel rail. The bathroom style and colours have been copied throughout the other bathrooms in the house. “Each shower has a view, whether of the lake or the mountains,” Jo said. The lakeside living has been a dream come true for John and Jo. “It’s a wonderful feeling to look forward to going home at the end of the day. We can grab our boat and head out on the water, or bike around the lake, it feels like we’re on holiday all the me.”
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The kitchen exudes modern luxury, with a splash of style while s ll remaining prac cal. The front glass panel and splash-back , along with the glass banister up the staircase was influenced by the waves of Lake Hood. The raised panel in the bench-top allows conversa on to flow from the dining area to the kitchen, with no distrac ng views of dishes in the sink while a meal is being prepared. A second bench-top and sink is located just behind the kitchen in the laundry area, to allow for extra bench-top and prepara on space, for when Jo and John entertain a large group of guests. The front entrance is grand and masterful. Crisp white contrasted against charcoal and stone with a dominant square pillared wide entrance. The beau fully manicured lawn against the sophis cated exposed aggregate concrete driveway, combine to create a home which is visually striking and appealing from first glance.
YOU do it yourself
12
1 – Woodsy replaces a cylinder on a front door. 2 – Unscrew and screw cylinder from inside of door. 3 – Remount the lock on the inside of the door.
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YOU do it yourself
13
Secure your home
There are some 80,000 reported burglaries in New Zealand each year, although that figure may be substan ally higher with many break-ins going unreported. There is no absolute way to protect your home from break-ins, but here are some simple DIY measures you can do to deter would-be thieves. Good ligh ng is one of the greatest deterrents to crime. Floodlights or spotlights on the corner of your house can be inexpensive and rela vely easy to mount. Also remember to keep your garden shrubs and trees trimmed so would-be thieves have no place to hide. As you would expect, windows and doors are the main points of entry for a burglar and you could be giving them a helping hand in the form of open windows or lack of quality locks. Good security measures will discourage the amateur thief looking for an easy opportunity. As with most other types of security, locks for windows offer the most protec on when they are visible. Most older windows do not have locks, but are fi ed with central latches which offer li le protec on. Locking versions of these catches, o en described as sash window security locks, are available, and it is recommended these are fi ed in pairs. An even be er choice are sash stops. They are strong, easy to use and can be posi oned so the window can be le slightly open for ven la on. A steel bolt, secured by a key, is engaged through the inner and outer frames, and prevents the window from passing the stop. A stop should be fi ed each side of the window. Til ng and sliding type slash windows are best fi ed with both central locking catches and sash stops. The glass in louvre windows can be slid out in seconds. If you don’t want to replace the louvres use a glue or silicone to fix them in place or fit security bars. Deadlock accessible windows and doors
to ensure they cannot be opened easily even a er the glass is broken and always remove keys from the locks. Deadbolt locks are the most secure and double cylinder versions require a key to lock and unlock on both sides, preven ng burglars opening doors from the inside and escaping with your possessions. There are several kinds to suit both wooden and aluminium joinery. Drop bolts offer an alterna ve way to secure ranchslider, bi-fold and French doors and can be used in conjunc on with exis ng dead latches to give maximum security. Drop bolts come in a variety of styles and colours, are rela vely inexpensive to fit and are ideally mounted to the top and bo om of the door. The cheapest and most effec ve method of securing your ranchslider is a piece of wood to fit into the track behind the sliding door. This is only good when the door is not in use, but it is fail safe. Also check that the doors can’t be li ed out of the frames. Older ranchsliders can be li ed and unlatched easily. New locks have pins to prevent this and it is money well spent. Changing your locks when you move in is a must as you may have two sets of keys, but how many people have copies? Your landlord won’t change the locks? You don’t need to change them all – o en just the entrance door cylinder will do and put inexpensive bolt locks on the inside of any other doors. Changing your locks • Replacing the cylinder (inner locking mechanism) • Remove the lock from the inside of the door with a screwdriver. • Remove the cylinder (you may need to cut the arm of the new cylinder to the same length) • Screw in your new cylinder with the provided bolts and remount the lock to the inside of the door, making sure the arm of your new cylinder fits into the slot in the lock. Try it – we haven’t moved the posi on of the lock so it should be a winner.
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.
YOU great gardens
14
Alpine
treasures
By Sue Newman Every morning there’s a new surprise in Barbara Lischner’s garden. And those surprises, most o en, come in very small packages; that’s the way it is when your garden is filled with ny, but precious, alpine plants. Barbara has been a passionate alpine plant collector for years and said the pleasure she gains from the ny plants has been enduring. It’s survived a shi of house and the establishment of a new garden and it’s survived the plants themselves going in and out of fashion. There’s just something incredibly endearing about a ny plant that hides underground all winter and then bursts into the most perfect of flowers come spring, she said.
“I like their uniqueness. I like anything that’s rare and it is a challenge to grow them,” she said. While they might not be easy to grow, by nature alpines are hardy. Their natural environment is harsh – high al tude, rocky soil and snow cover for most of the winter. That’s the environment alpine plant gardeners try to recreate in their home patch, she said. Depending where the plant naturally calls home – dry or wet areas, that’s what alpine gardeners try to replicate. Her plants have extra protec on. They’re usually grown in pots that are buried in the ground to ensure none of the ny bulbs are lost when they’re in hiberna on mode. And like most alpine gardeners, she recreates their natural environment using rocks to protect tender roots from harsh summer sun. She’s one of about 30 other enthusiasts
around the Ashburton District who belong to the Alpine Garden Club. They, and fellow enthusiasts around New Zealand, have become each other’s best source of plants and advice. “Some can be quite expensive to buy and they’re o en very hard to get now too as many nurseries around New Zealand don’t stock our plants,” Barbara said. For her, growing alpine plants is a passion she’s enjoyed for more than 15 years. Inevitably she has her favourites – snowdrops, gen ans and ny daffodils, but it’s difficult not to love them all, she said. “I’m always on the look-out for things at shows. When you find a treasure, it’s very special and it’s so exci ng when new things flower for the first me.” They don’t come cheaply, with some species fetch up to $25 a plant. Barbara and husband Jim’s garden is large by
town standards, but it’s smaller than its predecessor. Looking to the future, if they ever move into a small house with a small garden, Barbara said she won’t have to think twice about what she’ll plant. “I’d have a courtyard garden and I’d fill it with li le things.” Barbara’s garden is not just about alpines, however, there’s a fair sma ering of roses and rhododendron too, but everything has its own area. The public will have an opportunity to view the best Canterbury’s alpine gardens have to offer when the Ashburton club hosts its annual show on October 1 at the Sinclair Centre. This provides an opportunity for people to view the ny plants in full bloom and also to buy plants they many not find available in commercial garden centres.
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YOU great gardens
15
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Barbara Lischner and her precious alpine plants. PHOTOS SARAH CHAMBERLAIN 300811-SC-099 300811-SC-102
Iris 300811-SC-110
300811-SC-109
Hepatica precious pink 300811-SC-106
Oxalis 300811-SC-107
Chionodoxa Luciliae Crocus
YOU street smart/technology
16
Vashti Johnstone loves to mix and match.
Style on her own terms By Erin Bishop Vash Johnstone doesn’t play by any rules when it comes to what she wears. She likes to mix and match and play with layers, and believes that classic is the way to go. “If you feel good in what you’re wearing, you’ll never go out of fashion.” She has clothes which date back years. “I’ve even got a dress that I made when I was 15 that I s ll wear,” she said. While she used to have the odd splurge on clothes, she now has kids, and having a family changes your priori es in life, Vash says. Now, she loves to si through the racks and find bargains at op shops. Her wardrobe features a wide range of styles; she doesn’t like throwing things out. “I’ve got clothes from
one end of the house to the other.” While she’s a fan of neutral, earthy colours, she’s an ar st, so she enjoys playing with colours too. Her style seen here is her own kind of vintage. Her boots come from Christchurch and her striped dress is a children’s surf dress, while her brown top is old, and was actually an underwear top. She doesn’t wear a lot of jewellery but the necklace she’s wearing came from her sister. When she does wear necklaces she likes long, homemade looking crea ons. Possibly her biggest fashion statement comes naturally though – her hair. Her curls might not have been fun when her mum was brushing them when she was li le, and un l a couple of years ago she had long dreadlocks, but now she has an incredible mop of golden locks which definitely turns heads.
What is it about iPads?
They’re taking the world, and New Zealand, by storm, so what is it about iPads? The mul touch display pad was first released in April 2010 and sold three million devices in 80 days, before going on to sell 14.8 million worldwide by the end of the year. The iPad 2 was released in March 2011and has proven just as popular. So what makes them so popular? One Ashburton user believes versa lity is the key. The mother-of-two uses her iPad primarily for work, catching up on news, games, social networking and things like TradeMe, while it is also simple to use for her two daughters. They bypass normal computers with the number of applica ons you can purchase, which is where it gets really exci ng, she said. “At $900, they’re s ll just toys but they have
the poten al to replace laptops. They won’t take off un l they can be integrated into jobs though,” she said. And for those already using iPads for work, they needed to remember to password protect them in case they ever lost them. The iPads are also light enough to put in a handbag, you don’t need to be at a desk to use them and they are incredibly easy to use, she said. At a recent conference, it was pointed out that when Apple released the iPads they a racted an unexpected market, the older genera on who may never have even used a computer. “It makes sense because they’re really easy to use and you can use them anywhere, even in your favourite chair.”
PHOTO KIRSTY GRAHAM 050911-KG-105
YOU Christmas functions advertising feature
17
Surviving the Christmas office party It’s that me of year again: the holiday oďŹƒce party. Aside from “don’t do anything stupid,â€? here are some ps to help you survive the event. Before the party Bring a date - or not Determine in advance if significant others are invited. An oďŹƒce party is a poten al career opportunity and your other half may be a great asset as you mix and mingle. If you do not have a significant other, this is not the best venue for a first date. Think ahead – how will I get home? You may need to be prepared to pay cab fare, yours or an inebriated colleague’s. Dress appropriately The venue will likely determine the dress code. If you’re not sure, ask. Make an impression for the right reasons. Don’t be late Arriving in the middle of dinner is rude, as is leaving too early, So definitely don’t plan other social engagements on the same evening. During the party Mingle with everyone Don’t head directly to the bar or buet table as soon as you arrive. Mingle first. Try to speak to every person in the room, if only to wish them happy holidays. Make conversa on with your boss’ wife or husband. In fact, be friendly with everyone’s significant other. They’ll remember your kindness and courtesy, and may prove influen al in your future career path. Avoid shop talk
Get to know your colleagues on a personal level. Ask about their favourite sports or recent vaca on des na ons. Be a good listener. However, the company oďŹƒce party may oer a chance to chat with the CEO or other senior managers you don’t speak with o en. Consider what you will say if the opportunity arises. Don’t hit on co-workers Even if that gorgeous secretary from the accoun ng department throws herself at you, or that guy with the smile that makes you melt decides that he’s interested, do your career a favour and refuse the advances. Alcohol may be a factor in their ac ons, and your response. Mixing business with pleasure requires careful considera on as many careers have been derailed due to an unplanned oďŹƒce party alliance. Watch your language Avoid foul language, vulgar terms and inappropriate topics. Drink moderately There is a great tempta on to drink excessively at oďŹƒce par es. Pace yourself with alcohol. There’s no shame in declining a cocktail, especially if you’re driving.. Have fun Be a good sport. If the DJ holds a contest, par cipate and try to draw other people into the fun. You’ll be seen as a natural leader. A er the party Thank the hosts Always make a point of saying goodnight and thank you to the most senior manager in a endance, the party organiser and your own boss before you leave.
Hitting on the office hottie isn’t always the smartest idea at your office Christmas party. Neither is getting so intoxicated that you end up saying something you regret. Christmas is the season to be jolly, not jobless, so here is some advice on how to ensure the party, much like the crackers, go “off with a bang�.
Stay in Santa’s good books with this Brinkley Early Bird Christmas Bonus Book your next work function at Brinkley by the 20th October and receive: BRINKLEY EARLY BIRD BONUS 1. Complimentary Cocktail on arrival 2. Lucky Door Prize to the value of $300 for one lucky guest* 3. Late checkout and stay 2 nights for the price of one for all guests 4. Complimentary use of outdoor spa pools, tennis court and golfing green
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MENU OPTIONS We offer a selection of christmas packages to suit those looking for a small celebratory christmas feast or those looking for a large office function.
With heart-racing entertainment, festive culinary treats and a superb spot oncourse, your end-of-year party is sure to be a winner! A range of fabulous hospitality packages are available now for a Christmas at the Races event near you.
Meals range from $35–$55 per head and can be catered to suit your individual requirements. If you are looking for something different this Christmas then why not try our Christmas BBQ option.
GERALDINE 26 NOV
TRAVELLING FROM ASHBURTON? We can now provide return travel from Ashburton for guests from just $15pp, minimum numbers apply. Please contact us for more details.
For more information, visit theraces.co.nz, call 0800 102 106, or email info@theraces.co.nz
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CONTACT US 43 Barkers Road, Methven CALL: 03 302 8885 info@brinkleyresort.co.nz
ASHBURTON 2 DEC
YOU and your family
18
YOU wedded bliss
Above – Olivia (nee Bailey) and Shannon McGregor were married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Pleasant Point on August 20. They’re pictured with their wedding party (from left) Loretta McGill, Gemma Tulett, Toni Baker, Daniel Wilson, Paul Karton and Michael Parker.
Left – Olivia McGregor and her pet chihuahua, Holden.
PHOTO CARMEN ROONEY 020811-CR-073
Barbara Rodgers and husband Brad, with children Dom, 14, Charli, 10, Noah, 3, and Casey, 17 months.
What makes your family tick? YOU’s Susan Sandys asks the question of Barbara Rodgers of Ashburton.
Make the most of each day What is the main thing you would like your kids to learn from you? To enjoy life and make the most of it and every opportunity, and of course be happy with the decisions that you make.
Hayley (nee Kelly) and Hamish Mcleod married on March 5 on the groom’s parents’ farm at Carew.
Do you have any tips for harmonious family life such as discipline and parenting techniques? With a wide range of ages in my children, I let the older two have freedom, but we have boundaries as well, because they do like to push you to the limits. The younger two boys love looking up to their older sisters, but also they need limits as they are at that age where they like to see how far they can push, in a good way! I try to always be there for them no ma er how I am feeling, and be their friend but also their parent at the same me. Unfortunately paren ng doesn’t come with an instruc on manual, and you never know what is going to happen from day to day. Pa ence is a good skill to learn.
What does the future hold? You never know what is around the corner so make the most of each day. I want my
children to make decisions in their life that are good for them. I want them to be happy with their life, and for them to grow up to be who they want to be, and know that Brad and I will always be there for them.
How long have you lived in Ashburton and what is it that keeps your family here? Me and my girls have been in Ashburton for four years. We moved up here when I met my husband Brad, as his life was here. Being from the deep south, born and bred, I wanted a change and so we both decided Ashburton was it. What keeps us here is friends and family, and being involved with various things such as parents centre, and of course our jobs. And just the lifestyle, it’s so cruisey. Everyone is so welcoming and, being a small town, it’s a great place to bring up kids.
What activities in Ashburton do you and your family enjoy? We love going to the domain and feeding the ducks, going to the playground, having an ice-cream there, going for a walk, swimming. We love going out to Lake Hood and relaxing. In Brad’s case, he loves staying at home and having fun with the kids, knowing that it isn’t going to cost us!
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YOU and your gems
19
A handful of gold
060911-CR-124
By Sue Newman
PHOTO CARMEN ROONEY 290811-CR-036
Wendy Greene – her jewellery has strong links to her family’s past.
Wendy Greene’s hands tell the story of her life. Most fingers are home to at least one ring, all of them gold and all with a story to tell. Some stories are quirky, others are wrapped in family history. Regardless of how she came by those rings, regardless of their value, she cherishes each one. Pride of place is given to a ring that belonged to her great-grandmother. It’s at least 115 years old and is s ll in perfect condi on. The cornflower blue sapphires, two mine cut diamonds and 18 carat gold band speak of decades of care. There is li le sign of wear although a hallmark inside the band is now almost indisnguishable. Her great grandmother lived at Waddington and then at Rangiora and in later years was cared for by Wendy’s mum. The rings were passed down the family line. Another link with Wendy’s family’s past is in a triple diamond ring that belonged to her mother’s sister. That ring came via a family member who was a jeweller in England. Again it is in perfect condi on. Wendy admits that she’s had a li le luck when it came to collec ng jewellery. Money le to her by a friend was used to buy a ring with Celanese sapphires and brilliant cut diamonds, but it is the four diamond ring on her le hand that tells the quirkiest story.
Wilshi Button Ring
Compared to most of Wendy’s rings, it is rela vely new. “I’d had a li le pinky ring for years. It was my favourite but I somehow lost it so I claimed insurance. A friend was pu ng my washing on the line and she found it in my clothes. It must have fallen off, so I bought it back from insurance.” That le Wendy with her original ring and money for a replacement. A four in a row 3/4carat diamond ring proved irresis ble. Her fingers tell a story of old jewellery happily mingling with new. The age of her rings might vary, but when it comes to stones, she’s most definitely a diamond and sapphire girl. Gold is her metal of choice and that’s carried through into two bracelets that are a perfect match for her rings. As a lover of good jewellery, Wendy has the perfect job, working in a jewellery shop. She’s been there for 27 years and said she s ll enjoys checking out the ever-changing displays. “When I applied for this job it was through an accountant and I had no idea it was at a jewellers. At that me, I probably only owned my wedding and engagement rings.” It was to be the beginning of a working life that has seen Wendy outlast three employers. It’s also been a huge test of her willpower as she con nues to resist the lure of spending most of her wages on jewellery. She’s also resisted having her older jewellery remodelled. The original design is part of its a rac on, she said.
Sterling silver druzy quartz pendant and chain
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Wilshi Plain Classic Ring $159 available from Time For Diamonds
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for a Unique you...
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Time For Diamonds
86 Tancred Street, Ashburton : Phone 03 308 6722 www.timefordiamonds.co.nz Hours: Mon - Fri 9-5.30 Sat 9.30-12.30 Check us out on Facebook to be informed of up-coming sales!
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YOU car-mania
20
Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are seen on Mid Canterbury roads. One that may have caught the eye is Graham Stevens’ Lotus 7 replica. Just for YOU, Jonathan Leask looks at his home-made sports car. Homemade speedster Graham Stevens with his Lotus 7 replica.
PHOTO KIRSTY GRAHAM 040911-KG-097
Lotus power It’s a work in progress. You’re always working on something and I’m quite happy to take it apart and put it back together
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It has been on the road for 12 years but Graham Stevens’ car is s ll a work in progress. His Lotus 7 replica was built from the chassis to a completed road worthy car, but it is s ll unfinished. “It took seven years but I built it myself with the help of others,” Graham said. “It’s a work in progress. You’re always working on something and I’m quite happy to take it apart and put it back together.” The Lotus 7, a two-seated open-air lightweight sports car, was produced between 1957 and 1972. No longer in produc on, the only way to get one is to build one or buy one someone has built. Graham chose the la er, picking up a chassis from a company in Invercargill, and pieced together his own sports car. Building your own car from scratch isn’t easy, especially when isn’t not your specialty. “It was a real learning curve coming from a woodwork trade. “All the bits and pieces could have been a hassle for me without guidance and I had a lot of helping hands along the way but I learnt as I went. “The hardest part was the wiring. I laid out all the wires and cables and had no idea how it was all going to fit in but we got there in the end.” Building your own car allows the freedom to pick and choose what goes into it but Graham wanted a real replica. “All the way I’ve tried to keep it along the original vein but also make it easy to work
with, like the engine. “I put a motor from a Toyota Corolla in it and it’s just a standard 1600cc motor but the exhaust has changed and I converted it to being carbure ed from fuel injected. “Being a replica of a car no longer in produc on parts are hard to come by so when you do find them some mes you just buy them even if you don’t need it, just in case you need it one day.” Some people own and rebuild classics to have them on display and for rare use only, but Graham’s Lotus is for driving. “What’s the point in having a toy if you can’t play with it. “We try to use it as much as we can. I take it out quite o en and my wife drives it around. We love it.” The Lotus 7 was originally made as a road legal racecar, a concept not lost on Graham. “I’ve taken it in sprint mee ngs and I even entered the Ashburton street sprint two years in a row.” Graham’s not alone in his love for Lotus cars as they are quite popular, having a large following in the South Island. “There is a big club of genuine Lotus drivers but replicas are accepted as well. Each year we go on a weekend tour which is just a chance to go on a big drive.” It may be a regular on the roads but Graham’s Lotus 7 remains a project car a er 12 years on the road. “There always seems to be something or some li le thing to do and that will probably always be the case.”
YOU motoring
advertising feature
From the heart of Romania by Amanda Niblett The arrival of the Romanian rugby team in Ashburton has brought tremendous excitement and intrigue to our community, and Vali Nicoloiu from Ashburton Toyota is no excep on. Born and bred in Romania, Vali moved to New Zealand eight years ago, to join his brother-in-law and sister who had already made a home in New Zealand. “My brother-in-law is a mechanic, and the company he worked for in Methven needed another mechanic, so I was able to receive a contract allowing me to move here and work. “If you had asked me even a week before I moved if I would move to New Zealand, I would have said no, it’s not possible, but when the work was available I decided to move,” Vali said. Vali took the opportunity to work for Ashburton Toyota more than three years ago, to up-skill and specialize in newer vehicles. “Being a mechanic is not like it used to be 20 years ago. You can’t just open the hood of
a 2011 model car and start fixing it. Everything is becoming more electronic with more computers, and you need the specific training to understand how to fix them properly.” Vali has been con nually training and upskilling through the Toyota training network. He is a Toyota Hybrid Elite Technician, which is extremely involved and requires on-going training. He is also currently training towards becoming a Toyota Diagnos c Master Technician, which he is close to comple ng. “Although my English has improved, I have found the training challenging with the language barrier, but I keep pushing myself to get be er and learn more. The technology they give us to learn is incredible. We are equipped with I-pads, and have a direct link to the Toyota training department, so the support we receive while learning is fantas c.” Vali is excited to be a ending all of the Romanian rugby matches in the South Island, and has had the privilege of mee ng the team when they arrived in Ashburton. “It’s a once in a life me opportunity, so first I was only going to see one game, but then thought hey why not, this sort of thing doesn’t happen every day, so now I can go to all the games in the South Island. “I brought two Romanian tops, one to wear, and the other one I had signed by the team. They are good guys, down to earth and not arrogant.” While op mis c, Vali doesn’t hold strong hope on his favourite team taking away the Webb Ellis Trophy. “I love my country and I support my team, but no. I’m realis c, I don’t think the likelihood of them winning is very high, but I’m looking forward to supporting them on the field, and I will be cheering loudly for them.”
We
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We guarantee you: • Safety: Having the right safety features protects you and your family. We make our vehicles strong by using the best technology available to maximise your safety. • Quality and reliability: You won’t be disappointed by our cars. We take the quality and the reliability of our cars very seriously and so we build them aiming for the best. We are constantly improving their designs and their engines so they perform consistently. We want you to be confident that your car will start when you turn the key and that it will get you where you need to go without drama. • Durability: We build our vehicles to last decades, thinking of lifetimes rather than life cycles. We believe good things stand the test of time. That’s the reason why our cars hold their value. • Customisation: if you buy a new Toyota, you can choose your own features such as GPS navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, parking sensors and many more. • After service: We support our vehicles with a quality service that ensures you your car will be looked after well with our experienced staff. • Satisfaction: We will do everything we can to make sure that the car you buy from us will still be satisfying you in a year or many years time.
2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER s 76,258km s Auto
2001 TTOYOTA LAND CRUISER 100 SERIES s 198,000km s Auto
$35,995 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY s 74,000km s Auto
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2005 TTOYOTA A RAUM s 1.5ltr s 61,500km
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PHOTO AMANDA NIBLETT
s 27,200km s 2.4 Auto
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Left – At home under the hood; Vali Nicoloiu from Ashburton Toyota will be travelling the South Island to support his nation’s team, Romania, in the Rugby World Cup.
2009 TTOYOTA RAV4 LTD
$15,495
Choose your next car from us with confidence Cnr East Street and Walnut Avenue, Ashburton. Phone 307-5830 or 308-9928 anytime. www.ashburton.toyota.co.nz SALES TEAM A/H Ray Girvan - 0274 507 497, Gavin Johnston - 0274 507 544. OPEN SATURDAY 9AM - 1PM
YOU foodies
22
A bite from Romania
Recipe of the month Congratulations to last months winner Janice Anthony, Ashburton
Violeta Tataru is dedicated to keeping her Romanian culture alive in New Zealand and admits food plays a big part in that. Violeta and her family moved to New Zealand from Romania nearly nine years ago and love exchanging recipes from their homeland with Kiwi friends, including Sarmale which are Romanian cabbage and mince rolls (see below). The family hails from Transylvania where German and Hungarian food influence a lot of what is cooked and in the country, most food comes from the land and food is prepared for the week, as opposed to being cooked each night like in New Zealand. She admits Ashburton was quite a conserva ve place when they first arrived but events like the mul cultural bite were helping to change that. “It’s good to have the opportunity to bring our culture and share it with people,� she said. PHOTOS KIRSTY GRAHAM 050911-KG-030
Violeta Tataru from Romania.
Tandoori Roasted Pumpkin Soup A meal in itself. Serves: 4 Preparation Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 30 mins Ingredients: 4 Tablespoons Tandoori Palace Tandoori Paste 2 Tablespoons natural yoghurt 4 cups peeled and cubed pumpkin (approx 1/2 medium pumpkin) 1 400g can coconut cream 1 litre vegetable or chicken stock
Method: 1. Combine Tandoori Paste and yoghurt. 2. Marinate pumpkin in paste mixture for one hour (optional) 3. Spread on baking paper on oven tray. 4. Roast in preheated oven at 175ºC until pumpkin cooked (approx ½ hour) and just browned. 5. Mash pumpkin and blend with coconut cream and stock. 6. Heat and serve with chopped coriander and warmed naan bread.
Method
Handy Hints: Grind a tablespoon of coriander seeds onto pumpkin when roasting. Serve with a side bowl of steamed rice.
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T d Tandoori iP Palace l Giveaway 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.
Romanian cabbage and mince rolls (sarmale)
TO TEKAPO
TO TIMARU
TALBOT ST TO CHRISTCHURCH
• Chop the onion and lightly fry it. Add salt, pepper, paprika and beef stock. Then add the mince and s r again. Add a bit of thyme and dill and s r again. Then add the rice a er it has been well rinsed and s r well again. • Boil the whole cabbage in salty water for five minutes. Then drain it and let it cool down. Take apart the cabbage leaf by leaf (you need to use the thin part of each leaf).
Ingredients ½ kg pork mince & ½ kg beef mince 1 cabbage 1 cup rice 1 onion Salt, cracked pepper, paprika, beef stock, laurel leaves, thyme, dill, one li le can of tomato paste • Take one tablespoon of the mince mix and put on to a cabbage leaf. Then roll it as a spring roll and toed the ends in. Do this for all the mince mix and cabbage leaves. • Place the rolls close together in a pot, row by row. When pot is full add couple of laurel leaves, thyme, dill, salt and tomato paste. Add water to fill (to cover them). Bring to boil then cover and simmer for 45 minutes. • Serve hot covered with sour cream.
YOU and your passion
23 Bevan Bain spent 16 years on the New Zealand Rugby Union junior board and was instrumental in developing the secondary schools competition alongside All Black great Grant Fox in the early 1980s.
PHOTO CARMEN ROONEY 010911-CR-097
A passion for grass-roots rugby By Lance Isbister There wouldn’t be too many people more passionate about rugby union than Ashburton man Bevan Bain. The New Zealand schoolboy and Mid Canterbury rugby stalwart looks forward to watching most of the World Rugby Cup matches as the tournament progresses, but only from the comfort of his own home. Bevan, who helped form the forerunner to secondary schools rugby as we know it today, may love the sport, but is concerned about the direc on in which professionalism is taking the sport. “The Sonny Bill Williams affair currently in the headlines is an example of how sad rugby administra on has become, money rules the sport and is killing the game.” “Professionalism has had a huge impact in rugby and it has not been for the good.”
Bevan said he did not have a great love for the Rugby World Cup “and all the carryings on that go with it”, but rather considers himself a tradi onalist and he enjoyed the classic test matches, which were more like one-off ba les between countries. One of his favourites was the 1956 test match between New Zealand and South Africa at Lancaster Park (formerly AMI Stadium) which he recalled being a hard-fought physical match. “It was just as well there was no television (covering the) matches in those days, the atmosphere was electric!” Despite all the hype of professional rugby today, Bevan remembered the strength of local rugby when he first arrived in Ashburton in 1974 to find 10 senior teams compe ng as well as junior rugby games being played from one end to the other at the Ashburton Oval grounds.
These days however, Bevan said young people had a wider variety of sports and other interests that they could take up over rugby, which had contributed to the decline of people playing the sport. The Mid Canterbury Rugby life member has held many coaching and administrave posi ons in his me and has also been involved in cul va ng great teams such as the senior Mid Canterbury rep team during the 1979 to 1983 period, which was be er known as “the mighty men from mid”. “It was a formidable unit and played most units including many first division ones in which they competed on equal ground.” Bevan was proud of the fact that three men from the mighty men of mid, including Jock Ross, Craig Green and Grant Perry, went on to become All Blacks. “Managing school teams and South Island under-age teams has special memories, so
many boys who had their first experience above union level have progressed on to higher honours.” In 1995 Bevan was president of the New Zealand schools rugby union when the rep team toured Wales, Scotland and England and said it had created special memories as the team contained Leon MacDonald, Doug Howle and Xavier Rush who would later become All Blacks, while other members of the team also went on to represent Pacific Island teams at an interna onal level. Despite his involvement with New Zealand rugby at a na onal level, Bevan s ll has a great apprecia on for grass-roots rugby and seldom passes up a chance to see Mid Canterbury when they are playing on their own turf. “Rugby has been very kind to me and I feel that I was privileged to be part of it in the amateur days.”
YOU social scene
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Above (from left) – Jenny Brady, Amy McIntyre, Sarah Hawe and Warren Maslin. Above right – Lucy Whiteside, Daniel van der Salm and Adele McLeod.
Daffodil Day quiz night Above (from left) – Richard Catherwood, Natasha Wilson and Sandi Wood. Right – Ali Johnstone, Miranda Armstrong, Ian Broadbelt and Joe Butchard.
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Jane Hooper and Stephen Bradshaw. 190811-KG-023
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A night witth Allysson Gofton
Judy Anstey and Clare Chapman.
John Atkinson and Rae Magson. 230811-CR-136
Above – A. J. French, Norma Geddes, Hayley Paulson and Sue Paulson.
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Marian Bellamy, Sarah McLauchlan and Suzanne Churchward.
Above – Cindy de Kort and Jean Letham. Below – Jenny Slater, Alison Westgarth and Sue Bailey.
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Bev Tasker, Sheilagh Moore and Bev Gregory. 190811-KG-024
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Pam Morrison and Kay Gardner.