Vol 3 Issue 6, Summer 2012
Active living in later life Can’t Stop The Music The Village People in NZ
Kicking up our heels
International Day of Older Persons
Quiz Nights!
Fun at the local pub
Flowers in Christchurch Cultivating a great floral garden $4.95 | Free to all RVA member village residents
Do you have questions about living in a retirement village? The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment provides free, independent advice and information for people living in or thinking about moving into a retirement village. Call us free on: 0800 83 62 62 or visit our website www.dbh.govt.nz The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is the government agency responsible for overseeing the Retirement Villages Act 2003.
The team Editor-in-chief: Shane Cummings Advertising: Belle Hanrahan Production manager: Barbara la Grange General manager/publisher: (APN Educational Media) Bronwen Wilkins Writers: Leigh Bramwell, Jim Eyers, Ken Eagle, Gaye Philpott, Peter Gooding, Dr Joe Kosterich, Eion Scarrow, Trevor Wilson Stock images: Thinkstock Phone 04 471 1600 Fax 04 471 1080 Web www.apn-ed.co.nz/ page/best-of-times.aspx
Contents
2 Desk duty – Masked ball, Matakana Island, upholstery, and RVA news
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Village life – International Day of Older Persons Entertainment – Macho Man Eric Anzalone Social life – Quiz night! Food – Salad Season Books – Reviews Travel – Charming Stresa Health – Ways to avoid diabetes Gardening – Floral gardening and demonstration gardens Sport – Eagle on Soccer Giveaways and fun
From the editor Published by APN Educational Media, a division of APN National Publishing NZ Limited. Level 1, Saatchi & Saatchi Building, 101-103 Courtenay Place, PO Box 200, Wellington ISSN: 1179-3252 Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Errors and omissions Whilst the publishers have attempted to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this publication, no responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for any errors or omissions. Terms and conditions 1. Entry into our competitions confirms your acceptance of our terms and conditions. 2. Entry is open to New Zealand residents only. 3. Best of Times takes no responsibility for lost, stolen, misdirected or incomplete entries. The publisher’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 4. By accepting this prize the winner consents to the publisher using his/her details for promotional use. 5. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. 6. All entries become the property of the publisher.
As an ex-pat Aussie, for me, summer is a heat wave and the drone of cicadas. For others, it’s sunny weather and a trip to Piha Beach, Pegasus Bay, or the Napier foreshore. I’d love to say the early days of summer have been glorious, but with the recent tornado in Auckland and the always squirrely weather here in Wellington (Best of Times HQ), it’s difficult to be chipper! Despite this, we’ve tapped into the spirit of summer with some wonderful summery stories. Village resident Peter Gooding gives a tour of his grand floral garden in Christchurch, which is now hitting its summer prime. Dietitian Gaye Philpott stirs up the taste buds with some summer salad suggestions. And what can be more summery than the Village People belting out their classic hits such as YMCA? Eric Anzalone, the current ‘leather man’ of the iconic group, took a few moments out of his tour of New Zealand to chat with us. While we do our best to inform and inspire with our articles, our strength is in being the voice of village residents. We have contributions from Trevor Wilson, Jim Eyers, Peter Gooding, and an amazing spread about the activities around the country on International Day for Older Persons in October. However, if we have received a letter from you and it hasn’t been published, please be patient. With limited pages, we have to hold some letters and articles over for our 2013 issues. Please don’t let that stop you from sending in stories, letters, and most importantly, photos! Speaking of villager input, I’d like to offer a quick apology to scooter rider extraordinaire Loas Toung. In the last issue, we mentioned Loas was of a certain age (foolishly ignoring the advice of never stating just how old… err… young a woman truly is). We missed the mark by a good few years, and while we’d love to state just how young Loas is, that information will have to forever remain a mystery to readers. – Regards, Shane Cummings (editor@bestoftimes.co.nz)
Become a columnist for Best of Times Best of Times magazine, which is circulated to every resident in RVA-member retirement villages across New Zealand, is interested in ‘villager’ columnists. If you are a village resident with a background of expertise in careers advice, medicine, finance, sport, the arts, or similar, and you would like to write an occasional ‘expert’ column in Best of Times to benefit the readers, then please get in touch with the editor by email: editor@bestoftimes.co.nz or by writing to him at Editor, Best of Times, APN Educational Media, PO Box 200, Wellington 6140. Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 1
Desk duty Sisters Eileen McClinchy (left) and Mary Dalliessi enjoying a (non-alcoholic) cocktail.
They danced all night…
A glamorous night at
Tamahere Eventide Tamahere Eventide Home recently held a masquerade ball for its rest home and retirement village residents, and as you can see, a great night was had by all! The ball got off the ground through the efforts of staff fundraising and a dash of sponsorship. Although the room was professionally decorated, residents helped by creating the masks and decorating the diversional therapy poster boards.
From left: Win Barranca, Beverley Attrill, Sheila Howard, and Colleen Philps.
The alluring Audrey White.
An excursion to Matakana Island
TREVOR WILSON offers a first-hand account of a fascinating village day trip. Recently, residents of Althorp Village enjoyed an excursion to Matakana Island in the Bay of Plenty. The day of our visit dawned clear and chilly, with a good forecast promising plenty of sunshine. It didn’t disappoint. Boarding our transport to the island, the Kewpie, didn’t take long. Along with the magnificent morning, Tauranga’s harbour was almost glassy calm. That made for very pleasant cruising. About 25 minutes later, we arrived at the Matakana jetty, where we were greeted by our guide for the island tour, Hone Ngatai. Hone is an enthusiastic and patriotic Matakaner. His obvious pride in the island and ideas for its future shone throughout his commentary. We set off on the island’s school bus through a pine forest on a very rough and bumpy forest road. While we lurched and bounced and swayed in our seats, Hone outlined the island’s background. Of the forest area we passed through, half is owned by the islanders and the other half under lease to an American company that 2 Best of Times
exports its logs back to America. The islanders hope to buy the Americans out, but at present, they haven’t the finances to do so. While the population of the island is almost all Maori, two European families also own property there. They have adopted the island way of life and are regarded as good Matakaners. As Hone explained, Matakana is a wonderful place to grow up and also to retire, but the problem is to keep young people on the island through their working years. Every effort is being made to address this situation through developing more opportunities. From its early years, Matakana was gradually stripped of native flora. Recently, efforts have been made to correct this situation. An extensive native tree nursery is flourishing and thousands of native plants have been planted mainly, at this stage, along the waterways. When we reached the edge of the forest, Hone led us out onto the ocean
beach. This magnificent stretch of sand stretches right up the eastern side of the island and is not only noted as a source of good fishing but also for its surf, which is very popular with local surfies. Unfortunately, this beach paradise became a horror strip when the container ship Rena was wrecked. It bore the brunt of the oil spill and wreckage of timber, plastic beads, milk powder, animal pelts, and house-hold goods. With their small population, the islanders were stretched to breaking point cleaning up the beach. When we reboarded the bus, we travelled through farmland and cropping country to another beach on the inner side of the island. Here, Hone told us about the friendship the islanders have always had with the Waikato Maori, a number of whom used to journey to Matakana every year to enjoy the succulent sea food and renew past friendships with the islanders. Our tour ended with another rough journey through the forest to the wharf, where the Kewpie was waiting for us.
Desk duty
From John Collyns at the RVA Sing and the world sings with you
The art of upholstery
Village resident and upholsterer by trade Jim Eyers provides an insight into the history of his profession. Upholstery is the profession of providing furniture – especially seats – with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. It is a noble art and craft stretching back in time as far as the cave man – when I am sure he would have sought to add a degree of comfort to his surroundings, and his partner might well have wanted to try her hand at creating some form of decoration. Later, many kings’ throne chambers would have featured the skills of artisans under their control, while in Biblical times, chairs would have come from the workshop of Joseph and Jesus with additional drapery to compliment them. Temples and many sites of officialdom and prominence have always been a boost to the advancement of the upholsterer’s art. Development through the ages has witnessed improving techniques, demanding standards, and innovative procedures as the trade progressed into commercial manufacturing enterprises. This growth has necessitated practitioners applying an increasing amount of artistry, practical engineering, numeracy, geometry mathematics, and experimentation with new fabrics. The industrial revolution ended much of the hand-worked labour with new tools and machines becoming available, and a further rapid period of advancement in designs and tools followed the Second World War. Upholstery fashions have changed over the years. Materials such as horse hair, coconut fibre, flax, wool, cotton fabric, kapok, and ciderdown seed have been used as filling for panels and furniture. However, material trends have moved first to rubber and more recently to lightweight fibre and foam. Improvements in awareness of health and safety requirements for workers had been an influencing factor in bring about these changes. An accompanying factor has been the reduction of labour in using these modern fillings. The earlier padding had to be enclosed in scrim, formed up, and stitched into place to the required shape, whereas foam can be easily sculpted, glued, or stapled into a frame and covered directly. Along with these major advances, seat suspension received its share of attention, changing from a compression spiral coil spring on slats or webbing at the base of a piece to a horizontal tension spring. Plying the upholstery trade brings its own rewards. One of the most rewarding outcomes of a successful recovery job is seeing the enjoyment and appreciation of a client when they first see their newly restored piece. The upholsterer leaves part of their character in the newly restored piece.
In the Spring 2012 issue of Best of Times, we launched our retirement village residents’ choral festival, generously sponsored by Bay Audiology. I was delighted to read the article by Jim Eyers in the same issue extolling the virtues of choral singing in his village’s choir led by Val Johnstone. Summerset in the River City joins at least 30 other villages with active resident choirs, and we’re looking forward to hearing from them again closer to the time when we call for festival entries. Singing brings a host of health and social benefits. But in addition, our Choral Festival celebrates age, the joy of music-making, and we hope it will be an incentive for villages to form a choir if one doesn’t already exist. In a survey we recently undertook with our member villages, we got a surprising number of comments that their village choir isn’t “good enough”, it’s “not big enough”, or that it “sings for fun, not for competition”. While our festival will have finalists drawn from the choirs registered to appear in Wellington and a “winner” to acknowledge quality, it’s not really all about winning. The festival is about singing and taking part. There’s no minimum or maximum choir size (although we’re not expecting many choirs with more than 30 people). If your village choir enjoys singing together, that’s the only qualification you need! Of course, if your village doesn’t have a choir, think about making up a choir from residents in other villages in the area. Singers in choirs entering the festival must all be retirement village residents, but they don’t have to be residents of the same village. The key dates to remember are: 31 May 2013: Registration forms and a video, DVD, or tape of the choir singing required in the RVA’s Wellington office. 24 & 25 September 2013: The Choral Festival takes place at Wellington’s prestigious Michael Fowler Centre. Over the next few weeks, we’re sending out posters to villages to promote the festival, and Bay Audiology will be following those up with a DVD of some NZ village choirs in action. We are also aware that some choirs worry about the cost of getting to Wellington and hotel accommodation once they’re here. We’re talking to local villages about the possibility of billeting visiting choirs, as well as hotels and motels to make sure we get the best deals we can. We’ll also talk to the airlines and coach operators to see what our group buying power can arrange. On the other hand, we know of at least Auckland one village that has committed itself to fundraising to get their choir to Wellington and has already raised more than $2,000! So where there’s a will there’s a way.
Changes to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice
The Minister of Building and Construction, the Hon Maurice Williamson, recently announced some important changes to the Code of Practice governing the way retirement villages conduct their day-to-day business. The principal change corrected a problem that arose in Christchurch when residents were not repaid the full amount of their original capital sum when a village was destroyed and not rebuilt. We said that outcome was very unfair to the residents concerned and campaigned for a change to require a full repayment without deductions to residents in that situation. As a result, we are delighted that the Minister agreed with our stance and has amended the Code accordingly. We know that resident advocates also supported this position so it was a win all round! Another important change deals with insurance. As everyone knows, premiums for general insurance rose dramatically in the months after the earthquakes and will continue to rise for some time yet. A retirement village operator is still required to have full insurance for the village, including cover for capital improvements or additional fittings provided by residents. Any other policies held by the operator must be listed in the Disclosure Statement. Residents are responsible for their own contents insurance for their property in the unit. Ask your village manager about any special deals for retirement village residents’ contents policies or contact the RVA on info@retirementvillages.org.nz John Collyns, RVA Executive Director Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 3
Village life
Celebrating
International Day
of Older Persons On October 1, retirement villages around the country celebrated International Day of Older Persons in style. Here is evidence of their hijinks!
Moana House
Parkwood Lodge
The joint was jumping over at Parkwood Lodge. Pictured is Viv Potter revving it up! 4 Best of Times
Moana House Residents and staff, along with members of Whangamata community, celebrated this special day in style at the Whangamata Golf Club. The theme was ‘Razzle Dazzle’, which saw many dazzling outfits of that era worn.Vintage vehicles were kindly brought to the occasion by Bob Pipe and Ray Leask, so the residents took the opportunity to have their photo taken alongside them. Entertainment was provided by the popular Thames based band, Ukes on Fire, and Sticky Date Catering supplied the delicious lunch. By all reports, lots of entertainment and fun was had by all!
Village life
Summerset at Aotea
After some initial scorn from residents at Summerset at Aotea thinking staff were calling them ‘old’ by celebrating Older Persons Day, the village had a great response to a Devonshire tea morning tea, which included entertainment by local musician Terry Carian on the piano. 70 residents enjoyed the festivities. In addition to the entertainment, staff put out a request to the residents to tell them ‘Good things about being older…’ The responses were displayed on a wall for residents’ enjoyment and inspiration, and they included some heartfelt and funny observations, such as: »» Sleeping in if we wish. Reading a book of any length of time without feeling guilty. Leaving till tomorrow (or the next day) that which I could (or should) be doing today. Just sitting dreaming. Enjoying living here at Summerset. »» I don’t need a comb anymore. »» When you look in the mirror you can’t see your wrinkles – the eyesight has gone. »» The older you get. the more memories you have. »» Having greatest wisdom of human relationships. Having more generosity. Not concerned with unnecessary detail. »» I can watch the same programme on TV over and over again because I’ve lost the plot. »» Watching our lovely eight grandchildren develop into wonderful young adults. »» Don’t need to worry – been there, done that. »» I like to hear my great grandchildren coming up and saying ‘Hello, Great Grandma’. »» You can enjoy grandchildren without being responsible for them. »» Don’t worry as much – doesn’t matter if you’re wearing last year’s clothes. The family say you look lovely as you are.
Summerset in the Orchard
A fabulous time was had by 100 residents and guests at a concert held at Summerset in the Orchard. Musical entertainment and scrumptious Devonshire tea was all the rage at the new village centre. Performers at the concert included Kirsty McMinn-Collard, who had a wonderful repertoire of Broadway hits and was accompanied on the piano by Paul Carnegie Jones, followed by Margaret and David Kitt, who brought a touch of swing and jazz – and poems as well! After some lucky spot prizes and afternoon tea, Aroha Thompson and her two backup singers/ukulele performers were dynamic with their set and did requests from the audience, to boot! Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 5
Entertainment
Macho Macho Man The Village People’s leatherman Eric Anzalone spoke with SHANE CUMMINGS about music, fun, and silver-haired fans while he was on tour in New Zealand.
L
ong before village people were retirement village residents, 70s disco sensations the Village People invented the moniker. Now aged in their 60s themselves, the musical icons are touring New Zealand, wowing audiences with their unique high-energy party anthems. Who doesn’t remember their hits? There was ‘Macho Man’, ‘Go West’, ‘In the Navy’, ‘You Can’t Stop the Music’, and of course, ‘Y.M.C.A.’ – the Village People have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Although their origins are firmly in 70s disco, where they played up to audiences at the time with their outlandish gay fantasy personas, the Village People have stood the test of time, and they are now one of the most iconic music groups of all time. Eric Anzalone inherited the mantle of ‘leatherman’ (or ‘the biker’), when he replaced Glenn Hughes in 1995, which makes him one of the young guns of the group. Before that, he had a long and colourful history in show business (including a stint as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle – don’t ask!), so his inclusion in the Village People didn’t change his life too much, although he still likes to take stock on how his life has since progressed. “There were moments where I stepped back and thought ‘Oh my God, I am in the Village People’. Of course, I grew up with them. It didn’t change my life but it made me appreciate life a little more,” Eric says. “Being part of a group like this is like being part of a family. I actually spend more time with the group than my actual family. Wearing leather and chains and singing ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Macho Man’ is a great way to make a living!” Eric and his fellow Village People adore New Zealand, although while he’s here, Eric says he plans to relax as “most of the downtime I get is when I’m on the road”. “New Zealand is a gorgeous country from top to bottom, and I have been top to bottom. I like to walk around the cities we play in. There is always something new to discover.”
surprise. It doesn’t ever get old.” But many of the fans do, he acknowledges. “Having been in the group for 17 years now, I notice our fans, even though they’re diverse, are now parents and grandparents, and they continue to be our fans, which is very flattering.” Eric has had many memorable encounters with Village People fans, but one celebrity fan sticks in his memory. “Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne renewed their wedding vows about ten years ago, we were the wedding band. There were a lot of heavy metal rockers there, and before I joined the Village People, I was a heavy metal guy, so I knew everyone in the crowed – guys like Rob Zombie and Zakk Wylde. About four rows back, all messed up with his hair, makeup, and contacts was [shock rocker] Marilyn Manson. He was standing a good foot taller than everyone else, and when we were signing ‘Macho Man’, he was jumping around like a spastic kid. “Afterwards, we met him backstage, and he said he was such a huge fan of the group, and that he had a poster in his bedroom from Can’t Stop the Music. That was pretty wild.” So what can New Zealand audiences expect from the Village People tour of New Zealand? “Expect a really good time – a party. I say this with gratitude to our fans and with a little tongue in cheek, but we are the ultimate party band. That’s one of the reasons this band has been around so long. We’re fun, we’re not political, and we don’t get heavy. It’s just about a party. When we’re on stage, it is very high energy. “People say ‘you can’t be the original guys’ or ‘you can’t be that old’ because we move like younger guys, and when we get on stage, we cut loose.” If the key to eternal youth is dressing in leather, singing disco classics, and having a fantastic time doing it, then Eric Anzalone and his band-mates will be on the road for a long time to come. Just remember: you can’t stop the music!
Wearing leather and chains and singing ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Macho Man’ is a great way to make a living!”
6 Best of Times
Eric believes part of the NZ charm is our adventure lifestyle, which is something he’s keen to experience. “I have done jet boating, although I haven’t done bungee jumping, but that is something I’m interested in. Believe me, if I have time while I’m there, I will.” A bungee jumping Village Person could be quite a sight, he says, “but I don’t know if I’ll be doing it in my leather!” he adds with a laugh. Eric is especially looking forward to meeting his New Zealand fans; although the Village People are almost a timeless act, they have a broad appeal. “Our fans are all different, which makes our job all the more enjoyable. The audiences are so diverse in all the countries we go to. Even in countries like China, where hardly anybody speaks English, they all know the words to ‘Y.M.C.A.’. It’s always a treat and a
social life Quizmaster Pete Gentil has been firing the questions for well over a decade, but says he can’t remember too many answers.
Quiz night! LEIGH BRAMWELL investigates the pub quiz craze and finds everyone’s a winner.
W
hy isn’t our quiz night like that,” my partner asked forlornly as the plumber from the TV series Nothing Trivial juggled his two pregnant girlfriends, the gorgeous doctor jumped into bed with a running mate, and the cleaning queen fought off the advances of a sleazy admirer. “Because we’re old,” I said bluntly. A very quick glance around our local pub on any Wednesday night bears me out. Most weeknights, Rocksalt Bar and Café in Kerikeri is as quiet as you’d expect in a town of around 5,000 people, but come Wednesday, the car park fills up, and by 7.15, the over-forties are pouring in. Most weeks, every seat is taken. Sure, there are some young people, but it’d be fair to say the majority are 45 plus, and the oldest team member is in her 80s. Damned fine she is, too – specialising in royalty, the geography of the UK, and anything military. The rest of us in Team Frostbite are mere babes in our 50s and 60s, and while we struggle with modern music and the nubile stars of TV reality shows, we shine in history, food and wine, literature, science and nature, and anything that happened before 1985. Pete Gentil, host of the breakfast show on local radio, is our quizmaster, and he’s no spring chicken, either, although he’s not quite as old as we are. He’s been running this show for the past dozen or so years, and rumour has it he’s never missed a night. After all that time, you’d expect he’d have all the answers, but sadly, such is not the case.
“If I could remember half of it, I’d go on Mastermind and win a million bucks,” he says. “But as soon as the night’s over, I forget it.” Many of the over 50s go to quiz night to keep their brains working. They say it enhances memory, and there’s plenty of research that agrees. Test taking, which is basically what quizzes are, has inherent benefits on memory, according to US researchers Dr Katherine Rawson, associate professor in Kent State’s department of psychology, and former Kent State graduate student Mary Pyc. Their research showed that taking practice tests – particularly ones Ballpoints and specs are the tools of trade.
The intent faces of a regular team at the Rocksalt quiz night.
that involve attempting to recall something from memory – can drastically increase the likelihood that you’ll be able to remember that information again later. Jenny Simmers, an Aucklander who attends two quizzes every week, agrees. Since being introduced to quizzes at the retirement village where she lives, she’s become “an absolute enthusiast” and spends several hours a week doing quizzes online. “I started doing them for practice – just to get my brain ready for quiz night – but now I do them because I really enjoy them,” she says. “It beats watching television. “I’ve made some good new friends, and I reckon it’s improving my memory, my decision-making ability, and my ability to organise myself. So if it’s raining outside, I’ll be at the computer doing quizzes.” And there’s no shortage. There are countless quizzes on every subject you can imagine, and providing them to pubs, clubs, and corporates has become big business. Our Kerikeri quiz comes from a company whose quizzes are run at more than 150 pubs, bars, and clubs nationwide from here in the far north to Invercargill in the south. Established in 1988, the company claims to be New Zealand’s largest provider of trivia, quiz questions, weekly pub quizzes, and quiz nights to the corporate sector. Most of the quizzes these days are interactive, incorporating sound and vision, and that’s a change that quizmaster Pete Gentil has noticed over time. When he first started firing the questions, there might have been a couple of audio clips; now almost every round is accompanied by video. Our quiz has eight rounds of 10 questions, a ‘Ponderous Puzzle’, and ‘The List’, and it takes about two hours to complete. The categories change every week, so a wide variety of subjects is covered, and that means each of us gets to feel smart at least once every few weeks. We could feel smarter if we chose to cheat. Technology like smart phones, iPads, and radio microphones have all been used to provide accurate answers, and there is a chance you can get at least some answers from someone who has completed a quiz from the same company at another location a week or two earlier. Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 7
food
Salad Season
Dietitian GAYE PHILPOTT gets the taste buds tingling with fresh and healthy summer salads. Mention the word salad and most people think of lettuce. Records of early salads also refer dominantly to green leafy herbs and onion served with oil, vinegar, and salt. But today, salads may include a vast array of foods, ranging from vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, even meat, chicken, fish, cheese, pasta, rice, and wheat. As summer approaches, we can look forward to the availability at a fair price of those vegetables many of us use as the cornerstone of a vegetable salad – lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and capsicums – or perhaps we can harvest them from our own garden. Today, we have access to far greater variety – lettuce comes green or red, with curly or the usual leaves, and tomatoes don’t just come in one size, with cherry tomatoes or large tomatoes that we can slice or dice. When we add protein foods such as meat, fish, chicken, cheese, seeds, or nuts, a salad goes from being part of a meal to being a meal in itself. Though we also need to include or serve with it a starchy food such as potato, bread, pasta, or rice if we are to feel full! Salads are usually served with a dressing. These can range from a mixture of oils and vinegars to creamy varieties such as mayonnaise or a cooked salad dressing. We will all have our preference, but usually, the type of salad will determine which dressing is more suitable. For the weight conscious, a range of commercial oil free or ‘lite’ products are available, plus there is always a squeeze of lemon juice, or in recent years, a splash of balsamic vinegar has become popular. Generally, salads are quick and easy to prepare. Often, the only equipment necessary is a sharp knife and a chopping board. Of course, root vegetables such as potato, kumara, and beetroot need to be cooked and usually cooled before they can be used in salads. Ingredients can be tossed together in a bowl or arranged artistically on platters. And don’t we all know a lot more about presentation since the TV series MasterChef!
The scoreboard has not yet gone high-tech – it’s almost as old as we are. 8 Best of Times
While we might like to follow a recipe, salads give us licence to be creative. Any combination of flavours, colour, and texture that we find appealing can work. After all, this is how the ‘great’ salads have lasted the test of time. Waldorf salad was designed and served at the opening of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York in 1897, and Caesar salad was created by Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who operated restaurants in Mexico and the United States in the first half of the 20th century. The key to a good salad is fresh, quality ingredients. So be choosy when selecting your produce and store your supplies carefully. Choose firm tomatoes and keep greens packed loosely in an airtight container in your fridge. When making potato salad, be sure to choose a waxy variety such as Nadine so the potato holds its shape. When using kumara in salads, choose the gold or orange varieties instead of the red as these hold their colour once cooked and cooled. To me, salads are about the experience of eating them – their taste, texture, and colour. Consider the refreshing taste of a simple mesculum salad dressed with a vinaigrette to accompany succulent lamb; the colour of a Greek salad made from chopped cucumber and tomatoes, black olives, and feta cheese eaten with crunchy bread; or the creaminess of a potato salad served with grilled fish. Here are two ideas that have had been popular at my house these past few weeks: »» Blanched asparagus with sliced strawberries served with balsamic vinaigrette (leave the lid off the pot whilst blanching the asparagus so that it stays a bright green colour). »» Cooked beetroot, cubed and dressed with a slightly sweetened vinaigrette and topped just before serving with diced feta and toasted walnut halves. I hope your mouth is watering!
<< continued from page 7 “But actually it’s no fun if you cheat,” says Bob Kendall, who plays in Christchurch every week. “It’s all about trying to remember something from the past or working out the answers from the different bits of information within the team. It’s dead boring if you can answer everything first off.” Bob is 68, and he’s been ‘quizzing’ for six years. “I go to the pub quiz because it gets me out and into a social atmosphere,” he says. “I used to do the quiz here at the village, and I still do if it’s awful weather, but I prefer to go out. Different faces, different location, different beer – it’s all good.” He says his team doesn’t often win, but they’re always in the top five. There are usually seven or eight of them, and although it’s just for fun, they do take it quite seriously. “We’re all close to 70, one side or the
other, and we each take a subject every week and swot up on it a bit. It might be states of America, or capital cities, or something like that. And it also pays to keep an ear on the news, although questions about current events might not come up until a couple of weeks later.” He says all the team members agree that quiz night has improved their memories and their general knowledge. They also enjoy the social element. Two of their current line-up were strangers who just happened to be having a snack at the local bar and were ‘ringed in’ one night. “But it’s not like the quiz night on the TV programme,” he says. “We don’t socialise with each other outside of quiz night, and I don’t think any of us is looking for love.” Speaking of which, Marilyn Monroe sang the song “I’m Through With Love” in which film? Answer: “Some Like it Hot”. But you knew that, didn’t you?
Book reviews
The Occupiers – New Zealand Veterans Remember Post-War Japan by Alison Parr ¶¶¶¶ Published by Penguin Books RRP $49.99 Reviewed by Alex Staines
High Country Woman: My Life on Rees Valley Station by Iris Scott with Geraldine O’Sullivan Beere ¶¶¶ Published by Random House RRP $45 Reviewed by Amy Rountree Detailed and colourful, Iris Scott’s memoir is more informative than your average visit to the local museum. Her account of life as a working woman in the South Island hill country – back when everything was done the hard way – is a valuable addition to New Zealand’s historical literature. Originally from Auckland, Iris’ love of horses led her to pursue a career as a veterinarian. One of the first female graduates to qualify in the discipline from Massey University, her world opened up when she found work experience at Rees Valley Station. She fell in love at first sight with the wide open landscape but never expected that four years later she would be back there as a bride, dedicating the rest of her life to this extraordinary part of the country. High Country Woman is beautifully presented, with full-page photographs and snippets of the original handwritten records. From mustering stock to gooseberry jelly, it’s rich with historic detail lovingly collected by the Scott family over the last 100 years. Admittedly, the descriptions of the landscape wax a little too lyrical at times, and a more confident writer might have narrated in a stricter chronological order to strengthen the sense of history rather than stumbling untidily from one set of recollections to another. However, the content never disappoints, delivering the fascinating history of the land on the one hand and that of the gutsy woman who cares deeply for it on the other.
This book portrays the experiences of the more than 12,000 New Zealand men and women who served as part of the Allied occupation force in Japan between 1946 and 1948, through the eyes of 14 male and three female contributors who were part of this force. The book details, in well-thought out chapters, many aspects of the life of the Kiwi occupiers, from their arrival in Japan to their departure and their life post-J Force. Most Kiwis were aghast at the devastation they witnessed upon arrival in Japan, especially in Hiroshima following the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, but also the deprivation among the civilian population of the province of Yamaguchi, where most of the Kiwis were posted. All were surprised at how politely they were treated by the Japanese people, and at the subservient role of Japanese women, who did most of the physical work. The local custom of communal bathing took some getting used to as well. It’s interesting to read about the change in relations between the New Zealand occupiers and the Japanese people. There was a disparity between the feared military face of Japan and the human face of the Japanese people. Initially, there was little fraternisation, but later in the occupation, more relaxed relations developed. There was a lot of drinking in the army camps when there wasn’t work to do, and there are stories about brothels, black market activity, and romance. The strongest memories of contributor Norma Hollis “are the beauty of the country, the dignity of the old people, and the acceptance, finally, of the younger generation”. The Occupiers is an excellent read (the author is an expert oral historian), and the illustrations – photographs from archives and from contributors’ personal collections – are superb.
Love and Money by Greg McGee ¶¶¶ Published by Penguin Books, RRP $29.99, Reviewed by Margaret Maisie Greg McGee is best known for his seminal play about New Zealand rugby culture, Foreskin’s Lament. He has also written crime novels under the moniker Alix Bosco. In his first ‘real’ novel, Love and Money, he takes the reader on a romp through heady 1987, when the talk at every dinner party was about shares and the air was scented with greed. The protagonist, Mike, is a late-bloomer in the responsibility stakes and a downand-out actor, to boot. The plot revolves around money markets, affairs, and Mike going from ex-missus to ex-missus to temporary abode. We see all this through the eyes of a very dysfunctional but loveable Mike and his ex-girlfriends, their
new partners, and Mike’s oldest child. McGee writes well, using rapidly shifting points of view that keep the reader of their toes. However, there are quite a few four-letter words and raunchy sex scenes, and if you’re offended by this sort of thing, you might like to beware. I wasn’t offended by it but rather enjoyed the ride. The market crash is, of course, pivotal, as are the splits within the Lange government of the day. Those of us who lived through those turbulent times will particularly enjoy the atmosphere that McGee recreates. It’s a good read, and it gives us an interesting perspective on a significant period of our history. Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 9
travel
Charming Stresa – an Italian must visit
Off-the-beaten-track correspondent PETER GOODING discovers the magic of Lake Maggiore on the Italian and Swiss border.
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eeking a relaxing start to a tour of Italy, I decided to visit Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. The lake is 68km long, with three quarters in Italy and the rest in Switzerland. It is possible to travel by public transport, including shuttle and train from Milan Central Station. However, I chose to drive myself there in forty minutes from Milan Malpensa Airport. Stresa is the main town, with a population of around 5,000 people, situated on the lake front with beautiful gardens and palm trees that create the impression of a tropical area. A wonderful square full of cafes and shops combines with churches, local markets, and walks with a background of camellias and rhododendrons to make this a relaxing environment. I found a pleasant small hotel (2012 rate NZ$140 double per night ) on the outskirts of Baveno, three kilometres from Stresa, from a range of available hotels and B&Bs, where I had a glorious balcony view of the lake.
Chatham Islands Discover the diverse landscape, history, heritage and culture on this escorted adventure to these remote and unique islands.
8 days departs 7th February 2013
Catlins & Stewart Island Explore the ‘Wild South’ from Dunedin to Stewart Island via the Catlins. Includes 3 nights on Stewart Island.
9 days departs 9th March 2013
East Cape & Pacific Coast Get off the beaten track and discover the East Cape. Stay at Hicks Bay, see the lighthouse on NZ’s most easterly point and explore Gisborne and Napier.
8 days departs 11th March 2013
Available soon: Northland, Weekend Rail Escape to Chateau Tongariro, Norfolk Island, Tasmania & Adelaide. All tours are escorted, include home pick up within Auckland, all breakfasts and dinners. Phone Shavourn for further information.
Twilight Travel & Tours 0800 999 887 www.twilighttravel.co.nz
A member of Travel Managers Group - IATA Accredited and TAANZ Bonded
10 Best of Times
From the lakeside, there were water taxis to the three small islands on the lake. I enjoyed Isola Bella the most, just 400 metres from Stresa. It is very charming, with lovely restaurants, wine bars, and the magnificent gardens of the Palace of Borromea. Isola Madre, the largest of the islands, has a number of interesting buildings and impressive gardens, whilst Isola Pecatori has a picturesque village with a range of restaurants and craft products. At Stresa Lido, there is the Monte Mattorone Cable Car (NZ$25), which departs every 20 minutes during the summer months; the trip is done in two stages. The first stage to Alpino has a large alpine garden to view; the second stage arrives at the summit of 1,491m, providing stunning views of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding area. There are many other attractions close by such as the amazing heritage building of Santa Caterina del Sasso that clings to the rocks, Alypland Bobsleigh Rides, Laveno Bucket Lift, and for families,Villa Pallavicicona parklands and small zoo. A must-see for garden lovers is the large botanic gardens a short drive away at the Villa Taranto in Verbana Lake Maggiore has a Mediterranean climate. In early September, it is mild and suitable for shorts and a short sleeve shirt. Compared with some other European countries visited, I found ice cream, coffee, meals, etc. around 30 per cent less. On my way south, off the motorways, the roads were frequently narrow and winding. Italy is the home of Ferrari and many locals drive as if they are in one, so beware! Fold the car’s outside mirrors. I had my driver’s outside mirror smashed off when legally parked on the roadside by someone who drove as if on a racetrack.
Hot Tips
»» Plan your days: many shops and businesses close from 12.30 – 1pm to 3.30 – 4.00pm daily for siesta. »» Visit local information centres for accurate attraction details in English (Stresa has one on the lakefront). »» If you have to change currency, go to an established Italian bank. »» The Italian train service is very reliable and comes at a reasonable cost.You can book the best fares on the internet (a good website is www.trenitalia.com) well in advance – e.g. Venice to Milan was NZ$15 second class – a trip of 280km in under 3 hours. »» If you want an easy-paced tour for people over 50 years of age from personal experience, I recommend Odyssey Tours – many with no single supplement payment. »» Avoid August. That is when Italians go on holiday!
HEALTH
Ways to avoid
diabetes Diabetes is not inevitable with age, says general practitioner Dr Joe Kosterich.
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ardly a day goes by without some new warning about the global surge of people with diabetes and the effect this will have on the health budget. Predictions of over 2 million Australians by 2020 and 44 million Americans by 2034 have been made. The Journal of Diabetes Care predicted annual costs in the USA to rise from $113 billion today to $336 billion in 2034. Much of the cost to the health system comes from complications of diabetes and kidney disease in particular. These predictions and warnings are usually accompanied by calls for greater funding for research or more dollars to be pumped into treatment programmes or for more spending on pharmaceuticals. There is an air of inevitability about this inexorable increase in diabetics. Let us step back one minute and ask the questions that never get raised. Why is there an increase in diabetes? Why has this condition become so prevalent over the last decade or so? Firstly, lets separate the two forms of diabetes. Type 1 (sometimes called insulin dependent) starts early in life and comes about from the pancreas not producing enough insulin. This is the hormone that the body releases after meals to get glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream and onto the cells of the body. Glucose is the bodies’ energy source. Our cells burn glucose like a car burns petrol. Type 1 diabetes appears to be a genetic condition and is far less common than Type 2. The increase in numbers is almost entirely due to Type 2 diabetes. This comes about from the body’s cells becoming “resistant” to the effects of insulin due to what can best be described as overexposure. Every time we eat and food gets absorbed, as described above, insulin is released to lower the glucose level in the blood stream and get glucose into the cells. Our bodies have over thousands of years adapted to foods being absorbed at a slow rate. Foods like vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts need to be broken down, and the sugars are liberated at a slow rate that the body can handle. In contrast to this, processed foods with refined carbohydrates release sugars easily and more quickly. This “floods” the blood stream with sugar. Sugary drinks are the worst for this. The body then pumps out insulin to lower the sugar levels. When this pattern is repeated over and over again, the cells become resistant to insulin, which is the first step to Type 2 diabetes. This does not happen after a day or a week but after many years. It was estimated by The University of California that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages between 1990 and 2000 contributed to 130,000 new cases of diabetes in the USA. This is a staggering figure. Even if they are out by 50,000, it is still staggering. So the obvious question becomes: can diabetes be avoided? The answer is a resounding yes. Here are four simple ways to avoid getting Type 2 diabetes. »» Eat mainly whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and berries. Minimise processed and packaged foods. Some animal protein is fine. »» Drink water and not sodas or even fruit juices. It is better to eat an apple and have a glass of water that to drink a glass of apple juice. »» Exercise regularly. This can be as simple as a regular walk. »» Have a body weight that is appropriate for your height. Ideally, you should have a BMI between 20 and the mid to upper 20s.
None of this is difficult or beyond the reach of anyone. It is cheaper and easier than taking drugs, has no side effects, and has other health spin-offs, too. My suggestion is to start making changes today! More helpful advice from Dr Joe can be found at his website: www.drjoe.net.au
Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 11
gardening
A summer garden in the
Garden City
Developing a demonstration garden By EION SCARROW Ann and myself are gardeners and love sharing our knowledge with others, and one very easy way to do this is by building a garden from scratch. A demonstration garden is a very practical guide; it can show easy ways of producing a garden that provides fresh vegetables and fruit and also looks natural, with plenty of colour all year round. Over the past thirty years, we have designed and planted four different types of gardens – Willow Glen in Gordonton, Clendon; a few years later at Ohinewai; then Pokeno; and finally here at Worracs Cottage. We shifted into Worracs Cottage (Worracs is Scarrow spelled backwards) in July 2006, thanks to Ngarie and Malcolm Entwisle, who own the farm where our cottage is located. Our eastern boundary is Springhill Prison and our western boundary is a farm, and below and just over the road, we enjoy Hampton Downs Motorsport Park Some of you will remember my television programme Dig This that started in 1972 and finished in 1986 (502 programmes). Our business is also called Dig This. We are ready to welcome everyone to view our new demonstration garden. One part of our garden always creates huge interest and that is what we call our secret grotto and cave. Inside, we have created a breathtaking scene using over 150 orchids. Not only orchids live here but many other rare and precious plants. We have a small nursery where we grow everything from vegetable plants, indoor plants, orchids, perennials, shrubs, trees, small fruits such as cranberry, black and red currants, gooseberries, three different figs, and four different types of citrus. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to wander around. Ed. To view the Scarrow’s demonstration garden (for a $2 donation), contact Eion and Ann: 07 8263002 or plantguru@xtra.co.nz 12 Best of Times
Village resident Peter Gooding shares his trials and tribulations as an amateur gardener.
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hristchurch has a reputation as the Garden City that extends to its retirement villages that survived the earthquakes. Their gardens are of a high standard. I moved into the Russley Village in July 2010. Although the village employ an excellent gardening team, I chose to take over the planting and maintenance of my garden areas, which had been partially planted. This is a choice open to residents. It adds to the variety of neat and attractive gardens throughout the village. A plus is the willingness of the gardening team’s assistance at times of sickness or holidays. The nature of the village layout provided my villa with two frontages onto a main road, as well as a large area outside the lounge, plus the front door garden, which faces the village. As an amateur home gardener, I believe floral gardens are similar to house interiors. Some people like patterned wallpaper, others choose plain wallpaper or painted walls of varying colours, etc. Thus, the choice is what the occupier enjoys. So it is with personal floral gardens. I chose to plant buxus hedging around the edge of most areas to define gardens from roads, paths, and lawns. Also, I kept them neatly clipped to provide sharpness to the garden. I had grown a number of paris pink hydrangeas in pots from cuttings for two years before moving and planted them at regular intervals providing distinctive and attractive bursts of colour. As a great believer in the use of tall dahlias as a backdrop, I opted to only use those varieties that require no staking or tying; those that I used were unnamed purple, white, and cream colours
acquired from friends, plus a large bed of small pink park princess, all of which served me well, drawing much favourable comment. In the front door and outside lounge areas, I endeavoured to blend the pink colours of geraniums and gazanias with red begonias alternatively planted with yellow sedum (golden planet) along the borders. These sedum perennials, which are usually grown as ground cover, are easy to reproduce; I bought four $2 plants at a church sale two years ago and now have sufficient for most of my borders – all that is required is to break a piece off and put it into soil. I trim them back to 25cm diameter circles and they change colour from green to yellow and back to green as the seasons change. They have become an attractive feature. With a long 125cm high picket fence to contend with, red trumpeter roses were planted, which bloomed away against the white background. The joy of trumpeter roses is that they grow to a compact 75cms, flower prolifically all summer, and rarely have disease. Tiger eye rudbekia have proved to be ideal annuals, and they have been used liberally in one of the road frontages. These plants are often referred to as ‘black eyed Susans,’ having 8–10cm yellow petal flowers with a hard black centre and growing to around 45cm tall. They are slow to mature, but once flowering, they withstand hot, dry conditions and last into autumn. As well as using them in groups of five for display in large containers, I planted them in long rows in front of yellow roses. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys yellow flowers and does not want much in the way of maintenance other than watering.
gardening
Eagle on Soccer For the other road frontage, one metre tall purple dahlias were used against a white picket fence along with a border of miniature pink dianthus, which bloomed from October through until April. There were also twelve Margaret Merrill bush roses. With slightly pink tinge to their white flowers, they provided a continual freshness to the area, along with pink osteosperum, which has been used freely in flower bed spaces as they provide a continuing flowering. A covering of biomix in early spring and regular dressings of Blood and Bone, as well as Nitrophosa Blue, has been the fertiliser used. The main problem in Christchurch gardens last summer was water restrictions due to the effect of earthquakes. Watering by hand three days per week made it extremely difficult to maintain lawns, and mine certainly suffered. In my first summer at the village, it was the comments and encouragement of friends which resulted in entering the Canterbury Horticultural Society and Christchurch Beautifying Society Summer Garden Competitions. The garden won awards in both competitions in 2011 and 2012.
Main garden outside lounge
The question some ask is “why do you do your own garden when there is a team to do it for you included in your village monthly charges?” I buy my own plants and seeds. During the winter, a specimen magnolia tree has been added to the centre of frontage no. 2 lawn, which has given the area a new dimension. Gaining much enjoyment from seeing the plants bloom, the mass of colour, as well as the therapeutic value of being out if the fresh air, I plan to continue as long as I am physically able. With a young garden, it has a freshness to keep me experimenting with different varieties of plants. I try to stimulate interest in viewing so that you have to look around a corner to see what is there and not find a regimented repetition, whilst at the same time, endeavouring to maintain balance and harmony.
KEN EAGLE had a long and varied career in business and management, and as a soccer commentator for Radio New Zealand. Now retired, Ken muses about the world game in New Zealand. I grew up in Christchurch and played soccer for Canterbury when I was a teenager. When I watched a game at English Park on Saturday afternoons, I sat near the commentators to listen to them. I moved to Auckland in April 1966 and played soccer for Takapuna United and the NZ Herald, for whom I worked. When I was running a printing company in the 1970s, I learnt that Alan Richards (a profound soccer and cricket commentator) was going with the New Zealand cricket team to England for the first Cricket World Cup in 1975. Radio New Zealand needed a replacement soccer commentator, and I took it on for the weekends for three years. The job was fun because Jack Dempsey, then the head of the Auckland Football Association, frequently invited international teams to play at Newmarket Park against Auckland. This included Manchester United, Glasgow Rangers, Bournemouth, Mexico, and China. Ken Armstrong, an Englishman who played many games for Chelsea, whose two sons Brian and Ross both played for New Zealand, was my assistant for full-match commentaries, which was enjoyable and very helpful. Recently, I met with the chief executive of New Zealand Football, Grant McKavanagh, and we talked about football (soccer) – as the game is now and into the future. As you will be aware, soccer is the most popular sport in the world, though in New Zealand, rugby, cricket, and netball all exceed soccer in media coverage and through sponsorship. I was pleased to learn that the New Zealand Football has a plan for the All Whites (our senior men’s team, who did not lose a game at the 2010 World Cup finals) until the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. While the All Whites are not rated highly worldwide, they will use their international players to good effect and are expected to qualify again. Interestingly, I learnt that the Football Ferns (the women’s team) is ranked 24th in the world and they are at full strength for their Olympic playoffs. Having easily qualified from Oceania, the women’s team will open the London Olympics with a game against Great Britain. Brazil and Cameroon are also in their group, so it’s a difficult draw, but the team is up-beat about its chances of progressing. The Men’s Olympic squad requires under-23 players, though three players in the team are allowed to be older than 23. Fortunately, the All Whites have five players under 23 and there are high expectations for the team (often called the ‘Oly Whites’), which will travel to London in July for the Olympics. We also spoke about the O League, where the top two of the eight teams in the New Zealand ASB Premiership play against the top two South Pacific teams. This time around, Auckland and Waitakere played an exciting series with the two top Pacific sides, Ba from Fiji and Tahitian side Tefana. In an amazing semifinal, Tefana beat Ba 5-0 to earn the right to play defending champions Auckland in the O League final. The final was won 3-1 on aggregate by Auckland City, who will – as champions of Oceania – go to the lucrative 2012 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December. Those of us who love the sport always look forward to this time of year, when we can walk to the local football ground, if we are lucky enough to have one nearby. My wife and I live in a retirement village near where Takapuna United play, so during the season, I can walk to watch them in every home game. Vol 3 Issue 6 Summer 2012 13
giveaways AND FUN
Get free stuff! Write your preferred giveaway, your name and address on the back of an envelope and post to: Best of Times Giveaways, PO Box 200, Wellington 6140. Or email: prizes@bestoftimes.co.nz Closing date: 31 January 2013
Jack of Diamonds
Get your trigger finger ready
Get ready for summer gardening the easy way with Yates Ready to Use (RTU) trigger packs. With Yates RTUs, there’s no need for chemical storage, mixing, or contact with concentrate sprays, and they’re quick and easy to use! Yates has an extensive RTU trigger range, plus the environmentally friendly Nature’s Way range. This prize includes one each of the range ($140 value!).
A voice in a million
Eddie Low, ‘The voice in a million’, returns with his brand new studio album Icons, a remarkable collection of classic songs from some of the most iconic recording artists of the 60s and 70s.
Sounds of the Pacific
New Zealand music legend Dennis Marsh is back with a brand new studio album, Sounds of the Pacific, a collection his personal favourites recorded with the sound and feel of the islands.
Quotable New Zealand Quotes
Compiler Jim Weir has a magpie’s eye for the bon mot, whether from a celebrated humourist or simply a postquake Christchurch resident. Wry, wrenching, inspiring, scurrilous, and laugh-outloud funny: Quotable New Zealand Quotes is a handpicked and bang up-to-date smorgasbord of quotations – compulsively readable and a treat throughout. RRP $27.99.
One for the grand kids
Family viewing: The Lorax
Courtesy of Yates, we are giving away seed packs from the Yates Fusion series. As an added bonus, the prize packs include the family fun DVD, The Lorax, the film inspired by the Dr Seuss book of the same name. A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. 14 Best of Times
The late Bryce Courtenay’s final book, Jack of Diamonds is destined to be an international bestseller. During the Great Depression, there was little hope for a boy born into the slums of Cabbagetown, Toronto. But Jack Spayd is offered a ticket out in the form of a Hohner harmonica, won by his brutal drunken father in a late-night card game. Set across three continents, Jack of Diamonds is a spellbinding story of chance, music, corruption, and love. RRP $55.
Open The Giant Book of Giants and step into a magical, mysterious world full of thrills and adventures. This beautifully illustrated storybook features tales of famous giants from around the world, and the brave young heroes who outwit them. Inside the front cover, you’ll find a mighty pop-up giant who is bigger than your grandkids! RRP $29.99.
Guilt free Gullon
Gullon Biscuits are sugar free, cholesterol free, contain no trans fats, and best of all, taste great –making them hard to resist. The Gullon range includes choc chip, Maria, and shortbread cookies, plus vanilla wafer and choc digestive coming soon to a biscuit shelf near you. Five sets of the range are up for grabs!
Granny Chic
More than just a ‘how to’ guide, Granny Chic offers inspiration to keen crafters hoping to breathe new life into vintage fabrics and second-hand objects. This selection of 20 projects includes spruced-up coat hangers, a ‘dingle dangle’ door screen, a ‘patched and pieced’ lamp shade, and a crocheted tea cosy. RRP $45.
TREAT YOURSELF! 29 Day LEISURELY UK TOUR
Join our small group tours (max. 20.) 2013 tour will be June/July.
Look cool and stay refreshed
Quench your thirst (and sate your hunger) this summer with a refreshing Buderim prize pack, which includes Buderim Ginger Beer, Lemon Lime & Bitters, Travellers Friend, and Ginger Chews. To be even cooler, the pack comes with a sporty Nike jacket ($300 value!)
You may choose to also join our (optional) post tour to Ireland (10 days.) Minimum numbers apply. Ask about a private tour for clubs, friends, family etc.
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Enough product for a 2 week trial.
Please call 0800 276312 within New Zealand (64) 3 312 6635 outside New Zealand
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ADVERTORIAL
New Summerhouse at Pacific Coast
Gold Coast living without leaving home The official opening of the new Summerhouse at Pacific Coast Village signals future growth for the development.
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he Bay of Plenty turned on a beautiful summer’s day for the opening of Pacific Coast Village’s new Summerhouse in November. Current and prospective residents and curious others gathered in the sunshine to watch Judy Bailey chair the event and Tauranga City mayor Stuart Crosby cut the ribbon for the striking addition to the village. The new Summerhouse, designed by Sumich Chaplin Architects, marks a significant step in the growth of the village, which is the result of a partnership between the land owners, The Mangatawa Papamoa Incorporated, and New Zealand private company Retirement Assets Limited. Retirement Assets is also involved with other village developments in Christchurch and Auckland. “We wanted the design of the building to reflect a quintessential South Pacific beach house – something that might be built in Australia but better!” says director Graham Wilkinson.“What we are trying to do here is
to build the first real beachside retirement village, a kind of ‘Gold Coast without leaving home’,” he says. Situated opposite a stretch of stunning coastline between Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, Wilkinson’s vision for Pacific Coast certainly seems achievable. Through collaboration with local iwi, plans are well advanced to build a boardwalk across the sand dunes, allowing residents easy access to the beach. The proximity to the beach is a major draw card for many residents. Prospective resident Sue Hatchwell says living by the beach is a big attraction. The proposed boardwalk will be “a wonderful addition” to the village, she says. Hatchwell believes the communal facilities are also an important consideration when deciding where to live. In addition to the new Summerhouse, which will provide a social hub for residents, an international size bowling green will commence in the New Year, followed by an
Many attended the opening
Why don’t you pop in and visit the Team at Pacific Coast Village for a free, no obligation tour of the villas and facilities.
Showhome Open Daily For more information contact Mike Flattery on 07 572 3029 or 021 552 769 or email mike@pcv.co.nz
indoor swimming pool and gym. Wilkinson paints an idyllic picture of retired living at Pacific Coast. “Residents will be able to enjoy a walk on the beach in the morning, a game of bowls in the afternoon, and a quick few laps in the pool before a BBQ at the Summerhouse,” he says. Eventually, the village will also include an aged care facility. The current residents are spritely and independent, and the need for a care facility on site hardly seems a priority. Yet, Wilkinson maintains this is an important component for retirement villages. “At Auckland, we have started with aged care due to the catchment of the village, while down here in Tauranga, we are doing it the other way around.” Joan McFetridge, a new resident of Pacific Coast, agrees. She acknowledges that while the need for aged care is not a factor now, in the future, it will be good to have direct access to a facility that provides the care she may need. Originally from Wellington, McFetridge and her husband looked at many villages throughout the North Island before settling on Pacific Coast. They recently moved into their new villa and are thrilled with their decision. “We love it,” she says. The McFetridge couple occupy one of the first stage villas on the site with several more under construction as units are built generally to order. The attention to detail and focus on quality is apparent in the design and interiors of the villas, which sell from $450,000. With its gleaming new Summerhouse ready for residents to enjoy, and more facilities set to follow suit, Pacific Coast Village looks primed to take off.
Pacific Coast Village—a resort style village located directly across the road from the white sand beach and magnificent Pacific Ocean between Mt Maunganui and Papamoa.
www.pacificcoastvillage.co.nz
Advertise your villa, apartment, unit or village in
Best of Times
in the Autumn 2013 issue
»» Digital living: Best of Times plugs into the e-book revolution.
Based on feedback from residents and managers, we have developed a village directory; for only $950 you can place a quarter page to promote options you have on offer. Advertising in Best of Times provides extra credibility to operators and by us restricting the advert size to quarter page blocks, it puts all providers on an even playing field. To advertise contact:
Bronwen Wilkins
P +64 4 915 9786 Best of Times F +64 4 471 1080 E bron@apn-ed.co.nz
»» Relationships: An in-depth look at money sharing in second and third marriages. »» Travel: Tasmania is a stone’s throw away but a mystery to many. We unearth the Apple Isle’s hidden gems.
Meadowbank Retirement Village apartments Meadowbank Village apartments are now complete Retirement and open for viewing
are now complete and open for viewing
42 one and two bedroom and two bedroom + study apartments top, middle and ground floor options available. Also available to view are the apartment lounges, 6 in total, the new community centre, new landscaped grounds and carparking options. Enjoy living in an architecturally designed apartment with a high degree of attention to detail. All apartments are intimate, modern and complemented by indoor and outdoor community facilities.
»» Health: Anti-ageing medicine expert Dr Joe Kosterich reveals the secrets to the fountain of youth. »» Gardening: Garden guru Eion Scarrow shows you how to cope with an autumn garden.
Apartments available from $375,000* Open for viewing from Monday to Friday.
»» DIY: We roll up our sleeves to build a planter box.
Booking an appointment to view is strongly recommended. We can’t guarantee that walk-in visits will always be able to be accommodated. Please contact Norma Charlton on 027 283 2558 or 09 521 7700.
»» Curiosity: How did many of New Zealand’s famous streets get their names?
The minimum age of entry for residents is 65 years. Meadowbank Village is part of the Oceania Group which owns and operates 58 villages across New Zealand.
»» Plus: Finance, healthy living, grandparenting, and village news.
MEADOWBANK VILLAGE 148 - 154 Meadowbank Road, Auckland Retirement Village | Care Village | Hospital Care
Enjoy the Good Life at Acacia Cove
A premier new retirement A premier newofretirement village in the heart Mt Eden.
A New Zealand-owned and operated lifestyle village situated on the beautiful Wattle Downs Peninsula.
village in the heart of Mt Eden.
Oceania Group’s new retirement and care village in the heart of Mt. Eden is a premier development incorporating the very best thinking and quality design.
We currently have a 102sqm, 2-bedroom apartment available with a large deck overlooking our full-size bowling green.
Due for completion in mid 2013 are 40 well-designed, modern apartments for independent living and 67 superior Assisted Living Suites for residents who require rest home or age-related hospital care. All who live here will have access to a café, hair salon, club lounge, dining room and other village services.
The apartment has 2 WCs, a separate computer area and an amazing top-of-the-range kitchen.
The minimum age of entry for residents is 65 years. Eden is part of the Oceania Group which owns and operates 58 villages across New Zealand.
MT. EDEN LIFESTYLE CARE & VILLAGE 28-32 View Road, Mt. Eden, Auckland Retirement Village | Care Village | Hospital Care
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This will be a modern and vibrant village and this is your opportunity to get in early and secure the lifestyle you want. To find out more or request a brochure call Simon today on (09) 356 1810 or 0800 623 264 or email: info@oceanialiving.co.nz
* Ongoing service fees apply
Contact: Bruce Cullington Ph: 09 268 8522 email: bruce@kirkade.co.nz www.acaciacovevillage.co.nz
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We distribute to all RVA member villages and an additional 5,000 people currently on waiting lists, those who have yet to make a decision on their next steps.
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