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Blades running hot Burning questions From ‘palsy’ Seeing the Mackenzie on Hagley Park from our city’s past to Parkinson’s through others’ eyes
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 02 | Inside this issue Theseniorcitizen
Our Regular Sections 03 | News The benefits of exercise 13 | Money 14 | Looking Back & other avuncular advice 16 | Health Golf and crime. Caledonian Thistle beat 18 | Lifestyle mighty Glasgow Celtic in They were the stories we a Scottish football match, had to take seriously when I 22 | Puzzles reported beneath the first began as a newspaper banner heading: “Super sub-editor. 24 | Entertainment Caley go ballistic, Celtic are That is, anything to do with atrocious”.) 25 | Sport a sportsperson hitting an innocent white ball, or a I digress. Because my old 26 | Travel criminal hitting an innocent editor was into golf and passer-by, was scrutinised crime, the newspaper was closely for mis-spellings full of stories of golf and Contact Us and other errors by our crime. Editor Patrick Whittle irascible editor. Rest assured, The Senior Citizen is diferent! Its [email protected] And as that was all he was Patrick Whittle, Editor, The Senior Citizen. interested in, we could relax editor is interested in Media Sales a bit more with articles on cycling and running - but run stories on crime just the Fashion section of an Patrick Clarke other subjects. it’s entirely coincidental for voyeuristic pleasure; Irish newspaper; you could that there’s loads about clearly see the outline of [email protected] Indeed, our game was instead, we’ve focussed on marathons (page 25) and ‘sex sells’ with full frontal the woman’s ‘parts’, the Stewart Shimmin to find the most obscure bikes (page 5, 19 & 26-27). word to get into a headline; nudity in the Lifestyle agitated man of the God [email protected] ‘avuncular’ always stumped Actually, in my defence, the section (quick, turn to page insisted - if you used a us, but someone did once whole point of these (and 18). magnifying glass. Advertising Enquiries 03 365 5575 other stories in this issue) is get ‘tonsure’ above a story Which reminds me, Where was I? [email protected] to encourage people to get about a vicar shaving his as another aside, of head for charity. out and about - and to get Oh yes: this amazing an infamous letter of healthy - in this wonderful country we live in. Get out Want to contribute? complaint once sent by a (Of course, the pinnacle country we live in. and enjoy it! The Senior Citizen is a community newspaper! of headline writing clergyman about a picture We welcome editorial contributions and images on occurred after lowly And we would never of a (clothed) model in Paddy relevant topics for news and feature items. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Images should be in high resolution format. Looking to subscribe? Saddest ‘tail’ of what went Subscriptions are available for one or two years, for more information and pricing please contact us direct. Multimedia Publishing Limited the proud publishers of up but didn’t come down
November marks the PO Box 5104, Papanui, Christchurch 8542 60th anniversary of P | 03 365 5575 F | 03 365 1655 the short but glorious [email protected] life of Laika, a mongrel www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz from the back streets of Disclaimer: Any mention of a product, service or supplier in editorial is not indicative of any endorsement by the author, editor or publisher. Although the Moscow. publisher, editor and authors do all they can to ensure accuracy in all editorial content, readers are advised to factcheck for themselves, any opinion or Nicknamed ‘Muttnik’ by the American statement made by a reporter, editor, columnist, contributor, interviewee, supplier media, Laika was the first living being or any other entity involved before making judgements or decisions based on to orbit the Earth. the materials contained herein. The Senior Citizen, its publisher, editor and staf, is not responsible for and does not accept liability for any damages, defamation Her achievement came just weeks or other consequences (including but not limited to revenue and/or profit after the October, 1957 launch of loss) claimed to have occurred as the result of anything contained within this Sputnik, which spurred the ‘Space publication, to the extent permitted by law. Race’ between the USSR and the USA (see Looking Back, page 14). Indemnity: Advertisers, editorial contributors and their agents warrant to the publisher that any advertising or editorial material placed in The Senior It’s a sad ‘tail’, with no happy ending Citizen is in no way an infringement of any copyright or other right and does - there was never any intention of not breach confidence, is not defamatory, libellous or unlawful, does not slander bringing Laika back home to earth. title, does not contain anything obscene or indecent and does not infringe the Fair Trading Act or other laws, regulations or statutes. Moreover, contributors She’d been trained, with two other agree to indemnify the publisher and its agents against any claims, demands, dogs (‘back-ups’ in case her launch proceedings, damages, costs including legal costs, or other costs or expenses went wrong), to eat liquid food in a properly incurred, penalties, or judgements occasioned to the publisher in confined space, like that found in her consequence of any breach of the above warranties. her oxygen ran out on day six of the entry to the atmosphere after 2,570 tiny capsule. flight, she actually died within a few orbits. Views and opinions: The views expressed in The Senior Citizen do not hours of launch through overheating necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staf, advertisers or Her last meal, to be automatically Laika lives on, however, in a statue - a fact not publicly acknowledged associated companies. The information contained in The Senior Citizen is given out after a set number of orbits, at the Russian Cosmonaut training until 2002. intended to act as a source of general interest, information and entertainment was poisoned - an attempt, at the facility in Star City, near Moscow, only. The publisher, authors and editor expressly disclaim all liability for the very least, for a humane death. results of action taken or not taken on the basis of information or content Laika’s remains continued to circle standing with her ears and tail contained herein. Although it was oficially reported the Earth in Sputnik 2 for another five erect behind the humans who later that she had been euthanased before months, before disintegrating on re- followed her into space. Key - For easy perusal Paid-for supplier profile or supplier case study Supplier information or content Suppliers share their views in one-of, topical pieces General editorial. Case studies and features may cite or quote email: [email protected] suppliers, please be aware that we have a strict ‘no commercial content’ guideline for all magazine editorial, so this is not part of any paid-for advertorial but may be included as relevant opinion. PO Box 5104, Papanui, Christchurch, 8542
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen News | 03 Still life at the movies Nick Paris’s involvement with movies began at school in the 1960s, when he wanted to become a film projectionist. Now, decades later, he’s just completed a 2017 New Zealand Festival gig, and takes time out to speak to The Senior Citizen’s Alan Wilkie
Nick Paris got hooked on light would go out or movies when he was seven. sometimes it would burn the film,” he says. When he said to his career advisor in school what he “You had two projectors and wanted to do, he was told each reel ran for 18 minutes. that he was mad – not only You had cue dots to tell you was the pay poor for film when to start the next reel. projectionists, but the hours That was part of the job.” were horrific. Shenanigans aside, Nick But Nick persisted, cutting feels a responsibility to film his teeth in many of the directors to preserve their oldest movie theatres in work with respect. Christchurch, and around “A faulty performance would the South Island. ruin somebody’s life work. You name a Mainland I feel that and I want to theatre and there’s a honour it.” good chance he’s been a However, in the late 90s, projectionist there. with TV in practically every His interest in film really home and DVD taking over started to peak, though, from VHS, the bottom fell when he worked at the out movie theatres, and Academy Cinema (at the many struggled to survive. Christchurch Arts Centre), Fortunately, Nick made it he says. through the next few years, Nick admits that the best starting work at Alice in part of being a projectionist Videoland in 1999. was the showmanship – the After years of isolation, stuck opening of the curtains, the in the alien environment of dimming of the lights, and a projection booth, he was the fading of the music. now dealing with people. “People miss the curtains. I “What I loved about Alice’s don’t think you should ever was that the connection enter the auditorium staring over the counter was real.” at a blank screen. It just destroys the illusion.” “I felt like a moment of their time was incredibly rich. “The second delight,” he Everybody’s moment of full confesses, “was scaring the attention was gold dust.” s--t out of patrons by, just before a really scary scene, As DVDs continued to turning the volume up to proliferate, Alice brought in 100 percent and then just titles unearthed in decades. watching them jump”. “We were like pigs at a There were drawbacks, truf le fest,” Nick says, though. “searching for stuf around the globe to import.” “You had to keep the Scary movie: As a projectionist, Nick Paris had fun frightening the wits out of patrons watching horror movies. projector on track or the To page 4 Photo: Stuart Duncan Lightweight WALKERS FOLDABLE LIGHT-WEIGHT FOLDING WALKERS s 7EIGHT FROM ONLY KG s "URGUNDY OR -ETALLIC "LUE s !DJUSTABLE HEIGHT HANDLES s )NDOOR AND OUTDOOR MODELS s -AXIMUM USER WEIGHT KG s "ASKET FOR SHOPPING OR GARDENING s &OLDS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORTATION
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 04 | News Theseniorcitizen
Cygnets ring in change of season & language Cats’ nine lives and Springtime: A drift of young swans on the Avon marks the end of winter - or should that be a bevy of the birds, or even a game? Photo: Stuart Duncan five purr-sonalities Every Kiwi white fringed wings), while own kids to feed the baby on the water they form a ducklings in the spring. knows that drift or a bevy or a game. sheep come in Cygnets and goslings, Legend has it that cats. A recent study of sick cats in a veterinarian Ducks, meanwhile, gather though, at least as words, nearly 3,000 cats in New setting. flocks and cows in a raft or a paddling seem fairly rare nowadays. cats have nine Zealand and Australia on the water, and as Better understanding of cat come in herds. lives; now science found that our feline a safe when on land. But these words, too, behaviour can help owners, companions shared But what about (Presumably, when it’s provide clues to how shows that they, say the researchers from neuroticism, extraversion birds, especially duck hunting season, they language evolves: the like humans, and agreeableness similar the University of South fly as an unsafe.) ‘diminutive’ ending -ling, have five distinct to us, and also dominance Australia, especially about the water fowl for example, comes from and impulsiveness . how their pets might get on (and their young) But most modern Old Norse and just means personality types. with other people or other Cantabrians would ‘little’ (duckling, little duck; Cats showing low probably just refer to With us, the ‘Big Five’ pets, such as dogs. that grace gosling, little goose). agreeableness, for example, these collectives of birds personality traits are Christchurch’s might become easily Cats scoring high on the as flocks. Little swans aren’t openness (to experience), irritated - and we’ve all met dominance personality Avon River? conscientiousness, swanlings because ‘swan’ that sort of cat, haven’t we? trait would likely be more It’s the way language extraversion, agreeableness, Most people would know is the original Old English - while those high on the aggressive towards other goes: when words are no and neuroticism. word for the bird, while impulsiveness scale could cats, or display bullying that geese - such as the longer useful or used, they Canadian variety found on tend to disappear - what cygnet comes from Old These traits are heritable, act, well, impulsively in behaviour. Those high in need is there now, after French (and hence Latin). are consistent throughout stressful situations. neuroticism, by contrast, the river - come in gaggles all, to distinguish a skein life and can even could be fearful or (on land, at least; in the air Presumably, the French- Surprisingly, despite of geese from a wedge of predict people’s political suspicious of other animals, they’re a skein). speaking Normans named domestic cats having lived swans? tendencies - conservatives, or shy or anxious with the baby swans before with humans for thousands What, though, of swans or for example, score strange people. Will the diferent names they ate them, just as they of years, little was known ducks? low on openness (to for the baby birds be gave French names to about typical healthy A cat scoring high in change, say) but high on When in flight, swans form retained? Perhaps - the meat of cows (beef), cat behaviour in a home agreeableness (thus conscientiousness. a wedge (most impressive especially because it’s sheep (mutton) and environment - perhaps afectionate and friendly) at sunset, when the last still a favourite pastime swine (pork) raised by the But enough about humans because most research might be suitable for light illuminates their of parents to bring their English. and politics - back to the had been conducted on younger families.
THE EPITOME OF CLASS & STYLE Theatre lives on
From page 3 Part of the job was recommending films to customers. “I was just as impressed when they hated a film and explained why, as when they were happy with the film,” he says. Nick laments that now these face-to-face encounters are largely replaced by computers. “What is lost is the human touch. Now your whole life is bundled up in a computer screen for everything – music, art, life and books. An historic homestead, 'Oamaru Creek' has been run as We’re all just clickbait now.” a bed & breakfast establishment for many years. He’s no longer at Alice’s, although his work for the Built from 1897 to 1900 as the third manse for St Paul's Presbyterian Church NZ Film Festival has kept it later became a maternity hospital, & is listed as a Category 2 building by him busy over 20 years. Heritage New Zealand. The house sits on a 1917m2 section containing “I walked out the door mature trees & lawns, & a subsidiary of the creek runs through it. The exterior contented and humbled. It of the house is impressive, while the grand entrance hall sets the tone, with wasn’t about the movies, it was about real life.” its architectural archway & high ceilings. Real life for Nick is two The quality & scope of this property is rare; it must be seen to be growing boys (16 and 12) appreciated! Buyer Enquiry Over $649,000+GST (if any). and bills to pay. Currently front of house Contact Mark Kennard on manager at Isaac Theatre 022 086 5225 or email Royal, Nick says he’ll be in [email protected] cinema/theatre for a while Robertson Real Estate Ltd LJ Hooker, Oamaru yet. Licensed: REAA 2008 “The business doesn’t relinquish its grip.” Nick Paris is now at The Isaac Theatre Royal.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen News | 05 Born to ride – or perhaps to dream On a stroll through the city centre, an iconic symbol in a showroom caught Peter Oakes’ eye - and he couldn’t resist going in to talk bikes and Burt Monroe ... I remember, just after World War 2, how Indian motorcycles, with the impressive bonneted warrior’s head on the tank and the distinctive wide handle bars, were a common sight. Surplus to the needs of US troops stationed here, you saw them everywhere on New Zealand roads. But then they disappeared. First produced in 1901, the company failed in 1953 and, despite several ef orts to revive it, the marque lapsed along with its distinctive image. There was one man, of course, who stuck to the Photo: Stuart Duncan brand, even when it went out of fashion elsewhere. Easy rider: Peter Oakes (left) and CMG Motorcycles sales manager Brad Clarke. Then, in 2014, the Polaris CMG Motorcycles sales safety refresher course first. A certain New Zealander, company revived the brand manager Brad Clarke, a from Invercargill, called The company mechanic, and now it has a thriving keen Indian rider, says the Burt Munro bought a modern bikes are natural Malcolm Martin, also a keen 1920 model Indian at the range of models, based on motorcyclist who rides an a blend of nostalgia and cruisers, with the style age of 21. He clung to it and power to handle New Indian, points out that per modern technology. with a passion until 1967, Zealand conditions. The head of population, more of Of course, the first motorcycles were simply bicycles when, at 68-years-old, on with engines. So while Peter Oakes (see accompanying While not the only impetus models range in capacity these bikes are sold in New story) was drooling over the powered versions, other the Bonneville Salt Flats, from 1133cc to 1800cc, Zealand than anywhere else. in Utah, he set a world for the Indian’s revival, two-wheel enthusiasts in Christchurch were celebrating burning around 20l of petrol speed record for its class of Munro’s ‘Streamliner’ record It is undoubtedly a little to the 200th anniversary of the invention of the humble for every 350km. 183mph. (According to the has fostered a model of do with the reputation and bicycle - including this rider of an ‘ordinary’ bike, better company itself, a standard the same name, alongside For older riders returning record brought home by known now as a ‘penny-farthing’. bike would reach a top seven others bearing the to motorbiking, Brad Burt Munro all those years Photo: Stuart Duncan speed of 55mph.) bikes’ war-bonneted profile. recommends attending a ago.
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Arvida. The attitude of living well.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 06 | News Theseniorcitizen
Blades running hot on Hagley Park
Who can resist ‘Polo Ground’ fields and watching the North Hagley Park. Westpac Rescue He does drive a car, but reluctantly; he prefers Helicopter landing being on his ‘blades - or in South Hagley his recumbent bicycle, or his blowkart, or out Park? windsurfing. Movement, he Certainly not any The says, is his raison d’etre. Senior Citizen reporter Paul’s was a story in the worth his salt - nor, as making right from sight, and it turned out, a passing the follow-up chat revealed roller-blader, who fitted a life which is lived to the nicely into the paper’s core full. demographic. He’s also a fine example Sixty-year old Paul Talarico to all of us senior citizens had spotted the chopper who spend far too much descending and pulled time recumbent – not on up (in a stylish freestyle a bicycle, but on a piece manoeuvre) to watch. of furniture in front of Originally from the United television or listening or States of America, Paul is a viewing music or videos on mathematics tutor and now our computers. a New Zealand citizen - and And Paul himself had been a very active ‘senior’ one at inspired to take up roller- that. blading 15 years ago, after Available in your local Church aisle? After taking the He regularly roller-blades seeing another ‘active oldie’ pictures of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and roller- the trails and pathways on a pair - complete with blader Paul Talarico, The Senior Citizen photographer surrounding South Hagley’s kneepads, elbow and wrist Stuart Duncan also snapped a man in a long gown with this ‘Hospital Corner’, and further guards, helmet and ski special squeezy bottle. Hopefully, it wasn’t needed in the afield to include the old poles. hospital...
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen News | 07 A seismic shift in emergency planning Two University of Canterbury researchers are using knowledge gained after the 2011 earthquakes to help communities, engineers and disaster responders throughout the country and across the globe
University of Canterbury design and the reversible engineer Geof Rodgers extrusion of lead to absorb has just received the Royal and dissipate energy, have Society’s ‘Cooper Award’ for been used in the new Forté developing new technology Health specialist hospital in to make buildings less likely Christchurch. The devices to require repair after large were also produced locally earthquakes. in collaboration with the engineering industry. Most current earthquake- safe buildings are designed “I am extremely grateful with ‘sacrificial structures’. to for the strong relationship absorb energy and prevent between researchers and building collapse. While this the engineering industry in saves lives, the buildings New Zealand,” Professor experience significant Rodgers says. damage in an earthquake, with high repair costs “This collaborative and significant downtime environment is essential to drive uptake of innovative University associates and following a quake. Associate Professors: solutions to improve the In Christchurch, for example, Geof Rodgers (left) and Billy resilience of our built Osteen (above) are both this sacrificial damage infrastructure. heavily involved in disaster design is estimated to have planning. contributed much of the “It is extremely satisfying overall $40 billion cost of when research outcomes wall structure, with funding using a Canterbury citizenship, post-disaster around the world.” the on-going earthquake get used in the field, from the New Zealand programme, CHCH101, for response and volunteering. repairs. where they can help to government and Tongji 2000 of its students who For example, in August 2011, reduce the impact of future University in Shanghai. have been volunteering in “In six years, the course when the USA’s east coast Professor Rodgers has earthquakes.” the hurricane’s aftermath. CHCH101 has evolved to was struck by Hurricane designed new structures Meanwhile, Associate include community service, Irene, University of Vermont and dampers that not only Professor Rodgers has Professor Billy Osteen, CHCH101: ‘Rebuilding has partnered with more students helping with the absorb energy, but that do now been invited to work director of the university’s Christchurch’ is a direct than 30 Christchurch clean-up were assisted with not need to be replaced on incorporating his Community Engagement result of the response organisations, and has guidance from the CHCH101 or reset after a large dampers into a low damage Hub, is assisting colleagues of Canterbury’s Student been taken by over 1000 course outline. earthquake, eliminating community housing project at Rice University, Texas, Volunteer Army to the 2010 students,” he says. downtime and interruption in San Francisco. after Hurricane Harvey. and 2011 earthquakes, A CHCH101 graduate in the building’s use. Professor Osteen explains. “While the course’s focus also helped students at He is also involved in a According to Professor is on the post-quake the University of Illinois- These dampers, which use project to test a three-storey Osteen, the Houston-based The academic course Christchurch context, we’ve Champaign respond to a a low-damage ‘rocking-wall’ reinforced concrete rocking- university is considering includes studying seen its impact ripple destructive tornado.
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 08 | News Theseniorcitizen Future past and present
Charging station: A Mid-Canterbury local looks bemused at an electric car ‘pump’ in Geraldine.
By Patrick Whittle But maybe, just maybe, the future - at least with cars - Remember when is almost here. we were kids and Quietly, all over the country, what we wanted charging stations (like the in the future was one pictured above) are Hovercraft, ahoy! springing up, ready for a flying cars? prophesied upsurge in Photo courtesy Rebecca Flannery And what did we get electric car ownership. instead? Facebook. Oh And with the infrastructure well - the naivety of youth in place, and the noises meets the disappointment from manufacturing and Shaun Poynter is small motor that powers a - a gust of wind, say, or a environmental ‘footprint’ of growing old. governments overseas ride-on mower. change of slope on land is minimal. And as an both the skipper or a wave on water - could added bonus, at rest the But those were the heady about doing away with “It’s only 25 horsepower,” and the pilot of have a dramatic efect hovercraft is almost flat, days of the ‘Space Race’, petrol and diesel vehicles, Shaun explains, pointing to on steering. Safety and making boarding and something that oficially it might not take much the country’s the ridiculously small fan training, training, training, disembarking a breeze. began 60 years ago last to doom the internal that floats the Russian-built coolest ride-on therefore, are paramount month, with the launch of combustion ‘horseless hovercraft on a cushion concerns. The top speed of these the Soviet Union’s Sputnik carriage’ to the same history mower, with his of air. craft, Shaun says, is about in October, 1957. as the horsed variety. work journey In this country, these 120km/h but they’ll only be Forward motion is also issues are dealt with by going 40km/h at most on A little over a decade later, it And then what? Driverless one of the most provided by a fan, though Maritime New Zealand Lake Pukaki, both for safety was an American first, with cars? It might not pay to this one is a wee bit bigger. scenic in the (with hovercraft being and to allow passengers a man on the Moon. Then scof seeing as big boys like The interesting thing here, considered a type of boat); (up to ten at a time) to the sky literally was the limit Google are pushing for this world. though, is that the motor is in some places overseas, enjoy the breath-taking - we’d soon have stations one. (again) nothing out-of-the- What’s more, he can also however, hovercraft views. on the moon and missions ordinary: a regular Subaru What a transformation that walk on water. are thought of as “float to Mars. boxer engine. would be. You wouldn’t Okay, that’s a slight planes”, Shaun says, and Hovercraft facts: And the nearest we actually have to own a car (that What this means is that are controlled by aviation got was Thunderbirds (in exaggeration - as the • ‘Hovercraft’ is a spends most of the time the hovercraft, despite authorities. ‘Supermarionation’). skipper/pilot of a new trademark name, so sat in a garage or car its state-of-the-art hovercraft service on Lake In Russia, this type of other manufacturers use park anyway), instead just appearance, can be easily As the accompanying Pukaki in the Mackenzie hovercraft is mainly used terms such as ‘air-cushion ‘whistling up’ a driverless fixed and maintained features show, the future Country, Shaun only hovers by the military, Shaun vehicle’ or ACV. always seems just about one using a handy-dandy on water (and land, too). by local tradespeople in explains, where they are here - yet hovercrafts smartphone app. (This nearby Twizel. • The first working Still, he does have the awe- ideal for the icy tundra and (right), for all their futuristic would also be a transport hovercraft was built in the inspiring view of Aoraki/Mt So what’s it like to pilot a lakes of the sub-arctic, appeal, have been around boon for many non-driving Austro-Hungarian Empire Cook as a reference point hovercraft? where roads are non- for decades, and Segways in 1915, and called a older people.) to steer by. existent. (opposite page) have not “Think of driving a drift car, Luftkissengleitboot (‘air become the ubiquitous True, macho blokes in their And to explain the ‘ride-on on ice, in a storm,” Shaun The advantage on Lake cushion boat’). urban transport they were grunty 4WDs and muscle mower’ bit: the hovercraft says with a wry smile. Pukaki, where artificial • Commercially viable toted to be. cars might be a bit put out has two engines, both of structures are prohibited, is He goes on to explain that hovercraft were first - but there’s always Viagra which are rather surprising. that hovercraft - which can And as the article on produced in the United for them. the hovercraft’s lack of go directly from land onto classic cars (opposite page) Kingdom in the 1950s and The ‘lift’ engine (the one friction in motion means water - do not need a jetty. demonstrates, there’s still Now, I’ll just check my that makes the craft hover) that any slight change in 60s, including a cross- a lingering love for the Facebook feeds for updates is actually exactly the same the terrain or the weather Similarly, their Channel ferry. technology of the past. on those flying cars ...
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen News | 09
Master mechanic: Allan Wyllie at work on a classic Hispano-Suiza. Hundreds of hours of labour have already gone into this project that arrived as “a collection of bits”. When complete, it will be an “eye-catching car” with sweeping running boards and mudguards. Photo: Stuart Duncan
“Can I have one? Please, pleaaaase!” The Senior Citizen’s editor rather likes the Segway. Classic styles for Photo: Stuart Duncan Transport if you classy Kiwi crafts have the (bank)
By Patrick Whittle a big reservoir of skills.” he says. “It’s much more To make up for this, in creative than working the last few years the balance & poise This was something Why do classic on modern cars - you do company has taken on Allan found out first-hand literally create new parts.” apprentices. and exotic car working as a mechanic in When Graeme Yet while their status has enthusiasts Europe, and it stood him Apart from the tyres, “Really, there’s no changed, their price hasn’t Gordon rode up - a brand new Segway is from all over in good stead on his return Allan and the other substitute for working side to Christchurch, landing mechanics have built all by side with someone to the Bridle Path still well over $10,000. While the world send him a dream job at Auto the components needed to impart knowledge,” he on his futuristic expensive, this maintains Restoration in 1985. rebuild a complete car. says. their exclusivity, Graeme their vehicles Segway in the reckons. to be restored “I’d always wanted to work Sometimes they even So what makes an ‘original’ early 2000s, he And what do you get with older cars,” he says. have to work from photos classic car? in Christchurch, got funny looks for your money? A self- Starting as a mechanic, of rarer vehicles when no New Zealand? original parts exist. “That’s a hard question and less than balancing two-wheeled he was the foreman for 20 to answer,” Allan admits. scooter that can go up I went to ask Auto years before becoming the And this even includes “There’s no hard and fast complimentary to 20km/h, with a range Restoration mechanic company manager. wooden parts for the rule.” comments. of over 30km, and a Allan Wyllie this very When he retired, he was oldest vehicles; stacks of running time of up to 8hrs. question - and I came In Britain, for example, a Now, the Christchurch immediately asked to Southland beech line the These vary, Graeme says, away wanting an Aston classic car “has to have Segway guru gets nods and come back as a part-time back of the body shop, depending on the weight of Martin. And a Bugatti. And, three out of five original smiles when he whizzes mechanic. with joinery and (literal) the rider, their riding style most especially, a 1927 coach-building skills still parts”. But this is not a by; Segways, he says, have and the terrain. become more accepted. Delage Grand Prix. Now 67, Allan says he often employed. universal rule. enjoyed his time in (Being seen zooming along A handlebar-less knee-grip Boyish dreams aside, management - “certainly But now that New Zealand “Most people want [their the sidelines at Canterbury Segway ‘Mini Pro’, is now Allan had an interesting an interesting gig” - but has caught up with the car] restored to how it was Crusaders’ games has also available for a tenth response. he’s glad to be back rest of the world with when it left the factory.” helped.) of the price of the bigger model. (A local doctor Due to import restrictions ‘hands-on’ with the cars. a modern car fleet, the Often, though, they ask for Originally developed as on cars to New Zealand traditional mechanical commutes on one from “There’s much more of a some modern additions an of-shoot of a “self- in place until the 1980s, know-how is disappearing, Merivale to the hospital.) sense of a job done,” he like power-steering, balancing wheelchair” Kiwis had gained an and it’s getting harder to reckons. heaters or sound systems. for those with mobility While they’re ideal for the international reputation find good tradespeople. problems, modern Segways mobility impaired, on tourist as being “better at fixing And, due to the timeless And what is the attraction “Originally, we could have found a niche with tours older people can take things”. nature of the job, he’s of a restored vehicle? hire people from the postal delivery services, a while to get used to them, slotted straight back in. “New Zealanders were mainstream auto industry,” “People tend to covet the security firms and city tour Graeme cautions. companies. well-known as being good “The skills I’m practising Allan says. “But now cars they remember from But take it from The Senior at keeping older cars now are the same skills there’s no need for repair their childhood,” Allan “They’ll continue to hang Citizen’s editor, once you going,” Allan says. “We had used 50 or 60 years ago,” skills.” reckons. around because they’re get the hang of them, you’ll useful,” Graeme says. want one!
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 10 | News Theseniorcitizen
More acerbic pearls of wisdom from The Senior Citizen’s resident Grumpy Old Man
The architecturally-designed exterior to the new Christchurch Justice & Emergency Services Precinct. Rough justice with new lock-up’s look Lindy Harward is less-than impressed with the design of Zip the noise, not Christchurch’s latest ‘keystone’ development Spent time in the lock up as to give no purchase for from the word go for those recently? a potential assault on the brought into custodial care. the conversation oficer within. The city’s residents got Embarking on a bit of the chance recently during This feature is picked out by background research, I the open day tour of the the addition of solid steel tastes, not those of their and it is a diferent discovered that the placing The sound of new Justice & Emergency toilets, with basins, provided customers. proposition. The flow and and design of cells are less Services Precinct in the in each of the otherwise silence is “my bustle of trafic makes than optimal in order to Yet aren’t they there to CBD. completely bare cells. old friend” it virtually impossible to achieve a $10 million cost serve and satisfy their There’s nothing that will get silence, at any level. The facility was a big draw saving. sang Simon clients? allow self harm. card as this was a once-only Moving machinery I can’t imagine guards are and Garfunkel For me, a huge lover of (hopefully) opportunity to That includes fabric makes noise; there’s going to be lining up for a music of many kinds, see around it. curtains; instead, the glass (with a touch road noise, rotating- job there either. there is a problem with panes on the cells can be of darkness parts noise, engine At ground level, the facility this scenario; I have made opaque as required. Given the many millions that noise, braking noise, feels as if it’s been weighted added). deteriorating hearing seem to have been thrown rumble and rocking and down by the overhead law Apparently it’s a state of the and wear hearing aids. around in this re-build, it’s And there is no doubt rolling noise. courts above the open air art facility, at least in terms hard to understand why silence is a friend to us This means that noise atrium with its water feature. of the electronics, which the powers that be couldn’t all. – music and multi- Even if a roadway is allow surveillance and distant, it can send If you’re keen on low remote access to the cells have made this a truly state In which case, our old conversations, serving noise swelling across ceilings, artificial light, a which line the walls. All set of the art facility following pals may be diminishing noise, table and chair- the cityscape, from colour palette of grey, beige for decades, we were told. best practice from around in number, being moving (especially tones with a bit of ice-blue among high bare walls motorway, inner city the world. overtaken by modern streets, even side roads. and a lot of stainless steel, That windowless, confining noise. with floors to match) this is the place for you environment could be a Is this as good as it gets for - all provide echo, and We have become used minimalists out there. bleak place to work for custodial care? For example, I met a impose a cacophony to it all and we accept it hours at a time. small group of The of sound which can without listening. You’ll admire the massive Apparently so for Senior Citizen writers obliterate conversational four sided reception counter, It seems to reflect a general Christchurch , as we’ll be in a city café recently. speech. Try listening some time: chest high and smoothly view in society that it should living with this facility for set your ears to pick up bufed stainless steel so be all about punishment Lovely place; well lit, decades. Shouldn’t cofee places every discrete sound. airy, busy (but not too and restaurants provide much), a pleasant hum music to suit the You will be amazed at of activity. And music. occasion, adding to the the number of noise events, adding up to Now music is fine, when ambience, not detracting an amount which is Pause to remember it is harmonious. But from it? when it is too rhythmic overwhelming, all- Another point there: if consuming, drowning and jangly and loud, you go to a place with it is obstructive of out even conscious that terrible day live performers, then thoughts! conversation. And isn’t surely conversations conversation why we go should be restricted. The Try, also, going and On the afternoon looking for Cup Week entering the building 25 to cofee places in the musicians’ eforts should meeting in a field where bargains. minutes after the smoke had first place? (Well, other be respected, otherwise there is no ambient of November 17, been seen. than for cofee.) go somewhere else. trafic noise – if you can Christchurch city And then one of the 458 store workers saw smoke Tragically, by the time fire- For the young and the find one. Conversely, cofee centre will likely coming from a stairwell. fighters arrived, the blaze acute of hearing this lounges are for Listen to the lowing be bustling. was out of control. may be no problem. And conversations. Make the of the beasts and the The fire brigade was called, cofee places are mostly music fit, not the other twitter of the birds. Pure So it was at 3.30pm on and - on the mistaken Forty people perished in the stafed by the young. way around. bliss. November 17, 1947 - seventy assumption that any fire fire, as well as a pregnant So they play young years ago. At Ballantyne’s would be contained - no member of staf who music, designed for their Go out into the city Department Store, hundreds evacuation was ordered. jumped to her death trying of shoppers were busy Customers were still to avoid the inferno.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen News | 011 A character house
Well-being in your 50s and further on By Mollie Howarth relationships (for example, spouse has died to cope with groups, family and with their loss. For many people, friends). By Wendy Butcher Problems of Farming in The cultural side is not In sum, the benefits of New Zealand’ - such as ignored; for instance, retirement seems How do you go about volunteering include There’s a soil fertility, soil erosion finding a group, club or opportunities to interact Italian and English daunting. You may and diseases in sheep organisation that would with people (enhanced building at 59 singing are both of ered, have prepared - this year we have a as well as drawing and suit? social engagement), having Gloucester financially but a sense of purpose and course with Professor printmaking, creative Think about the activities accomplishment, support of St that has a Derrick Moot on writing, and dancing what happens ‘Management of the Land you enjoyed when you were and by colleagues, learning long history of classes. to the skills and younger. Make a list of all new skills and having new after the Port Hills fires’. the things you were involved being useful for And if you feel you need experiences. In 1940, one course was knowledge you in, say, from when you were to travel or at least Christchurch. titled ‘Understanding 8- to 18-years-old. How would you go about learn more about other have acquired Human Nature’; similarly, finding volunteering You may not have places or just relive past over a lifetime? in 2017, we have a Are there themes? Did you opportunities? noticed it. It sits opposite journeys, maybe the like collecting things? Doing the entrance to the Art philosophy series on How do you find meaning Again, think about the ‘Armchair Travel’ sessions art? Playing sport? Making Gallery car park, and the ‘Human Nature, Nurture when your identity is closely activities you enjoyed on a Thursday at 10.30am things? What groups did COCA Gallery is just or Neither?’ with Michael linked to what you did for when you were younger. would be right up your you belong to? over the road. Wonderful Couch. paid employment? Do you Look at that list you made alley. places to visit and just put on your slippers Then think about what you of all the things you were The 1940 course on child very important assets In 1940 a survey and shuf le of into oblivion? could do now that was involved in. This will help psychology focussed on to the cultural vibe of conducted by the Perhaps we should spend similar. The Christchurch you to figure out what areas “dealing with problems as much time thinking City Council has an interest you and the types of Christchurch city. of child management in organisation indicated that many people felt about the social aspects of excellent on-line database organisation that might suit The old house is also a practical manner and more use should be retirement as the financial CINCH (cinch.org.nz) that you as a volunteer. an asset. It has been stresses the necessity ones. you can search to find doctor’s rooms, a of emotional guidance made of radio as a social, community, cultural You could also use the during the early years.” teaching tool - and for So what elements will help residential family home; it and leisure groups. Volunteer Canterbury advertising courses. you to make a successful was used as a Children’s In 2017, we have a database (volcan.org.nz) Things have changed transition to retirement? Alternatively, researchers Court, and had a train morning class about to search for volunteering slightly. from the University of that children could ride “helping children (3-to Researchers from Mt Sinai opportunities. Pittsburgh have found that running along the side 6-years-old) develop self The full programme is Medical Centre, New York, volunteering as you age is To talk to one of the Citizens veranda. control” tutored by Cathie identified social engagement now available in hard associated with a greater Advice Bureau’s caring Edwards. as necessary for successful The house has watched copy but also online at satisfaction in life and a team members about help over many changes in We do try to follow www. cwea.org.nz or we retirement; that is, being longer life. with finding a social activity involved in activities that are during retirement or to Gloucester St - and current issues, and have a Facebook page meaningful and purposeful, Volunteering also seems to volunteer for Citizens Advice for the last 60 years, it political issues provide which links to topics and and maintaining close help older people whose Bureau call 0800 367 222. has been a venue for plenty of food for highlights things we think challenging discussions thought: for example, are interesting. on a wide range of topics ‘New Zealand, 100% CWEA is not a ‘sit over the last 60 years. Pure or not?’ or the post down and do nothing’ This is the house that earthquake Christchurch redevelopment or organisation – we know houses the Canterbury that learning keeps us Want to volunteer? Workers’ Educational ‘Unravelling American Politics’. young and the wider For many people Association or CWEA. range of learning we do like Bruce (right), Its educational tradition ‘Systems Science: the more interesting we volunteering has created continues to this day: no Science with a heart’ are. a sense of purpose after matter how much has with Dr Victor MacGill retirement. looks at the whole picture Phone (03) 3660285, call changed many things in to 59 Gloucester St, remain the same. of science and asks “I was looking for a way to about the relationships or email admin@cwea. be of help to other people,” Whereas in 1940, classes between the parts that org.nz or online at www. he says. “Citizens Advice included ‘Practical make it up. cwea.org.nz gave me a chance to work in an of ice environment and use my intellect.” On any given day, a The team at the Canterbury Workers Educational volunteer working their Association know that learning is a life long shift might be approached journey. We offer courses to challenge your about a whole range of The Canterbury Workers thinking & explore new ideas and skills. questions, from tenancy Educational Association Thinking and being involved is part of rights, requests for Roopu Kaimahi Matauranga O Waitaha truly being alive! directions, or needing clients make informed something about their documents signed by a We offer a large variety of Justice of the Peace, to decisions about their situation.” Volunteers helping someone deal with lives and increasing their are fully supported with courses from Creative Writing redundancy. links to community-based Induction and ongoing to Country Dancing, Philosophy resources. training as they move from to Personal Development, Italian Citizens Advice Bureau being observers through to volunteers support clients “One of the things I have Singing to Printmaking. probationary interviewers through interviewing really enjoyed is you don’t them to find out what the have to know everything,” to, finally, accredited bureau workers. Want to know more? issue is, provide them with Bruce says. Then jump onto www.cwea.org.nz, personalised information “It’s about listening to our For details email: manager. and discuss strategies for visit us at 59 Gloucester Street or call us on 03 366 0285 clients stories, looking up [email protected] or addressing any particular to discover your next skill or brush up on a passion you once had. information and finding phone 0800 367 222 to talk problem. options for them, so they to one of the caring and Lifelong Learning. Learning for life. The focus is on helping are empowered to do supportive volunteers.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 12 | News Theseniorcitizen
Weird Wide Web Intrepid explorer Alan Wilkie roams the world (from his desktop) to bring The Senior Citizen readers the curious and the bizarre
Coins and aircraft made the discovery after Potentially dangerous figured out how engines? Good luck! a 47-year-old patient was eyeball shaving has given their activities referred to them because of way to newer treatments went undetected She just wanted to ensure a year-long nagging cough. for trachoma, also reduced so many years, an uneventful journey. But by improved sanitation, believing that some an airplane passenger’s A scan revealed something hygiene and antibiotics. of the victims used superstitious actions ended on the patient’s lung. dating websites before The up grounding her flight at Because the man was a Sweeney Todd, eat your disappearing. Shanghai Airport for five longtime smoker, it was heart out temple was hours. assumed to be a tumour. “Ho! Ho! Ho!” beneath A Russian couple, Dmitry inaccessible due Turkish church? According to the South But during a bronchoscopy, and Natalia Baksheev, to the presence of stone China Morning Post, a the ‘tumour’ turned out to confessed to abducting, According to The Guardian, reliefs and mosaics that woman (identified by her be a tiny toy traf ic cone killing and eating at least Turkish archaeologists needed to be preserved. surname Qiu) threw a according to The Guardian. 30 people over an 18-year have found intact temple But excavation work will handful of coins into an period, and tried to sell and burial grounds of Airbus 320’s engine to After doctors removed “human meat pies” to local Saint Nicholas, in Antalya, allow scholars to determine “wish a safe flight.” the cone, the patient restaurants. Turkey – possibly dashing whether it still holds St confessed he’d swallowed the hopes of millions of Nicholas’s body. Fellow travellers saw Qiu, According to the Mirror, a Playmobil pieces during his children. believed to be in her 80s, childhood, but didn’t know local cafe owner rejected The saint’s fabled gift- toss the change from their of er, saying he only Revered for his gift-giving he had inhaled one when sharp razor right on the giving inspired the halfway up the boarding used “certified suppliers.” and aid to the poor, the he was about 7. legend of Sinterklaas in staircase. eyeballs of his patrons to 4th-century saint gave The couple were also Kids commonly inhaled scrape of dirt and residue. rise to the legend of Santa the Netherlands, which Passengers were ordered believed to have given small objects by accident, Claus. morphed into Santa Claus, of the aircraft as engineers Xiong claims that in 40 “frozen meat pieces” to the doctors said, but it popularised in the US by were called. One coin was years of eyeball shaving, he personnel at a military It was thought that Saint was unusual for the onset Dutch immigrants to the found inside the engine, of symptoms to occur 40 has never injured anyone. academy near their home Nicholas’ remains were with eight on the ground in Krasnodar. colonies. years later. Eyeball shaving was used smuggled to the city of nearby. Bari, Italy (where the St in hospitals in the early Natalia told a local resident Eying up a close shave Nicholas Basilica still Lung ‘tumour’ actually a 1900s to treat trachoma, “I bake pies.” When asked stands) after the First road cone A Chinese barber in what ingredients she used, the most common Crusade, 700 years after his Chengdu city shaves more she replied, “whatever is infectious cause of death. A British man is breathing than beards. He shaves around.” easier after doctors blindness in the world. eyeballs too. The archaeologists now determined that a Found in the couples’ By scraping away the believe the saint’s body suspected lung tumour was According to ShanghaiList. home, was a jar with ulcers and scar tissue may be within the temple actually a Playmobil traf ic com, Xiong Gaowu is pickled human remains under trachoma patients’ complex in Antalya, which cone. one of a few barbers still and other gruesome eyelids, the shaving they recently discovered practicing the age-old “art” discoveries, such as 19 stimulated the eyes to According to the BBC, of eyeball shaving. slices of skin. below the modern church doctors at a respiratory secrete liquid to moisten using ground-penetrating clinic in Preston, England, The 62-year-old uses a the sockets. Investigators haven’t radars.
Meanwhile, good ol’ radio holds its own
By Alan Wilkie In any case, radio for me is families couldn’t af ord. like WWW, ISP, 4G, LOL mostly music, ‘old’ music and WTF. It wasn’t glorified as I was originally (or, as it’s now called, ‘new technology’ back I was surprised recently, “retro” – 50s, 60s, 70s and going to continue then. Sometimes it was to come across a book, an sometimes 80s). with coverage disparagingly referred to original copy of a dictionary My preference for the as a gadget. (Or was it of computer terms. of some trendy aforementioned radio gizmo? Hmmm ... what Numbering 314 pages and internet thing, stations is because music was the correct term then? first published in 1997 – it’s but I got diverted from the 90s and later Thingamajig, thingamabob, now available for purchase, leave me a bit cold, as I whatchamacallit, online, if you need it. by ... radio. never really connected whatsit...?) The e-book version is to rap or hip-hop (except Casting my mind back cheaper, but you need a You can get just about any occasionally Eminem). radio station in the world through the decades, digital device to read it. on the net, but I find it So I want to declare here I reckon the word It hasn’t the convenience easier just to switch on the that I’ve got a soft spot ‘technology’ has been of familiar, centuries old, radio. for radio, which goes way hammered into our skulls tried-and-tested ‘pages’, back, to BC in fact (Before for about 20 years. but screeds of screens to Since retiring, I often find Computers, or Before Cars, ‘navigate’ through. Not allowed to follow a myself listening to music on in my family). the car radio, while waiting natural human impulse to If you can manage it, for my spouse. (She’s a Many years ago, my Dad recollect simpler times, you may find it a handy keen shopper, whereas I’m used to tell us kids about we are forever reminded personal companion ... if not. She does not drive, when radio first arrived of the need for progress, you have a smart phone. whereas I do.) in his neck of the woods towards a brave new world I read recently that (Perth, Scotland, in the of Artificial Intelligence these so-called ‘smart’ I also find that my choice of 1920s), and he always (aka robotic control?), and contraptions are actually Image: WikiCommons radio stations has narrowed referred to it as “the driverless cars, no less. making us dumber. Clear as crystal: Old style wireless technology. down, 90 percent of the wireless.” time, to Magic or Coast. Um, where was I? Oh yes, And yet, sales increase, Sitting in the living room, radio ... The wireless. with many oldies getting about old music on the which hasn’t failed (yet) ... That percentage goes listening to the BBC on the snagged too. Though, as a radio and now I’ve started or completely losing my squif y when I factor in time Wireless, now, has wireless, then, was family demographic, we tend to raving and rambling about marbles (yet). spent with the radio of – morphed into a completely time. be slower on the uptake. bloody technology. Again. listening to blessed silence, dif erent beast, with us So I’ll sign of for now - or maybe my own thoughts The wireless was still a having to keep up with a I’m sorry, I just can’t help I can’t blame my Dad (rest politely wishing you, all the while staring into space. novelty, but one many plethora of new acronyms, myself. I just wanted to talk his soul) ... or my memory best in keeping up.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Money | 13
Today’s blended modern family means expecting the unexpected
As a lawyer The passing of the By choosing to own any Family Proceedings home purchased together helping ordinary Act marked the final as tenants in common, a New Zealanders step of the transition couple is able to allocate with their legal from a system of law distinct shares in the which upheld Christian property on the title and requirements doctrine of marriage as a this will mean that their over the last religious sacrament to one share of the property can three decades, which sees it as a social be dealt with in their will. contract, subject to the If the other form of it’s noticeable will of its signatories. common ownership, that the nature Since then we have seen known as a joint tenancy, of the family the introduction of the is adopted then on the death of one partner, unit has evolved Civil Union Act 2004, then, in 2013, the introduction of the property would pass to the extent same sex marriage in New automatically to the Zealand. survivor (which is often that one has not the preferred option to expect the All of this means that for those in second or unexpected. when dealing with clients’ subsequent relationships). legal issues, the nature of Increasingly, the family the family unit can take By owning property as unit we deal with is not on many dif erent shapes tenants in common, a couple gets the option Mum, Dad and the three and sizes. In particular, it to provide a form of life kids but, rather, a colourful seems that the ‘blended’ interest in favour of their mix of dif erent types of family is almost the new surviving partner for a ‘new’ modern families. norm in this country. particular period - or until Let’s take a look at some A particular dif iculty a specified event - and landmarks in the changes is advising clients then on the end of the A good Yorkshire brew: Putting on the ‘kettle’ now has a whole new meaning for Dave which have evolved the life tenancy, to leave the Dixon; it’s the initial heating process in craft beer-making. in a blended family nature of the family unit in situation on structuring capital of their estate to New Zealand. the ownership of any their children. The Family Proceedings property which they own Achieving the correct Act in 1980 was something jointly, and on the way in balance of type of Beer gets thumbs up of a watershed in New which they subsequently ownership, and providing Zealand law. Not only did structure their wills. for all of your loved the Act remove divorce Where a couple come ones in a blended We all dream about turning our favorite hobby into a job, from the jurisdiction of to a new relationship family situation, can but is it a good idea, financially or otherwise? The Senior the High Court to the with children from prior be something of a (then) newly created juggling act and is Citizen catches up with an ex-pat Brit who’s discovered a relationships, early in the Family Court, but the term new relationship their something which the ‘divorce’ was abandoned taste for taking his pastime more seriously focus will often be on team at Kannangara in favour of the modern providing for the children Thomson have many Did you hear the one about mouth was. ”I’d always process. It’s actually making term ‘dissolution of years experience in. We of their earlier relationship. the two Yorkshiremen who day-dreamed of having a something.” marriage’. invite you to contact us However, most couples bought a brewery? brewery,” Dave admits - but to discuss your particular In theory, the process is will want to weigh against first they had to do their In the immediate circumstances. Well, two long-time mates homework, about exactly straightforward - “Water, aftermath of the passing this the desire to make from Doncaster, Dave Dixon what running their own craft malt, hops, yeast,” Dave of the Act the numbers of provision for each other in By Brent Selwyn of and Mark Limber, have beer business would be like. explains - but the key has dissolutions soared. their wills. Kannangara Thomson done just that - though, in been “learning by doing” in their case, in their adopted Of course they went ahead how to bring these elements hometown of Christchurch. with it, with a clear division together to produce of roles: Dave working on dif erent varieties of beer, The pair first met back in the production and Mark on ‘Donnie’, playing in the same the business side of things. and on a large scale. Our Services Include: band; over four decades “You could say, ‘We liked As for balancing regular full- later, after travel and kids, time work with an enjoyable they’ve met up again in the taste, so we bought the pastime, Dave says they are • Wills New Zealand, still with the business’,” Dave jokes. very dif erent. same interest in music - and That was in mid-2017. So • Living Wills in home-brewed craft beer. how has it worked out so “You’re doing your day • Enduring Power of Attorney So much so, they’d jokingly far? job and it’s good, but it’s talked about buying their what you always do. This is • Ownership Structures For Seniors “It’s been a bit like playing taking on a challenge as an own brewery. a guitar - the next step is extension of your hobby.” • Occupation Right Agreements “I remember Mark having joining a band, then playing • Funeral Trusts a Two Thumbs [craft beer] to people,” Dave explains. As for making a profit as and saying, ‘If this brewery But in this case, after well as beer, Yorkshire folk • Residential Care Subsidies ever comes up for sale, we a grounding in home- are well-known for being should buy it’,” Dave says. brewing, the next step with canny with their pennies. a business was upping the You guessed it: two weeks Dave, therefore, is keen scale to sell a range of beers Brent Selwyn later, Two Thumbs went to expand production of to customers and retail up for sale. Time for the their established range, outlets. two Yorkshiremen to put and experiment with new 377 4421 their money where their “It’s a process, but it’s a fun varieties.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 14 | Looking Back Theseniorcitizen Burning questions from our city’s past
Fiery history: Burning efigies, such as those of Guy Fawkes - or that of a witch in the Danish mid-summer ‘Sankthansaften’ festival (above) - are not established traditions in New Zealand; celebrating Guy Fawkes Night with fireworks, however, is well entrenched. The Danish festival was originally a remembrance of Protestant martyrs.
In pondering why thousands of Christchurch folk head to New Brighton to see the fireworks each November, Patrick Whittle comes across some seemingly forgotten snippets of Christchurch’s sectarian history. The dawning of November ahead. (Jeez! Imagine the an example. and Latimer, executed in of ‘95 Theses’ to the door diferences reach much the fifth was always an metaphorical fireworks 1555, and Fawkes, hanged a of All Saints Church in further back than those On either side of the central anxious time when I was a from us oldies if modern half century later, in 1605. Wittenberg (in modern between Catholic and city we’ve got Latimer youngster. Would it rain? youngsters still had access Germany). Protestant). Square and Cranmer Both Cranmer and Latimer Please, please, don’t let it to explosives!) Square, both named after died for their faith, Anglican Whether or not Luther did But what has any of this rain! Isn’t it strange, though, from 16th century Protestant Protestantism, just as in fact do this nailing is in got to do with modern-day And then the day itself just a grown-up perspective, martyrs burnt at the stake Fawkes did for his, Roman some doubt, as is the date Christchurch? seemed to last forever - that we’re still celebrating in England during the reign Catholicism - Fawkes being - either late October or mid- Seemingly little, beyond would it never go dark? Guy Fawkes in modern of Catholic Queen Mary. part of a wider Catholic November, 1517. What is not New Zealand? After all, conspiracy to remove disputed is that Luther did a few historical quirks of What I was worrying about, it’s a commemoration Hugh Latimer, by the way, is Protestant James I, the king publicly raise objections place-names and traditions. of course, was whether the immortalised, not just in the of a failed terrorist plot - of ‘King James Bible’ fame. to the Catholic Church’s And it’s a great thing, Guy Fawkes Night bonfires Square that bears his name, blowing up the Houses (As an aside, Fawkes has selling of Indulgences - surely, that the crowds and fireworks planned but by the words he uttered of Parliament, and hence also been described as “the essentially, ‘time of’ from who “oo” and “ah” at the for the evening would as he was condemned to the government of the last man to enter Parliament the torments of hell - at this city’s firework displays on the flames: “we shall this actually go ahead - a bright United Kingdom - from four with honest intentions”.) time, half a millennium ago. November 5 are oblivious to highlight of the childhood centuries ago on the other day light such a candle, by Luther’s actions eventually any sectarian associations. years. side of the globe. God’s grace, in England, as I Aptly enough, it’s exactly trust shall never be put out”. 500 years since the event led to the violent split in Historical short-sightedness Like most Kiwi kids of the But then again, once you seen as marking the start Western Christianity, one is similarly fantastic for time, my brothers and I start thinking about it, there Martyrdom and burning at of the oficial schism whose modern equivalent the rugby fans gathered had already built up our are loads of little oddities the stake, thank God, have between the Protestant is mirrored in the sectarian at Canterbury’s home arsenals of ‘Poha’ and ‘Tom from the past that often go fallen out of fashion - but it and Roman Catholic bloodletting in the Middle matches. Thumb’ crackers, ready for unnoticed in this country - does, in this case, provide branches of Christianity East between Muslim the dangerously fiery night take today’s Christchurch as the link between Cranmer - Martin Luther’s nailing Sunni and Shia (whose Continued on page 15 First Sputnik, then ‘kaputnik’ The Soviet Union military missiles. gathered at Cape Canaveral, January, 1958. This was Florida, for the US lift-of in carried into space aboard launched Sputnik, In response, the Americans December, 1957. a ‘Jupiter’ rocket, designed rushed forward their own by Wernher von Braun, the the first artificial The rocket only managed space programme, publicly former Nazi engineer who’d space satellite, in to rise a few feet into the announcing the launch of developed the V2 ballistic air before crashing back 1957, 60 years ago their own Vanguard rocket missile. before year’s end. down in flames. Newspaper last month. headline writers had a Weeks before the American It was to prove another blow This came as a great shock field-day, with “flopnik”, satellite even entered space, to American prestige. to the USSR’s superpower “kaputnik” and “stayputnik” Sputnik had left it - burning rival, the USA - especially Unlike the Soviets, who some of the more humorous up on re-entry to the Earth’s takes on the disaster. atmosphere on January 4, as it showed the level of had only revealed the 1958. sophistication of Soviet Sputnik launch after it Undeterred, the Americans rocket technology, which had successfully entered finally launched their first Explorer 1 stayed in orbit for could also be applied to orbit, the world’s press had satellite, Explorer 1, in late longer, until 1970.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Looking Back | 15
The old and Guns atop the new ... the heads
Enemy aircraft sighted! Open Day at Godley Head. Imagine manning an anti-aircraft ... and today’s gun above the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour or looking out to the distant Kaikouras from a women in blue hidden pillbox, envisaging the approach of an enemy ship. Sixty-five But this year marks an array have made steady progress her dog ‘Jake’). These are two favourite Many hours of work of anniversaries for women since the early days (such activities which can be goes into research Nowadays, over a third of years ago, New oficers in New Zealand’s as when the Prime Minister enjoyed at open days and into recording oral the staf of New Zealand Zealand’s first police force. had to give permission held by Godley Head histories associated Police are women, including for them to marry male Heritage Trust at the with Godley Head, both uniformed Sticking with uniforms, 1,721 constabulary oficers. colleagues). World War 2 coastal during war time and in the debate on whether policewomen According to Police Deputy defence battery, situated later compulsory military to allow policewomen to In the 1950s, a few Chief Executive (People) at one of the most scenic training days. began walking the wear trousers began 40 policewomen were training Kaye Ryan, women bring sites in Christchurch beat - before that, years ago, in 1977, but it as detectives, and in the And volunteers get to diferent backgrounds above the harbour heads. wasn’t until 1996 - 21 years following decade they do so much more, from females in the and experiences to the ago - that skirts finally began to take part in The trust’s key aim is taking groups on guided organisation, especially force had to wear disappeared and trousers firearms training alongside preserving the military tours, reconstructing a empathy and a desire to civilian clothes, became standard issue. their male colleagues. history of Godley radar hut, uncovering help the community. Head and establishing the site of ‘Taylor Battery’ complete with The long reign (and hems) The 1960s also saw equal “There have been many a heritage centre/ pad, lime-washing of skirts had had an impact pay being introduced, along hats and gloves. changes to the police over museum in the original the miniature range or on female policing; not only with policewomen being the years and we are proud quartermaster’s store. maintaining the anti- Indeed, in 1952, when the did they restrict running in employed in all general of the women who have aircraft gun. army-style uniforms were the pursuit of criminals, but duties. A wheelchair ramp adopted, women had only their pockets were too small been part of the growth has been built to allow Further information been in the police for just for the likes of handcufs The number of and have forged the way access to the building can be found at www. over a decade; despite and truncheons. policewomen only grow for other women in the where a series of godleyhead.org.nz or fierce resistance from senior slowly, however - in 1969, organisation,” she says. interactive displays www.facebook.com/ A standard issue handbag for example, there were just oficers, wartime manpower “When you become cop, will give visitors an Godley-Head-Heritage- was therefore carried by 69 females on the force. shortages had led to 10 you don’t lose who you are, appreciation of why the Trust-125443000890142/ policewomen, although battery was constructed women being recruited in By the early 1970s, 2.3 you use who you are to help batons had to be shortened and tell of the personnel Anyone who’d like 1941. percent of the sworn people.” in order to fit. stationed there, while to ensure that future police establishment were According to historical There have been record an archives room will be generations can Nowadays, of course, both women; by the early 1980s, enjoy this historic site records, these first female male and female police numbers of women recruits available to researchers. this had almost doubled to - whether wielding entrants “had to be oficers wear ‘utility belts’ recently, Ryan says. 4.2 percent, rising to 13.3 At present the trust paintbrushs or grease between the ages of 25 and to carry all the necessary percent by the mid-1990s “Police should reflect the is constructing two guns, or transcribing oral 40 years and unmarried or equipment for modern (at the same time that the communities they serve displays, a signal station recordings - can contact widowed and able to use duties. a typewriter”. Nor did they first female dog handler, and we’re committed to tableau and a hut Peter Wilkins on 942 have power of arrest over But despite the earlier Constable Debbie Grumball, growing the diversity of our tableau. 1942 or 021 179 9368. men. restrictions, policewomen joined the Dog Section with staf.
From page 14 Catholics while the former day because dozens of the It’s hard to believe today A riot took place in were in procession through city’s constabulary had been that Catholics and They thrill at the sight the town. Several of the sent to Timaru to pre-empt Protestants came to of armoured men on town on Saturday. The Orangemen were seriously a feared riot in that town blows in Christchurch and horseback thundering wounded .... There is great between, you guessed it, Timaru. But such violence around the pitch, and make Orangemen were attacked by excitement in town.” Catholics and Protestants. seemed quite widespread no connection between throughout Canterbury that What ‘town’ does this story their Crusaders and their A satirical poem entitled (in year, as this snippet from the Roman Catholics while refer to? Belfast, Northern murderous medieval an Irish accent) ‘The Saige the Auckland Star of July 24, Ireland, during ‘The namesakes who butchered of Timaru’, soon appeared in 1879, makes clear: the former were in procession their way to the Holy Land. Troubles’? No, actually it’s the Akaroa Mail mocking the Christchurch at Christmas in participants in the fracas. It “The police have received through the town. Several But the point is that religious 1879, when the considerably finished with the lines: information of a riot by animosity is anathema in under-manned city police navvies at Weka Pass. They of the Orangemen were modern Christchurch. This, force could barely contain They’re crown’d wid glory in threatened to sack an hotel though, was not always the the violent ‘excitement’ of fame’s bright story, there, kept by a woman. It is case - take this piece of seriously wounded ... There is the thousands of locals The kilt an’ wounded an’ the stated that the unemployed news reported in the Bay of drawn to support or protest slain an’ slew, element is mixed in the great excitement in town. Plenty Times. a Protestant ‘Orange Order’ afair.” parade. Will live for ages in histh’ry’s “A riot took place in town on pages, ‘Navvies’ were road workers, Saturday. The Orangemen And Christchurch’s police but it was often the code for Christchurch, 1879 were attacked by the Roman were so stretched on that Whilst battle rages at Timaru. Irish Catholics.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 16 | Health Theseniorcitizen From ‘palsy’ to Parkinson’s A serendipitous meeting with a large brain - and its expert - provides Patrick Whittle with new insights on neurodegenerative disorders
I first met Dr Michael Parkinson’s himself. And MacAskill suggested One of the clearest signs smoking or drinking - MacAskill in South City due to van der Veer’s initial sticking your foot in front of of Parkinson’s, though, was although again the reasons Shopping Centre, where generosity, Christchurch them - not to trip them up, “lack of facial expression”, for this were unclear. a group of children were has a research institute that but to give them something MacAskill said. “So alcohol and tobacco happily dismantling his would usually only be found to concentrate on stepping This diminished might help?” I asked. oversized brain, while being in a city many times its size. over so they could start responsiveness had a indulgently watched by their moving again. I’d already learnt another negative impact on social MacAskill shook his head parents. with a wry smile. Because unusual piece of information I knew that this year marked interaction, with people low levels of dopamine, a The ‘brain’ was actually a about Parkinson’s - that the 200th anniversary of sometimes erroneously brain chemical implicated in large multi-piece model, while those with the James Parkinson’s original concluding that those with part of a public display condition usually had the condition were not addictive behaviours, was description of “the shaking a feature of the condition it in the mall organised by problems walking, they were palsy”, so I asked about that. listening or were being aloof. the New Zealand Brain sometimes still able to ride was more likely that those Research Institute (NZBRI). a bicycle. Parkinson was a very astute This could then lead to with Parkinson’s were not MacAskill was there to observer, MacAskill said, reduced social engagement, big drinkers or smokers in answer questions - and it Although the exact reason although his description was which in turn exacerbated the first place. just happened that I had why this was the case was based on only a few people the problem. In addition, in unclear, MacAskill pointed social situations, those with Certainly, some drugs loads of them. with the condition - one that raised dopamine to the clinically clean floor being someone he’d just Parkinson’s would often be As we chatted, first in levels could also change of the mall as a possible seen in the street. concentrating so much on South City, and later explanation. specific things - such as not behaviours - for example, at MacAskill’s NZBRI And while involuntary spilling their drink - that they non-gamblers suddenly Walking was no longer ofice near Christchurch “shaking” (of hands, say) might fail to interact fully becoming pokie addicts (in an automatic process for Hospital, I discovered he was a symptom of the with others. which case, a change of was a treasure trove of people with Parkinson’s, disorder, not everyone with prescription was needed). he said, and they therefore The impact of Parkinson’s fascinating facts about Parkinson’s exhibited it. Unlike other patients neurodegenerative had to concentrate on every on partners and carers Nor was “palsy” - which with neurodegenerative conditions such as step. But on bare mono- was often unappreciated, originally meant ‘paralysis’ conditions - ‘dementia’ Parkinson’s - with one in colour surfaces like in a MacAskill said, especially if - a particularly clear being the general term for particular likely to be of mall there was nothing to those with the condition no description. “progressive worsening of comfort to local readers. focus on, and those with longer responded as they the condition could ‘freeze’, It wasn’t until the 1870s, once would have. cognition” - Parkinson’s “If you have Parkinson’s, unable to step forward. MacAskill said, that the patients rarely forgot “Communication is the appointments: “They’re Christchurch is a good place condition was renamed With biking, however, biggest problem for partners notorious for turning up to be,” MacAskill said. “Parkinson’s” by the possibly the rhythmic of those with Parkinson’s.” early,” MacAskill laughed. French neurologist Jean- This is because, he went on contact with the pedals Martin Charcot, who also to explain, the origins of the overcame this tendency. Parkinson’s, however, was “And I’m notorious for NZBRI lie in a bequest by emphasised other indicators one of the rare medical staying too long,” I thought, Christchurch businessman If someone with Parkinson’s such as abnormal posture conditions that did not reluctantly closing my pad Cas van der Veer, who had froze when walking, and slowness of movement. correlate negatively with of fascinating facts.
Them bones,
Regain the freedom them bones ... Our bones are to osteoporosis prevention In fact, approximately 1 in living tissue, is a well-balanced 3 people over the age of of your home diet. It is the calcium and 65 will fall in any one year. with an outer vitamin D that assists in Osteoporosis will increase Simple, safe and shell and dense this area (a varied diet the chances of these falls is adequate rather than leading to fractures. stylish, Acorn structures mega dosing). within. Once again, exercise Another significant factor comes to the rescue. Stairlifts give Bones are designed to is physical activity and While weight bearing be light, strong and have exercise, with a regular exercise is the gold people the chance some flexibility. They exercise programme is standard in osteoporosis provide structural support essential for bone health. prevention, it is balance to enjoy their own for our bodies and are exercises that assist involved in the production Specifically weight most in falls prevention. homes once again. of blood cells and mineral bearing exercise Simple exercises carried storage. ofers the best defence • For straight or and this includes lifting out regularly, under In our 20s we reach peak weights as well as professional guidance, curved staircases bone mass, as at this using your bodyweight reduces falls and its time we are at the optimal as resistance. While outcomes. • Indoor and balance of new bone activities such as cycling So, whether you are growth and repair. As we outdoor lifts and swimming have a looking to prevent age, and as lifestyle and range of valuable health osteoporosis through • Free home diseases impact on our benefits, these activities weight bearing exercise, health, there can be a loss assessment are not considered weight or reducing its impact of balance between new bearing. through falls prevention, bone growth and old bone • Fast installation keeping active every breaking down, leading to One of the factors day through exercise and a loss in bone density. that afects those with physical activity will have osteoporosis is the Once this loss reaches a benefits to your bones, as increased chances certain level, a diagnosis well as your overall health. of broken bones, of osteoporosis is made. especially as balance is From information provided 0800 087 048 Prevention of this can be compromised with age by the New Zealand CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE & QUOTATION assisted by a couple of and inactivity, leading to Register of Exercise key factors. A contributor increased falls. Professionals.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Health | 17
Try getting primal - it’s a scream
By Lindy Harward really rare breed and Releasing those emotions physical conditions, such as While John is now mostly you’d be hard put to find fully is something which lessening of chronic fatigue, retired, he still helps out “Can I write just a someone more down to is normally impossible muscular pains or migraines. with the therapy from time earth and rational than for most people, short article about to time. John.” restricted as they might John is clear that this is not primal therapy?” I be by personality or a therapy for everyone. You I held my breath. Had I If you’re reading this, the asked the editor. environment. have to be adventurous, convinced him that it was willing to learn new editor clearly decided that “Sounds like some flaky a subject worth writing An integral part of this processes and even to be primal therapy is something new-age alternative thingy” about? (If not, I’d probably therapy is utilising challenged. worth writing about. he replied in his usual scream.) straightforward breathing grumpy way. “What is primal “Okay,” he said at last. techniques or movements therapy anyway?” “Give it a go”. or sound which can facilitate an emotional “Well, you know the old John Woolf practises what John Woolf: Participants have to opening; the therapist fashioned common sense he calls “primal process be adventurous and willing to be acting as a catalyst. A quiet word that says there’s nothing like and integration therapy”, challenged. having a good cry, letting of Typically, people who As Lindy Harward semi- unequivocally endorsed and he sees himself as time, with two years further steam or getting something an experimental scientist, get into this therapy are humorously makes clear within mainstream research and experience in of your chest.” scholar and philosopher, as generally functioning okay in the accompanying psychology, and has India. but feel something extra article, the idea of writing been criticised for a “Mmm, I dunno.” He didn’t much as psychotherapist. Primal therapy, he explains, is needed which could about ‘primal therapy’ lack of robust and sound very encouraging. His background is aims to fully release your include, for some, a spiritual opened up strong rigorous evidence of its interestingly eclectic: a BA But I launched forth anyway, feelings rather than avoiding dimension. debate. ef ectiveness. explaining that I had come in sociology and a Masters them, bottling them up, It’s possible over a series of From a news perspective, The Senior Citizen takes across this remarkable in chemistry, an early deadening them with drugs sessions to move through many readers - especially seriously its duty of care man, John Woolf, who’s career that included three or just talking about them. the current challenges in from The Senior Citizen’s when in reporting ‘health’ been a primal therapist for years teaching sociology people’s lives – be it to do target age group - will topics such as this. over 35 years. Now a still- at Auckland University, ‘Primal’ refers to the core with jobs or relationships, have heard of primal youthful 73, he lives in South followed by four years emotions that govern In the case in question, grief or loss or confronting therapy; and, indeed, Brighton - so there was working in psychiatric us like fear, anger and we decided to follow up dif erent stages of life; mid its creator, American both the age and the local hospitals, as well as stints sadness which, when with this story because life crisis (accumulation of psychotherapist Arthur connection for The Senior working on the wharves and unresolved, can result (as of its newsworthiness, earlier issues), early old age, Janov, died last month. Citizen readers. building sites. is well recognised) in both and because it discusses the challenges of facing physical and mental stress From a health rather than advocates “Humph,” was all I heard By the mid-1970s, though, death, and so on, John says. manifesting as symptoms perspective, however, a particular topic with from the other end of the he began exploring and such as depression, anxiety, primal therapy is not wider general interest. line. training in the available Sometimes, as a result of Western psycho-therapeutic chronic bodily ailments, he the therapy, there can be “Primal therapists are a and healing methods of the says. significant improvement in Lightweight WALKERS FOLDABLE LIGHT-WEIGHT FOLDING WALKERS s 7EIGHT FROM ONLY KG s "URGUNDY OR -ETALLIC "LUE s !DJUSTABLE HEIGHT HANDLES s )NDOOR AND OUTDOOR MODELS s -AXIMUM USER WEIGHT KG s "ASKET FOR SHOPPING OR GARDENING s &OLDS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORTATION
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 18 | Lifestyle Theseniorcitizen The bare essentials for summer With the warmer weather on its way (in theory at least), one’s thoughts naturally turn towards getting out and enjoying the sun ... although in Lindy Harward’s case, they take a more naturistic turn
I don’t have a problem with nudity, at least not other peoples; one’s usually seen it all before anyway. The people My own such state in public happiest would be more problematic, mostly because I hesitate to go starkers to inflict something which were the middle I think looks better at least partially covered on the aged men with no unsuspecting populace. shame at all (In other words, forget the politically correct idea that “all bodies are good; all bodies are worthy of love, wander about, as nature all bodies demand respect; intended, without the fear all bodies are beautiful”). of ofending anyone and to have the forces of nature Mostly I think bodies are touching your body. improved with at least a bit of clothing, preferably It entices with the promise something a little loose so that “the feeling of the sun, it doesn’t accentuate the wind or water against your bulges. body gives the feeling of exhilaration that relieves When I lived in Nelson I tension and stress”. used to visit the Mapua confronted by a flasher I opportunity to test this. Another type was the Females with perfect young You can also Google ‘nude Leisure Camp which would be more interested buf narcissist with his bodies seemed the most What I observed in the beaches’ to find dress advertised itself as ‘dress in his facial expression than bronzed, oiled and thrusting reluctant, surprisingly. optional’. naturist environment was optional places to hang out his appendage; trying to that the people happiest to physique. Possibly because everyone throughout the country, work out what was going really stares at them I always went for the ‘dress’ go starkers were the middle Women seemed more as well as a naturist code on in his head. unbelievingly. Well I never rather than the ‘optional’ aged men with no shame at inclined to discard any of ethics which is big on did have that problem and, but I didn’t go to ‘perve’ I believe flashers are usually - allowing it to all hang out, covering as they got older; respecting others privacy ; the ‘optional’ was an now, never will. all about efect rather than beer gut included. and anyone who goes and zero tolerance of lewd interesting but incidental or sexual behaviour. anything dangerous, but through childbirth is likely Christchurch does have phenomenon. They just didn’t care who I’m not easily shocked. saw them ultra commando to lose much sense of a naturist club which See you bare on the beach I suspect that if I was Sadly I’ve never had the style. Good on them. reserve or embarrassment. promotes the freedom to this summer?
THE EPITOME OF CLASS & STYLE
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to look good sipping bubbles during Cup & Show Week, says avid ‘op-shopper’ Emily Wright An historic homestead, 'Oamaru Creek' has been run as I spent a day exploring top can be new again - together - now put them New Brighton, up- you just need to match it together,” says Shelley, a bed & breakfast establishment for many years. and-coming centre of with the right things,” she owner of Ménage á Trois, alternative fashion in says. a paradise of vintage Built from 1897 to 1900 as the third manse for St Paul's Presbyterian Church Christchurch. and altered clothes and it later became a maternity hospital, & is listed as a Category 2 building by Karen Manson, of Finders jewellery. Heritage New Zealand. The house sits on a 1917m2 section containing “Fashion today is about Keepers, explains that wearing what you bloody with a little imagination “The latest trend seems mature trees & lawns, & a subsidiary of the creek runs through it. The exterior well like with whatever you can assemble your to be ‘clashing’, such as of the house is impressive, while the grand entrance hall sets the tone, with takes your fancy,” reckons own bespoke outfit. She wearing flowery tops with its architectural archway & high ceilings. Laurina, a fashionista designs her own range striped trousers,” Shelley based in the seaside of boho-chic clothes, says. “But it works, people The quality & scope of this property is rare; it must be seen to be suburb, as we sit in her incorporating vintage look fantastic in it.” appreciated! Buyer Enquiry Over $649,000+GST (if any). garage photography fabrics such as doilies and So if you need a new and studio. embroidered tea cloths. exciting outfit for Cup & Contact Mark Kennard on She has attended Cup Day Fabric texture and pattern Show Week, explore the 022 086 5225 or email for years as both a ticket are an important part of many fascinating vintage [email protected] holder and as part of the creating a look. clothing shops of New Brighton. Then you’ll Robertson Real Estate Ltd LJ Hooker, Oamaru hospitality staf. Licensed: REAA 2008 “Things that you were told not need that expensive “A 10-year-old Glassons as a child never to put designer-label dress.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Lifestyle | 19
Getting back into Get out & Go Cycle cycling proves as Jean Bell is only one of a large number of returnees to biking who are easy as riding a bike being helped by Go Cycle Christchurch, By Peter Oakes short distance from her the Biketober celebration, a volunteer workplace, Jean would which is part of the organisation helping Like growing ride to work, while her bicentenary of the invention people overcome numbers of late husband, who worked of the bicycle. barriers to cycling as some distance away at a mode of transport Christchurch’s Canterbury University, A city cycle tour, viewing within the city. drove the family car. the Christchurch street more senior art, with the Fox On Bikes The initiative was citizens, 70-year- But then “the mechanic in group, has nurtured the started earlier this year the family” tried to fix her desire to carry on pedalling. by Christchurch cyclist old Jean Bell has trusty old bike, Jean says, Connie Christensen, returned to a and the various pieces So what how did she find who wanted to support well-loved form never went together again. her first time back on two people who were wheels? nervous about riding Buses became the order of transport - the a bike or who hadn’t of the day for her working “It’s a bit like riding a bike,” ridden for a number of humble bicycle. commute. Jean says with a smile. “I got on and I didn’t fall of , years. Jean’s green machine Recently, however, the then did some practise up Now with a team of and highly coloured enthusiasm of a friend and down the footpath.” volunteers from across cycling outfit, however, who’d just cycled around the city, Go Cycle are anything but old- Japan persuaded her to get All this came after a knee fashioned; hers is an e-bike back into riding again. replacement in April, so Christchurch is able - a standard pedalling the newness of it all was a to advise on suitable machine, but with a little An e-bike was purchased, double challenge. cycle routes and help assistance from a battery and after getting fully find cycling buddies to motor, which gives her organised in its use, she Jean says she delights in accompany newbies on several levels of power was ready for the cycle the feeling of the assistance their first ride. ways. given by the battery motor. assistance. For people wanting Motor aside, her cycling is Testing the water, as it “It’s really handy when you advice on biking, Go get going and as you pedal the renewal of a practice were, she has started to Cycle Christchurch along you can feel the extra which she followed for be involved with others has a Facebook power,” she says. many years of her working on bikes; a ride with the page, or contact life. Go Cycle Christchurch GoCycleChristchurch@ group proved promising Jean Bell and her ‘green gmail.com Because she lived only a and she happily joined in machine’ e-bike.
Cycling without Age now available at Ilam in Christchurch Feel the wind in your hair! Arvida are delighted to announce that Cycling without Age is now available at Ilam Retirement Village – right here in Christchurch. Passengers sit two-up in the front of our sturdy rickshaw style trishaws which provide a smooth and safe cycling experience. Powered by 28 Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. Ph 348 5305 or volunteer cyclists, the hugely popular trishaws are motor-assisted and email [email protected] give our residents the opportunity to once again feel the wind in their hair! www.ilamretirement.co.nz
Arvida. The attitude of living well.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 20 | Lifestyle Theseniorcitizen
What’s on in November Gardening Tips & Tasks
A brief view registered with a General and resourceful market Practitioner. Book at community. If you’re of the variety www.skincan.org. interested in running a of events stall, please contact Saskia Christchurch Lyttelton Port on 027 363 5805 or email: Boat Tours mollettstreetmarket@ witnesses in gmail.com. November. Boarding at Jetty 2 from Inner Harbour, near Weekend Christchurch Art Norwich Quay. Sunday Markets November 26. Leaving no Gallery later than 1.15pm. Please support local A great opportunity to growers and artisan food Cnr Worcester Boulevard see the Port operating makers by buying from & Montreal St. Open daily. from the sea. 90 minute authentic farmers markets. Experience some of cruise with commentary Lyttelton Farmers Market the best art on show provided by experienced Saturdays 10am-1pm in NZ. Lively exhibition staf member. Free, though Run since 2005 by Project programme, great range bookings essential. Phone Lyttelton Inc. Local of talks, films and events. (03) 328-8198. Always something new to growers and artisan food see and do. Entry free. Shopping for makers. Fresh fruit & vegies, free range eggs, Christmas Craft Len Lye – bread, meat, fish, cheese, Market produce. Cof ee, chai, Stopped Short by fresh juice and smoothies, Wonder Summerset Retirement bakery treats and Village, 135 Awatea chocolate. Local bands. November watch out for any pest there is not a garden. Christchurch Art Gallery. Road, Wigram. Saturday The market is open rain, is the month and disease that may be Until 26 November. November 4, 11am-4pm. hail or shine, all seasons around and also dead Vegetable and Fruit Major sculptural works all weathers. that sees the head spent blooms to Garden encourage more blooms. of Christchurch-raised Shabby Chic New Brighton Market, season change Len Lye. Plus his rarely 1 Plant out tomatoes, Market Day Brighton Mall. from spring to Summer annuals and peppers, cucumbers, seen films, drawings and Saturdays 10am-2pm some perennials (dahlias, paintings. Lye’s sculptures summer. pumpkins, zucchinis Rochester Villa, 21 Connal Come to the seaside and chrysanthemums and egg plants in full bang, crash, bounce, enjoy. Live entertainment, especially) should be St, Woolston. November 5, So, many of the tasks sun. sway, rotate and swing – great food, fresh produce, planted now. 11am-3pm. that we need to do will 2 Plant potatoes. bursting with irrepressible arts, crafts, jewellery and Vintage items, retro, determine the success In the vegetable garden 3 Plant summer greens energy. more. Bouncy castle & collectables, kitsch, we will have this growing all the summer crops for continuous cutting. free face-painting for the PT in the Park antiques, crafts, revamped season. can be planted or sown. 4 Feed citrus. and recycled items. littlies. The lawns have been 5 Strawberries will start The weather has given to ripen, keep up Hagley Park. Devonshire Teas, sweet Mt Pleasant Farmers growing very lush this plenty of moisture moisture and liquid Saturdays 9-10am. sounds, conversations, Market, McCormacks Bay spring but as this month in the soil but as the feeds for continuous Dedicated to improving pixie hut and other treats. Road. Saturdays, continues we will see temperatures warm up cropping. Artisan breads & pastries, 9:30am-12:30pm. that the grass will start the fitness and flexibility of some irrigation may 6 Treat apples and pears all community members. plants, produce and much A local market with a to get stalky as it begins more. be needed, but only to to flower – so, for one for codling month Free. Recognised great vibe & delicious the top few millimetres once petal fall is nationally with the food, fresh produce, or two cuts this month, Friday Street around the root zone of we may need to cut the complete. Community Excellence fish, pastries, cakes and plants. 7 Sow beans, carrots, Award. Rain or shine near Food Market breads, flowers, deli grass a little lower than usual. parsnips and peas. Carlton Mill corner, flags goods, plants & herbs, With warmth and 8 Keep weed free onions show where it is. Cathedral Square. small goods. Great cof ee moisture a lot of vigorous Flower Garden and garlic. Fridays 11am-9pm. and music. growth has been made Peninsula Features food stands with by trees and shrubs this Opawa Farmers’ Market 1 Plant out begonias, Lawns a variety of dishes from year so we may need to dahlias, gladiola and Tramping Club 275 Fifield Tce, Opawa. many nations. Plus live do some pruning to keep chrysanthemums. Sundays. 1 Feed lawns. Weekend Walks entertainment, buskers them in shape away from 2 Plant summer annuals. The ‘real deal’ growers’ 2 Treat for grass grub and more! paths, windows and over 3 Mulch around the market with the best and porina. Sundays 8am-4pm. head wires. garden to keep down selection of fresh local 3 Treat for weeds and For all ages who tramp Boulevard Arts weeds and conserve moss. produce in Christchurch. We are also responsible for recreation. Free. The moisture. 4 Mow each week Market Large organic range from to keep plants clear of Club organises regular 4 Prune flowering during rapid growth. tramping trips all over trusted local growers. our outside foot paths 31-33 Worcester Boulevard, so that people can use shrubs as they finish 5 Finish any repairs the South Island. Day/ Halswell Community their flowering. before the weather weekend trips, ranging November 1-30, 9am-5pm. the pathways without Artisans market of locally Market, 26 Nash Road, the danger of harm from 5 Remove spent foliage gets too hot. from easy to hard. Meet from daf odils at the made arts & crafts. Wood Halswell. Sunday over hanging branches. on the outskirts of town end of the month. By Michael Coulter. Craft Gallery, Ocean November 26, 12pm–3pm. carpool from there. This month is the month 6 Plant up pots of Michael also presents Gems, Arts Centre Book A place for people to Check for exact times when roses are at their annuals to give colour the All About Gardening Shop, Black & White, and connect and support local and places – www. best, this year they are around paths, patios Monthly Meeting (see lots more. Admission free. businesses, musicians, peninsulatrampingclub. clubs and groups. A blooming earlier so and other areas were below). org.nz. Mollett Street variety of stalls, something for everyone. Fresh local Getyourkitof nz Market produce. Shabby chic. All About Gardening Flowerworks Kids corner. Live music. Canterbury Charity Mollett Street (near Craft, clothing, jewellery, Monday Nov. 6, 7pm. Tuesday Nov. 7, Thursday Nov. 9, 7pm. Hospital, 349 Harewood Colombo St bus-exchange. toys, books, and many 9.45am. Christchurch Bridge Club, The Piano: Centre for Music & the Arts, Rd. Saturday November 4, Sunday November 19, more stalls. 21 Nova Place. 156 Armagh St. 8:30am-4pm. 11am-3pm. The SkinCan free skin Celebrate creativity Spencerville Community Arrival cuppa - self-serve tea and cof ee We hope you can join us for this cancer check day aims & handmade crafts. Market, 6 Heyders Road, available for members from 30 minutes spectacular highlight event of the year! to raise awareness Upcycling & recycling Christchurch. Sunday prior to the meeting. November 5, 10am-2pm. about skin cancer. Local artists. Live entertainment, Floral designers Shirley Russ & Annette delicious foods, variety of Crafts stalls, garage Our speakers this month are Hamish dermatologists provide a Waller share their passion for flowers free skin examination for stalls. A market for young sale items. Farm fresh Fig from Fig Landscapes, with Trends in in Flowerworks – one evening, two anybody concerned about and old, people from all produce and home made Home Landscaping and Roger Morgan demonstrations, one great experience! lesions on their skin. Must walks of life. A fun, safe, delicacies. Open spaces from Ready Lawn on Lawn Care, from be over the age of 18 and inspiring, sustainable for a BBQ. installation to maintenance. Also in the programme: Gardening half hour with Tickets available from www.chsgardens. Michael Coulter. $5 non-members. co.nz, $40 per person, or call 366 6937 for Includes tea, cof ee and refreshments. telephone sales. For more details, and other events in Christchurch, visit www.eventfinda.co.nz
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz SUPER SENIOR$AVINGS EVERYDAY SUPERGOLD DISCOUNTS % % % 10off 60off 25off Magazines Art Canvas Paints and does not apply to panels & professional canvas only available in Rangiora & Tower Junction Brushes does not apply to medium products
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Tower Junction, off Clarence St, Riccarton | Bishopdale, 31 Bishopdale Court, Bishopdale | Rangiora, 206 High Street, Rangiora Northwood Supa Centre, Main North Road, Belfast | St Martins Shopping Centre, Wilsons Road, St Martins 22 | Puzzles Theseniorcitizen
It’s time to relax - or scratch your head - over The Senior Citizen’s selection of puzzles. (Solutions next issue.) CROSSWORD SUDOKU ACROSS DOWN
1. Transylvania is there 1. Rectified 2. Dog or horse 4. Made slip-up 3. London’s Marble ... 7. Baby fierce cat (4,3) 4. Recedes 8. Steam burn 5. Recurrence of illness 9. Consumer pressure 6. ... Sea Scrolls 12. Adopted (policy) 10. Exclude 15. Water removal system 11. Fencing swords 13. Divulge 17. Radio interference 14. Awry 18. Embroidery expert 16. Type of cigar 21. Anchorage native 18. Benefit (of) 22. Alter (text) 19. South African currency 23. Fling, shipboard ... 20. Scalp growth WORD FIND B R E T S A M G N I R G E Find all the words listed hidden S R E K C A R C P I H W Z RED HERRINGS in the grid of letters. They can Fill in the gaps with letters to find the names be found in straight lines up, E T R S T R O N G M A N E of eight ocean creatures. Only eight? Yes, down, forwards, backwards or two of the examples are red herrings and W L I O N S W S A S F D P won’t produce anything but frustration. even diagonally. All the answers have seven letters. A M W G E Y T U W U I P A BIG TOP RINGMASTER T O L K H N J O H Y R S R CLOWNS SIDE SHOWS ELEPHANT STRONGMAN K N I F E T H R O W E R T FIRE EATER TAMER R K A T S S R C E B E E G FLYING TENTS TRAPEZE H E F H E R L O I D A L N TIGERS HORSE O Y M D P O E G P V T B I KNIFE TIGHT-ROPE THROWER TUMBLERS R S I A W E T G S E E M Y LIONS WHIP MONKEYS CRACKERS S S W N T O L E I R R U L E T S H P M K E J T H T F SOLUTIONS FOR OUR OCTOBER ISSUE CROSSWORD WORD FIND SUDOKU N B R O A D H E A D S S L S T S E R O F N I A R E X M D D S J M R O R P N Y G S O A B O D O A J G R P R G E N N R K T F T O R W A N C E E G N C H T E E O S I V O R V E I I D K P O S K L A M T I R A S J T D L R S K J M R T O D K I L A A K A W E O S N U W L A N M Q O T R Q N P A S E N D E G A L F U O M A C S D S D I S T I N C T I V E S I
RED HERRINGS: Cyclone, tornado, drizzle, RED HERRING, monsoon, drought, thunder, wintery, snowing, RED HERRING.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz To see Yvonne Hocking happily ensconced in her serviced apartment, it is hard to imagine that she was once hesitant to go out and had lost her confi dence. Living alone, she’d had a couple of falls which resulted in hip and knee injuries. Her daughter Clare and the rest of the family were growing increasingly concerned. Yvonne realised she could no longer “put on a show’’ that everything was ok. So, they began talking about retirement living. Having always lived in the Beckenham area of Christchurch, Yvonne wanted to stay there. Her one condition was that she would only look at Essie The Boss Summers Retirement Village. So, they arranged a visit which enabled them to form a real picture of village life. In a lot of ways moving to Essie Summers was like “coming home” for Yvonne. Even the village Church service, is offi ciated by her local priest Father Kevin. is back! Most signifi cantly, Essie Summers was a retirement village, and Yvonne was not “going into a home.’’ It has such a lovely vibe and there are lots of happy faces. Now that Yvonne is happy and secure in her serviced apartment, her family are relieved that she is back to “being the boss.” It is safe to say Yvonne has certainly got her spark back.
Rangiora • Charles Upham To see Yvonne’s full story Christchurch Rangioragioragiooraa or for more information about • Anthony Wilding the Ryman difference visit • Diana Isaac www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz • Essie Summers or phone Josie on 0800 000 290 • Margaret Stoddart • Ngaio Marsh • Woodcote 24 | Entertainment Theseniorcitizen Arise, Sir Muso
By Tom Kepler no knighthood has been forthcoming for Sir Keith. (I Lola Roxy’s I have to confess wonder how he and Sir Mick that I’ve never get on these days.) understood why It should be said that the at the movies knighthood was Queen herself avoided giving conferred on Sir Sir Mick his knighthood in person, considering him an Mick Jagger. inappropriate candidate for Victoria and Abdul To be honest, I don’t the honour. According to understand what knighthood to His Majesty, when Charles the Telegraph, she had not is about. Yes, my boyhood or William ascends the “the stomach” to be present Directed by Stephen Frears. Starring fantasies did, betimes, throne. on account of his anti- Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith. revolve around Knights Alas, on the world stage, establishment views. of the Round Table. But ‘tis likely they just haven’t how, pray tell, do illustrious Sir Elton, on the other hand, First, make yourself a pot filled the royal cof ers with received a glorious welcome modern musicians rank with suf icient gold. (Unlike Sir of tea. You will need it the valiant knights of yore? at Buckingham Palace, plus Peter Jackson, who’s not a knighthood for his services after reading this review. Sir Mick, as you may already a muso so only gets the to British pop (and charity know, is not the only muso briefest mention here.) Victoria and Abdul, based on the book to receive such honours – work raising money for AIDS of the same name by Shrabani Basu, It’s worth noting, I think, that Sir Paul McCartney and Sir casualties). stars the incomparable Judi Dench as Sir Mick’s long time protégé, Elton John being two other Sir Paul, performing here Queen Victoria and is set in the final notables. Keith Richards, felt that Mick years of her reign. should have declined the on December 16 – his first If you’re like me, you might honour. As did John Lennon appearance in NZ since 1993 It’s 1887, and to celebrate 50 years on well ask yourself, “How does and David Bowie. – has been knighted perhaps the throne, nobility from around the this work?” twice: once as a Beatle, once globe are invited to her Golden Jubilee. Trust Keith. He does display, as himself - though I’m not There, she is gifted a ceremonial coin Why haven’t such honours I think, a miraculous ability quite sure about that, as I by two Indian waiters, one of whom is been bestowed on iconic to keep on keeping on. Kiwi musos – Split Enz or can’t figure out the intricate (you guessed it) Abdul. Dave Dobbyn, for instance? Back in the 60s, he was not dif erences between a KBE, This movie is about the close platonic Surely they’d be eligible for the rugged pirate he now or DBE, OBE, CBE and MBE. friendship between Victoria and such honours. appears to be. Maybe I’ll shoot up to Mohammed ‘Abdul’ Karim (played My guess is that they just Though his rebel-without-a- Auckland and ask Sir Paul. by Ali Fazal), who becomes her most haven’t made the cut, cause good looks morphed trusted advisor. Their bond creates according to some standard rather quickly into the In the meantime, I invite jealousy and discontent among the set by Her Majesty’s jagged, stony visage we now readers more knowledgeable royal household, especially when the advisors, those who may witness, and his musical about knighthood to write in Queen appoints Abdul as her ‘Indian But not only was this film an af ront to well continue to be advisors virtuosity only improved, and shine light in the dark. Secretary’ and Munshi (writer or the British, it reduced the nobility of a secretary) to teach her Urdu. so-called ‘commoner’ from India to a Unfortunately, not even the darling caricature, portraying him instead as a of the big screen Judi Dench could Munshi who’d himself received private save this film! There were so many tuition in Farsi (Persian) and Urdu. moments in this movie that I felt were How many of us can say the same? racially of ensive, diminutive and India is a nation and home to many downright absurd. religions, cultures and languages; it’s It begins by making fun of the British as bright as their flowers of celebration – not necessarily a bad thing – and – marigolds, lotus and jasmine. All admittedly there were many laugh- this, unfortunately, made dull by this along farcical moments. dreadful film. But then it got downright silly: at the There were no winners here. Everyone, from British royalty to Muslim Indians, time, the British Empire included over were fair game to be degraded and 14 million square miles of territory and reduced. It was truly grim to watch. over 450 million people, making up one quarter of the world’s population. Having said all that, it would be remiss of me not to mention the costume With this in mind, how did such an designer, Consolata Boyle. Her empire grow and develop if the British, outstanding finishing was the only as portrayed in this movie, were all bright light in a sea of darkness. simply ridiculous, bumbling aristocratic idiots? Lola x
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Sport | 25 Crater Rim agony & ecstasy - and the looniness of the long distance runner
The Senior Citizen editor Patrick Whittle discovers that hail, rainbows, sunshine, Fred Dagg, clowns, two cases of mistaken identity, and hours of ups and downs are only a tiny taste of Christchurch’s newest long distance run
Over a quarter of the A feat for the feet: Happy to sit down after 7hrs and 50km. competitors lining up for Hmmm - where’s the slippers and paper? the inaugural Crater Rim Ultra early on an October morning in Diamond Harbour were over Jamie Hawker, senior captain 50, including a certain bewildered ‘what am I doing of Port Hills Athletic Club that here?’ editor of The Senior organised the Crater Rim Ultra, Citizen. ran his first 100km race when he I did have some justification was 18. Four decades later, he for my concern, however. For a start, it was a Sunday, ran his second. Here he explains normally a day for rest and the benefits of running as he slippers and the papers, approaches 60. then a relaxing beer and a nap. Yet instead, I was contemplating scaling Mt I decided to get back more knowledgeable Herbert, the highest peak into running after 30 about running smart - I of Banks Peninsula, as the years once I had the ran my second 100km prelude to 50km of running time to commit to doing race when I was 58 (including 2000m of vertical something I enjoyed. years old. ascents) to Hansen Park, at When I contacted I have since gone on to the bottom of the Port Hills’ Canterbury Athletics to run the New Zealand Rapaki Track. ask where they thought 24hr race (placed 2nd Only I wasn’t exactly I might be best suited to overall), where the first contemplating Mt Herbert learn to run smarter not three podium getters - I couldn’t, what with the harder, they suggested were all over 50 years summit being obscured by I try Port Hills Athletic of age. I’ve also run cloud. Club as they catered for a 100 miler and the many age groups and New Zealand 100km But it was too late to pull out pacing groups. Championships around now, and I dutifully lined up Hagley Park (10 hrs 54 with the 65 other runners for I started to attend several low key training mins) and again placed a lap of Diamond Harbour 2nd overall, with the 1st rugby field before heading runs and within a short time of commitment and and 3rd place getters out for the hills. It was the only in their thirties. last flat stretch I’d see for the being coached smarter next seven hours. not harder I was able to Age is no barrier to see my ability to hold a running whatever About three quarters of the pace improving. distance you choose to way up the mountain, the Seeing progress is a attempt and as they say, (many) runners ahead of me if you don’t use it you began to be swallowed by great motivator as well. will lose it. So true. the mist. I cast a last look I lost 16kgs, was able around at the view, and saw to eat whatever I liked Port Hills Athletic Club a gorgeous rainbow above I was saved the emigrating to Christchurch confused: it turned out that and got to burn of the have over 60 members Quail Island in Lyttelton embarrassment of a reply - Meath, he explained, was this was a diferent bearded calorie intake. older than 50, going Harbour. - “None” - by him crashing boringly flat. Irishman, a structural In 1976, I had run a up to our oldest runner engineer from Cork - and he down on a jumble of rocks. 100km race at 18 years at 83 years, who’s still “Rainbows mean rain,” I By then, we’d reached was indeed just on a Sunday of age - but started going strong with a thought to myself as I too He bounced straight up and Gebbies Pass - to find that run. was enveloped by the cloud. proceeded to tell me, by Fred Dagg and his brother with no water, drink 5km run on a Saturday But I was wrong; we got bellowing over his shoulder, Trevor (aka two marshals in The next case of mistaken bottle or food, and no morning down at Hagley hail instead, hard icy pellets about the 175km, 30hr event fancy dress) were manning identity came shortly after. support crew. My main Park, then turning up on slashing at the exposed he’d recently done back the road crossing. As I passed another pair of recollection of this long the same afternoon to flesh of our faces and legs. home. marshals - as cheerful and day (12 hrs 59 mins) was run our weekly club run. “Head up there,” one said, as encouraging as all the falling asleep in the bath Fortunately, I was soon too Run for fun, run for Actually, he proved a useful pointing to a farm track. others - I joked I’d happily after the event. frozen to feel the sting. health - and run source of information, on “She gets pretty steep after swap with them. Two ridiculously cheerful both ultra-running and the a bit.” After restarting my because one day we state of the track skirting Mt “Nah, nah,” one laughed. running at age 53 with a won’t be able to run at marshals, who’d camped Mate! They weren’t kidding. on the summit the night Bradley; by watching him “We’re road runners - we’ll running club - and now all. before, were there to direct flounder and slither his way Still, the lung-bursting leave that to you ultra boys!” through the morass of mud, us towards the Packhorse scramble up towards The thought that I’d been Hut and Gebbies Pass on slippery rocks and more Coopers Knob was worth it Herbert, opposite where I And finally, that tortuous mud, I could see where not mistaken for a bona fide now staggered. It was hard final ‘kilometre’ was over, the other side of Mt Bradley, for the stunning views over ultra runner kept me going to step. to believe I’d just run that. and so was the race - seven made invisible by the mist. the harbour and, finally clear to the Sign of the Kiwi, of cloud, Mts Herbert and hours and three minutes “You’ve done the hardest Then suddenly we emerged where a crew of (you At long last, I gained the Bradley. The only fly in the after I’d begun. bit,” one of the marshals into sunshine above the guessed it) happy volunteer flat of Centaurus Rd. “Only ointment was that Lyttelton, shouted encouragingly, Packhorse Hut, where marshals plied me with one kilometre to go,” a The volunteer marshals on at the bottom of the Bridle his words whipped away another bunch of cheery loads of water, energy food marshal dressed as a clown the Crater Rim Ultra were Path turn around, seemed instantly in the wind. marshals were on hand to and “well done’s”. shouted. I stumbled on for simply amazing, and they speed us on our way. a long, long way in the made the day even more The next stage, to the top a few hundred metres to How wrong he was. distance. memorable. The event also With the running a bit easier of the Bridle Path, was where more marshals were included a 21km, a 10km and I skidded and slipped my - at least now we could see The track improved as I gruelling, made worse by stopping trafic to let me a 1km ‘Hansen Park Dash’ way down the side of Mt more than a few metres approached the Sign of the having to first pass the cross the road towards the - something for everyone, Herbert with two other ahead - I started talking to Bellbird, and my mate from Rapaki Track, which was the Heathcote River. ““Only one and only one day among runners, a 50-odd-year-old the Irishman. Meath suddenly reappeared final descent to the finish. kilometre to go,” one called. from Sydney and a bearded by my shoulder, looking many on ofer throughout It turned out he was a But when I turned round Another 500m and another twenty-something from as fresh as if he was on a the year in Christchurch. And physio, training for the above Lyttelton, I could see marshal directed me over County Meath, in Ireland. Sunday morning jog. remember, you don’t have Kepler Ultra in December. the hills sweeping away a foot bridge with an to be a mad runner to enjoy “How many ultras have you He said he’d fallen in love But when I asked him about towards Gebbies Pass, and encouraging, “Only one the stunning scenery of the done?” the Aussie asked. with hill running after being a physio, he seemed then round and up to Mt kilometre to go.” Crater Rim Walkway.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 26 | Travel Theseniorcitizen
Natural highs: Aoraki/Mt Cook dominates the skyline above Lake Pukaki (above), as the stars dominate the night skies (below) - and what better way to appreciate the beauty of the South Island than a cycle ride (below right) on the ‘A2O’, Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail (see opposite page). Photo credit (above & facing page): videotestimonials.co.nz Seeing the Mackenzie through others’ eyes
By Patrick Whittle It’s always amusing, realise just how special the in wide, open and empty smoggy home towns. That perhaps explains why therefore, to see overseas South Island high country New Zealand. And then you cycling holidays are most Driving from tourists coming the other and mountains really are. see snow! Yet cultural diferences also take on more subtle turns, popular with Kiwis and Twizel to way; from just outside Geraldine, and the first Most of these tourists are You can’t really blame them especially when it comes Australians, Europeans and Christchurch on glimpse of the snow-clad from China or India, the for wanting to take pictures to tourists from rapidly Americans - those from mountains, they stop to take world’s new Super Powers- - and then more and more. modernising countries. a gloriously clear in-waiting, and each with prosperous, post-industrial pictures. And what must it be like Back in India and China, day, you get to see populations of a billion plus. societies. And then the next turn of when night comes down for example, the humble the good stuf first. the road ofers a better view So imagine what it must and the stars come out? Just bicycle is old-fashioned and It’s strange to think that for better pictures, and then be like if you’ve come think how these thousands out-moded, and the sign of cycling is actually ‘decadent’ Most especially, of course, is from crowded Shanghai upon thousands of stars a poorer past. So if you’re the next turn and the next. - a sign that you’re rich the stunning view of Aoraki/ (population: 24 million) or must look to city dwellers - rich enough to travel to New Mt Cook towering at the far But thinking about it from bustling Delhi (population: many of whom may never Zealand, why would you enough to put in efort, even end of Lake Pukaki. their perspective makes you 20 million) and you’re now have seen stars in their even consider cycling? if you don’t have to.
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We can now provide an afordable family holiday option for the budget conscious. The With 7 fully equipped units that sleep between 2 - 5 people and 1 house for larger groups, there is plenty of Kurow room for family & friends to head of on holiday together. Motel The scenic playground of the Waitaki Valley is merely a Trail Adventures is a local Oamaru based, family owned and operated company, setup to provide you with step away and you can keep entertained with trout and a wide range of A2O adventures and services. With everything covered from a simple cycle hire for a few 83 Bledisloe St, Kurow salmon fishing, hunting, walkways, hill climbs, all water hours, a one day or multi day cycling adventure through to our 8 night Alps2Ocean extravaganza. We sports, skiing, golf, local cycling & the Alps 2 Ocean have a great fleet of bikes including awesome Merida e-bikes allowing those less bike fit to accomplish 03 436 0655 Cycle Trail, and horse riding trails to name a few. more than they believed possible, with our support all the way! [email protected] Contact us if you are planning on the A2O being your next achievement! www.trailadventures.co.nz, email: [email protected] phone Scott on 0279 374473 or Dee-Ann on 0277695396 Trail Adventures Alps2Ocean Specialists
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Travel | 27 Cycling, a civilised saunter from snow to seashore Take as long as you like on the Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail, happy in the knowlege you’ll have earned that well-desrved ‘sun-downer’ at day’s end ...
The City to Surf or wine? The Alps2Ocean However, many of those Cycle Trail - or A2O - is the undertaking the journey do the Christchurch- longest continuous cycle so as part of a guided tour, Akaroa Le Race route in New Zealand, so there’s always someone - they’ve got that beginning under the shadow on hand, for company and of the country’s highest motivation - and to take care sense of ‘no pain, mountain, the Southern of punctures. no gain’ sweat and Alps’ Aoraki/Mt Cook, and Guided tours are one of finishing at the harbour town efort. a number of options for of Oamaru on the Pacific making the A2O more So, too, at first glance, does Ocean. enjoyable - especially as the 300km Alps2Ocean And because it descends many of the companies Cycle Trail. But what’s that from “the Alps to the also arrange all the old adage about first sight Ocean”, west to east is the necessary transport and being deceptive? Modern recommended direction accommodation. cycle touring still involves of travel - especially as The oficial trail website exercise - that is, after all, this also makes use of the - www.alps2ocean.com - one of its key attractions - prevailing winds. provides full information but it is now as much about on the trail, and of enjoyment as efort. It’s classed as a Grade 2-3 (easy to intermediate) accommodation and guiding A2O Sections • 3: Twizel to Lake Ohau • 6: Otematata to Kurow And what better way to trail, and A2O cyclists will providers, and other facilities Lodge (38km) (40km) end a delightful day’s riding encounter a variety of en route. • 1: Aoraki/Mt Cook to • 4: Lake Ohau Lodge to • 7: Kurow to Duntroon through some of New surfaces, including on-road As for how long to take Braemar Road (35km) Omarama (45km) (28km) Zealand’s most beautiful and of-road sections. Food, on the journey: a 4-day scenery that with a well- water and a first aid kit are (fast), 6-day (classic) or • 2: Braemar Road to • 5: Omarama to • 8: Duntroon to Oamaru deserved glass of New essential items - as is a 8-day (relaxed) itinerary is Twizel (42km) Otematata (24km) (54km) Zealand’s equally lovely bicycle repair kit. recommended.
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 28 | Travel Theseniorcitizen Still cruisey, yet ...
By Patrick Whittle cheap), staying in hostels A smörgåsbord of possibilities and sleeping on overnight “We are now ferries - but lack of funds To those of a certain but modern cruises have passing the Clif s seemed to preclude further northerly travel. generation, the notion of diversified in a myriad of Ragnorak!” a cruise ship holiday dif erent ways. And then this huge ship conjures up an image At least that’s what it Natural history buf s berthed in Shetland’s of the 70s romantic sounded like - and indeed can now visit the far harbour capital, Lerwick. comedy The Love Boat; looked like - when we flung Antarctic islands, “Iceland, Rtn. £40pp” read a of idyllic journeys stumbled from our cabins or their northern Arctic sign on the quayside. through the sun-drenched at 6am to see the most equivalents; culture Caribbean or the dramatic clif s imaginable, Iceland! For less than Mediterranean. junkies can visit remote societies in oceans the rising sheer from the NZ$100 each! They must exposed empty wastes of An even earlier generation world over; history fans have made a mistake - or the cold North Sea. would associate cruise can journey back in time were simply trying to fill empty cabins - but we ships with luxury liners to Ancient Greece or And as unexpected were and formal dining at Rome or pre-Colombine the birds - a huge swirling snapped up the chance. the captain’s table. The Meso-America - and profusion of gulls and It was our first ever cruise, luxury and the romance yet still be back on board puf ins, swirling and floating and beyond the fact of is still there, of course, for dinner. above the angry waves tracing the route on a chart pounding endlessly at the in the ship’s foyer, made all base of the clif s. the more exciting by not The cruise ship that had really knowing what lay seemed so huge in harbour ahead. was suddenly dwarfed by First port of call was the stark daunting grandeur Tórshavn (‘Thor’s Harbour’) of nature. in the Faroe Islands; it might Everything about this trip - have been haven for an a cruise from the northern ancient god, but it seemed isles of Scotland, to the far too small for a modern Faroes and on to Iceland - vessel as large as ours. was unexpected, beginning And then the ship’s siren with the fact we’d not began screaming, urgently planned it at all. and repeatedly. A tiny- True, we’d made it to seeming rowboat, manned the Shetland Islands by four oarsmen rowing like intentionally (and on the crazy, had [to next page]
Annie Mellor I am delighted to be cruising again in the gorgeous Mediterranean Discovery Mediterranean in 2018 and can’t wait to show you my insiders guide to the places we visit. This hosted by Annie Mellor. wonderful cruise/land tour combines my first- hand knowledge with the luxury of cruising on MSC Poesia Italy, Greece, Croatia, Albania, Sicily, Sardinia, Spain and France and MSC Divina to the highlights of the East and West 19 Night Fly/Stay/Cruise package. Departs NZ 19 September 2018. Mediterranean. We begin with two fabulous days in Venice experiencing the life of this beautiful city. We from sail away to explore the shops and my favourite hang outs and historic sites in Athens and Rome, discover the tapas in Palma de Mallorca and the sights and food $ of ancient Sicily. I love to stroll the streets and enjoy pp 8,965 the beaches of Mykonos and to capture the charm share twin, based on inside cabin of Puglia, Italy. You can relax in your spacious cabin Ask about our single and/or upgrade cabin prices or enjoy the ambience on board as you get to know INCLUDES 2 nights accommodation and sightseeing in Dubai • 2 nights accommodation in fellow travellers in the range of bars and restaurants, Venice • 7-night Cruise on board MSC Poesia from Venice return • 7-night Cruise on board MSC by the pool, at the show or on deck. The ship offers Divina from Genoa return • Cruise gratuities & port charges • Transfers • Economy return all this and more as we cruise to a new destination airfares from Christchurch to Europe on Emirates. Flexible return dates available! each day. We have an exciting new addition to our tour with two relaxing days in Dubai as a stopover Ask us about our Hosted Fly/Stay/Cruise Packages to Croatia or Vietnam & The Mekong on our way from Christchurch to Venice including a dinner and sightseeing. I hope you can join me for our latest Mediterranean Discovery.
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BARRINGTON 331 7182 I CHRISTCHURCH CITY 365 7687 I FERRYMEAD 376 4022 I HIGH ST LANES 339 3440 I HORNBY 344 3070 I MERIVALE 355 2200 NORTHLANDS 352 4578 I RANGIORA 313 0288 I RICCARTON 341 3900 I SHIRLEY 385 0710 I UPPER RICCARTON 343 0869 TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Prices are correct as at 16 Oct 17 • Prices include gratuities, air taxes and port charges • Prices are per person in NZ dollars for cash or cheque purchase only • Flights are based on economy class flying Emirates from Christchurch to Venice and from Milan to Christchurch • Flight and routing restrictions apply • Advertised package is based on per person share twin and includes accommodation as specified • Cruise is based on an Inside Cabin • A non-refundable deposit of $1500 per person is payable within 7 days of confirmation, a further non-refundable $2200 per person is due by 15 December 2017 and full payment is required no later than 13 July 2018 • We highly recommend Travel Insurance • Special conditions, currency fluctuations & availability restrictions apply • Amendment and cancellation fees apply – please ask your House of Travel consultant for details
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Travel | 29 ... not just cruisin’
[from previous page] swung Love boating: From palm- beneath our bows, and was In his youth, Alan Wilkie cruised fringed tropical atolls (right), to the remote splendour of the racing the giant ship to the from Morocco to Bombay; Madras to dock. They were playing North Sea islands (below); Penang; Singapore to Darwin. Is it from lounging on deck as chicken, Faroese style! the world floats by (opposite Our return view of the time, he asks, for one last cruise? page, top) to sandy, sun- drenched berths (far page, Faroes’ sea clif s, a week bottom), cruise ships open a later, was equally dramatic. As I get older, I find myself whole theatre rolling with world of possibilities. (Post-trip research informed daydreaming about going the waves, an added me they were actually on a world cruise. thrill unmatched by any carnival ride. the famous bird clif s I’ve been lucky in the past of Vestermann, not the to go on boats which Night time on deck holds ‘Ragnorak’ of our sleep haven’t been luxury simpler pleasures, though. befuddled brains). superliners, but neither Like looking out to a sea Of course, part of the fun of were they rust buckets. on fire with a haze of blue the trip was because it was flame. The magic isn’t Perhaps I was a bit green, diminished by knowing unplanned; but would this but on my first cruise, ‘cruise’ have been enhanced the glow was phosphorus I was surprised by the burning in the water. if we had researched it facilities and activities beforehand? available. Gone were the In tropical climes, nothing Undoubtedly. We must have days of being confined beats sitting on deck with missed many sights and below deck in steerage. a fine ocean spray cooling experiences because we A modern ocean liner, I your heated skin. Or when didn’t know what to look discovered, was like being the weather’s fine, the joy out for. on a small floating village. of speeding across the waves. Seeing a movie at sea, for We’re unlikely to ever get instance, was something Oh, and sitting at the a trip like that, to such an I hadn’t expected. The bar with a cooling exotic part of the world, at movie? The Poseidon drink in hand is hard to such a ridiculous price. Adventure, a blockbuster match too. Then there’s But it did open our eyes at the time, with graphic the dining, the games to the possibilities of scenes (would you and entertainments, cruising - especially that believe) of the sinking and so forth. All highly of waking up to witness of an unsinkable ship. recommended, even if it yet more amazing sights It was quite surreal, to blows the budget for a each morning after a night say the least, with the while. snoozing at sea. FULLY ESCORTED TOURS IN 2018 PERU & CUBA 2018 European Christmas Market Tour
22 Day tour departing 20 May 2018 from Christchurch, 18 Day Christmas Market Tour departing 26 November 2018, escorted by Tanya Cross escorted by Melissa Landrebe Join YOU Travel Ferrymead on their small group journey of two unique countries where you will Join You travel Ferrymead on their European Christmas Market tour. Experience the Christmas discover the history of the ancient Incan Empire followed by the contrasting colourful streets of Cuba Markets with festive lights and stunning Christmas decorations while cruising along the Danube where you will step back in time to the 1950’s. River in your luxury floating hotel. Highlights will include Vienna, Regensburg, Passau, Nuremburg Highlights will include the magical ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, life on the floating reed islands of and spend 4 Nights in Prague to finish. Smell freshly made gingerbread and not to mention the Lake Titicaca, meeting the rainbow coloured Peruvian locals, riding in Cuban vintage cars, visiting the delicious mulled wine, the markets are a delight to behold. Only 4 cabins left so please home of Cuban cigars. enquire today to avoid disappointment Contact Tanya today for full details, call or email Contact Melissa today for full details, call or email [email protected] as spaces are limited. [email protected] as spaces are limited. YOU Travel Ferrymead 960 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead 03 384 2700 [email protected]
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz 30 | Travel Theseniorcitizen Native bush, birds - and a loo that is not to be sniffed at
The Lewis Pass’s Lake Daniell track is quintessentially South Island, New Zealand, and comes complete with a host of native birds, including tui and robin (inset). Pleasure cruise: The way to go is route, canal ... The track to Lake - over the evocatively disturbing the insects upon named ‘Sluice Box’ gorge. which the smaller birds feed. Daniell, in Lewis (And don’t worry, while it’s Pass, is simply traditional New Zealand, You’re also bound to see tui, and bound to hear bellbirds, For two lips in idyllic. Whether there’s no traditional Kiwi wading through rivers - the as well as the ubiquitous you’re just passing Sluice Box comes complete LBJ’s (the hard to identify through, and need with modern bridge). ‘little brown jobbies’ that flit Amsterdam, cake through far-of trees). Kaka a quick stretch From here, the track and kakariki have also been of the legs, or meanders up through seen, as well as a host of magnificent red beech other native species. proves a mouthful are heading for forest, following the Alfred a lakeside over- River to Lake Daniell itself. The track is easy walking, and well worth an amble By Mike Yardley providing you with express canals in the city’s 400 nighter, the place Pause for a minute, and for those pressed for time. entrance to dozens of year old canal ring. instantly you’re almost is truly a little slice But continuing for the two I love alighting museums, attractions and guaranteed to have a hours or so to the lake more complimentary public I love wandering alongside of heaven. white-breasted robin come from a train at than rewards the extra efort, transport. them aimlessly, delighting bobbing into view. in the serendipitous Surrounded by native most especially when the Amsterdam The Eye Film Museum scenes, marvelling at bush, and nestled in the They don’t seem that trail opens out to the pristine Centraal. hovers above the the humpbacked stone mountains, the track-head is interested in your picnic blue waters deep within the quintessentially South Island, You’re instantly transfixed waterfront like an origami bridges and soaking up snacks (which should not be bush-clad hills. New Zealand - and even the by the pervasiveness of apparition, comprising the infectious, free-spirited fed to native birds anyway) a range of theatres and sandflies seem more benign but rather in your feet - And at the Manson Nicholls commuter pedal power, city vibe. than elsewhere. the fabled gabled roofs eateries. But the real draw zooming down the moment Memorial Hut is something The 9 Streets Shopping and the romance of the is its collection of the very You begin at the Marble Hill you move on to search the else worth seeing - an ultra- Area (De 9 Straatjes) is watery ribbons. first black and white films. DOC campsite, with toilets, ground for worms and slugs. modern composting toilet, an absolute thrill to roam water and plenty of space that, with a few pumps of I absolutely loved the It makes you wonder With over 40 museums through, bursting with for campervans and tents, a foot pedal (and a rather Amsterdam Tulip Museum whether, in the distant past, on ofer, you must explore quirky little independent only a few kilometres east of nifty ‘conveyor belt’ system), which ingeniously takes the robins did the same the Rijksmuseum, which shops, design boutiques, Springs Junction. separates the liquid waste you through the history, with passing moa. Certainly, has been recently rebuilt art galleries, concept from the solid. and modernised, boasting craze and universal love The track plunges straight fantails, another ubiquitous stores, inviting cafes and a world-famous collection afair with tulips. into the trees, and then sight on the trail, are thought It’s nice to know you’ll not be charming bars. of masters now presented almost immediately straight to have followed moa as they leaving anything to spoil the A leisurely stroll through The same sense of in a far more thought- the floating flower market across the Maruia River moved through the bush surroundings. human-scale, intimate provoking way. on Singel canal explodes shopping and hospitality with colour and fragrance. The Van Gogh Museum studs the tiny higgledy- is my top pick, housing Unquestionably, the most piggledy lanes of the the world’s biggest heart-wrenching and atmospheric Jordaan collection of one of evocative city experience district. history’s finest painters. is to pay homage to the It’s an emotionally- victims of war and hatred, Don’t miss Amsterdam’s charged experience, as by visiting Anne Frank most decorated the museum presents his House. It is truly poignant handmade chocolate, complete story: the artist, to walk through the steeped in traditional his personal ambitions, movable bookcase which methods, at Puccini his wild mood swings, the concealed the door to the Bomboni. myths and his enduring annexe and especially De Taart Van M’n Tante influence. made for this purpose. is a mouthful of a name, Almond Blossom, To beat the vast lines of but it’s one of the most Sunflowers and The humanity (over one million colourfully kitsch cafes Bedroom are the visitors annually), buy an I’ve encountered. three unmissable online ticket in advance Translating as “My Aunt’s post-impressionist from www.annefrank.org. Cake”, thinking tooth- masterpieces. Prinsengracht, aching temptations and Hungry for more little Keizergracht and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party treasures, I gave my Herengracht will become and this is what you can Amsterdam City Card familiar names to you, as expect at this fantastical a jolly good work out, they are the three main emporium of cake.
November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Theseniorcitizen Travel | 31 The ultimate cinematic shrine, nestled in the lush Matamata hills By Mike Yardley Alighting from the bus, the bright green grass is long Matamata’s lush and lush as we trundle down emerald pastures the muddy track to the first hobbit house, where “the and roly-poly hills Hobbiton efect” suddenly are happily home washes over me. to Hobbiton, the It’s all so sweet and tender, with washing hanging on a ultimate cinematic line near a chimney poking shrine for set- out of a grassy mound. jetters in New Baskets are plump with pumpkins, while flowers and Zealand. herbs have been hung up to dry by a round yellow door. Like a third of all visitors, I have never watched or read As we walked down a an entire story or movie, gravelled path, some from either trilogy. But for members of my group frothed with delight, starry-eyed Tolkien junkies, recognising it as the spot a journey here enjoys the where Frodo Baggins stature of a pilgrimage. greeted Gandalf at the start To reach the movie set of The Fellowship of the entails a short drive by Ring. Like being on a movie set: At the Green Dragon Inn (above) or looking out a hobbit’s front door (below left). bus across the Alexander And these tingly movie fantasy-meets-reality world thatched cottage from timbered environment, and As final thought, Salzburg family’s farmland on a moments just kept on of Middle Earth. It’s little my grandmother’s Lilliput has recently celebrated the private sealed road, which coming, as we strolled the crackling open fire was was built by the New around the 44 hobbit wonder that 450,000 visitors Lane collection. Sir Peter an extra thrill to warm the 50th anniversary of The Zealand Defence Force to houses that are strung toured the movie set, last Jackson’s art director, Brian cockles, on a chilly April day. Sound of Music. There’s service the convoy of crew around the hillsides, fizzing year alone. Massey, ensured everything no sign of that spectacular production vehicles and down to the mugs All the brews are exclusively tourism love afair letting with excitement being Winding our way around equipment. maintained complete faith created by Good George up in Salzburg, which like photographed outside the hills, the panoramic with how The Green Dragon Brewing, in Frankton. Maybe LOTR and the Hobbit, is a Sir Peter Jackson sweet- Bag End or sitting on the views reach right across see-saw beneath the ‘Party Inn was depicted onscreen. monumental gift that keeps talked the then Prime the lake to the stone bridge, it was the ale, but as I re- Tree’, where Bilbo held his on giving. Minister, Helen Clark, the watermill and the A triumph of expert boarded the bus to depart, I eleventy-first birthday. to approve the road’s Green Dragon Inn, which craftsmanship, it’s a felt like I was stepping out of For details see www. construction. I was fully submerged in the looked like a life-sized charmingly snug and toasty a movie. hobbitontours.com
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November 2017 – issue #07 www.theseniorcitizen.co.nz Personally Escorted Small Group Experiences 2018
European River Classic Cruise – 10 July – 06 August 2018, 28 Days Gliding efortlessly along the Danube, Rhine and Main rivers’ on a luxurious riverboat provides the perfect platform from which to enjoy some of Europe’s most captivating cities and medieval towns. From the unqualified comfort of your suite, uninterrupted views of riverside life and towns fill your vision, whilst other senses are gratified by an abundance of fine culinary fare, incomparable service and handfuls of fully inclusive everything. Combine fourteen incredible days cruising with three night extended stays each in Prague, Budapest and Bruges, and you have our European River Classic Cruise. Anything else is a compromise.
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