Our People, Our Country

An oily ragger from Northland has been in touch to say how much they are enjoying their oily rag orchard - their peach tree in particular.

Do you remember Charles Heston's portrayal of Michelangelo as he painted the Sistine Chapel?

Summer is a busy time for oily raggers: they are busy in the garden and in the kitchen preparing no-cost meals from their bounty.

Sometimes a thought provoking book or movie can be just what you need in summer. Here are some we enjoyed recently.

New Zealanders have long been known for their strong interest in the outdoors - getting out there, tramping, hunting, and exploring the wild, untrammeled places. There's plenty of choice.

Recently I re-reading W.D.M. Bell's classic African hunting book Karamojo Safari - and may I say right now to those who don't enjoy hunting or stories about it, stop right here, turn the page, and read something else.

Just as I turned into Worley Place off Ward St in central Hamilton I heard the first few faint little notes.

I missed getting his photo by 10 seconds, 15 at the most.

This week we have interesting tips from far and near, from wedding dresses to tofu, along with a question about socks!

There's some pretty smart observers around when it comes to wildlife, and maybe one of the smarter ones I've come across was an old mate who lived, by choice, considerably outside the city boundaries.