Please no more!

It is only proper that at the dawn of a new year we focus on the positive and uplifting potential of the 12 months to come, it’s also important that we not overlook the negative.
Accordingly, here a few people, words, trends and other phenomena it would be good not to have to see in 2016:
• Kale.
• Talk of Paula Bennett being prime minister one day.
• Americans shooting each other for no reason or, worse, religious reasons.
• “Solutions” in business names, such as “Dentistry solutions” or “Web design solutions”.
• Paleo anything, especially as a reason to charge twice what could possibly be justified for the item concerned.
• Mark Weldon’s ideas on anything. … Continue Reading

Inner Wheel Club of South Wairarapa

On 29 October a number of our members attended the District meeting of Inner Wheel in Palmerston North. We were proud to support our District Chair, Dale Julius, who hails from our club.
It was an opportunity for us to get fellowship and fundraising inspiration from other clubs and especially useful to learn more about the implications of our UN consultatative status. As Inner
Wheel focuses on drugs, the welfare of children and families our organisation sends representatives from NZ to three of the four UN meetings annually, that is, Vienna, Geneva and New York (the other is Nairobi) to contribute data, advice and other information from our clubs and national levels. It is a great tool for us to make a difference. … Continue Reading

With Christmas just around the corner – Keep your pet in mind!

With Christmas just around the corner it is important to remember a few things.
If you are going away, there are options to have somebody come to your home to feed and look after your pet. They may be able to house/pet sit.
Boarding kennels is another alternative. Booking ahead is important for this time of year. This will also require your pets vaccinations to be up to date.

Make sure your pets are microchipped. Cats and dogs can feel a little unsettled at this time of year if you are away for a time, and may decide to wander. Microchipping will allow your pet to be taken to your local vet and can be traced back to you.
Another thing that is crucial to remember is all the goodies that are around for our cats and dogs to get into. … Continue Reading

Know your town

The settlement at Backwater

The release in late 1872 of the site and plans for a bridge over the Ruamahanga river resulted in the beginning of a settlement at Backwater. There was general agreement with the Provincial engineer, J.D. Beard, that the site of the existing crossing at Waihinga Farm, and current site of the Waihinga Hotel, was the best place for the bridge. There were better approach banks on either side and the river course had not changed in fourteen years.
The new road would conveniently go past George Pain’s new store opened the previous September in the settlement of Waihinga. There was also a fork in the road to take it past the Wharekaka Hotel. … Continue Reading