Book review – Rebus’s Scotland

I do enjoy Ian Rankin’s Rebus stories. However this book is not one of these but rather a combined biography, travelog, explanations and lots of large photos in a coffee table sized book. 

In a useful introduction Rankin explains: ‘This is partly my biography, part biography of Rebus and partly a book about modern day Scotland, where it’s going and where it’s come from’. In this book he takes readers for a close look at the world Rebus inhabits which is also also the place he, Rankin, comes from – Edinburgh, Glasgow and the surrounding rural Scotland of his childhood.

As the narrative travels around the author points to the setting of this or that book, why it was set particularly there and often of passed memories which have been incorporated into the story line. 

Also explained is the genesis of regular appearing characters such as Big Ger Cafferty and Siobhan Clarke and how in-jokes and police nicknames came about.  … Continue Reading

Martinborough Business Association

Cyclone Gabrielle has been a reminder that business continuity is a key business requirement in today’s times.

We are still dealing with the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic with inflation soaring, interest rates “doubling”, fuel challenges and the overall cost of living spiralling all negatively impacting many people and families. Yet along comes a weather event producing the most powerful and destructive forces that we have ever experienced in our lifetimes in New Zealand / Aotearoa turning our lives and businesses upside down again.

Here in Martinborough, we got off lightly but in the wider Wairarapa not so. Our thoughts and support go out to those affected. Supply arrangements were hampered for a couple of days with the main Waihenga bridge being closed due to flooding. However, supplies from the Hawkes Bay and Auckland growers will have a flow effect on our supply chain so be prepared as customers for some shortages.

We throw the word resilience around a lot these days but it’s absolutely a necessity for business owners to ensure continuity and resilience testing for their businesses. In our small community, we can help our providers and community by shopping locally as much as we can and buying only what we need.

How Well Do We Know People In Our Community ?

By Lyle Griffiths

Marc Tuffield an old time Wairarapa College boy,  left school to work as a shepherd at Eparaima, Glenburn and Waimoana, which enabled him to continue his passion for hunting in his spare time.

A change of scene saw him working for the Forestry Service checking on the huts in the Tararuas.  Reaching Angle Nob one evening it was dark and the winds were beginning to pick up, culminating in a full-time blast. He was in the hut hunkering down when a ferocious blast picked up the hut, and turned it face down. “The door was jammed shut. Getting out was quite a challenge. My only route of escape was to kick my way through a perspex window. All that remained of the hut was the floorboards. Unsurprisingly it no longer exists.”  … Continue Reading

Book review

                                                    Conviction By Frank Chalmers

Review, Mike Beckett

The Australian Outback seems to be a favourite setting for crime novels with authors such as Jane Harper, Gary Disher and Chris Hammer providing a feast of excellent who dunnits, you have to wonder if is there room for yet another such author?  … Continue Reading