Country Dog City Dog
Sandcastles and Sundry stuff
I’m over election fever, and probably you are too. Something completely different was called for. But sandcastles? The word actually popped up in an electioneering speech. I have no idea why now, but that was enough.
We all have a sandcastle in our life. Their utility value is nil, although their artistic merit makes up for that. Size doesn’t generally matter, and they only last until the next big wave or deliberate demolishment [I made that up] by its creator, making me wonder if transience is in the builder’s mind, perhaps reflecting the transience of life. Golly!
The art of sandcastle building is nearly as old as time, but documented evidence started much later. The first recorded ones were built by the 14th Century [that’s the 1300’s – to save you doing the math] by Indian poet Balaram Das as an expression of devotion. I do hope his devotion lasted longer than his icons.
Inevitably, the competitive spirit soon took hold. In 2021, the world’s biggest sandcastle was created in the small Danish seaside town of Blokhus. At higher than 69ft, it toppled the previous German one [figuratively speaking, naturally]. And it also had a message.
Here’s the story. The Dutchman Wilfred Stijger and 30 of his mates used nearly 5,000 tonnes of sand, with 10% clay added to aid cohesion, and a protective layer of glue so it would survive for a while. The completed work was a pyramid, with a replica of the coronavirus wearing a crown on top, and built to represent the power that Covid had had since the pandemic’s beginning. … Continue Reading
Martin Connelly
I feel as if this is the first of these articles that I have written when the weather was fine. The recent better weather lets me take longer walks with Carlos, and to finally confront the garden.
Just as the good weather seemed to be settling in, the bad weather returned with a vengeance last weekend with truly frightening winds closing the hill road and also doing a lot of damage. I am told we should expect much more windy weather before the spring is over. Please take precautions.
People sometimes ask me how does the council support economic activity in the district? The short answer is that we help to fund Destination Wairarapa and the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy. Both organisations are collaborating at the present time to help us reap the benefits of having become a Dark Sky Reserve.
A recent event that the Council supported was the Wairarapa Rebel Business School. The Rebel Business School supports regional economic growth across Aotearoa. It does this by providing free entrepreneurial training courses to (primarily) young people wanting to start their own business. The recent Wairarapa Business School was the first time such a course has been run locally, and it was very well attended. By the end of the course many attendees had developed their business plans and others were implementing their business ideas.
Alongside initiatives such as this, a lot of what a council does day in and day out also supports the local economy. Roads are fundamental to most businesses, as are many other council services. Importantly, enabling new people to come and live and do business in the district also supports economic activity. … Continue Reading
Lindie and Mike are the two talented designers who own “Dustyandlulu”. They work from home serving the community and beyond. Every month they bring our Martinborough Star to fruition.
Lindie was originally a Wairarapa girl, who couldn’t wait to leave home. After finishing a three-year Design degree, working a summer job for the Yellow and White Pages as a proofreader, where her eyes were falling out of their sockets due to the thick cigarette smoke, she went to Tokyo to teach English. “It was a totally new experience, definitely diving in the deep end. I couldn’t speak Japanese. The age range in my class went from 2 years old to 70. But the attitude was “Here you are, Away you go, Just teach English, so I did”.
As a child Lindie had travelled extensively with her parents. Her father was a pastor undertaking missionary work. When she was 10 the family travelled in a motor home for 9 months, visiting 31 of the States of America. And at age 14, a VW van transported them throughout Europe for 5 months.
Returning from Japan, Lindie worked for the Dominion Post, which proved to be a steppingstone to working in an Advertising Agency in Dublin. “I loved Dublin, the friendliness of the people, the relaxed working hours from 9.30 to 5.30pm, the hour and half for lunch and who can forget the pubs? I once worked till 5.45 and found myself locked in. Work finished at 5.30pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Back in New Zealand Lindie joined Moxie Design in Wellington.
Meanwhile Mike grew up in Whanganui. His sister is an artist, his brother a musician, and Mike was no exception to the rule. A 4-year Art Degree with First Class Honours paved the way for travelling to London. “For the first 6 months I slept on someone else’s couch,” he said. “But I found accommodation and worked in the UK for 5 and a half years. My first job at the Science Museum in South Kensington involved making displays, exhibits, posters, and publications. In my spare time I played rugby and cricket.
Another leap and a position became available at Paling Walters, a global agency which specialised in pharmaceutical advertising. “It was fun. I have never ever worked in another firm where you left after a Thursday client lunch and didn’t come back until Monday morning. It was a different culture. We were working for big companies, where clients and advertising account managers interacted. There were a lot of perks.”
Despite the perks, New Zealand was pulling at the heart strings. The thought of having a motorbike, learning Karate, and creating screen prints was alluring. I applied for a position at Moxie Design, where Lindie had become the Manager. After all the normal interview questions Lindie asked me “What sort of biscuit would I be and Why?” “A Squiggle Top”, replied Mike. Lindie laughed and Mike was hired.
A change in ownership at Moxie made Lindie and Mike question where they really wanted to live and work. Martinborough topped the charts. Space, their own home, a great place to bring up their son Dusty and no commuting won the day. We are fortunate to have them here in our town.
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