Ageing With Attitude 

An Anglo-Irish writer named Oliver Goldsmith said “I love everything that’s old, – old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine.” He was around from 1728 – 1774 and I am enchanted by the idea that everything I love today was also special 250 years ago.

My grandfather, John Paluck, lived until he was 94. He was special to me for many reasons including our joint love of books. I used to call him every week or two, from wherever I was in the world, and after check-ins on health and current affairs, we would share highlights of what we were currently reading. The year after my Grandma died, Gramps downsized the family home they had lived in for over 50 years. I was in Canada at the time and helped him pack up his books for the move. We were the wrong people for this job, because each book had a story and I revelled in his telling of them. Packing up took us many, many days. … Continue Reading

Book review

A sort of Conscience. The Wakefields.

This is not a new book, however it is available from the library and with the current discussion on revision of how our history will be taught a timely one to read, or re-read.  Philip Temple’s  history of the Wakefield family is in all likelihood the definitive book on this family who had so much to do with  the early pākehā settlement. … Continue Reading

Under The Martinborough Stars 

“You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space.” 

― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Space is massive, it is hard to even think about how big Space is, let alone comprehend it. How can we even begin to measure the size of the Universe when it is so enormous? … Continue Reading

Poem

BY JOHN ANSELL

on Anzac Day 2021

Skinned of their skin and bled of their blood, … Continue Reading