Don’t Mention The War…
Not too long ago I had the privilege of attending an elegant dinner with my fiance, Chris. It was an evening I was very much looking forward to, although I always feel out of place at these things. We dined in a castle, seated at a long table with couples from Germany, Canada, the U.S., […]
Keep Showing Up
I’ve never written about 9/11. I can usually avoid thinking about it, until I turn the calendar page to September. My eyes always go to the square with the 11th first, until I tear my eyes away and think about the other occasions the calendar marks – my friend Jo’s birthday (also the 11th), or my […]
Enjoying My OCD
My entire nature rebels against routine. I want to be spontaneous, unfettered, free. But there’s a strong part of me that craves routine (much to my chagrin). The profession (and therefore lifestyle) I’ve chosen is a curious dichotomy: I spend a lot of my time on the road, interspersed with chunks of time at home, […]
On the Road
Yesterday I returned from a week in the Marlborough Sounds, a week after I returned from spending a month in the States. The Sounds was an assignment for a magazine, writing a piece on hiking, biking and kayaking the Queen Charlotte Track. Being ‘on assignment’ is as good as it sounds: exploring new places, meeting new people, trying new […]
Print’s Premature Obituary (long live books!)
I love books. I don’t just mean the stories; I love actual books. I find them bewitching: their weight in my hands, the creak of the spine as they’re opened, the musty smell, the gentle swish of a page turning. I keep hearing that print is dying, which always causes an involuntarily spasm of panic. […]
Just When You Thought it Was Safe to Go Back (to Drinking the) Water….
The boil water notice has been lifted! Lake Hawea’s water supply has been expunged of the e-coli nuisance that demanded residents boil water for everything from brushing teeth to washing the succulent summer fruit. (Thanking the gods daily for Central Otago cherries….) The interesting thing about this annoying little exercise (apart from its reminder as […]
Sound of the Seasons
We all have a personal soundtrack. My formative years were spent with Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Simon and Garfunkel, the Eagles. Teenage years were Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains. University was Phish. Tom Wait’s Ice Cream Man and Simon and Garfunkel’s Hearts and Bones will always remind me of a trip to […]
One Year in Paradise
One year ago today I moved to Wanaka! I first encountered this corner of the world on my first assignment for National Geographic Traveler Magazine and promised myself that, one day, I would live and write in this staggeringly beautiful place. It took a little longer than planned, but I’m finally living and writing here. […]