Life

There's some pretty smart observers around when it comes to wildlife, and maybe one of the smarter ones I've come across was an old mate who lived, by choice, considerably outside the city boundaries.

David Hartnell may not be one to gossip, but is a jolly fine chap to sit and have a natter over a cup of tea with! On a grey an otherwise uninspiring day, he's an absolute ray of sunshine; polite, positive and so entertaining.

I don't know what it's looking like where you live but I've just scanned through the weather forecast and it predicts lousy weather right up until Christmas.

It's Christmas and that's a time for oily rag households to breakout the home brew and celebrate their frugality with low cost feasts

It's not often I venture into the dangerous arena of firearms ownership and use, because invariably when I do someone who has little or no understanding of guns decides I am fair game and promptly puts me - and all those like me - in their sights.

The new breath alcohol limits are in force and already publicans are noticing a drop in sales, as punters are uncertain about how many drinks they are allowed and still be able to safely and legally drive.

Two of New Zealand's best loved cooks had an amazing time in India recently and recorded their journey in Hot Pink Spice Saga: An Indian Culinary Travelogue with Recipes. It's a great read.

Our editor's opinion

The mail bags are full again and the frugal community has some suggestions to last week's questions.

The Hawke's Bay on a good day is a superb piece of the country, and when we got there some lovely weather had arrived to show just how good the region could look.