1. Ageing is Damned Hard Work!

As two over-75-year-olds  we’ve become very aware of the challenges of ageing!  Instead of writing about the arts and other interesting aspects of our current privileged lives, we’ve decided to be forthright about some of the issues  we face, and our attempts to manage them creatively.   We are keen to make sure we keep body, […]

3. Exercise – body and mind

One of our big differences as a couple has always been our attitudes to exercise. Tanya says:  As someone blessed with relatively  good health and fitness most of my life, I have been startled to realise that I can no longer take my physical skills for granted! I already have two bionic hips and one […]

4. Ki Tau, Ki Tai

Ki Tau Ki Tai – from ridge to sea – Tanya’s story of a guided cycling tour based around water landmarks in Tāmaki Makaurau 27 February 2021                      ————————————————————————                              Ki Tau Ki Tai – from Ridge to sea – a guided cycling tour through central Tāmaki Makaurau – organised by Auckland Libraries […]

Toi Tū, Toi Ora

We’ve been back to the Toi Tū, Toi Ora exhibition in the  Auckland Art Gallery a couple of times now, and our appreciation of the diversity and significance of the Maori art works has deepened.  There are paintings, of course, and sculptures, models, kinetic features, flags, jewellery, computer images and all manner of visual objects, […]

Adventures in Te Waipounamu

Tanya has just returned from a stunning adventure in Te Waipounamu …here’s her story and pictures… It began with an unexpected invite from our younger generation of Cumbos – Barney, Jo and 8-year-old Ellie – to my older brother,  Garth,  and me, to join them on a cycling adventure (A2O: Alps 2 Ocean) in the […]

Christchurch Whanau

Before starting our cycling adventure in the South Island, Garth and I spent two days in Christchurch. Our first date was with our cousin Philip Carter, who took us on a guided tour on electric scooters (an exciting first for Garth and me!) of the new city developments in Christchurch.  Philip is one of the […]

An hour from our front door…Rangitoto Island

Back to the simplicity of bach life in summer… On New Year’s Day we hopped on a bus downtown, then a ferry across the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto Island for a stay in Bach 52, five minutes walk from the wharf. Bach 52 is another small 1920s bach which has been lovingly restored to near-original […]

Happy Solstice, we hope…

  We wish you  a Happy Solstice, with a colour-full covid-free summer if you are in Aotearoa or the Pacific… …and if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, or in a Covid-infected area, and dealing with  lockdowns and deaths,  please take care, and know that we are sending our love to you, with our hopes […]