The Year of Magical Thinking, a play by Joan Didion
“There is no eye on the sparrow.”
The Years by Annie Ernaux
This is the book the dog ate, almost.
The Old CustomHouse: a photographer’s delight, a community resource, and a Tardis
“We are our stories. We tell them to stay alive or keep alive those who only live now in the telling.” Niall Williams
Come with me along historic Marine Parade, Napier
Iconic sites and personal stories.
Celebrating Democracy
It’s the 4th of July, 1976, and it’s time for me to say goodbye to my American life.
Snow days
Snow has arrived in Minnesota already this year. My friends on Facebook are talking about it and two of my favourite Minnesotan bloggers are writing about it. Crooked Tracks has wonderful winter photos. littlelaosonthe prairie has advice on how to cope with snow for those from the tropics, especially Laos. […]
The Narrow Road To The Deep North – it’s all about point of view
Nearly all the reviews of The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Australian Richard Flanagan, this year’s Man Booker winner, have been effusive. And I can see why. I came across one that isn’t. And, again I can see why.
School In America
Adventures of a Kiwi AFS exchange student. I knew from the tele that school in 1975 America was different from school in New Zealand. But there’s nothing like being there, living it, to bring those differences home. I left New Zealand, swearing that at school in America I’d […]
My Dad, Tsunami, The Napier Soundshell, and Me
“You know, I once heard that your life is defined by what you do when presented with the need for a Plan-B.” As said to my blogging buddy, Dan, by his driver. If my father was a ghost this is where he’d hang out. It’s the Napier Soundshell […]
Me and The Mighty Mississippi.
During the summer of ’75 my AFS host family showed me around Minnesota. One memorable trip was to Itasca State Park and the source of the Mississippi River. Mississippi was famous to me as the word guaranteed to trip you up in any spelling test until you remembered […]
Jill's Scene 
The korero