Less Cost Living
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Thursday, 10 January 08 - 07:51 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in New Zealand |
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It's my New Years resolution to find as many ways as possible to reduce the cost of living. I don't mean the financial cost to me, but the environmental cost. Moving onto the boat (the dirty great diesel boat) has meant we've had to adjust our recycling routine but helped us become more aware of the impact we have on the environment. Seeing crap wash up in the marina, watching boaties go out and pump waste into the harbour, badly maintained engines leaking etc are all eye openers. We're building in a water maker, solar panels, wind power and a wee vege garden so we can be self sufficient and have the smallest possible impact.
To help us stay motivated - and because 42 heads are better than one - I've signed up to 42collective who are a Wellington group that exist to promote less-cost lifestyles. I haven't met anyone from it yet - virtual group - but the forums are growing.
They are publishing an Online Guide to Less-cost Living called Sustainable Streets this year. The guide will be Wellington focussed, but it will have a template that can be adopted by other 42collective members in any city/region in New Zealand.
Brown signs
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Thursday, 13 December 07 - 09:27 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in New Zealand |
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I've just returned from a trip around the West Coast of the South Island with my Mum, who was over from Italy to see me. Our touring strategy consists of hiring a car and driving until we see a brown sign for a tourist attraction, deciding whether or not to stop, eating, drinking and finding a self catering cottage somewhere about 5pm to eat and drink and sleep in. Its a fantastic, stress free way to see some awesome stuff. You'd be amazed at what warrants a brown sign. In Westport, you're signposted to the coal musuem which would have been good had it been open. En route, there are brown signs for old cliff faces that once had gold in, 'historical sites' where a carriage carrying the first settlers broke down and umpteen pottery places. Fabulous.
On returning to Wellington I was a bit confused to see the brown signs for 'New Zealand Wine Trail' which were mysteriously pointing to Kaiwharawhara and, from the other side of town, towards Oriental Parade - then realised they're taking tourists to the ferry!
Highlight: Swimming in the sea at Kaiteriteri beach, along from the bongo man who couldn't hold a rhythm.
Chocolate Fish reprieve
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Wednesday, 21 November 07 - 06:35 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in New Zealand |
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well, sort of. It turns out that the Wellington icon, the Chocolate Fish cafe in Scorching Bay is moving to the waterfront and a new cafe is opening in its place at the bay.
Sad to hear that John Pennington, one of the Fish co-owners wants to make it hard for the new cafe managers by stripping everything out when they leave. Seems a little childish. No point taking it out on the new people, just because John and partners are cross that someone else can make a business there pay despite the $2000 per week council rent...
Chocolate Fish to wriggle off hook
... More items are available in my News Archive
