Some say he naturally faces magnetic north and has two sets of knees. He is, of course, The Stig. Forget that frilly wannabe Austin Powers, the true international man of mystery is the elusive and enigmatic Top Gear test driver The Stig. Simon du Beaumarche has penned biographies for many a famous subject – from […]
Good laugh for Top Gear aficionados Read Post »
British girl Sophie Hayes didn’t have a great relationship with her father, or with men in general, mistrusting most of them on sight. However, at the age of 18 she met Kas, just a year older and (it seemed) the exact opposite of what she thought all men were: he was charming, kind and determined
Through the eyes of torment Read Post »
Apart from all the info telling me what a great book this is, the back cover also tells me that during her career Tina became one of the most recognisable faces on New Zealand and Australian television. The only trouble is I didn’t recognise her at all. So I Googled her name and even after
Drama, strife and a TV life Read Post »
The things collected by Kiwis are as many and varied as the collectors themselves and this book offers a fascinating glimpse into just a tiny portion of the collections tucked away in our homes, garages and sheds. It seems we all end up collecting something in the course of our lives, whether on purpose or
All things collectable Read Post »
It was a case that shocked everyone on both sides of the world: Malcolm Webster was convicted of murdering one wife in Scotland and trying to kill a second wife in New Zealand. Award-winning journalist Charles Lavery has followed the case closely and in The Black Widower he examines the crimes of this callous and
Killer’s web of deceit ably described Read Post »
Leonard Cohen is many things to many people: a poet, a prophet, singer, songwriter, author, peacemaker and all-round good bloke. Cohen has been touring the world pretty much non-stop for the past couple of years and I have to say, his concert in Christchurch just a couple of months after the September 2010 quake was
Fresh insight into gifted Cohen Read Post »
With his taste for sharp suits and powerful motorcycles, Bishop Brian Tamaki has an interestingly polarising effect on the average Kiwi. Let me make it clear before I go any further that I have no particular bias for or against any church – my religious views are my own and I don’t feel the need
Man of Destiny: Bishop’s church-building prowess Read Post »
2012 was a big year for the Queen. She celebrated her 86th birthday in April and at a time in her life when most of us would be looking forward to a cup of tea and a nice lie down, Queen Elizabeth is still busily attending public functions, giving speeches and generally being regal. Aside from
A busy year for QEII Read Post »
For a small nation, New Zealand has had more than its fair share of headline-grabbing murders, but there are few that would rival the 1954 murder of Christchurch woman Honorah Parker. The name of the victim may not be as familiar as that of the two teenage girls who committed the awful crime: Juliet Hulme
Probing sensational murder Read Post »
The description on the back cover of this book says “New Zealand’s high country farmers are a special breed” and I reckon you would be hard- pressed to find one as special as Iris Scott. In 1992, life was turned upside down for Iris when her husband died: she was left a widow with three
Inspiring high country battler Read Post »
