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BRILLIANT BEARS TEDDIES FOR A CAUSE • LIFE OF SERVICE LENDING A HAND ALL DRESSED UP DOLLS WITH ATTITUDE • HARD PRESSED FLORAL CRAFT SPRING FRESH SEASONAL RECIPES

COVER Alison Olsson, from Summerset Mountain View, has a soft spot for bears - but it’s not just teddies. Read her story on page 4.

Whangārei

Warkworth Parnell St Johns

Milldale Hobsonville

Half Moon Bay

Ellerslie

Manukau

Karaka

Papamoa Beach

Rototuna

More than

6,600

Katikati

Cambridge

Hamilton Taupō

Bell Block

Summerset home New Zealanders call

New Plymouth

Napier Te Awa Hastings

Wanganui Levin

Havelock North

Waikanae Paraparaumu

Palmerston North Trentham

Nelson

Kelvin Grove

Boulcott

Richmond Blenheim

Rangiora

Avonhead Wigram

Casebrook

Prebbleton

Aotea Kenepuru

KEY = Summerset village = Proposed village

Dunedin

Story to share? We really enjoy telling your stories. If you have an exciting or interesting tale to tell, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you! magazine@summerset.co.nz

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Hello from Sara I hope this latest issue finds you safe, happy and well.

I don’t know about you, but I found the most recent lockdown slightly scary. It’s not like we hadn’t been there before, but dealing with the virulent Delta strain certainly put a different spin on things. Once again, Summerset residents throughout the country rose to the challenge, taking lockdown in your stride, quickly adapting to alert level rules, and even managing to have some laughs along the way. A huge thank you to you all for everything you did, and are still doing, to keep your community safe. Putting this latest issue together has been a mixed bag. Most was written before the latest lockdown hit, and I’m always in two minds about how much to dwell on these strange new happenings in

the world. In a way, I don’t like to give coronavirus and its disruptiveness too much column space, but on the other hand, it sure is something that looms large in our lives these days.

worked for St John ambulance for more than 55 years. He recently received a medal for his efforts, but recognition was the last thing on his mind. Read about Donald on page 8.

So, while you’ll find a smattering of Covid-related chatter in these pages, most of these stories focus on all anything but!

We’ve also got a flight enthusiast, a doll maker, and some salt-of-the-Earth farmers in the mix this issue, so there’s bound to be a story that takes your fancy. Plus, there’s all the usual favourites including spring recipes, style tips, book ideas and puzzles.

Turn to page 4 to meet Alison from New Plymouth, who has dedicated many hours of her life to fundraising to help caged moon bears in Asia. Alison told me that people often think a problem is too big, or too far away for them to make a difference, but she’s proof that small actions can add up to amazing results. Another great Summerset resident lending a helping hand is Donald, a kind Cantabrian who

Until next time, happy reading.

Sara Bunny SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Contents

All Dolled Up Wonderful creations

Love of the Land Farming tales

For the Love of Bears Alison’s special mission

Here to Help Good samaritans

Flight Path Sky’s the limit

News Lockdown capers

Let’s talk about Brain health

News Vaccinations vital

Jude on A banana-eating dog

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

This publication uses vegetable-based inks and

Paper produced using elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and manufactured under the strict ISO14001

environmentally responsible paper produced from Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-certified,

Environmental Management System.

mixed-source pulp from responsible sources.

News Summerset stars

Village people Pics from around Summerset

Staff profile Martin Hook

Five questions Bev Head

Poet’s corner Village wordsmiths

Delicious recipes Tasty ideas

In the garden White delights

Style Lighten up

Craft corner Pressing plants

Book reviews Great new reads

Go greener Green update

Wellness Start your day strong

Travel log Napier

Puzzles Test the grey matter

Pets of Summerset Meet Ellie

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FOR THE LOVE OF

BEARS Summerset Mountain View resident Alison Olsson has raised tens of thousands for a charity close to her heart. These days, village friends are getting involved, too.

lives and given very little food. They have a metal rod inserted permanently in their gallbladder to collect their bile, which is thought to have medicinal properties. It’s appalling and so cruel. I watched the news story with these poor bears, and I cried and cried.”

It’s not often a news story has a lasting impact on your life, but that’s exactly what happened to Alison Olsson. Sitting down one night to what should have been a relaxing evening watching the Holmes show on telly with host Paul Holmes, she saw something so shocking, it stayed with her forever.

“I started out in about 2001, with garage sales to raise money. At my first one I had a big sign saying, ‘China bear rescue’, and a reporter came by because they thought I meant bears made of china! They were so confused they decided to interview me, and from there I was able to tell them the story and raise more awareness. Having the local newspaper onside was a huge help.”

“I listened to an interview with an amazing woman from Animals Asia Foundation, who was talking about the terrible tragedy of the moon bear,” Alison remembers. “These bears are taken from the forest, kept in tiny cages their whole

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Knowing she had to help, Alison called the number for the Animals Asia charity, and the rest is history.

Alison sells teddies to raise funds for her favourite charity.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

“E V E RY L I T T L E B I T H E L PS, A N D I T A L L M O U N TS U P. I F E V E RY B O DY D I D SO M E T H I N G S M A L L , W H AT A D I F F E R E N C E I T WO U L D M A K E .” IN SIX YEARS ALISON RAISED MORE THAN $22,500 FOR THE ANIMALS ASIA CHARITY

As a teddy bear collector, Alison started selling toy bears as a fitting way to support the real bears at the sanctuary in Asia, but soon added other goods to her sales list. A neighbour let her use their empty basement for storage, and she soon had it packed with donated goods. “We sold anything and everything,” she laughs. Alison’s dedication paid off, and in six years she had raised more than $22,500 for the Animals Asia charity. But the real cherry on top came when she was able to use some of the funds to sponsor her own rescued bear. After enduring 11 years in a cage, Alison’s bear arrived at the sanctuary traumatised and in poor health. She decided to name her ‘Miss Egmont’, as a nod to her home town. “I was so thrilled to get my lovely Miss Egmont,” Alison says. “Her body had suffered extremely badly, but she eventually healed, and the Animals Asia Foundation would give me regular updates on how she was doing. She loved running around with the other bears and she loved her food.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

MOON BE A RS Moon bears get their name from the distinctive crescent-shaped marking on their chest. They are also known as Asian black bears.

Funnily enough, all the other bears liked eating carrots, but Miss Egmont hated them!” Heartbreakingly, Miss Egmont was diagnosed with a brain tumour and passed away after only 17 months at the sanctuary. It was a devastating blow for Alison, but she’s grateful her beloved bear had the chance to experience the feeling of grass under her feet and the sun on her face. These days, Alison has largely scaled back on her fundraising, but she has started selling teddy bears at Summerset Mountain View to spread awareness of animal cruelty. She’s raised $1,200 in just a few months, and says it shows once again how small gestures can have powerful results. “Every little bit helps, and it all mounts up. If everybody did something small, what a difference it would make.” Rescued moon bears, including Alison’s sponsored bear Miss Egmont, enjoying freedom at the sanctuary.

Moon bears are found in forests throughout Southeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula, China, Japan, Nepal and northern India.

There are thought to be about 20,000 bears living in captivity in Asia.

Animals Asia Foundation runs sanctuaries in Vietnam and China, and has rescued more than 600 bears so far.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

HERE HELP TO

For Donald Galbraith, helping others is simply second nature. He’s seen it all during his more than five decades with St John New Zealand, and was recently awarded a medal for his service to his community. When you’re from a small community, you have to roll up your sleeves and pitch in. That’s the message Donald had from a young age, growing up in Temuka, near Timaru. “I was in Temuka for over 80 years of my life. The maternity ward where I was born was on the main street, I lived on the main street and worked on the main street. I wanted to be of use to the town.” The family owned the local funeral director’s business, and the then 20-year-old Donald was working full-time with his dad when a meeting was held about starting Temuka’s first St John brigade. When the call came for ambulance volunteers, Donald was quick to put his hand up. After a mammoth fundraising effort involving the whole township, Temuka finally had its own ambulance. With a first-aid certificate under his belt, Donald soon found himself as an ambulance driver, heading off to emergency call-outs with a nurse. “We gave a 24/7 service. There were four of us who each went on duty at 8am Monday and

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

did 24/7 duty until the following Monday. So every four weeks, each of us was on call for one week. The calls that came in went to the driver’s home or work phone, as there were no cellphones back then. Luckily trip numbers in those days were nothing like today’s use of the ambulance service.” It was exhausting work, and as there was only limited funding, all the staff were volunteers. For Donald, working at the funeral business as well as for St John meant he was always at extreme ends of the human experience – caring for the deceased at one job, and working to keep people alive at the other. The strangeness of the situation isn’t lost on Donald, who says his guiding mantra of helping people in need, and focusing on the job at hand, was what kept him going when things were stressful. “At St John we had to sit a first-aid certificate every year to stay proficient, but we were also examined by a doctor ourselves to make sure we were all right too. Because it’s a huge responsibility.” After going out on ambulance call-outs for more than 20 years, Donald moved to the administrative side of the charity and worked for another two

decades as the secretary for St John Temuka. All up, he served St John for 57 years. All the hard work was officially recognised at an award ceremony in Christchurch at the end of last year, where Donald received a gold Ultra Long Service Medal of the Order of St John for 50 years of continuous service, complete with a gold bar to represent an additional five years of service. Donald says receiving the medal was a surprise and an honour, particularly because this is the first year that this medal has been presented. “Little did I think all through the years that there would be recognition at the end.” These days, Donald and his wife Marion have shifted away from their beloved Temuka. They now live at Summerset on Cavendish in Christchurch to be closer to their three daughters and their grandchildren. The kindly Cantabrian is enjoying some well-earned relaxation, but he’s still the type to lend a hand whenever it’s needed. “I’ve always wanted to help people. Even if it’s a pile of dishes in the sink, I know there’s a tea towel there to dry them. It’s just the way I was brought up.”

Donald with a photo from the medal ceremony (left) and at home with wife Marion (above)

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

ARTICLE BY SHARON LUNDY

All dolled up Fishnet stockings might not be on everyone’s shopping list, but they were exactly what Summerset in the Sun resident Ruth Thomson needed to deal with Irene Mary.

Ruth makes fabric dolls, and a recent creation – Irene Mary – was proving to be a bit of a challenge.

Ruth has also made dolls to request; another village resident commissioned her to make a rabbi for her Jewish husband.

“I had trouble with Irene’s legs,” says Ruth, “because they’re bent. Trying to get something stretchy that would stretch in the right places – I had an awful job.

She’s been making the dolls for about 12 years – despite not being a sewer in her younger years. She’d always wanted to learn how to smock, so she did a course at Stitches in Christchurch, and one thing led to another.

“I ended up going to the $2 Shop and buying fishnets, so that’s what she’s wearing.” Irene Mary is about the 40th fabric doll Ruth, 76, has made. She gets the patterns from former Wanganui nurse Jill Maas and, as she makes them, their very specific stories develop. Griselda’s pursed lips have Ruth believing Gwyneth has just told her a naughty joke – “and we are not amused”. “The one I’m doing now, Emma and her friend Pandora the Pig, that’s Emma’s second head – the first one was a write-off. “Once you’ve drawn the features, that’s it, because it’s done in ink or paint. It takes a long time to get the faces right.”

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“Every time I start one, I think, ‘I must write down when I start it and how long it takes,’ but I always forget. It just depends – I don’t sit at it a whole day.” Ruth’s dolls were on show at the recent Summerset in the Sun Arts, Crafts and Creations Expo, the ninth time the skilled sewer has exhibited at the event.

Some of Ruth’s amazing creations, including (clockwise from top right), a rabbi made for a Jewish friend, Pandora and her pet pig, grabbing some lockown essentials, Gwyneth and Griselda, and a ‘Summerset girl’ chats to a lifeguard. (Above left) Ruth with Irene Mary.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FLIGHT PATH

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

With a room full of plane memorabilia and an overhead baggage locker doubling as a toolbox in the garage, it’s safe to say Hans Nagelkerke is an aeroplane fanatic. And these days, the retired aircraft engineer has a new way to explore the skies – from a flight simulator in the front room of his Christchurch villa. If you ask Hans about his favourite aircraft, he’s not picky. “I like anything that flies!” he says, laughing. The affable aircraft enthusiast has built planes, fixed planes, flown a range of aircraft (including gliders) and even had a few hair-raising moments mid-flight. After a career as an aircraft engineer with Air New Zealand, Hans now shares his love of aviation with flight fans of all ages as a volunteer at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram. And in his spare time, he keeps his pilot skills on point with his favourite hobby – a flight simulator at home. With its numerous buttons, power controls and screens, the simulator might be considered a slightly unusual thing to have in your home office, but Hans couldn’t be happier. “On the simulator I can choose any aircraft from a glider to a 737; I can even go into space! You can do navigation plans, and work on different approaches. I can close the door and really be in my own world. The experience is still there; you’re so focused on what you’re doing and completely engrossed in it. In that way it’s like real flying.”

(Left), Hans preparing for a ‘flight’, (top right) some of the simulator’s bells and whistles. Hans says that not having to worry about insurance or fuel costs is a bonus, and while wife Maria is used to him disappearing for a while when he’s mid-flight in the next room, the retired engineer prefers not to spend too long in the machine. “Some people go from here to Hong Kong on the flight simulator, so that’s 12 hours in front of the computer screen… no thanks,” he says. “I would rather fly my aircraft over there local, and then fly using real time and real weather, which is all built into the program.”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

“ ...he was so well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of aircraft and engines that colleagues had nicknamed him ‘Hans Googlekerke’.”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Hans’s interest in planes goes back to his early years growing up in the Netherlands, where the family home was a stone’s throw from the airport. “We would sit on the roof and look up at the aircraft coming in to land. That’s far better than watching birds!” After finishing school, he started work with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and was in his element honing his skills on aircraft maintenance and soaking up all the knowledge he could. When Hans and Maria arrived in New Zealand almost 40 years ago, he landed his dream role as an aircraft engineer with Air New Zealand and spent 27 happy years with the airline.

HANS SPENT 27 YEARS (Far left) Hans and Maria in the cockpit on Hans’ last day at work. (Above) Plane memorabilia at their Christchurch home.

By the time he retired, he was so well known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of aircraft and engines that colleagues had nicknamed him ‘Hans Googlekerke’. “At Air New Zealand I was maintaining aircraft and engines. It’s a huge responsibility, knowing you’re crucial to the safety of those people on board. There was always a lot of paperwork, as every new component that goes on the aircraft is carefully documented.” Over the years, Hans has even built his own small aircraft, and despite being a walking dictionary of all things aviation, he hasn’t been immune to the odd mishap mid-fight.

WITH AIR NEW ZEALAND

“There’s been plenty,” he laughs, as Maria shakes her head. “One time I pulled the wrong lever and killed the engine mid-flight. But I just angled the nose down so the propellor could start turning again, put the fuel back on, and off we went again. “Another time I was flying over Sumner Beach. I pulled the aircraft up to do a roll, but I went too far and the next thing I was upside down thinking, ‘I haven’t done this before!’ I pulled the power back, and just slowly came up the right way. There are always things you learn as you go.”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Love of ARTICLE BY SHARON LUNDY

A farmer might leave their land to move ‘down the Lane’, but they’ll never stop being interested in farming – as these retired farmers at Summerset’s Hamilton villages prove. Ken Sole, 86, and Graham Bell, 87, both from Summerset down the Lane, recently visited a robotic dairy shed and were fizzing about the experience. “It was just awesome,” Ken said. “It’s unbelievable, and it only takes a wee bit of space,” Graham said. A fellow resident who is a relief milker for family had invited the two former dairy farmers to see the robotic operation in action, and it left them reminiscing about their farming days.

Ken was born on a 50ha farm his grandfather bought at Ngāhinapōuri, and he says he’d still be there if his late wife, Melva, hadn’t become unwell with rheumatoid arthritis. He was driving machinery for son Steven’s contracting business right up until he moved into the village in 2014, and says while it’s great and was just what Melva needed, he really missed the farm. He recalls a milking shed where the 60 cows had to step up onto the milking platform, eight at a time, and leading a horse to stack hay. When he left the farm, Steven was milking 300 cows in a 20-a-side herringbone and they were making about 100,000 bales of hay a year on the contracting side. Graham and his wife Anne farmed at Pukekawa, in northern Waikato, on a farm his Irish grandfather bought in 1917. The farm grew to 81ha, and his father, brother and he diversified into pigs and market gardening, as well as dairying. They all helped one another, working late into the night at times, and Graham also worked as a technician for the Livestock Improvement Corporation. Like Ken and Melva, Graham and Anne’s decision to move into town was motivated by health. “But it hasn’t really been hard. We’ve got a lovely villa in a lovely retirement village. We’re very happy,” says Graham On the other side of Hamilton, at Summerset Rototuna, 90-year-old Ray Jacobs reflects on his 18 different jobs, mostly land-based.

(Left) Former dairy farmer Ray Jacobs, (top right) Graham Bell and Ken Sole say technology has come a long way since their days on the farm.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

The father of five started his career working for the Reserve Bank and was supposed to study economics, but instead he got married, bought a Wellington grocery business and then became a wharfie. But the land was calling, and he left Wellington for Mangakino, where he became a shepherd and had his first taste of milking – with a house cow. In his mid-30s, Ray took on a 50/50 sharemilking job at Netherton on the Hauraki Plains. The owner bought more land and Ray milked on it, doubling production in three years before Tb decimated the herd. A rundown farm on the Coromandel beckoned. Ray borrowed to build a dairy shed and converted scrub to grass before the local dairy

company stopped taking milk from that area. Once again, Ray turned adversity into opportunity, leasing a nearby property, converting it to sheep and cattle, and turning the dairy shed into a shearing shed. They ran 2,000 sheep and cattle while Ray worked for the Forest Service and his then wife nursed. A tax rebate gave them another opportunity; they used it to plant tangelos and mandarins, and sold them at a roadside stall. Ray decided to ‘retire’ 30 years ago, subdividing the farm into lifestyle blocks and moving to Whangārei, where he met Trish. After much travel, they moved to Hamilton, “and now I’m here to retire gracefully. I’m such a lucky fellow.”

the land Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

OUR NEWS

LOCKDOWN CAPERS Level 4 lockdown arrived again with lightning speed on 18 August, but Summerset residents made sure they kept in good spirits. A big thank you to you all for playing your part in stamping out Covid-19, and special thanks to the village staff for all your wonderful work. Together, we made it through – and managed to have some laughs along the way! Here’s a look at some of the many lighter moments of level 4.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Photo 1: Special Daffodil Day deliveries at Summerset Avonhead. Photo 2: Alison Frank from Summerset in the Vines was surprised on her lockdown birthday with a sweet treat and a socially-distanced ‘Happy Birthday’ serenade at her door. Photo 3: A ‘balloon art’ competition helped to keep boredom at bay at Summerset by the Park. Photo 4: A group from Summerset Richmond Ranges enjoyed getting together for a Zoom quiz. Photo 5: A team from Summerset on Summerhill delivering goodie bags for Summerset Shout @ Your Place, residents were very happy to see them!

L E T ’S TA L K A B O U T

B R A I N H E A LT H

Most of us already know that physical exercise, staying socially connected, and doing mentally stimulating and challenging activities are all part of a healthy lifestyle. No matter our age or stage in life, these are key to staying ‘brain fit’. But new research also points to some brain-care tips you may not have heard of…

Poor dental health could increase dementia risk The human mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria, including those that can cause periodontal (gum) disease. A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that bacteria that cause gum disease are also associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, especially vascular dementia. This evidence suggests that having regular dental visits is important not only to maintain our oral health, but can also have a positive impact on our brain.

Hearing loss and the link to brain health A 2013 Johns Hopkins University study found that cognitive decline progressed 30–40 per cent faster in people with hearing loss than in those with normal hearing. A 2017 review published in The Lancet found a 9 per cent risk of dementia attributable to mid-life deafness. It’s important to treat any hearing impairment to help protect our brain. If you’re concerned, start by having a hearing check at a local clinic – these are often provided free of charge.

Air pollution – a potential problem for the grey matter Research from Canada and the UK suggests that air pollution (mostly from vehicle exhausts) may account for up to 7 per cent of dementia incidence. As detailed in a July 2020 blog post by neurologist Dr Andrew Budson, studies from three other parts of the world suggest that long-term exposure to air pollutants is likely to cause cognitive impairment, dementia in general, and Alzheimer’s disease in particular. Reduce your risk of pollutant exposure by wearing a mask if you’re in a place with high pollution levels, and keep car windows up when sitting in traffic or driving behind large vehicles where you can smell their exhaust fumes. Be mindful of indoor pollutants too, and avoid heavy household chemicals, mould and tobacco smoke as much as possible.

Keep the blues at bay Anxiety and depression need to be taken seriously. A 2010 study published in Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience found that people with depression performed worse on cognitive tasks than their non-depressed counterparts. Experts believe it’s not just our general well-being that improves when we treat depression, but our brain functioning as well. If you have any concerns about mental health, be sure to chat with your doctor. COGNITIVE DECLINE PROGRESSED 30–40 PER CENT FASTER IN PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS THAN IN THOSE WITH NORMAL HEARING

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

VAC C I N AT I O N S V I TA L TO

FIGHT COVID-19

Covid-19 is a serious health issue, and the highly contagious Delta strain is an even bigger threat.

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health, studies show that about 95% of people who received both doses of the vaccine were protected against getting seriously ill from Covid-19.

That’s why we’re encouraging all Summerset residents to get their two Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as they possibly can – it’s the best way to keep everyone protected.

The Covid-19 vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies and other proteins that will fight the virus if we’re exposed to it. The first dose ‘primes’ the immune system but protection doesn’t last as long because the level of antibodies falls. The second dose gives your immune response a boost – with lots more antibodies to help your immune response to mature and provide longer protection against the virus.

“Vaccination is our best chance to keep living the life we choose while Covid-19 continues to evolve and develop around the world,” says Lynda Irvine, Summerset Head of Clinical Services. The Delta variant is now the main Covid-19 strain, and it’s twice as infectious as the original strain of Covid-19. Delta travels through the air in particles and droplets, meaning it’s more easily passed between others when we’re out and about in our daily lives. Older adults who aren’t vaccinated have an increased risk of severe illness if they come into contact with the virus, and unvaccinated people with a Delta infection are at higher risk of needing to go to hospital. The greatest risk of transmission (spreading the virus) is through unvaccinated people. That’s why it’s now more important than ever to get both doses of the Covid vaccine. 20

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The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for safety, quality, and efficacy by Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicine safety authority. Vaccines are free, and available for everyone aged 12 years and over in New Zealand. Maisie Lund, from Summerset on the Coast, receiving her vaccine.

To book your vaccine, call 0800 28 29 26, or book online at bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz

JUDE ON

A BA N A N AE ATI N G D O G Our dog Billie is aptly named – she truly is a ‘silly billy’. She is our fourth Weimaraner, and while they have all had their idiosyncrasies, I think she takes the award for most adventurous food habits. Leftovers from dinner have always been staple additions to the bowl for any of our dogs, mixed in with their usual dry food. Meat, of course, gets wolfed down, but Billie has surprised us with what else she will attempt. She will happily scoff beans, broccoli or peas, and she even thought a couple of lettuce leaves recently were worth a go. But it was the banana that got me. As I watched the dog dribbling while staring at a banana my daughter was holding, my daughter confessed to me (somewhat sheepishly) that she had been feeding bits of banana to Billie since she was a young pup. Some two years down track, her banana obsession still exists. Billie will also attempt apples, and even strawberries. I had to google this behaviour, to make sure we weren’t going to end up at the vet with a sick dog, only to find out that many fruits and veges are poisonous to dogs! Thankfully, it appears that the fruit she’s developed a penchant for are not problematic, but there is a no-go fruit and vege list, which was educative for someone with a curious pup like mine. I’ve learnt the ‘no’ list includes avocado (they contain persin, a toxin that causes diarrhoea and vomiting), cherries (they have cyanide in

them) and grapes (they can cause kidney failure). On the vege front, onions, leeks and mushrooms are not advised, but the crunchy raw carrots Billie likes are on the acceptable list, along with celery – suggested as helpful for doggy bad breath. And the warning that came with Brussels sprouts and cabbage was the same as the one for humans – they are gas-producing! I’m happy to avoid those, given that the wafts emanating from Billie on her usual diet are arresting enough. Raspberries are also on the acceptable list. Apparently, they have anti-inflammatory properties, so are good for older dogs with ageing joints – although the price of raspberries would stop me even entertaining that idea. Cucumbers are good for overweight dogs and contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. Bananas, on the other hand, are high in sugar content, so fit in the ‘not so often’ category. I suggest you do your own research if you have a pooch that’s partial to human food. For me, it’s been an interesting wee investigation to find out what herbivore options my curious carnivorous dog might be able to add to her menu. However, I think we’ll keep it simple and leave it at the odd banana!

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

SUMMERSET STARS The Applause Awards are all about recognising the amazing work that Summerset people do every day, whether they’re in the villages, at a corporate office or on a building site. 1

This year, the Applause Awards were held in late July at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington. It was a special evening with lots of fun and laughter, and even a bit of dancing! Big congratulations to everyone who was nominated, made it to the final or scooped an award. Here are some of the winners.

Photo 1: Michelle Kitson, from Summerset by the Ranges, was named the Supreme Winner. Congratulations, Michelle!

Photo 4: Summerset Mountain View Village Manager Wayne Mackay, accepting the Village of the Year award.

Photo 2: Margie Garcia from Summerset down the Lane won the Activities Coordinator of the Year award.

Photo 5: Clinical Nurse Lead of the Year winner Gayani Kodippili (right), with Summerset Operations Manager Eleanor Young.

Photo 3: Office Manager of the Year winner Zoe Bell, from Summerset in the Vines (pictured centre), with finalists Tarsh McConchie (left) and Annette Hall.

Photo 6: Village Manager of the Year winner, Stephanie Meehan, accepting her award.

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SUMMERSET I N T H E

COMMUNITY Whether it’s getting behind a fun event or sponsoring a special project, Summerset loves to support our local communities.

Bringing the laughs We loved getting behind local theatre to support Winding Up, a play about the adventures of two spirited seniors. Written by Sir Roger Hall, the comedy starred well-known Kiwi actors Mark Hadlow and Alison Quigan. With sponsorship from Summerset, the play was on in early August at The Theatre Royal in Nelson, with Blenheim shows scheduled for later in the year.

Help for a vital cause

New plans in Palmy

Summerset is very proud to support the incredible work of Wellington Free Ambulance. As part of this year’s Onesie Day appeal from 2-4 September, we donated $40,000 towards a new ambulance for the Wellington region.

Summerset has recently bought land in Kelvin Grove, a developing suburb on the semi-rural edge of Palmerston North, just 6km from the city centre. Plans are afoot for a new village offering more than 300 retirement units including independent living villas, cottages and apartments, as well as serviced and memory care apartments. This will be Summerset’s second village in Palmerston North, alongside Summerset on Summerhill.

Onesie Day is the charity’s main annual fundraiser, but due to Covid-19, it’s the second year in a row that collectors have been unable to shake their buckets on the street. So Onesie Day went online and Summerset answered the call, doubling our initial amount to help get the new Onesie Day ambulance on the road. Wellington Free Ambulance responds to more than 48,000 emergencies a year, and are the only emergency ambulance service in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.

All go in Melbourne Summerset’s Australian expansion is in full swing, with resource consent recently granted to build a new village in Cranbourne North, and another piece of land purchased in Craigieburn. Both sites are in Melbourne, with Cranbourne North a leafy eastern suburb, while Craigieburn is north of the central city. The Cranbourne North village will feature Summerset’s trademark traditional villas and townhouses, and a main building with a care centre, apartments and memory care apartments, spread over a 9-hectare site. We’re excited to be welcoming the first of our Aussie residents to the village in 2022.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

V I L L AGE PEOPLE

Here’s a peek at some of the happenings from around the villages (before lockdown kept us at home and socially distanced!)

2 1

Photo 1: Maureen and Charlie Bell from Summerset Palms looking fabulous at an Art Deco-themed do at the village. Photo 2: Avonhead resident Ian Cooke presenting a cheque to St John. The village raised an impressive $820 for the charity.

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Photo 3: Enjoying a Bastille Day dinner at Summerset by the Lake. Photo 4: A spot of croquet at Summerset Richmond Ranges. Photo 5: Casebrook residents sample the goods on a brewery tour.

Photo 6: Making poi for Matariki at Summerset Mountain View. Photo 7: Residents from Summerset by the Sea enjoying a harbour cruise. Photo 8: A group from New Plymouth checking

Photo 9: Summerset on Cavendish residents braved the chill to meet the penguins and huskies at The Antarctic Centre. Photo 10: Early Daffodil Day celebrations at Summerset by the Ranges.

out the weird and wonderful displays at the taxidermy museum.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

S TA F F P R O F I L E

Martin Hook BY SARA BUNNY

When Londoner Martin Hook first arrived in Taranaki, he knew straight away it was his favourite part of New Zealand. Now, he’s helping to build a thriving community at New Plymouth’s newest Summerset village. As a registered nurse, Martin Hook’s career has taken him throughout the world. From caring for patients in Los Angeles, to working in neurosurgery at St Georges hospital in London, and two stints as the on-site medic at Camp America, he’s seen and heard it all. But having moved to the aged care sector a decade ago, Martin thinks he’s found his niche. “With other types of nursing, you never got to spend much time with people,” he says. “You would see them for a very short time and then they were gone, and the next set of people would arrive. But aged care is all about developing meaningful relationships with people, which I really enjoy.” Most recently, taking the helm as Village Manager at Summerset Pohutukawa Place has been an exciting new challenge. With new residents moving in, plans underway for the village centre and a rapidly growing community taking shape, having the chance to lead a developing village was an opportunity too good to pass up. “Here, I get to really start at the beginning. It’s great to be able to build something up and create a spirit of community. I really want to encourage an environment where people can come to my door at any time for a chat. It’s about creating a really supportive system where we all help each other.” After arriving in New Zealand 11 years ago, Martin had planned to work for a while and continue on travelling. But the big skies and 26

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

stunning natural scenery of Taranaki quickly had him hooked. “I’ve never lived anywhere else in New Zealand. I absolutely love it here, it’s just wonderful. Everything you need or could possibly want is right here. I go to other places in the country and think, ‘it’s very nice, but I’m looking forward to going back to New Plymouth!’” The peace and quiet of Taranaki is a far cry from his past experiences in some of the world’s major cities, with his time in Los Angeles among the most memorable. “I was working in a medical centre over there at the time of the LA riots. I remember looking out the window of the building where I lived and all these helicopters were flying around, there was smoke everywhere and mobs of people rioting. That was a bit freaky. But we had a lot of fun too, seeing the Hollywood sign and Venice beach and all those iconic places. We had a lot of visitors from overseas and of course everyone wanted to go to Disneyland, so I ended up going to Disneyland ten times in a year and a half!” Back in Taranaki, Martin says Summerset at Pohutukawa Place had a friendly vibe right from the start, which makes people feel at home. “Residents have said things like, ‘I was lonely and bored, but since moving here I feel safe and part of a community.’ That’s so good to hear. Coming here can be a new lease of life for a lot of people. The village has a really great feel.”

M A R T I N ’ S C A R E E R H A S TA K E N HIM FROM LOS ANGELES, TO LONDON, TO CAMP AMERICA

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FIVE QUESTIONS BEV HEAD FROM SUMMERSET RICHMOND RANGES Many people get rid of big, heavy items when they move house, but printmaker Bev Head wasn’t about to part with her beloved printing press. Here, she talks about teaching printmaking classes at the village, an art project in the works and how Nelson is a hive of creativity.

How did you get started with printmaking? I was working in an art shop in Auckland, and would have a lot of talks with customers about printmaking. While everyone knows about painting, many people didn’t know what printmaking is, where to find supplies or where to begin. I decided to try it for myself, learnt a range of different printmaking methods and really enjoyed it. What advice do you give beginners learning a new craft? Just have a go! People always say to me, “But I can’t draw,” but you only have to make a mark to make a print. Then you can print other things around it and build it up. Many go away quite elated

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at what they have produced! We have a really keen group at the village, and I’ve loved taking printmaking classes here. We’re working towards a collaborative piece made up of printed triangles. We work with woodcut and lino prints. Some use print blocks I have made, others are making their own, and we’re fortunate to have a supply of donated wood for making the wood blocks.

What’s your favourite place in New Zealand? I lived for many years in Whangaparāoa in Auckland, but now I would say Nelson is my favourite. It’s beautiful, I love the climate, and there are so many creative people here. It’s great to be part of that creativity, and to pass on my knowledge to others so they can be included in it too.

Who is your favourite artist?

What does the perfect weekend look like to you?

Carole Shepheard is a New Zealand artist whose work has guided me a lot over the years. I also really like the Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher, and that’s more the style of printing that I’ve moved onto now.

It would definitely include spending time with my family. I have a daughter in Nelson, a granddaughter and now great-grandchildren. It’s lovely to all get together.

POET’S CORNER Pursuits Sailing along on the ocean breeze

Like journeys in trains from here and to there

With mother and dad and five kids

It just takes a booking to get you a fare.

as the crew

Maybe that’s something you’ve always

But wait, that’s all over, the kids all

wanted to do

left home.

Now’s the time to get out and do it.

There are more things to do now we are on our own.

So here’s my gift to you - a ‘Round Tuit’ They’re a bit hard to find so go get online

Like that plane flying high

and Google “A Round Tuit”.

up into the clouds

Now you’ve no more excuses so ...

Then jumping out of the door

Just get on your bike and jolly well duit!

floating down to the ground all wrapped up in a chute

By Kathy Haughey, Summerset Falls

Strapped tightly to that instructor who is so lovely and cute!

You can jump from a bridge with your legs all tied up It might make you feel great but what will it do to your hips?

Tramping up mountains or in our parks we call national or swim with the sharks! Now I don’t call that at ‘all natural’.

You could also ‘get on your bike’ And go down the rail trail But after a while that might set you to wail When your bum’s gone to sleep and you’re tired.

If you would like to submit a poem for consideration in Poet’s Corner, send it to magazine@summerset.co.nz

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

DELICIOUS RECIPES

SPRING

S O M E

S U P R I S E S

R E C I P E S BY JA N B I LTO N

SPRING IS A TIME FOR REFRESHING MENUS FEATURING HEALTHY DELIGHTS SUCH ASPARAGUS, RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRIES.

With a name derived from the Greek word asparagos, meaning ‘sprout’ or ‘shoot’, asparagus is a hardy perennial and a close relative of onions, garlic and leeks. Most New Zealand-grown asparagus is green, but the purple variety is also becoming popular. Occasionally, a white option is available from speciality stores and farmers’ markets – it’s white because it’s grown covered in soil. As it’s not exposed to sunlight, the green chlorophyll doesn’t develop. Rhubarb is available all year round. However, in spring it flourishes, shooting tender, bright red stalks.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

These are usually served cooked, although they can be eaten raw. Please don’t eat the leaves – they contain oxalic acid, which can poison you. To enjoy raw rhubarb stalks, dip them first in something sweet, such as maple syrup or honey. The strawberry season may be a little later this year, but when it does arrive, the delightful berries will make great companions for asparagus in salads and rhubarb in desserts. Surprise your family and Summerset friends with the tempting tastes of spring in the following recipes. Enjoy!

BAKED FRESH ASPARAGUS

CHEESE ROLLS MAKES 12

Liven up the classic asparagus roll with the addition of a little cheese.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

12 medium stalks asparagus

Trim the asparagus a little longer than a slice of the bread. Bring a

12 slices white sandwich bread

large frying pan of water to the boil. Blanch the asparagus for 1–2

2 cups grated tasty Cheddar cheese 4–6 tablespoons mayonnaise freshly ground black pepper to taste 50g butter, melted ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

minutes until crisp-tender. Drain well and refresh in icy water. When cold, pat dry. Slice the crusts from the bread. Roll out each slice thinly. Combine the tasty cheese with enough mayo to make a smooth but not runny mixture. Season. Spread each bread slice with the mixture. Place an asparagus spear on each slice and roll up firmly. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Brush the rolls all over with the melted butter and roll in the grated Parmesan. Place on the baking paper, seam-side down. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until golden.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

CHICKEN, SPINACH & TARRAGON

PIE

SERVES 4

Using crème fraîche and filo pastry, this lighter pie is perfect for a spring supper.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

¼ cup olive oil

Heat half the oil in a large frying pan. Add the spring onions and

4 spring onions, chopped

sauté for 1 minute. Add the chopped spinach, stir, then cover and

260g baby spinach leaves, chopped

cook on a low heat until wilted.

4 cups shredded, cooked chicken

Add the chicken and chicken stock. Simmer for 4–5 minutes.

½ cup chicken stock

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C.

¾ cup crème fraîche

Combine the crème fraîche, flour, mustard and tarragon. Stir into

1 tablespoon each: plain flour,

the chicken mixture. Simmer for 1 minute. Pour into a 19cm round

Dijon mustard

casserole or baking dish.

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

Brush each sheet of filo with the remaining olive oil, then scrunch

5–6 sheets filo pastry

them up individually and place on top of the mixture. Bake for about 15 minutes until the filo is golden. Tip: Crème fraîche is also yummy served with strawberries drizzled with a little pomegranate glaze or good balsamic vinegar.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

RHUBARB MOUSSE

CRUMBLE SERVES 4

This light dessert can be prepared up to two days in advance. Garnish just prior to serving.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

CRUMBLE

Combine the crushed biscuits and butter. Place equal amounts in the

5–6 Anzac biscuits,

base of four serving glasses or dishes.

coarsely crushed

Place the rhubarb, sugar, 2 tablespoons water and lemon juice in a

25g butter, melted

saucepan. Simmer over a low heat until the rhubarb is cooked. Purée

MOUSSE 400g rhubarb, trimmed

in a blender. Mix the gelatine and 2–3 tablespoons water. Stand for 5 minutes, then dissolve in the microwave or a small saucepan for a few seconds.

¼ cup sugar

Combine with the rhubarb. Chill for a few minutes until beginning to set.

4–5 tablespoons water

Whip the cream and icing sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold two-thirds

2 tablespoons lemon juice

of the whipped cream into the cold rhubarb mixture. Spoon evenly

1½ teaspoons powdered

on top of the crumble.

gelatine

Chill to set.

300ml cream

Pipe the remaining whipped cream on top. The desserts may be

2 tablespoons icing sugar

garnished with a little extra cooked rhubarb or fresh or freeze-dried berries, and a dusting of freeze-dried raspberry or strawberry powder.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

WHITE DELIGHTS

IN THE GARDEN

A R T I C L E BY LY N DA H A L L I N A N P H OTO S BY SA L LY TAG G

For a fairytale spring garden, look no further than a long white cloud of cottage flowers, writes Lynda Hallinan. In any children’s fairytale, there’s usually a damsel (often in distress), a handsome hero and a rag-tag collection of supporting characters. Think of Alice in Wonderland with her coterie of grinning cats, rabbits and rodents, or Goldilocks and her trio of bears, or Snow White with her squad of short-statured chauvinists to clean house for.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Snow White, obviously, was the star of the show: a virginal beauty, radiating innocence and purity. But perhaps the seven dwarfs are more your style? In the early 1970s, an English rhododendron nursery bred seven dwarf Rhododendron yakushimanum hyrids: ‘Bashful’ (pale pink with a chocolate splotch), ‘Doc’ (pink), ‘Dopey’ (deep red), ‘Grumpy’ (peaches and cream), ‘Sleepy’ (pale lilac with brown freckles), ‘Sneezy’ (coral pink) and ‘Hoppy’, with blooms of lavender fading to white. (Why ‘Hoppy’? Because there was

white garden, the idea of a monochromatic garden was considered revolutionary. “It is amusing to make one-colour gardens,” she wrote in her Observer newspaper column at the time. “If you think that one colour would be monotonous, you can have a two- or even a three-colour, provided the colours are happily married, which is sometimes easier to achieve in the vegetable than in the human world.”

already a rhododendron named ‘Happy’.) I first encountered these delightful dwarfs in the rhododendron dell at the Gore public gardens. I love the idea of collecting the set. All are available by mail order from Canterbury nursery www.rhododirect.co.nz, but only ‘Hoppy’ appeals to my softly-softly spring gardening tastes. I’ve planted ‘Hoppy’ beside a creamywhite rhododendron called ‘King’s Milkmaid’, the closest I could find to a snowy princess! Plant breeders routinely give white-flowered plants names such as Innocence, Honesty or Purity, or marital monikers. I grow Gladiolus ‘The Bride’, the rose ‘Wedding Day’, Hydrangea ‘Bridal Bouquet’ and francoa and spiraea, both of which are commonly known as bridal wreath.

Sissinghurst was the first international garden I ever visited, on my first overseas adventure in my early 20s. I was instantly captivated by its white garden, framed by clipped yew hedges with an elegant wrought iron gazebo smothered in a canopy of white rambling roses (Rosa mulliganii). There were white petals sprinkled all over the brick baths, as if fairies had held a party there and neglected to sweep up all the confetti. In small gardens, you can’t go wrong adopting a white colour scheme with accents of silver foliage in a collection of containers. Easy white-flowering plants to pot up now include annual primulas, sweet alyssum, laceflowers (Orlaya grandiflora), petunias, cosmos, zinnias, foxgloves and ‘White Mammoth’ sweet peas. Pair these with furry silver-grey lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), dusty silver Senecio cineraria, trailing helichrysums, milk-spotted pulmonarias and silver-veined Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’.

This notion of white flowers representing pure love dates back to the Victorian era, when young lovers exchanged floral bouquets rich in meaning. A gift of white roses conveyed the message “I’m worthy of your affection”, while white camellias symbolised adoration and white carnations promised enduring love. In our gardens, white flowers are universally appreciated. Garden designers favour them for simple and sophisticated modern landscapes, setting illuminating blooms against a backdrop of green shrubbery, clipped hedges and topiary. But when the legendary British garden Vita Sackville-West, of Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, decided in 1950 to put in her famous

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

In my large country garden, I have a sloping white garden. It began as a citrus grove underplanted with creamy-white fragrant old-fashioned freesias, jonquils, snowdrops, snowflakes and saxifrages and overlooks my plum orchard, itself a glorious explosion of white blossoms in early spring. Come summer, there are white roses, sweetly scented philadelphus, viburnums and ‘Casablanca’ lilies. Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet, once said that “a white flower grows in the quietness”, and I have to admit that my white garden is a restful spot all year-round. Or at least it would be, if I wasn’t locked in a constant battle with rabbits digging up the lily bulbs and possums stripping the peel off my lemons!

SEASONAL CHECKLIST As soon as the risk of late frosts has passed, sow and plant summer crops of beans, courgettes, pumpkins, cucumbers. ‘Top Crop’ is hard to beat for dwarf crops of green beans in containers, and the mini pumpkin ‘Golden Nugget’, which grows into a bush rather than a vine, is perfect for pots.

Plant lettuces and sow radishes for crisp green salads.

Transplant tomato seedlings outdoors after Labour Weekend, having “hardened them off” first by gradually introducing indoor-raised plants to outdoor temperatures. It’s not too late to sow cherry tomatoes from seed if you fancy heirloom or unusual varieties.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Harvest peas when the pods are plump but still fresh green. My favourite variety is ‘Sugarsnap’ climbing.

Plant gladioli, dahlias and lilies in pots for a long season of summer colour.

ARTICLE BY LUCY CORRY

Lighten up!

STYLE

Pretty pastel shades will help you reclaim your inner calm this spring. Flick through any fashion magazine or website and the spring trends can look a little alarming. Crop tops? Micro mini-skirts? Psychedelic prints? Clingy dresses? Yikes, says everyone aged over 21. “We want soft fabrics – soft silhouettes, and pastels feel soft, psychologically,” fashion psychologist Carolyn Mair told WhoWhatWear. com. “They feel gentle and soothing.” Finding a pastel shade that suits you is simple. Hold the colour up to your face and take a good look in the mirror. Does it make you look alive or does it wash you out? In general, fair and light skin tones suit baby blue, powder blue and light lavender. Medium skin tones will suit stronger shades of butter yellow, mint green and light pink, while people with darker skin tones look great in lemon, lavender and aqua. Really though, there are no rules. Wear what makes you feel good!

H O W TO W E A R PA S T E L S H A D E S / Avoid wearing a pastel shade with equal amounts of black and white (you run the risk of looking like a liquorice allsort). / Neutral shades work well with pastels – consider wearing soft grey or beige as a base colour instead of black. / Denim works with all pastel shades, especially pinks and yellows. / Pastel shades don’t need to be floral – look for graphic prints or block colours that make them feel modern. / If you feel pastel tones drain colour from your face but you still want to wear them, opt for a pastel belt, pants, skirt or shoes. / Pastel accessories are a nice way to nod to the trend – try a scarf, hat, bag or some fun jewellery.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

CRAFT CORNER

FRESHLY PRESSED ARTICLE BY MELISSA WASTNEY

Nothing says spring quite like flowers, so I thought I’d share my love of pressed plants with you in this issue. The joy of this craft is that anyone can do it, in any season, as colourful summer flowers press just as well as autumnal leaves, ferns and bits of greenery. It’s also a fun activity to do with grandchildren. A few years ago I found a wooden flower press in a second-hand shop and I love using it to press flowers and leaves I find on my travels. But actually, I think flowers press just as well in a heavy book – the only disadvantage is that you might forget which book is holding your precious plants and discover them only when you open the book much later! Mind you, I don’t think that’s a bad thing – it’s a lovely surprise to find flowers from the past, preserved and waiting for you.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

PRESSING PLANTS First, gather your plants. Some flowers retain their colour and shape better than others. The results might surprise you, so experiment with things that grow nearby. Note that large or chunky flowers work best if you deconstruct them, hydrangeas being an obvious example. I have tried pressing whole (small) rose buds but have much better results when I separate the petals and leaves. You don’t need to have a fabulous flower garden to press plants – grasses, ferns and leaves are all fun to experiment with and often have excellent graphic shapes and colours. Many wildflowers and weeds, gathered from the side of the road or a park, are also beautiful when pressed. Pick your plant specimens when they’re dry and bring them inside. If there is a little dew on them, lay them on a paper towel in a warm place to dry out for a short time. Also check that they are free from little bugs and insects. Place them, with a little space around each cutting, on a piece of paper and lay another

SUPPLIES Selection of pressed flowers, ferns and leaves Medium-weight card in any colour (black, brown or white work well) Tweezers Glue stick Scissors Clear book seal Hole punch and thread (if making gift tags)

piece of paper on top. Place these in your wooden press or between the pages of a book. I’ve found that the pressing works best when I group together plants of a similar thickness or type – for example, a page with only ferns, and another with only petals.

METHOD

If you’re using a purpose-built press, you can add layers of cardboard (corrugated card works well) between the paper and plant layers. When you’ve stacked all your plants, screw down the top of your press tightly and place it somewhere cool and dark for at least a couple of weeks, but preferably a month. If the book you’re using is not very heavy, stack more books on top and leave somewhere for at least two weeks.

2. You can secure the plants onto the card with glue before you cover them with the book seal, as they tend to lift off the card and stick to the seal as you are lowering it on.

P R E S S E D - F LO W E R C A R D S A N D G I F T TAG S I like to use my pressed flowers, ferns and leaves to make notecards and gift tags. You can also use this method for envelopes, small artworks, postcards, placeholder cards, bookmarks and anything else you can think of!

1. Arrange the plants on pieces of card. You might find it helpful to use tweezers to adjust the petals and leaves just as you want them.

3. Carefully cover the arrangements with some clear book seal (cut this a little bigger than needed to make the whole process easier). At first, you might trap some air bubbles under the seal, but you can usually carefully peel the plastic back and try again, or smooth the bubbles out with your fingernail. 4. Trim the excess seal from around the card and punch a hole in the top if you are making a gift tag. Thread some ribbon or embroidery thread through the hole, ready for use. Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

W W W. N Z B O O K L O V E R S .C O. N Z

BOOK REVIEWS

Hold the Line K E R RY H A R R I SO N Fictionalising the infamous 1981 Springbok tour in New Zealand, Hold the Line vividly brings to life this national rugby tour and the protests that accompanied it. Beth is one of the central characters of the book. Having returned home from London, she is studying law. Her father is a Second World War veteran and a huge rugby fanatic who is looking forward to the Springboks tour. But Beth’s brother is appalled that Prime Minister Robert Muldoon would allow a rugby tour to go ahead from apartheid South Africa. He becomes a key figure in the protests, which become increasingly violent. Beth will need to decide which side she supports. To make things more complicated, Beth meets Victor, a police officer, who she starts dating. What she isn’t aware of is that Victor is part of the notorious police Red Squad, which clashes with the protesters. Forty years after this real-life tour, Harrison has created a multi-layered and multi-faceted novel that looks at all sides of this nation-defining conflict. CLOUD INK PRESS, RRP $29.99

She has certainly done her research, but it’s her skill as a writer that makes this novel such a page-turning, insightful and thought-provoking read.

Yours Cheerfully A . J. P E A RC E Set in London in 1941, Yours Cheerfully follows the story of Emmy, who works at Woman’s Friend magazine. She looks after the advice column, with the approval of the new editor, Mr Collins. Emmy’s relationship with her boyfriend, Charles, is going from strength to strength. But her best friend, Bunty, suffered dreadfully in the recent Blitz, her fiancé dying in a bomb blast that left her severely injured, and Emmy worries about her. Bunty is slowly recovering. All of them are determined to make a go of it. Emmy is thrilled when Mr Collins asks her to come with him to a meeting with the Ministry of Information, where the government staff call on Britain’s women’s magazines to help recruit women to the war effort. Emmy goes to a factory to write stories to help with recruitment. But when she meets the young women factory workers and finds out the challenges they face, she must decide between doing her duty or standing by her friends. Yours Cheerfully transports you to 1940s wartime London, especially through its use of language from the era (partly inspired by magazines from MACMILLAN, RRP $34.95

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

the time that the author has collected). It is a celebration of friendship and of people lifting each other up in difficult times.

Being a Distance Grandparent: A Book for All Generations HELEN ELLIS During Helen Ellis’s research for Being a Distance Grandparent, she asked: ‘How is distance grandparenting for you?’ From her results, she has written an invaluable book for families scattered around the globe. Ellis answers all the how, why and what if questions for distance parents and grandparents in this comprehensive book. She includes her own story and those of others, helping the reader understand they are not alone in their experiences. Distance grandparenting may not be the family life many imagined, but it can still be a rich and loving experience. She also examines the emotional ramifications of distance grandparenting and she looks in detail about communicating digitally. There is an excellent section on family rituals and traditions, and how to build beautiful memories with family members, even if they are separated by distance. There is also excellent advice on the times grandparents can be with their children and grandchildren, and the different things to consider so that the time together is successful for all involved. AOTEAROA BOOKS, RRP $38.00

Folded T I N A C LO U G H The latest thrilling instalment in the Hunter Grant series from Tina Clough, Folded once again features the unforgettable Hunter and Dao. They are a formidable team, combining Dao’s keen intellect and uncanny observational skills, and Hunter’s combat and surveillance experience. Their latest case starts when Grace, a quiet, reserved woman, finds folded origami notes outside a city apartment building, the author of which is clearly in desperate trouble. Grace shares the notes with a work colleague, Linda, but then Grace abruptly resigns and disappears, and Linda worries that there has been foul play. Linda approaches Hunter and Dao after getting nowhere with the police, and they agree to help find the missing woman. The detective duo immediately face considerable obstacles. Inspector Bakker takes instant exception to Hunter’s involvement and threatens to arrest him for interfering with the investigation. But they continue to investigate, putting their lives in grave danger… Folded will keep you on LIGHTPOOL PUBLISHING, RRP $35.00

the edge of your seat until the last page.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

GO GREENER

Green Update Eco-friendly happenings from around Summerset

S AV V Y P O W E R S AV E R S

T I N Y TAG S , B I G I M PAC T ! Summerset on Cavendish residents are collecting bread tags for special cause – Bread Tags for Wheelchairs. The charity accepts bread tags from all over the world, melts them down to make seedling trays, and then uses the profits to buy wheelchairs for people in need in South Africa. It takes a whopping 200kg worth of bread tags (about 20,700 tags) to bring in enough money for each wheelchair, but it’s still a nice alternative to throwing the tags in the bin. Find out more at breadtagsforwheelchairs.co.za

We’ve loved hearing from residents about their favourite ways to cut back on power. Here are a few top tips:

“To find out how much electricity is consumed by each type of appliance, check out the website energyusecalculator.com/electricity.” “Turn off the towel rail in the bathroom, except perhaps while you are having a shower. An 80-watt towel rail will cost about $15 a month if left on full time.” “Switch off the lights when not in the room – four ceiling lights on one circuit in the lounge, left on for four hours a day, will cost about $12 a month.”

D I D YO U K N O W ? Summerset is a proud sponsor of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, the largest fenced sanctuary for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island. The leafy 690-hectare wildlife reserve is located in Nelson, and is a predator-free haven for some of our most precious flora and fauna. It’s open most weekends for visitors to enjoy. See brooksanctuary.org.nz for details.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

M I C H A E L , SU M M E RS E T BY T H E PA R K

“I find my power bill always reduces if I turn everything off at the wall when not in use, like the washing machine, dryer and electric jug, as power is still entering the home when the switch is on.” MAUREEN, SUMMERSET AT MONTEREY PARK

ARTICLE BY DAN HARDIE

WELLNESS

Start your day strong Gaining good posture (and keeping it) can be increasingly challenging as we get older. However, the most effective way to start is very simple: position and feel. Placing yourself into an upright position and feeling what that’s like are two key points to focus on when working on posture. Here are three exercises, at different levels, to practise every day for better posture. When you’re doing them, be mindful of how they feel. If you’re new to exercise, start with very short sessions and slowly build up to holding the poses for longer.

LEVEL 1 With your upper back and elbows against the wall, bend your arms at a right angle and push away from the wall slightly, keeping your chest tall.

L E V E L 2 | ‘A’ P L A N K Place your back against the wall with your arms straight and elbows locked. Push the wall away using only your hands, keeping your entire body straight and strong.

H OW O F T E N TO D O T H E E X E RC I S E S Beginner: two sets of 20 seconds each Regular mover: two sets of 45 seconds each Strong and fit: two sets of 60 seconds each With any option, when you finish the exercise try to walk away from the wall, staying tall and strong as you do so.

LEVEL 3 | ‘T’ PLANK This is very similar to the ‘A’ plank. Place your back against the wall with your arms straight and elbows locked. Push the wall away using only your hands, keeping your entire body straight and strong.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

ARTICLE BY AMELIA NORMAN

TRAVEL LOG

NAPIER A coastal city with beautiful, historic architecture surrounded by picturesque

sumptuous rooms, there is no need to leave the grounds for the entirety of your stay!

wineries; it appears that Napier has it all!

EATING

Take a few days to indulge in the eateries,

The abundant Hawke’s Bay is a gourmand’s paradise, as the local eateries will attest. Start your day right with a leisurely breakfast at Mister D. A jam-packed menu includes all the classic breakfast choices but with a special twist. If you feel like venturing away from granola, eggs or toast, why not be extravagant and try a freshly made doughnut injected with cognac custard?

attractions and activities in the bustling Hawke’s Bay city. ACCOMMODATION Views, history, local food and wine… all of Napier’s top features are wrapped up into a beautiful bundle at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel. Positioned perfectly on the waterfront in the centre of town, this gorgeous accommodation takes its art deco theme very seriously. Stay in one of the decadently decorated rooms, lounge in the Emporium Eatery & Bar or use its central location as a comfortable base for your city exploration. If a total escape is more your style, check into Breckenridge Lodge. This luxury hideaway is 15 minutes from Napier but, set on its own vineyard and with its own internationally renowned chef, sprawling gardens and

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Surrounded as it is by picturesque wineries, the long liquid lunch is something of a Hawke’s Bay speciality. Take your pick from the well-known Mission Estate, Church Road or Crab Farm wineries, each with its own reputed restaurant. Plan to stay awhile, giving yourself plenty of time to enjoy the locally sourced menus as well as the wine tastings and stunning vineyard views. Book in advance for dinner at Pacifica Restaurant and prepare for a delicious surprise.

With a well-deserved reputation for its sensational degustation menu, which changes daily, Pacifica has no à la carte options. Instead, you simply choose from the seafood menu or the mixed menu, et voilà, five courses (with or without wine matching) will be whisked out to your table across the evening for you to revel in the skills of chef Jeremy Rameka. Pacifica is highly recommended by locals and visitors alike.

Keen birders will want to head down the coast to Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui to visit the world’s largest mainland Australasian gannet colony. Gannet Beach Adventures offer a fabulous half-day eco-tour that includes a tractor-drawn trailer ride along the beach, a close-up visit to the gannet colony and an informative narrative on the local geological history. A return shuttle can be booked from Napier if needed.

ACTIVITIES

Soak up the coastal views, enjoy the fabulous local wines and expand your knowledge of New Zealand’s history with a visit to the art deco capital of the world, Napier.

It’s impossible to ignore the decorative 1930s architecture as you explore Napier. Get a closer look and learn some of the fascinating stories behind the city’s buildings with an art deco walking tour. Choose from a morning, afternoon or evening (in summer) stroll through the city centre as your guide explains the whats, whens, hows and whys. For something a little different, opt for the Vintage Car Tour, where your chauffeur will take you further out of the city in a 1930s Packard vintage automobile!

STATS Region: Hawke’s Bay Airport: Hawke’s Bay Airport Main road: Marine Parade Population: 66,300

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

SUDOKU

WORDWHEEL: 1. OUTLINES. 2. BUILDERS. 3. BERIBERI.

Across: 1. Among, 4. Fantasia, 9. Orange, 14. Chase, 15. An Angel at My Table, 17. Ditto, 18. Ill, 19. Abstain, 20. Leisurely, 21. Talent, 24. Orchestra, 25. Raptor, 26. Meteor, 29. Occupation, 31. Tom, 32. Slalom, 33. Lies, 35. Ash, 37. Core, 39. Treasurer, 40. Guinevere, 41. Kauri, 42. Instinct, 47. Teetotal, 51. Dogma, 55. Tall order, 56. Bob Geldof, 58. Dusk, 59. Les, 60. Reek, 61. Refuge, 62. Ode, 63. Shamefaced, 66. Gossip, 67. Cherub, 69. Tit for tat, 72. Pickle, 73. Murchison, 75. Awkward, 77. Nil, 80. Rupee, 81. David Copperfield, 82. Raise, 83. Heaped, 84. Ned Kelly, 85. Alley. Down: 2. Mont Blanc, 3. Nonet, 5. Adam, 6. Tempest, 7. Satisfactory, 8. Amber, 9. Overlap, 10. Aids, 11. Gotham, 12. Habit, 13. Realtor, 14. Covered, 16. Eric Clapton, 22. Recite, 23. Aorangi, 24. Opulent, 25. Remark, 27. Evident, 28. Polite, 30. Nest, 32. Shout, 34. Shell, 36. Bent, 38. Own, 42. Inter, 43. Sellers, 44. Iron, 45. Cudgel, 46. Agile, 48. Eiffel Tower, 49. Old salt, 50. Ass, 51. Drought, 52. Absorb, 53. Absentminded, 54. Less, 57. Dragon, 64. Ellerslie, 65. Sincere, 66. Gurnard, 68. Rounded, 70. Twosome, 71. Elapse, 72. Plait, 74. Coven, 76. Whirl, 78. Keep, 79. Opel.

eight-letter word reading clockwise or CODECRACKER anticlockwise. Previous solution: BUILDERS

CROSSWORD

Insert the missing letter to complete an

R E

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution: TEARDROP

E N 1

I L S O

? I I

E R

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution: OUTLINES

1724

U ?WordWheel 1722

L ?

E R I U

B S 2

1723

clockwise or anticlockwise WordWheel

WordWheel

the missing letter in each puzzle WORDWHEEL Insert to make an eight-letter word reading Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9

SUDOKU

Reveal a completed crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.

DOUBLECROSS

PUZZLES

BRAIN TEASE

14 15

18 20

28 29

35 37

40 41

46 51

47 52

59 60

65 66

71 72

77 80

79 81

82 83

ACROSS 1. Amidst (5) 4. 1940 Disney film (8) 9. Colour/fruit (6) 14. Pursue (5) 15. 1990 film about author Janet Frame (2,5,2,2,5) 17. The same (Latin) (5) 18. Unwell (3) 19. Refrain, resist (7) 20. Unhurried (9) 21. Natural ability (6) 24. Large group of musicians (9) 25. Any bird of prey (6) 26. Shooting star (6) 29. Profession (10) 31. Male cat (3) 32. Ski race (6) 33. Falsehoods (4) 35. Fire residue (3) 37. Centre (4) 39. Person who looks after a club’s money (9) 40. Arthur’s queen (9) 41. Native tree being hit by dieback disease (5)

42. Intuition (8) 47. Abstaining from alcohol (8) 51. Religious or political doctrine (5) 55. Formidable task (4,5) 56. Band Aid co-organiser (3,6) 58. Evening (4) 59. __ Miserables (3) 60. Stink (4) 61. Place of safety (6) 62. Poem (3) 63. Embarrassed (10) 66. Idle talk (6) 67. Angel portrayed as a child (6) 69. Like for like (3,3,3) 72. Preserve (6) 73. NZ’s ‘whitewater capital’ (9) 75. Clumsy (7) 77. Nothing (3) 80. India’s currency (5) 81. Dickens’ novel (5,11) 82. Elevate (5) 83. Piled (6) 84. Famous Australian (3,5) 85. Narrow lane (5)

DOWN 2. Highest mountain in the Alps (4,5) 3. Music for nine (5) 5. The first man (4) 6. Storm (7) 7. Acceptable (12) 8. Fossil resin used to make jewellery (5) 9. Partially cover (7) 10. Assists (4) 11. Batman’s city (6) 12. Custom (5) 13. Real estate agent (US) (7) 14. Overlaid (7) 16. Guitarist with The Yardbirds and Creme (4,7) 22. Repeat from memory (6) 23. Maori name for Mt Cook (7) 24. Plush (7) 25. Comment (6) 27. Obvious (7) 28. Well-mannered (6) 30. Eyrie (4) 32. Yell (5) 34. Artillery projectile (5) 36. Twisted (4)

38. Possess (3) 42. Bury (5) 43. Vendors (7) 44. Monopoly token (4) 45. Club used as weapon (6) 46. Nimble (5) 48. Paris landmark (6,5) 49. Experienced mariner (3,4) 50. Pompous fool (3) 51. Dry spell (7) 52. Soak up (6) 53. Forgetful (12) 54. Fewer (4) 57. Fire-breather (6) 64. Auckland racecourse (9) 65. Genuine (7) 66. Common coastal fish (7) 68. Spherical (7) 70. Pair (7) 71. Pass (6) 72. Braid (5) 74. Gathering of witches (5) 76. Spin around (5) 78. Retain (4) 79. German carmaker, sold as Holden in NZ (4)

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

PETS

PETS OF SUMMERSET Anne O’Keefe had never thought of herself as a ‘dog person’, but little Ellie the Shih Tzu had other ideas. After choosing Anne as her mum, Ellie soon made herself at home at Summerset at Avonhead. “I had always been too busy for a dog,” says Anne. “Eventually I decided to get a rescue dog, but I couldn’t find one suitable and had all but given up when I saw an ad on Trade Me for Shih Tzu puppies. A friend and I went to have a look and Ellie came straight up to me. She climbed right into my arms and has never left! “I would describe Ellie as mischievous and inquisitive, rather than naughty. She’s been known to open the door of the front loader washing machine and pull everything out! And she once unravelled a whole ball of wool. “We did puppy pre-school, but Ellie didn’t seem to progress much. She knows how to shake hands and she sits for treats, but we didn’t get much further. “She loves her toys, and will often drag her bed across the living room and put it down next to visitors. She really enjoys meeting people, especially babies! She doesn’t mind bigger dogs either, and once chased a huge sheep dog around the living room. “When I get ready to leave the house she will often go and hide under the dressing table. She knows when I’m about to go out and she gets nervous, but we’re working on that. She’s a dear little friend; I wouldn’t be without her.”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Anne O’Keefe and Shih Tzu Ellie.

DIRECTORY AUCKLAND–NORTHLAND

BAY OF PLENTY

Summerset on the Landing

Summerset Mount Denby*

Summerset by the Sea

Wanaka Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei 0112 Phone (09) 470 0280

181 Park Road, Katikati 3129 Phone (07) 985 6890

1 Bluff Road, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022 Phone (04) 230 6720

Summerset Falls

Summerset by the Dunes

31 Mansel Drive, Warkworth 0910 Phone (09) 425 1200

35 Manawa Road, Papamoa Beach, Tauranga 3118 Phone (07) 542 9080

Summerset at Monterey Park 1 Squadron Drive, Hobsonville, Auckland 0616 Phone (09) 951 8920 Summerset at Heritage Park 8 Harrison Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1060 Phone (09) 950 7960 Summerset by the Park 7 Flat Bush School Road, Manukau 2019 Phone (09) 272 3950 Summerset at Karaka 49 Pararekau Road, Karaka, RD1, Papakura 2580 Phone (09) 951 8900 Summerset Parnell* 23 Cheshire Street, Parnell 1052 Phone (09) 950 8212

HAWKE’ S BAY

Summerset in the Bay 79 Merlot Drive, Greenmeadows, Napier 4112 Phone (06) 845 2840 Summerset in the Orchard 1228 Ada Street, Parkvale, Hastings 4122 Phone (06) 974 1310 Summerset Palms 136 Eriksen Road, Te Awa, Napier 4110 Phone (06) 833 5850 Summerset in the Vines 249 Te Mata Road, Havelock North 4130 Phone (06) 877 1185 TARANAKI

Summerset St Johns*

Summerset Mountain View

188 St Johns Road, St Johns 1072 Phone (09) 950 7980

35 Fernbrook Drive, Vogeltown, New Plymouth 4310 Phone (06) 824 8900

Summerset Half Moon Bay*

Summerset at Pohutukawa Place

25 Thurston Place, Half Moon Bay,

70 Pohutukawa Place, Bell Block, New Plymouth 4312 Phone (06) 824 8530

Auckland 2012 Phone (09) 306 1422 Summerset Milldale* Argent Lane, Milldale, Wainui 0992 Phone 0800 786 637 WAIKATO

Summerset down the Lane 206 Dixon Road, Fitzroy, Hamilton 3206 Phone (07) 843 0157 Summerset Rototuna 39 Kimbrae Drive, Rototuna North, Hamilton 3210 Phone (07) 981 7820 Summerset by the Lake 2 Wharewaka Road, Wharewaka, Taupō 3330 Phone (07) 376 9470 Summerset Cambridge* 80 Laurent Road, Cambridge 8493 Phone (07) 839 9482

* Proposed village

MANAWATU–WANGANUI

Summerset in the River City 40 Burton Avenue, Wanganui 4500 Phone (06) 343 3133 Summerset on Summerhill 180 Ruapehu Drive, Fitzherbert, Palmerston North 4410 Phone (06) 354 4964 Summerset Kelvin Grove* Stoney Creek Road, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North 4470 0800 786 367 Summerset by the Ranges 104 Liverpool Street, Levin 5510 Phone (06) 367 0337

Summerset at Aotea 15 Aotea Drive, Aotea, Porirua 5024 Phone (04) 235 0011 Summerset at the Course 20 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt 5018 Phone (04) 527 2980 Summerset Boulcott* 1A Boulcott Street, Boulcott, Lower Hutt 5010 Phone (04) 568 1440 Summerset Waikanae* Park Avenue, Waikanae 5036 Phone (04) 293 0002 NELSON–TASMAN–MARLBOROUGH

Summerset in the Sun 16 Sargeson Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011 Phone (03) 538 0000 Summerset Richmond Ranges 1 Hill Street North, Richmond 7020 Phone (03) 744 3430 Summerset Blenheim* 183 Old Renwick Road, Blenheim 7201 Phone (03) 520 6042 CANTERBURY

Summerset at Wigram 135 Awatea Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8025 Phone (03) 741 0870 Summerset at Avonhead 120 Hawthornden Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042 Phone (03) 357 3200 Summerset on Cavendish 147 Cavendish Road, Casebrook, Christchurch 8051 Phone (03) 741 2330 Summerset Rangiora* 141 South Belt, Rangiora 7400 Phone (03) 364 1312 Summerset Prebbleton* 578 Springs Road, Prebbleton 7604 Phone (03) 353 6312

WELLINGTON

Summerset on the Coast

OTAGO

104 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu 5032 Phone (04) 298 3540

Summerset at Bishopscourt 36 Shetland Street, Wakari, Dunedin 9010 Phone (03) 950 3110