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On a beautiful, sunny afternoon in New Zealand’s Far North, we drove 40 minutes north from Totara North to the Karikari Peninsula an area on the east coast of the far north of New Zealand. And what a little slice of paradise it is! Imagine beaches of wide stretches of untouched white sand meeting the vibrant turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic sand dunes, lush green rolling hills, and a wild, untamed coastline with glorious surf. It’s the sort of place that makes

📖 Read: September 2026 Chosen by: Heather Discussed: Tuesday 29th September 2026 Our book club's September read was A Hymn to Life, the extraordinarily powerful memoir by Gisèle Pelicot. Synpopsis by Susanna Lea Associates One November day, Gisèle Pelicot was called to a local police station and life as she knew it ended. Her husband of fifty years had been caught by a supermarket guard filming up women’s skirts. But on his computer was shattering evidence: for nearly a

📖 Read: July 2026 Chosen by: Alison Discussed: Wednesday 29th July 2026 Our book club's July read was The Artist, the award-winning debut novel by Lucy Steeds. Set in the sun-drenched landscape of 1920s Provence, this historical novel seemed the perfect choice for the glorious hot, balmy weather we were enjoying in Yorkshire. Rich in atmosphere and beautifully observed, it transported us to a world of art, ambition and hidden secrets, making it an ideal summer read.

"The canal has no beginning or end. It flows through the landscape, through history and through the lives of those who travel beside it."— L. T. C. Rolt There is something wonderfully calming about a canal walk. Perhaps it is the gentle rhythm of the water, the steady pace of the towpath, or the way the landscape slowly unfolds around you. A walk beside a canal has a way of quietening the mind — encouraging you to slow down, breathe deeply and notice the small details that ar

📖 Read June 2026 Chosen by: Julie (suggested by Heather) Discussed: Wednesday 24th June 2026 Synopsis (by Marcia Hutchinson and Cassava Republic Press) Set in 1960s Bradford, The Mercy Step follows Mercy, a precocious young child facing a world far too big for her small body. She lives with her Windrush-generation parents in a crowded household where her mother’s attention is stretched between church and family, and her father’s temper is something to be endured or avoided

📖 Read: April 2026 Chosen by: Kath Discussed: Wednesday 29th April 2026 Synopsis (by Jodie Picoult) In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world’s greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R. R. Martin There is something uniquely magical about books and reading. A book can comfort, challenge, inspire, and transport us all at once. Through reading, we step into different worlds, experience lives unlike our own, and discover new ideas, places, and perspectives without ever leaving our chair. In 2024, we celebrated an incredible milestone — 20 years of our West

Northland, New Zealand “Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie , And...

As I discover the highlighted trails of Northland, New Zealand I keep returning to a local favourite, the Stone Store to Rainbow Falls walk.

“Water is the most perfect traveler because when it travels it becomes the path itself!” ― Mehmet Murat Ildan, Step by step I am very...

“Oh yes, wait a minute, Mr Postman” Travelling around Northland in New Zealand, there is so much natural beauty; lush dense forest,...

"Nature's bounty is for a limited time only. And this fact makes it all the more precious". Anthony Barrett In a world increasingly...

"Don't worry about the world ending today... It's already tomorrow in Australia" - Charles M Schulz I spent a few days in Sydney...

“Take only memories, Leave only footprints” Chief Seattle There is something truly magical about childhood holidays. The memories of...

‘Seeing the watery part of the world is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself...

‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free’ Michelangelo One of my favourite, ‘go to’ local walks in West Yorkshire...

We first had this home-made nut brittle at a house party in New Zealand earlier this year. The host had made some and it became the topic...

Featuring Crosland Health Golf Club, Huddersfield, UK and Whangaroa Golf Club, Northland, New Zealand ‘Golf is a good walk spoiled’ ...

“Leave the road, take the trails .” – Pythagoras Some walks are special because of their familiarity, a well-known, much-loved walk...

‘Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience’ Ralph Waldo Emerson We are back from New Zealand, spending the summer in West...