Ancient Evil is surprisingly good
You wouldn't normally expect Ancient Evil, especially in upper case, to be rampaging through Alasaka. You might expect a small town similar to Northern Exposure, perhaps with some of the familiar faces from the television series, and you wouldn't be surprised to see Elaine Miles. You get all that, in a light-hearted monster-versus-panicked people in Wyvern!. Amazing landscape too. In the small Alaskan town of Beaver Mills preparations are underway for the annual celebration of the Summer Solstice but, amidst the festivities, a horror is unleashed. A Wyvern awakes from its prison of ice. The ravaging Wyvern goes on a bloody rampage as ...
Medieval Odyssey
This modest Australian fantasy stars Hamish McFarlane as a young 14th Century boy with acute psychic powers. During the period of the Black Death, Hamish believes that he can rescue his fellow villagers by leading them into an abandoned mine. The fugitives tunnel their way through the darkness and emerge on the other side--into a bustling New Zealand metropolis in the year 1988. The phenomenon is seen from the point of view of the "aliens," to whom every modern convenience and invention is a miracle comparable to the Resurrection. The Navigator, a Medieval Odyssey successfully creates and sustains its ...
Heroes? They Didn’t Think So
Imagine you are brand new parents to your first-born son. Imagine the hopes and dreams you have for his life - for your lives. Imagine you wake up one morning in 1940 to find your small homeland has been 'occupied' overnight by a fearsome enemy. Read about perfectly ordinary people becoming capable of quite extraordinary deeds. This is a true story. Ordinary Heroes
A Little Poetic Licence and Larceny
In dreams, I sometimes imagine that I too am a poet of renown, stirring souls and tugging at heart strings with the sheer beauty and magnificence of my words. They rise and soar, the rhymes sway into rhapsodic rhythms to capture and inspire the imagination to rise to even greater heights. Late at night, ALL seems possible...but...daylight comes, and reality is rubber gloves and last night's dishes. I DID say dream, remember? ...and I like to fondly 'dream' that Henry Lawson and 'Banjo' Paterson are peeking over my shoulder and having a good chuckle about my 'feeble but funny twist' on ...
The Great Glitch
The last day of June, 2010 will always be remembered as the Great Squidoo Lockout. A glitch galloped through the Squidoo system. Did it karoom into the Spam Filter? It started surreptitiously, an overnight stealth attack that left the engineers gasping. Slowly, and as if in a game of dominoes, the lensmasters went down one by one. Lensmasters like CDT (Giant Squid), N376 (Citizen Squid Alumni) and Tipi. Their lenses were locked. Their accounts were closed. The specified lensmaster does not exist. Who else got the pink slip? Lensmasters woke up to an email from the 'transient fault' informing them that not only were their lens ...
Australia Can Have the White Tail
Look who was crawling on my ceiling this morning, just outside of my reach. I know that white tail spiders are an Australian native, but when they are in my house they fell very Kiwi. Take a good look at his sleek graceful shape and beautiful stripes . . . no, I don't see it . . . just another terrifying spider to me. And there is a reason to be afraid of this one, or is there are White Tail Spiders Dangerous or Over Rated? Read our story of my daughter's bite and you decide. I thought they ...
The Quince Hit
Do you cook with quince? A quince is wonderful poached in a syrup spiced with cinnamon and clove and reveals another quality of wonder - it turns a luscious shade, anywhere from deep pink to rich red. From rosy to ruby. You can't get a quick dish from a quince, so plan on a few hours to prepare. At I Love Quince!. I have a number of Quince Recipes and more on the ancient history of this Queen of Fruits.
Calling All Adrenalin Junkies
Tree Adventures is for you! What a great day we had on Tuesday swinging through the trees, traversing across on rope, wood or wire bridges. I should clarify upfront that I was the photographer, living vicariously through the huge grins on the faces of my girls and their friends. To describe Tree Adventures with words does it a gross injustice. Set in the majestic Woodhill forest outside of Auckland, New Zealand, Tree Adventures could almost go unnoticed as they took the time and effort to blend into their environment. But, it is not to be missed. ...
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
My dream has come true! Yes, I kept my eye on the prize and worked my tail off to achieve my goal. Above all I wanted to win! But I always kept in mind that winning isn't about finishing first, it's about finishing. What can I do as a Giant? I can be an example, I can encourage, I can coax, persuade, entice, I can demand that other animal companions follow me on the path to Gianthood. I am the Giant Squid Cat! Are you up for it? Do you have the bowls?
District 9
If I had not left my glasses at home when I went to the video shop I wouldn't have picked up District 9 at all. There I was, looking for one more selection to make up the five in number which means a cheaper rate than one or two. At the last moment I grabbed District 9. I could see it was science fiction and the name Peter Jackson was displayed in large letters across the front. Good enough for me. Am I glad I picked it up! District 9 Now I can't get it out of mind! OK there's a lot of ...
Wine and Dine
The Quince Hit
Do you cook with quince? A quince is wonderful poached in a syrup spiced with cinnamon...
What is New Zealand Eating?
The great pavlova battle got me thinking about New Zealand food. Being a relatively...
Arancini
Another recipe inspired by Montalbano. I’m an avid fan of Inspector Montalbano,...
Read more posts from Wine and Dine
Animals
The Primary Pooch
I became Kim’s foster mother when I was really far too young for the responsibility...
Australia Can Have the White Tail
Look who was crawling on my ceiling this morning, just outside of my reach. I know...
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
My dream has come true! Yes, I kept my eye on the prize and worked my tail off...
Read more posts from Animals
Entertainment
Ancient Evil is surprisingly good
You wouldn’t normally expect Ancient Evil, especially in upper case, to be rampaging through Alasaka. You might expect a small town similar to Northern Exposure, perhaps with some of the familiar faces from the television series, and you wouldn’t be surprised to see Elaine Miles. You get all that, in a light-hearted monster-versus-panicked... [Read more of this review]
Medieval Odyssey
This modest Australian fantasy stars Hamish McFarlane as a young 14th Century boy with acute psychic powers. During the period of the Black Death, Hamish believes that he can rescue his fellow villagers by leading them into an abandoned mine. The fugitives tunnel their way through the darkness and emerge on the other side–into a bustling New... [Read more of this review]
District 9
If I had not left my glasses at home when I went to the video shop I wouldn’t have picked up District 9 at all. There I was, looking for one more selection to make up the five in number which means a cheaper rate than one or two. At the last moment I grabbed District 9. I could see it was science fiction and the name Peter Jackson was displayed... [Read more of this review]
Beowulf and Grendel
Beowulf and Grendel takes you into a world of fable and myth, a world where men, larger than life, stride along the border of light and dark, beset by evil dreams and dark vengeance. On the edge of waking and dreaming is the Hero, holding back the monsters of the night. It’s a tribal tale told round the fire. Safety ends where the firelight ends... [Read more of this review]
Tango!
I’ve dreamed about dancing a Tango for years. Surely it can’t be that hard to do? Of course, I want to dance the Tango with a gorgeous partner and, after looking for so long at so many men dancing, I’ve decided that it will have to be Antonio Banderas. My grandmother would have been rapt in a whirl round the floor with Rudolph Valentino... [Read more of this review]
Read more posts from Entertainment
