New Zealand: Seed Collecting

I was lucky to go out today with a Brian and Helen, who know a lot about NZ native plants. We had permission to go onto Maori land to collect seed that will be grown up in Brian's nursery and then ultimately planted out on a local reserve.

Up in the Port Hills around Lyttelton Harbour

I used to think nothing in NZ would kill you except the weather and (very rarely) earthquakes, but I found out that this will too. New Zealand tree nettles have poisonous spines that can cause paralysis if you get stung enough times. A hunter who bush-bashed through a big patch of them died. But hey, at least they don't chase after you like snakes, or crawl into your boots like poisonous spiders (I'm looking at you, Australia).

Living in New Zealand: The Wilson Plastic Postbox

Unlike in the UK, post isn't delivered through the letterbox in your door here. It is more like the American system of a mailbox on the street. Now my parents don't have a letterbox in the door and postman always used to leave the post under a rock in the porch.

Mum and Dad decided that a New Zealand plastic postbox would look great in front of the house. This is despite the fact they live in a thatched cottage in a beautiful valley in  Dorset. But I guess there are a lot of plastic postboxes in beautiful places in New Zealand too.

Constellation Charts in Double Helix Magazine

I received the latest issue of Double Helix this week. It contains my constellation charts. I can't wait to try them out, though there is a lot of light pollution in Lyttelton because of the port activity (there is also a lot of noise pollution - when they are unloading scrap metal, I have to sleep with earplugs!).

NB: These charts are for the Southern Hemisphere

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Star Chart: North

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Star Chart: South

Back on the Paddle Board

We are having a beautiful summer in New Zealand, but I have been spending too much of it working and gardening. It was good to be back on the water and take my first SUP in Lyttelton Harbour.