My daily lock-down walks have revealed a previously unappreciated artistic side of my neighbourhood. I’ve discovered how much street art we have in eastern Wellington – something I’ve never noticed or appreciated before. Most of it depicts local flora, fauna, scenery and wildlife. Some of it is by professional artists, and some of it is simply vernacular – home owners…
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Vanuatu is one of the four happiest nations on the planet, and financial wealth has nothing to do with it. In 2006, this chain of more than 80 tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean made the headlines when it topped the Happy Planet Index. The most recent version of the index, published in 2016, placed Vanuatu fourth. Clearly this modest…
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Every idea, every plan, every achievement, begins as a thought. So all it takes is a little thinking and a few tools, and you could be on your way to your next adventure right now! Even if you can’t travel because of a pandemic, an injury or some other circumstance that’s keeping you grounded. First, you need to be in…
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The conversion of England to Christianity began in this wild, rugged border county. There are many wonderful places to visit here. Northumberland has impressive castles (more than in any other county in the UK), rolling hills, pretty villages with houses of soft grey stone, and unspoilt beaches with fine white sand. Many artists head to this area, attracted by the…
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On a sunny Friday morning I visited the Katherine Mansfield House and Garden for the first time, despite my having lived within stone-throwing distance for several years. The house is now a museum dedicated to Katherine’s life and works. I soon discovered that there was a lot more to Katherine than I previously realised. Born into a wealthy, middle class…
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You might have studied languages at school, evening classes or from an online course. But there’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in the daily life and culture of a country. Language learning holidays take your learning to a whole new level. They’re not all about hard work, either. Typically you will be in class for half a day, and going…
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