Issuu

Summerset Scene •

W I N T E R

2 0 1 9

•

CODED TO SECRECY VERA MUMMERY • FOR THE LOVE OF SPORT REX DAVY • SUMMERSET PHOTO COMP WINTER EATS CURRIED LENTIL & PUMPKIN SOUP • KEEP MINDS SHARP CROSSWORDS & PUZZLES

Hello & Goodbye

COVER IMAGE | Rex Davy

from Emily

Warkworth Parnell

Milldale Hobsonville

St Johns

Ellerslie

Manukau

Karaka

Katikati

Papamoa

Rototuna Hamilton

More than

5,000

Taupo

Pohutukawa Place New Plymouth

New Zealanders call

Summerset home

Te Awa Napier Hastings

Wanganui Levin

Havelock North

Waikanae Paraparaumu

Palmerston North Trentham

Nelson

Lower Hutt

Richmond

Aotea

Blenheim

Kenepuru

Rangiora

Avonhead Wigram

Casebrook

KEY = Summerset village = Planned village Dunedin

SU M M E RS E T SC E N E W I N S I N T E R N AT I O N A L AWA R D Summerset Scene has received an Award of Merit in the ‘Publications’ category at the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards. This global accolade was received alongside recognition for companies such as Walmart, Sony, American Express and Deloitte Global. There were 15 merit and excellence awards in the category, and hundreds of entries in the awards. Thank you to staff and residents who contribute to making Summerset Scene the award-winning publication it is!

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

It’s with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I bring you my final edition of Summerset Scene before handing over the reins.

Thank you for your feedback! Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback about Summerset Scene. We are in the process of collecting, reading and considering your answers. We will report on your feedback in the next edition.

As always, this Winter Issue is packed with inspiring and interesting stories. Over cover star, Rex Davy, was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby in May after being nominated by Sir Graham Henry and Sir Michael Jones. You can read his story on page 8. Taupo’s Vera Mummery recently found out she was secretly working for MI6 during the Second World War, and shares her experiences of learning Morse code. We also hear from Frenchwoman Lily Cox, who arrived in New Zealand with her husband, a newborn, a few English phrases to her repertoire, and not a penny to their family’s name. This edition brings you the eagerly anticipated winners of Summerset’s annual photo competition! A huge range of fantastic images were submitted, and competition was fierce. You can view the winning shots and hear from the photographers on pages 12–19. Lake Tekapo makes for a fantastic and photographic winter destination, as you’ll see on page 44; and what better way to keep warm than by making your own pair of mittens (page 37). Jan Bilton shares her recipe for caramelised apple custard croissants – a perfect treat on a cold, crisp day – as well as one for a delicious curried lentil and pumpkin soup (pages 30–33). Summerset is also now a carbon neutral organisation.

It has been a genuine privilege getting to know many of you over the last two years and I consider it a joy to have been entrusted with writing your stories. In pursuit of my desire to write of war-torn and developing nations, I'm passing on the baton of Summerset Scene so that I can move to the northern hemisphere in search of humanitarian aid roles. My first stop is learning French in France! I have no doubt you’ll find a wonderful confidante and storyteller in Janan Jedrzejewski, who will be your new Summerset Scene editor. You can reach her at magazine@summerset.co.nz, and will get to know her more in her first edition – the Spring Issue. With heartfelt gratefulness, farewell.

Emily Elliott SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR

I’ll be starting my new adventure with seven weeks of action-packed travel around France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco with my mother. If you’d like to stay in touch, you’re welcome to come with me via social media! Jump onto Instagram, search and follow: Two Elliotts Take Europe (@elliottsineurope)

Contents F E A T U R E S

C O L U M N S

V E R A M U M M E RY

P H Y L & DAV I D H I G M A N

Coded to secrecy

A second chance at love

20.

R E X DAV Y

L I LY ( E M I L I E ) C OX

For the love of sport

From France to farm life

22.

COLUMNS

STA F F P RO F I L E

24.

CRAFT CORNER

37.

OUR N E WS

26.

BOOK R E V I E WS

38.

D E L I C I O US R EC I P E S

30.

IN THE GA R D E N

34.

M OTO R I N G

FAS H I O N

40. 42.

43.

E X E RC I S E

44.

T R AV E L LO G

B R A I N T E AS E

A RO U N D SU M M E RS E T

46. 48.

SU M M E RS E T R E S I D E N TS

Photography competition

12.

STORY TO SHARE?

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touch with Summerset Scene editor, Janan Jedrzejewski. We’d love to hear from you!

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CØDED TO SECRECY B Y E M I LY E L L I O T T

Originally from England, 95-year-old Summerset by the Lake resident Vera Mummery didn’t know she had worked for MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, until recently – more than 50 years after she signed the Official Secrets Act during the Second World War. As a teenager, Vera wanted to be a journalist living in London, but her father told her it was no career for a woman. She stormed out of the house, joined the army, returned home and slammed the paperwork on the table in front of her father, saying “How’s this for a career!”.

B Y E M I LY E L L I O T T

Stubborn by nature, Vera says she would have been conscripted anyway. However, she explains that during her three weeks of introductory training, “Myself and 11 other women were picked from our group and sent to the Isle of Man. We weren’t sure why we were picked to be there, but we started learning Morse code." WE WORKED SIX-AND-A-HALF DAYS A WEEK, WITH ONLY SUNDAY AFTERNOONS OFF. IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD AT FIRST, AND THE BEEPING DROVE US MAD, EVERYTHING ENDED UP SOUNDING LIKE MORSE – BIRDS TWEETING, CAR HORNS… EVERYTHING!

At the beginning of their training, which lasted a few months, Vera says the group’s target was to successfully record 26 words per minute. By the end, they were expected to be at 32 words. Those who hadn’t met their incremental targets each week were sent elsewhere. “We never asked questions, and it was all very serious. We had to sign a secrecy act in front of three generals.” Vera finished the training with three other women, and was sent back to the mainland for a tour of Bletchley Park – the top-secret home of the Second World War codebreakers – where she got to have coffee with Alan Turing. “Bletchley never taped Morse. They could only decode it, never receive it,” Vera explains. LEFT | Vera Mummery with her pooch, Otto.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Vera says that her small group’s first posting was to Gibraltar, where they were involved in Operation Mincemeat – made famous by the 1956 movie The Man Who Never Was – when the British successfully tricked German troops into invading the south of France so that the Allies could occupy Sicily. Vera and her colleagues were then sent to Sicily. “You worked the whole time, around the clock, and got a bit of sleep when you could.” They then went to Turkey, back to England and, ultimately, to Germany. “Hitler had five frequencies

“Hitler had five frequencies that he secretly communicated to his leading five generals on. We were intercepting the communications and writing the Morse codes down. They were very fast!”

that he secretly communicated to his leading five generals on. We were intercepting the communications and writing the Morse codes down. They were very fast!” Vera says that although they worked hard, they didn’t really know what they were working for. “We were told, ‘These are the frequencies, and these are the call signs – record everything.’ You just hoped you were getting it all. It was monotonous work, and everything was sent to Bletchley for decoding.” Vera was sent back to England when the war finished on 8 May, and celebrated her 21st birthday a few days later. Married in 1943, she was reunited with her husband two weeks before the war in Japan ended and discovered that he had been doing similar work, often in the same places.

LEFT | Vera received a gold medallion for her work.

ABOVE | Vera in her uniform in 1943.

ABOVE | Vera in her uniform.

“We were lucky we could sort of confide in each other, but we couldn’t tell anyone else what we’d done during the war – not our parents, nor our children when we had them.”

“Looking back at what we did upsets me greatly. Though they were the enemy, they were still someone’s brothers, fathers or husbands,” Vera reflects. “I had no idea I was working for MI6, and it was very surprising to find out. I was able to tell my children and grandchildren, but my parents had passed away by then so never knew. My grandson Sean was 17 at the time, and he came around to see the letters. He then brought all of his friends around to see,” she laughs. “To this day, he stills calls me ‘Nana Bond’.”

After the war, the couple moved to New Zealand, where they built a yacht in Auckland and became involved in racing. Vera says one of the highlights of her life was being the starter and timer for the Louis Vuitton Cup race, when she worked alongside Sir Peter Blake. Then, in 2010, a friend of Vera’s said she’d heard a radio announcement asking those who had worked with code in the war to contact an address in Cheltenham, England. Vera did so, and when the papers came back to her with the MI6 letterhead, explaining what Vera had worked on, a solid gold medallion and certificate were included.

“They were the worst of times, but they were also the best of times. We worked very hard, and the camaraderie was wonderful. At the time I didn’t think what I did was important. To us, it was just a job we had to do, so we got on and did it.” Vera still knows Morse code, and says she doesn’t think she will ever forget it.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Rugby has been a way of life for Summerset at Monterey Park’s Rex Davy, who was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in May this year for his contributions to the sport and to the community, after being endorsed by Sir Michael Jones and Sir Graham Henry, among several others. Now 85 and a life member of Waitakere Rugby Club, Rex still watches his beloved team every weekend during the club season. He explains that, as a child, rugby and cricket were his two passions. “I lived close to Trafalgar Park in Nelson and I was always down there batting or kicking balls.” He started playing in senior rugby teams at a young age, often finding himself up against men who were much older.

REX’S FAVOURITE PLAYING POSITIONS WERE

FOR THE LOVE OF SPORT

FIRST FIVE-EIGHTH AND SECOND FIVE-EIGHTH, AS WELL AS FULL-BACK. “THEY WERE ALL CLOSE TO THE ACT!”

He played for Nelson and Golden Bay, before moving up to Auckland in his early 20s, where he played for the senior Grafton team. After hanging up his playing boots, Rex moved on to coaching. In 1965, his good friend was coaching and invited him to join in as an assistant coach. “I loved it! I didn’t realise how much more there was to know about the game until I started coaching – you then start thinking about the game all the time, even at work,” he laughs. The key to being a good coach at club level, according to Rex, is not to think you’re coaching the All Blacks. “If you can improve your players’ play – both individually and collaboratively – it’s fantastic. I loved helping someone to be a better player.” He enjoyed working with young people, and said it kept him young himself. “Even though they’re good sportsmen, they’re young LEFT | Rex Davy has been recognised for his contributions to rugby.

B Y E M I LY E L L I O T T

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

"REX HOLDS HUGE MANA AND RESPECT ACROSS ALL SPHERES OF OUR WEST AUCKLAND COMMUNITY… as a community champion both in sport and youth, he is a true patriarch of our community. There is no leader more deserving to be acknowledged in this very special way than Rex Davy.” – SIR MICHAEL JONES

men at the end of the day. As a coach, your role is also to show honesty, integrity, and provide support.” Rex went on to coach many Auckland representative-grade teams.

"It is almost unbelievable what Rex has fitted into his extremely busy life, but in all his endeavours...

HE HAS ACTED WITH TOTAL INTEGRITY, THOUGHTFULNESS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND HUMBLENESS THAT ENDEARS HIM TO SO MANY PEOPLE. Rex has run a very successful business and helped many individuals have a better life along the way. He has made a huge difference to his community, to rugby, and to the spirit and togetherness of his family. I have total admiration and respect for this man.” – SIR GRAHAM HENRY

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Rex then moved on to administration, managing the Auckland National Provincial Championship side, the Auckland Blues and the New Zealand Barbarians for many seasons. He was also an All Blacks liaison officer and a member of various committees, including in the role as chair. In addition, Rex is a life member of the Auckland Rugby Union. At the same time as his rugby administration profile was increasing, Rex was also developing a successful and

well-known real estate company. “I was able to travel all over the world for rugby,” says Rex, explaining about a time he was in South Africa. “I ran into Bishop Desmond Tutu, and he said to Sir Graham Henry and I, ‘Hello Rex, hello Graham. Could you do me one thing? Get Jonah Lomu’s signature for me!’”

THE COMMUNITY ALSO HAS A LOT TO THANK REX FOR. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE TRUSTS ARENA AND PROVIDING A FANTASTIC SPORTS COMPLEX

The Trusts Arena, which Rex helped establish, is the home for the Waitakere Athletics and Waitakere Rugby clubs, and has three outdoor fields, an athletics track and an indoor arena that has hosted concerts, netball internationals and boxing matches, among many other events. The facility is also available free of charge for use by schools and students. Rex credits the award of his New Zealand Order of Merit to his late wife, Heather, who passed away recently. “She was a huge support to me and my family, and I couldn’t have done it without her.”

WEST AUCKLAND IS VERY PROUD OF.

ABOVE | All collection of images sits in Rex's Summerset villa.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

P H O T O G R A P H Y

C O M P E T I T I O N

Thank you to everyone who entered our annual resident photography competition. This year’s entries were high in quality, thoughtful, interesting, and very hard to judge. Each image submitted portrayed Summerset, its people, and the beauty of New Zealand well. We’re thrilled to showcase this year’s winners of our four categories: Life at Summerset, Your Summerset Home, Iconic Local, and Summerset People. We talked to them about their images, and how they felt about winning. Our Grand Prize winner, Alan Martin from Summerset Falls, Warkworth, captured a blend of the categories in one fantastic image shot from his villa at sunset. Congratulations to everyone who entered. We look forward to receiving your photographs next year!

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

G R A ND PR I Z E WI NNE R AL AN MARTIN S UM M ERS ET FA L LS , WA RKWO RT H "It’s where I live; I live right there in the photo. I wake up in the morning, and at night I see incredible sunsets. By the time I get my camera out to capture them, they’re gone! I got lucky with this one. I love waking up to the sunrises and watching the sunsets. To me personally, this is home. It’s what makes this image so special. When I looked at the photo after I took it, I noticed the street lamp at the end of the street and really fell in love with it."

“I’m blown away. I didn’t expect this at all!”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

WI NNE R L I F E AT S U M M E RSE T PAULINE FRASER SUMMERSET AT BISHOPSCOURT, DUNEDIN

WIN N ER YO U R SU M M E R S E T H OM E PHILIP SALMON

"In this image, the positioning of the outstretched arms to the entrance of Summerset at Bishopscourt say welcome and the expression and the actions of participants indicate that life at Summerset is great. When I took this photo it was very hot, and with no swimming pool we decided to cool off in the fountain! The impromptu action caused a lot of amusement."

“I’m surprised and delighted to win; it was such a fun moment!”

SUMMERSET AT MONTEREY PARK, HOBSONVILLE "I like it because a lot of us have retired – and because we’re retired we can do what we like. A lot of the boys in the village, we’re doing what we like. The tools we didn't sell are in our garages. We have a lot of fun. That’s what I like about the image – we’re doing things we enjoy.

"To me this image means we’ve been doing what we like and we’ve achieved our goals. It’s great to win!”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

WIN N ER

WI NNE R

ICON IC LOCA L

S U M M E RSE T PEO PL E

GRAHAME YONGE

GWYTHA FRANCE

SUMMERSET MOUNTAIN VIEW, NEW PLYMOUTH

SUMMERSET IN THE SUN, NELSON

"I love the whole scene of Taranaki, but the waves and the surfers, and matching the two is beautiful. The whole image speaks to me of New Plymouth. I’m very trigger happy and I’m always looking out for moments that are happening that I can take photos of. I love silhouetted images because it’s dramatic."

"This image is all about the fact that age really means nothing. A friend of ours was having a birthday, and asked if we wanted to come. My husband Russ had a ball, and our son came from the Gold Coast. Father and son having a race – age means nothing! The image shows one of Nelson’s activities. People in Summerset are Summerset. There is a lot going on in the village, and people are always giving something a go."

“I’ll have to get a bottle of champagne to celebrate!”

"I’m very excited and pleased! I love promoting Summerset, especially Nelson!”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

A second chance at love B Y E M I LY E L L I O T T

David and Phyl Higham didn’t expect to fall in love when they moved into their separate villas at New Plymouth’s Summerset Mountain View. Phyl had been living in the village for a year when David moved in across the other side. David explains that they met at happy hour. “I saw a lady standing by herself. The idea of happy hour is that you talk to people,” he says. Phyl interjects, “He came up to me and asked, ‘Would you like a conversation?’. I’d heard he was a vet, so I knew it would be an interesting conversation. Our friendship grew with many more interesting conversations. Then, he asked for me lunch. I was dubious to go to lunch with him in case we saw people we knew. And we saw three!”, she laughs. David and Phyl’s friendship continued to grow as they walked David’s Labrador daily and spent more time together. David then made the decision to ask Phyl on a holiday to Napier to meet some of his family. Phyl was unsure, but went anyway, and enjoyed the time getting to know David better. Within six months of their happy hour meeting, David and Phyl were a couple, and they got engaged a few months later. David says the relationship “felt right”. “We had both lost our spouses to Alzheimer’s, and we’d both had good marriages beforehand. We obviously got on well together, and all of our family have been most happy about it. We like doing similar things,” he says, and lists off the movies and documentaries they enjoy, the interests they share, and how they complement one another. The pair had three months of engagement before an intimate family wedding on Phyl’s daughter’s property in April 2018.

WHY WAIT WHEN YOU’RE 80! IT WAS A LOVELY WEDDING, WITH OUR CHILDREN, THEIR SPOUSES, AND GRANDCHILDREN. IT WAS OUTSIDE, AND WE HAD A POTLUCK. I DIDN’T MARRY DAVID BECAUSE I WANTED COMPANIONSHIP; I MARRIED HIM BECAUSE I LOVED HIM.

David says that after a honeymoon in Australia, they sold Phyl’s villa and she moved in with him. He says, “I love having a partner I am proud of and love showing off. I’m so proud to introduce her to so many people!” 20

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

From France to farm life B Y E M I LY E L L I O T T

Frenchwoman Lily (Emilie) Cox was born close to the border with Belgium and enjoyed growing up in a large home on a spacious property. Her family used to have parties and entertain in their spare rooms, and Lily attended cooking school. When a British soldier delivered news to their door about Lily’s aunt, Lily didn’t imagine she’d marry him after a second brief meeting and a year of letter writing. The newly married couple moved to England for a short time, before crossing the ocean to live in New Zealand following the end of the war.

WE SOLD ALL OF OUR POSSESSIONS TO PAY FOR OUR TRIP, AND ARRIVED IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1949 WITH NO MONEY AND A BABY.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Lily explains that her husband, Harry, met a Kiwi soldier while on a bayonet course with the New Zealand Army. “The Kiwi, Jack, told us to get in touch when the war was over, as he would offer Harry a job.” The Cox family were picked up by Jack when they arrived, but were shocked to see the farm they had left the northern hemisphere for. “It was a barn!” remembers Lily. “We thought we’d made a huge mistake, and if we’d had the money, we would have gone back straight away.” Lily and Harry started learning how to milk cows and ride horses, and Lily bought plywood to make a cot for their growing son. Lily arrived knowing only a few phrases of English.

However, not long after they arrived, Jack sold the farm. “He didn’t tell us. We had to move to the farm next door, and all the cows had tuberculosis, which we didn’t know at the time. We tried to find more work, and went from one farm to another. No one wanted us because we were foreigners!”

“We weren’t attached to anything, but we had a great marriage. We always worked together.” ABOVE | Lily's young adult years. BELOW | Lily now lives in Summerset by the Lake, Taupo.

Lily says that clothes were hard to come by in post-war New Zealand, so she learned to sew and started making her family’s garments. “We didn’t have a penny, but we dressed like we had millions,” she laughs. “I’d go to a shop, look at the clothes, then go home and make my own version of them.” Lily and Harry had a second son and moved around New Zealand going from job to job – ranging from managing the Taupo AC Baths and fabric stores, to owning restaurants and teaching swimming, and finally purchasing 10 acres of land and running farm holidays. “My father forced me to learn how to cut his hair when I was 15. In one New Zealand town, there was no hairdresser, so I’d cut people’s hair,” muses Lily.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

S TA F F P R O F I L E

Marion Ewe BY JENNY BRIDGEN

Marion Ewe says her life experiences equipped her perfectly for her new role as Service Coordinator at Karaka village. “This is the first job I’ve had that is suited to all of me,” she says. Brought up in a large, extended family of eight children in Pukekohe, Marion credits her grandparents for instilling a deep sense of community service in her. She has worked in social services all her life: as a case manager and work broker for Work and Income, on a nationwide project to increase the uptake of Early Childhood Education among Māori and Pasifika families, and, more recently, helping long-term unemployed people gain sustainable permanent employment. “My grandfather was a big personality. He used to drive around the streets at night to pick up Māori youth, visit and talk to their parents, and, if needed, organise them to stay with their extended whānau. He was always out visiting different marae, and was heavily involved in local community groups.” Marion’s grandfather was instrumental in the creation of Pukekohe’s Ngā Hau e Whā Marae. She says it was developed as a place for people from all iwi and all walks of life. Marion has been working as Service Coordinator at Karaka for four months, getting to know the job and, importantly, the residents. She looks after residents across the village, with a special focus on those in the serviced apartments.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

“I do a milk round in the morning. It’s a means of catching up with people; an informal check-in without being intrusive. I’m notified when people come out of hospital or have been unwell, so I can check on them and make sure they have the support they need. I’m happy to do personal things for people, and I spend a lot of time liaising with the families of our residents, especially if they are overseas,” says Marion.

I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY. THEY HAVE WALKED BEFORE ME, AND LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE GOOD THINGS IN MY LIFE. ALL OUR STAFF SHARE THAT RESPECT. THAT’S WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON.

Marion says she loves her job: “We have some real characters here. Nothing surprises the elderly. They’ve either been there and done that, or know someone who has. I love listening to their stories and seeing them healthy and well.”

MARION IS A SERVICE C O O R D I N AT O R AT S U M M E R S E T AT K A R A K A Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

OUR NEWS

Papamoa

Blenheim

Rangiora

Caring for our caregivers Summerset held its first annual Caregiver Celebration Day in March as a way of recognising and appreciating the work our caregivers do. At every Summerset care centre, executive and senior leaders, as well as members of the Human Resources team, shadowed a caregiver for a shift, finishing the day by cutting a cake with staff. General Manager Operations, Eleanor Young, spent the morning with caregiver Helen Singh at Summerset at Karaka. “Our caregivers work tremendously hard every day to look after the needs of our residents, so we wanted to celebrate them and their dedication to their work. We felt the best way to do this was to get on the floor and work alongside them,” says Eleanor. “Working alongside the team at Karaka was hard work, but very rewarding. Spending time with our residents and staff for the day was thoroughly enjoyable.”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Helen says it was fun to see Eleanor serve breakfast, help clean and dress residents, and deliver coffee and morning tea. “It was such a pleasure for us to have Eleanor on board with our team. She was chatting to everyone about how they like their tea or coffee, and how they were.” Later, CEO Julian Cook was shadowing caregiver Sesilia Haupeakui at Summerset at Heritage Park in Ellerslie. “The day was a great way for us to show our appreciation for the great work our caregivers do. They’re so important to Summerset, and help us to look after our residents. I really enjoyed the day; I made a bunch of cups of tea, helped out our caregivers, and served our residents. Our caregivers know residents so well – they know all their little preferences.” SESILIA SAYS JULIAN DID VERY WELL AS A CAREGIVER FOR A DAY. “WE APPRECIATE THAT HE WAS JUST LIKE ONE OF US." Summerset employs more than 590 caregivers, and Caregiver Celebration Day is one way we are saying thank you for their hard work.

New villages planned

Purr-fect fundraiser for local animal charity

Summerset will be expanding into the sunny climes of Blenheim and Tauranga, as well as opening a new village in popular Rangiora.

Many furry friends were made in February when residents and Friends of Summerset in Trentham attended a high tea fundraiser for Lower Hutt-based Kitten Inn. The event’s special guests were 19 kittens and cats – many just six weeks old.

The sites in Blenheim and Rangiora were bought in March, and land at Papamoa Beach, Tauranga, was purchased in September last year. CEO Julian Cook says that bringing the Summerset lifestyle to high-growth regional centres is part of the company’s business strategy. Blenheim’s new village will provide 200 independent-living homes, Rangiora will see the development of 300 homes and Papamoa Beach will have 280 homes. The three villages will also provide care beds and Memory Care centres for people living with dementia. To find out more about these villages, visit our website: summerset.co.nz

Summerset at the Course Sales Manager, Jan Honnan, says the charity does a great job rescuing and caring for hundreds of kittens each year. “I wanted to do something to help raise money. Everyone who came was really generous and we raised around $400 for the Kitten Inn.” Summerset resident Maureen enjoyed numerous cuddles on the day. “I just enjoy being with cats. We’ve always had them.” Stefanie, from Kitten Inn, says that one cat spent half an hour snuggled on the lap of an attendee. “It was a great afternoon with the residents and Friends of Summerset – really lovely!”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

More than $44,000 raised for Christchurch Staff and residents rallied to support Christchurch in the wake of the tragic shootings in March, holding fundraisers in villages and offices across the country to raise more than $44,700.

Applauding our staff Summerset’s annual Applause Awards celebrate and reward staff who bring the best of life to our residents. Every year Summerset staff are invited to nominate their peers across 21 culture and position categories. This year, the judges assessed more than 800 nominations and selected finalists, who were invited to attend the black tie awards ceremony at Te Papa in Wellington. On the night of the Applause Awards ceremony, a supreme winner is named. This person is not nominated, but is chosen by the Executive Team as someone who truly embodies our purpose and our values.

The person selected for the Summerset Supreme Award stands out for their dedication to Summerset’s residents, staff and the company. For 2019 we are delighted to announce two Supreme Award winners: Jesse Gamutan, Clinical Nurse Leader at Summerset Falls, Warkworth; and Muluga Sauila, Caregiver at Summerset at the Course, Trentham. Muluga says, “I’m so super proud; this means a lot. This is what I do every day – the high quality of care that I deliver every day is for the residents.” Jesse and Muluga both received a $3,000 travel

SUMMERSET GOES CARBON ZERO Summerset is now the first retirement village operator in NZ to be carboNZero

voucher. Jesse says she will be using hers for her first trip out of the country in 18 years. “My friends saw that I won on Facebook and organised a mini reunion. I’m just in the process of getting passports for me and my children. We are going to Brisbane, Australia.”

General Manager Operations, Eleanor Young, says variety shows, raffles for hampers filled with goodies made by residents, bake sales, cake stalls and sausage sizzles were just some of the many ways residents and staff raised $22,000. Summerset then matched the total dollar

In addition to the individual awards, we also celebrated the following villages: • Village of the Year: Summerset in the Bay, Napier • Best Developing Village: Summerset on Cavendish, Casebrook • Best Care Centre: Summerset at Wigram Congratulations to everyone who was nominated, to all the finalists and to the winners.

for dollar. “We really value being strong enough to care. People in the Summerset community have been generous, and we are glad we can give this money to help those affected by the shootings,” says Eleanor. Summerset sent the money to Victim Support New Zealand, along with love and heartfelt

and CEMARS certified (Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme).

best wishes to all those

This means we have an ongoing plan to reduce carbon emissions and have offset

affected.

all unavoidable emissions with carbon credits from wind farm generation.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Wheeling around Summerset Mountain View Old and new cars were out in full force when Summerset Mountain View residents welcomed Americarna Day to the village, which was decorated with American flags and serving hot dogs, doughnuts, pizzas and soft-serve ice cream for the occasion, all to a soundtrack of country music. Americarna is an annual festival, now in its 12th year, during which hundreds of classic, new, modified and unique vehicles travel through the Taranaki region. Neil Hart, a neighbour of Summerset’s New Plymouth village who helped coordinate this year’s fleet of vehicles, worked with staff to arrange for 18 cars to visit Summerset and give residents rides. He says, “There was a collection of old and new cars, and drivers took residents around a pre-designated circuit. They came back with the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen – for some, it’s like taking them back to their youth and it brings back a lot of memories for them.” Cushla, a resident of Summerset Mountain View, says she went for two rides – in a 1957 Cadillac and a Chevrolet. “It was absolutely great, so wonderful.” Village Manager Wayne Mackay says residents gave staff a lot of support in decorating the village and getting it ready for the festivities, which included a themed lunch, quiz and other activities. “It’s a fantastic day that we thoroughly enjoy.” Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

TRYING OUT JAN’S RECIPES?

DELICIOUS RECIPES

SEND US A PHOTO AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

CURRIED LENTIL & PUMPKIN SOUP MAKES 8 CUPS The fibre, folic acid and potassium in lentils all support heart health, and the legumes are also a good source of essential vitamins,

W I N T E R

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

AS THE OLD SPANISH SAYING GOES, “OF SOUP AND LOVE, THE FIRST IS THE BEST. ” But what’s not to love about soups? These easy-to-eat treats are among the most appetising and versatile of dishes. They can be enjoyed as light introductions to dinner for family or your Summerset friends, or as hearty lunches with a roll on the side. They are favourites with all cultures the world over. Prepared with vegetables, meats, herbs, stocks, lentils, beans and/or grains, soups are nourishing and comforting on cold winter days. Soup is, of course, a centuries-old favourite that dates back to the days of the cavemen, who placed meat, bones and liquid into a skin bag or animal bladder, together with a few hot rocks, to create a (barely) palatable, warm meal. Thank goodness that, over the years, the basics have been improved on. The basis of a good soup is a flavoursome stock prepared from meat, chicken or fish and vegetables. Cartons of liquid stocks are readily available from supermarkets, or you can make your own stock and freeze it in user-friendly quantities.

minerals and protein. This soup can be frozen in serving-sized portions. INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 shallots, diced 1 clove garlic, crushed 2–3 teaspoons curry powder or to taste 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed 900g pumpkin, peeled, seeded and chopped 4 cups good vegetable stock Garnishes Petite slices of toasted French bread or croutons • Taco chips • A dollop of salsa or pesto • Crumbled crisp-cooked bacon • Diced smoked chorizo • Sprigs of fresh herbs or chopped fresh herbs • Finely grated cheese, such as Parmesan. METHOD Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat. Add the shallots and garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until soft. Stir in the curry powder and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the lentils, pumpkin and stock. Stir until well combined. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, partially covered, for about 20 minutes, stirring regularly until the pumpkin is tender. Mash the pumpkin until smooth. This soup is great served topped with a dollop of plain yoghurt.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

BUTTERMILK 'FRIED' CHICKEN

CARAMELISED APPLE & C U STA R D C RO I S SA N TS

SERVES 4

S E RV E S 4 AS A D E S S E RT O R 8 AS A S M A L L E R T R E AT W I T H C O F F E E

You might be surprised to learn that there is no butter in buttermilk, and that it is lower in fat than

I use prepared custard from the chiller cabinet of my supermarket for this recipe.

whole milk. Any left over from the recipe can be added to mashed potatoes, spooned over poached

Serve large croissants as a dessert (they can be prepared ahead and cooked just

fruit, used in scone mixtures in place of milk, used as an ingredient in dressings for potato or pasta

before serving) or mini croissants with coffee.

salads or added to smoothies. INGREDIENTS 6–8 (700g) chicken thighs skinned and boned 1 cup buttermilk ½ cup plain flour or cornflour 1 teaspoon each of dried thyme and paprika salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli powder spray of canola oil

METHOD Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and turn to coat well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. In another bowl, combine the flour and seasonings. Drain the chicken in a sieve over a bowl. Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Spray a baking pan with oil and add the chicken in a single layer. Chill for

INGREDIENTS ¼ cup each of brown sugar, lemon juice and brandy (optional) ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 large red-skinned apples 4 large or 8 mini croissants ¾ cup thick custard

METHOD Combine the brown sugar, lemon juice, brandy (if using) and cinnamon in a large frying pan. Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Quarter and core the apples, then slice thinly. Add to the frying pan, turning the slices to coat them well. Poach for 10 minutes or until cooked, basting occasionally. Place aside but keep warm.

30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

Halve the croissants horizontally and spread the cut sides

Spray the chicken with oil and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until cooked and crispy.

thickly with custard. Place the bases on the baking tray and top with the caramelised apples. Sandwich together with the tops. Bake for 8 minutes, until golden and crisp.

Serve the chicken with mashed kumara drizzled with basil pesto thinned with a little lemon juice. 32

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

This is gre at ser ved dusted with icing sugar, together with whipped cre am and any remaining syrup on the si de. Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

A RT I C L E BY LY N DA H A L L I N A N

IN THE GARDEN

The green indoors I have a love–hate relationship with winter. Who doesn’t? Winter weather brings out the best and worst in all of us – and our gardens. On crisp, cloudless days, when Jack Frost dusts our lawns white and dewdrops freeze like diamonds in the cobwebs, the bare branches of denuded deciduous trees bring a bleak beauty to our backyards. But when it’s wet and cold and your gumboots spring a leak – as they always seem to do when it’s bucketing down – it’s hard to muster much enthusiasm for toiling in sodden soil. I prefer to nest, to hunker down and hibernate indoors.

gooseberries, to the Land of the Long White Cloud in 1904, when she brought seeds back from a visit to a missionary school in China. A local nurseryman soon recognised their potential, and by the 1950s they’d become a popular winter crop here. However, at the height of the Cold War, their original common name hampered attempts to establish an export trade with the United States. At first the fruits were rebranded as ‘melonettes’, but that name didn’t stick (a similar attempt to rename feijoas as ‘pineapple guavas’ also fell flat), and in 1959 the name kiwi fruit was mooted by Turners & Growers. The rest, as they say, is history. In winter, I merrily ignore the frostbitten extremities of my large country garden in the foothills of the Hunua Ranges. I stay close to home, pottering in the herb garden by my back door, where parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are all within easy reach for winter roasts and herbal tonics. My citrus trees are only a few steps away from the kitchen, too, for everyone needs a Meyer lemon tree to lazily plunder for hot toddies and honey and lemon teas. I was a winter baby, and ‘Miss A’, the formidable Plunket nurse who visited my Mum each week, filled my baby book with her handy hints for the health of mother and child. As if she wasn’t busy enough juggling two babies born exactly one year apart, Mum was advised to mix orange juice into our milk, add a splash of rosehip syrup to cooled, boiled drinking water, and supplement our diets with sieved kiwi fruit or puréed tamarillos for a quick hit of vitamin C. (This could explain why, as an adult, I’d much rather serve kiwi fruit slices on pavlova and tamarillos caramelised with brown sugar on the grill than pop vitamin C pills.)

A few years later, in the 1960s, a similarly savvy member of the New Zealand Tree Tomato Promotions Council rebranded the tree tomato as a tamarillo in a bid to end confusion between these tangy South American fruit and the common garden tomato. The confusion is understandable, for, like the tomato, the tamarillo is botanically a fruit but is as often enjoyed in savoury dishes as sweet. Add a few peeled tamarillos to a winter slow-cooker casserole, toss them through a winter salad of peppery perennial rocket with salt and pepper, or use the fruit in chutneys and marinades to serve with roast meats.

Did you know that both kiwi fruit and tamarillos were renamed by enterprising New Zealand orchardists to make them more palatable to the export market? We have a Wanganui school teacher, Mary Isabel Fraser, to thank for introducing kiwi fruit, then known as Chinese

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

WINTER

In winter, we can turn our attention to comfort foods and turn our backs on our gardens – or at least draw the curtains on them – while lavishing all our green-fingered attention on indoor greenery instead. Houseplants are enjoying a global renaissance, as trendy millennials nurture the same plants that were fashionable in the 1970s (and the macramé pot-holders of the same era).

GARDENING CHECKLIST

I’D LIKE TO THINK I INHERITED MY LATE GRANDMOTHER PATRICIA’S GREEN THUMB, BUT I’M HOPELESS AT KEEPING HOUSEPLANTS ALIVE. Whereas my grandma nurtured metre-long porcelain-flowered hoya vines, decades-old African violets and snazzy streptocarpus, I care for a revolving cast of houseplants in various stages of decline. Last year, my father gave me and my sister a lush maidenhair fern for our birthday. Six days later, mine was fried to a crisp (in my defence, it was the school holidays and unseasonably warm), killed not with kindness but neglect. It’s survival of the fittest at my place, so I can heartily recommend the South African ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. This subtropical darling boasts shiny foliage and a camel’s tolerance to drought. It can survive for months without watering, and if it does droop, it’s easily revived with a long liquid lunch. Similarly forgiving are the quirky foliage begonias with names like ‘Lizard Leaf’ and ‘Eyelash’, as well as friendly Asplenium ferns such as ‘Crissie’ and ‘Victoria’. Just make sure their pots are not too close to heaters, heat pumps or draughty doorways in winter, and let the potting mix dry out completely between waterings. Creating a leafy conservatory indoors means you can still get your green fix without feeling guilty about the leaves in need of raking, the pea straw to shovel or the fruit trees to prune outdoors. “Winter is a time of promise,” reckoned the American novelist and part-time garlic farmer Stanley Crawford, “because there is so little to do – or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.”

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

ARTICLE BY LOUANA MCCORMACK

CRAFT CORNER

MARVELLOUS MITTENS These cosy mittens are perfect for keeping your hands toasty on your village strolls this winter. Several pairs can be made from one woollen or fleece jumper.

•

Plant pansies, Iceland poppies, pot marigolds and polyanthus for a splash of cheerful colour in containers by your front door.

•

Garlic is traditionally planted on the shortest day in winter and harvested on the longest day in summer. Choose plump, organic, New Zealand-grown seed garlic, and plant only the fattest cloves, burying them 5cm deep and 20cm apart in rich soil.

•

Sow Asian greens such as tatsoi (spoon mustard), bok choy and wong bok. These brassicas grow at twice the speed of traditional cabbages.

•

When the daphne bushes bloom, you know the worst of winter is over. Look out for the New Zealand-bred variety ‘Perfume Princess’, which is renowned for its long-lasting display of fragrant pink flowers.

•

Dwarf potted peach and nectarine trees will benefit from a copper spray just before their blossom buds burst open. This helps prevent leaf curl and brown rot come spring.

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES • A4 paper for pattern • Pen/pencil • Fabric and paper scissors • Embroidery thread and needle • Fleece/wool fabric – an old jumper or jersey is ideal • Sewing machine and thread.

METHOD Step 1: Place your hand on a piece of paper and draw around it to create your pattern. Have your thumb extended to the side and add approximately 1.5cm around the edge of your hand as a seam allowance. Ensure you make the wrist section straight and not tapered – this will ensure the mittens are easy to get on and off. Your pattern should look similar to the one pictured (below).

Step 2: Cut four pieces of the pattern out of your chosen fabric, two mirrored pieces for each mitten. If you are recycling a garment for your mittens, line up the openings for the mittens along the hem or cuff to take advantage of this. Step 3: Embroider a design on two pieces, ensuring that you are working on two mirrored pieces so that the top of the mittens are embroidered. Use nature as inspiration or anything that takes your fancy. Your designs can be as elaborate as your skills allow! Step 4: Once you are happy with your embroidery, place the right sides of each pair together, making sure your embroidery faces inwards. Pin and stitch around the edges, leaving a gap across the bottom for your hand to slide in. If you have a raw edge at the wrist, fold over and sew a simple seam. Turn the mittens outside in, so that the seams are on the inside and the embroidery shows.

Try on your new mittens and enjoy wearing them this winter!

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

R E V I E WS BY N Z B O O K LOV E RS W W W. N Z B O O K LOV E RS.C O. N Z

BOOK REVIEWS

Th e Hero f rom N i thd a l e S tat ion by D i c k Tr i pp New Zealander Dick Tripp has written a wonderful account of his parents’ lives in his book The Hero from Nithdale Station.

Wild Side Publishing RRP $24.99

The book is mainly about his father, Charlie Tripp, aka ‘The Boss’, who bought Nithdale Station near Gore in 1924. Charlie did the hard work of developing this huge station and was clearly a man with impressive leadership qualities. These qualities came to the fore when he led the First Commando Fiji Guerrillas in the Second World War. The end of the book is a page-turner, as Charlie leads his commandos into the heart of battles with the Japanese in the Solomon Islands. For his

This book is a must-have for anyone who bakes. It includes 100 recipes, covering cakes and loaves, pastries, quick bakes, biscuits, baked puddings, pavlovas and meringues, and breads.

Penguin Books (NZ) RRP $55.00

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Looking through the book, we can see some definite standouts we would like to try: devil’s chocolate cake, sponge drops, Belgium biscuits, six egg white pavlova and chocolate hot cross buns. How could you resist any of these?

Charlotte Swann and her husband Richard arrive in Levuka, Fiji’s capital in the 1860s, but he is brutally murdered the day after. Traumatised and overcome by grief, Charlotte decides to stay on in Fiji, feeling she has nowhere else to go. She manages to get work as a hotel cleaner to make ends meet.

war efforts, Charlie was awarded a Silver Star by the Americans. But the book is also about Myra Tripp, Dick’s mother, who was a tireless volunteer in her community and who was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for her work. The Hero from Nithdale Station is a great read and highlights the achievements of an impressive couple, focusing on their grit and determination, their humour and humanity, and the legacy they created. It is both an inspirational biography of a Southland farmer who tamed the country and of his wife’s work in the community, and the action adventure of a war hero.

Th e B a ker ’s C om pa ni on by A lly s o n G o f to n Allyson Gofton has been cooking for more than 30 years and is one of New Zealand’s most loved and trusted authors, with nearly 20 cookbooks to her name.

Stor m Clouds Over Levuka by M a rga ret G il ber t

Macmillan RRP $44.99

Time passes, and when she meets the British Consul, Gareth Murdoch, she is surprised to find feelings beginning to stir within her, feelings she thought she would never have again. Gareth has an estranged wife he hasn’t seen for three years but who refuses to divorce him, so it seems his

relationship with Charlotte can’t go anywhere. And then the estranged wife turns up in Fiji, making matters even worse. Storm Clouds Over Levuka is a page-turning historical novel with lots of romance and intrigue. The author, Margaret Gilbert, was born in Fiji and lived there until she was 21, so she certainly captures the feeling of this tropical island paradise very well, but she has obviously also done plenty of research and succeeds in transporting the reader back to the lawlessness of the 1860s. Storm Clouds Over Levuka is an easy yet engaging read for a lazy afternoon.

All About Kate by J os ie La ird All About Kate is an engaging and thought-provoking debut novel. The story centres on Kate, who is in her 20s and who works in a pharmacy. Kate has tried every diet available with limited success and can’t accept the curvy body that nature has given her. She goes to her doctor seeking some diet pills, but her doctor refuses to give her what she wants. Then, when a customer comes into the pharmacy to return some diet pills, Kate begins taking them in secret instead of destroying them – soon becoming addicted.

The recipes in the book are also a great foundation for experimenting, and Allyson explains what the implications are if you use oil instead of butter, for example. The numerous hints and tips are another welcome addition, where Allyson suggests what to do if, for instance, your cakes are always too heavy or are burnt on the top or bottom. So when it all goes wrong, Allyson has the answer – something that is incredibly helpful for anyone new to the world of baking. The Baker’s Companion is a book to keep and to treasure. Swooping Kereru RRP $30.00

The weight slowly comes off with the pills, but the side effects push away all who are dear to her, including her boyfriend, Luke.

As an adopted child, Kate has always wondered about her birth mother, but when she contacts Kate asking to meet her, Kate has a double surprise – she has an identical twin, Caro, who wasn’t adopted out. All About Kate is a novel about a young woman discovering herself and learning to be comfortable in her own skin. The novel tackles some serious topics – eating disorders, self-image in our modern world, identity and loss – but Josie touches on these with a light touch. Kate is a memorable character, and I felt a great deal of empathy for her as the novel developed.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

MOTORING

JAGUAR I-PACE S ARTICLE BY CAMERON OFFICER

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

MOTORING

I’m not generally prone to exaggeration, so please believe me when I posit that the all-new Jaguar I-Pace is quite possibly the most important Jaguar the storied British manufacturer has ever built. It’s more important than the E-Type or the XJ. It’s certainly more important than the fading-fast XF sedan. The I-Pace is Jaguar’s first full battery electric vehicle (or BEV), a family-sized SUV designed to take on the Tesla Model X, as well as several new electric vehicles arriving this year from, most notably, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. To drum the message home with even more vigour, it’s a zeitgeist machine: something that fulfils pretty much everything the modern motorist travelling through a world of depleted resources needs right now. The I-Pace’s 90kWh lithium-ion battery delivers a range of up to 470km on a single charge from either a fast-charger kiosk at the roadside or (more commonly in New Zealand) a three-pin plug in the owner’s garage. Jaguar reckons that range is the equivalent of more than 14 days of commuter travel for the average Kiwi motorist driving 12,000km per annum. Put simply, you’ll never ever visit a petrol station again. Save for coffee, perhaps. To help with ‘range anxiety’, the SUV can also calculate charging status and range, taking into account changing climate conditions, traffic en route and topography, among other driver inputs.

IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRIC PROPOSITION, BUT IN REAL TERMS THE AVAILABLE POWER IS LIKE HAVING A V8 UNDER THE BONNET: 294KW AND 696NM OF INSTANT TORQUE , WHICH HELPS IT ROCKET FROM ZERO TO 100KM/H IN JUST 4.8 SECONDS.

This thing also has Land Rover-family all-wheeldrive bits underneath it as standard. It will go places you’d never think of taking an EV; it even has a wading depth listed in the brochure for goodness’ sake. There are three Jaguar I-Pace grades to choose from: the $159,900 entry-level S; the SE grade for $10k more; or the all-singing, all-dancing $179,900 HSE, which comes with plenty of premium features like 20in alloys, 18-way electric Windsor leather seats and a powerful 825W Meridian Surround Sound System. In the current climate, the I-Pace might well represent the face of Jaguar – a brand that has traded heavily on heritage up until this point – into the next decade and beyond. Thank goodness it impresses then.

THE STATISTICS ENGINE: battery electric powertrain with 90kWh lithium-ion battery TOTAL SYSTEM POWER: 294kW TOTAL SYSTEM TORQUE: 696Nm MAXIMUM SPEED: 200km/h PRICE: $159,900

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

ARTICLE BY LUCY CORRY

ARTICLE BY DAN HARDIE

FASHION

EXERCISE

TRAIN YOUR

TOPPING IT OFF It usually takes a lot to stand out on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, but last year a group of models were head and shoulders above the rest when big-name labels decreed that the balaclava was back. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like this trend is going to catch on for the rest of us any time soon and more practical winter headgear is always in style – and saves you from being cold and miserable! WHICH HAT WILL SUIT ME? There’s a hat for every head. If you have an oval face, you can wear pretty much anything you like. For the rest of us, a bit of insider knowledge can transform your winter hat into a crowning glory. If you have a long face, look for a hat that cuts across your forehead and creates the illusion of width, rather than length. Wide-brimmed hats, berets or hats with a fitted crown all work well. If your face is heart-shaped, look for a hat with a shorter brim to balance out a wider forehead. Soft knitted hats, stylish caps, and felt or wool fedoras all suit people with this face shape.

BALANCE

Dan is our new columnist, and provides regular exercises and activities on his Instagram account @dan.thehuman.

If you have a round face, you need a structured hat rather than something soft and floppy. Hats with high crowns or asymmetrical angles will help create a sense of length. Conversely, people with square faces need something to soften the jawline. Look for berets, circular hats and anything with a floppy brim.

Feeling confident on your feet, whether it’s walking, climbing stairs or getting out of bed, is

WHAT ABOUT HAT HAIR?

practise this.

Some people are put off wearing hats for fear that their hairdo will be squished into a hair-don’t. To avoid this, don’t put a hat on when your hair is wet or damp, or it will dry in the shape of the hat. And put your hat on from front to back, placing it on gently but firmly, rather than jamming it down like the lid of a rubbish bin. WHAT ABOUT BEANIES? The humble beanie has its uses, but it’s not a high-fashion item unless you’re a 16-year-old street-style star or the beanie itself is made from a luxury fabric like merino wool or cashmere. Wear your trusty all-weather beanie when in the garden or out for a walk, but don’t wear it when you want to impress.

crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. ACC has measured that if it takes a person longer than 12 seconds to get from lying on the floor to standing, he or she has a higher risk of a fall. Try timing yourself to see how long it takes you. One of the factors that reduces our risk of falling is our leg strength and balance. We want our legs to be able to keep up with our brain every time we take our next step. Below are a few ways you can

The tightrope walk

Find a straight line on the ground, at least 5m long, with some space on either side so that you can move your arms (or a wall on one side to help you balance). Try to walk along the line, placing your feet on it like a tightrope walker. Bonus points if you can do it backwards!

One-leg static balance

Stand with one foot facing forwards on flat ground. Lift the other leg until your knee is in line with your hips. Try to balance in this position for 10–30 seconds per leg. This helps us to train our reactive sense of balance, and works a lot of important muscles around our ankles and feet. If you’d like to make the exercise harder, close your eyes.

Big-toe push

Every time you walk up a flight of stairs, think about pushing your big toe into the step. Our big toes are very important to the health of our feet. When we push through our toes, we send a signal to our brain to work our foot muscles and also to preserve our foot strength.

These exercises can be done daily or at any time you’re feeling adventurous. As we know, we have a better chance of sticking to exercise when we do it with a friend, so find a buddy and challenge each other! The body gets good at what it does routinely, whether it’s a lot of movement or a lack of it.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

ARTICLE BY AMELIA NORMAN

TRAVEL LOG

For those who still like to get up into the mountains, Tekapo is perfectly placed for day trips to either Roundhill or Mt Dobson ski areas. Both of these small, friendly ski fields are accessible within a 40-minute drive from the town and offer half-price lift passes for skiers aged over 65.

TEKAPO

When you picture the stunning blue waters of Lake Tekapo in the South Island’s Mackenzie District, you might envisage summery swims and trips on the boat. But the small lakeside village of Tekapo is also a popular winter destination, with cosy accommodation and photogenic backdrops.

ACCOMMODATION

EATING

Two things matter when booking accommodation in winter in Tekapo: the view and warmth.

If you want to venture out early, head to the Greedy Cow on Rapuwai Lane. Open from 7.30am daily, the café has an incredible breakfast menu that covers all the bases, along with an extensive tea and coffee menu to match. Book ahead if you can, as it fills up fast.

Peppers Bluewater Resort delivers on both of these things, and more. The prominent resort hotel is perched spectacularly on the edge of town (yet still just a few minutes’ walk to all of the major attractions), and offers everything from comfortable hotel rooms to spacious three-bedroom villas. For a sumptuous stay, book into Lake Tekapo Lodge. This luxurious option, tucked just behind the township and overlooking the lake and mountains, is an oasis of comfort and style. As well as offering a selection of uniquely styled accommodation suites, hosts Alistair and Stephanie place an emphasis on fine wine, fine food and fine art. A four-course fine-dining experience can be included in your stay, and the delicious breakfast menu includes local produce and small goods.

ACTIVITIES

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

For lunch with a view, you can’t beat Astro Café. This glass-walled café is perched atop Mt John, just south of Tekapo village, and is possibly one of the world’s most picturesque eateries. You can access the summit of Mt John via the walking track (about 1.5 hours depending on your ability) or via the road (which incurs an $8 fee per vehicle). Come evening, the main street of Tekapo village offers an international array of dining options. The Tin Plate Kitchen and Bar has a contemporary yet relaxed restaurant menu featuring local ingredients. Known for its amazing pizzas, the venue also offers a wide selection of main courses that are perfect to enjoy by the roaring fire with a glass of mulled wine.

If relaxing and keeping warm is more your thing, head to Tekapo Springs. Nestled at the base of Mt John, the picturesque hot pools here look out to the stunning lake and mountains. There is an on-site café and bar that serve as a perfect (and warm!) spot for watching the ice skating and snow tubing going on just outside the window. When you’re staying in an international dark sky reserve, stargazing is an absolute must. One of only eight such reserves in the world, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve has extremely low light pollution, making it one of the best stargazing sites on Earth. Earth & Sky offers two-hour guided night-time tours at Mt John Observatory, which include a peek through some of the most powerful telescopes in the world and a talk on the research that happens at the observatory. Tours start at the Earth & Sky office in central Tekapo, so you don’t have to worry about getting up the hill in the dark. The last flurry of bright autumn leaves and the majestic snow-covered mountains around the glass-like water make winter at Lake Tekapo a photographer’s dream. Whether you’re out capturing birdlife on a lake-edge walk, taking panoramic shots from a scenic flight or trying your luck at astrophotography up at the observatory, you’re bound to capture a memorable image or two (hundred) on your visit here. Stay for a night or stay for a week; either way, the wintery charms of Lake Tekapo are sure to warm your cockles and have you coming back for more. STATS Region: Mackenzie District Closest airport: Timaru Main road: State Highway 8

Tekapo

RESIDENTS' OPINIONS

Maureen Briggs SUMMERSET AT MONTEREY PARK, HOBSONVILLE

“I went to Tekapo in October, and I didn’t know it was going to be as lovely as it was. People were so friendly. I went on a flight over the mountains with Air Safaris. On my way back from a walk on the day prior to my flight, it started to snow! The plane was a seven-seater, and the view was jaw-droppingly beautiful. It was the best money I have ever spent – and I’ve travelled a lot, and worked in Switzerland! I wasn’t prepared for how beautiful the South Island was. I stayed in a lovely place called Lake Tekapo Scenic Resort, which is right on the water. I had an apartment upstairs, and the first morning I woke up I phoned my daughter to tell her I was staying for ever! The view is just breathtaking.”

Frank & Koba Schuurman SUMMERSET AT MONTEREY PARK, HOBSONVILLE

We have a campervan and Tekapo is one of our favourite spots to visit because it’s so peaceful and the scenery is so beautiful. It is also the perfect place for a campervan; it couldn’t be better! We visited in autumn once and there was hardly anyone around. The wildflowers are beautiful, and we really enjoy the nature. Living in Auckland, there’s nothing like getting away to Tekapo. There’s a beautiful walk around the lake, which leaves from the campground. It’s just so peaceful!

Population: 369

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

PUZZLES

BRAIN TEASE

SPLITDECISION

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

TARGET

Good 9 Very Good 13 Excellent 17+

N N N I I G D A T

WORDWHEEL

WordWheel

E S

T A E ?

1687

L T UWordWheel ? D O

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

3 CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1 Steer, 4 Bolt from the blue, 14 Steps, 15 Patch, 16 Principles, 17 Chant, 19 Duo, 20 Jealous, 21 Timetable, 22 Always, 25 Faultless, 27 Washed, 28 Ascend, 33 Guaranteed, 35 Hue, 36 Violin, 37 Tomb, 39 Sly, 41 Inhabit, 42 Honest, 43 Sensitive, 44 Lunge, 45 Thresher, 50 Me, 51 Unsteady, 55 Samba, 58 Uppermost, 59 Reduce, 60 Benefit, 61 Air, 63 Pose, 64 Miller, 65 Ice, 66 Substitute, 68 Seethe, 69 Tossed, 71 Cavalcade, 76 Budget, 77 Hairbrush, 79 Astride, 81 Sue, 84 Weigh, 85 Penicillin, 86 Limbs, 87 Irony, 88 Pencil sharpener, 89 Asked. DOWN: 2 Travel, 3 Excel, 5 Ogre, 6 Tonsils, 7 Raised, 8 Malta, 9 Hassles, 10 Back, 11 Unable, 12 Weeds, 13 Astound, 14 Strauss, 18 Outlandish, 23 Sleet, 24 Remorse, 26 Airfare, 27 Wrestle, 29 Erotica, 30 Quench, 31 Chief, 32 Sign on, 34 Doom, 36 Vying, 38 Beefy, 40 Dirt, 45 Thump, 46 Riposte, 47 Surf, 48 Exotic, 49 Smear, 50 Married, 52 Scepticism, 53 Elected, 54 Dainty, 55 Stilton, 56 Added, 57 Aces, 62 U-boat, 67 Shadowy, 68 Seismic, 70 Scalpel, 72 Absolve, 73 Demise, 74 Grocer, 75 Edible, 76 Below, 78 Ranch, 80 Reins, 82 Chic, 83 Fife. WORDWHEEL: 1. EMULATES. 2. DERELICT. 3. OUTMODED.

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue

Insert the missing letter in each puzzle to make an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise WordWheel

E D U T

1689

O ?

D E I

1688

R E

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

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

SPLIT DECISION

TARGET

adit agin aiding anti dating digit ding dining dinning dint gain gait giant INDIGNANT inning innit tannin tanning tiding ting tinning

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. The nine-letter word will definitely be familiar to you. No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.

All puzzles copyright The Puzzle Company

ACROSS 1 Direct (5) 4 Sudden and unexpected event or piece of news (4,4,3,4) 14 Stairway (5) 15 Temporary repair (5) 16 Rules of personal conduct (10) 17 Intone (5) 19 Pair (3) 20 Envious (7) 21 Schedule of events (9) 22 Eternally (6) 25 Perfect (9) 27 Cleaned with water (6) 28 Climb (6) 33 Assured (10) 35 Tint (3) 36 Fiddle (6) 37 Burial chamber (4) 39 Cunning (3) 41 Occupy (7) 42 Truthful (6) 43 Easily offended or upset (9) 44 Thrusting forward

movement (5) Type of shark (8) Myself (2) Shaky (8) Brazilian dance (5) Highest (9) Cut back (6) Advantage (7) Tune (3) Sit for (4) Flour maker (6) Road danger (3) Swap for (10) Fume with anger (6) Thrown (6) Procession (9) Financial plan (6) Barber’s accessory (9) Straddling (7) Take to court (3) Assess (5) Antibiotic drug (10) Branches (5) Paradox (5) Cartoonist’s, artist’s, plandrawer’s accessory (6,9) 89 Invited (5) 45 50 51 55 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 66 68 69 71 76 77 79 81 84 85 86 87 88

DOWN 2 Journey (6) 3 Distinguish oneself (5) 5 Monster (4) 6 On lists (anag)(7) 7 Brought up (6) 8 Mediterranean island (5) 9 Annoying inconveniences (7) 10 Reverse (4) 11 Not capable (6) 12 Unwanted garden plants (5) 13 Stun (7) 14 Father and son Austrian composers (7) 18 Grossly unconventional (10) 23 Icy rain (5) 24 Sense of regret (7) 26 Flier’s fee (7) 27 Swelter (anag) (7) 29 Titillating literature, art (7) 30 Satisfy by drinking (6) 31 Tribal leader (5) 32 Enrol (4,2) 34 Fate (4) 36 Competing (5) 38 Muscular (5)

40 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 62 67 68 70 72 73 74 75 76 78 80 82 83

Grime (4) Hit heavily (5) Swift sharp reply (7) Waves (4) Not native (6) Slanderous defamation (5) Wedded (7) Incredulity (10) Voted in (7) Delicately elegant (6) Cheese type (7) Said further (5) High cards (4) German submarine (1-4) Lacking clarity (7) Of earthquakes (7) Surgeon’s knife (7) Declare free from guilt (7) Death (6) Seller of household goods (6) Fit for consumption (6) Under (5) Spread in America (5) Horse straps (5) Fashionable (4) Military flute (4)

Summerset Scene | Winter Issue