The sweet villa of Highwic by Angela Caldin
In the middle of bustling Newmarket, between some stylish shops and a multi-storey carpark, there is a hidden gem which you might drive past time after time without noticing the entrance to it. It’s the beautiful villa of Highwic, home to generations of the Buckland family from 1861 to 1978 and now run by Heritage New Zealand as a historic house museum. I went there this morning with a lively bunch of children of different ages and we had a very good time indeed. Victorian fertility Alfred Buckland and his wife Eliza… Read More
Napier: Art Deco Capital of the World by Angela Caldin
I’ve always had a bit of trouble remembering what the difference is between Art Deco and Art Nouveau, but since visiting Napier in Hawke’s Bay NZ earlier this month I’ve got it clear: Art Nouveau was inspired by natural forms and structures, particularly flowers and plants, reflected in the beautiful sweeping curved lines which aimed to reflect the natural environment. Its forms had dynamic, undulating, and flowing lines, often asymmetrical, whereas Art Deco combines traditional craft motifs with machine age imagery and materials. The Art Deco style is characterized by bold, symmetrical,… Read More
Books for Prisoners by Angela Caldin
I’ve been thinking a lot about prisoners today, in particular about the fact that they can no longer be sent books (among other things) by family and friends. I’ve been wondering whether, if I was a prisoner, I would care about being deprived of books or whether I’d be just as happy passing the hours of incarceration watching TV and vegetating. The Ministry of Justice announced changes last year which prohibited prisoners receiving parcels (except in certain specific circumstances), including those from family and friends. One reason given was the danger of… Read More
Teeth: Neglect and Guilt; an Offender Confesses, by Angela Caldin
Funny, isn’t it, how we take our bodies for granted until certain bits stop working for us, at which point we are swamped with regret for not looking after them better. This truism applies particularly strongly to teeth, which react to persistent neglect by crumbling away and eventually falling out. I am guilty of having neglected my teeth on and off over the years and it was therefore with great trepidation that I screwed up my courage to go to the hygienist the other day. As I sidled sheepishly round the door… Read More
