Hi and thanks for visiting...
I have many passions; natural-heal​th, conservation​, creative writing, reading, art, photography,​ organic gardening, history, and just learning about the world and other people.

I enjoy correspondin​g with people from the USA, Europe, South America, and with people anywhere who love Nature. Please be considerate by adding a photo of yourself to your profile, and please understand that it may not be possible for me to reply promptly, or to everyone ...

Rather than write about hobbies etc, I'd like to tell you a little about where I live, New Zealand...

Some geography:
New Zealand consists of three main islands, the largest of which were named with originality and imagination - the North Island, the South Island. The North Island has a volcanic landscape and more people (3.5 million). The South Island has a glacial landscape and fewer people (1 million). The standard joke is that the last person to leave the South Island on a Friday night has to turn the light off.

New Zealand is an ecological 'time capsule' because it became separated from Australia before modern four-legged mammals evolved. There are no such natives here - birds ruled, various Moas and a giant eagle, now extinct. We still have many amazing ancient species. New Zealand is like a living Jurassic Park without the dinasaurs.

New Zealand has many wilderness areas and National Parks. About three-quarte​rs of NZ is conservation​ land. Nearly every landscape type is represented in NZ - fjords, rainforests,​ alpine mountains, glaciers, semi-desert,​ volcanos, sub-tropical​ beaches, and it is all packed together in an area about the size of California.

Right, what about the people?
Here’s what you should know about New Zealander’s – we are called “Kiwis”. There is also a Kiwifruit that we named after ourselves (not sure why!) The dominant religion is called “Rugby” - it is practiced devoutly every Saturday, and in some other countries is apparently a sport. We are a mixed race of people who usually get along. The Maoris were the first people to arrive. Dutch explorer Able Tasman arrived in 1642, and it was named New Zealand, but he had no use for it, so he left. Captain Cook mapped New Zealand in 1769. He liked it, so he came back. The missionaries​ came to 'save' the Maoris, who didn't know they needed saving. Others came to provide the Maoris with the advantages of disease and guns, which were lacking. The British subsequently​ colonized NZ, but we have many cultures represented here.

Kiwis are inventive and self-reliant​ by nature, because historically​ this was a survival skill. In our spare time we play around in the outdoors, pursuing a variety of adventurous and dangerous activities, until we have a near death experience, then we let the tourists do it (eg. Bungy jumping). Tourism is big here. You may have heard of an expensive tourism advertisemen​t we made called “Lord of the Rings”.

Many Kiwis are world travellers. Wherever you find one, they will be able to tell you a story about something crazy they did; climbed a mountain and lost some toes, paddled a kayak over a waterfall and lost a kayak, sailed around the world and lost a yacht, got married and lost their house in the settlement.

Understateme​nt is a national characterist​ic, for example: A farmer observing his farm underwater in a flood whilst leaning casually against a fence-post, is likely to comment to a friend: “Tad damp today, eh, Trev.” Similarly, if his wool-shed is airborne in a gale, he would say something like: “Getting a bit breezy, hope that crate of beer lands near the house.”  This characterist​ic is endemic in NZ society. “Just a second” actually means '10 minutes.'  “Wait a minute” means 'Half-an-hou​r,' and “Leave it with me, I’ll get around to it” means 'When you come back, I will have forgotten all about it.'

All right, you get the idea. Here’s a brief summary of some typical Kiwispeak:

Kia Ora: Maori greeting (variations:​ Kia Ora mate, Kia Ora bro etc.)
Gidday: Literally ‘Good day to you’ (variations:​ Gidday mate, Gidday bro etc.)
Mate: Buddie, but can be used with strangers. Note: it is used much more commonly in Australia, where its use is officially required in every sentence.
Eh: Pronounced ‘a’ and used at the end of a sentence meaning ‘Ain’t that right’ or as a question for clarificatio​n meaning "What was that?”
She’ll be right: A common empathetic affirmation intended to re-assure. ‘Don’t worry that the rope is breaking, it will turn out all right in the end.’
Bob's your Uncle: ‘It’s easy. That's all there is to it!' Just press the big red button that says 'Launch Missile,' and "Bob's your uncle."​
Chrissy: Christmas. We paint snow on our windows, send Christmas cards with snowmen on them, and someone dresses up in a warm Santa suit, then we go to the beach and have a barbeque in 30 C. heat.

Home is not where you live but where they understand you.

The Women’s 5 Rules for Happiness:
1. Find a man who loves housework.
2. Find a man who makes you laugh.
3. Find a man who has a great job.
4. Find a man who is a great lover and finally.
5. Make sure that none of these men ever meet each other.

A common man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace.​

Hope you enjoyed. Kind thoughts to you.