Journalism takes you places

Journalism is like a back-stage pass to life, in some ways.  I'm only in training, but I can already see that not only do you get to find out new stuff almost every day, you also get to meet different people and hear their stories, as well as going places you might never otherwise have.
Granted, I imagine the job can take you places you don't really want to go yet are obliged to - but the rest of it can be fascinating.

I've just spent four weeks of 'holidays' getting some experience with a paper and, looking back, I've learnt about a pretty wide variety of topics.
For example, I now know how rat poison works.
I've spoken to relationship counsellors, rugby clubs, child safety advocates, high school students, and frustrated Dinsdale residents.
I've got all kitted up to get onto a building site.  Right down to the steel-capped boots.

Headed down to the Frankton Sale Yards to find people to talk to about petrol - felt I stuck out like a sore thumb in my corporate-ish clothes, and was asked by the young girl helping out "are you buying cows?"
Made a little road trip to meet the couple who are probably the biggest fans of the royal family in the Waikato.
And witnessed a piece of history at Rukumoana Marae.  Aside from the historic settlement, there was some great singing there that day.  See it below - sideways, because my phone did something weird with the recording.

Before signing of the deed, Rukumoana Marae.

Statue of King Mahuta, Rukumoana Marae.

They were four interesting weeks, but now it's back to student-land for some more learning!

Home citrus & home baking

Winter's the season of colds and flu, and the flat's a bit cold sometimes, so I'm really glad we have a set of citrus trees in the back garden.

It's great having them, but what's even better is having them AND a sunny day (when your washing dries on the line in a few hours) to go out and pick the fruit.

I foresee plenty of lemon, honey, and ginger drinks - as well as a bit of pasta with lemon, vinegar, and mustard sauce.

And on the topic of producing things at home, I can recommend baking Scott's Farewell Square - recipe in Ladies, A Plate: Traditional home baking by Alexa Johnston.
It doesn't have any citrus in it, but it tastes pretty good, and it's not a bad way to use up a few Weetbix that are past their use-by date.
Our kitchen scales were out of order, and my guess-work produced a rather crumbly example of the square, but never mind.
I got a few good slices out of it, and I'm sure the crumbly bits will be nice mixed with some natural yoghurt!