Birding in the Wairarapa

The Ornithological Society has members from throughout the Wairarapa region and we have monthly field trips to a range of venues in the Wairarapa.

We would like to develop further interest in birding, especially from young people as there are a variety of activities in the Wairarapa that suit a range of ages.

We also have monthly meetings, usually situated in either Masterton or Greytown.

From now until the end of the year we have trips planned for Onoke Spit, Henley Lake, Waiohine Gorge, Bartons Lagoon and to private properties where people have developed areas for birds.

If you would like to participate in the group, please get in touch with: Peggy Duncan, phone 06 304 8382 or peggy.duncan@clear.net.nz

Anyone for philosophy?

For a great many people, if various discussions I’ve had are any indicator, philosophy represents a sort of pointless indulgence. They see it as little more than a game, in the way chess is a game, where one can while away the hours constructing and defending positions while seeking out weaknesses in the opposing points of view.
Ultimately comes the claim, nothing is established, no understanding is advanced. Common sense is more than enough to get us through when grappling with questions of ethics or reality. In essence, philosophy is painted as a marginally acceptable leisure activity. Those who indulge in it are treated with a certain suspicion.

One of the reasons I enjoy introducing philosophy into my novels is that I’m pretty sure the view I outlined above is bogus. While I don’t think engagement with philosophy is a necessary part of life, any more than ice skating is necessary, I think it’s wrong to dismiss the field as unhelpful or unimportant. People who make the case above are themselves indulging in a philosophical argument, and as such, they’re not really making a case against philosophy. Rather, they’re making the case that they should be allowed to continue doing their very bad philosophy, untroubled by the challenges of rigorous analysis. … Continue Reading

Angels Share 2011

Angels share is a winemaking term that denotes the portion of wine that evaporates from the barrel, and is said to “go to the heavens” for the angels to enjoy.

Katherine Jacobs and Jeremy Corban of Big Sky Wines have created Angels Share Pinot Noir with the help of a supportive team of generous local vineyard owners and winemakers who provided grapes for the wine. Proceeds from the sale of Angels Share go to the Anglican Parish towards their community focussed activities.

“2011 was a brilliant year with a frostless spring, and a very warm dry summer and a long autumn. This is a classic Martinborough Pinot Noir with dark plums and black cherries, rounding to a liquorice and chocolatey finish. And every sip you take comes with a guarantee of feeling good!” says Katherine.

Angels Share is available to purchase at the Martinborough Wine Centre. Call in and buy a bottle – it is a beautiful wine as well as being for a very good cause.

An enjoyable and rewarding day of singing.

On Saturday May 18 almost 100 members of the Wellington Community Choir came over to Martinborough in a convoy of vans,and took part in a great ‘sing-shop’ (workshop), combining with about 40 enthusiastic local singers. Of the locals, about half of those who attended belong to the Martinborough Community Choir, also quite a few from the Featherston Gentlemen’s Choir, as well as a few keen local singers who currently aren’t choir members.

The sing-shop was held in St. Andrew’s Church hall, which has great acoustics for singing. It was led by the amazing and energetic Julian Raphael, and his assistant choir leader, Carol Shortis who also did a fantastic job of teaching us.We had fun learning several African songs during the course of the afternoon; and later that evening, we combined with the Wellington choir to sing those songs together at the end of their fantastic concert. … Continue Reading