Writer and musician
Golden Bay librarian Suse Toder says we don’t need to leave our cars running anymore. Golden Bay resident Suse Toder would like people to think about not idling their cars, both to save on fuel costs and to reduce greenhouse emissions. Suse says that in the UK, Canada, US, and Germany it’s illegal to leave your car running to …
Anita Peters with a wild basket she made using willow and other “random branches” from trees that were washed up on Pohara Beach after a recent storm. East Takaka resident Anita Peters delights in making baskets from material she finds in her environment. She uses plants such as banana passion vine, harakeke, muehlenbeckia, wild riverside …
Community Compost organiser Ben Bushell in front of Big Bertha Community Compost is going from strength to strength in Nelson, diverting tonnes of food waste from landfills. Community Compost organiser Ben Bushell says biking around town to collect the compost from homes and businesses has been a great way to promote their project. Ben is …
“In this modern age, I think that people have kind of lost some of those stories that used to be passed on from grandmother or grandfather down to their grandchildren. That seems to be my role, to tell the stories about plants,” says John.
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By Charlotte Squire CJ Webster Claire (CJ) Webster is involved in a groundbreaking river restoration project in Takaka that will see the once heavily polluted Motupipi River returning to its pre-European state. Claire, who works as education and partnerships officer for Tasman District Council, saw the potential of the spring-fed Motupipi River over 10 years ago. “When I first moved …
Meet Salvi Garguilo. He’s a tall Italian man with a sharp mind for maths, and a laid back approach to life that has won that hearts of many students over the years. Salvatore Gargiulo with his Dad’s war medals, Nelson, New Zealand. 2020. I first met him way back when I was a scruffy 11 …
Ok. It is easy to take our life stories for granted. I’ll admit it. Why? Because we’ve lived every moment of the experience and for us it’s normal. For every exciting moment there have been a million mundane ones and besides, other people’s stories are far more interesting. Aren’t they? Most people will leave it …
Continue reading "Tip # 4: Why your life story really does matter"
Being clear about who you’re writing your life story for before you start writing will make it easier for you. Who are you writing your story for? Yourself? Your family? The public? Who ever it’s for, knowing this from the start will also set the tone and determine what you include. Will you unleash all …
Continue reading "Tip #2 Clarify who your life story is for"
For some, this is a revelation, a ticket to freedom! For others this suggestion is about as wild and on the edge as running naked down a busy city street. Many of us have been told NEVER to write on the back of our precious photos, but I've come across folk who eventually thrown their …
Continue reading "Tip #1 – Write on the back of your photos"
Writing your memoirs or life story is one of those really important things many people mean to do, but never get around to. Or, in my father’s case, he couldn’t see the point in sharing the details of his very ‘normal’ life. My father was a child of WW2 who went onto become a soldier …
Continue reading "Stuck at home? How to finally write your life story"
Where do you start, when you're thinking about writing the story of your life? I was recently asked this question by someone who very much wanted to write his story, but was daunted by the 'how on earth to do it' factor. Whether you're writing about your entire life, a period of time, or an …
Continue reading "How to prepare to write your memoir, even if you do it yourself"
Oh the stories we hold within. This old courthouse in Reefton (during a recent holiday) had me imagining all kinds of scenarios.Yes it's true! I've been up to my eyeballs in not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR books, all at once. And they're all drawing to an end. All at once. It's …
Note to artists and creative folk: Please boldly share your creations with the world! Meet Golden Bay artist Larissa Dunn. She is a highly creative soul, selling her wares online and from Detour Gallery. She makes pencil cases out of upcycled materials, map dresses, and whale paintings to name but a few. Over the past …
Continue reading "Why I think artists should share baby, share!"
I was mortified. I was on my own in a busy West Coast pub, chock full of people enjoying a nice Friday night meal, and it seemed like half of them were gathered around me, laughing, and taking photos to pop up on Facebook. Feckers. In front of me was the largest damn burger I …
It can be tough keeping your customers and team up to date with fresh news when you’re flat out running a business. So get in touch! I’m Charlotte Squire and I’m a wordy girl from way back. If you need help whipping up a blog or two, capturing those customer raves, attracting media attention, or …
Charlotte Squire 