Nice way to spend a summers day and have a good yarn with a mate. Hoorah!

Gallipoli dawn service – 2012

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

We will remember them.

New Zealand Soldiers at Anzac Cove 1915

 

Inspiration for 2015 comes from John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

 “I have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all, slept around the clock or missed two nights of sleeping, worked too hard and too long in glory, or slobbed for a time in utter laziness. I’ve lifted, pulled, chopped, climbed, made love with joy and taken my hangovers as a consequence, not as a punishment.” Read More >

It’s the Pōhutukawa tree that does it for me… our very own Christmas Tree

Where else on the planet would there be a tree that speaks to me, and understands I have been 28 years at sea.

I thought I was destined to roam, but as it turned out I found my way home.

To Wellington, the great harbour of Tara, but also named after our past master.

A town named after a Duke that would make most Kiwi’s puke, but never mind, its a ship of line that our character is defined.

And I did my time here in my youth, and some would say I was a touch uncouth, and that’s probably the truth.

Actually, it’s the garage beer that brings me here, a beverage I would like to be near.

They call it Wellywood, but my purpose for being here is little understood.

I should really live in New York as my wife is a banker, and she’s the anchor.

But what sort of tree would I talk to in New York… I think I’d rather shake hands with an Ork.

No, it’s the Pōhutukawa tree with its stamen bright, surely the future is in sight.

You know everything is all right, when I drive around Oriental Bay in the twilight.

And when I look at my daughter, and I see her shine, I know that coming back to New Zealand was always in my mind.

Wishing you all the very best for the festive season

The Wandering Palate

Just love the card my daughter gave me for my birthday…

Yes the rumour is true, the Wandering Palate has escaped Singapore, having moved back to my old home town of Wellington, New Zealand, after nearly three decades—wandering. If anyone asks why Wellington? Just tell them “It’s like an ocean trout lost at sea for 28 years and finally coming back to the spawning ground”.

I will write at length on the Singapore experience (meanwhile click here) and what is install next including a new writing gig in the wings, but this will have to wait, until we have unpacked…meanwhile it is business as usual with the Wandering Palate website, albeit random until things settle down a bit. And you can get me on thewanderingpalate@gmail.com

Cheers! Curtis

This picture twittered by Ata Rangi caught my eye… there are truffle dogs and there are Brix sniffing dogs, pretty logical when you think about…

read more on Ata Rangi – click here

I was deeply saddened by the news that Chef Jacques Heraudeau passed away, Sunday, 23^rd February, 2014, losing a two year battle with cancer, at 71 years of age, before his time. Read More >