Is Debt Weighing You Down?

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Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

A stubborn type beginning to trust a lucky charm (6)

Source of clue –NZ Herald


For the solution and explanation - click here

Solution for 30 March cryptic crossword clue

Cheat scam unit (5)

Solution - Condo

Here the 2 parts are “cheat scam” and “unit”.  Both “con” and “do” have meanings that match those words.  And a “condo” is a flat or apartment or “unit”.


For the next cryptic crossword clue in the series, click here

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

This book sparked some controversy.  But it is simply an account of a Chinese American mother’s approach to raising her children.  It wasn’t suggesting everyone do the same.  I found it an interesting read and admire her no-holds barred honest approach.  It must have taken guts to write.  Perhaps the same sort of courage that drove her as a mother?

It is never too late ...

If you liked this post, it would be great if you shared it with your readers.  You just have to click on one of the buttons underneath the post.  They make it easy for you to email, blog, tweet, Facebook or Google +1. Thank you so much for reading my post. 

Bill Hamilton - Great NZ inventor

Bill Hamilton died on this day in 1978.  He was the man behind the development of the Hamilton Jet Boat.  A self taught brillian NZ innovator and inventor.  We need more like him.

For a link to another post about a famous New Zealander, click here

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Cheat scam unit (5)

        Source of clue –New Idea Cryptic Crossword


Click here for solution and explanation

Solution for 29 March cryptic crossword clue

Where not to stop on the green? (7,6)

Solution - Traffic lights

I suspect many of you found this an easy one.  It isn’t a two parter.  Once you clue into that ‘green’ is used in the sense of colour rather than a patch of grass on a golf course, the solution makes sense.


For the next clue in this series on cryptic crosswords, click here

The Little Willies

While country music is not my thing very often, one of my favourite cd’s is by The Little Willies featuring Norah Jones (born on this day in 1979).  If you missed it when it came out in 2006 you can probably pick it up quite cheaply now.  Favourite tracks of mine include – Streets of Baltimore and Tennessee Stud.

The Spirit of the English

"We are showing that Englishmen can still die with a bold spirit, fighting it out to the end." 

               – Robert Falcon Scott died around this day in 1912

Don Binney masterpiece - major appreciation in value

Exactly a year ago, a Don Binney masterpiece sold at auction for $270,000 in aid of the Christchurch earthquake recovery fund.

Historian and author Dick Scott bought Kotare Over Ratana Church, Te Kao in the early 1960s for 50 guineas. 

To see another post about New Zealand art click here

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Where not to stop on the green? (7,6)

Source of clue –Christine Lovatt’s Cryptic Crossword


For the solution/explanation for this cryptic crossword clue, click here

Solution for 28 March cryptic crossword clue

Foreign hotel is far from friendly (7)

Solution – Hostile

Another sneaky little anagram – this time the key word indicating this is “foreign” – so an anagram of “hotel is” is hostile.




For the next cryptic crossword clue in the series, click here

Wynyard Quarter, Auckland - a funky part of town

Some of the funky street furniture in the Wynyard Quarter

I went recently to check out the Wynyard Quarter – a newish area in Auckland.  It was originally an industrial marine sort of area – not at all attractive.  But they have done a great job of sprucing it up while retaining an industrial flavour.  Buzzy restaurants, interesting walkways and seating options, good green spaces, playground, half basketball court. 

Weird metal structure, Wynyard Quarter

The only bit that didn’t work for me was a strange 3 storied metal structure that didn’t seem to have any real purpose.  I have been told subsequently that it is a temporary viewing platform.  I went up it but didn’t like the way it swayed and the view through metal mesh down 3 stories – still a bit of a wuss I’m afraid.

Tram in the Wynyard Quarter

Oh, and the tram seemed all a bit pointless.  And not very well patronised when we were there.

Te Whero Bridge between the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter

We walked over the new bridge to Te Whero Island and were lucky enough then to see it being raised to allow a launch to exit the Viaduct.  It didn’t take long.  Another attraction of the quarter is seeing the opulent superyachts up close.  How on earth does anyone have enough money to splash out on one of those??

Diamond Jubilee Year

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Foreign hotel is far from friendly (7) 

Source of clue –Christine Lovatt’s Cryptic Crossword

For the solution and explanation for this cryptic crossword clue, click here 

Solution for 27 March cryptic crossword clue

Where to find inmates or pub employees (6,4)

Solution – Behind bars

Here you needed to look for a place that you might have both prison inmates or bartenders.

Funnily enough this solution was also applicable to another clue in another puzzle – “like staff serving drinks inside?”

MS Paul Gaugin - Magical Cruise in French Polynesia

MS Paul Gaugin

One of my best ever holidays was a 7 day cruise around the Tahitian islands on the MS Paul Gaugin.  Talk about 6 star luxury.  It was a smaller sized ship – about 300 passengers.  The itinerary was very leisurely.  Just tootling between various islands – going on little excursions.

The staff had both the big and little things right.  When onshore, you knew that if you went back to the wharf you would find a crew member in a little marquee ready to give you an ice cool drink.  Very refreshing in the heat.

Platform at rear of MS Paul Gaugin for launching water sports

The food was great on board.  I didn’t use it but there was 24 hour free room service.  Your cabin was also stocked with beers and spirits of your choice at no extra charge.  The crew were spectacular – friendly without being obsequious.  The ship perfectly designed for the itinerary – I wouldn’t want to go out into the really open sea on it – since I suspect it would have rolled but it was just fine.  There is a marina at the rear of the ship which they lower as a platform for kayaking, snorkelling, scuba etc.  The best day was probably on the private motu (island) where you arrived to see guys walking around in the water towing a floating bar from which they were doling out fruit cocktails.

Floating bar on private island day

I'm In Shape?

Today’s cryptic clue – solution tomorrow

Where to find inmates or pub employees (6,4)

Source of clue –Christine Lovatt’s Cryptic Crossword

Solution for 26 March cryptic crossword clue

A small fear leads to mistaken emergency (5,5)

Solution – False alarm

This clue doesn’t give you much of a hint that an anagram is involved – I don’t recall seeing “leads to” used that way before.  But jumbling the letters in “a small fear” does give you the solution which of course can mean a mistaken emergency. 


For the next cryptic crossword clue in the series, click here

The Red Lantern, Surry Hills, Sydney - great Vietnamese cuisine

Exterior of the Red Lantern

This Vietnamese restaurant was recommended to us.  I had also seen the chef, Luke Nguyen, on Food TV so we decided to give it a go on our last jaunt to Sydney.  I am not a Vietnamese food aficionado so please take that into account when reading this.

The restaurant is on Crown St – in the midst of a large restaurant and bar district in Surry Hills.  The street frontage is very modest and the restaurant itself is quite small.

They operate on a sittings basis.  So we had a reservation from 7pm to 9pm.  We booked online and I imagine you wouldn’t have much luck if you just rocked up without a reservation.

Chilli salted squid

The staff were fantastic.  Almost everyone else there was in larger groups.  We had the tasting menu ($65 a head – not cheap).  The entrée part of it was just wonderful.  Great lightly battered chilli salted squid (which I have only just started to try) with a lemon and white pepper dipping sauce, chicken skewers with sesame salt, and a beef stir fry – all amazing.  There was something wrapped in a rice paper roll which was a bit bland.

The second half of the tasting menu was not quite so appealing. More delicate flavours, for instance, in the trevalla which were hard to appreciate after the buzz left in your mouth from the entrees.  Nicest dish in this part was the cubed Angus sirloin with garlic, sesame and black pepper.

Cubed Angus sirloin with garlic, sesame and black pepper

I would recommend this restaurant as somewhere to go – preferably in a group of 4 or more.  And I think ordering a variety of things off the menu would be a better option.

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