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ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Alan Funnell and Louisa Andrew have been on a long and difficult journey in search of their missing dogs, Dice and Wee Dog (also known by the nickname Weed). You might have seen the signs along the road, or found a leaflet in your mailbox: Two small dogs, very much loved, possibly separated and both at large. Dice and Wee Dog vanished into the Otago hills about 18 months ago. Their owners, Louisa Andrew and Alan Funnell, started looking within minutes, and have not stopped since. They’ve combed coastlines at 1am in the morning, and followed vague tip-offs and half remembered sightings across the country; they have rounded the South Island several times over , hit dead ends, turned down work, abandoned hobbies, gone broke, torn themselves apart. The scale of the search for Dice and Wee Dog has few parallels in New Zealand. Not just for dogs, but for anything – human or otherwise. Hundreds of signs have been affixed to roadsides, from Whangarei … [Read more...] about Eighteen months, $30,000, and a coma: How two missing dogs shattered, then rebuilt, one couple’s lives

STUFF The pandemic has unfurled stories of resilience. Monique Croon, mayor of the Chatham Islands, was worried. As if having a raging global pandemic threatening the livelihoods of the 700 people who live on the remote islands wasn’t enough, now they were also being invaded. The remote archipelago (group of islands) lies about 800 kilometres east of Christchurch, actually forming New Zealand’s second time zone: they are 45 minutes ahead of the mainland. ‘Forty-five minutes ahead, and 50 years behind’ is the standard joke. But there are real benefits in their remoteness. For example, they are home to 20 per cent of New Zealand’s threatened bird species and provide a rich biodiversity. READ MORE: Kiwis flock to our own island getaways Chatham Islanders welcome $40m windfall - and shorter flights to the mainland Cotton proves good number 8 wire subsitute in fight against wasps The islanders carefully protect their environment, so when, in early 2020, they … [Read more...] about The Chathams, Covid-19, and… the German Wasp invasion

Caregiving places unique stresses on one's emotional and physical wellness. As the primary caregiver for my (now late) husband, I remember feeling like I was trying to push back the ocean waves with a teaspoon each day, knowing how and when my husband's life would likely end and yet trying to find simple, good ways to provide for his well-being. Source: Kristin Meekhof Caregivers face their own emotional wounds from providing intense support, and often these get overlooked. For example, I can remember when a hospice worker told me I was suffering from “anticipatory grief .” As a clinical social worker, I recognized this term, and still I shook my head in a bit of disbelief because, as a caregiver, I knew I was experiencing losses each day. Grief was ever-present, and I knew it wasn't just anticipatory. My grief as a caregiver began when a lab result confirmed my husband had advanced cancer. Watching his physical body decline at a pace faster than I could … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for Caregivers to Consider

Following a turbulent childhood, Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, rose up against the tides of time and achieved both fame and fortune. He became a member of the British Royal Family and has since received numerous accolades for this service to the monarchy and the country. But while the Duke will always be remembered for his achievements and immeasurable support from his wife, he will also be cherished for his cheerful personality and inappropriate but humorous gaffes. That said, here are some of the most witty and comical quotes by Prince Philip. Funny quotes and quips - On his visit to the Caribbean hospital, 1966: "You have mosquitoes. I have the Press." - In 1967, on being asked if he would like to visit the Soviet Union: “I would like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family.” - During the 1981 recession: “A few years ago, everybody was saying we must have more leisure, everyone’s working too … [Read more...] about 10 most witty and humorous quips by Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh