By Aunty Rata Kia ora fellow trampers I hope you managed to eat your fill of Easter eggs and hot cross buns over the holiday weekend. For some time Aunty Rata has been promising advice on baking the legendary Tararua biscuit. There are several reasons for the delay. First, I am rubbish at baking so … Read more
with Aunty Rata Kia Ora and happy new year Wasn’t it nice to get the Club Journal just before Xmas? Felt like an extra special present and if like Aunty Rata you were struggling to squeeze in a few fun trips into the hills between all those heavy rain warnings, you probably had a bit … Read more
It promised to be a wonderful weekend in the sunny tararuas. And for once they were actually meant to be sunny! We set off Saturday after a week of rain from the railway station. On the way up I noticed the higher than usual flow in the rivers when we crossed the bridges… it occurred … Read more
with Aunty Rata Buongiorno trampers Aunty Rata has a soft spot for Italian food although it would be fair to say that pasta aside; it can be a little tricky to produce good quality stuff in the field. On the other hand, if you practice at home first, there is no reason why you can’t … Read more
Hi fellow trampers Sometimes it is nice to have a bit of fun and frivolity with food you take into the hills. Dessert is the perfect time to give your fun muscles a work out because even if the dish doesn’t quite work out everyone should be reasonably full after the main course. When looking … Read more
with Aunty Rata Kia Ora trampers. Doesn’t that snow on the Tararuas look great not to mention the snow on the Ruahines? Not much snow at Whakapapa yet but good dumps on the southern and eastern slopes of the big R and some of the ice climbing routes are looking like they may actually get … Read more
With Aunty Rata Namaste people. Hope you are keeping warm. Congratulations to Michael Phethean who climbed Everest on May 23. Aunty Rata is delighted for him and I’m sure the rest of you are too. When someone realises a dream it is time for a smile, a salute and to be thankful that it didn’t … Read more
with Aunty Rata Ki Ora fellow trampers. Of all the carbs you can base your dinner meal around pasta seems to slide down the most easily. This is my excuse for giving you another pasta recipe this month. I often make this recipe at home as well as in the hills because it is great … Read more
with Aunty Rata Ki Ora fellow trampers. I hope you managed to get outdoors to enjoy adventures in our conservation estate over the Easter and school holiday period. The government has finally made public its proposals to open up more conservation estate to mining. John Key reckons New Zealanders are evenly divided on this issue. … Read more
with Aunty Rata March is Aunty Rata’s favourite month of the year. The weather is at its best and passion fruit are in season. What more can an old bird want? Well maybe a few seeds! This month I have a recipe for you that features nuts and seeds. Yes I know, at first blush … Read more