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IT’S AMAZING THE GEMS you can find in back issues of NZ Life & Leisure.

I was in a waiting room thumbing through the May/June 2019 issue when I came across the feature Bridget & Topher’s Big Adventure about Bridget Thackwray and Topher Richwhite. What brought back memories was the drone shot of them with their vehicle on a ferry, crossing an arm of Lake Titicaca from Peru to Bolivia.

Some 20- odd years ago, my wife and I toured the area with a group of friends, two of whom had worked in the Altiplano region of Peru for four years and had organized the trip. It helped that they were fluent in South American Spanish. When it came to crossing to Bolivia, our organizers had flown ahead to visit friends while the remainder of us proceeded in a chartered minibus. It was pretty eventful, particularly because we had no Spanish and the driver spoke no English.

When we got to the ferry, we established — after quite a lot of arm-waving and references to phrasebooks — that the party could not travel on the same ferry as the minibus.

As all our traveling possessions were in the vehicle, it was eventually agreed one of us could accompany it, and I drew the short straw. The ferries were the same as the one in the drone shot, and I remember being very apprehensive. There were only two rough sawn planks to carry the vehicle, and the ferry had two 40hp Evinrude outboard motors, one of which was in a semi- dismantled state. I tried to enlarge the photo in the article to see if anything had changed.

We made it safely, however, and I had the last laugh — my traveling companions were each charged US$ 25 for the passage.

Ross Inder, Blenheim

Editor Kate Coughlan was interviewed about her favourite food memories (letter below) by our friends at the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards for their blog, outstandingfoodproducer. co. nz/foodnews

HAVING JUST READ your “Foodie Favourites” interview (Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards), I have to thank you for taking me down memory lane. Think Ireland, think their plentiful breakfasts and soda bread — soda bread like none other. (Fortunately, hubby didn’t like it, so it was easy to make a glutton of oneself.)

Try as I might, I could never replicate this tasty treat. My attempts equaled the only bad experience of our stay — in a bed & breakfast near the Blarney Stone. The town was full, and the only accommodation left was a ramshackle two- storey home that had seen better days — as had the aged proprietors — but they were open to house the overflow. The stay was memorable for all the wrong reasons, but it became one of our highlights for this couple had their hearts in the right place.

It was just a shame that by the time our plates of cornflakes arrived at our tables, much of it had disappeared due to their shaking hands. The bacon was more than overcooked, as were the sausages and eggs. The soda bread was so rock hard you couldn’t cut into it, but the humour and warmth of this couple were legendary.

An unexpected treat, Kate, to be taken down memory lane by your interview, and proof that the merits of food are sometimes also about the experiences associated with it.

Ann Kidd, Motueka

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your great magazine, which cheers the soul. It was wonderful to read Dr Roderick Mulgan’s article on the importance of insects ( NZ Life & Leisure, July/August). As a race, we are not aware enough of this. In 2010, I saw a documentary called Queen of the Sun, which opened my eyes to how humans destroy insect life in their selfish pursuit of producing massive monocultures of plants.

I was particularly upset by how almonds are produced in California and I am sure there are many more examples.

And congratulations to Lynda Perry, her story in the same issue shows “true grit”. Absolutely inspiring — we so need more of this resilience. Heather Birch, Christchurch

Every fortnight, Taste editor Lucy Corry pens a blog on thisnzlife. co. nz. This letter (below) was a response to ‘ Mind your manners (please!)’, about the ever- changing rules of table etiquette.

A GREAT STORY on table manners. We’re in France on an extended holiday in a medieval village. We’ve had the wonderful opportunity to dine with and host many locals. I’ve learned many new dining etiquettes, including waiting until the host has sat down at the table before you do. Food is always eaten at the table. No side plate for your bread; just put it on the clean tablecloth to the left of your plate. Keep your knife and fork for the next course. Don’t overeat at each course as there can be up to seven. Salad is just lettuce, and it’s served with your cheese course, of which there are between five and seven cheeses — and here’s a trick — you take a piece of each cheese and eat them in order from mild to strong (but how can you tell? — watch the host). And coff ee is served after the meal — I guess so you can stay awake long enough to digest the enormous meal you’ve just enjoyed. Sleep comes quickly, which is good because you get to do the same thing again the next day. Lunch too!

So many lovely traditions making the meal about so much more than food. This evening we are hosting an etiquette specialist. Wish me luck.

Ali Soper, Lake Hāwea

IN THE MIDDLE of my Saturday morning housework, I remind myself that taking a break is important. With freshly made espresso in hand, I look for an excuse to sit at length and enjoy it. Then I spot the latest edition of NZ Life & Leisure (July/August), and I have the excuse I want.

I usually flick through, picking out what

I think might be the most interesting story. Today I made myself stop and take the time to read Kate Coughlan’s words of wisdom and what words should pop out at me but “box his ears”?

I can’t count the times my mother uttered those words. Another of Mum’s favourites was, “I’ll bash your heads together.” Neither are probably PC statements these days, and the funny thing is, I don’t ever remember the threat being carried out. Still with coff ee in hand, I’m drawn to The art of healing and the Blundell family, who created a garden in memory of their wife and mother, who was taken too soon.

Again, I am reminded of my mother, who was taken from us when I was only 35. My father, too, threw himself into building another house, which he kept immaculate till the day he died, as his way of honouring her. I busied myself raising a young family and starting a business with my husband, as she had done. Stories like the Blundells’ remind you that you have survived the grief — and not only survived but flourished. What better way to honour loved ones, especially this week, as it would have been Mum’s 80th birthday? Maria Taylor, Murchison

THE DAY I PICK UP the latest issue of NZ Life & Leisure from my mailbox is always a happy day. Cup of tea in hand, I browse through each page to enjoy the photographs, leaving reading the articles for when I have peaceful moments to absorb every written word. All are wonderful and so inspiring; then there are the recipes many have been made and enjoyed in our home.

Adding to my happy morning of magazine reading was a tūī, who arrived to enjoy a sweet mandarin breakfast. His song (and his delicate juice sucking) was beautiful — loud and clear.