Reader’s Digest New Zealand

THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS FOURSOME, The Beatles, left an indelible mark on the world. But how did they work so productively, crafting some of history’s most memorable tunes? It was this very question that our Managing Editor, Zoë Meunier, set out to discover in ‘A Lesson In Creativity’ on page 66. In Peter Jackson’s documentary, Get Back, the world saw a group of musicians ride the highs and lows that is the very essence of the creative process. They did it together, sometimes getting on each other’s nerves, but mostly helping one another develop their ideas. It is the perfect lesson on how to tap into your own creativity. Reunions can spark many emotions, but the meeting depicted in the story, ‘Reunited With Her Rescuers’ (page 26) is bound to linger…

Clearing The Cobwebs Memories and emotions flooded back to me when I read ‘The Garage Sale’ (My Story, March). As years of collected clutter were dealt with, it was touching to learn of the writer’s deep concern that her four adult children should not have to tackle the daunting task. Hoarding and living with less were two issues clearly addressed and, as with every seemingly insurmountable task, she found that perseverance brought a resolution. EULALIE HOLMAN Remembering A Red Vending Machine After reading ‘The Vending Machine’ (Then And Now, March), a lovely memory from the 1960s came to mind. We had a grocery shop in the Netherlands with a bright red vending machine near the entrance. It dispensed coloured chewing gum balls for one cent each. Over time, it was out of action…

Bringing Stars To The Eyes Of Students As a child growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, looking up at the stars wasn’t something school children were encouraged to do. For Susan Murabana, that changed in her early 20s when she encountered her first telescope and spotted Saturn. “Seeing something I had only read about in a textbook made me realise how small we really are,” says Murabana, who is now an astronomer. In 2014, Murabana’s husband was so inspired by how studying space had opened up Murabana’s life, the couple decided to give kids this experience by creating an educational programme. Called ‘The Travelling Telescope’, they criss-cross Kenya bringing astronomy education and a portable planetarium to schools and communities. So far, they’ve met with more than 300,000 children. Kids can’t resist the lure of…

In a few short weeks I will be going to watch my 40th performance of Les Misérables. I fell in love with the songs back in 1985 when they were first released – ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ and ‘On My Own’. Even though I hadn’t read the Victor Hugo novel and knew very little about the musical, the songs captured my attention and I happily sang along with gusto whenever I heard them on the radio. Fast forward five years and I embarked on a trip around the world with my wife and two-year-old daughter. On one of our stops in Vancouver, Canada, I saw a large advertising banner promoting Les Misérables and immediately suggested to my wife that we book tickets. On the drive to the theatre,…

Reflections On Life ROBIN KEOWN We inherited more in the way of ‘wildlife’ than we ever expected after buying a retirement property in dense bush in New Zealand seven years ago. All manner of native and introduced birds serenade us all day long, along with ground-dwelling birds, such as weka, pukeko and quail. Quail in New Zealand were originally introduced from California. They were intended as game birds as they are quite plump and tasty, and people eat the eggs. Recently we noticed a male quail tiptoeing down the path, in inimitable quail style, to our downstairs flat where he gazed at himself in the window’s reflection. We soon realised that it was not vanity which had prompted this behaviour. Instead, he was searching for his mate. Some days earlier there had been a…

Our regular pet columnist, Dr Katrina Warren, is an established and trusted animal expert. ITCHY SKIN is a common problem for dogs and cats. It can be extremely annoying and uncomfortable for the pet and very frustrating and upsetting for the owner. Both dogs and cats can experience an occasional itch, just as humans do, but it’s important for pet owners to recognise when an itch might be an indication of a more serious problem. A process of elimination to identify the cause is often needed, and your vet is the best person to guide you through this process. They can help figure out what is causing the itch and create a plan to manage it. Veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren shares the most common causes of what makes pets want to…