Hapua Street Anzac history
Local ANZAC history - a selection of write-ups of the stories of those from a small selection of Hataitai streets who participated in the world wars. Placed in the Hapua St bus stop.
A brilliant humanisation of the impact of war on a local community.
#history #localhistory #anzac #wellington #wellingtonnz🇳🇿 #pōneke #aotearoa
Birthday book haul
Thanks to Mum, Dad, and Bill for the Unity Books vouchers 🥰
- Atlas of the New Zealand Wars (Vol I) (Derek Leask, 2025)
- The Monastic World: A Thousand Year History (Andrew Jotischky, 2025)
- The Revelation of Ireland: 1995-2020 (Diarmaid Ferriter, 2024)
- Bodies of Men (Nigel Featherston, 2019)
- Patria: Lost Countries of South America (Laurence Blair, 2024)
Finished reading: The Life to Come by E. M. Forster 📚
E. M. Forster’s short stories about love between men sadly unpublished in his lifetime.
Finished reading: Faithbreaker (The Fallen Gods Trilogy, Book 3) by Hannah Kaner 📚
An absolute marvel. A fantastic ending to a gripping series. Godkiller, Sunbring, Faithbreaker. Exceptional.
Finished reading: The Orb of Cairado by Katherine Addison 📚
Excellent short story set in the world of “The Goblin Emperor”. Academic murder mystery.
Finished reading: The Life to Come by E.M. Forster 📚
Interesting collection of short stories by E.M. Forster only published after his death. Significant coded homoerotic themes.
Finished reading: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison 📚🌈
I absolutely devoured this book. The latest (last?) book in the Cemeteries of Amalo series, brings a conclusion of sorts to the tale of Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, and one of the most self-deprecating and adorable queer characters in fantasy for many years. Delightful and satisfying.
Dins with Dins Birthday Dinner
Sensational birthday dinner at @lashoppe_nz by @dinswithdins
One of the best, most delicious and enjoyable meals of my life.
Thank you to Bill for organising, Sam, Dan and Duane for joining us, and Sam Dinsdale for a magical experience.
Menu in the last picture.
Bill Hastings: Book Critic
Bill casts his eye over two books he recommends for good reading. The books discussed are: Orbital by Samantha Harvey and Ted Lasso and Philosophy.
Ode to empty can of Kingfisher found on a windowsill at Middlemore Hospital
In shaded light, up in the corner
Royally perched on a sill
Not in the middle, to the side
A pale resemblance of itself
The sparkle’s gone; the fizz, no more
It’s empty now, its job is done
This one won’t fish for compliments
But don’t kick the can
Just let it rest a while,
Respite; in dusty repose
(Requested by Victoria Luff)
Ode to a Lost Pal
You were left outside
All alone
The party’s over
And you are left behind
They’ve all moved on
Now you are an empty vessel
A memory of a night
Abandoned on the stairs
