Drink recipes: Feijoa dancer
The Feijoa Dancer is a cocktail which is made up of 42 Below Feijoa vodka, Apple Sourz, Southern Comfort, Red Bull and lemonade. Other bourbons may be used but it is found that Southern Comfort is the best due to it’s soft and sweet flavour. It is this which softens the kick of the vodka. The addition of Red Bull and lemonade makes the Feijoa Dancer a cocktail which lacks alcohol flavour whilst still being very high in alcohol content.
The Feijoa Dancer was invented in 2005 by Paul Dodd and during 2006 it gained popularity between his friends and colleagues and is now served in several Auckland bars and nightclubs.
Ingredients:
2 parts Feijoa Vodka
1 part Apple Sourz
2 parts Southern Comfort
4 parts Lemonade
4 parts Red Bull
Method:
Pour the alcoholic ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
Pour half into a highball glass and then add the Red Bull and lemonade.
Pout in the remainder of the alcohol.
Mechanical Jigging New Zealand
Japanese jigging, butterfly jigging and mechanical jigging are terms used to describe a contemporary technique for fishing with long metal jigs, in a rhythmic action. The action goes something like this: drop the rod tip and wind the reel one revolution, lift the rod tip and repeat at speed, through the fish active water column. Sounds awkward but with practice it becomes a natural fluid action. Mechanical jigging is very effective, often out-fishing traditional speed jigging, mainly because the lure is kept longer in the fish zone and a more frenzied lure action produces more bites.Rods used are short, non-traditional parabolic high modulus graphite rods, which are very strong with huge lifting power and the parabolic action imparts some fluidity to the jig. These rods are generally not parabolic in the original sense but, with great hoop strength and thick walls, they are capable of handling heavy braid and massive drag pressures. Know this: not all rods are created equal. There are some real back-breaking shockers out there.Most good rods are factory-tested so if you break one, warranty claims may on deaf ears because it may have been used outside the manufacturer’s specifications.Rods are given a PE rating, which is the braid-breaking strain: PE-8 is 80lb, PE-5 is 50lb generally. Rods also have a rating for recommended lure weight, maximum reel drag setting and maximum angle at which the highest drag setting can be applied to not point-load the rod. Some popular rods are Smiths, Shimano jigwrex, Shimano blue rose, Xzoga, Jigging master, Terminator, Daiwa Monster Mesh and power jig rods. Â
The reel specs are as follows: braid capable, ideally narrow, low speed – between 4 and 5:1 for heavy braid PE 5 -8 (that’s 50 to 80lb, but usually breaks at 100 to 150lb crazy ratings but that’s the world of braid) and up to 6:1 ratio for lighter braid is fine.Popular reel brands include Daiwa Saltist, Daiwa Saltiga, Shimano Ocean Jigger, Shimano Torsa, Shimano Trinidad, Accurate Reel, and Fin-nor Offshores. There are also some exotics like Blue Heaven and Pro Gear. Factory drags are often up-rated with carbontex kits but be warned: this can void a warranty. However, you will find that these reels can take it when market handles (like the Power jig  T-bar and Accurate round knobs) are fitted, making it more comfortable and less abrasive than a rubber handle. Spin or overhead? In New Zealand, we’re about 80/20 in favour of overhead. Daiwa Saltiga Expedition 6000, Shimano Stella SW 20000 and Fin-nor Offshore 8500 are the pick of the bunch and will handle PE 5-8 braid and all low speed so you can get a crank on decent fish.Â
Metal jigs, long jigs, knife jigs, 7 gram to 700 gramÂ, centre, tail- and head-weighted, all shapes and sizes – there is a huge variety of jigs, from designer to cheap. But you do get what you pay for. Good jigs don’t bend so much, the paint and prism film doesn’t lift and the wire that sticks out the end goes right through the jig. A kevlar cord, via a solid ring that is, in turn, attached to the jig by a strong split ring, usually connects the hook. Hooks need to be super-sharp and strong to ensure good penetration and holding power. Reliable brands include Zest Jigs, Powerjig, River 2 Sea, Hook Choice, Fisherman, Owner Monster and Mustad Hoodlum. Here at Go Fish we are mechanical jigging specialists. We built the gear, we understand modern tackle and techniques and we are always happy to discuss trends and tackle.So it’s time to go out to the shed, put the old gear up for sale and invest in some modern mechanical jigging tackle. We’re not only talking heavy gear. There is also great light 20-30lb tackle available that’s effective on yellowtail (kingfish) bass, haupuka, trumpeter, haupuka, tuna, and many other fish and that will keep you smiling and enjoying your sport fishing for years to come. This is fishing today.
Gofish Tackle Co is an Auckland fishing store that has been following and developing all the tackle and gear required to suit New Zealand conditions. We are always happy to discuss tackle trends and development.Â
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Lottery Syndicates – Why Join One?
Does everybody daydream of winning the lottery? Lingering in their daydreams, that they would achieve complete financial freedom or fantasizing in the belief that they would never have to work again. All the same, there are times when you read about people attaining the lottery jackpot and coming up with £Millions. This is simply what Gary and Ann Henry did. (Snack bar owners from - Bishop Auckland, Co Durham) They worked on their snack shop for a decade till they hit the UK lottery and won £4,493,783.
That’s them, for us though syndicates are probably the most effective way to win the jackpot. This concept works on one uncomplicated rule which is the more tickets your syndicate purchases the better your chance is of winning. There are nevertheless those folks that win with just 1 ticket although they’re uncommon, although a few people are capable of winning the lottery by purchasing 1 or 2 tickets on their way home from work. All the same an increasingly popular process for winning requires the use of syndicates. This method gives you a lot more chances to win by purchasing as many tickets as imaginable
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Every individual pays a modest sum of money which gives them a number of tickets that the syndicate may buy, consequently reaching a greater chance of winning for everybody who signs up to play. By this technique you could not win the huge winnings of Gary and Ann Henry but it’s the best method of benefitting while playing the lottery and it’s the best argument to support your odds.
So to be the syndicate leader and buy the tickets you must reside in the United Kingdom. This does not entail that you need to reside in the United Kingdom to play the UK lotto though. All you need to do to set up or join a lottery syndicate and have the tickets purchased in the UK. When the draw has been made then all you need to do is check the your lotto numbers.
Colleagues, friends and fellow workers placing their money collectively to purchase multiple lottery tickets is not a new concept! There have been many accounts of factory workers and friends that have won it big. Surprisingly though, even when they’ve won they, all still go to work as normal.
Syndicates are not a new idea but it does enhance peoples chances of winning. Nevertheless, signing up to an internet syndicate through an elottery syndicate is certainly another way and often easier to do than just a group of your colleagues cooperating and trying to work it all out. Money is one matter that can create the best of friends or enemies and you could be gambling your friendly relationship if something appeared to go wrong with the managing of the money. This way, a 3rd party becomes convenient when dealing with the sensitive cases of people’s hard earned money.
A lottery syndicate can be a secure and easy means to play the lottery without squandering a friend’s hard earned cash, it just needs to be carefully set-up with the correct lottery contracts in place or possibly an elottery syndicate. Occasionally though it can be tricky when dealing with the matter of money and can even make people furious with each other. This is why a 3rd party who addresses the money is so much a good idea.
Diverse and Thriving Hamilton
Hamilton is situated in middle of the Waikato in the North Island of New Zealand. Hamilton is New Zealands largest inland city, connected to the ocean by the mighty Waikato River.
The permanent population of about one hundred and sixty thousand.
The earliest recorded settlers in the Hamilton area were Maor. The people called an area on the west bank of the Waikato River Kirikiriroa which is the Maori name for Hamilton today. The area was later renamed Hamilton after Captain John Charles Fane Hamilton, who was killed at the battle of Gate Pa in Tauranga in 1864.
In 1863, the New Zealand Settlement Act enabled land to be taken from Maori by the Crown. This resulted in one million hectares of land being confiscated in the Waikato region, and part of this land provided the basis for European settlement in Hamilton.
Formal European settlement was established on 24 August 1864, when Captain William Steele came off the gunboat and established the first Memorial Park.
A military outpost was set up. The Borough of Hamilton was established in 1877.
Vibrant, diverse and thriving Hamilton combines all the vigour and energy of a bustling city with a relaxed, easy lifestyle.
A melting pot of more than eight ethnic groups, the cities cosmopolitan flavour is accentuated by its multi cultural mix of cafes, pubs and restaurants that contribute to an exciting night life.
Hamilton is a great place to live. A safe environment with low crime rates where people are able to enjoy participating in their communities. A recent resident survey reflects that with more than eighty percent of residents saying they feel safe in their neighbourhoods.
It is home to the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere, namely the Field days. Other tourist activities include the beautiful Hamilton Gardens.
The major attraction of Hamilton is its extensive garden complex that covers an area of fifty eight hectares and features a number of themed gardens, it is certainly not your average botanic garden experience.
The town is famous for its themed gardens, and the local zoo, which has the largest free flight aviary in the Southern Hemisphere an excellent chance to find out about distinctive native birds.
The southern end of Hamiltons Main Street offers an excellent choice of restaurants, cafes and bars.
If you feel like exploring and relaxing simultaneously a cruise down the Waikato River in style aboard the MV Waipa Delta is also worth considering. Offering morning and afternoon teas, buffet lunches and dinner and cocktails, this is sightseeing in style.
Arts and culture offers visitors and residents a chance to experience the cities unique identity. A theatre performance at the Meteor can demystify an unfamiliar culture. A visit to Te Winika at the museum can ground us in the familiar, and the visual arts, contemporary and traditional can mirror both.
New Zealand Increase in Accident Claims
Canterbury, New Zealand leads the country in a multimillion-dollar increase in accident claims for sport-cycling and mountainbike accidents, new figures show. The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) paid out $1.81 million for Canterbury sport cyclists and mountainbikers who took a spill in 2006-2007.
This was up from the $370,855 paid to 82 sport cyclists in 2002-2003. Auckland topped Canterbury for overall claims, including ongoing claims, in 2006-2007 with $2.24m, but trailed Canterbury’s 254 new claims for the year. Nationally, the ACC paid out $8.31m more in claims for 2006-2007 than it did in 2002-2003.
One Christchurch cycling group is blaming mountainbikers for the increase, but former adventure sport champion Steve Gurney said the numbers were a “fantastic problem to have”. Papanui Cycling Club vice-president Bruce Dawe blamed mountainbikers for the rise in the number of accidents.
“It’s recognised as the most dangerous sport around because they do crazy things,” he said. “They don’t race on a road for a start. All their claim accidents the majority of them are just straight-out crashes through the terrain they race on.”
Gurney said the ACC data did not break down mountainbikers as opposed to road cyclists, so it was wrong to blame one group.
“Road cycling has doubled, at least more likely five times, I’d say,” he said.
There was increasing rage between road cyclists and motorists, he said.
“Every time we go out riding as a bunch we get cars trying to cut us off, we get cars tooting at us and there’s a kind of a war going on between motorists and cyclists.”
While the increase was a concern, it was a “fantastic problem” because it showed more people were out enjoying the countryside, Gurney said.
Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Derek Erasmus said the blame for cycle accidents was an exact split between cyclists and drivers.
Over the past five years, primary blame for 46 per cent of all cycle crashes in Canterbury lay with the car driver. In another 46 per cent, the cyclist was primarily responsible, and in the remaining 8 per cent responsibility was shared.
“One of the big things is infringement on cycling lanes by drivers,” Erasmus said.
“In other words, car drivers think they can use a cycle lane with impunity and it forms part of their road. Cars need to stay out of cycle lanes.”
Belfast road cyclist Johnathon Gee, 24, was the victim of a driver cutting into a cycle lane in an accident that left him in a coma six weeks ago.
Gee was yesterday continuing his recovery at Burwood Hospital’s brain injury rehabilitation service. He could not remember anything of his accident but said he was eager to get back on his bike when he was fully recovered.
“I don’t mind drivers and drivers don’t mind me,” he said.
“Maybe people that are commuting to get to work or school might have more trouble with drivers, but for someone like me who just trains, it might be slightly different.”
Gee’s April 18 accident happened when a vehicle swung around in front of him across the cycle lane in Ferry Road. Gee suffered a broken arm, spinal and facial injuries, broken ribs, a broken wrist and collapsed lungs. Gee’s father, David Gee, said his son’s accident was similar to the one suffered by 16-year-old Christchurch cyclist Harriet Smithies in Taranaki at the weekend.
David Gee said he had briefly met the driver of the vehicle who hit his son. He was “a very nice fellow” who had boys of his own, Gee said. Canterbury cycling group Spokes chairman Matthew Cutler-Welsh said although the ACC statistics might appear alarming
Do Not Over Look The Cook Islands In Your New Zealand Travels
The Cook Islands are just northeast of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. The islands control 2.2 million square kilometers of ocean and consist of fifteen major islands. The major islands are divided into two distinct groups: the Southern Cook Islands and the Northern Cook Islands. The Northern groups of islands are the oldest ones, but all of the islands were formed by volcanic activity. Any New Zealand travel would not be complete with out a visit to these majestic islands.
It is easy to fall in love with the Islands with their gorgeous white-sand beaches lined with palm trees, beautiful coral reefs and the most breath-taking lagoons you have ever seen. It truly is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The most defining thing about the Cook Islands is that there are no huge hotels, high-end resorts or overcrowded tourist attractions. It is unlike any other tropical vacation spot you can imagine which makes it the perfect retreat from your normal life. This is the best place to just kick back and relax and forget all of your everyday stressors.
All of the islands create a population of only 14,000 inhabitants and everyone knows one another by name. The community is very close and they like to create a living environment that is peaceful, relaxing and everyone enjoys one anothers company. As a vacationer, you will love the friendly nature of all the natives and will feel right at home among them. This type of atmosphere is what makes it so hard to ever leave there once you make the journey across the Pacific in your New Zealand travels.
While in the South Pacific, there are so many things to see and do. Not everyone wants to just simply relax for an entire vacation; the Islands can satisfy your adventurous side as well. Some things you must do on these beautiful beaches are: snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing in the beautiful aqua blue lagoons and hiking on the Island tracks of Rarotonga. The Cook Islands also offer some wonderful culture trips as well as golfing and bowling clubs on the island of Rarotonga. These Islands are ideal for any type of person, whether you are looking for the ultimate escape from your high stress, everyday life or for some adventure that you cannot find anywhere else. The Islands are a once in a lifetime chance to experience the South Pacific at its best. Planning a New Zealand travel vacation here for yourself or your entire family is an extraordinary opportunity for any traveler.
Review on Cape Kidnappers and Clearwater Golf in New Zealand
Time Of Year
When you are planning a golf trip to New Zealand, remember that the warmest months in the region are December, January and February. The coolest temperatures that will warrant heavier clothing are in June, July and August. These seasons make New Zealand a great place for holiday getaways! Many of the golf clubs will want to see your handicap certificate. Your certificate might not be needed, but it is wise to carry it.
Two Top Courses to Visit…
Cape Kidnappers at Hawke’s Bay
Kidnappers is a ‘Golf Magazine Top 100’ ranked course, and was voted to be the 27th best golf course in the world in 2005. Renowned course designer Tom Doak, President of Renaissance Golf Design Inc, designed Kidnappers using a minimalist design philosophy to keep the natural surroundings on Hawke’s Bay at the forefront of the golfing experience.
Cape Kidnappers isn’t a true links course. It has ridges that tilt the land towards the sea, jutting out on the edge of the cliffs. Pretty fierce at first glance. Yet, the play is seaside golf at its finest. The surface is fast and firm, the conditions can be windy as you are seaside, and the player who can best control their trajectory will be the master of the course. You will have the opportunity to hit shots over the tops of trees, and also play along the edges of deep ravines. If you stray on your approaches, you’ll actually hope to get caught in bunkers hanging off the green’s edge. Some of the bunkers are deeper than you’ve ever seen before.
Clearwater at Christchurch
The championship par 72 course layout at Clearwater is currently turning several heads in the golfing world, far outside of New Zealand. The Clearwater course was by John Darby in consultation with a New Zealand golfing legend, Sir Bob Charles. Clearwater combines elements of links golf inspired by the great Scottish courses consisting of parkland golf very reminiscent of Florida courses.
Clearwater states this course best… The course consists of 15 lakes that are fed by several natural springs and crystal clear streams, many of which teeming with trout. Water comes into major play on 14 holes and if the lakes don’t catch miss hit golf balls then the several acres of surrounding plant life will.
Clearwater is a true challenge and has been awarded the highest rating of any course in the country by the New Zealand Golf Association. It ranks as the toughest course in New Zealand at 76.8 off the black or championship tees. There are also four other tee positions to suit players of all abilities, so this is a great golf tour selection for all walks of players.
Dunedin Has European cultures
Situated on the south eastern coast of New Zealands South Island, Dunedin has a population of around 120,000 and is the main centre of Otago, a region recognised for its spectacular scenery. The sheer physical beauty of Dunedin, dramatic bush covered hills and valleys at the head of a long natural harbour, attracted Maori settlers to the site over four centuries ago.
Boosted by riches from the 1861 gold rush, Dunedin grew from an isolated outpost to a bastion of European culture, retaining close links to its Scottish heritage. The Victorian and Edwardian architecture would be equally at home in Edinburgh, the city from which Dunedin draws its name.
A cathedral, several galleries, theatres and museums are clustered around the Octagon, the unusual grid of streets and historical buildings that form the heart of the city. With New Zealands oldest university, and a thriving youth culture and rock music scene, abundant pubs, cafes and bars, this is the place for lively night life as well as discovering the history of early European settlement.
There are the dazzling rhododendron gardens at Glenfalloch, which are at their best in September and October and the folly like Larnach Castle. The star attractions, however, are those of the wildlife. The worlds only mainland breeding royal albatross colony can be found at Taiaroa Head and colonies of the rare yellow eyed penguin frequent the white sand beaches. For rail enthusiasts, the 77km Taieri Gorge Railway ranks among the worlds great rail journeys, heading inland from Dunedin towards the gold fields of Central Otago.
Southland extends from Fiordland National Park on the west coast to Dunedin on the east, once the largest city in the country. Probably the least visited of all New Zealand regions, it offers contrasting landscapes, an abundance of wildlife and a historic past, dating back to gold rush days. The Southern Scenic Route links Dunedin with Te Anau and follows the coastal road through fertile farmland, dramatic coastlines and hidden waterfalls, via The Catlins, Invercargill and South Otago.
North and south of Dunedin, the rugged coast is peppered with unusual geological formations, sheltered sandy bays and sheer cliffs, including those of the Catlins, a vast forest and coastal reserve, which is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Not surprisingly, the regions wildlife is a big draw, with onshore colonies of penguins and albatrosses on the scenic Otago Peninsula and around the historic town of Oamaru.
Near the south islands southern tip, Invercargill is the most southerly city in New Zealand. Beyond, remote and rugged Stewart Island is the last stop before Antarctica and the best place to spot New Zealands national icon, the kiwi, in the wild.
Strong Aussie Dollar Perfect Excuse to Travel
Expedia and foreign exchange specialist HiFx have just released the annual list of top ten destinations where the Aussie dollar offers the best value against local currencies.
With all this talk of rising fuel costs, interest rates, mortgage repayments, household goods…the list is endless… this is great news. Finally we have a list of places we can go where our dollar actually buys more than it did this time last year. And just in time for tax returns as well!
So, I hear you ask, where exactly can you get more bang for your buck?
Top of the pops was the South Korean Won, followed by the South African Rand. I have hand picked a few of the other destinations where you can stretch your holiday dollar even further.
1. Vietnam
Having recently returned from a trip to Vietnam where I spent next to nothing (and for the first time in my life actually struggled to spend money), the fact that the dollar buys more Vietnamese Dong is mind boggling! When I was there, about AUD10 could buy an excellent meal for about 5 people, including drinks. Now it seems you would have change for your $10…maybe you could put that towards a tailor made suit? If you’re after value for money Vietnam is definitely not to be missed.
2. USA
The US dollar is also high on the list with the Aussie dollar having reached a 25 year high against it just recently. The USA is famous for its huge shopping malls and discounted brands and this year, you’ll have even more to spend! You could even rent a car in the USA and head to Canada to the world’s biggest shopping mall in Edmonton, Alberta.
3. Britain
The Aussie dollar is now 20% stronger than the GBP than it was 2 years ago so now is the best time to visit Britain and see how great it really is. Now you have more to spend so you can upgrade your accommodation (check out DriveAway’s self drive tour with accommodation in Scottish castles!), extend your trip or rent a bigger, more luxurious car!
4. New Zealand
You don’t have to go too far overseas to stretch your dollar-the New Zealand dollar is No.4 in the list. It’s not too late to catch the snow season and hit the slopes. If you want to rent a car there, check out DriveAway Holidays for competitive rates for car rental in New Zealand.
The Other Side of Christchurch
Known as the Garden city of New Zealand- Christchurch is a city that offers a delicate balance between history and contemporary culture. This contrast is evident when the old English architecture of New Zealand’s early European settlers stands side by side with new gleaming office blocks. However, the most notable characteristic of the city is that it is a city of color and a vibrant atmosphere.
Though the city mostly offers a relaxed laid back life style that is typically exemplified by Hagely Park which provides 150 acres of wooded park land it also has great shopping malls and happening night spots. A number of multi ethnic restaurants can be found dotted all over Christchurch are a testament to the large numbers of immigrants who have made Christchurch their home. The city also hosts a number of pageants and festivals annually such as the Festival of Romance, the International Buskers Festival, Showtime Canterbury, and the Winter Carnival.
However the biggest thing on the entertainment scene in Christchurch is its vibrant nightlife. A number of fashionable hang out spots such as bars, clubs and restaurants can be found in several areas in Christchurch, most notably in Cathedral Square, Oxford Terrace or the Cashel Mall. The favorite party district in Christchurch is Oxford Terrace which is referred to as “The Strip,” this area attracts the late night clubbing crowd that is usually comprised of university students and young executives.
In addition to the eclectic Oxford Terrace, Manchester Street also has a vibrant pub scene that would no doubt be popular with sports fans; almost all of Christchurch’s sports are located here. Though regular clubs and discotheques are rare in this city most bars and pubs feature local bands or singers and create a temporary dance floor of revelers during weekends. Being a regular destination for tourists that visit New Zealand, comfortable accommodation can be found in Christchurch hotels. Like many other New Zealand hotels they also offer same standards of hospitality found throughout the country.
