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Who killed William Shakespeare; The Murderer, the Motive, the Means · By Simon Andrew Stirling Published by The History Press ISBN: 978-0752487250 · We actually know very little about the man William Shakespeare. There are plenty of theories about who he MIGHT have been if you have trouble accepting the person who could barely write his own name and in some instances used an X to sign legal documents as the author of the greatest…

‘Critical Mass ; How Nazi Germany surrendered enriched uranium for the United States Atomic Bomb’ · By Carter Plymton Hydrick · Published by Trine Day 3^rd^ edition 2016 · Horray, finally a reprint of what has to be one of the more stunning books to merge in the last 20 years on the topic of the Nazi Germany weapons development program, the survival of the elite of the Third Reich and the suppressed story of the US atomic bomb development…

Murder in the Vatican ; The CIA & the Bolshevik Pontiff · By Lucien Gregorie · Published by Author House USA, 2013 · ISBN; 978 1 4490 2304 1 · This is Gregoire’s revised and updated edition of an earlier book under the title ‘Murder in the Vatican – Pauper who would be Pope’ originally published in 2003 and by the time this reviewer got her hands on it in 2005 was already consigned to the basement stacks at the Auckland Public Library,…

Passion and zest for life is all about goals and influences and living life to the max. With that we all have our heroes who we look up to or are influenced by. For me growing up in the world of hot rodding a whole world away from where it all began in the USA I had my share of influences locally in New Zealand but also internationally. One of those guys I looked up to was the late Gray Baskerville who was a writer and photographer for the…

If you have ever delved into the history about the Christmas season, you will know it is both complex and varied. From its origins steeped in pagan and Christian beliefs alike many centuries ago, it has evolved into a holiday that is celebrated by over 159 countries officially and 23 unofficially making it the most celebrated and universally recognized holiday worldwide. The Christmas season has been involved in a cessation of hostilities in…

We are living in an uncertain world. After the ups and downs of Covid, many hoped we would return to a sense of normalcy, but life is very different now, not just on the home front but across the world, and we are having to deal with a high degree of uncertainty. · Sadly, at this time last year, I wrote that uncertainty was the biggest factor we were facing, with the traffic light system and vaccine passes causing a great deal of stress for…

There is something about strawberries that says Christmas in New Zealand. The bright red, sweet summertime berry is in full season mid-December and there are plenty to go around. In some places you can even pick your own. They are beautiful just as they are, with whipped cream or dipped in Chocolate or try some of the below recipes to mix things up a bit this Christmas. They are easy enough to even get the kids involved! Christmas Tree…

The last time inflation was over 7% was more than 30 years ago, and I was responsible for doing what Adrian Orr, the current Governor of the Reserve Bank, is trying to do now: get inflation back to the target mandated by the Minister of Finance, in my case within a 0 to 2% range, and Mr Orr’s case within a range of 1 to 3%. · A few weeks ago, there was at least some cheering when the inflation figure for the year to September was announced: it…

The Advent Calendar · Advent calendars are undoubtedly a festive staple in New Zealand as in many countries around the world, with children and adults alike leaping out of bed to discover what is behind the little numbered door that day. Modern advent calendars can hide anything from chocolate to wine behind their doors as we count down to Christmas. · But where did advent calendars come from? Let’s explore the history of this popular festive…

Returning after our Covid Break – the South Auckland Woodturners Guild Christmas shop will be there again from 28 November to 24 December with more than 2000 hand-made items you will love. · As in 2020 we will be at 245 Great South Road. That is opposite the Countdown car park, south of the Library and a little south of the Averill Street intersection. · This is the only public sale we have of things made by our club members. It is hard to…