1458 days ago

THE RIVER IS MY HIGHWAY - A KIWI IN BORNEO

Ross from Kerikeri District

Great gift for someone who loves a good yarn with plenty of laughs. Ross Lockyer's third book which is located in Borneo, 1973-77, entitled "The River is my Highway" is now available through the author's website: www.rosslockyer.co.nz... or directly off TradeMe by clicking on the following link: www.trademe.co.nz...

THE RIVER IS MY HIGHWAY - A KIWI IN BORNEO

A New Zealand Forest Ranger in the Jungles of Borneo


Living and working in the remote Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Ross Lockyer had never heard about Indonesia. Yet in 1973, he was offered a forestry supervisor’s job based in Samarinda, Indonesian Borneo, and fell in love with the place on his first day.

Ross worked on the rivers and in the remote jungles of Indonesian Borneo for the next five years, quickly learning local languages, immersing himself in the Indonesian way of life, and learning the ways of the mighty Mahakam River and the Makassar Straits on which he spent most of each working day.

Compared to pre-independence PNG, living in isolated Samarinda seemed like the height of luxury to Ross, although coming from sparsely populated PNG, Ross’s first experience of Samarinda was a true assault on the senses with its crowds of people, dozens of mosques, crazy drivers, and myriad overpowering smells. Yet overlooking the city was the new and illustrious Lamin Indah Hotel, which boasted a classy bar and restaurant and attractive and sophisticated female staff from Java, in particular the beautiful Lestari—surely a Java Princess!

The third book in the adventurous series about Ross’s life, The River is my Highway brings to life a whole new series of exploits, including provoking and then assuaging a local war, single-handedly destroying village ablution facilities with a speed-boat and facing a barrage of nasty consequences, hunting local wild-life in the most committed way imaginable, loading log-ships at sea, smuggling hi-fi gear, searching for log pirates, and fronting up to the Dayak Queen. Between escapades, Ross somehow finds time to get married and start a family.

This book includes some 75 photographs from Ross’s vast collection which richly illustrate his writing.

Get ready for more colourful, laugh-aloud yarns from the master story-teller who brought you An Accidental Bushman and Cannibals, Crocodiles and Cassowaries. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put this book down!

NOTE PRICE $29.90 + POSTAGE

Price: $29.90

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2 days ago

Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?

(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

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18 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.

Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.

Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?

Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!

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2 days ago

Warrant to arrest: Tehau Creeks-McNiff

The Team from Northland Police

Police are working to locate Tehau Ernest Creeks-McNiff, who has a warrant for his arrest and is wanted by Police.

Creeks-McNiff, 19, is wanted in relation to a number of vehicle-related offences and is known to frequent the wider Northland region.
It’s believed he is actively avoiding Police.

If you have seen him or have any information that may assist in locating him, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 251008/0746.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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