Bluff Hill, Napier

1229 days ago

Staying Warm for Less

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (Hawkes Bay Chem-Dry)

Brace yourself. Severe weather is on its way for parts of the country and experts predict at least two days of icy temperatures, howling gales and torrential rain. Get the temperature up while keeping your power use down.

Our energy-saving tips will help reduce your overall electricity … View more
Brace yourself. Severe weather is on its way for parts of the country and experts predict at least two days of icy temperatures, howling gales and torrential rain. Get the temperature up while keeping your power use down.

Our energy-saving tips will help reduce your overall electricity consumption, meaning you won’t feel guilty for having a toasty home.


1. Don’t fear the electric blanket: they cost little to run (just over $10 per winter if used every night), especially compared to electric heaters. But only sleep with it on if it has a delay timer that can switch it off after a few hours. And it’s important not to neglect heating your bedroom – the World Health Organization recommends keeping bedrooms at 16°C.


2. Break out the crock pot: running a slow cooker all day uses a third of the electricity compared with cooking a roast in an electric oven for two hours.


3. Check your heat pump filter: it needs vacuuming every three months. The good news is it’s easy – just slide the cover off the front of your heat pump, lift out the filter and hoover away. If you haven’t cleaned it all year, you’ll immediately notice the difference. You don’t need to pay for a pricey heat pump service to get this sussed.


4. Clean your clothes dryer’s lint filter: don’t put your vacuum cleaner away just yet. Remove your clothes dryer’s lint filter, then give it a lux as well. This can significantly improve your dryer’s energy efficiency, thereby reducing its running costs.


5. Draught-proof your home: are your door hinges loose or your window latches rattly? Grab a screwdriver and tighten them up. This reduces the chance of nasty draughts blowing through your home. If that doesn’t work, buy some vinyl strips that adhere to the insides of the window frames to achieve a better seal between the window and the frame.


6. Cheapo double-glazing: you don’t have to be made of money to improve the heat retention of your windows - DIY window film, which fits across your frame and sits a little off the pane, can cost less than $10 per pane. You simply fit it to the frame to create an insulating layer of air between your room and the cold glass. Alternatively, taping bubble wrap to the window frames will achieve the same effect.


7. Light smarter: switch from your old incandescent, halogen or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs to LEDs. They use far less energy and last much longer.


8. Check your power deal: visit Powerswitch.org.nz to see if you could be getting a better deal for power elsewhere. If you’re on a spot-based tariff, consider switching for the winter to avoid the high spot prices currently experienced on cold winter evenings.


9. Shower smarter: grab a 10L bucket, chuck it under your shower and start timing. If it fills in less than a minute, your showerhead is a water-waster. You can snag a low-flow, energy-efficient showerhead for less than $100.

10. Revisit your childhood with a wheat bag or hot water bottle: it costs next to nothing to fill a hot water bottle or heat a wheat bag, and they’re a great way to keep the bed warm in a pinch.

Image
1231 days ago

New Menu for these winter nights.

Kim from Trattoria alla Toscana

trattoriaallatoscana.mobi2go.com...
Trattoria alla Toscana is based on the belief that our diners needs are the utmost importance, we design the menu’s seasonally using locally sourced ingredients and producers to deliver authentic Tuscan food from Italy.

Any dietary or time requirements … View more
trattoriaallatoscana.mobi2go.com...
Trattoria alla Toscana is based on the belief that our diners needs are the utmost importance, we design the menu’s seasonally using locally sourced ingredients and producers to deliver authentic Tuscan food from Italy.

Any dietary or time requirements please let our staff know and they can accommodate accordingly

Starters
Garlic Bread 3p– 12.5
Arancini balls stuffed with cheese, tomato ,herbed mayo 3p - 18
Bruschetta, Tuscan parfait, house made pickles, vincotto 2p - 18
Olives 5
Entrees
Fried Calamari, aioli, rocket, white balsamic dressing - 18
Mussels fra diavolo , mussels cooked in spicy tomato sauce, served with crispy bread - 20.50
Beef Carpaccio, lemon juice, shaved parmesan, rocket, pangratto (crispy bread) - 22
Caramelised onion tart, feta, balsamic - 18
Beetroot cured salmon, pickled apple, radish, fennel - 22 gf


Mains Pasta
Spinach and ricotta ravioli, sage infused butter, parmesan- 28
Chicken Fettuccine, tossed with chicken, cream, white wine, tomato sauce - 25
Agria Potato Gnocchi, blue cheese sauce, courgette, broccoli, candied walnuts - 28 v vg
Seafood Fettuccine, mussel, fish, squid, prawn, white wine, marinara - 30
Traditional Bolognese Lasagna, with beef ragu, béchamel, parmesan cheese - 26

Mains Land & Sea

Market fish, confit fennel, prawn risotto, prawn bisque 39 gf
Braised beef cheek, whipped creamy polenta, mushroom, marsala, orange gremolata - 39
Confit Duck, orange marmalade, parsnip puree, winter greens, duck croquette - 38.50 gf
Roasted lamb shoulder, chickpea puree, baby carrots, salsa verde, anchovies - 38.50 gf

Sides
Fried potatoes, confit garlic dressing - 9 gf v
Roasted Vegetables, balsamic dressing - 9 gf v

Desserts 15
Chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream & in house preserved fruit-
Profiteroles, filled with custard, served on a bed of crème anglaise, chocolate ganache and roasted almonds .
Tiramisu, layered with whipped mascarpone, brandy liquor, espresso soaked savoiardi, chocolate.
Citrus lemoncello tart, whipped chantilly cream -
Classic Crème bruleé, biscotti - `
Affogato, shot of espresso served over vanilla ice cream, finished with a shot of liquor of your choice -
Frangelico, Galiano Vanilla, Tia Maria, Baileys 16
Dessert Wine
Alpha Domas Late Harvest G13
Clearview Sea Red G15
From Late Harvest Gewürztraminer G13
Lemoncello G12


Trattoria allaToscana
93 Dickens Street,
Napier
Phone- 06 8341988
www.trattoriaallatoscano.com...


Follow us on Instagram at Kooltuscan or Facebook Trattoria alla Toscana

1239 days ago

Age Concern freephone line 0800 65 2 105

The Team from Age Concern New Zealand

If you have safety concerns for yourself, or an older friend or family member you can call us for free and confidential advice and support.


There are many reasons why elder abuse occurs. It often stems from attitudes that are ageist, and disrespectful of older people.

The majority of cases … View more
If you have safety concerns for yourself, or an older friend or family member you can call us for free and confidential advice and support.


There are many reasons why elder abuse occurs. It often stems from attitudes that are ageist, and disrespectful of older people.

The majority of cases that Age Concerns work with involves older people living in their own homes. In most instances it is family members like adult children who perpetrate elder abuse or neglect.


Call 0800 65 2 105 to contact your nearest Age Concern

Image
1231 days ago

Looking to paint the interior of your house - Winter Special

Terry from Top Finish Painting HB

Hi everyone, I work as a painter and have a few slots available over the next 2 months. If you need your interior to be given makeover, then call me for a free quote and get 10% off the labour.

1231 days ago

Rainy Day Holiday Activities

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (Hawkes Bay Chem-Dry)

Rainy days are the one thing parents do not need during the holidays, but they happen. We have great ideas for free or low cost rainy day activities when the kids must play indoors.

In a perfect world, every school holiday would be filled with blue skies and sunny days, but unfortunately … View more
Rainy days are the one thing parents do not need during the holidays, but they happen. We have great ideas for free or low cost rainy day activities when the kids must play indoors.

In a perfect world, every school holiday would be filled with blue skies and sunny days, but unfortunately that’s not always the case – especially during Winter! It’s a good idea to have some inside activities up your sleeve for those ‘stuck indoors’ times. We’ve put together our favourite rainy day ideas for you to have on hand, just in case.


Let’s Get Physical: Just because you’re stuck inside, doesn’t mean the kids have to blob out and do nothing. In fact if one rainy day rolls into the next, they’ll be itching to move about and use up some energy. Try some of these ideas to get active while you’re stuck indoors:


•Make your own Ten Pin bowling alley by using plastic soft drink bottles and a rubber ball. Put a cup of sand or gravel in the bottom of each bottle to give them a bit of weight, and then arrange the ‘pins’ into a triangle shape at the end of the hallway. Children stand at the other end of the hall and take turns to bowl.Use your Ten Pin alley to fill in half an hour here and there, or arrange a whole tournament to take place amongst your children and their friends.


• Create an obstacle course that traipses through the whole house. I know it sounds like a nightmare to clean up, but it will keep the kids occupied for ages. Not only do they get to create the course, they then get to do it over and over. They can time each other to see who can do it the fastest, or experiment running the course backwards, blindfolded, or with their hands behind their backs. You’ll need to make sure the course is safe, so check it out before they launch into their races.

• Dancing is a great way to burn off some energy, so turn on some music and start moving that body. If you have a house full of kids, you could play musical games like statues or musical chairs.


Create your own Board Games: Board games are a great way to while away a few hours, but if your children are tired of the games you have at home, why not get them to make their own. Give them a large sheet of poster card, some felt pens, old magazines, scissors and glue, and let them go to it.
They’ll need to create their own rules, cards, counters and dice, and trust me – you’ll be amazed by what they come up with. The whole family can take turns playing each other’s games.

Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

1231 days ago

Do you know a greenfingered hero in your community?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

NZ Gardener is again looking for greenfingered good sorts – individuals or groups who have used gardening skills to help other people. Five finalists will feature in the October magazine and one will go on to become 2021 Gardener of the Year! There are some amazing prizes up for grabs so if you … View moreNZ Gardener is again looking for greenfingered good sorts – individuals or groups who have used gardening skills to help other people. Five finalists will feature in the October magazine and one will go on to become 2021 Gardener of the Year! There are some amazing prizes up for grabs so if you know a homegrown hero who is using their gardening skills for good, nominate them now!

Image
1232 days ago

Winter Art Deco festival

Denise from Marewa

Wool 'N' Things on Maadi Road, Onekawa has a display of 1930s and 1940s handknits for Art Deco weekend.

Image
1237 days ago

Eco-Bricks

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (Hawkes Bay Chem-Dry)

What is an Eco-brick?
An eco-brick is a plastic bottle packed with shredded, single-use, non-recyclable plastics, compressed to a required density to create a reusable building block. They are a sustainable way to reusenon-biodegradable plastic waste as they are regarded as a long-lasting and … View more
What is an Eco-brick?
An eco-brick is a plastic bottle packed with shredded, single-use, non-recyclable plastics, compressed to a required density to create a reusable building block. They are a sustainable way to reusenon-biodegradable plastic waste as they are regarded as a long-lasting and durable material.

Eco-bricks = a low energy solution to keeping plastic out of the ecosystem!

What is the purpose of an eco-brick?
Making an eco-brick can be a tedious and time-consuming project (but great to do whilst watching TV!) and the purpose of it is to make you responsible for your own plastic waste and encourage you to reduce your own consumption.

The aim is to help you cut down on what you’re buying and ultimately produce less waste whilst creating something beneficial for yourself or the community!

What goes into the eco-brick?
The most important thing about an eco-brick is that the contents are CLEAN and DRY before they get stuffed. The reason for this is to prevent any bacteria or mould forming inside, which will undo all your hard work as they will not be validated!

You can put inside an eco-brick:
Potato chip, biscuit, cake packets etc.
Stretchy plastic e.g., carrier bags, bread bags, clingfilm etc.
Pasta/rice packets
Packaging – bubble wrap/plastic envelopes
Styrofoam/polystyrene
Hard plastic – meat trays, flowerpots etc (however, hard plastics will need to be cut up into much smaller pieces than soft plastic to allow you to reach the weight requirements)

What can I make with an eco-brick?
The most common personal projects are footstools! They can be as small or as large as you want, you can be creative with the bottle bottom colours to make a cool pattern or cover them in some fabric to make a decorative piece around the house!

There are other smaller projects you can make, like doorstops for example! I am personally taking inspiration from this one found on Pinterest:

Ok, so how do I make one?
It is very simple! The picture below shows you how in 5 simple steps. The key is to just keep stuffing until you can’t any more! With time and patience, your brick will come to life.

1233 days ago

Auction Wednesday 14 July 10am

Todd Foster from Maidens & Foster Auctioneers Ltd

Our Rooms are FULL. Selection of Period Furniture & Queen Anne Furniture. Boxes Estate China & Curios. Lots Of Tools. Petrol & Electric Rotary Mowers Road Cycles etc etc
Viewing & Bids Welcome: Mon 8-5, Tue 8-6 & Wed from 8am.
More Photos www.mafa.co.nz... & facebook

1233 days ago

No barriers to learning

Competenz

"Being deaf is no barrier to learning and seeing someone like me achieving qualifications and working in a job that has a lot of responsibility has hopefully encouraged them to give it a go.”

When Erich Krogmann started the Food and Beverage Level 2 qualification, he had to learn how to … View more
"Being deaf is no barrier to learning and seeing someone like me achieving qualifications and working in a job that has a lot of responsibility has hopefully encouraged them to give it a go.”

When Erich Krogmann started the Food and Beverage Level 2 qualification, he had to learn how to balance study with a night job and a young family, but his main challenge came in the form of his hearing disability.

Erich says he thinks he’s inspired other people with a disability to take on training.
Read Erichs full story here

Image
H
1233 days ago

Builder Wanted for Garage conversion

Heather from Taradale

Looking for Builder to add an approx. 3 x 3 meter bedroom in our Garage. Recommendations or if you are a builder contact me to discuss. Heather
mobile 02040941101 heatherlf62@gmail.com

A
1233 days ago

Western genre novelas in Spanish

Anthony from Napier South

Good condition.

Price: $20

Image
1233 days ago

Oxygen concentrator.

Jenni from Bluff Hill

I am in need of an oxygen concentrator for my glass work. Needs to be a minimum of 5 lpm. I thought I would take a punt and see if anyone has one that is no longer needed. Cheers all !

1234 days ago

Push further, defy expectations!

No one dreams bigger than an Olympian, and nothing connects us as a nation quite like sport!
As a proud partner of the New Zealand Olympic Team, we’re getting behind our Olympians so they can turn their dreams into a reality.
Learn more

Image
1234 days ago

CAR KEYS FOUND SUBARU ST PARK ISLAND this morning

Wendy from Taradale

Hi found some car keys at PARK ISLAND THIS MORNING. SUBARU BLUE TAG ON. Taken to NAPIER POLICE STATION AT 9.45 am . Hope they find their owners….

Top