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It’s every kid’s dream to work at a chocolate factory. Megan Sinclair, the new product development manager at Whittaker’s in Wellington, is living that dream – albeit without the chocolate rivers – designing flavours and roasting batches of beans in her little lab on the factory floor.
… View moreIt’s every kid’s dream to work at a chocolate factory. Megan Sinclair, the new product development manager at Whittaker’s in Wellington, is living that dream – albeit without the chocolate rivers – designing flavours and roasting batches of beans in her little lab on the factory floor.
Megan Sinclair, the new product development manager at Whittaker’s in Wellington, is living that dream – albeit without the chocolate rivers – designing flavours and roasting batches of beans in her little lab on the factory floor.
It’s called the micro-lab, and within its walls there are cupboards of flavours and scents, everything from cake batter to beetroot, a mini bean roaster, and a mixing machine called a melange.
In this, she can make 12 kilogram batches to test flavours, or 45kg batches in the one in the room next door; small quantities compared to the tonnes pumped out by the main factory on a daily basis.
Work has begun this week on an upgrade of the Upper Hutt Railway Station.
Station users will begin to see upgrades to the carpark area, including more commuter parking, a space for new bicycle parking, a new crossing, carpool spaces and new accessible parks.
The work is expected to be finished by … View moreWork has begun this week on an upgrade of the Upper Hutt Railway Station.
Station users will begin to see upgrades to the carpark area, including more commuter parking, a space for new bicycle parking, a new crossing, carpool spaces and new accessible parks.
The work is expected to be finished by the end of April.
And for train spotters, our picture is from 1956.
Smokey is a rehomed cat who is loving his new life with his happy new owner.
“He is really relaxed now, loves purring and is extremely happy, although is still on guard with unfamiliar noises. Smokey started off being quite afraid of most things, but now is a well-behaved cat who is newly … View moreSmokey is a rehomed cat who is loving his new life with his happy new owner.
“He is really relaxed now, loves purring and is extremely happy, although is still on guard with unfamiliar noises. Smokey started off being quite afraid of most things, but now is a well-behaved cat who is newly learning to use his scratching post, rather than a carpet! Smokey loves routine and "helps" people by sitting in their laps when they are trying to work or type. He has become an integral part of a piano teaching studio and loves both music and all the students.”
Summer is a great time to enjoy our coast and waterways, but it pays to check first to see if the water is safe to swim in.
Thank-you to everybody who came forward with tips on yellow pōhutukawa. There are certainly more in the region than many people realise.
A bonus this week, Jack the cat and Lily the Maltese Sydney Silkie cross.
Jack belongs to Catrina Nicholson.
"Jack is seven years old and we have had him for under two months now. I put out a post asking if anyone was trying to find a home for a cat they could no longer take care of. So we… View moreA bonus this week, Jack the cat and Lily the Maltese Sydney Silkie cross.
Jack belongs to Catrina Nicholson.
"Jack is seven years old and we have had him for under two months now. I put out a post asking if anyone was trying to find a home for a cat they could no longer take care of. So we had two on the day we went to see them. And we went for this boy Jack, settled in so fast."
Lily belongs to John and Virginia Francis, from Paraparaumu.
"Our Lily is a Maltese Sydney Silkie cross. At 17 months she is fully grown at 3kg. Loves meeting children and other small dogs."
If you want your pet featured, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo.
There was a short but quite intense earthquake this morning, centred near Upper Hutt. Did you feel it?
For 18 months, Nikki Guthardt’s thought her cat was probably dead. She’d even mourned over what she thought was his body.
But then, the cat came back.
Romeo the cat was last seen running out Guthardt’s front door not long after her family shifted to Upper Hutt in June last year.
Month … View moreFor 18 months, Nikki Guthardt’s thought her cat was probably dead. She’d even mourned over what she thought was his body.
But then, the cat came back.
Romeo the cat was last seen running out Guthardt’s front door not long after her family shifted to Upper Hutt in June last year.
Month after month she posted about Romeo, asking people to keep en eye out for him on community pages and lost pet registers.
They are known around the traps at Wellington Hospital as the three wise men, but Christmas Day triplets Elia, Rumi, and Sameer Alqudah were only born in the capital because there was no room at the Auckland inn.
The three boys – Elia and Rumi are identical twins while Sameer, or Sam, is… View moreThey are known around the traps at Wellington Hospital as the three wise men, but Christmas Day triplets Elia, Rumi, and Sameer Alqudah were only born in the capital because there was no room at the Auckland inn.
The three boys – Elia and Rumi are identical twins while Sameer, or Sam, is their non-identical triplet – were delivered by Caesarean section in Wellington Hospital in that order at 11.49am, 11.50am, and 11.53am on Friday.
Their mother, Dina Wahid, can't praise the staff at Wellington Hospital enough.
Happy New Year to everyone on Neighbourly. This week we feature Rosa Marie, who took her camera out on Christmas Day. You have got to love the picture of the pied stilt chick!
"Before the festivities began, it was a quick drive over the Pauahatanui Inlet to try and capture some Kingfishers on… View moreHappy New Year to everyone on Neighbourly. This week we feature Rosa Marie, who took her camera out on Christmas Day. You have got to love the picture of the pied stilt chick!
"Before the festivities began, it was a quick drive over the Pauahatanui Inlet to try and capture some Kingfishers on camera, but it turned out to be Pied Stilt kind of day as we couldn't see any Kingfishers. Most of these photos are taken from one of the hides! There were Pied Stilt chicks too so their parental concern was quite evident from lots of noisy flapping of wings at other birds when they got too close. They were quite grumpy with each other too!"
Hi Neighjbourly folk, I am doing a story on the various colours pohutukawa and rata come in.
If you have any pics or know where any yellow, orange or white variants are, I would love to hear from you.
nicholas.boyack@stuff.co.nz or 027 6420086
Meet Ralph! This sweet boy spent months in SPCA care waiting for a forever family, and just ahead of Christmas, his dream came true.
His new dad Roger shares how Ralph is settling in.
"On day one of our adoption trial, we drove home together and Ralph held my hand the whole trip home (how … View moreMeet Ralph! This sweet boy spent months in SPCA care waiting for a forever family, and just ahead of Christmas, his dream came true.
His new dad Roger shares how Ralph is settling in.
"On day one of our adoption trial, we drove home together and Ralph held my hand the whole trip home (how cute!).
That evening as we were heading to bed after sniffing everything in the house, he leapt onto our bed, burrowed under our blankets and dozed off. We hadn’t even turned off the lights! From that moment, we knew this was meant to be.
He is a sweetheart, he has opinions, he loves to cuddle on the couch, he likes rides, he likes walks, he likes our other dog, Bandos. Ralph may be deaf but that does not stop him from living his best life. We love Ralph and we wouldn’t change him for the world. He’s also well-loved by his new aunties, uncles, grandparents and great grandparents!
We are sorry that Ralph took a bit longer to find his new forever home but are happy that he found it with us."
It has been a trying year with the Covid-19 outbreak, the resulting job losses, financial fallout and our closed borders.
What is the best thing that happened to you in an otherwise gloomy year? It could be getting to know your neighbours, learning how to make bread or pizza dough, or just staying… View moreIt has been a trying year with the Covid-19 outbreak, the resulting job losses, financial fallout and our closed borders.
What is the best thing that happened to you in an otherwise gloomy year? It could be getting to know your neighbours, learning how to make bread or pizza dough, or just staying healthy.
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