Arrowtown book buyer Miranda Spary continues her column about her recommendations for a good read, and life as she sees it ...
I never really understand why everyone gets so worked up about sport - it does not take any more effort or skill than chess or scrabble or bridge, but the world does not stop for the world scrabble tournaments the way it does for football or rugby and as for the Olympics ...
Normally I do not watch sport at all, but it's been unavoidable this week.
And much as it pains me to say it, I got quite excited.
We were in London when Britain got its three golds in an hour and in Scotland when Andy Murray won the tennis.
I certainly would not pay for a ticket, but it has been a little bit fun to watch on TV.
My darling went to the tennis semifinals and I know loads of you saw his shiny baldness on the telly, but you do not all know my lovely and equally bald brother-in-law who was caught on camera at the tensest, tightest moment of the match yawning.
He swears he could not have yawned, but as an experienced sports yawner, I am not convinced.
Anyway, even if it is just a whole lot of people who have given up most of life's pleasures to throw a stick or jump over one or whatever their passion, it is created the hugest, smiliest nation.
Open a map in London and you are tackled by ambassadors desperate to help you find your way.
We went to see the stage show of War Horse (best show I have ever seen) and on the way home on the tube, the home of cheerless, surly announcements, they asked if any passengers spoke Russian and English, to help a tourist.
Queenstown could improve its helpfulness to tourists this way.
Do stop and offer help if you see someone with a map out.
I am shocked to hear there are plans to chop down the trees in Earnslaw park and get rid of the ugly moa.
One of the trees has already been saved, some 25 years ago, when Gus Watson sent his little Milly up it, to stop the chainsaw massacre, and even if the moa is ugly, it is odd and ours, like the bottle house and the ugly old post office building.
Please do not rush to get rid of everything and make it all straight and neat and tidy and boringly easy to maintain.
A London bookseller was saying that all the independent retailers are struggling in the face of giant malls.
He said that lazy people just want to drive their cars to these big boring spaces, all with the same shops in them and buy boring things all mass-made in China.
He's right. If you want something lovely, you have to prowl around the back streets, looking for treasure and actually talk to people.
It's the same in Wakatipu. We have some beautiful shops selling locally made wonders and it is so difficult for them to stay afloat.
There has been so much news this week. Congratulations to Scotty Stevens, who has done the best deal ever and got beautiful Emily to agree to marry him. Excellent work, Scotty.
And congratulations to everyone in the Wakatipu for getting Adam Feeley as the new CEO.
What a joy to have someone who loves the place.
His brains and experience are what are needed to run a big business like Queenstown.
Not such good news was the fire at the workshop where all Claire Bloom's dresses are made.
What a tragedy thinking of those pretty, girly confections going up in flames.
And apropos of nothing at all, my mother says please all go on the train from Christchurch to Blenheim.
The brand new carriages, made in Dunedin, are gorgeous and they sell delicious coffee and it's a brilliant trip.
She is very worried that there were not enough passengers and my life will not be worth living if I do not mention it.
I love books that I can recommend and be certain everyone will love.
Michael Morpurgo pretends he writes for children but his work is so skilful and so multi-layered that adults cannot help reading it avidly as well. His War Horse is one I warned you about some time ago and I squandered an afternoon in London unable to put down his Private Peaceful.
If there is a moral to the story, it is that all is unfair in love and war and it is very difficult to remember that this book of such powerful and adult emotions and concepts has been written for children.
