“When life throws you lemons, make lemonade” is a saying most of us will have heard at one time or another, a poignant phrase that encourages optimism in the face of adversity and misfortune. When life threw Jo Guy lemons she did exactly that, and her blog www.makelemonade.co.nz came to life.
Jo admits to never being much of a writer, but after experiencing loss within her family she saw herself beginning to journal. “I started writing down things every day to get the rubbish out of my head. I started doing more and more and then I thought, ‘You know what? When I look back on these journals I’ve learnt a lot, so maybe I could pass that on’. I’ve found that I love writing, which is odd because I’ve never done it before.”
Jo sought the expertise of Jumprope, a marketing firm that helped to bring her ideas to life, creating a platform for Jo to share and connect with others. Discussions of life, fashion and food are what readers find on Jo’s blog, including some of her mother’s and grandmothers’ oldest recipes. After owning her own styling business and women’s boutique, Jo also shares her knowledge of trends, colours and shapes in the hopes of building confidence and self-esteem in others.
My grandchildren inspired me; I want to reinforce those values. I’d like to address different issues in a way that children can understand.
“I met some really interesting people so I wanted to document their stories. I wanted them to write about themselves and what they had been through. It’s interesting to hear how someone else overcomes something, because we’ve all been through something, we all have a story to tell, and it’s just whether people mind telling those stories.”
For Jo, connecting with others is what she loves most about blogging. “If I can help somebody coming behind me or their life is touched a little by what I’ve written, then it’s worth it. I want others to know there is a way through and I hope I inspire others to keep going and to not give up.”
Life issues are somewhat at the heart of Make Lemonade, and it’s a topic close to Jo’s heart. “Not a lot of people talk about the life issues; you’ll find plenty of blogs on food and fashion. Sometimes we don’t talk about the important things enough. Because of the hardships we went through our priorities became very clear. Talking is really important in relationships, so that kind of fascinates me, how people interact and communicate.
“I think it’s trying to encourage people to sit around the table and have a meal and talk, just getting back to the basics. Maybe bring it to the front of people’s minds and remind them it’s important.”
I’ve found that I love writing, which is odd because I’ve never done it before.
With 11 grandchildren, family is a big part of Jo’s life. She is also looking to start writing children’s books inspired by her own grandchildren. “I’ve got an illustrator looking at them at the moment; I’m hoping that’s the vehicle I can use to get them out there. My grandchildren inspired me; I want to reinforce those values. I’d like to address different issues in a way that children can understand.
“I guess Make Lemonade is meant to enrich our lives, so that other people feel better for reading it and they spread that. If we all make a difference in our families and the way we live, it creates a kind of ripple effect. For us we had a ripple effect of all these bad things, and it seemed to get worse. You think to yourself, ‘I’ve got to turn this around’, and then it becomes a ripple effect for the good. Hopefully Make Lemonade gives other people that hope.”
THAT ‘HAPPY PLACE’
Have you ever heard your children or grandchildren say, “My ‘happy place’ is….”?
It made me think, “What is my ‘happy place’?” What is essentially just me? This is a question for you too. We all need a ‘happy place’.
I have several happy places or favourite things to do. Spending time with family, having everyone gathered around for a meal. Swimming in our local outdoor pool, with the sun shining and the water sparkling like diamonds. I like sitting and reading a good page turning mystery novel.
I just love hanging out with my husband Bryan. Travelling, discovering new places, experiencing new cultures and foods, or walking amongst beautiful trees and gardens.
Then it occurred to me that we get caught up in our roles as mother, wife, or in our particular job. Everywhere we look there are expectations on how we should look, behave and live. But we must be our own person too. I’m sure this sense of self gets lost along the way as we get busy with all the demands on us. (“To thine own self be true”, as Shakespeare wrote.)
As I have walked this journey of losing our dearly loved son and all the events that followed, I am starting to remember what kind of person I was. Tragedy and loss changes us but we can have a new depth and growth and still find our way, I hope, to be a better person.
I have this saying up on our wall at home – “A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails”.
Sometimes we need a gentle reminder. We all have a song.
I remember I love to wear funky clothes. So this season I have bought some seriously cool drop crotch pants. I remember I like to drive a little Mini Cooper. (There’s a fond memory of learning to drive in one as a teenager.) I remember I like to sing.
This is a new beginning for me and no one has to like what I like or even approve. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is that we find the person in us that we had forgotten was there.
As part of his work responsibilities, Lyal is in charge of raising money for charity as part of Methodist Social Services, a centre to help people in the community. Aside from that, he somehow manages to spread his time and skills between organisations such as Rotary, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hospice, Red Cross, Salvation Army and Corrections.
However, spreading his generosity around Palmerston North is not enough; Lyal helps globally wherever he can. After disaster struck in Vanuatu, Lyal and his team packed up a shipping container full of clothing items to help those suffering. Being the Assisting Governor for his local Rotary group also means Lyal has helped with eradicating polio in South Africa and India, which he is thrilled are now polio free! “It’s about belonging to an organisation that affects change. There is always time for other people, we just have to get on with it.”
Of course it turned out that she had innocent motives. She had just one simple query – could she cut some flowers? Enough to cater for a wedding? She left with buckets brimming, leaving father and son discussing the possibility of selling flowers as a project. “I came up with the idea of it being a cart,” Scott says.
Instead he now donates $40 a month to World Vision to sponsor a boy named Christopher from Malawi. He has also sent some of his earnings to Red Cross in support of the Nepal earthquake recovery programme.
Most of all the Gradys enjoy the hub that the cart creates on their doorstep. “School children and elderly people come to sit on the fence and watch the flowers and the fountains going… there are butterflies flying around, and bees buzzing, it’s quite nice,” says Warwick.
Painter Oriwa Morgan-Ward is one of the students with works on display, and is thrilled with the exhibition. “Maori art is not saturated, this is a great opportunity to bring it to the rest of the world,” she says. “It’s a way of expressing ourselves, to the public that haven’t experienced life in the world of Maori.”
Pru Robbie, a level six student, has a striking Raranga (weaving) on display that wasn’t an easy task! “It takes a lot of practice to get it right, if the cuts are too deep or too shallow the whole things ruined.” Her approach was to have a simple pattern that was achievable so she could focus on neatness, “then I’ll do something amazing another day”. “I’ve named it Whakawhiti Korero, which means to make back and forth conversation. I have a lot of international people come through my house, then they’ll see this hanging on the wall and ask what it’s about. Well then I can explain Maori tradition, Maori art and create conversations about it.” This flax isn’t just any old flax from the bottom of the garden either – Pru had to travel a considerable distance from her home to find that perfect strong fibre content, and that was the easy part! It then took her two months to put her weaving together. “It’s about doing the practice, doing the hours.”
that was 14 weeks in the making. He started with a piece of wood and has slowly chiseled away, creating a stunning end piece. Each carving presented in the exhibition represents a waka and two gods, depending on the artist’s iwi. Maori art is cleverly full of hidden meanings and spiritual beliefs that are left to be discovered by everyone else. Each line and mark carved into the wood means something. “I wanted to do this because I wanted to get back into my culture,” says James. However, he’s not shy to admit there were a few times things weren’t going to plan, causing a little tension between him and the slab of wood. Seeing the outcome though makes it all worth it. “I think Maori art should be shown to the world, these artworks are something I hold dear.” James is already planning for the future – “I want to try do a bit of contemporary art and maybe even a teaching paper.”
Inspired by the already successful spaces that had been established around the city, they wanted to come up with a concept that would transform the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and College Street into a new and engaging spot that people from all around Manawatu would be proud of.
Designed specifically to be a blank canvas, the group agreed to donate the capital needed and the building underwent renovations to shape it into an industrial-style, light-filled environment suitable for any kind of art.
In the past decade Arapuke Forest Park has been swamped with the sweat of bikers chipping away dirt for the park’s trail development.
There has been a new feature added to the Rose Garden at Palmerston North’s Victoria Esplanade. In memory of book lover Joyce Scott, her friends and family have erected a Little Free Library. Joyce, who passed away last year, wanted everyone to know the joy that comes from getting lost in a good book.
In the hustle and bustle of the Feilding Farmers’ Market, award-winning cheese-maker Adrian Walcroft can be found at the Cartwheel Creamery stall.
“I was tapped on the shoulder,” laughs James when discussing his selection as Federated Farmers’ newest Provincial President. “I’ve always been very passionate about the agricultural sector, having been a farmer my whole life. I was brought up on a farm, and had been in my own business for about twenty years when I got to the point where I had a little bit more time to get out in the wider industry, rather than just being on a farm.”
Even more vital than interacting with farmers is James’ driving focus on reuniting the rural and urban communities. “I enjoy talking to urban people, going to town groups, schools, Lions Clubs, Probus. Just getting out and talking, and sharing our story, what we are doing in New Zealand and the challenges we have.
“Farming has always been a bit of a lifestyle and that’s what probably got me into it, the lifestyle it encompasses. I’ve often said, ‘I’ve got the best air conditioning in the country.’ When I talk about my office I’m talking about my farm. My office is green paddocks and a wide, open sky. You’ve got plenty of room and space, fresh air. There is nothing better getting up in the morning and watching the sun come up. It’s just great to be out and free.”
As Tom puts it, “I was raised as a dog on the Tararua hills.” It was this upbringing that made Tom fall in love with the region, and despite studying down south and spending a year traipsing the globe, his love brought him back as a family man. With the children now grown, Tom is making a name for himself as the man working quietly away building relationships and getting things done.
One of the most notable initiatives is the Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity Project that Tom was instrumental in getting off the ground. This brought together Crown representatives, three iwi and a number of other important local participants, ranging from local government to community groups, businesses and individuals all working in a collective and equal partnership. This group has led the charge to improve, preserve and highlight Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge, to great success. Visitor numbers to the area are increasing dramatically year on year, with more activities and attractions available, and more organisations getting involved.
The persistence has paid off, and the relationships in the group have been strengthened over regular cups of Tom’s favourite ‘gumboot tea’. However, despite the fantastic success that Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge has experiencing so far, Tom is realistic about the challenges and what is necessary to prosper. “I feel very proud of what has been achieved, but like any relationship you can take none of it for granted. Partnership is only as good as the last conversation,” laughs Tom. “I think in the past few years I’ve become an organisational psychologist!
“We needed to do something for ourselves,” says Gill Yorke, the manager. “The girls talked about setting up a mobile salad and smoothie van, but we decided that was too much hassle, so instead we planned on moving to The Square in Palmerston North.” Along with Gill, Emily Blanchett and Lucy Gertsgraser share ownership in the bar, while their friends Kate Bryant, Chloe Hes and Emma Hintz are the passionate workers.
Popular with their visitors, and adding to the “simple and natural” approach, is the lack of strange or pretentious names for their food. “Lots of people comment on us not having funny names! One person commented on the smoothies, making sure we had got all the ‘right’ colours.” For Gill, her favourite salad has gone from The Caesar to The Thai Beef, with the Green No.1 smoothie going down smoothly as a lunchtime dessert.
Brought up north of Porirua in a little fishing village, in his youth Dave wasn’t really one for study. “My mother has always been a big influence in my life, and she always cried when I saw her because she wanted me to be the big family hope. So after a year and a half of truck driving and possum hunting I made a deal with her. ‘If you stop bawling I’ll go back and get my Bachelor of Science, but after that I want to be a deer culler’, and she agreed.”
“Every pilot needs a medical to fly and the validity of it depends on whether you have a commercial or private licence and how old you are. A private pilot under forty’s medical lasts five years whereas a commercial pilot over forty needs to be renewed every six months.”
For Dave the success of his self-funded campaign is all about raising the profile and drawing people in. “When I say ‘bastards’ people actually love that. Sir Edmund Hillary said it at the top of Mount Everest and as soon as you say it the profile of that name is lifted. It is about getting people thinking and raising awareness of the fact that the greatest gift is your body, so take care of it.”