Category Archives: Latest GOB Articles

Women’s Work (This article first appeared in the December 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) In the 1970’s TV sitcom ‘I didn’t know you cared’ Uncle Mort says that women are made for the fripperies of life, like DIY and carrying … Continue reading →

Call me 50 (per)cent (This article first appeared in the November 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Somewhere between 65% and 70% of this sceptre isle’s land is used for agriculture. 57% of agriculture is ‘rough pasture’ and another 24% is … Continue reading →

Eat The Rich (This article first appeared in the November 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Jonathan Swift of Gulliver fame wrote his famous tract A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents … Continue reading →

Brave Kiwis (This article first appeared in the October 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) I remember the first time I visited my parents after they emigrated to New Zealand; as we started our descent into Auckland the pilot came on … Continue reading →

Rio & Reality (This article first appeared in the September 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Do you remember the Rio dictum ‘Think Global, Act Local’? How about NIMBY – ‘Not In My Back Yard’? Not everyone does. My local Green … Continue reading →

Organics (This article first appeared in the August 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) My food bill has risen and I’m glad! We recently decided to change what we eat. I’m still a non-meat eater married to a carnivore and we … Continue reading →

Birding 101 (This article first appeared in the July 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) How enamoured are you of today’s birding scene? Do you relish the technological advantages today’s birders have or miss the old ‘anything about mate?’ days? Like … Continue reading →

Plan Ahead (This article first appeared in the June 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) In 1872 President Ulysses S. Grant created the world’s first National Park, Yellowstone. Between 1905 and 1909, several European countries also established them, more as symbols of … Continue reading →

Fings Ain’t What They Used To Be (This article first appeared in the May 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) The thing about ageing is that you tend to look backward at things with more than a hint of roseate tern … Continue reading →

Good Things Come In Less Packaging (This article first appeared in the April 2016 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Today I bought what I thought was an ordinary box of tissues at the supermarket. I’m an old-fashioned red-spotted handkerchief man really, … Continue reading →