Veronika Wild

Shock! Horror! I’ve just found out that the eggs I have been buying as “free range” aren’t nearly as chook friendly or as wholesome as I thought, even though I have been paying more for them. Not all "free range" eggs are equal Thanks to the efforts of consumer advocacy group Choice, the Greens and others, Australia passed legislation last year which has just come into effect in time for Easter. It requires that the stocking density of chickens must be shown on egg cartons. This was necessary as it was found that many egg producers were trading on the public interest in healthier and more humanely produced food and the fact that consumers had shown themselves willing to pay a little more for eggs labelled “free range” though these were often produced under less than ideal conditions.    It turns out that even the eggs in the box with the pretty picture were not produced according to the  recommended standard While “free ra...

Lovely Legs - the Guerilla Knitters strike again! While we were enjoying our morning tea on Friday and looking across at the former Christmas tree, I remembered that in its last incarnation, Hobart’s Guerrilla Knitters had covered it in knitted stars and hearts. Obviously they were still going because a tree on the way to the Square had also been kitted out in vibrant colours and I had seen the same thing in Geeveston recently.   It’s not just a Tasmanian phenomenon either. There are excellent examples of what can only be termed yarn sculpture in Guilford in Western Australia and also in Hurstbridge, Victoria, where a full steam train has been created on a fence at the Station in memory of the days when apple orchards were the reason for its existence. For more amazing examples of yarn art see Wiki , Pinterest or some of Lori Zimmer's collection. The Guerrilla Knitters have been busy in Geeveston too Not surprisingly Geeveston's Yarn and Craft store also...

Get ready for Lion Dances and Fireworks - both designed to chase away Bad Luck Lunar New Year began on this side of the planet yesterday on Friday the 16 th but don’t despair if you missed it. The main festivities last for seven days and additional celebrations continue until the Lantern Festival on March 2. Hobart recycles it's Christmas Tree in Salamanca Place in honour of "Chinese New Year" Though commonly called “Chinese New Year” it is essentially a Spring festival celebrated by many countries including Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius, Singapore, Taiwan and Macau, Australia and the Philippines and all those other places where migrants from these countries have made their home. In fact, it is one of the most important and widely celebrated events in the world. While each country has its own variation, common to all is the desire to spend time with family and friends which causes huge traffic jams in those count...