Heather & Rod's Amazing (& Not So Amazing) New Zealand Adventures

My blog readers already know I have demented dreams, so may as well share my latest. I am 'home' in America and helping my father with chores on the farm when what should appear? Why, a small herd of talking billy goats, of course! I was very afraid of them. I thought they appeared a bit evil and one tried to headbutt me while talking all the while. I told my father he'd have to deal with them as they scared me. My dad began talking to them as if he knew them - he'd done this before, apparently. Turns out he had offered the goats to bed down for a while in a nearby cave. They showed up to claim their nests for the night. Once they surveyed the cave and approved, my father decided it would be nice to offer them something to eat - they were hungry from their travels. I'm not quite sure what he was preparing, but it was some sort of raw meat. He began throwing it on the barn floor for them to eat and I found myself confused and appalled. "If they are civilis...

If one looks back in History, one will find many wars fought over food . . . you have the great spice wars, wars over tea (Boston Tea Party), there were actually wars over salt in India (so says, Google), and even coffee wars (Starbucks vs all the others, that is). And, now, I am claiming 2007 as the year of the Great NZ Cheese Wars. These Cheese Wars took place in a small suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand and all began over a small block of Havarti. Going back in my own history (yes, I'm in my 40th year!) Havarti has always been a favourite cheese. In fact I have fond memories of Havarti. When I was a young lass (why does talk of history automatically make you think with a British accent?) my grandmother knew Havarti was my favourite fromage and she would always bring a block just for me when she would visit. Since then, Havarti has always held a special place in my heart. In New Zealand, however, it's a different story . . . . Havarti here is not Havarti there (US). In fact, ra...