Category Archives: Lifestyle

Proteco Oils

Everyday rain, shine, wind or hail I follow the same routine of walking 10km round our local lake. Normally this activity takes around an hour and I tend to see the same familiar faces. Interestingly, the age range varies dramatically from teenagers to octogenarians all going at their own pace. Recently I have befriended a new arrival to the area, whose main residence is a farm in rural South Australia. Essentially he is from a culture where eating no processed and preservative food is a way of life. That is why he was fascinated to find out that I write about many artisan food brands. Certainly, this amazing country has an abundance of craft producers including Queensland based business Proteco Oils. » Read more

Gorilla Watches

As an author/writer, I am always looking for new and exciting projects to sink my teeth into. Even when I devise an interesting concept it might not always appeal to my publisher. Sometime they might like the subject a lot but feel it will not resonate with their target market. Unfortunately, that is the reality of life and financial viability is sometimes integral to the success of a project. The same parallel can be made in the highly competitive world of horology. I have spoken with many brands who have created extraordinary timepieces but the figures simply do not stack up. Fortunately, Switzerland based company Gorilla Watches has managed to find that even balance. » Read more

Hampered Byron Bay

Australia is a truly amazing country to live in and I am massively proud to call it my home. Literally two weeks ago we celebrated our 6th anniversary in Adelaide with friends and can’t believe how quickly time has passed. When I lived in the UK soap opera’s like Neighbours and Home and Away depicted a perpetual outdoor life. Although in many ways these dramas are not realistic there is a certain amount of accuracy. For example, friends do regularly have barbeques and within the provincial cities, wonderful beaches are abundant. Another really crucial point is that there is plenty of phenomenal food available. A brilliant example is popular seaside town Byron Bay, which is located on the South Eastern tip of New South Wales. » Read more

Three14 Architects OVD525

About a couple of weeks ago I met with a neighbour who informed me that he was planning to list his house on the market in November. He also asked if we would be interested in a personal viewing the property with an intention of potentially buying it. The home is approximately 6 years old and has some very interesting bespoke features. Certainly, it is far superior to most of the generic residences in the area. However, it didn’t tick all the boxes and therefore we couldn’t justify moving. Ultimately we liked the property but didn’t fall in love. I would imagine most buyers feel the same way and that is why they decide to go down the self-build route. This way (within reason) you can achieve the finish and layout desired. » Read more

Wellington Chocolate Factory

Two years ago my physician wife was invited to attend a medical conference in Wellington, New Zealand. Fortunately, due to great timing, myself and eight-year son also travel on the trip. Even though Wellington is a relatively small capital city it is absolutely crammed full of culture. For example, the city boasts some extraordinary cutting-edge modern architecture and some delightful historical buildings like St. Paul’s church. There are also many superb tourist attractions like Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand) Zealandia, amazing Red Rock Reserve (where you can spot seals) and the sensational Wellington Chocolate Factory. » Read more

Andersmann Watch Classic 300M

A few years ago I visited Baselworld and met up with several prominent watchmakers. The majority were targeting exclusive buyers and therefore attending the event was an absolute prerequisite. When I spoke with Maximilian Busser and Charris Yadigaroglou (Chief Communications Officer) at MB & F they said that this show equated to a large proportion of their annual revenue. That is why I only got to speak with Max briefly because his itinerary literally was full to the brim. However, for smaller watch labels this huge scale trade fair isn’t an option due to the overall expense. That is why they have to rely on different recourses. A great example can be found in Hong Kong-based company Andersmann Watch. » Read more

SA Screen Creations

As mentioned in several previous articles I absolutely love watching programmes about architecture and in particular Grand Designs. This franchise began in the UK but now is popular in regions like Australia and New Zealand. Even though opinions are divided about Kevin McCloud I personally love his presenting style. The show generally follows a certain pattern which comprises several challenges including budgetary issues, flexible deadlines and sometimes poor preparation etc. However, in the episode, I watched last night Herefordshire (England) couple Ed and Rowena Waghorn fastidiously hand built a beautiful timber home for only £100,000 (approximately $140,237). To date, the building has taken over a decade and still isn’t complete. Nevertheless, the overall experience shared with their children is more valuable than money. On a much smaller scale, I try to include my 8-years son in all my design projects. » Read more

SEVENFRIDAY Q2/01

Even in the relatively short time I have been writing about the watches, there seems to have a significant shift in the industry. Initially when began commenting about horology, brands like Urwerk, MB & F, De Bethune were considered highly radical. Certainly, my admiration for these progressive ateliers hasn’t diminished in any way. However, there are several other labels that have followed suit and made their own indelible footprint in the watch industry. Probably one of the best examples in recent years is Swiss-based business SEVENFRIDAY AG. » Read more