The Star: January 31, 2019

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday January 31 2019 17
Meals cut short
YOU KNOW that friend
you have that’s always
eyeing up what’s on your
plate? They don’t actually
ask for anything, but you
eventually cave under their
longing stare.
Our darling little Vittoria
has begun mastering
that art at a young age and
has taken it a step or two
further.
Unless she’s already
asleep when we eat, she’s
out on patrol. She wanders
over, all cute smile and
wide eyes, to point at our
meal and say “ooook.”
If you won’t sacrifice a
little of what you’ve got, she
steps it up.
A couple more “oook”s
come out before she starts
fake crying. Increasing the
volume until you give in.
Laura is her normal target,
she’s a soft touch, but
me and guests are also fair
game when needs be.
Now don’t think we
aren’t feeding her. Her little
escapades always happen
after her own meal and
she’s expanding her outlook
to include all three of
the main meals of the day,
as well as snack times.
I haven’t eaten a full slice
of toast in a week.
On Tuesday I took Vittoria
to Willowbank with
some friends. Because of
the timing, I took along a
packed lunch for both me
and her. Hers was flash; Bolognese,
fresh avocado and
rock melon for dessert.
My lunch of two sandwiches
literally came in a
bread bag. #bubseatsbetter.
VITTORIA
& Matt
FEEDING TIME: Matt and Vittoria feeding the
eels at Willowbank, before it was time for their
own lunch.
I knew when she was
getting hungry, because she
started running her “oook”
scam on her friend’s mum
to get some of their banana,
while we were walking.
When we sat down to eat,
she gobbled up her meal,
some her friends rusk,
some of my cheese, a bit
of my sandwich and then
demanded (and received)
some of my rock melon.
I can’t refuse her, of
course and it’s all healthy,
so no big trouble there.
There’s no point in
complaining about her
rapacious appetite anyway,
she inherited it from her
parents.
Besides, she’s a growing
young lady and all that.
Plus a full day of animal
excitement meant she fell
asleep before I had my
dinner.
•Former Star Media
journalist Matt
Salmons has become
a stay-at-home dad.
We follow his journey
weekly.
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‘Back to business’
THE START of the school
year is the final reminder
that the holidays are well
and truly over.
I hope readers have had
a great break and have
returned refreshed for the
year ahead. I certainly
have.
Rob and I did our
usual pilgrimage to the
Coromandel, which was a
glorious place to see in the
new year. I read about six
books in 10 days, which is
of course what I love about
being in a place with no
TV, cellphone coverage or
internet.
It has again reminded
me just how easy it is to get
distracted by these things.
The other thing I love
about the environment is
the spectacular scenery,
the pohutukawa trees,
the night sky unspoilt by
artificial light, and the
wildlife – especially the
New Zealand dotterel. It
really was the archetypal
Kiwi holiday.
So back to business.
Next Thursday will
see the new finance and
performance committee,
chaired by councillor Raf
Manji, take centre stage.
This is now a committee
of the whole council with
the delegation to make
decisions, as opposed to
what was a sub-committee
making recommendations
Mayor
Lianne Dalziel
to the full council.
This is not only more
streamlined, it will also
allow greater oversight
of council spending and
delivery performance.
It will still be livestreamed
so I hope you
check it out. This should
make these matters far
more accessible, which will
improve transparency and
accountability as well.
The draft Annual Plan
will be next up after that
and will be debated on
Tuesday, February 12, so I
will give more detail then.
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