Selwyn Times: December 18, 2019
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16 Wednesday <strong>December</strong> <strong>18</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
A big shout out to<br />
all the grandparents<br />
ALTHOUGH NANS deserve all<br />
the praise the headline alludes<br />
to, to be honest this is more a<br />
shout out to Vittoria’s Nan.<br />
It’s not news having young<br />
kids presenting a hurdle getting<br />
to things you want or need to<br />
do.<br />
I mean, your call, but having<br />
an erratic, wilful and tantrumprone<br />
third wheel or work<br />
assistant isn’t ideal, and it’s worse<br />
when they’re a toddler.<br />
So I’m eternally grateful for<br />
my mum’s help over the last<br />
week with some bubs-watching<br />
(and obviously all the other<br />
times before that she, my stepdad<br />
or dad have helped us out<br />
immeasurably beforehand). I<br />
mean it’s not the first time by<br />
any means, but it’s my first column<br />
about it.<br />
Not only did she watch<br />
Vittoria at her place for a full<br />
day for me last week, but she<br />
also came to ours and watched<br />
Vittoria yet again on Monday so<br />
Laura and I could complete the<br />
goal of one date a month over<br />
the year.<br />
While we enjoyed the sort<br />
of time to ourselves you never<br />
really appreciate in those B.C.<br />
(before children) years, Vittoria<br />
was busy exploring, playing or<br />
getting the sort of treats only a<br />
nan will give.<br />
In one day with Nan, Vittoria<br />
had her first homemade<br />
play dough, walked dogs, got<br />
ice cream, ‘helped’ around the<br />
house, read books and burned<br />
through clothes by playing with<br />
a bucket of water. So thank<br />
you very much mum, you are<br />
awesome. I fully expect I’ll be<br />
churning through my goodwill<br />
points and your patience with<br />
plenty more grand-babysitting<br />
in future.<br />
In more tinsel-tinged news,<br />
we’ve got Vittoria’s Christmas<br />
presents ready and wrapped.<br />
Well, Laura’s got them wrapped,<br />
I just provided encouragement<br />
from the sidelines. You’d know<br />
why if I’d ever wrapped a gift for<br />
you.<br />
No spoilers here, you’ll have to<br />
wait if you really want to know<br />
what she’s getting. I can’t risk<br />
letting the cat out of the bag in<br />
the insanely slim chance Vittoria<br />
VITTORIA<br />
& Matt<br />
FUN: Water and buckets combine to excite Vittoria.<br />
learns to read between now and<br />
Christmas.<br />
The last thing I need to arrange<br />
is Vittoria’s Christmas stocking<br />
and organise the logistics on how<br />
Father Christmas is going to fill it<br />
on Christmas Eve. He’s not visited<br />
this house yet, so I’d best get a plan<br />
ready for him.<br />
I also better let Vittoria know<br />
that Santa’s old school and<br />
would prefer stout and a pie to a<br />
glass of milk and biscuits when<br />
he gets here.<br />
•Former Star Media<br />
journalist Matt Salmons<br />
has become a stay-athome<br />
dad. We follow his<br />
journey weekly<br />
BACKYARD CRITTERS<br />
Mike Bowie is an ecologist who specialises in<br />
entomology (insects and other invertebrates). Each<br />
week he introduces a new species found in his<br />
backyard at Lincoln. His column aims to raise public<br />
awareness of biodiversity, the variety of living things<br />
around us. Check out the full list of invertebrates<br />
found at www.inaturalist.org/projects/backyardbiodiversity-bugs-in-my-lincoln-section<br />
Moth not to be<br />
confused with a wasp<br />
LAST WEEK I saw my first<br />
currant clearwing on our<br />
property in Lincoln.<br />
You would be forgiven for not<br />
picking this as a moth as it looks<br />
nothing like one unless you<br />
check the darker wingtips under<br />
a microscope for the tell-tale<br />
scales.<br />
The confusion is due to them<br />
looking, sounding and behaving<br />
like a wasp which helps protect it<br />
from predators.<br />
THeir mostly membraneous<br />
wings, yellow and black stripes,<br />
fan-like tail and buzz when<br />
flying are distinguishing<br />
characteristics of this species.<br />
Four yellow bands on males and<br />
only three on females help to<br />
distinguish the sexes.<br />
Known scientifically as<br />
Synanthedon tipuliformis, this<br />
day-flying moth is about 12mm<br />
long and has a wingspan of 16-<br />
20mm. The moth was accidently<br />
introduced into New Zealand<br />
from Europe and is also found in<br />
Southern Australia and parts of<br />
the United States.<br />
Around <strong>December</strong>, adult<br />
females lay an average of 100<br />
eggs on buds, leaf scars and<br />
pruning cuts on blackcurrants,<br />
redcurrants or gooseberries and<br />
two weeks later the larvae hatch<br />
and burrow into the canes to eat<br />
the pith.<br />
Foraging by larvae hollow out<br />
and weaken the canes, causing<br />
a reduction in sap flow and<br />
yields. No significant predators<br />
for this pest are reported in New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Christmas is creative at<br />
Avonhead Shopping Centre!<br />
Get creative these holidays<br />
and make your very own gnome!<br />
19 TH TO 23 RD DECEMBER<br />
30 MINUTE SESSIONS. AGE 5+<br />
10AM, 11AM, 12PM, 1PM<br />
Bookings essential at<br />
www.themakecompany.co.nz<br />
for Christmas<br />
AvonheadShoppingCentre<br />
www.avonhead.co.nz<br />
Cnr Withells Rd and Merrin St<br />
Avonhead
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