Hawkes Bay Edition

Vol. 305-3  August 17, 2026

Ph Chris 022 078 0890


Everybody's Talking

Steel giant: A massive mechanical elephant in Nantes, France, has become the unlikely heart of a once-quiet industrial area. The creature carries groups of visitors as it moves slowly between old shipyard buildings that were turned into workshops for imaginative machines. Its designers chose to rebuild the district by filling it with unusual moving creations instead of traditional development. Inside the gallery, workers shape everything from small insects to towering animals, letting guests watch each project take form. The elephant remains the main draw, spraying water as it travels along its route. Its steady loop through the district keeps drawing people back to see what's new.

Timber craft: In Yorkshire, England, a local woodcarving group is turning fallen city trees into simple handmade items that bring people together. When a large alder tree came down near the town of Shipley, members gathered the wood and brought it to their monthly meet-up. There, beginners and experienced carvers shaped the logs into spoons, bowls, and sturdy mugs, giving the old tree a new purpose. Many members value the donated wood, especially those who do not live close to forested areas. Tree surgeons often share cut branches that would otherwise be thrown away. The club says the work offers steady hands, shared company, and a welcome pause from daily life.

Tactile view: Visitors to St Elmo Castle in Naples, Italy, can find a steel railing engraved with braille that describes the scenery for people who can't see it. The feature was added by a local artist who wanted everyone to share in the experience, even if they couldn't view the coastline or city below. As more travellers ask for accessible options, small changes like this show how design can open doors without altering historic sites in significant ways. The railing invites readers to follow its path and imagine the landscape through touch instead of sight. Similar ideas are appearing in other cultural spots, reminding destinations that inclusivity doesn't need to be complex to make a real impact.

Meal mission: Los Angeles actor and musician Jaden Smith runs the I Love You Restaurant, built on his earlier food-truck project, offering free plant-based meals to people who don't have steady housing. The idea began with vegan trucks that handed out simple dishes in areas where support services are limited and often stretched thin. At the restaurant, customers who can pay cover their own meal and help fund one for someone else, keeping the service accessible to anyone who needs it. Volunteers help prepare the food each day, keeping the focus on healthy, sustainable options. Smith has described the project in online videos as part of a broader effort to make good meals easier to reach.

Quotable Quotes

All serious daring starts from within. ~ Eudora Welty

I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people. ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Trivia

1. Who wrote the song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald?

2. How many toes does a camel have on each foot?

3. Matt Damon played this Robert Ludlum character in four movies.

4. Kite flying is a professional sport in Thailand - T/F?

5. This is made from the chemical reaction of fat and ashes.

Your Weekly Horoscope

ariesAries (March 21 - April 19)
Getting what you want requires that you do the necessary hard work. You may receive an energy boost this week to do so. Choose goals that support and reflect your values. Lucky numbers: 3, 14, 16, 21, 37, 40.
libraLibra (Sept 24 - Oct 23)
It’s important over the next month that you not overlook the details to get to what appears to be a win-win result. Otherwise, the agreement may be difficult to sustain. Lucky numbers: 5, 10, 17, 28, 36, 37.
taurusTaurus (April 20- May 20)
The energy for the next month may give you an opportunity to begin to heal an old emotional wound. This could perhaps be the beginning of an ongoing, long-term initiative. Lucky numbers: 10, 19, 20, 22, 23, 40.
scorpioScorpio (Oct 24- Nov 21)
Your intuition may be in high gear for a few days early in the week. If it's overwhelming, withdraw from the world as much as possible. Taking care of yourself is important. Lucky numbers: 7, 10, 17, 19, 26, 28.
geminiGemini (May 21- June 21)
You may experience a temporary set back for the next few weeks in manifesting your goals. Patience and flexibil­ity could help you get through this period. Lucky numbers: 12, 18, 23, 28, 35, 39.
sagittariusSagittarius (Nov22-Dec21)
While your energy may be at a low point now, a temporary, midweek reprieve may happen for a few days. If you can accomplish something quickly, take advantage of it. Lucky numbers: 13, 15, 28, 31, 34, 39.
cancerCancer (June 22 - July 22)
Your emotions should be well grounded, anchoring you over the next month. Before this energy dissi­pates, consider how to take advantage of this to accomplish a goal. Lucky numbers: 1, 2, 9, 14, 17, 29.
capricornCapricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)
Your ambition may be heightened for a few days at the end of the week. Apply this energy, before it passes, to whatever might need a boost to be successful. Lucky numbers: 8, 9, 17, 26, 34, 38.
leoLeo (July 23 - Aug 22)
A beneficial energy is available to you early this week. You could use it to have fun, but you also might be able to accomplish something significant, if you do the work. Lucky numbers: 8, 15, 24, 33, 36, 39.
aquariusAquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18)
Are you having difficulty getting acceptance for your goals? It may be helpful to make an adjust­ment to flesh out the details, in order to gain the confidence of others. Lucky numbers: 2, 10, 12, 17, 20, 37
virgoVirgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Your birthday month is a good time to evaluate your prior year accom­plishments and set goals for the new year. Perhaps con­sider breaking out of your comfort zone. Lucky numbers: 6, 8, 11, 13, 22, 40.
piscesPisces (Feb 19 - March 20)
It has been about six months since your birth­day. Did you set new goals then? Now is a good time to evaluate your successes and make some changes to what isn't. Lucky numbers: 7, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22.
Lucky numbers for the week: Lucky numbers this week: This week's odds favour Leo winners with the luckiest number being 33.

Did you know

Water divide: Salty ocean water makes up about 97% of Earth's water, leaving only a small fraction of fresh water in ice, groundwater, and surface sources. That tiny share supports drinking supplies worldwide and most everyday uses.

Silent suits: During a spacewalk, an astronaut's suit uses low-pressure air, which is much thinner than what we breathe on Earth. With so little air moving past the lips, a whistle can't form at all, no matter how hard astronauts may try.

Ancient ache: Egypt's early dentists faced constant tooth wear from gritty foods, so they turned to remedies like crushed minerals and natural rinses. Their simple mixtures aimed to ease discomfort and keep mouths healthier despite a harsh diet.

Coral heart: Heart Reef is a naturally formed, heart-shaped coral patch in the Whitsundays, sitting within Australia's Great Barrier Reef. A pilot first noticed its outline during a flight, and today it is protected, so people view it only from the air.

Tropical twist: Despite its name, Hawaiian pizza was invented in Ontario (Canada) by a Greek-born restaurateur who decided to top a cheese pizza with pineapple and ham. The sweet-and-salty experiment sparked a debate that still divides pizza lovers today.

On the lighter side

How many ants do you need to fill a rented apartment? Ten-ants.

The invisible man tried to lie to me, but I saw right through him.

Note to self: Thanks for always being there!

Mike: Uh-oh, I just made an illegal left turn. Ike: That's okay, so did the policeman behind you.

A good band leader is always in tune with what's happening in order to be up-beat.

Answers

1. Gordon Lightfoot 2. Two 3. Jason Bourne 4. True 5. Soap