Last weekend I visited the deep south for an event put on bySouthland Branch  Heritage Roses New Zealand. Bitterly cold after a rather rugged flight down there - it turned out to be a sunny and pleasant stay. Heritage rose people were welcoming, interested and wanted more and more stories about the women in my book. Attached is a photo of the presentation to about 30 enchanted women.

There has been a lull in my writing life. The editors at Steele Roberts have had a crack at my new book - Missionaries Wives and Roses : Marsden's Forgotten Women - and I have spent some time reviewing and answering questions. Learning the track changes editing programme has been a challenge. But I have whilled away the time by setting up a new facebook page -' Roses Ann Chapman' and it seems to be getting a wide international audience. That is good and to spread the word of the glory of old roses is great fun and my picture of the day often gets positive remarks.

The Wellington branch of heritage Roses NZ met at Plimmerton today where i gave a talk about "Women in My Rose garden'. Where ever I go people marvel at the beauty of the book (not mt=y doing but the designers) and how cheap it is.

Sales going well and I sold a few today

Yesterday I created a new face book page: Roses - Ann Chapman. This is a page devoted to roses, with stories and photos of them in all their glory. A complete opposite to politics which is my other addiction.

This week saw a most remarkable occurrence in New Zealand politics. The draw of a private member’s Bill on paid parental leave saw an unprecedented number of supportive editorials, followed by an increasing number of negative comments, followed by even more positive comments and the implied veto from  a senior politician. All before it even had its first reading.