Spring is the season for giving bouquets

I think it's safe to say we've made it.

It hasn't been easy and some of us have paid a heavy price but we've weathered the storm, stayed the course and kept the faith. Together we have survived the long hard winter and spring is our reward.

I don't think I'd trust anyone who didn't like spring. It's a winner of a season, not just because of the promise it offers, but the sheer relief it brings.

Despite having a cough that has lasted almost two months, my spirits have been lifted this week by the season's blossoms, new leaves, warmer temperatures and longer days.

To celebrate, I'm handing out bouquets and the first goes to Nelson's Roger and Anna Wilde for the launch of their book Real Fresh Food: Healthy Food For Busy People. Not only have they and Nelson photographer Daniel Allen produced a lovely publication, they held an excellent launch at The Boathouse last week. Highlights included Roger performing Shania Twain's You're Still The One in Anna's honour, Grey Power darling Pete Rainey giving a heartfelt speech about how the Wildes opened his eyes to food in new and nutritious ways, and the finger food, which tasted so healthy I could practically feel my internal organs getting younger.

I also take my hat off to Anna and Roger for their persistence and for putting themselves out there. Real Fresh Food is published by New Holland, who like it so much they're sending it to the Frankfurt Book Fair in the hope it will be picked up for publication in other languages. Roger and Anna pitched the idea for the book to New Holland several years ago but were turned down. The publishing deal from the same company came out of the blue two years ago after an editor, who knew nothing about the initial pitch, spotted their website (wildfoodhealth.com), liked what she saw and made them an offer.

The second big bunch of flowers goes to the State Cinema team for organising last week's terrific launch of the 2009 New Zealand International Film Festival at The Suter.

In fact, the pre-screening drinks session was so full of interesting people having a good time it seemed a shame to have to stop and watch the movie.

Not only were they interesting people, they were well-dressed and good-looking too, a fact noted in her speech by the festival's Wellington-based publicist, Rebecca McMillan. Although I suspect this had more to do with the opening film being the Vogue magazine documentary The September Issue than Nelsonians' innate attractiveness or stylishness. Had the opening film been the Norwegian Nazi zombie splatter-fest Dead Snow, it would have been a different story.

The tasty pizzas on offer were supplied by Stefano's Pizzeria, who, rather than a bouquet, get a posy for recent changes to the restaurant at State Cinema.

Encouragingly, they have got rid of one of the two big TVs that used to hideously dominate the place, turned the other one off and decorated the walls with movie posters. It's a much nicer place as a result.

The third bouquet goes to the Air New Zealand staff working at Nelson Airport last Saturday. Confronted with hundreds of frustrated passengers stuck in the terminal as a result of low cloud closing the airport, they remained friendly and helpful as they answered the same questions over and over again. When the skies briefly cleared, allowing some planes to land and take off, they leapt into action like Navy Seals. Had they not scrambled the way they did, many of us would have been stuck for a lot longer.

Mind you, as a mate said over a pint at The Sprig the other night, when you consider how much it costs to fly domestically on Air New Zealand, excellent service is the least they can do. He has a point but the thing that has been impressing me most about the airline lately is the way staff manage to be professional while still being themselves.

For example, just before takeoff a few weeks ago, I heard a flight attendant say to a colleague: "Would you be a real honey and help me with the door? The wind is so strong it's going to be a real arse to get it shut." It made me smile.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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