Author(s): Juliet Batten

NZ Biographies

This memoir spans a time period from the 1960s to 2006. It covers rich themes, including: THE NEW ZEALAND BACH: Its character, changing faces, and its promise of freedom, connection with nature, and leisure. WORKING WITH NATURE: From learning the stars from poet Sam Hunt in the 60s, the author becomes a beach artist and ritual maker, working with sand at the sea's edge, creating collaborative art works and rituals for up to 100 women. She enquires into the seasonal flow and creates a calendar of seasonal celebrations for Aotearoa New Zealand. CREATIVITY: From serving the talent of her mime and theatre director husband, the author claims her own talents after Germaine Greer's visit to Auckland and her initiation into feminism. GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING: Shifting from traditional female roles and learning to live on the land and survive in a simple bach, the author learns to trap possums, recycle, conserve, deal with power and water shortages, become an environmental activist and build her own cabin. YOUTH AND AGE: With an old love coming into the present, the author learns about forgiveness as she reclaims the freedom and hope of youth, along with the maturity and wisdom of her later years.