New Zealand Listener

The stuff of fantasy

There once was a cat called Molly, who decided to live under a trolley. If you asked her why, she’d refuse to reply. And then she’d give you the stink eye.

My latest money-spinning idea for Lush Places is to write a series of children’s books about our collection of motley animals. How hard can it be?

As the above attempt demonstrates, quite hard. It is not quite up there withMolly does not, unlike Hairy Maclary’s nemesis, the terrorising tomcat Scarface Claw, have tearaway adventures. She doesn’t do anything except lie under the tea trolley. I concede this might not make for a terribly exciting cat book.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from New Zealand Listener

New Zealand Listener6 min read
Find The Joy
A serving of juicy steak tacos, complete with punchy trimmings (and a seriously good avocado cream) can do no wrong! Makes 12 • 2 sirloin steaks (about 125g each) • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • ½ tsp salt • ½ tsp onion powder • ¼
New Zealand Listener3 min read
The Drive To Succeed
Here is a picture of me pretending to drive a tractor. I am sort of driving it. My mate Blokesy Stokesy is guiding my feeble efforts. He is doing the gears. I think. I don’t drive. I know nothing about gears. People have tried to teach me to drive. T
New Zealand Listener1 min read
Quips & Quotes
– Entomologist Rya Seltzer, whose study builds on research showing some stressed plants cry a mournful melody made of ultrasonic clicks, which are picked up by moths ■

Related Books & Audiobooks