I am writing this in late August from my hotel room in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, South Africa. Michelle and I have been lucky to spend three weeks ticking off a few bucket list things. For Mich, she has always been keen to do a safari in Africa, and we have satisfied that desire at two different game parks: Madikwe north of Johannesburg and Shamwari near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape area. For me, I have ticked off watching the All Blacks playing in South Africa – taking in the midweek game against the Bulls in Pretoria, and we will be at this weekend's second test in Cape Town. We’ve also been to Victoria Falls, Sun City and Johannesburg. It has been a fantastic trip!
While I’ve been away travelling, Kim, Liz, Paula and Crystal have once again put together a fantastic bumper issue of Channel Mag for September. There are all the usual popular monthly features including out and abouts on the Shore, our eating out pages, special columns, education pages and of course, Mr Gundry’s grumbles! The team has also put together some excellent features for this big, bright and bold spring issue.
Liz Cannon has done an interesting profile on Devonport’s new butchery, Marrow, opened by Nick Thomson. She discovers something that feels ‘refreshingly old-fashioned’: knowing where your food comes from, respecting the entire animal, and reconnecting communities with their local butcher.
The team has put together a Q&A feature with four elder folk who are making the most of their retirement by enjoying the freedom of modern retirement village living. I’m a big fan of these wonderful lifestyle villages and quite clearly so are Rob, Norman, Larry and Linda.
‘Bollix’ is the title of a new boldly-coloured yellow- and magenta-covered book by Devonport dynamo, Nic Russell. Staunch in casual gear, with trademark large glasses and short haircut, Nic talks to Christine Young about her memoir, launched this month.
Paula Arblaster has written a great piece on LifeChanger Foundation, an incredible organisation which is helping North Shore students discover inner strength, encouraging them to find their inner hero. It's an inspiring read. 
There’s lots on at Takapuna's PumpHouse Theatre in the coming weeks as well, all profiled in this issue. On 18 September, the 50th anniversary production of Sir Roger Hall’s 'Glide Time' opens at The PumpHouse and runs to 2 October. I hear it’s a great production. This will be followed by Tadpole Productions' latest play from 8 to 18 October, ‘The Surprise Party' (written by Dave Armstrong). It's a madcap take on politics, MMP and the political relationships that dominate New Zealand today. Very topical with the elections upon us!
Lots to read in your FREE September Channel Mag, as we celebrate the arrival of spring on the Shore!

Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher, Channel Magazine
Founder and Managing Director, Benefitz
aidan@benefitz.co.nz