What makes your summer sing Barbara Fountain?

Good book: The Spanish Garden by our former deputy editor Cliff Taylor. It’s a beautiful novel, weaving life on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour with memories of the pursuit of love and idealism in the Spanish Civil War.

Good programme: I love sci-fi so have been pleased to see the new Star Trek series appearing on various streaming services – Picard, Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek Strange New Worlds and even the cartoon Star Trek Below Decks. For those on the other side of the sci-fi fandom tracks, I can recommend Andor (Disney+) set in the Star Wars universe. It needs little prior knowledge of matters Jedi and mixes action and, espionage.

Good board game: Carcasonne – build a medieval village on your tabletop and beyond. And if board games are a bore, you can’t go past a game of 500 as the daylight diminishes around the picnic table.

Good swimming spot: Punakaiki River lagoon mouth, West Coast – the surf is breaking nearby, the sand is hot, there are caves to explore, and a small coastal breeze keeps the sandflies at bay. It never fails to deliver.

Good feed: Love a cold, no-frills bacon and egg pie – that means no carrots, peas, onions or other interlopers – the name says it all “bacon” and “egg” pie.