What makes your summer sing Martin Johnston?

Good book: The Conquest of Mount Cook by Freda Du Faur, published in 1915. Du Faur was the first woman to climb Aoraki and was in the first group to complete the Grand Traverse in 1913.

Good programmes: Two movie-length documentaries on television: The Alpinist – lots of no-rope edginess. In fact, it’s twice as edgy as the Alex Honnold doco, Free Solo (both Apple TV+).

Good board game: Rat-a-tat Cat (actually, a card game).

Good swimming spot: Lee River, near Brightwater, south of Nelson City. Stones, clear water, and a “good” long-term testing result.

Good feed: Haven Fish and Chips, Wakefield Quay, Nelson. Fresh as.