June 2024 update: three years and counting. It is about time I explained my moniker. I am the youngest of four siblings: the others being boys. My parents expected a fourth boy, so I was scheduled to be Michael. They had no girls' names up their sleeves, but they did have a Beatrix Potter-like Read more...

June 2024 update: three years and counting. It is about time I explained my moniker. I am the youngest of four siblings: the others being boys. My parents expected a fourth boy, so I was scheduled to be Michael. They had no girls' names up their sleeves, but they did have a Beatrix Potter-like blue shawl in which I was wrapped. As a result Jemima Puddleduck became my name until they decided on Elizabeth (Liz). It was abbreviated to Mima, which is what Dad continued to call me for the rest of his life. He was my mentor, my role model and the name is dear to me.

Bean remains my constant companion. I carry on trying to produce as much of my own food as possible, and to reduce my impact on the planet wherever I can. 

I am content from day to day in a way I never imagined. But when I look ahead to the future of this beautiful planet I am terrified by the blundering blindness of humankind. We all know better. So why aren't we all doing better?

April 2023 update: Since I last updated, the beautiful Bean - a Ridgeback - has become part of my life. She arrived here aged 4, from owners who had health problems which prevented them from looking after her. She and I bonded very quickly and we are more or less inseparable now, almost two years later. She features in many of my blips.

My simple self-reliant life has also been enhanced by becoming a sourdough-baker and cheese-maker. I am quite obsessed with both.

My days continue to be largely occupied in the garden, orchard and kitchen. And I’m as happy as I’ve ever been.

June 2021: At last I decided to take the plunge and start blipping. I enjoy blips so much that it seems only right that other blippers see something of my life...

I live on the edge of a small village in North Otago, New Zealand, on an acre of land on which grows all my fruit and veg. Hens provide me eggs. I'm not quite self-sufficient: I barter for meat, fish and other food, as well as for treats.

A combination of good luck and good management means that I can scrape by on my savings. I stopped conventional work in June 2015, aged 53 after a stressful career in public service. Now I live lightly: a simple life which meets all my needs. It has been a revelation to discover that I am significantly more fulfilled and content being self-reliant, and no longer part of the world of constantly wanting stuff.

In 2008 I arrived in NZ: originally from England, via Scotland and Australia. A job brought me to this country and within a couple of weeks I realised I would be here for good. I lived in North Canterbury for eight years before I stopped work and moved south in 2016 to find cheaper land and no earthquakes. 

2018: Yet to blip, but enjoying others' with fascination... Maybe in time, when I have time, I'll commit some of it to contributing to this wonderful site...