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From the editor - July 09

My failure as a coal-range cook, mentioned in my email newsletter, has precipitated a flood of advice. I admitted that my inadequate stoking of the Shacklock range in my holiday home over the Easter break left the potatoes unroasted and the apple crumble unbrowned. I have a long way to go to reach the benchmark set by the previous owner, Wendy Shatky of St Bathans, who had the Shacklock turning out the tastiest roasts and the lightest baking.

This weekend, armed with your advice, I am about to have another go. I now know about sad wood and hot wood, shiny coal versus dull coal, stoking methods and flue management.

NZ House & Garden readers are the best and biggest family in the country. In today�s mail an oven thermometer arrived, posted to me by Annie Jacobs of Methven who, in a past life, cooked for up to 150 people on a coal range. She was worried my Shacklock had no thermometer so she ordered one and posted it on. And would she let me pay her? No way. She said the magazine was thanks enough. �I love the contrast of the clutter houses with the minimal ones and the brand new ones with the old villas. I love the diversity.�

She was describing � beautifully � exactly what my associate editor Sally Duggan and I try to achieve in each issue: an array of houses from across the decorating spectrum in different places around New Zealand. We have no favourites when it comes to decorating styles; we�re not even sure we believe in fashion in home decor. What�s in today is out tomorrow and who can bear that expense and hassle?

Not only have I learned about coal-range cooking from you this month, but I have also had feedback about the magazine�s type size, which I raised in my May editorial. Around 10 people said they were having difficulty reading the stories, so we have increased the type size. I hate to think of even one reader having trouble reading their NZ House & Garden.

I am sure my new friend, Annie from Methven, will approve of this issue and its plentiful range of homes and gardens. Meantime, armed with my temperature gauge, I am off south for a big stoke-up of the Shacklock. I�ll also be trying out Annie�s recipe for Coal Range Scones, which she says always won prizes at A&P shows (we�ve put it here if you�re interested). I�ll let you know how I get on. Take care till next month,

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Story: Kate Coughlan
Photographs: Mark Smith
Stylist: Tracey Strange