My ‘Moon over Martinborough’ blog has been named “New Zealand Site of the Month” in the October 2009 issue of NetGuide Magazine.
I was sitting at my computer at the government agency where I work when an email came in from someone in the Communications team telling me that he’d seen the article in NetGuide. I actually had no idea NetGuide was even considering my blog. Leave it to the Communications team to find out before me. Most of the people at work didn’t know I have a blog. They do now.
Check out the nice review from NetGuide, which I’ve included below. They seem to think I quit my day job to move out here, which I haven’t, but whatever!
Many of us have, at some stage, imagined what life would be like if we chucked in the 9 to 5 job in the city and fled to the country. For most of us this will remain a pleasant fantasy; however, there are a lucky few who actually follow through and do it.
That’s the case with Jared, a self-proclaimed “American city boy” who, in 2006 with his partner CJ, decided to up and move to an eight-hectare olive grove in Martinborough, in the lower North Island.
To chronicle the journey, Jared has created a blog, jaredgulian.com, in which he tells the story of how he got from suburban Detroit to the bright lights of Tokyo, from Cambodia all the way down to the bottom of the world (aka Wellington), before making a life-changing discovery in the heart of the Wairarapa.
Jared’s venture into olive oil production is lovingly illustrated in jaredgulian.com. Every misstep and every success is described with equal relish, and it makes for very good reading.
Moon over Martinborough has one thing that so many blogs lack – it’s very well written – and it’s quite easy to waste an afternoon reading stories of flooding rivers, disobedient sheep, and of course, what it takes to get an olive grove up and running, starting without the slightest bit of knowledge as to how it’s done.
Simultaneously witty and affecting, Moon over Martinborough is a pleasant surprise in the blogosphere: inherently readable posts that, when put together, wouldn’t look out of place on the shelf of a good bookstore.
– NetGuide Magazine, October 2009
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Congratulations! I’m not surprised you’ve been heralded as a blog worth reading. What a lovely review and you are so very deserving of it.
I’ve got to catch up on your last couple of posts and I’m looking forward to settling down with a cuppa and having a good read (when the little’uns give me five minutes!).
That’s fantastic news. Well done and congratulations. (I was thinking “book” too!)
Congratulations! Book, book, book! Yes.
See? Your degree was not for naught.
“it’s very well written” they said! I am so proud of you I could burst! Signed: one who has had the honor of being briefly awakened by the lovely sound of the deck creaking as you make your way to the studio to write each and every dawn and thinking to herself, all’s right with the world.
forgot to add, love you, Mr. “simultaneously witty and affecting.”
Congrats on further praise of your excellent blog. When you become world renowned, I can say I remember reading your work way back when. Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Brian
Hooray for you and the Moon, from your faithful reader in the American Swampland!
Congratulations, great to see. I certainly have enjoyed your weekly updates of life in the country, well done!
We are squealing with delight for you. Triple woohoo to you! Being married to wolfie, (we of course were mentioned in your most fabulous blog – yurts and magic underwear), we know the benefits of howling to the Martinborough moon. I wish (under the same stars that you do) for publishing success so that the day job can take a back seat to your illuminating talent.
Congratulations!
I’m not surprised …very well deserved. Congratulations !!
Fulsome praise, but well deserved.
Thats great news – well done 🙂 Your blog really is a pleasure to read -its hysterically funny and always brings a smile to my face.
Good for you 🙂
well done 🙂