Category: Rachael Hedges

By Rachael Hedges

December 28, 2017

Remember that date I had from Tinder where my date’s fiancé showed up, beat the crap out of him and ended up with police statements? Well this doesn’t quite rival that but it’s fairly close.
Internet dating has its pros and cons of course, and I’ve had my fair share of both. I love meeting new people though, so it’s rare I come away thinking I’ve wasted my time or that the date was a failure even if there isn’t going to be a second date – and nine times out of ten there isn’t.
Get in to the story I suppose you’re thinking! So… I went to yoga in the park in South Bank (which was awesome by the way – thanks MediBank), arrived home and began to cook. At which time I also checked my Bumble (similar to Tinder but better if you ask me) account… as you do. A guy, let’s call him ‘Fred,’ had messaged a few minutes earlier asking me to dinner that evening. I replied that I already had dinner on. Long story short he persuaded me to meet him for Italian. Being post-yoga, I was ravenous so suggested we meet in 20ish mins.
I arrived at the restaurant and Fred is seated enjoying some water. He immediately apologised for a dry cough and explained it wasn’t contagious. Slightly awkward, but whatever. Fred is convinced food will help so we ordered garlic bread to get started.
The garlic bread didn’t help. Turned out Fred has low blood pressure and is concerned it might be related. Also turned out, Fred had been at the doctors earlier that day but, after an hour wait, had to get going to a work appointment. Also turned out that he’d had the week before off to cope with this new medical condition that had something to do with a heart problem.
By this stage I was fairly concerned. Our mains had arrived and my new friend Fred is coughing up a storm; could barely speak, let alone hold convo and had turned pale and sweaty.
He cut the date short, apologising and I offered to take him to the doctors. Or hospital. He replied he had drugs to take at home and could I take him to his apartment as his flatmate had moved out as they were about to move, and could I also wait ten minutes to make sure he would be okay.
Looking back I should have just called an ambulance. Hindsight – great thing, right?!

Instead I asked his address, sent it to my flatmate, told him my flatmate would be picking me up soon and I was sharing my live location. Gotta keep safe!!! I could genuinely see this guy not only needed help but was really scared too. I made the right call but if I was in the same position again, I would def. just call an ambulance.
.So we walked back and he was not doing well and struggling for breath. I was worried he would collapse. We got through the door (me sending constant updates to my flatmate, David) he grabbed his drugs, landed on the couch and tried to pull it together. I made him take off his tie and undo his top shirt buttons. I then told him stories for 20 minutes to help him relax. I tried numerous times to take him to the doctors.
Eventually he relaxed and he (and myself) felt a lot better. Told me I could leave. I waited another ten minutes then I made him get his phone charger and put it beside his bed with some water and to relax.
He came outside with me and (hilariously) tried to kiss me not once, not twice but three times!!! He couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested and asked if it was the coughing. I responded that I was concerned he would pass out! But I was really thinking, ‘Mate you’re kidding! You take me on a date, nearly die, put me in a potentially compromising situation, I practically have to medicate you and then you think I want to kiss you?! Ha!’ Saved by the bell, my uber turned up.
I got home and worried all evening. I so wished I had just taken him to hospital. He messaged that he was okay but obviously I was still concerned.
He messaged in the morning he had a bad night and was going to docs. They sent him straight to emergency and when I left for Vietnam a few days later, he was still in hospital.
I do feel for him. I’ve been in situations where I’ve feared for my health and been alone and it’s exceptionally scary. A first date def wasn’t the right place to seek help though! He later messaged me he shouldn’t have gone on a date that night. No shit, Fred.
A huge thanks to the support of my flatmate Dave, ensuring sure I was safe, letting me vent and listening to me fretting until I heard from Fred again.
I wish Fred a swift recovery and hope he understands when I refuse a second date!
UPDATE: Fred did not understand and continues to contact me…

Rachael Hedges attended FAHS from 2000 to 2004. She is a self-employed digital marketer who can turn her writing skills to illuminate a bewildering range of topics.

January 16, 2018

If you’re looking to enjoy world-class dining with quality New Zealand produce while you’re in the Land of the Long White Cloud, then you’re in luck. Charley Noble in Wellington has long held a reputation for being one of the best restaurants around and, if my dining experience was anything to go by, it certainly holds up to its name.
We chose to sit at the bar for lunch for a bit more of an entertaining experience, watching the chefs expertly prepare the meals. I would absolutely choose to sit there again: I may have even picked up a few new chopping techniques!
We explored the menu and soon called over Justyna to help us choose – everything looked good. She pointed out a few items (some I would never have chosen without her suggestions) and we put together a few complementary plates.
To start, we ordered the market ceviche, venison carpaccio and the pig’s tail salad. Yes, you read that correctly, the pig’s tail salad! Right there is one of the menu items I would have never chosen without Justyna’s influence. It is not what you would expect; well, it wasn’t what I expected! Mandarin provided a perfect burst of sweetness contrasting the texture and taste of the crunchy pig’s tail (almost like crackling) and slightly acidic dressing. I highly recommend giving it a try.
The market fish ceviche was beautiful and light, with a lovely orange flavouring and delicious sweet and spicy candied chillies! The candied chillies were a first for me and I was both surprised and delighted with their flavour and texture – slightly crunchy, still with a nice chilli bite but also sweet from the sugar.
The venison carpaccio was a classic dish, well delivered. Quality, fresh local produce. The meat literally melts in your mouth. Must try.
The Charley Noble somelier, Jordan, was very knowledgeable and personable – my favourite! He perfectly matched my wine (Colere Pinot Gris – Pinot Blanc from Marlborough) with my entrees so that it didn’t clash with the candied chilli in the ceviche. The wine was lovely and oak-y, aged four years. Beautiful pairing to bring out the flavours.
For my main wine pairing I sampled two reds, ultimately going with a Waipara Pinot Noir from Greystone. Jordan said that particular wine is very popular: he can pair it with almost anything.
Again, Justyna was called in to help us chose our mains. We went with the super juicy and flavoursome house made pork sausages which had some wonderfully charred radiccio and pears to accompany them. The meat is sourced from the Wellington region and always free range. We couldn’t go past the risotto with zucchini, pecorino, house pesto and smoked baby tomato. Full of flavours and still quite light. Finally, we chose a side of eggplant, zucchini, parmesan and mozzarella bake, which as you can imagine was cheesy greatness.
On my next trip to Charley Noble I’d like to try their fish of the day. When I visited, snapper was sitting pretty on ice, sustainably caught and in the restaurant within a few hours. Actually, my list to try next time is quite large. There is the fire grilled cauliflower steak (looked amazing), anything from the woodfired rotisserie (dinner only) and their steaks are legendary. Can you see why I had so much trouble choosing what to eat?!
You’d think I would have no room left, but I couldn’t miss out on dessert! To sample some of everything I went with the petit fours. I loved the fluffy marshmallow with raspberry. The yoghurt panna cotta with crunchy ginger snap and caramelised pineapple was absolutely superb, but the winner for me was the peanut butter and chocolate bar. I washed these down with a Passage Rock late harvest Cabernet from Waiheke. It was silkier than a port but still sweet in flavour, without being overbearing.
Amazing food, knowledgeable staff, lunch with a show, fantastic local wines, I was in a happy place.
Side note – I also wish I had tried the house made pasta. I was daydreaming watching the Chef making the pasta, when a waiter came over and asked me if I was done. I was so mesmerised that I nearly jumped out of my chair! The poor guy got such a surprise. Ha!