Dad and mum. Seth and Phyllis Tiffen. Kairakau Beach. 1963. Photograph by Priscilla Feickert.

It was how my mother spent her time; it was how my father spent his time; it was the way these two spent their time. it was how the horse we called Injun would so delicately roll back his lips to a curl whilst gently eating scotch thistle nuts from our of flower strands early in the pre-dawn morning outside my pink bedroom window; I would get up in the moonlight and pat him; it was all of the details of bliss, breath, warmth and freshness that raised my spirit every day. Oh, to be alive!

>> Steph: preface for Chapters One and Two