Hello, my dear Frankies!

You know how I’m always going on about how talented, brave and just super cool people from Franklin are? Well, this week we’re meeting another one of these gorgeous, talented locals! Franklin’s very own Danielle Davidson.

Danielle is a mum, a flight attendant, and an author who somehow manages to write books between flights, family life, and a lot of coffee. She has already written two novels, and her very first children’s picture book is launching on 25 May!

Even better, you can win one of the first copies by following Danielle on Instagram and liking her giveaway post!​

Also in this week’s edition: I was watching my cat sleep the other day and suddenly spiralled into a very important question - do cats and dogs ever get bored? Of course, this sent me into a mild panic, because what if they’re lying there thinking, “Wow, Rosie. Another day of the same biscuit. Thrilling.”

So this week, Woofles Petfood is helping us add a little excitement to our pets’ lives, with tips and tricks for making dinnertime more fun, enriching, and tail-waggy (I'm sure that's a word).

We’ve also got a super cool feature on Bex from Edge Fitness in Waiuku. She’s a powerhouse with a big heart, a very cool gym, and some seriously exciting goals for the local fitness community!

So yes, it’s a packed one this week. Local authors, no-longer-bored pets, strong women, big dreams - the whole Frankie buffet!

Get into it!

R. and the Frankie Team xx

P.S. I’m currently on the road in Japan for the next couple of months. I already miss our beautiful little corner of the world, but I’m also loving exploring this one. If you want to follow along, come find me on Instagram (although fair warning, there are a lot of food photos).

I’m still writing Dear Frankie from the road, and loving staying connected to home while I’m away. A huge thank you to the legends back home helping keep everything running smoothly.

And because I simply cannot help myself, here’s a gratuitous photo of the Hokkaido soft serve with melon we had the other day!

Meet Danielle Davidson: Franklin Mum, Flight Attendant, and Author of Sky-High Stories

​Danielle Davidson has a lot going on!

She is a mum. She is a flight attendant. She is a born-and-bred Franklin local. She is the author of two rom-com novels. And now, she has written a children’s picture book too!

All while juggling flying, family life, writing, publishing, marketing, motherhood, and, in her words, “ALOT of coffee from Your Local Coffee Roasters.” (that last part - totally relatable!)

Danielle is a Frankie through and through. Her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents are all from Franklin too. “We just don’t leave!” she laughs.

These days, she lives in Bombay with her husband, their baby girl, and their cavoodle. It is a full, busy, slightly chaotic life - but somewhere in between the flights, the baby cuddles, and the coffee, Danielle has managed to build a whole little book world of her own.

And like all good stories, it started somewhere unexpected.

From the galley to the page

Danielle didn't grow up dreaming of becoming an author.

“I always dreamt of being an actress,” she says. “I love entertaining people.”

But while working as a Business Class Flight Attendant with Qantas, she found herself reading whenever passengers didn't need her. She would sit in the galley with a book, and before long, other flight attendants started asking her for recommendations. Then one day, she had a thought...Maybe she could write a book herself!

“I started giving out recommendations then thought, you know what, maybe I could write a book and recommend it to my work mates.”

As many hopeful authors can relate to, she first started writing around ten years ago, got a couple of chapters in, and then left it sitting there. Multiple times.

Then COVID happened. At the time, Danielle was flying with Air New Zealand, and for a time, cabin crew were not allowed to do the normal in-flight service, which meant a lot of sitting in the galley, trying to pass the time.

So Danielle made herself a promise.

If she started writing this book, she had to finish it.

And she did!

That book became One Foot in the Sky.​

The stories behind the books

Danielle has now written two adult rom-com novels, One Foot in the Sky and Falling from the Sky, and is bringing out a children’s picture book called The Pilot with the Wiggly Bag.​

Each one has been inspired by something deeply personal.

One Foot in the Sky was inspired by her dad, who had his leg amputated.

Falling from the Sky was inspired by the loss of her best friend Shannon.

And The Pilot with the Wiggly Bag was inspired by her husband and daughter.

“My husband is a pilot,” Danielle says, “and I wanted a book I could read to her when her dad is overseas.”

That is what makes Danielle’s books more than just fun, flirty, flight-attendant stories. They are full of humour and romance, but they also come from real life. From grief. From family. From love. From the strange and wonderful things that happen when you spend your working life above the clouds.

Stories inspired by life in the air

Danielle’s books are all connected to flying and cabin crew life in some way, which gives her a never-ending source of material for her books!.

“The things that happen in the air are quite unbelievable,” she says. “I am constantly shocked by the events I encounter onboard and hear that my colleagues have encountered,” she says. “It’s a never-ending stream of ideas for my books.”

And yes, many of the flying stories in her adult books are based on real life!

“Pretty much all of my flying stories in both adult books have happened on one of my flights or a colleague’s,” Danielle says. “Which will absolutely blow your mind, as some of the stories are insane!”

(I've just finished One Foot in the Sky, and those flying stories...wow!)

From the outside, being a flight attendant definitely seems glamorous. Travel, hotels, uniforms, airports, little bottles of wine, mysterious crew gossip. But Danielle’s version of the job also includes patience, resilience, wild people skills, and the occasional passenger meltdown when there's no more beef lasagna for dinner service.

And this has really helped her with her latest role as a mother.

“Flying has taught me how to deal with tantrums..." She says. "And the shift work has prepared me for being up all hours of the night with a baby that just wants to party all night.”

Motherhood, marketing, and making it work

As it turns out, shift work was pretty good training for motherhood!

But these days, Danielle is not just juggling night feeds and flying. She is also writing books, publishing books, and then doing the awkward-but-necessary part of telling the internet about them.

Since becoming a mum, Danielle has less time to write, but writing has become even more important to her.

“Writing my books fills my cup up and I enjoy it so much, that I make it a priority.”

Her next book will be the third in the Sky Series, and this one will be inspired by her motherhood journey.

Like everything else in her author life, Danielle is figuring it out as she goes. She chose to self-publish, which meant learning the full process herself - editing, covers, formatting, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, marketing, and all the tiny technical steps that turn a manuscript into a real book.

She hired a freelance editor, created her cover in Canva, formatted the book using Amazon’s publishing resources, and published it herself through Kindle Direct Publishing.

Some of it was easier than expected...some of it was definitely not.

“I am not tech savvy and only know the basics of how to use Microsoft Word,” she says. “So figuring out how to format my book to be up to publishing standards took a lot of time and I lost a lot of hair from pulling it out in frustration.”

But she got there.

She did not wait for a publishing deal, a perfect plan, or endless free time. She learned the next step, then the next, then the next — and got it done.

Behind the scenes, Danielle says the juggle takes a lot of support from her husband and her mum, who she says are “seriously the best.”

She has also had support from local Franklin businesses, including Ria from Your Local Coffee Roasters and Abby from Sisu Pilates, who both stock her books.

“I am so grateful for them believing in me and my books,” Danielle says.

The writing is the part she loves. The marketing? Not so much.

“I wish I could just write my books and then my readers would just magically stumble across them, but that isn’t the case - dammit!”

Promoting her work has meant making Instagram videos, posting about her books, and pushing through the cringe.

“It can feel really cringy and embarrassing,” she says, “but you just have to push past that and stop caring what people will think of you.”

Because she loves her books. She is proud of them. And she wants people to read them, laugh, and be entertained.

Books to make people smile

Danielle writes the kind of books she wants to read.

“So if no one else wants to read them,” she says, “then at least I can read them!”

But of course, she does hope people read them.

More than that, she hopes they enjoy them. She hopes they laugh and she hopes her books give readers a little break from real life.

“I want to make people feel good and laugh,” she says. “I want them to be entertained and to brighten their day. There is so much going on with the world right now, that I hope my books can give people a break from it all and make them smile.”

And really...that's the best part.

A Franklin girl, a mum, a flight attendant, an author, writing stories inspired by life in the air and love on the ground.

Funny, flirty, heartfelt, and just a little bit chaotic.

Exactly how we like it ♥

Make sure you enter this week's giveaway to win one of the very first copies of Danielle's new book The Pilot with the Wiggly Bag! Simply follow Danielle on Instagram, like this giveaway post and tag your friends who would love a new picture book in their lives!

geap netrur

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

Frankie's Favourites: Edge Fitness 🤸‍♀️❤

The Waiuku gym proving that fitness feels a whole lot better when community comes first.

For a lot of people, joining a gym can feel like a big step (🙋‍♀️). It’s easy to imagine intimidating gym-bros, awkwardly trying to find a treadmill in the corner somewhere, or signing up with excitement, only to feel completely left to your own devices after day one.

​Edge Fitness is completely different.

Yes, it has all the practical things you want from a great gym - 24/7 access, group fitness classes, yoga, reformer Pilates, and a monitored crèche so parents can actually fit their workouts in. But what really sets it apart is the owner Becs Vanderklip, and the community she’s built around it.

She hasn’t created a gym where people just come in, train, and leave. She’s built a place where people feel welcome, supported, and surrounded by friends. Whether you’re brand new, coming back after time away, or ready to chase a serious goal, Edge Fitness offers more than access to equipment. There’s coaching, accountability, encouragement, and real support behind you.

And you can see that deep care everywhere.

Members are recognised and celebrated through monthly MYZONE challenges, Member of the Month spotlights, and fun in-house events like the Easter Hunt. It gives the gym a connected, encouraging feel - and that in-built motivation makes showing up feel a lot easier.

That same spirit extends beyond the gym floor too.

Becs and the team regularly support local fundraisers, charities, and events, including school causes, the Waiuku Fire Brigade Poker Run, Gumboot Friday, Prostate Cancer, Wheel Blacks, Fish’n’Chicks 2026, and more. They’ve also hosted their own fundraising events, including the Edge Fit Games Surf Lifesaving Fundraiser and Bootcamp for Blood Cancer. It’s clear this is a business that cares deeply about its wider community too.

That’s what makes it so appealing. Edge Fitness gives you the structure and services of a great gym, but with a much more personal, wrap-around feel. You can train hard here. You can work toward big goals here. But you can also ask for help, find your people, and feel supported while you figure it all out. Check out all the amazing services they offer, including personalised nutrition and online training plans ♥

And Becs is walking the talk herself.

After taking time away from training goals to focus on being a mum, she’s now preparing for a bodybuilding competition - setting herself a big, scary goal and fully committing to it. She understands what it means to put yourself back on the priority list, back yourself, and go after something that matters.

And you can see that energy running right through Edge Fitness. It’s a gym for people who want to get stronger, fitter, and healthier - but also want support around them while they do it. A place where you can work hard, make friends, and feel like someone’s in your corner.

​Edge Fitness is the gym you join if you want more than machines and a swipe card ♥

Follow Edge Fitness on Instagram to get a feel for the community, the classes, and what’s happening in the gym.

Keen to try Edge Fitness? Mention this ad and get your first class or gym session FREE.

Meet Jo - Your local agent of choice For professional, honest advice call Jo “an agent who listens” Let’s have a chat! 📞 021912058 📩 Jo.griffin@bayleys.co.nz Stay up to date here!

☕ Have you read Coffee News this week? Pick up a copy in your favourite café or scan the QR code to read on your device

👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!

How to make mealtimes more exciting for your pet - with Woofles Petfood!

Some pets eat dinner like it’s the greatest moment of their day (some humans too🤭) .

While others approach the bowl, sniff once or twice, and give you the, “is this really the best we could do?” look (actually, some humans do this too).

This week, Woofles Petfood is helping ensure mealtime isn’t boring for our beloved little friends!

The team at Woofles Petfood have spent 18 years helping Franklin’s furry locals eat well, and one thing they know for sure is that a good meal is not just about filling the bowl. A little variety, a little fun, and the right food can make a big difference.

1. Change how the meal is served.

Instead of popping it straight into the bowl, try using part of dinner in a snuffle mat, puzzle feeder, or little hide-and-seek game around the kitchen or lawn. It slows speedy eaters down, gives busy brains something to do, and turns dinner into an activity rather than a race.

2. Switch up flavours and textures.

A different mince blend, a new protein, or a chewy extra can make dinner far more exciting - especially for pets who like a bit of variety in life!

This is where Woofles really shines. After nearly two decades on Pukekohe’s main street, they know their way around a good pet dinner, and they stock all sorts of options for local dogs and cats.

Try Lamb & Salmon mince for a new flavour, or Rabbit pieces (fur on!) to introduce new textures - little additions that keep things interesting while still keeping mealtime simple.

3. Use food as enrichment.

Like we talked about last week, food can be a great way to add enrichment to our pets lives. Scatter part of their meal for a sniff-and-find game, tuck bits into a rolled towel, or offer a long-lasting chew to give your dog a little project. It is good for their brain, good for their mood, and often much more satisfying than inhaling dinner in ten seconds flat.

And a bonus tip particularly for our little cats!

4. Don't serve it cold!

Food can be much more appealing at room temperature, rather than straight from the fridge, as the smell and flavour come through better. Cats espcially can be pretty dramatic about this! Add a splash of Woofles bone broth 6 pack to warm it up and make mealtime feel that little bit more exciting.

Thanks Woofles!

That is one of the best things about Woofles. They’re not just here to sell pet food. They’re the local experts who know that feeding pets well is part of the bigger picture of keeping them happy, healthy, and thriving.

So if your pet’s dinners are starting to feel a little same-old, a little flat, or a little too easy to demolish, go talk to Woofles.

After all, 18 years in the pet food game teaches you a thing or two about keeping bowls interesting ♥

Follow Woofles on Facebook for all the birthday month goodness!

Thursday

📸 $25 Pop-In Photo Session Buckland Hall, 9am Quick and affordable drop-in photo session. More info here​

🎉 Bingo at Clark's Beach Golf Club Clark's Beach Golf Club, 6:30pm A fun night of bingo with prizes, laughs, and food available from 5pm — bring the whole family!

🎱 Thursday Quiz Night Pukekohe Golf Club, 6:30–8:30pm Test your knowledge at this fun weekly quiz night. Check it out!​

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Friday

🏺 Duo-Bowl Making Workshop — Sip & Shape The Daily Goods, Pukekohe, 6:30–9:30pm A relaxed pottery workshop where you'll create your own duo-bowl set, with a drink on arrival and snacks — a perfect Mother's Day gift! More info here​

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Saturday

🎵 Sounds of Tāmaki Makaurau Franklin Arts Centre, 11am A live music event celebrating the sounds of our region. Check it out!​

🕺 80s Glitz and Glam Bingo — 80th Anniversary Fundraiser Pukekohe East Hall, 6:30pm Dress up and enjoy a glam bingo night raising funds for a special milestone anniversary. All the details here​

🎪 Outdoor Fair and Live Concert — Jamboree Fundraiser 129 Andrews Rd, Onewhero, 12 noon A fantastic outdoor fundraiser with live music and fair fun. More info here​

🫖 High Tea at Pokeno Pokeno Hall, 4–5:30pm A lovely afternoon high tea — a great excuse to dress up and indulge! Check it out!​

📷 Family Mini-Shoots with Casey Van Liefde Location TBC (contact to confirm), by appointment A 45-minute professional family photoshoot including 10 hand-edited high-res images and two setups for $450. All the details here​

🪨 Soft Stone Sculpture Workshop Kiwi Colour Nursery, 352 Kingseat Rd, 10am–2pm Spend the day carving your own soft stone sculpture in a relaxed hands-on workshop. More info here​

🛒 Tuakau Community Market Central Park, corner of George St and Jellicoe Ave, Tuakau, 9am–1pm A great community market with local produce, crafts, and more every week.

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Sunday

🧘 Sunday Stretch Sessions with The Stretch Collective RxFitness235, 42 Belgium St, Waiuku, 9am (45 min) A weekly guided stretch session open to all levels — book your spot online. All the details here​

🌾 Franklin Country Market Pukekohe Park Raceway, from 8am A fantastic weekly market with homegrown produce, handmade crafts, food trucks, live music, and car boot stalls. Check it out!​

🐾 Pug Meet Pukekohe Hill Reserve, 10am Bring your pug (or just your love of pugs) for a fun community catch-up! Check it out!​

✨ A Beautiful Day at Sanctuary Retreat Sanctuary Retreat, 10am–4pm A full day of wellness, relaxation, and self-care at a beautiful retreat setting. All the details here​

🎨 Watercolour Landscape Workshop The Stable Light Gallery, 12:30–3:30pm Learn watercolour painting with Lepakshi from @theblackbrush202 — you'll take home your brushes and your finished creation, a lovely Mother's Day gift! Email thestablelightgallery@gmail.com to book.

🎯 On Target at Bracu — A Wild Chix Experience Bracu Estate, 49 Main Road, Bombay, 11am–3pm A women-only shooting experience with shotguns, air rifles, and knife throwing, including a light snack platter — no experience needed, just bring your courage! More info here​

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monday

🍳 Good Food, Bright Minds — Free Kids Breakfast Cafe Queen, Waiuku, 7–9am (school terms only) A community initiative providing nourishing breakfasts for school kids every Monday during term time.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club At Your Local Coffee, West Street, 5:45am A welcoming 5km loop run club for all levels — a great way to start your Monday morning.

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Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club at Franklin Arts Centre Franklin Arts Centre, 6–8pm (term time only) Bring whatever you're working on for two hours of dedicated painting time with fellow local artists.

🏃 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club 21 Martyn Street, Waiuku, 7pm A free, fun, pressure-free run or walk for everyone — 3km with great vibes and zero expectations. Check it out!​

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Wednesday

🎵 Beats by Bingo at Little Ed Little Ed, Pukekohe, 7:30pm A music-themed bingo night for a midweek pick-me-up. All the details here​

🌿 Plant Bingo Night at Chinwags Chinwags Restaurant & Bar, Clarks Beach, arrive 6:30pm, games start 7pm A fun night of bingo with plant prizes worth up to $200 — bookings essential, purchase bingo cards via the link then call 09 232 0005 to reserve your table. More info here​

🧠 Malt N Steel Quiz Night Malt N Steel, Waiuku, 7pm Teams of 2–8 compete for prizes at this fun weekly pub quiz.

😂 Comedy Quiz Night at The Village Bar The Village Bar, Patumahoe, 7pm A free comedy pub quiz hosted by quiz master Jim — call 09 236 3571 to book your table.

👾 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Avenue, 3:30pm A brand new weekly after-school club for teens — inclusive, safe, and fun whatever your social style, no pressure to socialise!

🏃 Fire Station Run Club Fire Station Eatery, Pukekohe, 5:30pm A weekly run with 2.5km and 5km options, spot prizes, and bar menu discounts after.

🏃 Flying Mullet Run Group with Carl Read Waiuku College Running Track, 5–6pm Run technique, intervals, and race prep for $5 per session — contact Carl at reado79@gmail.com.

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Word Scramble answer: Page Turner

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