This no-holds-barred memoir tells of her ambition, her determination, and her rise to business power. It tells of the highs of running a vitally important company such as Telecom and also the lows, as the company struggled with the Australian AAPT acquisition, shareholder pressure, antagonism from the government, battles with its telco competitors and changing technology. After seven years she felt she'd given her all.
The personal toll of those tough years at the top had been significant and Gattung is frank about how she had to rebuild her life with a clear focus. First with her chic Californian fashion store showcasing New Zealand fashion, and now with her ... more

As celebrated cook and champion of the countryside, Clarissa recalls episodes from her life and describes her encounters with everyone from local farmers to Women's Institutes, supermarket managers to greyhound coursers. A lover of local traditions, she has attended events from the Whitstable Oyster Festival to the Hungerford Hochtide.
In a world of political correctness, Rifling Through My Drawers is a breath of fresh air and proves once again why Clarissa is a true treasure.

First published 2009.