A life education for a dollar
A life education for a dollar
When I went to university, they paid ME to be there. Three times a year I received a cheque, which was promptly spent on wild living.
Roy Colbert
A rational thinker could grow lilies all the year round
A rational thinker could grow lilies all the year round
Most rational thinkers have little time for science. Most of my friends are rational thinkers.
Boxing on, punch-drunk
Boxing on, punch-drunk
Mistakes, or as behavioural psychologists are wont to call them, cockups, are just mistakes. Or cockups. Nothing more.
Rational thinking means autoharp opportunity lost
Rational thinking means autoharp opportunity lost
Most rational thinkers would agree that the mark of a man is his ability to repeatedly purchase useless objects.
Mining town cops keeping the lid on a powder keg
Mining town cops keeping the lid on a powder keg
A friend of mine, let's just call her a Friend Of Mine (FOM) has been told by her partner he would like to go over to Australia and make some serious money in the gold mines, you know, knock the mortgage for six and all that.
Olly of the shed was one out of the box
Olly of the shed was one out of the box
It was about 15 years ago. I was at the Bats' house, well, two of the Bats, Paul and Kaye, in Christchurch. A guy walked into the kitchen.
Carols, they'd be nothing without Helen and Rebecca conducting
Carols, they'd be nothing without Helen and Rebecca conducting
Helen was back in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Choir this Christmas.
Best day of your life - Roy Colbert
Best day of your life - Roy Colbert
The doctor said he diagnosed me from the door of my bedroom. Diabetes.
A great time for kids - no matter what age
A great time for kids - no matter what age
Christmas Day was two days ago. I wrote this before Christmas Day. But because I am a man and technically slightly old, I knew days before Christmas what I was getting, so I can discuss that now, without fear of telling a single fib.
Shocking, but no substitute for comedy at full-throttle
Shocking, but no substitute for comedy at full-throttle
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has offended many people over the years with his irreverent comments.
Stocking feet a major impairment
Stocking feet a major impairment
Most rational thinkers would agree the main reason real estate is currently dormant is because open homes insist on punters taking their shoes off at the door.
Glob takes a close-up look
Glob takes a close-up look
In a CV so small even footprints left by an ant dripping in ink would seem large, one honour just about turned my whole empty page around - the editorship of the student newspaper Critic.
Old hands have the advantage
Old hands have the advantage
My dentist is playing international hockey again. He turned 63 last week and is just back from Singapore with the New Zealand Over-60s. So it isn't just Shayne Warne (42) and Martin Crowe (49) who are keen to get back into the top stuff at a ridiculously advancing age. Old men in sport is the new food television.
A fashion statement waiting to be made
A fashion statement waiting to be made
A friend, Emily, dropped around to return The Royals by scandalmongress Kitty Kelley.
A 'Coro' cracker despite Ken and Deidre
A 'Coro' cracker despite Ken and Deidre
Coronation Street is back on top of its game. For how long, nobody knows, but last Thursday's episode was a ripper.
The other magnificent man who was the perfect Tarzan
The other magnificent man who was the perfect Tarzan
Herman Brix. Hah! I will swear on my dog's grave you have never heard of this man. For the sheer purpose of this column and also, for unforgivable bravado, I will say I have known of him all my life and am appalled at the way he has been treated by television and movie historians.
Not quite staggeringly good health for 50 years
Not quite staggeringly good health for 50 years
While the nation gorged itself on rugby last weekend, my attentions were elsewhere - two of the most significant anniversaries in my life fell on the same Labour Weekend.
The bright and the dark sides
The bright and the dark sides
There aren't many forbidden topics for a weekly column, except writing about your children. Or grandchildren.
Bookcase assembly easy peasy, for an expert
Bookcase assembly easy peasy, for an expert
The books keep arriving, possibly because I keep ordering them. And the recent Regent Theatre sale added another pile to be put somewhere. Yet another bookcase then. Fortunately back in July, my sharp commercial eye had found just the thing.
Viewing rugby with one eye each
Viewing rugby with one eye each
Christchurch was fine. It was my first visit there since the earthquakes and I freely admit I was frightened.