Nick Phillips is master of the First Church of Otago Society of Bellringers. Mr Phillips says theirs is a secular society that has a good relationship with the church and is always looking for people wanting to learn the art and craft of bellringing. By day, he looks after IT for the Otago Medical School, University of Otago.
What was the best birthday present you ever received, and why?
Either a bike (at least three were birthday presents over the years) or my first tent. The same reason either way, because they're giving you the freedom to go out and explore.
What smell do you find irresistible?
Fresh baking; warm hot cross buns at this time of year. And something smoky to drink; either Lapsang tea (why do so few cafes have it?) or Ardbeg (althoug probably not with the hot cross buns).
What is your least favourite thing about humanity?
That we're so keen to pretend to make rational decisions based on facts while actually we're really gullible and make up our minds based on gut instinct or knee-jerk emotional reactions, and come up with a justification later. And then we're really bad at admitting we're wrong.
What's something only your family knows about you?
How to really wind me up. Not that they would. Not on purpose, anyway.
You are a new addition to the crayon box. What colour are you, and why?
A nice bright orange, I think, like you might see in the middle of a sunrise. But an oil pastel please, rather than a crayon.
