Nothing Too Serious

''Gosh, it's eerie in here.''

''Yes. I always have a window open.''

''No. Eerie.''

''Oh. You mean a bit spooky?''

Click! Click! Hoy! Hoy! Hey, waiter!!! Yes, sir? And about time. Didn't you see me clicking?

''Hey, Jim. How would you like an all-expenses-paid Easter break at Te Anau?''

Who could resist? (It was only later that I learned that all expenses were to be paid by me!)

I wish the moaners would stop giving the Dunedin City Council a hard time.

Good morning and welcome to the first teachers-only day for 2013.

While most of us are aware of the good work done by the Dunedin-based National Poisons Centre, another Dunedin service carries out its vital function almost anonymously.

There is an intolerable level of what appears to be well-meaning insincerity abroad these days.

A reader has kindly sent me her great-grandfather's diary, and suggested I pass it on in due course to what she called ''the Settlers Museum'' - poor old thing.

For Dunedin journalists, given that the opportunities for being knocked off by a drug-crazed Afghan tribesman are limited, attempts at fearless investigative journalism usually involve an unflaggin