I am a proud Kiwi with a Kiwi Mother from fine Scottish ancestry and a Manx father. My pseudonym reflects my love of my late father. The Isle of Man, aka Ellan Vannin, is well known for TT Races and i
Many decades ago, I was a young girl in a rural school in New Zealand. It was a tough community – one of the most multicultural societies in the country. We had white kids, Maori kids, Chinese kids, Hindu kids, poor kids and rich kids. All shades of grey and all
Some years ago, I watched a series called “ Mataku “. The episodes enthralled and entertained me. They frightened me and I learnt NOT to watch them at night. Much like Gremlins… never ever feed them at night. Yet I could not stop watching this magnificent series of Maori television whereby I
We seem to have an outbreak of mental health issues throughout the world. Yelling “Allahu Akbar“ is not terrorism, apparently, it is a mental health issue. People murdering others, massacres carried out – mental health issues. There are people whose brains have been addled by drugs and they have mental health
The late great Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen is regarded as a hero and an anti-hero, depending upon what side of the political fence you sit. For myself, I always sat in the Joh camp and he and Lady Flo were the reason I left my beloved New Zealand
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard won two gold medals at the recent Pacific Games. Hubbard, 41, was born as a bloke named Gavin. Laurel took double gold in the women’s over-87kg category at the Samoa 2019 games. Some people feel that this is tantamount to cheating. If Gavin couldn’
It all started this morning when I went to my local bakery to buy my decadent monthly treat. It ended up being about dodgy dudes. My decadent indulgence is a big cream stick doughnut, with lashings of homemade strawberry jam and enough cream to drown out any guilt that I
How better to create division within a community or a country than to push a narrative that will divide us. Sell the idea that men can be women and women can be men, and Bob’s your uncle (or aunt) and there will be an argument or a passionate debate
I read about the conundrum for firearms owners regarding the firearms that have been ‘lost’ by the police recently and it reminded me of a saying I have tried to adhere to religiously. Get it in writing. I have an acquaintance who spoke to me about a relative … a man
Is that what our governments have in store for us? Do they wish to steal our minds? If not, they are doing a pretty good job of making me fear that this is the case. As some posters may know, I build websites in my ‘spare time’. ‘Spare time’ is
I have written a series of articles that have been light-hearted, nostalgic and often a small attempt at humour. They do not seem to do well. I wonder… is it because life is so serious, so terribly concerning, so very, very troubling that we nudge levity aside and simply say,
A friend of mine is currently looking after his grandson for three weeks while the parents are away for work. He retrieved the slow cooker from the back of the pantry and started cooking hearty one-pot wonders for his growing 10-year-old grandson. Every couple of days, the family gets an
I live alone with a Calico Cat who is a lass who hired me as her carer about 7 years ago. She was already a mature young lady who had found herself in a homeless shelter – much to her distaste and shame. Following an advertisement on the internet, I contacted
I was out in the garden yesterday and overheard two little kids, a brother and sister I think, having a very animated and enthusiastic discussion. The little chap was about 5 and his older sister the grand old age of about 7. The little brother was waxing lyrical about his
Judith Collins is poised to make a bid for the leadership of the National party in a time when, in my opinion, we need a Kiwi Trump. One of the reasons that Trump has been so successful is that he is what we now call an “alpha male” – a blokey
Back in the 1990’s I was asked to ‘help out’ at an educational facility in the balmy southern city of Invercargill. Just a few months, over winter, to be a relief teacher for someone who was ‘sick’. I obliged. When I fronted up, I discovered that my predecessor was
I wrote an article yesterday about Sir Tim Shadbolt and one commenter, noted Cam’s article from May 25th 2008 where Cam said “ Last night on TV, Tim Shadbolt “proudly” walking with the protesters and police at Bastion Point. This wanker was also the same “proud” protester that spat in
