Here in Dunedin our regional anniversary (Otago Anniversary) will be held on March 23rd. Problem is not everyone acknowledges the day each year due to on going confusion as to when the day should be recognised. I know of no other part of New Zealand where this problem seems to occur. Case in point Otago University will run ‘business as usual’ on this day while the local public library and many retail outlets will shut. [...]

Tonight my wife and I said goodnight to the kids leaving our eldest teenage daughter in charge while we headed off to a meal at a local restaurant in town. The meal was great and it was nice to be out – too soon to go home just yet we both said to ourselves. So what to do next? A movie – why not? But when we arrived we discovered nothing that took our fancy – so [...]

Tonight I watched a track on TVNZ’s Close Up programme concerned with ensuring kids start the new year with good teeth brushing habits. It’s almost laughable that in 2009 we should find ourself as a country in this sad state of affairs. That the national broadcaster must interview a ‘dental nurse’ and demonstrate for parents and kids alike how to correctly brush your teeth clearly shows just how far we’ve come in the past 25 years. An interesting [...]