I first realised I had writing ability when I was in Form 2 at Otaki School, because of the encouragement of a good teacher, Mr McSweeny. He gave us essays to write and often read mine to the class. The essay to be written [...]

Day 2. Haven’t written anything for weeks. Maybe I have lost it? Daughter no. 2 is getting married at end of the month. She wants a wedding poem. A challenge; I could write about death, divorce, depression, the trials of parenthood. But something romantic? [...]

We are approaching the end of the first month of 2017, and I am still gathering blog posts for the rest of the year. February is all booked up but only half of March has someone assigned to a week. After March my year [...]

Becoming a journalist was my third career, and one that came after much consideration and work experience with a local community paper that was privately owned called the Guardian (in Palmerston North). By the time I exited my training 18 months later, the business [...]

Suddenly there is an idea –– like a jolt it hits you and if you take hold of it, it will take hold of you and then together you ride the wave until the idea is a reality and finally you have a book. [...]

Books are simply one of my great loves. I love the feel of a book, the smell of it whether new or old, and the fun of placing of it on my bookshelves in different locations. Deciding where a book should sit is always [...]

In 1967 you could buy a 4-bedroom house in Otumoetai for $6,950 with wood floors throughout and a double garage – and a new Holden to park in that garage for just under $1,100. Ho Chi Minh was on trial for war crimes in [...]