Deep in the heart of Mt Roskill and about 100 metres from the gates of Dominion Road School, where we Standard Two kids used to pick up milk crates for every class, the Labour Party held its campaign launch for local MP Michael Wood. Nothing unusual about that – the elections will be upon us in September.
Ten years ago TVNZ ‘celebrated’ its first 50 years.
A Light Entertainment programme was hosted by Jason Gunn in front of an Auckland rent-a-crowd at the the Casino Theatre, and long term Television staff were incensed at what they saw.
Labour wants it, sort of. Aucklanders deserve it. New Zealand First at this stage at least, has blocked it. As a result, Auckland’s roads are quite simply, constipated. It could be the increase in car commuting but also rapid population growth.
I’m a baby-boomer – and proud of it. So why is our generation, the first crop of boomers (born 1946), being attacked for simply reaching our age. After all we protested against Nuclear testing at Mururoa – and eventually won.
I don’t share the wishful thinking of those who believe the Corona pandemic will somehow lead us to a more enlightened way of thinking. As if the blight of dirty dairying, unsustainable tourism and no-tax housing investment is going to be less inviting after alert level one has come and gone.
It is not as if he came into my life, rather I came into his. He was a fisherman and still is. He was a wedding present to my parents but I do not know the donor. He wore a nondescript greyish sou-wester, a blue jersey and black Wellington boots.
Negative stories abound about our once much-vaunted Resource Management Act. It’s hard to meet a property-owner in my community who doesn’t have a gripe about it.
In my case, it’s personal. My brother and I went through three very expensive, time-consuming resource consents, after we knocked over a rat-infested bach and replaced it with a spacious holiday home.
Recent isolation, and advancing years has led me to reflect on “THE MEANING OF LIFE?” and “WHAT HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT LIVING”?
As the famous song says,”What’s it all about Alfie”?
(In the interests of cordial marital relations it may not be a good idea to show your wife or partner this list!!!!)
Before television, families gathered each night around the essential piece of lounge furniture – a stylish floor level radio console (perhaps branded Atwater Kent or Gulbransen) – or faced the ornate mantle model (Philco), waiting with expectation for the crackling radio valves to warm up.