Last year I managed to offend the organisers of the Folk Under The Figs festival and I'd like to take this chance to offer an apology. At the time, I was trying... Read More

I must confess that I like these columns to be ordered and tidy; it's long been a failing, but there you go. On the other hand, learning to embrace chaos is an essential... Read More

Can we make every weekend a long weekend from now on? Four days' work, three days off is just about right for me. Actually, six-and-a-half days off and a little... Read More

Let's talk about Katikati; there's more to it than avocados. I like Katikati a lot and I was reminded of that a couple of weeks ago at the Katikati Avocado Food... Read More

Everything seems to be running a little behind at the moment, and this column is no exception. Due to the unpredictable vicissitudes of life I missed my annual... Read More

Only 229 days to go until National Poetry Day! Yep, now we've stopped counting the days to Christmas we need a new countdown - and I've picked National Poetry Day.... Read More

It seems like 2016 was a rotten year for musicians, in terms of not surviving it. That may or may not be true. There seems to be universal disagreement as to whether... Read More

I was having a bit of a whine about modern music the other day when I was berated by someone younger. So I pulled myself together. Had sort of an epiphany. ‘Damnit'... Read More

Unlike ‘Time' magazine I don't usually pick a person of the year. But why not? Let's break with tradition. The only requirement was someone local, someone... Read More

Time for the last album review of the year, one final CD in a year of fewer Tauranga CDs than any this millennium. I must say, I've come to regard pretty much any... Read More

Okay. Part 2 of 3. Local music for Christmas presents. That's what I started last week and there are three albums to go, all of which happen to be blues-related.... Read More

Look upon this week's column as the first of a series. Because it is. Sort of. Around this time of year I like to help out, to perform a little public service if... Read More