30 Tuesday Apr 2019
What is it about people these days that makes them think it’s their absolute right to speed?
I’m no goody-two-shoes but for some reason I get that a speed limit is just that – a limit – deemed to be the fastest you can travel safely on a certain road, in normal conditions.
A few years back in New Zealand we saw numerous road signs saying “it’s not a target”.
But that’s not how most people treat speed limits.
13 Thursday Dec 2018
Posted in Opinion
I get really frustrated when travelling overseas that you constantly have your water bottle taken off you and then have to buy another one.
Plastic pollution anyone?
So on a recent student field trip to Indonesia I set out to see if you can get through all the security checks etc with just one bottle…
Continue reading »17 Tuesday Jul 2018
A blog post about New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has been doing the rounds on social media, and at a glance it’s great.
“She’s 37. She’s the youngest female head of government in the world. She’s also the first western woman to give birth while in power.”
But then with just one line it loses the point it’s trying to make.
28 Friday Jul 2017
I’m not sure where it stems from, but I have a real problem with the word fine.
It’s just one of those words that says… nothing really.
And while I’m the first to advocate clear and simple speech and writing, fine just doesn’t cut it.
11 Monday Apr 2016
Posted in Opinion
I’ve always been a person who likes to give to charities, whether it’s a major international organisation helping a country after some natural disaster or a local fund trying to help disadvantaged children.
I like to think I do my bit.
But I get really angry when, after I’ve donated to said charity, I then get bombarded with mail asking for more.
Not only that but the mail will often contain some ‘gift’ to make me feel guilty if I don’t give again.
It might be notelets, a keyring, Christmas cards or a fridge magnet – but frankly, it’s a waste of money.
09 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in Journalism, Language, Media, Opinion
There’s nothing worse as a journalist than a mistake creeping into your copy and then published for all to see in print or online.
It would appear to be much easier to correct online, although realistically once live there’s no real recall.
It may have been sent out on distribution lists or caught by screengrab or a smartphone photo and shared ruthlessly on social media (yes, I’ve done it too).
And if it’s in print – it’s there to stay.
26 Thursday Mar 2015
Posted in Opinion
I’m not really into this whole gratitude thing.
That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for all the good stuff in my life, just that I don’t feel obliged to write down three things every day and then share it with everyone on social media.
If that works for you then all well and good, it’s just not my thing.
But this morning I just had to stop and really take in everything around me.
22 Sunday Feb 2015
Posted in Opinion
Talking about the sun and its dangers might seem a bit strange after a weekend of heavy rain here, but frankly I don’t think there’s a right or wrong time to have this discussion, so long as we have it.
It was prompted by an article written by a journalist in the UK – where of course it’s still winter – a journalist who, like me, in her 20s liked the sun and having a sun tan almost more than anything else. Sadly to her detriment, as she’s just had the fight of her life against melanoma.
10 Wednesday Dec 2014
If there’s one organisation in Australia that consistently makes me lose my Christmas cheer then it has to be Australia Post.
Yesterday we popped in to a local Post Office to buy some Christmas stamps, for Christmas cards believe it or not, not that big an ask surely?
01 Friday Aug 2014
Posted in Journalism, Media, Opinion
Living in a bushland area you have to be aware that, sooner or later, you are going to face a bushfire threat.
This week we had our first close encounter at our current home.
We decided to go for a quick drive to establish just how close it was and to see if we needed to take any sort of action.
The bushfire as seen from the top of Clear Mountain.