This week I have been wrenched from the arms of my beloved and forced to work in the Tauranga office of the company that gives me cash each week.

It's not surprising there's a bit of opposition to a new school setting up across the hill in Tauranga, writes Kim Gillespie.

Remember when we used to belong to the football club or some similar organisation where bonding and generally good times were guaranteed?

Just like that we yesterday discovered that not only was Rotorua's annual reggae festival moving to Auckland, but that a date had already been set and the line-up sorted.

Of late, Mrs P and I have been talking more about our future and more particularly "downsizing", writes Kevin Page.