He looked back at me as though I had gone gaga. I was about to turn 59. My 60th was a year away. I hadn't given it a thought. I was about to turn 60, he claimed, on September 13 this year, which was a little over a month away. It is true that I have never been good at maths, or dates. But I do know how old I am. No, I don't. I am about to turn 60. How disappointing. I want to be turning 65 so that I can get on the pension. I want one of Winston Peters' SuperGold cards, which might entitle me to ride the toy railway round and round Masterton's Henley Lake Park free of charge. Until eternity, or death. Whichever comes first.
Denne historien er fra August 12-18 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra August 12-18 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.