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In case you missed it there’s a letter in today’s Herald which demanded an instant reply. It’s by Bernard Walker, a serial bunch of misery from Mt Maunganui, which I understand translates as “right wing, white skin rest home by the sea”. If you can stand the thought, please read it, it will help give my reply below some meaning. It’s possibly my last offering to the Herald this year so I thought I’d share with you. Meantime, have a very happy Christmas 😀😀

I must take issue with Bernard Walker’s claim that the New Zealand quote of the year was ill considered. There are three valid reasons. 1) The quote was one made in New Zealand with no prerequisite it had to be made by a New Zealander. 2) Surely in our war torn, politically corrupt, climate change ravaged world, there’s a place for a little levity in what is supposed to be a season of joy and hope. 3) I’d bet it gave many more people a smile, as it did me, than one of the other contenders, our PM telling us how “wealthy and sorted” he is. Pepper is a great choice and has given us a little ray of sunshine in an otherwise grey and gloomy time. Merry Christmas everyone.

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Love your letter Jeremy and agree with every word, it sounds like Bernard suffers from chronic "muck on the pluck" as my Mum used to say if someone was displaying a shitty liver!

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Thanks Vicky😀 Bernard is a regular contributor to the letters page. I have yet to read anything remotely light or uplifting from him. This one couldn’t go unchallenged…😠

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Onya Jeremy! Meri Kirihimete !

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Ditto Clare Bear!!❤️

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Merry Christmas to you Nick. Always a pleasure to read your wise and kind words. Yesterday I visited some friends in Wellington. They told us about losing their public sector jobs and having to fight to get another role. One is a contractor and all work has dried up. For months. Not only work in the public sector but also in the private sector here in Welly. These are real people working hard and trying to get by. Not bumbling bureaucrats profiting off the tax payer dollar. It’s appalling, and for what? Money. Ugh. Roll on better times.

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Meri Kirihimete to you and your whānau and to all the Nick's Korero readers.

Christmas is a time for joy, laughter, happiness and most importantly being with those you love and hopefully making new memories and maybe a new tradition is started in your whānau this year,

You are right Nick. This year's has been and absolute bitch for hundreds and thousands of people on so many levels and it's at times like Christmas I actually realize how blessed I am to have whānau, good kai and a roof over my head.

There are thousands of people who don't have that.

Please Hana Koko, let 2025 be bearable. PLEASE.

Meri Kirihimete Rockel whānau.

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The song list will invite serious discussion over Christmas drinks - strong advocacy hopefully not turning into belligerence. Thank you for your kōrero helping us through a year that could be described as horribilis, and you are so right in prescribing kindness as our gift of choice.

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Can I just throw in an obscure one ; David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Little Drummer Boy" (Peace on earth - can it be?) It's beautiful. I just read how the Puritans tried to ban Christmas celebrations in 1647 in the UK and there was a revolt from the ordinary folk. Because we need time to be together, to remember we can love each other, be kind to one another and that compassion is good for us. And to hope for better next year. Peace on earth and blessings, whatever God or Goddesses (or none) you choose. Thank you Nick.

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I remember (vaguely obviously) seeing that duet on tv when it was new - perfect!

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There was also a great version done by Bob Seger, many years ago which is my favourite🎶😀

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Yeah thanks for the reminder about Bob Seger.

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🎄I can't remember HOW now, but that duet came to my attention this year - it is stunning 👍

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Oh Nick you and Tim have made me cry just now but you've also triggered lovely ancient memories of Mum getting all the family to stir the Christmas cake mix for luck, she too included an orange in the sock - a hang over from family traditions in Cornwall? I also well remember the gorgeous fragrance of the real Christmas tree Dad chopped down from somewhere in the bush around Atiamuri ... I remembered too this morning how we kids would ask for seconds of Mum's "claggy" Xmas pud in search of those sixpences and being good-naturedly threatened that we had to eat it all if we asked for it! Thanks especially for the memories this morning .... my sister Kathryn, the last of my 6 siblings, passed last month, a week short of my beloved husband's passing 3 years ago ... how strange to feel so orphaned at 72 :( - she and John were the strong supporting pillars of my life and here I am suddenly the family matriarch and keeper of the stories. Kath and I spoke by phone several times weekly as she was living with her daughter in Sydney (and thank God she was as her hospital treatment there was fantastic unlike the terrible disintegration of medical services here on the Coast) ... in one of our last conversations she said "can you just imagine Mum sitting in her armchair, wreathed in Rothman's smoke, puffing furiously and her eyes glittering with rage about the latest outrage of the CoC!" Ah well, roll on Hogmanay I say, thanks again for the wonderful writing Nick and the memories today (they helped a lot x) and my best wishes to all here to have a lovely time with kith and kin and here's to a good New Year .... despite everything.

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Dear Vicki I so related to your loss. This year we lost 4 close friends, and while I was in Hospital with RSV and low oxygen levels we lost my cousin Maree Warr, nee Lawrence. Maree was two years older than me, and sculpted the Miner statue in Waihi. She had her figures of children at play bought by Barbara Hepworth for Barbara's garden, which was a proud moment many years back. I felt a huge sense of loss as now we have one younger cousin left. One son lives on the Gold Coast as a result the last right wing Government, so we will have Christmas with our oldest son, and later a dinner with Norm's brother and wife. My brother we hope to see in May as he lives in NSW. We now value time together above all else. May you be recharged by the season and those closest to you Keep well and yes this community really helps. PS Lakes Rotorua Hospital people were great. They went on strike walking round the outside streets as we were going home, so we tooted and waved and so did all the other traffic which made us glad.

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Thank you for your kind words Patricia, yes family and friends are what truly matters in this world, I have two sons and one grandson in NSW and they are promising to visit me sometime in the coming months - Marty my youngest was here 4 years ago to my joy - I haven't seen Johnny my eldest for 17 yrs since I came home to NZ! and his 12 yr old son I've never yet had a chance to hug! so it's a reunion I'm longing for. I looked up your cousin, what lovely work she did ..... I haven't been back into my studio for 4 years now as my beloved man had dementia for 13 months before he passed - all my creativity vanished with him, I just know he wouldn't want me feeling this way so I've resolved to make those seemingly impossible 30 steps back into my studio in the coming weeks - I know solace lies there once I conquer this strange block ... onwards and hopefully upwards. Wishing you and yours all the best and again thank you :)

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When you go to your Studio. Take your favourite drink to toast good years past and missing friends and family. Maori friends have it emotionally sound when they bless a site. May your joy in your talents return to be a balm. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a hopeful New Year to you all.

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What a lovely idea Patricia - given I'm a glass artist and my favourite drink is whisky it had better be a wee dram! ... and thank you :)

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"Lang may yer Lum reek" Vicky.

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Meri Kirihimete to you and your whanau, Nick. My absolute favourite is ‘White Wine in the Sun’, which has a special meaning for me. The first time I heard it, my daughter was 31, and living in London. I just cried. This amazing song always makes me cry, even years later. She’s back now, with her Scots husband and family, but the song still makes me cry.

Thank you for the year of amazing posts. I read them all, ‘like’ them all, but this is my first comment.

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It always makes me cry too. Meri Kirihimete to you and your whanau, I hope you enjoy your white wine in the sun. 🙂

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Thanks to an enjoyable year of your writing Nick there is something to smile about. This has been a great place for meeting others with a similar view of the world so thank you for that. Wishing you and yours all the best for a great Christmas and an enjoyable holiday season.

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Thanks for the song list. Marlon Williams is up there for me too. Stunning singer. Meri Kirihimete.

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Love Marion Williams song too, beautiful.

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Thanks Nick for your incredible mahi throughout 2024. Coming to this space and finding people who are still decent and kind has been a ray of sunshine in a year of awfulness. I loved re-reading your post of 2022 and reflecting on Christmases past. Thinking of all those who are struggling right now. Meri kirihimete to you and yours and thank you, thank you again.

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Merry Christmas to you and yours Nick, I appreciate your writings.

Let’s hope for a better 2025, sadly I am not holding my breath.

Keep up the good work as we try to make this government accountable for chaos, hardship and division they are creating.

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Thanks so much for the musical items. Kindness yes. Biden wiping the death sentences on ‘death row’. Now to get to work for Xmas. Good Cheers.

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Merry Xmas to you, your whanau and all of your subscribers Nick.

May 2025 bring heaps of good health and happiness to you all.

With luck the coming year will see the demise of the grinch members in our communities.

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Love Tim, my special experience (exclude seeing live a couple of times) was cycling the last valley part of the Papāroa Trail criss-crossing rivers in glorious late afternoon golden sun. I must have left my phone unlocked after taking a photo and randomly, bumping around in my jersey pocket, it spontaneously fired up the music app and shuffle chose (from 3000+ offline tracks) Tim's Albert Hall orchestral accompanied 'Not Perfect';

'This is my earth

And I live in it...'

It was perfect.

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"Not Perfect" is a favourite of mine too, perfect accompaniment indeed.

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Thanks Nick for the music. The whole Paul Kelly christmas album is great. I have it in my car. Besides Marlon, Pauls version of Silent night is a fave. Silent night was one of the few songs that would put my son to sleep when he was little and sleep resistant so retains a special place in my heart. Enjoy family and music at this time. https://youtu.be/BpDQ5WC3QYg?si=AGnh7QSMnhMatrU4

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Just read this on another place I go to.

"Be kind to retail staff at this time. It's not their fault that you waited for Mary's water to break before you went shopping".

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