Linda Hall
Exercise - sometimes I love it, other times I really don't like it one bit.
For instance, one day last week as I was running around the street, panting and sweating, with my mouth wide open, I swallowed a bug.
I coughed and spluttered and shuddered at the thought of what just went down my throat.
"Why exactly are you doing this," I asked myself.
But I know why. When I finally run up the driveway I feel great.
I do sometimes think "thank goodness that's over" but usually I feel satisfied that I've run my course without stopping to walk.
What I do enjoy is biking, but according to one of my colleagues bikes are for transport and transport only.
He says he can't see the point of biking for miles when you can get in the car and be there in minutes.
"What's the point of biking all the way out to the beach. You arrive all hot and sweaty and it takes so much time. I don't have time to do that," he said.
Me: What about the lovely fresh air and exercise you get on the way.
Him: I get fresh air when I arrive and I'm not too hot and tired to walk along the beach.
This same colleague really doesn't like it when the chief reporter and I greet each other on the afternoon shift with "so what did you do this morning?" We talk about our bike, swim or run. He thinks boasting about what you've done exercise-wise and being fit is the new "in thing".
Of course that just makes us talk louder about "our achievements" to make sure he hears.
He rolls his eyes and laughs at us now. Secretly I think he's jealous. He too wants to bike and swim but he's way too scared to compete with us.
Although he did tell the gun cyclist in the office that he could beat her in a bike race any day.
We think he may have been drinking, well at least dreaming - definitely dreaming.
But he did say to me recently that he would rather die with fat dribbling down his chin than lettuce in his teeth.
At least in warfare both sides are armed, maybe not evenly but they have a fighting chance. But this was mass murder at its very worst.
Mmm, maybe he has a point.
Speaking of food, yesterday I went to one of this year's last F.A.W.C! events at The Old Church in Meeanee. It was Locavore's Lunch hosted by Peta Mathias. Diners were treated to a lunch cooked by some of Hawke's Bay's top chefs. My table had the wonderful Jonathan del Pino from Mexi Mama in Ahuriri. He was fantastic. F.A.W.C! has done wonders for the region's food and wine reputation attracting people from all over the country and beyond to sample what our wonderful region has to offer.
I was busy over the weekend also attending Sculptures in the Garden at Keirunga on Saturday. We certainly have some talented people in Hawke's Bay. It was lovely wandering through these spectacular gardens admiring all the hand-made treasures.
-The news of the Paris terror attacks has rocked the world. We can only imagine the terror of those caught up in the middle of it.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who lost loved ones in these acts of barbaric terrorism.
At least in warfare both sides are armed, maybe not evenly but they have a fighting chance. But this was mass murder at its very worst.
The targets - innocent people enjoying a night out - didn't stand a chance.
The world is a poorer place today.
-Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.