Brian Holden considers Hillary Barry to be one of the most professional presenters NZ media has.
No wonder consumers throughout the world are steadily piling on the kilos, when so much put in front of them is big. I'm talking about food and drink. Big sausage rolls and muffins, big bottles of fizzy drink and positively huge cups - or rather, tubs of coffee.
I was confronted with a perfect example of over-consumption mentality after getting off the plane at Auckland International last week.
While filling in time for our delayed shuttle service to arrive, I decided to order a hot chocolate from the coffee takeaway in the foyer.
The conversation went like this: "Hi - I'd like a hot chocolate please"; "Certainly - large $4.50". "Ah no, just a small one thanks [pointing to the least large of the three sample cups glued to the counter]".
"Sorry, we don't do small hot chocolate - the small cup is only for coffee".
"Why not? You have the cups right there, so all you have to do is put in chocolate rather than coffee".
"No sorry can't do".
"Oh come on, of course you can - in fact I'm happy to come behind the counter and do it for you".
"Oh all right," the lady tersely replied, "I'll do that for you - but it's still going to cost you the large price of $4.50".
"Don't bother," I snorted, as I turned away from her kiosk and headed for the McDonald's counter to buy a milk shake (where at least I had a choice of sizes).
Don't get me wrong - this is not just a Kiwi thing. This trend of 'take it or leave it' food ordering options is world-wide. 'Medium', 'large' or 'super large' are pretty much your choices when ordering drink or meal sizes.
Granted, the customer still has a choice - as long as it's not small - unless you're a child. In Britain, where much of the food in the bakeries is positively yummy but decadently high in the calorie department, customers are tantalised with 'three for the price of two' offers. Damned hard to resist when you're on holiday and feel deserving of an extra-special 'oh why not' treat.
"Unprofessional", outspoken Michael Laws exclaims in response to "overpaid" presenter Hillary Barry bursting into tears live on TV3 the other night. It happened while she was reading the news about her colleague John Campbell leaving his job with the company after 17 years.
What a nasty insensitive response from Mr Laws. Her emotional reaction was perfectly understandable as a result of something happening to a close friend and colleague.
Remuneration, title or position doesn't come into it. It's about people caring for each other and as all those who are human know, outbursts can happen without warning. Despite Laws' accusations, I consider Hillary Barry to be one of the most professional presenters NZ media has.
Friday was the day of reckoning for me after having resisted three winters without buying a new pullover. My wife said enough and frog-marched me downtown to buy a new one. They say that when you buy such items, you should choose quality and not worry about the cost. Well, I can say that we certainly did exactly that after purchasing a 40 per cent possum, 60 per cent merino wool pullover for a discounted price of $240. I'm reassured it will last me a 'lifetime' - but of course such a subjective statement can mean different things to different people, especially when one is in their 60s.
It is well known that men avoid clothing shops like the plague and such rare visits are usually of the fleeting kind. My philosophy is that because I don't feel the cold, there is no need to buy a new winter wardrobe when we're already half-way through - and anyway there's still a good few months' wear left in the clothes that I have.
For some curious reason women don't see it like that. Oh well, at least now I'll be as warm as toast.
-Brian Holden has lived in Rotorua for most of his life and has been writing his weekly column for 11 years.