Paul Hickey: Catch-up mode, and keeping mum

People will be able to cheer on the runners in tomorrow's Rotorua Marathon. Photo / File

After a 10-day break away, it was nice to get back into the studio and behind the mic on Tuesday morning.

It's not that I didn't want to be on holiday, but I do feel so lucky to have a job that I enjoy and look forward to most days.

While on holiday I was able to steer clear of most work-related type things, but boy getting back was a big job clearing emails and catching up on the news from around Rotorua, Aotearoa and the world, and what a week of news it's been - from Bruce Jenner's tell-all interview, to the devastating earthquake in Nepal to the dramas dubbed "Ponytailgate".

Now I will admit pulling plenty of ponytails in my lifetime. The last time it was malicious I would have been at primary school. Since then it's been more a gesture of affection and endearment, but only with family and close friends in jest.

It's been blown out of proportion I reckon, some people I've talked to even saying they'd feel special having someone like the PM pull their hair.

Meanwhile, many of those calling for the Prime Minister's head are also up in arms at the execution of a couple of Australian drug smugglers - go figure the logic behind that.

Whether you agree or not with the death penalty, that's the way it is in Indonesia. Surely we are all aware of the risks associated with drugs and smuggling anywhere, let alone in countries like that.

And if they hadn't been caught, it could be your kids who were on holiday in Bali at the time using the drugs they had organised and smuggled in there. Let's not hold these lowlifes up as heroes and martyrs.

The 51st Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon is on tomorrow and I'm looking forward to being part of it again.

No I'm not lacing up to run or even walk it, but I'll be on the microphone again on the start line and then again at the finish to welcome competitors home.

While there will not be as many as last year's huge 50th event, there will still be plenty taking on this great event.

Being born and bred in Rotorua, I have marathon memories going back to when I was 5 or 6 (think early 80s - gulp), and sitting outside our driveway in Te Ngae Rd and cheering on the runners.

If you are taking part in any of the events, good luck.

With Mother's Day rolling around pretty quick, it's time to start thinking about what we want to buy for our mums.

I won't say too much about my plans, because my mother reads this each week (Hi, Mum).

At The Hits, we've teamed up with Rotorua Central and Millennium Hotel to give away a prize for your mum that includes a $500 shopping spree and a night of pampering at Millennium Hotel Rotorua. Just shop at Rotorua Central to be in to win and check out thehits.co.nz for how to enter.

-Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Facebook The Hits Rotorua and on Twitter @paulhickeynz