With son and granddog

Just a brief word to introduce myself. I have had a devil of a job setting up a WP blog/website and this is my second go. I love technology on the other hand and like to keep learning. I’m a retired teacher living on the northern edges of Auckland. I’m interested in books and films, nature and walking, politics and current affairs.

I have three sons, two young grandchildren and a granddog – family is the basis of life and these other issues are placed on top.

I’m very interested in cancer and health systems. I had Stage 3C ovarian cancer at 49 from which I miraculously recovered but in 2007 I was diagnosed with a small tongue cancer and rwo recurrences or new primaries later I had radiotherapy after surgery (2014) and have had two further recurrences in 2021 (big) and 2023 (small). I have lots of long term “sequelae” though – from all the cancers and it’s only by keeping as fit as possible that I seem to maintain a reasonable quality of life.


The cancer is a huge interest but I’m just as engaged in environmental and political issues. I value this planet. It’s the only one we’ve got (at the mo!) and I value human beings and want them to have a benign society.