Over the past few months I’ve made a deliberate effort to spend less time on social media and more time reading books. I’ve picked up a few unread paperbacks from my bookshelf, downloaded a couple of Kindle books and subscribed to Audible on my iPhone. I’ve enjoyed having fresh perspectives kicking around in my head and some fresh conversation topics when I’ve caught up with friends.

Before diving into each book I’ll first point out some interesting observations on each of the mediums. I use Kindle on iPad, and while I love instant access to pretty much any book ever…

If you’re a car lover like me then you’ll know there’s something special about your first car — your first true love. For me it was my 1985 AW11 MR2. Mid-engine with a fiery little 1.6 Toyota twin cam behind my ears. A quick shifting 5 speed manual sat below my wrist. Pop-up headlights and a snug cabin for two that was all angles and switches. Not very fast but with bucket loads of charm and personality.

I bought my first MR2 sometime between high school and university. It was already pretty old with 200,000km on the clock, no electric…

When I think back to my 100 nights in Auckland hospital, made up of two stints at the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, my mind straight away jumps somewhere else. Anywhere else. I spent enough time there that I don’t really want to spend much time revisiting it.

But equally I also have a nagging thought that I should write something down. Something that I can look back on when I’m older, or maybe just something that other people would find interesting to read.

To keep it positive I’ve decided to focus on some of the things…