Years ago, my significant other and I rode bicycles from Ottawa to Vancouver. (6000km, 3 months, burning sun, snow, snakes, tornadoes and bears). While passing through South Dakota, we came across a sign that indicated 100degW. On the sign it mentioned that the British Insurance companies…

So yes, woe betide the Europeans if anything ever happened to the Gulf Stream.

I'm off to the Promenade des Anglais for a swim.

It suggests I was born in Dunedin.

..and I was born in the middle of the Mediterranean, which might explain my dislike of fishy things.

The exception to this rule was the famous Giovanni Tiso.

That's just because I don't like to call attention to where I'm originally from.

The If New Zealand Was in Europe map seems relevant. It suggests I was born in Dunedin.

The exception to this…

Desperate for a fillip

Rare up there in the south are they? I know the problem; try finding a mason down here. You'd think they all had a secret handshake or something.

I've heard people in mainland China refer to the country's general shape as a large chicken

I have…

Desperate for a fillip.

Shape of the nation: I've heard people in mainland China refer to the country's general shape as a large chicken, which funnily enough faces east. Who else for a rousing chorus of "The Red Rosy Hen Greets the Dawn of the Day?"

To delicate things of the mind,
These Antipodeans are blind;
They snigger and mock
And yell, "It's a cock!" –
Just not…

What Scandinavia might be, I wouldn't care to think.

It looks like it always looks like – right way up.

A flacid penis with a pimple.

I'm still waiting for the eureka moment to strike me as to why New Zealand's Reserve Bank has named its governor after a traffic cone.

Seems quite reasonable really given that they are the immovable object on inflation flexibility.

Africa ... as a human head severed at the shoulders; Europe a girl in a long robe who bends down to kiss it while her arm stretches backwards to lure a…

http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/reindeer-cloud/

And don't forget 911.....oh dear...

http://www.surfingtheapocalypse.net/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=1343

Or even pieces of toast for christs sake!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4019295.stm

We are truly, truly programmed to identify shapes, faces etc.

I found a fascinating one the other day. It seems that if you show a picture of a snake for a few milliseconds…

It reminds me of the Wizard's Upside Down Map of the world that he was promoting way back in the 70s.

http://flourish.org/upsidedownmap/mcarthur-large.jpg

A potted history of…

A similar process permits the visually imaginative to see the island of Great Britain as a witch in…

Obtuse is not the word

Very true. Now, what was all that other stuff?

I vote for "Look at that man's trousers!" as the title of your next book.

Your wish may come true. I've started the next book (200 words already finished — nearly there) and I totally can't think of a title. 'Look at that man's trousers!' is way better than anything…

And is it for this same reason that people in the Land of the Broken Boot get around by riding German singers and/or Native American tribes?

Australia??? Two front seats and a tray on the back – Utes are beaut? Holden? Ford?

"Land of the…

The eureka moment was shattering. It suddenly dawned one day while idly perusing a statisticians bookshelf when I saw an author called....Student.

I'm still waiting for the eureka moment to strike me as to why New Zealand's Reserve Bank has named its governor after a traffic cone. And is it…

I vote for "Look at that man's trousers!" as the title of your next book.

Or indeed Emma's.

I's probably buy two copies.

Or indeed Emma's.

Hope the scan went well.

Yeah. I now know what the important difference between a CT and an MRI is: about forty minutes.

But do you realise how far back through your journal I had to go to find something more helpful than 'son' for Kieran?

Heh. I was labelling christmas presents this weekend, and had to go back to something like September at Livejournal to get the spelling right for Kieran. I…

My double identity continues to confuse Emma in amusing ways, but given the pace of the past few weeks she may be forgiven :D

Oh arse, I cocked that up again, didn't I? I can tell Marsden from Matsen, it's just the names I get confused. Sorry. And I have…

William Sealey Gosset worked for Guinness, but was prohibited from publishing by his employer, so used the pseudonym A. Student.

You are right, and "commercial sensitivity" was a 'problem' even back then!!

Bloody hell, Robert — that was quick! And very fine photos, too.

I think that this one is practically the best photograph of me ever. It certainly captures David Haywood in his native surroundings.

I may have become quite proficient at getting photos online promptly over the past couple of…

when I saw an author called....Student

For a couple of years I assumed it was because it was an uncomplicated test, therefore used mostly by students.

However, the real story is much better. William Sealey Gosset worked for Guinness, but was prohibited from publishing by his employer, so used the…

Student's t distribution

For years and years and years...and years, I could not understand why anyone was interested enough to name a distribution stats thing after "a student". Why were students so important???

The eureka moment was shattering. It suddenly dawned one day while idly perusing a statisticians bookshelf when…

The warm fuzzies generated by good company and the sponsor's product have yet to wear off :-)

I think that this one is practically the best photograph of me ever. It certainly captures David Haywood in his native surroundings.

Thanks to everyone for turning up. And what a nice bunch you all are!

It was good to meet some of the esteemed PAers and I promise to try and make a bit more noise in future.

My double identity continues to confuse Emma in amusing ways, but given the pace of the past few…

The book so good, he's writing it twice? (Or, 1.996 times, final number may decrease as Jolisa finds more free time).

I heard a rumour that this number approximates a Z score, which means that, because it exceeds 1.98, we can be 95% confident that the book is his. Luckily…

I hear that Ihimaera chap might have one out again soon.

The book so good, he's writing it twice? (Or, 1.996 times, final number may decrease as Jolisa finds more free time).

it's probably my last chance for this decade

Eeek. I'm not sure that's a thought I needed!!

though they could hardly claim to "want to get to know me better"

Missing a "not" in there?

Bring books and their writers with you

I hear that Ihimaera chap might have one out again soon. Sure he'd be up for a tour of university towns to establish some credibility.

Am hopeful everyone will be prolific enough to warrant another Chch launch!

All the very best for this evening.

Let's work on that, then. It's alarmingly expensive to fly there from Auckland, but if I can get a flight well in advance, I'll come down and spout some old bollocks.

Yay. Dunedinistas will happily get together and listen and spout back. Bring books and their writers with you.

But I shall attempt to persuade her to do a boozy Dunedin PA visit with me sometime next year.

Let's work on that, then. It's alarmingly expensive to fly there from Auckland, but if I can get a flight well in advance, I'll come down and spout some old bollocks.

But I am really chuffed that we're able to do something in Chch finally.

So am I!
But would be a lot moreso if the great company and flowing Monteiths weren't on a Monday/school/work night... :(
Sorry to miss it. Have a great one.

Man, I thought I might be able to come to this, but it looks like I'll be stuck in Timaru doing the regional round.

Aw, Matthew, that's sad in so many ways.

But yeah, we're down to what I told my mother about Christmas: you wanna see me, you drag…

Islander: Oooh, looking forward to that CD!

Matthew Littlewood: very sorry that we won't be seeing you...

Other Christchurchers: but it will be excellent to see all…

and Giovanni?
All ("The South Island" etc. & the cheese – jeez! It took a while to herd that into the box!) on the way on Monday-

I am baking special bread in my mind as we speak.

of course, we Southerners expect a stirling performance after your warmup events in the other island ;-)

Not only is Glenn a lovely bloke and a top-notch interviewer (so much so that we stayed yarning to him for nearly an hour after the show), but he is also a genuine radio innovator.

Oddly you've forgotten to mention how cute he is. Though I guess people can see…

It's another book launch — but, of course, you don't have to buy a book.

You have to buy two books.

Badoom, tisch.

all best for the event (sob)