Sorry, but isn't that what bigots are as well - very specific, narrow points of view. There are still good folk on twitter who don't deserve the labels you are putting on them.

Singapore to JB Those who know me might be surprised that my local coffee shop is opening too late for it to provide my first coffee of the day, which is why I’ve been going to foodcourts.

I spend my last day in #Singapore visiting the Maxwell Food Centre and the Tiong Bahru housing development (and bakery) then head across the border to #JohorBahru, where I discover a couple of great cafés (more to come).

#SEAsiatravel #noplans

asbarrywanders.substack.com/p/singapore-...

Singapore 2 I walk Orchard Road, discover a great "old Singapore" bar, and find a great modern foodcourt.

Walking Orchard Road isn't that great - lots of malls - but I do find a side street (and bar) of particular interest. I also make a quick visit to Arab Street and the Waterloo Centre (great beer, coffee and chicken curry).

#SEAsiaTravel #Noplans

asbarrywanders.substack.com/p/singapore-2

Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned:

1970 Datsun 1600
1975 Triumph 2.5
1980 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon
1990 Honda Legend
2003 Alfa Romeo 156

Last I heard from her, she was doing a podcast on loneliness. She has a website and sends out updates. You make it sound like she's no longer with us - I hope thats not so.

To Singapore I gave up a wee while ago on hoping my Police 105 report would produce my lost wallet: new cards and a new licence have subsequently arrived, so I’m good to go.

I'm on the road again - for an indefinite period and with my destinations uncertain. I start in Singapore, where I have booked into a hostel for five nights. This post covers getting there and the first couple of days.

#SEAsiaTravel #Noplans

asbarrywanders.substack.com/p/to-singapore

I had plans to go there last week, but the bus into Christchurch was delayed. The people running it have connections to the Japanese restaurant that had been in Chancery Lane.

Why has it been even hotter back home, albeit only by a degree or two, than here in Singapore?

Can't really name best pies of all time, but best recent pies were the steak and oyster pie from a roadside honey shop north of Houhora and steak and cheese from good old U-Bake in Timaru.

I am glad that the days of service stations just having crinkley plastic covered pies are largely behind us.

There's also a pub in Winnipeg that has them. Sadly, they use a microwave to reheat them.

The various 'stans have their own allegiances to specific cola brands. It is very noticeable as you cross their borders.

Pembroke Patisserie does well, not even in Wanaka, but out at Albert town. Having something similar in Dunedin would be so great.

There's been chatter about the lack of cakes and bakeries back home. Luckily, I am in Singapore, and the Tiong Bharu bakery has a decent spread even two hours before close. I'm having a blackberry and lemon curd brioche.

I can't remember - it ran down the side of the walkway from George Street to New World.

The Black Dog has a surprising cake range.

I don't see why we can't have a decent bakery, café, patisserie. There was one years ago, but it didn't last. It's a big gap in Dunedin's scene.

Christchurch and caravan woes I have one last weekend in Christchurch before heading away on my summer journey: four nights but only one fixed plan.

Before leaving NZ for a few months, I had one last trip to Christchurch to see the fabulous Cowboy Junkies, among other things, and go home through Cromwell so I can repair the destruction to my caravan caused by the recent storm.

asbarrywanders.substack.com/p/christchur...

I am halfway there -upstairs apartment for me, downstairs a games café rather than a bookshop.

Are you a Haruki Murakami character?

abstract.

What place is this in Singapore? I arrive there on Friday.

End of Northland Trip Trains where they shouldn't be, toilets, two workplaces and two breweries

I have made my last post about my trip to Northland: it features trains where they shouldn't be, toilets, two workplaces, two breweries and noodles. Not long before my next trip: I leave Friday and have bought 100 days worth of travel insurance.

asbarrywanders.substack.com/p/end-of-nor...

The till isn't going to balance, so there might be consequences.

Although I saw a little of the show when it was first broadcast in New Zealand in 1992, I did not sit down and seriously watch it from beginning to end until about 15 years ago, with a mate. That led to us continuing to watch various shows together, and still going strong today.

No mention of a policy for unacceptable conduct by employers?

I actually liked the stories she had from her school and college days the most - perhaps because they were more relatable than war zones and endometriosis.

Barry Allan's review of Bloody Minded 4/5: Susie's time as a war correspondent seems to have been pre-ordained: as a child, she was "mesmerised" by war and disaster on TV. She had a comfortable start to life in Edinburgh (her father was a...

Susie Ferguson is one of our wonderful #RNZ people: she comes to us from Edinburgh via London and many war and disaster zones. I've recently read and enjoyed her memoir, Bloody Minded: War, Womendhood and Finding My Voice.

#booksky #radiostar #susieferguson

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Two in particular stand out as changing me forever. First = A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It started off life long trends of reading literary fiction and Russian Literature. John Milton's Paradise Lost made me think hard about my place in the world, as non-believer.

Two professors of my acquaintance - far from dumb - insist on emailing as if they are illiterate. I don't understand it.