New Zealand Listener Issue 37, 2022

I have a hunch something is wrong. But the young doctor is dismissive and tells me that I am fine. I am in my mid-fifties and therefore my wonky periods are normal. I hear that word a lot: normal. It is only after a routine Pap smear cervical screening that my concerns are taken seriously. Endometrial cancer is one of the five main gyna-ecological cancers. Frankly, prior to my diagnosis, I was oblivious to all of them. Just 11 months previously, I had volunteered at the Breast Cancer Foundation’s pink ribbon street appeal. Women are urged to watch out for breast cancer. We all know someone with a breast cancer story. To this day, I have yet to meet another woman who has had endometrial cancer. I received my diagnosis three years ago…

WINNING CAPTION Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt FINALISTS Caption: The Manchester United talent scout sees great potential for Koulibaly as a goalkeeper. – Bill Grant, Napier Caption: Anisoptera chelseaii: Sapphire dragonfly. – Ann Love, Nelson Caption: Koulibaly denies taking performance-enhancing drugs. – Joe Baker, Dunedin Caption: “Tottenham goalkeeper in tears after Chelsea striker pokes tongue out at him.” – Bob Richardson, Christchurch Kalidou Koulibaly: “It’s all about how you hold your tongue.” – Kate Gore, Tauranga Caption: Ebony and ivory celebrate in perfect harmony. – Marie Curran, Dunedin Caption Competition {listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo at right to listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 477” in the subject line. Alternatively, entries can be posted to “Caption Competition No 477”, NZ Listener, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352. Entries must be received by noon, Tuesday, September 13. THE PRIZE Close, intense…

I was interested to read your articles about adoption (“The ties that bind”, August 13) and the tracing of relatives in David Cohen’s “My Irish question” (August 27). I was adopted in 1943 by loving parents. I was never told of my adoption by them or family members, who were given strict instructions never to divulge this fact. I found out by chance when I was 42, at a time when my dad had died and mother had early dementia. I spent many years battling the strict “rules” of the British government to obtain my original birth certificate. At one stage, they advised me I needed “counselling” in London by one of their staff before they could consider giving me this vital piece of paper. Counselling by an equivalent person here in…

“Human beings of any age need to improve themselves. The bad times in history come when they cannot.”– Barbara Tuchman“A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.”– Saul Bellow“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”– Oscar Wilde“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”– Phyllis Diller“I’m British; pessimism is my wheelhouse.”– John Oliver“You learn a lot about your family when you spend 12 hours in a car together. For example, I learnt my family shouldn’t spend 12 hours in a car together.”– Seen on Twitter“I want my words to survive translation.”– Kazuo Ishiguro“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”– Edgar Degas“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test…

1. Michelangelo’s statue of David holds an object over his left shoulder. What is it? ❑ Spear❑ Loin cloth❑ Crown❑ Sling 2. Which of these airlines operated domestic flights in New Zealand from 1987 to 2000? ❑ Virgin Australia❑ Ansett New Zealand❑ Freedom Air❑ Pacific Blue Airlines 3. Which of these terms was used to describe a rite of passage for wealthy Europeans that ended in the 19th century? ❑ Great excursion❑ Fancy jaunt❑ Magnificent voyage❑ Grand tour 4. The influential jazz musician Buddy Rich was considered a virtuoso with which type of instrument? ❑ Trumpet❑ Drums❑ Saxophone❑ Piano 5. Which of these animals was formerly used by Australian police for patrol duties and transport? ❑ Zebra❑ Water buffalo❑ Camel❑ Red kangaroo 6. Which of these terms describes birds that spend a lot of their lives on the open ocean? ❑…

My high school’s name was recently changed from Woodrow Wilson, a former US president and huge racist – remind you of anyone? – to Jackson-Reed High School. The first part of the new name is in honour of Edna Burke Jackson, the first African-American teacher at the school and easily the best teacher I ever had. Mrs Jackson was a 1.45m force of nature, and I loved her as much as I’ve ever loved anyone who consistently frightened me. She was innovative, challenging and tireless, even though she’d been teaching for almost 40 years by the time we met. Mrs Jackson and I shared space in a school that was horribly overcrowded with students, most of whom came from intensely challenging circumstances and had no interest in being there. I took…