On Tuesday, I watched the gripping, gory and great finale for Game of Thrones Season Three.  Although I discovered the multi-award winning show several years after it achieved cult status, [1] I rapidly caught up through marathon viewing sessions of Seasons One and Two.

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I have exceedingly strong opinions on James Bond. Last week I officially confirmed that the best Bond of all time was Sean Connery who was well ahead of runner up Daniel Craig.

As a self-employed writer and commentator on a vast range of issues, I hold strong opinions on virtually everything. While I am only marginally better informed than the average Kiwi, I have one key advantage – I’m always correct. Therefore, to settle heated debates at pubs, workplaces and homes around New Zealand here is a definitive list of the top three things that rock in each key field of human enterprise.

In a bit over an hour, I can walk down the mean but tidy streets of Thorndon, along the scenic Wellington waterfront, past the bars and eateries on Courtenay Place [1], and up into Cuba Street with the comical bucket fountain, tattoo parlours and assorted hipsters.   Part of Wellington’s charm is its sheer diversity within a (comparatively) compact modern city.

To say that Germans “quite enjoy” their beer is roughly equivalent to arguing Gangnam Style garnered “moderate global publicity.”

The first beer book I ever owned was the Great Beer Guide: 500 Classic Brews by legendary British drinks scribe Michael Jackson, known to many as the “Beer Hunter”. Published in 2000, Jackson listed alphabetically the 500 best beers he had tried from around the world.