• Young alcoholics

    Dear Diane,

    My son’s 12-year-old friend is allowed to drink at home and now our son wants to do the same. I guess a little beer won’t hurt – even if it’s the dreaded shandy we used to drink when we were young – but 12 seems rather young to me and my husband agrees.

    The problem is, I don’t want him sneaking out to drink elsewhere and getting into trouble. He’s a mature boy, but he’s also quite quiet and he could be easily influenced by his more confident peers. Any ideas about what I should do?

    Lucy and Joe, by email

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Walk in progress - Weekly people review 2011

The young Christchurch promotions model determined to walk again after tragically losing her legs in the February earthquake is still coping with the ongoing complications ... More

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Over the Teacups

My four-year-old grandson was at the supermarket with his mother when he exclaimed, “You’re buying something, Mummy, auntie is buying something – I want to buy something!” Mum replied, “You have to be big, have a wife, have a job, then you can buy things.” He replied, “I have a wife – Maia,” meaning his four-year-old friend. Mum said, “What about a job?” Master Four replied, “My job is having a wife!”

Robyn, Whangarei

Water you want?

I was in the car and asking Master Three what he wanted for Christmas. He said he was going to ask Santa for a water pistol. “And Nanny,” he added, “I’m going to ask for some water for our paddling pool.” Now that could be interesting!

Julie, by email

Bee gone

Master Three had his first bee sting recently. The incident broke his heart, but after many cuddles he came right. Later he said, “I never want to see another bee again. I don’t like bees any more, I only like flies.”

Gaileen, by email

Fraud with worry

My daughter warned me that “old people are being taken for a ride,” and that I shouldn’t engage in conversation with phone sales people. To this, Master Five piped up, “Nana can’t go on that ride, she’s old.”

Joseph’s Nana, Hamilton

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