Just Have to Drop This Name.

[Lesley Cox]

Yesterday at Otago Farmers' Market (of which I am Manager) we had a most distinguished visitor, staying on site and visiting stalls, occasionally buying (PLANTS!) for about an hour. She was Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, in Dunedin for the local Arts Festival, to sing last night, her first solo performance in Dunedin since the winning performance here in a competition which launched her brilliant international career 45 years ago.

She was very sweet. "Dame Kiri," I asked her, "would you care to do a little busking?" "Thank you" she replied, "but not this morning." She had her night performance coming up and there was a cold, strong wind blowing but she replied in such a way that other things being equal, I was made to feel she would have been delighted to sing for us.

She is just a year younger than I am but looks at least 30 years younger. 

[John Kitt]

I know how you feel Lesley. I suspect these great voices massage their throats with unguents and other substances while I just pour it down mine. (Particularly the Scots variety). I am sure it must cause premature aging.

[Lesley Cox]

That unguent ( ) is one you can legitimately call Scotch John. I was rather hoping it might hold the aging at bay.

[Anthony Darby]

One of the many items that one can legitimately call Scotch Lesley: Scotch pies; Scotch bonnet peppers; Scotch mist etc.

[Lesley Cox]

And terriers of course. What about pines?

[Maggi Young]

no, the pines are Scots not Scotch..... we must scotch that rumour once and for all......

When I heard of the death of Dame Joan Sutherland I was thinking how friends like Lesley would be mourning her passing...  and then Lesley actually meets Dame Kiri...... that would  be cheering, I would expect. 

[Anthony Darby]

It would certainly make my day.