DeeKnow’s Grotto

When I heard that David Lange had been admitted to hospital a couple of weeks back and had subsequently required surgery I thought to myself that it was high time I got myself along to hear the great man speak in person lest his diabetes become so debilitating that he might need to knock public speaking on the head altogether.

Things sounded quite hopeful that he would recover OK but just in case his condition was to worsen I began composing in my mind a get-well message I might send to plead with him to keep his chin up long enough for me to get to hear him speak. Though I genuinely wished him well my motivation was largely driven by selfishness.

Then at about 3:30 this afternoon I clicked on a digest e-mail from scoop.co.nz which had just been sent out to the list containing various headlines concerning David's passing away last night.

It was actually rather upsetting. I think I kinda knew in my heart that things weren't gonna work out when I had panicky thoughts last week of getting along to hear him speak.

His personal memoirs were published last week which I'm sure will be a great read and I've read a couple of his speeches online, but he's well known as a great orator and its that element of the man that just wont be quite the same in print, or on video, as it would be to be in the room with that great booming voice of his...

And I'm going to give it to you if you hold your breath just for a moment … I can smell the uranium on it as you lean forward!

10:55:11 PM