One man's special volunteer job at Auckland Airport
Hi neighbours,
Meet the man who has considered Auckland Airport his second home for over 20 years.
Twice a week, 86-year-old Les Featherstone takes a taxi to the International Terminal where he volunteers for four-and-a-half hours as an airport ambassador, or Bluecoat.
Twenty-four years is a long time to hold down one job, especially as a volunteer, but Featherstone says signing up was the best thing he's ever done.
In recent times, the airport has taken on a new meaning for him following the death of his wife last month.
Do you plan to volunteer once you retire? What would be your dream role?
To read more, click here.
Poll: Are quality products on the decline?
Gift-giving looks a lot different these days when you can pick up super-cheap goods made overseas. But do they last?
Do you have any old items like appliances, electronics or clothing that have stood the test of time? Share below!
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90.1% Yes
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8.4% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
Christmas Carols- A brief history
Hello,
As we head into Christmas and the long holidays, the unmistakable carol music of Christmas will be heard. From shopping malls to radio stations to homes where tree decorating missions are underway not to mention seeds of an argument that reaches it zenith on Christmas Day!
But where did it all originate ( not the argument!), the carols?
Here at the Flea FM, each week we will post a few short snippets* we have curated so that you can appreciate when you hear a carol, a little history about the simple Christmas carol. Enjoy.
* attributes provided at last post.
In medieval times, the word ‘carol’ referred to a round dance with musical accompaniment (‘carole’ in French). It later developed into a song form of verses and a refrain. Not all the original texts had Christmassy words but many were associated with Mary, Advent and Christmas. The term has since come to be applied to all Christmas songs, whether or not in carol form.
Christmas Carols were introduced to formal church services by St. Francis of Assisi.
‘One of the oldest printed English Christmas carols is the Boar's Head Carol, sung as the traditional dish is carried in on Christmas Day at Queen's College, Oxford; it was printed in 1521.’ (Oxford Dictionary of Music)