Paul Hickey: Black Caps' approach inspiring us all

The crowd, during the first Pool A match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Photo / Brett Phibbs

So after the long drawn out warm up process throughout the Kiwi summer, the Cricket World Cup is finally underway, and didn't the Black Caps get it rolling the right way?

I love my sport and am really excited about the chances of our team in this competition, and I'm not the only one. The form that the Black Caps have been showing is getting even non-sports fans caught up in the hype and the expectations are certainly pretty high now.

Yes, they are going along nicely and yes we should be getting behind them and backing them to win. But let's not get too carried away. Let's just enjoy the ride right now, and in particular enjoy the event that is being staged here in New Zealand. It's a pity that there is nothing major planned here in Rotorua around the event, but let's soak it all up and enjoy being part of another major world event.

The 50 Shades Of Grey phenomenon rolled on last week with the much anticipated release of the first of the movies hitting the big screen. Like the rest of the country it seems Rotorua got pretty swept up in it all with Reading Cinemas reporting pre-sale tickets being right up there with the biggest of blockbuster flicks.

I've never read the books, nor have I been to see the movie. But I've got enough nous to understand what the story is about. And I just don't get these people making comparisons between family violence and what is portrayed in the movies.

And as for Bob McCroskie from the unusually named Family First group; he sure is giving Gareth Morgan a good run for his money as New Zealand's foremost expert on everything at the moment!

I don't consider myself arachnophobic, but the recent report in this paper about the discovery of a redback spider in Rotorua certainly gives me the creeps. Let's hope this is a bit of a one off.

When you're travelling overseas, or more importantly arriving back home, the slow processes through Customs can be a tiring exercise. However, when you watch the TV shows and see the work they are doing to stop not just the illegal stuff getting into New Zealand, but threats such as the redback spider, you can appreciate the hold ups that little bit more.

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Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Facebook The Hits Rotorua and on Twitter @paulhickeynz.