So, who's the third?

Derryn Hinch I could understand and process easily. He'd lived a good life, an interesting life, he'd had a liver transplant and had various health complaints over the last decade. So mote it be and all that. Rest well, Derryn. 

But Sam Neill?!

No. 

I'm sorry, Sam Neill is an Australasian treasure, despite the fact that he was born in Northern Ireland and emigrated to the South Island of New Zealand as a child - like all things good from New Zealand - read pavlova, Split Enz, Russell Crowe (but you can have him back, please), Sam Neill was ours. 

The news came through about his passing mid-afternoon. It's sad news. He was a legend. 

Sam Neill has been on our screens since God was a boy. I remember him as Harry in My Brilliant Career. He was the awful husband in The Piano (must watch that again). He was in the Australian classic, The Dish. He played Norman Lindsay in Sirens. I'm not counting his work in the Jurassic Park movies or his better-known television appearances. 

Most particular, I loved him as Hector in The Hunt for the Wilderpeople - one of my most favourite films. 

Sam Neill (originally named Nigel John Dermott Neill... nah, he's not a Nigel) has been around since the year dot on our screens, and he was reliably good in most things. 

Adding to this, word on the street was he was a thoroughly decent bloke. My friend Geetangeli used to run into him at the farmer's market in Christchurch. During COVID, he made videos of him roaming around his acreage with this animals. He had a dry wit and a lot of charm. He had been battling a blood cancer in recent years, but appears to have beaten it in the last year. He spoke openly and honestly about his possible demise with a huge amount of grace.  

And he will be sadly missed and remembered very fondly - and can you want much more than this. 

However, it seems the rule of threes is taking out people of New Zealand origin. I mean, Derryn Hinch - Sam Neill... if I was an octogenarian Kiwi I'd be looking over my shoulder - if I were Dame Kiri Te Kanawa I'd be a little worried. 

Regardless, Sam Neill - thank you for all the joy you've brought us over the years. May you rest in power, and may heaven be exactly how you wanted it to be. Know you are very well loved. Thoughts are stretched to your large whanau. 

Today's song: