Sometimes you just have to write a column at the wrong time. This is one of those weeks.
I'd love to be writing about The Hobbit.

The state of play with regard to the latest trip to Middle Earth is enthralling the country and I'd like to chip in with some wise and educated words. Unfortunately, due to the time delay between writing and the paper being printed and distributed, this is rather tricky.
As I write this a bunch of Warner execs are being ferried between their no doubt luxury accommodation and the arms of New Zealand's friendly government. By the time you read this… I have no idea what will have happened.
Did the unions act a little rashly with their boycott? No doubt. Are they being screwed over by much richer smarter and bigger fish from Warners? Probably. Is this really about industrial relations or is it about money? Well, that's the big question, and the one we'll possibly never know the answer to.
So, adding my two cents I'd just like to say – isn't Martin Freeman the perfect choice for Bilbo Baggins? Nice to know that amidst the chaos, Peter Jackson's eye for casting is still unerring.
I'd also like to write about WOMAD. Early bird tickets for next year's annual extravaganza of world music and dance have been on sale for a few weeks now (the event takes place from the 18-20 March 2011). But the line-up will be announced… tonight.
So there's bugger all I can tell you about that as you no doubt know more than I do already. If you haven't yet heard who's playing I suggest you check their website at www.womad.co.nz.
However, the artists have been announced for the Ragamuffin Festival in Rotorua (February 5 2011) and tickets are also on sale for that. The rise of the reggae festival - which moved to Rotorua after a try-out in Taupo the first year – has been nothing short of spectacular, and the list of acts coming is once again fantastic for fans of reggae.
Next year's bill includes famous internationals Mary J Blige, Jimmy Cliff, Maxi Priest, Sean Paul, the Original Wailers and Ky-Mani Marley (the second youngest of Bob's eleven children) and almost as famous locals Salmonella Dub, Nesian Mystik, 1814 and Sons of Zion.
Just as the Coromandel Blues Festival that happened a couple of years back (and sadly hasn't been repeated) piggybacked on the huge Byron Bay Blues Festival, so Raggamuffin, like The Big Day Out, shares artists with a series of Australian festivals. It's a good arrangement and one that makes it practical for big names to come down to this part of the world.
On a more local note, here's a gig coming up in Tauranga that may be of interest.
On November 5, if you're not too busy lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks, Australian bluegrass band Coolgrass are playing a show in the theatre at the Historic Village. I know this because people keep telling me. I realise that sounds a little obvious but let me elucidate: I have a wide network of spies (and many spies have many eyes!), tasked with bringing me the skinny on anything and everything. But with Coolgrass a whole pile of people I don't even know have been getting in touch saying: 'You must see these guys they're simply fantastic.”
Well, I have actually seen these guys and I agree. They put on a great show and are really top-class bluegrass players (despite being Australian). And, given the emails and calls I've been getting, I guess a lot of other people think that too. Even if bluegrass is a little outside your regular listening music I'd urge you to give this one a go.
Actually, if bluegrass is outside your regular listening music I'd suggest you give the genre a go in general. Pop along to your local DVD store and rent Down From The Mountain, a live concert film featuring Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welsh, Alison Krauss. It's as good a gig as I've ever seen, and filled with astounding music, from Jerry Douglas' stunning dobro playing to the iconic singing of Ralph Stanley. You won't regret it.