Hey homies, bet you thought you’d seen the last of me. Guess again. I’m here to bring you a Summer edition of Nexus, with all the know-how-can-do of Aotearoa’s relentless Summer heat. So why not break that up with some dope content and a look into Nexus for next year.

I feel it’s only appropriate to update you all on what’s going on in my life, as a means of relating to you all and forming a strong bond where I can. So I’m still here, sitting in the same corner I’ve been at for 24 months. The air is thicker, so is my brain. Whenever you’ve finished some massive task – like 25 issues of a magazine – it’s hella easy to sink into full zombie mode and just check the fuck out. While I think rest is important, so is occupying your days with things to do so you aren’t going stir crazy in your own thoughts.

Here’s some fun facts of things currently happening in the world and also me. In no particular order:

– Reintroduction of water voles boosts wildlife

– New Alzheimer’s drug hailed as momentous

– was misdiagnosed with bipolar and came off years worth of meds

– Pharmac to fund life-extending drug Trikafta for those with cystic fibrosis

– Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern travelled to Te Rohe Pōtae, the King Country, to apologise for more than 150 years of treaty breaches, marking the final stage of a 30-year process to reach settlement.

– Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Labour made a “mistake” in passing a controversial entrenchment clause in a Three Waters bill

That’s what you’ve missed.

I can already hear your questions now. How the fuck did it take this long to find and fund a life-changing drug for cystic fibrosis? Well you’re preaching to the choir mate – the country is celebrating while also not forgetting how shit it was waiting for this shit to show up. But I know I brushed over the mental health thing – that’s honestly because there’s not much else to say. Thanks to my psychiatrist, and placing help in public health, I was able to revert a misdiagnosis made years ago about me having bipolar and taking antipsychotics as a result. Turns out guys, I’m okay and working through my problems.

This was my attempt and cleverly migrating into a kōrero about summer blues and missing 2016 summer. I know that I may be the only one here but times were simpler in the summer of ‘16. Cue Bruce Springsteen in the background now. We have 5sos, 1D and all the Wattpad stories to fuel those long nights of waiting for an invite to kick ons. My flat, while on the quieter side, were getting s•oned and watching the infamous Sausage Party while playing a strangely erotic game of “Marry, Fuck or Kill”. My nights were spent delving into the US elections, looking at how the fuck they chose a man so adverse to human rights. Blasting Beyonce’s latest album so damn loud, fuck it up Yonce. And just navigating an internet space littered with spoilers for Stranger Things… wait – this is all starting to sound a little sus. The idea that there’s only ever new media happening is bullshit, just take a look around and you’ll see that the world is ever-recycling content to create hype over the same damn things.

There’s a large number of you readers that are sitting there saying “but we were 12 in 2016” and that’s just humbling me real quick. The point of this editorial isn’t to say that times were better. The point is, let’s fucking create our own Summer of ‘22. Get out there and cut some fucking shapes my guys. Say yes to all the parties, all the dinners and going for random roadies out to Raglan (fuck all else to do right?).

What else can I say while I have your attention? Surely something important. Something witty. Something insightful. Oh, that’s right. If you find yourself stuck in a difficult situation this xmas (Uncle decides to say something about “those damn Māori’s” or your cousin is question why trans rights exist) just remember one thing:

The world is a kinder place when you’re the kinder person.

Did yous just get chills cos I fucking did.