Dear Mike Happy New Year to you. For the latest Hamas Terrorist cartoon go to www.whaleoil.co.nz Is half way down the page

I am extremely sorry to hear of your marriage break up. Mike, just try to focus on your work and not dwell on all the negative stuff that accompanies this life changing event.Changing house, custody arrangements, Lawyers bills. Lawyers are the only persons to benefit so keep it all amicable. Thank goodness I have never had to expeience this after 30 years and four kids raised we are still a devoted couple. I would be totally LOST without my good lady! Since the election result I will wind up my website. www.dontvotelabourcartoons.com It was fun and you wouldnt believe the feedback I got from the public and both sides of the House. It was my own personal protest against Labour and the electoral finance Act. The anti smacking cartoon I did on the website , which you reacted against was one commissioned by Family first and I was a little taken aback at your response.I could point out thousands of cartoons that are generic in design and metaphor, E.g “Titanic sinking” I suppose that if I were a paid professional in the employee of a publisher like a newspaper then it would be slightly different. This being the case I would also have to be very cautious about bias. Anyway I do enjoy your cartoons and check on them regularly. You have lots of ability and are a clever fellow. I have resolved to complete a caricature in colour of you, which if you find pleasing you might find a home for it in your new office. It should be complete by the end of this week. Very best. Stan

Hello Mike,

I view your work each day from overseas and wish to congratulate you on alerting NZ readers to the "activities" currently ongoing in Gaza as Israel pounds target after target, including civilians. Two of your latest cartoons present especially poignant views of the Palestinian pathos as the death toll exceeds 500 with thousands injured.

Here in Kuwait, there is yet again a growing backlash against Israel and, of course, its largest supporter, the USA. Although the Palestinians are not totally innocent with their indiscriminant rocket attacks and suicide bombings, the complete destruction by Israel of all basic services and utilities is literally “overkill” and the growing anger by the Muslim community worldwide can only damage the new American president’s foreign policies from the outset. One wonders if Israel decided the last days of the Bush administration offered a final opportunity to attack with impunity…what a legacy Bush has left in Obama’s hands.

Keep up the excellent insights through your drawings and never back away from controversial subject matter. Change can only occur by overwhelming public outcry against man’s inhumanity to man. Your cartoons reach tens of thousands of consciousnesses each day, so use them wisely and with the knowledge that one “still, small voice” has incredible power.

Thanks Alan, thanks Stan. Alan, as you know, I just try to find topics that inspire me and nothing is more compelling than injustice and the suffering of others. Although it sometimes feels as if I'm tilting at windmills, drawing these cartoons is often the only way I can make sense of things and think through the issues. Having to present an idea succinctly often clarifies my thoughts and allows me to get to the heart of an issue. If I can encourage others to do the same while entertaining, amusing, or even outraging, then that is extremely gratifying. Thanks for sharing your views from overseas And Stan, I appreciate your encouraging words. It's been a hell of a month but I have survived and will thrive, not least because of the goodwill and support of many others. Thanks for commenting, and all the best with your own work. I think it gets better each time I see it. Cheers, Mike