The inspections themselves were of great interest, coupled with the sampling as you were guided through the works, culminating in a visit to the shop on the way out to stock up with goodies for oneself, plus a few items for future gifts for family and friends.

Then came the sad decision to cease the tours, having them replaced by an impersonal video.  How dull and boring.

Admittedly, one could still pay an outward visit to the chocolate shop. Just as exciting as a visit to the supermarket. The only thing missing from a trip to Coles or Woolies is the ferry ride.

Cadbury management say they are not in the tourist business. 

Can you imagine the founder of the firm rolling over in his grave, and contemplating how these decision makers came into control of Cadbury?

PETER Gutwein wrote a letter to the editor (The Examiner, October 7) and the topic was the two super large hotels proposed for downtown Hobart.

My wife and I live in an apartment building one block from the proposed Fragrance Hotel.

To read Mr Gutwein's opinion of the project makes me question his education and even more importantly his knowledge and appreciation of the natural beauty of Hobart.

Mr Gutwein’s letter is not written by a lover of Hobart, it is written by a person who is highly influenced by big business and and his political position. I am ashamed of his letter and more so of his thoughts in regards to our beautiful city.

THE so-called debate about same-sex marriage is not a debate at all, it's an expression of emotions.

As human beings we are driven by our emotions, not our intellect.

It is our reaction to same-sex relationships that determines how we vote, how the entire concept makes us feel.

We are either somehow threatened by it, or we are not.

Scientists and psychologists have made a direct link between conservatism and a lack of empathy. And, I believe, that explains it all.

For those people it is all about how same-sex relationships make them feel (uncomfortable), coupled with an inability to give weight to how the people involved may feel, an inability to walk in someone else's shoes.

Every choice we make is driven by either fear or love; try to choose love every time.

TONY Abbott was discussing global climate change on radio last week and pointed to the period 1996 to 2014, claiming that the temperature of the planet was going up significantly more slowly than the scientists had predicted it would.

It seemed he was implying scientists really don’t know what they are talking about.

He failed to report what happened in 2015 and 2016, where the increase in temperature was so large it looks like a step up two steps on the staircase not a smooth increase.

The trend is absolutely continuing and it seems to be as the scientist have predicted, if not faster.  

I am not sure whether Mr Abbott was aware he was misleading the audience or not. 

Perhaps he is incapable of reading graphs, or is not up to date, or perhaps as a politician he follows the rule, not to let the facts ever get in the way of your argument.

After all professional politicians seem only to care about winning the argument, true or false seems of no concern to them.

IF EDIBLE marijuana was legalised and taxed, there could be less people smoking cigarettes, not as much violent crime and more money for health and education.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Australians who began the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons about a decade ago and which organisation has now been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2017.

We can take pride in their efforts.

But isn’t it strange and incongruous that Australia is not one of the 122 nations which have signed the treaty?

We don’t have nuclear bombs, nor even nuclear power stations. So what is stopping us signing this treaty?

Australia can be a powerful force in all this as we are the world’s major exporter of uranium.

I NOTE with interest the recent spotlight shone in the media on the personal and material cost of poor mental health in the workplace. One major contributing negative factor which is consistently overlooked, (or I suspect, ignored as simply too hard to deal with), is the role and disastrous effect of what is half jokingly referred to as the "psychopathic boss" syndrome. No capacity for empathy, ruthless and inappropriate application of power, manipulation, etc.

Until this pernicious and shameful element of workplace culture is effectively addressed, the chances of meaningful improvement are slim. Too often, thuggery and menace masquerade as strong leadership, and far too often bullying and intimidation are tolerated in the misguided belief that riding roughshod produces better results than treating workers in a respectful and compassionate manner.

The dinosaurs spouting the " ïf they don't like it they can leave" mantra really do belong in the "extinct" basket, along with the "head kickers".