Subsequent to Pete Leitch's last visit, I learned that a biography was being written, with his co-operation, by one of New Zealand's leading sports journalists. Pete asked if he could use the portrait that I had taken of him on that visit. Of course, I was delighted and gave my permission gladly. He gave me the e-mail address of the publisher's representative and the arrangement was that I would forward it direct to them. In the interim, I thought over Pete's life as I knew it, his upbringing, his battle with dyslexia, his lowest points and his highest triumphs. I pondered on the title for a book on this complex character and came up with the title, "What a ride, mate!" I must explain that Pete uses the word "mate" to everyone and has more or less established his ownership of the word in its use as an emphatic end to a sentence. It also struck me that his ride through life had been determined by the compensation he developed due to his battle with dyslexia, giving me the idea that the letter "R" in the title should be reversed and emphasised by off-setting it. I sent the publisher the original portrait and the mockup of the cover and was surprized and delighted when they expressed the desire to use it. The rest is history and the launch invitation indicates the respect that Pete Leitch engenders, in that the book launch is being presided over by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. It is so typical of New Zealand's down-to-earth attitude that the customary champagne has been replaced by a special Mad Butcher brew! Good on ya, mate!