Sideswipe

Have you seen Mickey?

Help this woman get back her life. Priscilla, 30, has gone to extraordinary lengths to find her tonkinese cat Mickey, who scarpered when his family moved to Mt Wellington from Epsom on Saturday, June 18. From that day, Priscilla, who works full-time, has been pounding the footpaths from 6am until late at night, delivering more than 1000 flyers in the hope of finding the runaway. She has also contacted more than 70 vet clinics, pet shops and co-ordinators of all the feral cat feeders throughout Mt Wellington. She has visited all local retailers, carried out an exhaustive search of Countdown Supermarket storage areas, registered Mickey's disappearance with the SPCA, the Auckland City Council and various animal websites. In an attempt to help Mickey find his way home, Priscilla is consulting local reiki healers who are helping to send healing energy to the cat. She is also in continual email contact with two international animal behaviourists and has emailed them maps of the area in the hope they will be able to find Mickey. Meanwhile, at home, Priscilla has left Mickey's personal possessions, his favourite blanket and carry-cage at the back door. So far she has spent $1500 (on newspaper advertisements and photocopying and distribution of the flyers), but is still willing to pay a good reward. If you have any information about Mickey, contact Priscilla urgently on 021-186-6109 or Paul on 021-680-299 or (09) 625-1653.

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Is this for real? The Chard Farm winery boasts an unbelievable way to "decork" a corked wine in their winter newsletter. The following trick apparently removes the cork taint from corked wine. Here's what to do: Rip off a small square of clingfilm, say 10cm square, scrunch up and dangle in affected wine, as you would do with a tea bag. Swirl the glass round and pull out the clingfilm every few seconds to check wine for reduction of cork taint. It doesn't take long, but be warned, you can easily overdo it. Chard Farm says although it's never as good as the untainted wine, it is quite acceptable.

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Some years ago the owners of a young horse sired by a stallion called Auk received official approval to name the horse D'Auk. He entered two trials, winning one, coming third in another and causing the crowd to snigger as the commentators struggled with the pronunciation. Unfortunately he broke his leg in the spelling paddock and had to be put down before he could go on to win the Melbourne Cup and cause further embarrassment for racing authorities.

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Firefighters in Hennef, Germany, found a car parked alongside a wrecker's yard and used it to practise rescues. They had cut off the roof and doors before they discovered it belonged to a teenager who had bought it just after passing his driver's test. The young man had not driven the car.