Sideswipe

Joseph Stewart of Mt Eden spies a rare sight in Auckland, a muddy Remuera tractor.

A reader: My friend and I were treated to a rare sight as we travelled south on the motorway on Sunday evening. Since moving to Auckland I had not once seen a muddy Remuera tractor and found it quite a sight to behold.

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Overheard: Two blokes chewing the fat at the Warriors' first match of the season on Sunday.
1st guy: "They seem to have put on a bit of weight during the off season, eh?"
2nd guy: "No. I think they look really trim and fit."
1st guy: "Really! Who are you talking about?"
2nd guy: "The Warriors. Who were you talking about?"
1st guy: "The Cheerleaders!"

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Yesterday Newstalk ZB managed to offend the entire Irish community just before St Patrick's Day by referring to a story about the best cities in the world to live in. Auckland ranked 8th and, said the radio report, only two British cities made the list - London and Dublin.

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A reader writes: "A friend who was expecting his aged mother to come for a visit to New Zealand from the English Midlands said she went to a local travel agent and asked for advice on the best way to get to New Zealand. The agent tried to look business-like and got out a manual. After due examination he said: 'I think the best way would be to fly to Sydney and take a train.' She eventually found her own way here."

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North Korea has launched a public service campaign called "Let Us Trim Our Hair in Accordance with Socialist Lifestyle", a TV media blitz revealing how long hair consumes more nutrients, robs the brain of much-needed energy and undermines both nation and party. (Source: nerve.com)

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A tenacious working mother was looking for something fun to do with her nearly 2-year-old and wondered if butterflies were around at this time of year. She rang Westlynn Gardens in New Lynn, which has a monarch butterfly house, but nobody answered. She didn't want to drive all the way out there for nothing, so she rang the Auckland Zoo to ask when monarch butterflies were in season. They weren't sure and suggested she ring Landcare. They weren't sure and gave her the number of the Auckland University biological sciences department. They weren't sure either. But a helpful staff member googled the question (no definitive answer) and asked around the office and reported that several people had seen monarchs flying around. So, we took the punt and went to Westlynn Gardens where we learned that March is the peak season for monarch butterflies and the butterfly house was full. Phew!