Sideswipe: Cabbie's fare from heaven

Damien Hirst's sketch is expected to reach £5000. Photo / Supplied

A sketch which artist Damien Hirst gave to a taxi driver as a tip for a £20 journey could be worth thousands, experts believe.

Hirst drew the picture for cabbie Jon Horsley during a 30-minute trip from Chelsea Harbour to Mayfair 18 months ago. The pair chatted and discovered that they shared an interest in comic illustrations and Hirst began doodling the shark and diamond skull - two of his most famous works.

The drawing is now set to be sold at auction where it is estimated to reach £5000.

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Body corporate

A Miss Universe NZ contestant emailed Sideswipe hoping to find a sponsor. The lucky corporate who forks out more than $3000 will get their name on her sash at all public appearances, including charity dinners and shopping mall promotions, an advertising spot in the official brochure and free tickets to the event.

"What better way to advertise than on a beautiful woman, and, hey, we all know sex sells!" she pitches with a reminder that, as an advertising expense, the cost can be used as a tax write-off.

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Well-connected 'business'

Roger writes: "Someone called Jessica Smith has faxed us here in Ngaruawahia to tell us that our 'business' has been selected to be included in the 2010/2011 edition of 'Who's Who New Zealand'.

Our candidacy was approved on April 9 and Jessica tells us that this was done 'by the Managing Director from information obtained from researched executive and professional listings'. This is very flattering but I am not sure how they arrived at this information.

Marist Brothers listed in the Waikato phone book is actually a two-man community of Catholic religious Brothers."

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Driving 101

A reader's response to yesterday's Revenue-gathering 101:

1) Enjoy looking at the flowers in the middle of the road. They're saving you from trying to cut across two or more lanes of heavy traffic, all on their way to somewhere, just to reach your car park within crawling distance from your desk.

2) Please phone or email the council's customer services if there's a sign obscured by a tree. Sadly, too many signs are drawn on plans that don't show where the trees are. Of course someone should check the site, but it doesn't always happen.

3) If you need to cross a bus or transit lane to turn left, you should only drive in that lane for the least distance you need to. 50m is the extreme limit.

If you cut in too far from your turn, someone in front of you may be waiting to turn left legally and not see you - or you might be tail-ended by someone stretching the rule even further than you are. It's all about safety, and moving the most people most quickly, not revenue.