Sideswipe: Double entendre strikes again

From left: Dan noticed this testy note on the coffee machine in the visitors' lounge of North Shore's maternity suite, a free-range-poultry farmer has been buying trampolines off Trade Me to provide instant shade. Photos / Supplied

John Cowan writes: "I felt sorry for the guy mowing the field next to our caravan at Piha in the hot sun, so I took him a can of Coke. I heard myself say, "It made me hot just watching you", and walked quickly away as I realised that probably sounded more like a pick-up line in a gay bar than an expression of empathy."

Hey, hey, hey it's YoGibAir

"Yogi Bear first came out in the 1960s," writes David Clemow from Papakura. "While I was in a hangar at an English airport in 1966, a Gibraltar Airways DC3 was being checked over. The aircraft was painted GibAir on either side. One of the engineers painted Yo in front of the lettering. The result: YoGibAir. I don't know how long it lasted."

Commentators' double fault

Tony Waring from Mt Albert writes: "You'd think the TVNZ commentators at the tennis could at least pronounce the names of the players properly. There are professional, international, multilingual umpires officiating and you can bet they know the correct pronunciation, but after they've called out the score, the commentators chime in with their own version of the player's name! Poor Mr Kamke from Germany, was called 'kamkay' this afternoon, and last week an Italian lady with a name that ended in 'ini' had her name mispronounced as if it ended in a French e-acute."

Same price, fewer bubbles

Has anyone noticed the sneaky downsizing of Sprite, asks a reader. "From 2.25 litres to 2 litres ... The price however, is still the same."

Service bouquet for Waiau Hotel

Now that's service: In a delirious state after completing the 3-day Hump Ridge Track, Hilary left her shoes (and socks) in Tuatapere. "Thanks to the staff at Waiau Hotel who retrieved them from their car park, kept them in the bar for New Year's and then posted them back to me in Auckland. They do a mean breakfast at the Waiau as well!"

Back with rightful owners

Katrina says the grateful owner of the ladies' Obaku watch left at Matakatia Bay read Sideswipe and contacted her. And Lesley says the delighted owner of the lost black bag has been in contact. He was holidaying in the Coromandel but told his neighbours, who had told their friends who read the Sideswipe piece - result!" That's it for lost and found. Thanks for your contributions.