KEY POINTS:
This is the story of a young man from the Bay of Plenty whose wife died of cancer. The day after her death, he and his young sons opened the many sympathy cards and other mail that had arrived at their home. Among them, a typewritten letter from the local sellers of a cure-all health product. The letter reads: "I was so sorry to hear that Jane* passed away this week. I feel in many ways that I failed you because I didn't come and visit you both when I had valuable information and have witnessed so many recover from this terrible disease. I know now that cancer is simply a metabolic disorder that can be corrected through good nutrition. Something our traditional doctor does not yet understand. I (and hundreds of others) have passed the supposed 'use by date' as given to us by our oncologists. As you are probably aware, today I enjoy the very best of health. All this will not bring Jane back but I want you to know that I am sincerely wanting to help those in our community and beyond who face health challenges. Thinking of you and your family in this most difficult time." (*Not her real name.)
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Domestically challenged German men are flocking to a new website to learn how to iron, cook and use a washing machine. The website - called Ask-mummy - caters for men who still cannot look after themselves when they leave home. Men in Germany are famous for living with their parents until their late 20s or 30s, say the site's founders. Instructions on www.frag-mutti.de (ask-mummy.de) include how to work a microwave as well as light-hearted tips such as cooking boil-in-the-bag dinners in the washing machine. (Source: Ananova.com)
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A reader writes: "I think you had to be there for this one, but it was hilarious really. At a North Shore supermarket a young checkout girl and middle-aged customer were engaged in an endless issue over a bag of bread rolls.
Customer: Only six in the bag.
Girl: These are seven-grain rolls.
Customer: Yeah, only six in bag.
Girl: Six rolls, seven-grains in each roll.
Customer: Not seven-grain rolls, only six in bag.
