Sideswipe: Return to sender

Kat from Royal Oak's neighbours lost their letterbox during the inorganic collection. It seems anything that's not nailed down will go.

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While shopping in Auckland's Karangahape Rd Mark noticed a couple of lads with T-shirts which read, Save K Rd. "Apparently our elected councillors are proposing a renaming of Karangahape Rd to a more user-friendly version - Upper Commerce St?" he baulks. "Just in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011." Say it isn't so?

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An English firm is taking its solution for male pattern baldness to the US. HiStyl of Birmingham uses a mild form of medical tattooing to simulate the look of shaved or closely cropped hair. The procedure, called "hair follicle replication", takes three hours and requires a follow-up session.

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A TradeMe listing for a Very Dangerous Chair:

"About 10 people have sat in this chair in the last month, four managed to fall off and two felt unsafe while using it," says the seller. "Would be great as a chair at reception where no one will use it. Or you could use it to eliminate an annoying colleague. I paid $90 for it a month ago and thought I had got a bargain until I sat in it. I am only looking to get some of my money back. With the weather turning cold it could be used as fuel for a fire - caution, smoke may be toxic."

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A reader writes:

"My aunt rents a house from Housing New Zealand and has had her bathroom upgraded, which is lovely. Well, it would be if the contractors would come back and finish the job. It's been more than a month now and, as you can see, washing hands and brushing teeth in this bathroom is a bit of a challenge."

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A frustrated worker writes ... "She applied for a casual position, signed the forms, sent in what had to be provided (tax rate and bank account details) and started work in late May. On her employment form it said "pay is fortnightly, on a Wednesday" so when the first Wednesday came she wasn't surprised that there was no money. Roll on next Wednesday, she thought, and lined up several important bills for the day. The next Wednesday, to her horror, there was still no pay, so in a bit of a panic, she rang the HR person." Oh yes," she was told, "they sometimes take a bit longer to get the system up and running. You'll get it next week." Next week? Three weeks into her employment? Is that legal? And who is this employer? The Ministry of Justice. Bet if she tried paying a speeding fine a week late, it'd be OK. Not."

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View today's Herald cartoon

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