Sideswipe: Roadside reminder

Road users in Oxfordshire, Britain, have been advised by a local resident to think of the animals and slow down. (Source: Shakespearessister.blogspot.com)

Police on hoodie alert

The New Zealand police are now fashion profiling: "My partner and I bought a new black ute," writes Jen. "He was driving it one day, wearing a hoodie, when his mobile rang. It was the police asking if he was the owner of a black ute - make this, model that. He replied yes. The officer told him someone called saying a suspicious looking person was seen driving his vehicle, wearing a hoodie. Do the police follow up every call about a person wearing a hoodie?"

Ant invasion

A reader writes: "Although winter is biting we are still being besieged by ants. Even if one Marmite-smeared knife is left out hoards of tiny, infuriating pests will congregate within half an hour. We have tried all manner of remedies (but have to be careful because the wife is pregnant) and we don't want to spend a fortune, because we are renting. Anyone got any idea to rid our house of this pestilence?"

Meter madness

"I signed up for a pre-paid meter through Genesis when we bought a house with an inside meter, so I wouldn't need to have readings," writes Helen. "I was not comfortable with a stranger having my house key. After six months I was told I must provide a key or they had the right to disconnect my power. I was only ever in credit, so refused. Rules have again changed - I'm meant to have a reading every two months to check the meter has not been tampered with. So the meter reader continues to turn up, but as we have a dog and I have not provided a key, they can't read it. I understand the meter box is 'owned' by them, but as the front door is owned by me, if they want to read their meter so badly, they can shift it outside. It's silly for Genesis to provide pre-pay meters, and then expect to have access whenever it suits them."

Lock up your dogs

Nadine writes regarding the dog owner who is getting annoyed at the monthly automated phone calls telling her to lock up her dog for the next three days. "At least she has a dog. We get this message every month but only have a skittish old cat."

Odd choices for Tibetan prayers

The items in the trees in Potters Park are unlikely to be Tibetan prayers, a reader writes, "unless our expert in Tibetan culture, Barry, can confirm Tibetan prayers are written on sheets of cloth in the shapes of pants, T-shirts, shorts, and what looks like a woman's togs."