Sideswipe: Smokers keep NZ beautiful

Likely to amuse a 6-year-old boy.

This smokers' ash receptacle, spotted on a wall in Nuffield St in Newmarket, is either crying out for some punctuation, or is stating that we need smokers on every street corner to make the area beautiful, says Jeremy.

* * *

Regarding the barbecued pet dog, "Auckland Mayor John Banks, an animal rights activist, told reporters that rather than a new law, what is needed is better education of local customs". Not the first thing that springs to mind when I hear the name John Banks, writes Frankie.

* * *

A reader writes: "I work in a building shared with Child, Youth and Family. Yesterday, as I walked in, a van was parked right outside the entrance and in it a very young infant alone in a broken car seat and all the windows closed. Heaven knows how long the child was left alone, but I found it appalling that several CYF employees walked right past without a word. Do they see such hellish scenes in our so-called First World nation that such neglect warrants not so much as a comment?"

* * *

Garth wonders if any readers could explain why a loaf of Nature's Fresh bread costs $4.29 at Countdown in Rotorua, while 100m down the street the same loaf at Pack'n' Save is $2.19. Both are regular prices, not specials. "No doubt price differences are quite usual between supermarkets, but $2.10 a loaf?"

* * *

Old-fashioned school rules: According to this reader, King's College in Otahuhu likes to dictate facial hair length. "At my school, for the boys, if your sideburns aren't [trimmed] to halfway down to your ear you get in trouble. Socks pulled high and shirts tucked in. Girls must have black hair ties and black bobby pins - no other colours."

* * *

Another reader thinks Mt Albert Grammar is trying to get back to basics. "Over the last year or so students have been made to tuck in their polo shirts. That entirely defeats the point of polo shirts and of course there's instant detention if you fail to do so. The school seems to be bringing back old traditions. And the latest? Detention for standing near rubbish, whether you saw it or not is irrelevant. It makes you want to leave."

* * *

You think mobile lawn-mowing is odd, says Paul. "Seen driving around the North Shore: some outfit called 'Mobile Driving Instructor'. Go figure."

* * *

Clayton Pinkney obviously does not understand the art of parking by ear, says a reader. "If there is no scraping noise then you are not too close. Sharing a 'diagonal' car park with workmates can be cosy. Unless of course it is regarded as inappropriate behaviour at work."

* * *

Early flowering: "It's not global warming," says Marion O'Kane of Takapuna. "Kermadec pohutukawa flower all year. We have a huge one and the tui love it."

* * *

See today's Herald cartoon