Sideswipe: Sponged by someone else

Chloe's Spongebob Squarepants letterbox has been stolen from her flat in Hamilton. If anyone has seen him, please contact Hamilton police.

Counter espionage
Carissa had a funny encounter at a New Lynn wine shop yesterday. "I was purchasing a few bottles of wine and had my 16-month-old son with me, sitting on the counter. I paid by credit card and when I made some comment about showing him which button he could push as I made my transaction - little boys love pushing buttons! - the middle-aged woman behind the counter said: 'Oh no, he can't push the green button [enter] - he's a minor and they watch us like hawks here.' She was completely serious!"

Call me suspicious ...
Michael would like to know if anyone else has had a similar phone call. "A few weeks ago, I received a bizarre telephone call. As soon as I picked up the phone, a pre-recorded message started playing. It was a woman's voice - polite, professional and confident; like the ones on customer service lines. She was talking about tax refunds (she sounded very informed about it), and how I could be eligible to receive them. After about a minute of information, I was then told to leave my name and address after the beep to receive further details, at which, I hung up. Although she did sound legitimate, and the information was sound, sending pre-recorded messages and asking to leave name and address s seemed too out-of-place for something I assume would be run by the Government. Has anyone else encountered this , and should I have trusted it?"

Inclined to anger
Ruth writes: "Thanks very much to the person who stole the towing device (bin hitch) from our large wheelie bin in Redoubt Rd, Manukau. It is impossible to pull a full large wheelie bin up our very steep drive. My husband has had a hip replacement and a neighbour, whose rubbish we also take up, has a gammy knee. To get one of these devices legally, you can go to Sulo Talbot, Gate 4 13 Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki."

Laid low by a hard blow
A vuvuzela-blowing contest in South Africa has caused a woman from Cape Town to rupture her throat. Yvonne Mayer told news agencies she first thought the burning sensation in her throat was the result of a cold, but it got worse and she went to see her doctor, who found a small tear. "He just kept laughing at me and said it was his first vuvuzela injury," Mayer said. (Source: LA Times Sports Blog)