KEY POINTS:
Deborah Garrett, vicar at West New Plymouth, writes: "My friend and I, both Anglican vicars, decided to have lunch one Sunday after church. My friend's son, who works part-time for Hell Pizza, was with us so we sent him off to buy pizza. He returned keeping our lunch hot in the latest high-tech delivery bag. While we were enjoying our pizza, a 'smell from hell' permeated the kitchen. The high-tech pizza delivery bag had been placed on a stove element that was still on. Both bag and the element were destroyed. The pizza tasted great, but with a replacement bag costing $250 and an element $114, at $364 it was one hellishly expensive pizza! No wonder we got indigestion!"
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Teens say the darndest things No 1: A reader writes: "When our youngest daughter started highschool the family received a priceless lesson in chemistry. In science class that day they burned magnesium and our daughter said "it burned so bright you couldn't look at it with the naked eye or it would burn your rectum".
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Teens say the darndest things No 2: A Brown's Bay reader writes: "My husband and I are still laughing about what our 16-year-old son came up with when the anti-smacking bill was getting a lot of press. He is going through that non-communicative phase so we were pleased when he pulled himself away from his internet game to ask about the bill. He seemed very concerned. We were explaining when he interrupted with, 'Oh, it's only about smacking is it?' He thought it was the anti-snacking bill."
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Kruger the cat has used up one of his lives - he was perched on a seventh-floor ledge when the blinds or a sudden gust knocked him off. He landed five floors below, but escaped with just a broken tooth, say owners Ben and Simon.
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Pre-teens say the darndest things No 3: Dick Smith from Henderson writes: "Ex-All Black Robin Brooke took to the waters at Mt Maunganui a couple of weeks ago in an ocean swimming race, along with a large crowd of both sexes and various ages. As Robin pounded out through the surf, next to him was my skinny little 10-year-old grandson Max, flailing his arms madly as he strove to keep up with the powerful All Black. When Max reached the shore, he gave me a cheeky grin and said: 'You know that Robin Brooke. He's not a bad swimmer. He kept up with me all the way to the first buoy."
Competition
Sideswipe is turning five so we decided it was time to give something back to you, the readers, who've made the daily swipery a must read. The best local contribution published next week will win a trip for two to the Gold Coast flying Air New Zealand with five nights accommodation at the Marrakesh Resort north of Surfers Paradise. If you've been meaning to take that bizarre picture or share that amusing yarn, now's the time to send them in. Finally, to all those readers who have sent in contributions to Sideswipe during the past five years, our sincere thanks. Because of the sheer volume of emails, it has not been possible to publish all the worthy stories and pictures or reply to each contributor individually. But thank you and keep'em coming.
Send the entries, via email or by post to Sideswipe, c/- NZ Herald, P O Box 32, Auckland.
Entries must be original local content and published in the week beginning April 16 and ending on April 21, 2007. The winner will be announced on Monday, April 23, in Sideswipe. For full terms and conditions of the prize offered please go to www.nzherald.co.nz/promotions next week.
