KEY POINTS:
Alistair Bailey from Whitianga saw this retail outlet in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. "It's good to know you can start out as an amateur before going professional," he says.
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A frazzled reader writes: "My daughter and I went to the AA at Meadowlands to book her full driver's licence test, after she had done her learner's and restricted licences there. She was asked for proof of address - which we didn't have because we were booking a test, not completing the whole process. We were told that to do that we had to buy an AA membership, which we declined. With that we were told to fill in the form and bring it back with the evidence of address. I went back a few days later with the completed form and relevant documents, to make a booking for a test. This time, they told me that my daughter has to be present to have her photo taken and signature verified at the time of the booking. Exasperated, I phoned Land Transport on their 0800 number and they made the booking and payment over the phone within two minutes, without any proof or documentation. All we need to do is to take the completed form and source documents in on or before the day of the test. I found it peculiar that the purchase of AA membership can smooth the road to having a booking made for a test and can miraculously provide proof of address there and then, but refusal of such offer restricts the mere making of a booking."
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A bomb-disposal worker in Iraq is suing her employer for assigning her to a "dangerous workplace" - because she had to work in buildings covered in pigeon droppings. Thousands of kilograms of aviary excrement covered the floors of more than 80 gymnasium-sized warehouses, she claims in her lawsuit. "It was like snow. You could shovel it," she said. "It is blowing around like dust, almost like baby powder, and you are breathing this in." (Source: Weird Universe)
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More Kiwi Teenglish (a teen version of English):
Eats - when someone is being a bit harsh or stink towards someone else. "Don't say that, that's eats, man."
Guts - if something upsets you it's guts. "Aw guts man, maybe another time."
O-fish - officially a couple/going out. "They are like totally o-fish!" (Officially a couple.)
Off the hook - amazing. "That concert was off the hook."
Down-buzz - coming off an alcohol high.
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A reader from Otara says throwing shoes over phone lines is just mischief: "In my neighbourhood, it was a copycat thing from the early 90s movie Friday (opening scene). Otherwise, to take the piss out of friends, as kids we'd throw their shoes up there so they'd get a nice surprise when they went looking for them (and subsequently hide from their mum when she saw them up there too. Eeeek.)"
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Children who regularly wriggle into your bed early on a Sunday morning might like something else to annoy you with this Sunday. That's The Story is a radio show for kids featuring Kiwi songs, stories and games. Part of the show is a weekly story-writing competition. The winning yarn spinner pockets $150 cash and either someone famous or the author reads it out. This Sunday is the series' 200th show. Go to www.thatsthestory.co.nz and click on "stories", or listen this Sunday on Classic Hits between 7 and 8am.
