KEY POINTS:
Is claiming a building will not last the best sales pitch? Spotted in Anzac St, Takapuna.
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A reader is unhappy with Air New Zealand's censorship, and its tubs of ice-cream. "On a flight from Auckland to Heathrow last week, I decided to watch the movie The Queen. Incredibly, the word "God" was bleeped out each time it was mentioned. There were no such bleepings in other movies being screened, such as The Departed, which had a huge amount of swearing. Furthermore, the little airline tubs of Kapiti ice-cream we were all given had "halal-approved" printed all over the front of the lid. Maybe an Air New Zealand representative would like to tell us if its ice-cream is OK for all other religions to eat, as well as for Muslims."
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A woman falls into a coma every time she says "I love you". Since her first grandchild Megan was born, Englishwoman Wendy Richmond has had to remain emotionally reserved. She said: "I want to just sweep her up into my arms and say 'I love you'. But I am afraid it could be dangerous for both of us. It could trigger an episode and I could collapse on the floor, injuring Megan and myself. It is quite bizarre to think I can't tell my family I love them without falling over." Mrs Richmond has suffered from sleep-related illnesses cataplexy and narcolepsy since her late teens and says her condition has left her with several failed relationships. (Source: metro.co.uk)
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While enjoying a wonderful day of racing at Alexander Park, a reader was intrigued by the announcement preceding each race saying that with four minutes to go until race time, would we kindly make our "investments". "Does that mean that the chaps who were giving us the rundown on the likely chances of the horses are called tipsters or investment advisers?" he asks.
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British police say they're hunting a man who stole a urinal from a pub toilet. The suspect walked into the Royal Oak pub in Southampton, ordered half a pint of beer and then made several visits to the men's toilet. There he carefully removed a white urinal from the wall, stuffed it into a rucksack and was captured on closed circuit television walking out with the bulging sack on his back. "He made a very, very expert job of dismantling it from the wall and turning the water off. A very professional job," landlord Alan Dreja said. A police spokesman said: "One of the theories is the guy is some sort of cut-price plumber who is going around stealing parts to order."
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Margaret Stott says the query from the United States about a bridge between Australia and New Zealand was probably propagated by her father Denis Whelan and his Navy mates during World War II. She writes: "While on shore leave in America, Denny answered questions on the proximity between the countries by advising; 'At low tide you can ride across on your bike'. For my own part, during the 1960s when visiting Wales, I was asked to speak about New Zealand to the local church fellowship. At question time, an innocent parishioner inquired; 'Do you ever see any Maoris?' "
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A reader bought a flying saucer for Christmas from Westfield St Lukes. It did not work and attempts to track the stallholder down have so far failed. She writes: "They had left St Lukes, their answer phone said their shop was shut for two months but I could go to a shop in Westfield Manukau if there was a problem with a product. I rang Westfield management to check they were there and was told yes but only until the end of the week, which I assume was today. I cannot go today but where will they be next week? All retailers have obligations under the Consumer Guarantees Act and Westfield shouldn't rent space to dodgy businesses. I haven't given up, yet."
