KEY POINTS:
You would never know Auckland's most famous street has undergone a $43 million upgrade, says Diane. "One of the improvements included 'Canopies for shelter'. Is this what they intended?"
* * *
On Saturday March 29th my sister got married in Kaukapakapa, north of Helensville," writes Clara Soper. "Continuing a family tradition, the priest (a now retired Bishop) that married my parents 40 years prior made the trip up from Mosgiel near Dunedin to marry my sister and her fiance. One minute before the bridal party was to be given the all go signal we realised there was no priest. After searching high and low, Bishop Boyle came racing down the hill, flustered and very concerned as he had never once been late to a wedding in his life. After a wonderful wedding the Bishop explained why he was late. After losing sight of the bus he was meant to be following, he pulled over to the side of the road and prayed that someone would help him get to the wedding. We wondered why he just didn't use his cell phone to call us, but two minutes later a lady pulled over and ended up travelling 30 minutes out of her way, to make sure that he made it to the wedding."
* * *
A blocked ditch caused major flooding to John and Margie Histed's £1 million ($2.5 million) home in England. They spent eight months and £250,000 fixing the place, but after more than a year, they still can't move back in. Why? The flood risk is still present because the ditch can't be unblocked because a great crested newt, which is protected under British and European Union law, resides in the ditch and no one can legally capture it, kill it, or disturb its habitat. (Source: Reason.com)
* * *
Even my 6-year-old son isn't so sure about a free trade agreement with China, says Donna. "This afternoon he eyed up a new pen in his hand and went 'Ugh. It's made in China. Everything I've got is made in China. I want something made in Auckland'."
* * *
The big hits keep coming. "I have recently received a new work mobile and I keep receiving texts with news about the NRL," says Philippa Sanders. "I have tried replying with "Stop", "Cancel", "End" (and some more forcefully worded messages) but they keep coming. A call to Vodafone hasn't helped either. These texts often come in the early hours of the morning so I have resorted to putting my phone on silent before I go to bed. Is there anyone out there who can help make this stop?"
Today's Webpick: You can not be serious?! Russian tennis star Mikhail Youzhny repeatedly whacks himself in the head with the rim of his racket, after stuffing up a point. Watch it here. These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
