Sideswipe: Feb 02: Big pain event

Mitre 10 Mega -- innovative marketing.

Not for guns

The photo below is on Takutai Ave and a number of people who misguidedly called this old boat shed a gun emplacement site, says Heather Mackay. "If there had been a gun placed at this site it would have more likely shot the local residents to pieces before it shot any "aliens". Even though many utterly stupid decisions are made by defence chiefs, a gun emplacement at this site would have been the ultimate in stupidity..If it is the one I think it is, it was the boat shed belonging to a property in Takutai Ave, at one time/presently owned by the Kendall family, parents of Bruce and Barbara."

Not a gun embankment, but a boat shed.

Heavy-handed rules

Harsh signage in Central Otago.

Christmas at the Arrowtown campground was like being in Guantanamo Bay, without the orange jump suits," writes a reader from Titirangi. "Rules everywhere. The classic was on the camp toilets. I was tempted to ask the manager if I could pay the fine upfront provided they didn't call the police as I was expecting elderly visitors. A bit like the medieval churches with their indulgences. Simply pay the church and your sins would be absolved. If the police were called, I could imagine the manager being charged with wasting police time."?

Lost and found

"I was snorkelling in a remote bay at Lake Rotoma (Rotorua region) this weekend and found a large boat cover," writes Mike Anda. "It had not been in the water long and scrubbed up like new. It was made in the US so likely off an imported ski/wake boat. Can you help locate the owner? Blue in colour, press-button domes all around its edges." Contact Sideswipe if it's yours.

Nice one, G-dad.

A reader writes: "I saw this very expensive mobile home advertised on Trade Me.  "Just goes es:to show that expensive doesn't necessarily equal class.  Looking at the interior pictures I was expecting Austin powers to appear, looks just like I imagine his "shag wagon" would. Utopia on Wheels is how they describe it..."

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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz