Sideswipe: February 21: A road to nowhere

Cone in the water. Photo / Supplied

Steve writes: "Those road cones get everywhere - this one was at Tutukaka marina ... awaiting boat-ramp [work]."

Sign of the times

"Best to bring a deckchair when visiting North Shore beaches just to read the plethora of signs," writes Chris Darby, chairman of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, on Facebook. "This line-up starts with a reminder that bottle feeding the ducks is not permitted, followed by a no graffiti sign, a lost cat notice, broken NSC Council sign, faded dog access rules sign and maritime bylaws sign ... If the pole was longer I'm sure there would be more."

Animal-lovers' antics

Happy Feet memorial animal news: Fifteen firefighters on three crews (cost per hour, the equivalent of $1400) were sent to Norwich market in, England, last month to rescue a gull entangled and, said the animal rescue society, "in distress" on tree branches. Meanwhile this month in Glasgow, plans to blow up a 30-storey tower block could be sabotaged by a stray cat. Locals near the Red Road flats have heard the moggy miaowing from the top of the huge block. And one resident said: "They can't blow up the building if there's a poor wee cat in there." The local SPCA is "urgently seeking entry" into the building. The demolition company says it searched thoroughly but couldn't find any sign of the cat. (Source: BBC.co.uk/The Daily Record.co.uk)

Tyre-changing ignorance

"I too was amazed when I read Rio's post about the 'ignorant guy in the zoo carpark', albeit for different reasons," writes Diana. "At what point in life has it become a stranger's duty to change your tyre? This man had every right to talk on his phone in a public place. Your label for him of 'ignorant' together with your misplaced sense of entitlement amuses and infuriates in equal measures. You shouldn't drive or own a vehicle if you are unable to perform basic maintenance functions (i.e. change a tyre), and if you are not confident or just prefer someone else to do it, pay for an AA membership and quit bleating to the national newspaper ..."

What we believed as kids

1. Many years ago my mum told my older sister, who was about 9 at the time, that the reflective cats' eyes on the motorway were speed cameras. She continued to believe this until she was in her early 20s. And she's never had a speeding ticket.

2. When I was 10, my dad bought a boat and started taking my younger brother and me fishing. He told us the fish could hear us talking and that the sound would travel down the nylon and scare the fish away. So we had to be quiet.

3. Some years back a mate convinced his young niece the chocolate hail stored in nana's pantry for cakes and muffins was mouse poop.