Sideswipe: November 21: DoC misprint

Photo / Supplied

Now that's a government department I can relate to! Spotted on a passing ute.

Unfortunate juxtaposition

Kevin, of Castor Bay, writes: "Here's a branding fail spotted in the Sydney Qantas Lounge. Apparently, Qantas reviews and recommends books for business travellers; those it recommends get displayed with the Qantas sticker on them. Oh dear, this one didn't quite work ..."

Overcoming tunnel silence

"I am ecstatic to be now able to drive to work through the nice, brand new Vic Park tunnel," writes Chris. "However, the silence is deathly! People don't appear to realise that it's common practice to have a merry toot as you go through. Have these people never been to Wellington? As I was driving through the quiet tunnel I did a happy toot-te-te-toot-toot! Unfortunately, the car in front of me was obviously unaware of the tunnel-tooting rule and he moved over to the left lane to let me pass. Then he gave me an angry toot. So I was happy I wasn't the only tooter, but a bit sorry I probably spooked him or made him angry."

Down with the kids

A reader writes: "Trying desperately to be down with the kids, a Conservative Party poster spotted on a fence in Mt Roskill reads: 'Nek Minnit - Conservative' ..."

Toaster surprises

"For my 9th birthday I was given a toaster," writes David McSweeney . "Nice, but not every boy's dream gift. The ultimate indignity is that when I left home 12 years later, I was not allowed to take 'my' toaster with me. It was still working perfectly: clearly from days before planned obsolescence."

Don't forget the velvet bag

A wife writes: "My hubby knows that for Christmas, household appliances are fine to give me. But woe betide him if my birthday gift doesn't come in a velvet bag or box. Once he gave me a flash vacuum cleaner for my birthday. It took me about 15 minutes to reduce it to parts. I told him I was looking for my real present and thought he had hidden it inside. Needless to say no more appliances for my birthday."