Sideswipe: October 14: An exotic snack

Anyone for an exotic snack? Spotted in Papakura.

IRD's charm wears thin

A reader writes: "I rang IRD's child support department to see if anyone could tell me why I haven't been receiving child support from my ex for our son for the past three months. I was informed that unfortunately because of staff shortages they do not have time to 'run around after the custodial parent'. When I asked if I was likely to start receiving something next month she sounded quite annoyed that I was still pestering her and huffed ' ... if he pays ... you'll know'. I am sure if I owed tax to them she would have had all the time in the world for me!"

Welcome to Lorde's weird neighbourhood

Lorde explains her hood to the Guardian readers: "Interviewing an international pop sensation while their mum hovers in the background is a slightly odd experience, but then, as Yelich-O'Connor points out, she shouldn't really be here herself. She should be back home in New Zealand, in Davenport [sic], a suburb of Auckland that's apparently known locally as the Bubble - 'because it's so insular and closed off from everything' - and which she describes, winningly, as 'the kind of suburb that people make movies about, there's quite weird mums everywhere'."

Remember the bad old days

Kathryn writes: "In 1973 I applied for a mortgage and was turned down - though I met the bank's financial criteria - because I was a single woman. Never mind being a professional in my 30s with a secure income. They required a male guarantor. My brother would do (he earned less than I did). I told the bank where to stick their mortgage. Five years later the law changed, and the banks were falling over each other to lend me money. Thanks to the women's liberation movement. It would be good to hear from others whose lives were positively influenced by changes in social attitudes over the last 40 odd years."

Auto cleaner backfires

Colin was reading about Wendyl's busy little sucker, which reminded me of some friends up in the States who have a Roomba automatic roving vacuum cleaner. "Their cat did a little poo and the helpful little Roomba successfully managed to distribute it all around the room."

Wonders of technology

Julie writes: "My house was burgled and my iPad and some jewellery were stolen but I tracked them down through 'Find my iPad'.The police arrested three 14- and 15-year-old boys. I got everything back."

If money was no object...

I'd buy this tent...

Boom!

Michel Pierre needed 30 stitches to close shrapnel wounds after he flushed the toilet in his apartment and it exploded in his face. He remains so traumatized by the blown-up john that he uses a rope to flush from a safe distance outside the bathroom.

Questionable art: Sirens of the Lambs by Banksy...

Video: Musicians read mean tweets about their music...

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