Sideswipe: Trout would be catch of the day

Robert de Kock of Katikati noticed this sign on the fence of St James Conservation Area in North Canterbury. "I understand you must not catch the larger of their fish and can only agree that a fish this size would be quite valuable indeed," he says.

Dinky little 'television' on offer

Nikki overheard this at the Devonport opportunity shop: "Three sweet old ladies were debating how much money they should put on the TV that had arrived. One suggested they check if it worked. They plugged it in, but nothing. 'There's no aerial, though, Judy,' declared one lady. 'Oh, that'll be the problem then,' replied Judy. 'It's very smart! And quite dinky! Good for a bedroom ... no remote though.' I didn't have the heart to tell them it was a computer monitor."

Brave a blasting - buy a rocket

How would you like your very own spent rocket? The silver projectile made on TV3's new series Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger (8pm on Monday nights) is up for sale on Trade Me. "[It's] stainless steel and brawn by one of the manliest and least nerdy scientists in New Zealand - Peter Beck (who sent NZ's first rocket into space, he's kinda like Ernest Rutherford but less moustachey)," reads the blurb. "Any idiot can buy a gun. It takes a man to stump up the courage to tell his wife he needs a bunch of cash for a rocket," it continues. The top bid is $250 and the auction closes on Monday at 9pm. All proceeds go to Starship.

Patient charged for use of Vivid

In response to the stinging vet's bill, Rob Langton says it happens in private hospitals too. "My mother recently had surgery on her wrist and when she received the seven-page bill she noted a charge of $7 for a Vivid pen used to mark the incision, yet came home Vivid-less. You have to wonder how many times a single pen can be sold?"

Affordable vet care for pets

Carol Bennett says: "William Baird at Great South Vets in Papatoetoe offers 'Affordable veterinary care for everyone' and the claim is not overstated. I've been using them for 16 years - vaccinations for my dogs are only $39. He once told me that he aimed to keep the prices low to help all people own and take care of their pets."