Sideswipe: August 20: Road cone fairies

"Looks like the road-cone fairies visited Waiuku on Monday night," says a resident, who took this picture.

Dicing with death on Takapuna crossing

Rachael Wilson writes: "There is a pedestrian crossing on Takapuna's Lake Rd between Ewen St and Rewiti St which I use every day. It has traffic lights but every day there are red-light runners. I have learned to wait to make sure all the cars are completely stopped before I venture across - I've been at risk of being hit more than once and I fear a child will be killed. Yesterday I waited as usual and was nearly halfway across when a red convertible (left-hand drive with the top down ) came speeding through the crossing, nearly running me over. The car was going so fast I couldn't get the number plate. I have asked the police and the council to put red-light cameras in but the buck keeps getting passed."

Say it with a spud

Message on a spud...

Potato Parcel - an engraved potato delivery service which allows you to send a personal message written on a potato anonymously to friends or enemies. Spud businessman Alex Craig says he's sold more than 3000 potatoes since starting the website in May and is making US$10,000 ($15,196) in profit every month. He says the messages can be anything you like, but not threatening. Strange messages he's sent on behalf of customers include:

1. "We collected money to buy you a gift. This is it."
2. "Help! Stuck in potato factory! Please send help!"
3. "I used Ancestry.com to find you. I am your long-lost brother."
4. "Taters gonna tate."
5. "It was decent sex. (6/10) Good job on your part, could have been more verbal though."

Duck tales one-upmanship

"David's duckling rescue sounds pretty straightforward compared to mine!" Kerry of Mt Wellington says. "Mother Duck and eight ducklings try to cross busy Abbotts Way. Caring mother and daughter decide to pull over (in the pouring rain!) to steer them towards the nearby reserve. A lady walking her dog offers help. Three women and dog (in pouring rain!) herding duck and eight ducklings to reserve ... nearly there and they take shortcut across a drain grate. In goes the last tiny one! Mother and daughter wrestle the metal grate off (they're heavy!) but it is too far down to reach. Dog lady takes off her shoulder bag, empties it out and tries to dangle it in and scoop duckling out. Unfortunately the duckling had gone out and down a hole on the side of the drain. After a while, Mother Duck left with now only seven offspring! A reasonably good outcome."