Sideswipe: The heat is on

"Guessing the good doctor's time machine mistook a beehive at Onewhero for a mini-TARDIS," writes Peter.

Social media advice cliches …

1. "A chicken can feed a family of four for a week."

2. "Just take in some ironing if you don't have enough income."

3. "My 9-year-old is still in a rear-facing car seat."

4. "Fruit is terrible for children - so full of sugar."

5. "Call him/her/them out."

6. "Counselling." (Because every little thing that's ever annoyed/upset must be "unpicked".)

7. "I don't mind my husband/partner having female friends, and having contact with her that I'm not a party to, and going away with her, and sharing a bed with her, because I'm not insecure, and I TRUST him ..."

8. "The Dr said this [insert: Blood result, ultrasound measurement etc] was normal but I've googled it and it's right at the top of the normal range and now I'm panicking my baby is going to die. What do a bunch of unqualified strangers on the internet think?"

9. "Of course it's easy to leave your husband after 40 years together (at the age of 60) and start over. Many women I know have done it. Gone to uni to get a degree, retrained, and got a fabulous new career, and a wonderful new man at 64. Happens ALL THE TIME in MY social circle ..."

First world problems in Campbells Bay

VR resurrection

South Korean television network MBC recently started broadcasting season two of a unique TV programme that uses state-of-the-art VR gear and software to reunite people with their loved ones who have died and allow them to make one more memory together. The network spends months working with an actor, putting together an emotional reunion in virtual reality. Last year, the show made international headlines after featuring a heartbroken mother and her young daughter who had passed away of haemochromatosis. While the response from the public has been generally positive, there are critics who describe it as emotionally manipulative.

Walking your dog while in heat

A reader writes: "Yes, the owner of a dog in heat is being unreasonable and is in breach of dog bylaws. They also put their dog at risk and show their ignorance of animal behaviour and how strong the drive of a female in season is to male dogs. In Auckland the owner of any female dog in season must not enter or remain in any public place or private way, unless it is confined in a vehicle for transportation or they have permission from a premises owner (eg vet practice) to have their dog at that location."