"My wife and I took our three young sons to Auckland from Taupo," writes a reader.
"We had a fantastic time enjoying shows, harbour cruises and museum visits. On our last day I took the boys to McDonald's in Queen St only to be greeted with a marauding bunch of
angry homeless, both inside and out, trading bags of glue, and scaring the hell out of my kids. One even cursed my 2-year-old, "Wad da **** you looking at." Last impressions really do count."
* * *
A reader writes: "I was reading a book in the departure lounge at Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport when the PA burst into life (names changed to protect the innocent): 'Laura Kelly, paging passenger Laura Kelly, please contact your hotel. You have left your pyjamas behind.' Smiles exchanged between passengers. Twenty minutes later: 'Laura Kelly, paging passenger Laura Kelly, it's okay, your mother has picked up your pyjamas.' The feeling of relief throughout the terminal was palpable ..."
* * *
Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebauts has developed a type of chocolate with 10 per cent less calories than the ordinary kind and with a much higher melt temperature. The company hopes the new chocolate, codenamed "Vulcano", will appeal to health-conscious Western markets and to Asian and African consumers who have shunned chocolate because it melts too quickly in the local climate. (Source: The Guardian)
* * *
Caitlin Robinson's mother died from skin cancer, and her family says she's at risk of the disease. But officials at Robinson's Worcester, England, school have banned her from using sunblock. They say other students may be allergic to the lotion. (Source: Reason.com)
* * *
This October, Kelly Hildebrandt will vow to share her life with a man who already shares her name. Kelly Katrina Hildebrandt, 20, and Kelly Carl Hildebrandt, 24, met when she plugged her name into networking website Facebook to see if anyone shared it. Kelly Hildebrandt from Texas, was the only match so she sent him a message. The two exchanged emails and then he visited her in Florida. Months after Kelly Hildebrandt sent her first email, she found a diamond engagement ring hidden in a treasure box on a beach in December.
* * *
A book of Sideswipe's best bits is coming soon and if you have ever had a picture published in the column, and would like it considered for the book, please email me with a description of the photo you submitted. New pictures welcome; now's the time to send that picture you've been meaning to send. Chop, chop!
* * *
View today's Herald cartoon
* * *
Today's Webpick: British comedy duo Mitchell & Webb satirise vegetarianism deliciously. Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.