KEY POINTS:
Johnathan Dodd was in The Warehouse and noticed a style of men's shoes called "Bolger". On closer inspection, he also found styles called "Palmer" and "Rowling". Come to think of it, there is a brand of shoes called "Clarks", isn't there?
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An adorable message was written on the pavement outside the TVNZ building last week - "Betty Rubble, you looked exceptionally pretty at the Christmas party on Saturday. Kermit the Frog". It was written in chalk - pink for the Betty Rubble, green for Kermit the Frog and white for the rest.
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Alan Palmer queries the survey naming the border collie as the most intelligent dog breed. He writes, "I don't like admitting that our 8-year-old collie has let the side down. I've just set up a few solar-type garden lights in the backyard. The first night, Toby woke us up to go out to the toilet. He got to the door, saw the giant eyes of the 'wolf pack' glaring at him through the dark and wouldn't go any further. He went back to bed and slept through. He repeated the routine the second night. That's not very intelligent but, boy, if you're looking for a dog with superior bladder and bowel control, who doesn't pee on your garden lights, you should try a border collie."
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At the risk of sounding like someone out of Best In Show, Jenny Mackay of Waimauku would like to defend the intelligence of the afghan hound. "It's like comparing apples with pears. The collie is born to work and do so on command, so has the desire to please. The afghan is a sighthound and has to work autonomously in the desert to bring down its prey. Try sticking a border collie in the desert and see how far you get. Each breed is brilliant in its own environment."
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Jenny Aitken writes: "I have recently taken care of two children, via CYFs. They arrived with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and a few old toys. Their mother died a year ago and their dad has recently gone to prison. Friends of mine bought the 9-year-old boy a bike and he loved it, riding it at every available opportunity. I live in Eskdale Rd, Birkdale, and on Tuesday night he put the bike in my garage. The door was left up and in the space of half an hour his bike was stolen, in broad daylight. To the thief: You have stolen from a small boy who has absolutely nothing. What a miserable, miserable thing to do."
