This for sale card found on the public notice board at Countdown Rotorua Central. ``We, too, hope that the item is unused!'' says our reader. Photo / Supplied
This for sale card found on the public notice board at Countdown Rotorua Central. ``We, too, hope that the item is unused!'' says our reader. Photo / Supplied
March - "Eurogeddon", describing the economic situation in countries using the euro.
April - "Mummy Porn", a phrase invented to describe erotic literature such as the 50 Shades of Grey book series.
May - "Zuckered", named for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg when the website's shares plummeted.
June - "Jubilympics", a term for British excitement surrounding both the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July - "Romneyshambles", a British term for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's gaffes while visiting London.
August - "Games Makers", a term for London's team of Olympic volunteers.
September - "47 per cent", referring to Romney's comments about how 47 per cent of US voters would back President Barack Obama because they are dependent on the government.
October - "Superstorm", the distinction given to Hurricane Sandy.
November - "Gangnam Style", a song by South Korean musician Psy that has become YouTube's most viewed video of all time.
December - "Fiscal Cliff", a decrease in government spending and an increase in taxes that some fear could put the US economy back into recession.
Germans also enjoy a holiday
A reader writes: I was surprised to hear a reader rant about New Zealand's relaxed holiday practices. The ranter mentions Germany but apparently his/her experience is from a part of Germany I've never visited, because one of the things that strikes you about German businesses is how fiercely protective they are of the right to close, whether on public holidays or during publicly popular holiday periods such as August. I support the European outlook on life, but having lived overseas for 12 years, if I draw a comparison between New Zealand's work practices and anything I've seen in London or on the continent, I'm left thinking that Kiwis work admirably hard and maintain relatively good access to shops and businesses during holiday periods. Try finding a pharmacy in a German town on a Sunday or booking a restaurant in Paris around Christmas. Meanwhile, enjoy the "go slow", hanging out in the sun with family and friends.
Regarding finding Easter eggs in a Hamilton Warehouse ... I can remember being in a Countdown late January one year and they had hot cross buns on display. I said to the bakery manager, "Hang on, He's just been born and you're trying to crucify Him already?" Da-boom-ch!"
