Sideswipe: May 27: Lashings of gluten-free laughs

A series of four books satirising the Famous Five as adults are to be published.

A series of four books called Enid Blyton for Grown-Ups - a parody of the Famous Five as adults - are to be published. The spoof novels called Five Give Up the Booze, Five Go Gluten Free, Five Go On A Strategy Away Day and Five Go Parenting will catch up with the sleuthing children as adults. For those too young to have read them, the original 21 books featured Julian, George, Dick, Anne and their dog Timmy and their adventures set during the 1940s and 1950s. The children never seemed to have any adult supervision and roamed free during their outdoor holidays and solved mysteries while drinking "lashings of ginger beer".

The power of always being prepared

"For obvious reasons, I'd appreciate anonymity for this, err, exhibition of my intelligence," writes a reader. "We had been living in our new house about four years when we had our first power cut. Having once been a Scout, I was well prepared. I assembled our gas camping stove, so we could at least cook some dinner. After dinner, I suddenly remembered that although the stove was electric, the hobs were all gas. Several months later, still embarrassed, I related the story to a friend. He told me they had done the exact same thing. I guess that's why we're friends."

Kiwis never afraid of flying ...

The story about the Barrier Air plane door opening mid-flight brings back memories for Winsome Mitchell of Whakatane. "In 2011, our family was holidaying in Alaska. We had hired a local charter company with a small Beaver floatplane to go bear spotting when our pilot spied a pod of orca below and began low circling to give us a clearer view. The passenger door beside my husband suddenly came open and our quick-thinking grandson leaned across and pulled it shut. We landed in a small bay where there were several bears on the shore. But every time anyone tried to tell the pilot about the door, he put his finger to his lips, pointed to the bears and said, "Sssh." When we landed I told the pilot what had happened. His response blew me away. "The plane door came open when we were flying and you didn't even cry? Man, you Kiwis are tough!"

What the flock? Sheep on 'psychotic rampage'

A bunch of woolly locals have gone on a "psychotic rampage" after eating dumped cannabis plants.

Sounding strangely familiar to fans of the New Zealand film Black Sheep, a bunch of woolly locals have gone on a "psychotic rampage" after eating dumped cannabis plants. The remains of an illegal cannabis factory were found in the quiet village of Rhydypandy, in Wales, and worried locals fear the sheep have been munching the weed after locals reported sheep have been "roaming the village" causing havoc and claims they have even been breaking into homes and getting killed by cars while in a daze. County councillor Ioan Richard said, "they are getting in people's gardens and one even entered a bungalow and left a mess in the bedroom".

Can anyone say, with some authority, where this picture from 1957 was taken?

Strange goings on: The Secret Life of the Human Pups is a documentary looking at a movement that grew out of the BDSM community and has gained popularity as the internet made it easier to reach out to likeminded people. According to The Guardian, human pups tend to be male, gay, have an interest in dressing in leather, wear dog-like hoods, enjoy tactile interactions like stomach rubbing or ear tickling, play with toys, eat out of bowls and are often in a relationship with their human "handlers". Kaz, another pup, argues that for some, being a puppy isn't just a fun mask to try on - it's how they identify; it's who they are. "Even when I worked in PC World I would sometimes walk up to people and nip at their shirt," he says, laughing. "I got in trouble once; someone walked into the PC repair centre and I had part of their dad's computer in my mouth. But the other staff knew I was like that to everyone. They didn't find it weird." Go here to read more and watch the trailer.

Video: You might think tap is an obsolete form of dance, but the troupe Syncopated Ladies puts a modern twist to their routines. Here's their tribute to Prince...

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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz