It's not every day you find the word "gobsmacked" in The Daily Post. But so far this week it's making a regular appearance.
The first mention was the good, pleasant surprise kind of "gobsmacked".
As mentioned here yesterday, prominent district councillor and Rotorua Musical Theatre stalwart Glenys Searancke was bowledover at receiving a national honour for her service to the theatre.
But considering her great work and dedication over the decades the accolade may be a surprise, but not surprising.
What is surprising is the gall of those who prompted our latest "gobsmacking".
Not only did they go to the effort of stealing a large, easily identifiable caravan (and the word "effort" always seems so wrong to use when writing about criminals) but they picked on a group that dedicates itself to helping those less fortunate.
"I'm gobsmacked that people would turn around and do this to an organisation that bends over backwards to help people."
So says Graeme Stark of Rotorua's Salvation Army, which was doing up the caravan to use as a feeding station in the winter for the homeless.
Hundreds of Rotorua families were set to benefit from the caravan. But unless it is found undamaged, they may well miss out.
It's a big caravan - someone must know where it is. If a number of Rotorua residents managed to spot an unidentified flying object in the skies above Waikite early last Thursday, surely an equal number must have seen a big, blue and white, sign-written caravan being towed along our city streets.
Surely a friend, family member or neighbour would notice the sudden presence of said caravan in a driveway, garage or backyard.
Some readers may fantasise about finding evidence of intelligent life beyond the clouds with those mysterious lights in the sky.
But right now it would be great to see a few more examples of intelligent life on the ground.
