On Holiday Tomorrow...

... so I won't be posting anything for about 2 weeks. Feel free to have a look through the archives if you happen to land here during this time... thanks for visiting!

'Piano Man' discharged

The so-called "Piano Man" has been discharged from the care of a National Health Service Trust.

British social workers spent months trying to help the man, who had been silent since being found wandering near a Kent beach in April wearing a dripping wet suit and tie.

The Daily Mirror reported yesterday that the man finally broke his silence last week, and revealed he was from Germany but had travelled to Britain after losing a job in Paris.

No further details were released due to confidentiality laws.

* From the Herald

Bear Essentials

In travel news:

* A German travel agent is offering something for the traveller that has everything - teddy bear holiday packages, away from their owners. The teddies spend an action-packed week sightseeing, playing games, and visiting a traditional teddy bears' picnic, followed by a visit to a Munich beer house. Activities can also include fishing, golf, painting and bungee jumping, from GBP68-100... what next?!

* Hikers in Switzerland are being told to sing to avoid being attacked by bears, and they are being given leaflets printed with popular songs. Bears have been extinct in Switzerland for over 100 years, but one was spotted recently, believed to have migrated from Italy. Hikers are being told to continue singing as they go, so the bear is not taken by surprise.

* From Ananova.com.

Which Jane Austen Novel Are You?

The Sense and Sensibility type: These delightful
(:-P) people have their feet set firmly in the
Eighteenth Century. Devotees of satire and
irony, they are far more likely to be reading
Alexander Pope or Jonathan Swift than Lord
Byron or William Wordsworth (no offense to
these men; all four have merit). Generally
reserved and self-controlled, they quite often,
though not always, resemble Elinor more than
Marianne.


Jane Austen novel quiz
brought to you by Quizilla

Undies thief chooses slow getaway vehicle

Whangarei police have arrested a man fleeing a crime on a mobility scooter in the early hours.

Travelling at a top speed of about 7km/h, he was spotted by a patrol car. The suspect abandoned his getaway vehicle and fled on foot but was caught when he fell over.

Police found more than 20 items of clothing on the scooter, including socks and undies.

A 38-year-old Whangarei man has been charged with stealing the scooter and clothing, and possessing burglary instruments.

* From the Herald.

Quite sad, really.

Where to sit in a 747...

Our trip to Aussie is a mere two weeks away, and it's time to re-confirm the flights and reserve seats. But where to sit? Our first plane is a 747-400, and is apparently fitted with individual TV screens (Qantas). Seating by the window is a given. Do we go for the seats by the door, so we get more leg room and are able to move about easily - but what happens to the TV screens when there are no seats in front of you? We could go for the seats at the back that only have two seats in each row, but end up being served last.

Any tips, loyal readers? We're also going to be flying in a 767 and a A320 during our trip.

This is just getting ridiculous!

$1.43 for cheap petrol?!

In my opinion the government should reduce the insipid extra 5c tax they imposed on us earlier this year. They were already getting half of the petrol revenue before they did that! They need to look past trying to look "green", and see that there are vital components of transport which will always need to function (like trucks, planes, emergency vehicles) and this tax will just increase the cost of living for everyone down the consumption line. It is not just a case of not being able to afford to drive to the supermarket, it's a case of soon not being able to afford the groceries once you get there. Something must be done.