Spare Room Be our guest…

Hell Pizza has generated another wave of publicity for itself by including condoms and “explicit sex instructions” with its Lust Pizza promotion. These much-reported “explicit sex instructions” are the Ministry of Health-endorsed instructions on how to use a condom, not a Kama Sutra deal as some reports have made out. The most ridiculous over-reaction comes from Brendan Malone from Family Life International who says: “There is no telling how many of them will attempt to use the condom and follow the explicit instructions provided by Hell Pizza”. He goes even further: “We know that young children have viewed pornography, then gone on to act out what they have been exposed to by sexually molesting other young children.” Give me a break! None of the media organisations who were happy to report on the controversy has published a picture of the ad, for fear of giving Hell free publicity. TVNZ chose to illustrate the story with a generic picture of coloured condoms. But how can people judge for themselves if an ad is complaint-worthy or just lame if they don’t see it? So here you are, readers, the Hell Pizza ad. And now at least when you’re arguing about it over dinner, you’ll know what you’re talking about.

The 1950s advertising answer to wives who don’t get the head of the house fresh coffee.

Last month a number of readers wrote in to say the raised surrounds around the trees in poncey Nuffield St, Newmarket, have caused some nasty accidents. The solution to the design fault? Gaudy yellow masking tape. Now that’s classy.

Michael Yalland is curious why an overflowing North Shore City Council recycling wheely bin should be languishing in The Strand, Takapuna, full of rubbish for at least 10 days. “The bin is located within 50m of 3 major buildings of the NSCC – namely the main council chamber, the library and the Takapuna area office. Surely someone must have noticed it? As employees and advocates of recycling, maybe they should clean up their own back yard?”

Brian Matthews writes: “During a cold snap last winter, the Manorburn Dam near Alexandra froze over for several days. Some locals took the opportunity to skate and the curling club was able to meet. A group of off-road walkers were returning from one of their weekly hikes and found what appeared to be an abandoned car on the ice. Nearby were two rather shame-faced teenagers who admitted they had intended to take the “paddock basher” for a spin on the ice. A “paddock basher” is a bargain-priced car bought for off-roading on the farm. The two young men’s courage failed a short distance from the bank … They used their cell phone to call for help and shortly afterward a friend arrived to pick them up … It is not uncommon for cars to be abandoned further out on the ice with all identification removed and allowed to sink to the bottom when a thaw sets in.”