The traffic lights on the corner with Cumberland St had turned green and a small car driving towards the Octagon on Stuart St was a little slow to start. As a consequence, it got blasted to kingdom come by the operator of the horn in the car behind.
I'm not talking about a gentle reminder ``toot'' here, or even a more sporty ``beep'' or two. This was a hand down flat on the horn for three or four seconds as the small car began moving, then a series of honks and more long blares once both vehicles were up to speed heading in the direction of Moray Pl. It was extremely aggressive driving and totally unnecessary.
What's your view of the state of driving around our region? And where in the world was the worst driving you've experienced? Let me know.
Photobomb
Who saw Christine O'Connor's wonderful photo on the front page of Saturday's ODT, with the busy photobomber blithely striding straight through the crowd in Victorian garb outside the Oamaru Opera House?
Does anyone know who he is? We think it is possible he was a tourist visiting Oamaru last Friday, but if anyone out there can shed some light on our mystery man, please get in touch.
Fighting birds
Seems I used the phrase ``birds of a feather'' incorrectly in the piece about the Andersons Bay Inlet white heron in the column last week. Allan Gardyne, of Cromwell, writes that it does not mean all birds will look after each other in the face of a threat. Rather it means birds with the ``same feathers'' will stick together. Thanks Allan.
Heritage and modern
When it comes to putting modern buildings next to heritage ones, Murray Proctor, of Mosgiel, agrees with Heather Rae in yesterday's column that it could work just as well in Dunedin.
Murray has seen that mix in many places overseas and says St John's in Newfoundland, Canada, is a prime example of a main street filled with both heritage and new buildings.
``It's a beautiful city and works well there,'' he says.
``You see them parked outside the station, six or eight buses out the front, white with coloured lettering and signs on. I'm hoping they might find somewhere else to park.''
No Enid Blyton thanks
Did you ever wonder why you couldn't get Enid Blyton books out of the Dunedin Public Library when you were small?
Clarke Isaacs, of Sunshine, says acclaimed New Zealand children's literature expert and former children's librarian there, the late Dorothy Neal White, considered the author to be persona non grata.
``So much so, that none of Blyton's children's books were to be found on her library's bookshelves,'' he says.
Not such a jolly wheeze.
Get in touch
PAUL GORMAN
Telephone: (03) 479-3519
email: whatswiththat@odt.co.nz