Mahurangi Matters, 13 December 2017 – Off the Record

Bah, humbug

Some drivers appear to have taken the ‘Kiwi Summer’ theme of Warkworth Santa Parade completely the wrong way. While the hundreds of happy participants epitomised sun, fun and Christmas spirit, a few grumpy drivers decided to focus on one of the less welcome aspects of the summer season and went in for a bit of traffic delay-fuelled road rage, abusing volunteers when they found they couldn’t get to the supermarket as quickly as they would have liked.

Hiding in plain sight

Beautiful weather on the first weekend in December certainly brought the crowds out to Tawharanui, with packed carparks and scores of surfers, swimmers and walkers heading to the beach. What most of them failed to notice, as they tramped to and from the carparks, was a pair of the sanctuary’s rare takahe, foraging about unnoticed in a tiny patch of long grass smack between the main track and another well-trodden path. Both birds were apparently unfazed by the proximity of the constant stream of people just metres away; they weren’t even camera shy.

Moving right along

Rodney MP Mark Mitchell was doing a grand job at this month’s Carols in the Park concert, asking children in the audience to share their favourite Christmas joke. The youngsters were eager to oblige. What do you call someone who is afraid of Santa Claus? asked one. Answer: Claustrophobic.

What goes “Oh,Oh,Oh”? asked another. Answer: Santa travelling backwards.

Things got a little awkward, however, when one bright cherub asked what was the difference between a snow man and a snow lady. Answer: Snowballs.