The price of partridges, pear trees and turtle doves has spiked, pushing the cost of every item mentioned in the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” above $US100,000 for the first time. Holding mostly steady this year: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping and gold rings. The 364 items repeated across all the song’s verses would cost Read more
“My mum says I will get a potato in my stocking if you think I have been naughty so I am trying really hard to be good as I would like some more Barbies please.” There’s some pretty brutal honesty from children trying to charm their way into Santa’s good books this year, New Zealand Read more
Sitting in Reading’s Inter-City Bus Terminal on Tuesday night, Thomas Coates Jr. was out of work and out of hope. Then, out of the blue, a stranger sat next to him and restored his faith in human kindness. Identifying himself only as Secret Santa, the stranger handed Coates two crisp $100 bills and wished him Read more
Are you tired of the same old nativity set that you have seen year after year in your local parish church? Looking for something more original and eye catching? What about an edible crib set ? One made of sausages and bacon? A crib set carved in butter? Then there are the animals themed ones. Read more
Cage fighter Hiriwa “T-Man” Te Rangi will transform into the punching preacher next year when he moves to Christchurch to study to become a pastor. Te Rangi, who has carved out a colourful mixed martial arts and kickboxing career during the past 25 years, will fight in his last bout in Southland on December 10 Read more
It may be necessary for a more generous contribution to Peter’s Pence next year because it has been reported that a member of the public is going to take a law suit against the Pope for, allegedly, failing to wear a seatbelt ”for more than an hour”, while travelling in the Popemobile during his recent trip to Germany. It Read more
When President Obama recently lined up God on his side by saying, “Even God wanted to put Americans back to work,” his opponents thought he might be going to far. Coming to his defense, Obama spokesman Jay Carney denied that Obama had perhaps gone too far by dragging the Almighty into a fierce political spat. Read more
Sitcom star Tim Allen became famous for his oaf-like antics and handyman hobbies, but some of the comedian’s real-life interests don’t just stop at his garage door. He is fascinated with religion and has a long history with Christianity, something he hints at while joking about his childhood sweet tooth in his stand-up act. “I like Pixie Read more
It wasn’t a cat in a tree, but it may have been the easiest job ever for the Volunteer Fire Brigade in Havelock in Marlborough. The tireless team of volunteers answered the wail of the siren, thrust feet in boots, threw on their fire-proof jackets and drove the 450 metres from the fire station to Read more
In San Francisco metal thieves have made off with the 122-year-old, 2.7-ton bell. The bell, which is 5 feet across, must have been lifted by a crane and carted away by more than an average truck. The bell at St. Mary’s Cathedral rang through the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. It survived when an arsonist Read more