THUMBS UP & DOWN
■ Thumbs up to retiring hairdresser Raymond Seaton. Some years ago you created a ‘work’ position for our daughter Sharlane, who is challenged with cerebral palsy. The commitment from you and your staff greatly enhanced her confidence and outgoing awareness that will benefit her for the rest of her life.
■ Thumbs up to the ladies who stopped on the side of the road to help me when my baby was choking on Saturday. Thanks so much for your support. Baby is fine now.
■ Thumbs up to the lady who wrote her own thumbs down last week about herself for blocking the ramp for the disability park outside Credit Union. So many able people park in this disability parking area, making it a nightmare for those disabled people who actually have to pay to have their disability parking cards.
■ Thumbs up to the Tu¯ rangi RSA who welcomed a caravanner into their nice club, produced a lovely meal, instructed them to sit at the locals’ table and yarned with them for a couple of hours.
■ Thumbs up to your totally awesome Bill and Ted story about the parking ticket and putting a bit of humour to it.
■ Thumbs up to the lovely lady in the salad bar at Pak’nSave last Saturday lunch time. She was so helpful.
■ Thumbs up to Brad Frew for driving three boys all the way to Hamilton for a football trial to go to the States to represent NZ! These boys couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.
■ Thumbs up to Taupo¯ District Council. Our usual reserves/ lawns/pathways council employee was replaced during this year and in consequence some reserves dropped off the radar, becoming alarmingly untidy plus a fire hazard risk in summer. I contacted the council, to get an immediate response from those in charge of such matters and next day all aforementioned areas are now tidy. This Omori area has almost inaccessible reserves for mowers so no wonder they were not found! All is well now and a gigantic thumbs up to all involved.
■ Thumbs up to the mayor’s choice of Christine Rankin for deputy mayor. To the people of Taupo¯ still upset about it, it’s his prerogative to choose, the law says he may do so. May I point out Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick chose the ninth polling candidate, whether this has attracted the same controversy I am not aware. Christine is an inspired choice, thank you David Trewavas. I for one, am looking forward to the exciting future Taupo¯ has ahead.
■ Thumbs down to arrogant neighbours who burn rubbish without considering anybody else living around them. If I wanted my house and clean washing to smell of smoke I would’ve taken up cigarette smoking. A little consideration for others would be appreciated!
■ Thumbs down to the Bill and Ted parking ticket non-story. There’s two minutes of my life I’ll never get back.
■ Thumbs down to whoever is responsible for removing items of students’ uniform clothing at Taupo¯ Intermediate School taken off or left behind by a student not only once, but twice. Please return items that don’t belong to you, that’s what lost property is provided for at school.
■ Thumbs down to the mayor for making Christine Rankin deputy mayor, you won’t have my vote next time.
■ Thumbs down to the man riding an e-scooter at speed along the footpath on Lake Terrace with his very young daughter standing in front of him holding the upright stem, both without helmets. An accident waiting to happen.
■ Thumbs down to the man that was at Mitre 10 Mega on Wednesday, November 13, parked his van and didn’t put his hand brake on. It rolled into a parked car behind him and he didn’t leave his details of the damage to her car he made. We saw you. We gave the distressed lady and her disabled uncle a description of you. Shame on you, do the right thing. Next time, you might run a person over.
■ Thumbs down to those riding motor bikes, small and not so small at Whakaipo Bay the last two Sundays. This is clearly signed as forbidden but you choose to teach children to ignore the rules, damage public property and destroy the quiet peace of this bay for others. The DoC hotline to report this sort of behaviour is 0800 362468.
■ Do you have a bouquet or a brickbat? Email your thumbs up/ thumbs down to us at news@taupoweekender.co.nz, text us on 021 241 4568 (insert the code TW at the start of your text message) or drop them into our office in Waipapa House, Paora Hapi St, Taupo¯. Thumbs up/ thumbs down may be edited or abridged. Personal attacks or thumbs down that refer to easilyidentifiable people, businesses or groups won’t be published.