Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

Mid-summer and some Kiwis are feeling the itch. This week we have
a rash of reports.

For some it's the seven-year itch, according to a recent study, New Zealanders are more likely to divorce in January that any other month.

More than 45 percent interviewed said they are more interested in divorcing during January, according to Victoria Milan, a website for married people searching for 'adventure”.

The largest segment of the infidelity site's responding members said that intense family requirements during the holiday season are the most serious precipitating cause (44 per cent). In contrast, just under 20 per cent said they simply believe that the New Year is the right time for personal change. Seventeen per cent reported that they argue more in January, and 15 per cent said they just feel like having sex with other people.

So some sound advice from the Rabbit: If you're feeling the pressure, hang on for another week or so, it's nearly February.

Also if your relationship is under stress, we doubt that joining an infidelity site, or having your partner discover it on your web browser history, is going to help.

Others are feeling the itch from the Mount Mauler. It's the creepy little bug in the sand that will chew your togs off and take a chomp out of your cellulite, if you lay around the beach in the wrong places.

Meanwhile, some of you are apparently suffering Duck Itch. People swimming in the south end of Lake Taupo have been warned, following two cases of duck itch, or swimmer's itch, most commonly occurring in shallow, warm areas of some lakes.

The larvae are part of the life cycle of parasitic worms, which involves ducks, other birds, and snails. ‘Swimmer's itch' occurs when a film of cercariae-infested water dries on exposed skin, and, for humans, is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Medical officer of Health Dr Jim Miller suggests people take a precautionary approach and avoid contact with areas of shallow water, particularly around vegetation and where birds are evident.

'Washing or showering with clean water and drying yourself off with a towel after swimming can also help.”

In a nutshell: Don't swim with the ducks.

Speaking of the birds, a seagull in Welcome Bay this week cured its butt rash, by landing on the insulator of a power pole and blowing itself up.

The seagull, described as 'young and dumb” by Greerton fire station officer Steve Wright, exploded atop the pole, taking out power to a section of Welcome Bay.
There were pieces of seagull scattered in the vicinity. Fireman found motley juvenile feathers. It is not known who got the bill.

Jandal scandal

Thanks to the many readers who expressed their outrage to the Jandal Scandal – the spontaneous citizen art installation on the Mount, cruelly ripped down by bureaucrats who clearly didn't approve of the ‘jandal fence'.

Here are some of your responses, the first from

Jeannie Overall:
Oh I love being a jandal and guess what!
I'm not a vandal didn't mean to make a scandal was just hanging round for fun
I made many people grin which some sad folk say's a sin,
got cool snaps of folk with kin underneath our Mountie sun
My mate who hung me there was trying to spread some cheer
cos it's been the saddest year, for families more than one
To all you folk who liked me, said I wasn't so unsightly
you're a Mountie and so rightly, you and I have really won
For we really made our mark, and it's really been a lark
We created quite a spark, so thanks for all that you have done

Carl (Jandalman): The location of the fence is the best place for the Lost Soles!

Gill Ogle: We have one in Oceanview Rd but I think it's almost full.

Are the council not lucky? We don't have the bra fences in the South Island! Come on guys it's harmless and a bit of fun. Huntertwasser's toilets come to mind!


There are currently 72 jandals on the fence at 117 Oceanview Rd at the Mount.

Donna Anderson: Whoever created the jandal fence needs to find another place to have another erection... Sadly I did not see it, but what has the world come to if we can't have a bit of Kiwiana fun. Shame on the people that complained. I tell them to get a life and mind your own business.

Christine Frost: Just re-instate the Jandal Fence where it was – perfect. Such an iconic thing to have in an iconic place – couldn't be better. Some people need to get a life and start having some fun.

brian@thesun.co.nz