Starting with a sneeze this week courtesy of the Australian National University (ANU) which has declared the national capital – Canberra – the ‘allergy capital of Australia’.
Taking the time to inform the inhabitants of the ACT that the hay fever season has already arrived, the ANU experts painted a sniffy picture of the city and its bushy surrounds.
“The tree pollen season usually runs from mid-July to October,” the joyful advisers advised, “followed by grass pollen season between October and December.”
But while the experts warn the capital’s citizenry to get ready to get their hankies to work, it is the cleverness with which they introduced their message that caught PS-sssst’s red and running eyes.
“Did you know Canberra is the allergy capital of Australia?” the boffins boffed.
“No,” they said, “we aren’t ‘pollen’ your leg,”
Ka-boom!
Of course hay fever is nothing to sneeze at!
In ‘move’ we trust!
Staying with the wise advisers now with the Western Australian Commissioner for Consumer Protection issuing a warning to the public to take care employing a removalist from social media.
“Initially the trader quotes an hourly rate and requests a small deposit, however upon arrival they demand a large lump sum be paid up front,” the Commissioner laments.
“In some cases, the traders have refused to return or deliver the furniture until the higher fees have been paid.”
The Commissioner said his office had received 262 complaints about removalists in the past 18 months.
“Consumers are urged to be wary when sourcing removalists on social media, as they may be using someone else’s ABN to appear legitimate.”
He recommended giving preference to removalists “who were members of Australian Furniture Removals Association or get recommendations from family and friends.”
Wise advice from a wise Commissioner but one interesting outcome.
A quick check to find out more about the Australian Furniture Removals Association reveals there’s also an Australian Furniture Removers Association to pick from.
They both go by the abbreviation AFRA with the ‘Removals’ Association claiming 150 members and the ‘Removers’ Association, 350 members.
The WA Commissioner was right: ‘Consumers are urged to be wary…”
Cold hard humour
To the ever entertaining and educational Philomena S of the Victorian Department of Health again now, this time with a wintry witticism we can all welcome in the winter weather
“What is an ‘ig’,” Philomena asks.
“An eskimo’s house without a ‘loo’,” she explains
Don’t give up your day job, Philomena!
Going green!
To Rama Gaind’s international giveaway now where one lucky reader will see what the Lonely Planet thinks of an Experience Guide of Ireland at no cost and without having to turn up to a crowded airport to find out.
To win the Guide, all we had to do was let Rama know what one nickname for Ireland might be and then be the first entrant to emerge from the PS News Barrel of Booty.
The answer that won the Guide was ‘Emerald Isle’ and the lucky nick-namer Jo-Anne L from the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Congratulations Jo-Anne and thanks to everyone who joined us on our trip to Ireland in the past week. Jo-Anne’s new Lonely Planet Guide will be on its way to her very soon.
For another chance to join Rama’s Army of lucky winners, all we need to do is play her giveaway game and answer one or both of her current reviews of the Book Level Up: How Managers Learn To Do Less And Be More now up for grabs at this PS News link and/or the DVD Dynasties: The Greatest of Their Kind also just waiting to be won at this PS News link.
In the meantime, all the very best to all the very best guessers and good luck to all.
Monthly magic
And finally, as the month of July bows out of the calendar, PS News takes the opportunity to welcome August and some new readers who chose to join the PS News family last month.
It is with great pleasure we can report that – school holidays or not – three Public Services reported new readership records, each one of which is to be congratulated.
Top of the range was Western Australia where the readers reached more than 18,200 for the first time in July; Queensland which went past 15,300 for the first time; and South Australia where the same was done with 10,100, also for the first time.
A big thanks to everyone who joined in July.
As we’ve said many times, you keep reading PS News and we’ll keep writing it.
‘Till next week….
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