Vanuatu has unveiled what it claims is the world's first underwater post office.

The office provides jobs for four dive-accredited postal workers operating in shifts.

Tourists to the South Pacific island nation will be able to buy special waterproof postcards from shops and then scuba dive three metres down to have their postcards embossed with a waterproof stamp.

It was especially created by Vanuatu Post to celebrate the 83-island archipelago's status as a marine paradise.

Vanuatu Tourism described the fibreglass post office as being surrounded by beds of coral and shoals of multicoloured fish in a marine sanctuary off Hideaway Island on the outskirts of the island's capital, Port Vila.

It's aimed at drawing attention to the diversity of Vanuatu's underwater world, and easily accessible dive sites, says Australia's ABC website.

Could also explain why my post is sometimes soggy!



A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

Whuuh? Life is odd.



:--

Do something pretty while you can...

And even stranger than (most) fiction.

Is this the same place that gave Prince Philip a ceremonial ***** sheath? What was the plan then, and did it work?

And didn't they refer to him as "fella bilong Missis Queen"?



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

That's the one! Shame she can't control him. Hell, shame she can't control her kids, as well!

I know... poor woman...

As a matter of fact, I have a solution to the whole royalty embarrassment problem. Let's face it, these days royalty is basically a figurehead whose job is a) to look good (h'mm, Prince Philip doesn't do too well there either!) and b) to go around being good PR for the nation. They're supposed to look extremely classy, give everyone a big feel-good factor, and never say a word out of place.

So put a cat on the throne and have done with it. Minsky, this is your ideal career opening!



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

One of his jobs could be to open underwater post offices. I think he may decline that; then again Duke Chomsky the hapless could be sent out with a goldfish bowl over his head.

Then we have the problem of the succession.

I think he has already managed to establish a succession! He matured so early that he was able to sow a few wild oats before they were harvested.

Duke Chomsky the hapless... poor kitty! Unfortunately that's about right, though.



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

I wouldn't put it past Minsky to harvest before he sowed; though he might need Klinsmann's help.

The Royal family might put up with an endless succession of military reviews, speeches and openings (which can't really be that much fun), but they are not above having a little mischief now and again.

A nervous young officer found himself having lunch next to the Queen. When breadsticks were offered, the Queen took six. The nervous officer did the same. The Queen ate one of her breadsticks; the officer did the same. The lunch proceeded; the Queen's other breadstick remained untouched. The officer rearranged his a few times.

By the end of the main course, the breadstick problem remained the same. When the puddings were served, the corgis were allowed in. The Queen took up her spare breadsticks and fed them to her dogs. When the last crumb had been finished, the Queen turned to the young officer, and said:
"Now, what are you going to do with yours ?"

Cats on the throne? My tortoiseshell could do worse than becoming Queen Isabella...

If I see one of my cats on the throne, she's probably taking a drink from the bowl. Which is why I always put the lid down after I've squirted cleaner round it.

Oh, thanks for sharing.....

I just don't let my cats in there. The wicker laundry basket would be too much temptation for little claws!



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

My bathroom is the only room in the flat that has a clear window with a convenient windowsill and view for me and the cats to enjoy. This is due to a f**k-up on the part of the double-glazers, who installed clear glass instead of frosted. I was about to ask them to change it, then decided I rather liked having a window I could stare out of (I live mostly in an attic, and have skylights). I've hung some dark red cloth across the lower pane, which can easily be moved to look out, or to provide privacy, as necessary. Have to remember to cover the window when visitors are here, as it's surprisingly easy not to realize that the toilet is, in fact, right next to a large, clear window.

My cat is already divine; I expect she would find royalty a bit of an anticlimax.

humilitas

"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so." --Ford Prefect

Mine would be bored - he shredded my linen basket in a week, so chances are he'd be the one under the throne clawing at the foreign dignitaries' feet - the Prince Philip school of diplomacy!

Talking of cats, I read today that anglers in Italy are using live kittens as bait for catfish. Not-terribly-PC, one suspects.

And have you seen that there's a company who've registered powergenitalia as a domain name? People assumed it was an offshoot of Powergen, but it appears not, sadly. It's one of those face/vase things, really...



PSD

==========

This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

That's just evil.

Well, I originally meant the bit about the kittens, but when I think about it the other bit is fairly evil too, although not quite in the same way!



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah