Obscure Box

Ever been asked to find a left-handed screwdriver or tin of tartan paint?

Imagine if you work in the office that handles all the emergency phone calls and someone calls reporting a fire at a crematorium.

What would you do?

Well apparently even the mourners were non-plussed at reports of smoke billowing from a Sydney crematorium roof, according to "Mourners flee crematorium fire" (Wednesday 30 July) in the Otago Daily Times.

But someone needs to mind their language in this agency copy.

One of the mourners, Mary Ide, said a man had interrupted the service she was attending and told everyone to evacuate.

Imagine the mess.