The weather has been bad lately and it was a surprise to pull out some sunshine from the letterbox in the form of The Weekend Sun. It made good reading, and best of all it was a jolly good laugh. It has been said that no one ever died laughing, although it would be a fun way to go.

The election is upon us and it really is amusing listening to Paula Bennett say we must ensure that women get equal pay. Where has she been for the last nine years? Women are the stronger sex, with many ways of controlling men. The lady who won a pay rise for thousands of women perhaps should get Paula's job.

A plug for the over 80s: why not a free passport for the people who have toiled over the years and listened to the many politicians who talk tripe? Their only policy is to stay in parliament as long as possible. Some have already retired in the parliament – it pays more than superannuation.

R Chamberlain, Otumoetai