Because you wait too long before taking time off?

More than likely.

Find it difficult to take regular breaks through the year other than the occasional longe weekend. My employer requires everyone to take 10 days of leave over Christmas / New year during an enforced company shutdown. Doesn’t leave much leave to use throughout the rest of the year.

Senecio:

 

This probably belongs in the Annoy thread but it is a question.

 

Why do I always get sick just before I go on leave?

 

Manifestation of latent guilt issues 😄

We think a weighted blanket might be something our daughter might enjoy. Where in Auckland would we be able to get her to try one before buying it?

Tuck her in under every blanket and duvet you have in your house?

networkn: We think a weighted blanket might be something our daughter might enjoy. Where in Auckland would we be able to get her to try one before buying it?

I'm trying to assemble something and it needs a few screws. Two M5x30 and four M3x25. "Easy", I think, and head to Bunnings. Except they had about five M5 screws, none of which were x30, and no M3 at all, with the vast majority being various G numbers.

So... where do I get M screws from?

Actual fastener supply shops. Most of them are trade stores. 

Mitre 10 list Champion brand m5 & m3. Bunnings may have had Zenith stainless m5 & m3. Supercheap or Repco might have them.

Thanks. Mitre 10 lists my local one as out of stock, but they do at least acknowledge their existence. I'll take a look at SC/Repco and see what I can find.

Behodar:

 

I'm trying to assemble something and it needs a few screws. Two M5x30 and four M3x25. "Easy", I think, and head to Bunnings. Except they had about five M5 screws, none of which were x30, and no M3 at all, with the vast majority being various G numbers.

 

So... where do I get M screws from?

 

M3 and M5 are normally designations given to bolts, not screws.

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for an M5 screw or an M5 bolt - but you will get a slightly different item depending on which you ask for. Engineers often specify one or the other depending on the required purpose. 

An M5 bolt will have a threaded section and an unthreaded section on the shank. An M5 screw will have the threaded section along the entire length of the shank. 

Somewhere like SteelMasters or Anzor will sell them. 

Both a "hex-head set screw" and "bolt" will generally come with a head for use with a spanner.

For sufficiently short bolts, the no-thread portion disappears and they appear identical. 

OP may be after something more like a pan head or socket head cap screw, to be used with screwdrivers or allen keys. 

A good fastener place will usually have charts like this laminated on the counter. 

Thanks all. These are the kind of things I've been looking for:

Repco had more of a selection than Bunnings, but not quite the right size. At this point, since it's not for anything "structural", I'm thinking of just 3D printing a rod and using that!

[Edit: Just for a bit of closure, 3D printing it worked fine.]

Package supposed to be delivered with NZ Post yesterday. No idea why they couldn't deliver - we were at home. 

The "contact us" link leads to "Parcel Enquiry" which when selecting the correct options leads to "Missed my parcel", which when given the tracking number returns "Sorry, we do not currently have redelivery information for this parcel. This may be because the latest information isn’t available yet and will be displayed shortly, or because your parcel is not eligible for redelivery (for example, if redelivery has been attempted too many times). Please check back soon for any updates."

So there's no way to request a redelivery or arrange for collection (where from?) because the status doesn't allow it. And there isn't a way to contact a human. Any ideas on how to chase down this item?