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Today: Reception in New Zealand, Prague taxi drivers, Czech TV drama about Czech paratroopers during WWII, Czech Republic's anti-smoking laws. Listeners quoted: Bob Boundy, Catherine Kraina, Don Schumann, Henry Loeser, Aloisie Krasny.

Hello and welcome to Mailbox. Thank you again for all your e-mails and letters that never cease arriving.

We'll start off with an email from our regular listener Bob Boundy from New Zealand who is - after a period of experiencing bad reception - praising the clear signal of Radio Prague.

"Hi there from New Zealand! First of all, reception today was perfect. I was completely gobsmacked and nearly fell off my stool in complete shock. For many weeks reception has been zilch. Also another point of interest is that the New Zealand government is looking at the Skoda motor car for its fleet as it is environment friendly, so who knows, they just might buy them."

Recently we broadcast a report on Prague taxi drivers fighting with the City Hall over prices. Catherine Kraina from Australia who has been to Prague on several occasions wrote this.

"Prague taxi fares are indeed extortionate. The distance from my office in central Melbourne to my home is roughly the same as the distance from Wenceslas Square to Kunratice where I sometimes stay when in Prague. In Melbourne, where the cost of living is higher, it costs me A$20 to get home. In Prague, drivers have tried to charge the equivalent of up to A$100. As for the sharks at the airport and the stations, they ask for silly money. They get very aggressive when you politely point out that they are trying to rip you off. No wonder tourists complain bitterly."

In last week's Arts Jan Velinger looked at the new Czech Television drama about the ill-fated mission of Czech paratroopers during WWII. Don Schumann from the United States has sent us this question:

"I read the article about the two-part series on Operation Silver to be broadcast on Czech Television. Do you know if it will be made available on DVD and where one may be able to purchase a copy? I extensively read several works on this and many aspects of Czech history (my greatest interests lie in WWII as well as events surrounding the Prague Spring), and am always searching for more. Please let me know anything that may be useful."

Czech TV releases many of its productions on DVD and it would perhaps be best to keep an eye on their website www.czech-tv.cz, which has an e-shop section, or contact them directly to ask if it eventually becomes available. One crucial thing to remember is to ask whether the DVDs released have universal coding so they can be played on DVD players in North America.

Staying with film, Henry Loeser from the United States has this question:

"I recently viewed an excellent Czech/British film about Czech pilots in the RAF during WWII. It appeared to be vintage 1980's or 90's or so? Note: It's not 'Dark Blue World'."

I'm afraid, we have not been able to identify the film but if you could provide a little more detail we might succeed. Maybe other listeners may be able to help - let us know if you recognise that film.

And finally, Aloisie Krasny from Australia is responding to this week's report on anti-smoking legislation in the Czech Republic.

"I refer to your article on the smoking laws or should I say non-smoking laws in the Czech Republic. Smoking in the workplace has not been allowed in the UK or Australia for as long as I can remember and you will find that this is the same in many European countries. Smoking should not be allowed in restaurants and definitely not in a working environment and I am appalled to think that this is allowed. If people are stupid enough to want to smoke then they need to go outside the workplace and smoke. Companies and governments need to stop, think and act!"

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Now it's time to repeat our competition question for March. I am impressed by the number of answers that have arrived since last Sunday when I first announced the question, which is as follows:

This month we want you to tell us the name of a British film actor, who was born in Prague in 1917 but moved to Britain in 1939. He is perhaps best known for his appearances in the famous "Pink Panther" movies with Peter Sellers.

Your answers should reach us by the end of the month at [email protected] or Radio Prague, 12099, Prague, the Czech Republic. Thank you very much for your feedback and please keep those letters coming!