Mail ordered

01jul06
SOUNDS like something out of a Lindsay Lohan teeny bopper movie, but with a punk twist. Nine-year-old Patrick Marshall sent a letter to his idol - Idol star Lee Harding, requesting the warbler drop by his school, Woodcroft Primary, yesterday for a special visit.

The auspicious occasion? Patrick was presenting a talk about the punk star to his classmates. He went all out with his get-up, including heavy-duty eyeliner and (temporary) hair colouring.

It was a punt and Patrick really didn't think Lee would show - but he did, surprising him mid-speech.

Patrick was gobsmacked. "I'm very excited. I've liked Lee since he started on Idol, " he grins.

Although there was one source of bafflement. "I was sort of disappointed he didn't have his (trademark hair) colours," he says.

Lee reckons he had shaved off his locks for a blank canvas, but assures: "I'll get the colour re-done this weekend - probably a big blonde streak at the back."

Lee couldn't resist responding to Patrick's cute plea - he once sent fan mail to Brooke Shields.

"But my mum wrote back," moans Lee, who was in town last night to perform at the launch of the Beachhouse (the amusement complex replacing Magic Mountain).

Lee is also headlining the next morale-boosting entertainment tour for the Aussie troops serving in the Middle East with his band, Bedrock (with a date yet to be confirmed).