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Following a recent missive from one Richard Branson (C8), Aidan Cuddington of Umina Beach is “intrigued to know how many erstwhile contributors to Column 8 share names with others of greater fame and fortune. I know I don’t. There is only one me and I ain’t famous – yet. Thanks for helping with my relentless self-promotion.”
While we reckon Aidan’s selling himself short, we can confirm that when he’s not belting out tunes for U2, Paul Hewson (Bono to his mates) is quite happy hanging out in Raymond Terrace, while Warren Mitchell can be found in sickness and in health in Mosman. Stands to reason, don’t it?
No wonder built-in obsolescence is a thing. Mary Billing of Allambie Heights, taking in the recent thread on appliance longevity (C8), would “like to add my sadness at the recent demise of my much-loved St George oven, which came with the house when it was built around 1967 and was still working until the door wouldn’t close. That company went out of business because its products were too good.”
Toby Waters of Emerald Beach writes: “My sister had a vacuum cleaner that worked for 20 years until it could suck no more. As she was taking it to the tip she dropped it and the impact opened up a hidden compartment resplendent with accessories for getting into those little nooks and crannies. Just wondering if this could be the longest sucker punch in suburban history?”
“In her first week in her beach house, neighbour Pat dived under the kitchen table during an apparent earthquake,” recalls Michael Britt of MacMasters Beach [What’s with all these beaches? – Granny]. “After a minute she realised her Hoover Twin Tub was on spin dry, hitting its 3000 rpm terminal velocity.”
Wal Sloane of Forster asks: “Why is it that eVehicles, that might need every volt and amp to get to the next charging station, have the biggest display of battery-eating lights front and rear?”
“Years ago, two colleagues were walking ahead of me when a bird pooed (C8) on one of them,” says William Galton of Hurstville Grove. “She complained loudly about what had happened but the fellow walking with her explained that it is considered to be good luck if a bird poos on you. Angrily, she demanded to know how that could be considered good luck. Her companion said, ‘Well, it could have crapped on me’.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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