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The practice of picking up cars (C8) had a bit of form in prior decades. Ross Storey of Normanhurst recalls a teacher’s Fiat Bambino getting “carried up the stairs and left on the first floor of E Block” during Muck Up Day celebrations at Asquith Boys High in the 1960s. Similarly, Ted Richards of Batemans Bay says the Austin Seven was a prime target “for a few of the bigger lads to pick up and place between two of our school’s impressive ornamental columns.” Chris O’Rourke of Bathurst recalls the same thing at boarding school in the ’70s, but with two trees serving as the bookends.
“Guilty as charged by Ken Bergin (C8). I did the 26-day Outward Bound course over 56 years ago in 1969, turning a youthful 20 during the course,” says Seppo Ranki of Glenhaven. “I was sent there by my employer, CSR. It’s a shame companies can’t provide that sort of experience for their staff these days. I came back enriched by the experience, but diminished in size, having lost a stone and gained a bit of muscle.”
“The other famous Shakespearean dog (C8) was, of course, Hamlet himself – who was a great Dane.” We thank Greg King of Springwood.
Chivalry is dead. Ron Wheeler of Wagga Wagga explains: “A few years ago in England, the queuing and etiquette capital of the world, I stood third in a country bus queue. The bus pulled in and the gentleman at the front stood aside for the lady in second position to board. Her insistence, ‘No, you were here first,’ led to some to-ing and fro-ing until the conductor, fed up, rang the bell and the bus left with nobody getting on.”
“In my earlier UK life, l lived and worked near the village of Effingham (C8), located, suitably, near Fetcham Downs,” says Ian Smith of Balmoral.
Kerry Ryan of Rozelle says that “my favourite street name, whilst not alliterative (C8), continues to amuse me – Wild Goose Chase at Woombah.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help Dee Wyatt find out why robot vacuum cleaners need headlights (C8), but my new iron apparently needs them too,” reveals Annie Hawker of Mosman. “Should I try ironing in the dark?”
Jack Dikian of Mosman has it “on good advisement that robot vacuum cleaners need headlights for the same reason supermarkets play music at 2 am — small comforts for mechanical wandering.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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