Like David Prest (C8), our friend Mike Fogarty of Weston (ACT) is well aware of the practice of stashing the bevvy at sea: “HMAS Melbourne returned from the US after Halloween in 1967, ferrying A-4 Skyhawks and S-2E Trackers, as replacement aircraft for the RAN’s ageing Fleet Air Arm. At a function, the wine caterer found a cache of lost Chianti. It had been forgotten and hidden in a paint locker following a brief port visit to Naples in 1956. The execrable wine had not travelled well. It tasted like Fly-Tox, but was imbibed with the unflinching courage imbued in our proud flagship. The sick bay dispensed beau coup aspirin the next morning.”
“The barman’s ‘red or white?’ question to David Rose’s request for shiraz (C8) was not as stupid as it might have appeared,” reckons Peter Lewis of Allambie. “Kies Family Wines of the Barossa make a very nice, full-bodied, dry white shiraz.”
Terry Cook of Ermington puts his extra rubber bands (C8) in a bottle, “and when it is nearly full, I give them to a teacher who lives across the road. She says they are invaluable in the classroom.”
The recent revisiting of the parfait glass discussion (C8), reminded Greg Mudie of Dungog of a family trip to Europe in 1978: “In Venice, my parents purchased, what their six children unanimously agreed, was the most hideous decanter with a set of six goblets. It was further agreed that no child wished to be bequeathed said monstrosity in any future will. Fortunately, in the pursuing years, breakages diminished the set and on mum’s passing in 2016, only the tray remained.”
Daniel Low of Pymble knows his station: “Thanks Adela Parkes for the fond memory of 4th Year Geography with (I’m all right) Jack Eyles’ introduction to the Stevenson screen (C8) in 1963.”
Readers who took in the recent discussion on remedies (C8) from yesteryear will recall that Ross Storey noticed creosote on the list of ingredients for Waterbury’s Compound. Well, according to Janita Rankin of North Dandalup (WA), it has utility value: “An old pharmacist I once worked with recommended a remedy containing creosote. After outlining the benefits and dose, he’d add, ‘and if it doesn’t fix your cough you can paint the fence with it.’ Most customers were a bit puzzled as to what he meant, but it brought a smile to my face every time, and still does.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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