“So sad about the distress of David Jones,” writes Nola Tucker of Kiama. “My grandfather was a floorwalker there in the 1890s. ‘A man with the white carnation,’ said my mum. I also worked there on the ground floor in the Elizabeth Street store in Uni holidays and remember the excitement when Frank Sinatra was in Sydney and his bodyguard brought in a young Nancy to do some shopping.” Wonder if she bought any boots.
We’re putting an end to the thread concerning newbie torment (C8), as we’ve been advised by John Lees of Castlecrag that the topic “has been dealt with time and time again, and it’s the same old stories”. Gee, pretty sure we’ve covered fruit stickers in past as well. And indoor leaf blowers. Actually, I think we’re ok with that one.
That said, Dawn Glase of Moss Vale definitely blew it: “We have a dresser in our kitchen. The fluff and dust can’t be easily removed from under it. I got the bright idea of getting my husband to bring his leaf blower in to blow it out. Unfortunately, the stream of air went under the cupboard, up the back and blasted a decorative plate off the wall, smashing it to smithereens.”
Michael Fletcher of Greystanes reckons “George Zivkovic’s remarks about registration slogans (C8) bring to mind the many pointed slogans aimed at governments over the years (Singapore springs to mind) and NSW could well be ‘NSW – A Fine State’ given the penalties handed out for miscellaneous misdemeanours.”
Taking a practical approach is Janice Creenaune of Austinmer: “Why not make number plates a reminder to general driving rules and a way of living? ‘NSW – Back Off, Slow Down and Enjoy’.”
“Like Geoff Gilligan (C8), I too went to a fancy dress party with a black and white theme,” says Mary Carde of Parrearra (Qld). “I went as the Herald by dressing in black pants and white t-shirt with the letters SMH in red embellishing the front. Many guests were puzzled, but my costume represented the riddle: ‘What’s black and white and red all over’?”
George Manojlovic of Mangerton has some advice for the owners of Elbie, the Jack Russell that was stranded on a 13th floor apartment window ledge in Dee Why and required a team of abseiling firefighters to rescue her: “Trade her in on a dachshund. They’re built close to the ground.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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