“Peter FitzSimons’ recounting of the Black Sunday rescues of 1938 (Herald,April 4) reminds me that the great aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (then known as Charles Smith) and his cousin Rupert Swallow were caught in a rip at Bondi Beach on January 2,1907 and were the first to be rescued with the assistance of the surf reel,” says Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook. “Had Smithy not survived,goodness knows what Sydney Airport would have been named.” Probably something horrible,like Sydney Airport.
Allan’s missive on Friday,regarding the world’s most complicated watch (C8),received a well-timed response from Quentin Mitchell of Kangaroo Island (SA):“Wait a second,hold on a minute,on the face of it,is Allan Gibson pulling hour leg? I’ll watch this space.”
For Gail Grogan of Toongabbie,going grey (C8) is a badge of honour:“After letting my hair stay grey in my 50s,I was asked when paying my bus fare if I was a pensioner. I replied,‘No,I’ve had a hard life,and it shows’.”
This idea has the backing of Eric Scott of Bondi Junction:“Unlike some people,I advocate for the ‘drive in,back out’ method in shopping centre car parks. The logic is simple. When backing in,drivers frustrate those behind them who;A) have been beaten to a spot and B) have to wait while the parker takes multiple attempts to get their oversized SUV into the spot. Drive and don’t create a hold-up. Back out and anyone waiting will be much more tolerant of your efforts because they’ll want your spot.”
While Greg McCarry of Epping and John Greenway of Wentworth Falls both think Donald Trump has successfully managed to “Make America Grate Again”,George Manojlovic of Mangerton is surprised the president is being pilloried for imposing tariffs on Heard and McDonald Islands. “His ever-reliable advisors would have informed him that these outposts must be heaving with wealth as they’re inhabited by thousands of kings and emperors.”
Regarding the above entry,John’s subject line read “He’s at it again” which forged concerns about another Gill Furey fiasco!
Wayne Duncombe of Lilyfield doesn’t think songwriters should worry about syllabification when substituting Gulf of Mexico with Gulf of America (C8):“It’s well known that natives of that country refer to it as ’Merica.” Another reader to point this out was our friend,Helen Hyatt-Johnston of Kings Cross.
Column8@smh.com.au
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