“My husband has submitted five photos of me in applying for a visa to Brazil,” says Mary G. Clarke of Mount Gravatt (Qld). “The latest rejection says ‘no ears were visible’. I have short hair. Now I know Queenslanders can be ‘one eyed’ but ‘no eared’? That’s new. And yes,it’s still raining,thank you for asking.”
Graham Russell reports that “ants[C8] are suddenly very busy in our Clovelly lawn for the first time. I support Ian Nicholls’ theory that it could mean rain. If not,whatdoes it mean?”
“Ants digging may signal rain coming now,” affirms Ted Richards,of Batemans Bay. “But back in my day it was the opposite,ants climbing trees,that did it.”
Looks like everyone’s a victim when it comes to roadkill (C8). Lesley Harvey of Ettalong Beach explains:“Driving through villages in Timor-Leste,if one struck and killed a chicken,dog,goat or (heaven forbid) a cow,one is required to stop and make reparations to the owners of the said dead animal. The owner will come and tell you what a bad driver you are,you agree,then settle on a price to be paid. A chicken could be $5,a dog $10,a goat $50 and a cow $200!”
The addition of skunks to the list of critters lacking road savvy by Column 8 Arizona correspondent Tim Ingall has led to a number of readers copping an earworm by way of the 1972 hitDead Skunk by singer,sometime actor (remember Captain Spalding,the singing surgeon fromM*A*S*H*?) and not-quite-Father of the Year,Loudon Wainwright III. However,Stephen Tait of Rose Bay thinks the skunk in question may,in fact,have been a bit of a theorist when he asks:“Was the skunk trying to camouflage itself on the white lane marker? Does this demonstrate above median roadkill avoidance skills?” Taking in to consideration the fact that he’s dead,that might be a “no”.
Now,an appeal from David Morrison of Springwood:“Sometimes I look back with nostalgia to the good old days when having an item in Column 8 was about the only way to get on to the front page of theHerald without committing a crime. If it’s possible for Granny to go back to page one,even occasionally,I will undertake to avoid criminality if at all possible. Otherwise,if it’s the only way ...”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments,please.
Include name,suburb and daytime phone.