“As reported by C8-er James Smith (C8), Olympic triathletes swimming in the Seine may just be ‘going through the motions,’ but with the recent river clean up, they would be doing so undeterred,” declares William Galton of Hurstville Grove.
“James’ contention makes me wonder if the Suez Canal has been passed safe for swimming,” adds Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook.
Alison Green’s thoughts on the necessity of a lifeguard (C8) at the Olympic pool in Paris got the attention of Anthony Franklin of Gordon who states that she “obviously never saw Eric ‘the Eel’ Moussambani at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.” Duly noted Anthony, but it’s also worth remembering that Eric did actually win his heat after both of his competitors were disqualified due to false starts.
“I’ve just driven through Port Pirie, and noticed that there are two charging points outside the police station,” reports Arthur Richards of Port Macquarie.
Another snake saga (C8) now, from Margaret Grove of Concord: “My father and I came in from sailing at Menindee Lake one hot day to find my mother and sister sitting in the car, windows up, and doors locked. Apparently, they saw a snake. You can’t be too careful, but is there anyone out there who has seen a snake open a car door?”
“A neighbour down the street when I were lad was a renowned (they tell me) herpetologist,” recounts Bruce Moxon of Toongabbie. “He collected and bred snakes and lizards. And he also bred their fodder. Imagine, then, the hilarity when his house (of horrors) was burgled. Our robber opening door after door, finding rats, mice, frogs, insects, spiders and finally snakes. Sadly, there was no intruder-shaped hole in the back door – they maintained enough presence of mind to just open it.”
“Only a feral kitten? (C8) Anne Cook’s story reminded me of finding a litter of kittens in the outside laundry of a house we were renting in Wollongong in the 1970s,” says Glyn Bradford of Hawker (ACT). “The mother cat wasn’t there so I tried to pat one of the cute kittens. I quickly regretted it as I left with a bloodied hand.”
Forget the NRLW naming dilemma (C8), this is big: “I heard that the Queen died, and a King was made her replacement,” writes Ken Hudson of Evans Head. “So, shouldn’t it now be called Kingsland, and the capital be moved to Charleville?”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments, please. Include
name, suburb and daytime phone