According to Dave Williams of Port Macquarie, there was a time when toothpaste (C8) was not vegan-friendly: “Toothpaste once obtained its mild abrasive properties by adding diatomaceous earth, the miniature Petri dish shaped, glassy bodies of diatoms. But they were very long dead, not killed for production, so no cruelty involved. DE is also used in swimming pool filters, for removing very fine particles from the water.”
Michele Rossetto of St Ives says that the “wonderful British lady” (C8) referred to by Michael Dredge on Tuesday “is Lucinda Green, an extremely accomplished eventer who won Olympic silver in 1984, two world championships as well as multiple European championships. She is incredibly knowledgeable and sounds like she has met every competing horse over tea and scones.”
Keeping up with the Greens, Granny has fielded a query from one Alison Green of Bellambi: “Surely the most nonessential job at the Paris Olympics must go the lifeguards at the Olympic Aquatic Venue. Thoughts?”
John Tubridy of Wollongong is feeling the sectarian vibes north of the Tweed: “Holidaying in Queensland it is interesting to watch local media inform us that Queenslanders are going for gold! Given that Ariarne Titmus is from Tasmania, the parochialism is astounding. Then of course Grace Brown from Camperdown, Victoria and Emma McKeon from here in the ’gong. What next? Queensland Medal Count?”
“Like Seppo Ranki, I also lived west of Cowra and one day after school saw three baby snakes (C8) crawl under our old house,” writes Anne Cook of Ermington. “I told my 12-yr-old brother who didn’t pay much attention until he awoke in the middle of the night due to something slowly creeping along his leg, so he carefully lifted the bed covers ready to leap out. It was only a feral kitten.”
“Cowra seems to be the snake capital of NSW,” reckons Robyn Lewis of Raglan. “In the early 1950s on our property, Holmwood, East of Cowra, my mother carried my three-month-old brother into the kitchen. I followed her and can remember the snake lying on the window sill. We left the house immediately but a saucer of milk mixed with a cocktail was left for the snake.”
Ann Madsen of Mount Annan has a superior take on the NRL/NRLW quandary (C8) regarding team names: “Surely the clubs should change their names to be inclusive: The Sydney Chooks, Newcastle Peers and North Queensland Ringers.”
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