Following on from a lucky aerial IKEA sighting (C8),the Sydney visit of Gus Silber of Johannesburg and daughter Rachel maintains the retail theme:“I pointed out a Coles supermarket to her in Manly this week[must be staying with Rhoda – Granny] and used it as an example of the Australian predilection for excessive government regulation. It is illegal in Australia,I explained,for a supermarket to sell a salad consisting of shredded cabbage with a mayonnaise and vinaigrette dressing. ‘Really?’ she asked. ‘Yes,’ I explained. ‘It’s Coles Law.’ Her eye-rolling groan could be heard all the way back in Johannesburg.”
“Pretentious Paddington?” asks local denizen John Frith. “A sign spotted in the window of an up-market clothing shop in Paddington:‘Fashion Retail Consultant wanted.’ Shop assistant,maybe?”
Bill Nardi of Lindendale still eats gramma pies (C8):“Have done so all my life,now aged 79. I grow my own grammas every year as did my father before me. My mother always made the pastry herself,but we use store-bought pastry (which is NOT the same). I cook the gramma and add sugar and lemon juice to taste. I doubt my children will continue to grow grammas – it’s a dying art.”
The recent updates to movie classifications (C8) don’t go far enough,reckons Colin Taylor-Evans of Lane Cove:“Classify this:TL – too long (sit at the end of the aisle for an unobtrusive getaway). BWB – book was better (and probably cheaper than the movie ticket). OWB – Original was better (buy it on DVD). TSIS – This sequel is stupid (example:Cars 2).” Finn McMissile sends his regards.
While he waits for the cricket to start,Kersi Meher-Homji of St Ives has been crunching the rugby league numbers:“The NRL preliminary finals between Parramatta and North Queensland and between Penrith and South Sydney last week were dominated by number 12. At half time,the score was 12-12 in both matches. Then Parramatta added 12 points in the second half to win 24-20. South Sydney was pointless in the second half to lose 12-32. Another coincidence:44 points were scored in both these matches.”
“I may be a little bit late for the week of firsts (C8),” says Jennifer Lawrence of Upper Coomera (Qld),“but I heard my first geckos of the season this week – summer is well and truly on the way on the Gold Coast!”
Column8@smh.com.au
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