“My four-year-old grandson’s level of devotion to Batman is akin to any Swiftie’s fandom so, as he was coming to stay (my grandson, not Batman), I bought him a bottle of Batman Body Wash (who knew?),” says Janita Rankin of North Dandalup (WA). “That evening, after his bath, he came up close and whispered, ‘Grandma, do I smell like Batman?’ Not having had the pleasure of a close encounter with the superhero, I was at a loss to answer.”
Michael McFadyen of Kareela just wanted to float this recollection: “Where I grew up they were known as Maroubra mullet (C8) or Malabar mullet, depending on which beach you frequented.”
Patrick Sutcliffe’s (C8) request for more city sayings, was a capital idea, with the capital being one not touched on, until Russ Couch of Woonona stepped up: “Further to Patrick’s plea for help, for the ACT it would have to be ‘What department do you work for?’”
Also stepping up is Adrian Connelly of Springwood who says that “A local shoe shop is advertising its ‘Mega Sneaker Sale’ - for people with enormous feet, presumably.”
The suggestions for therapy pets for The Donald (C8) continue, with Gary Lane of Milperra wondering if “Trump could be given a cat but one wonders if all he would do was grab it.”
“I had a letter published in Tuesday’s Herald while my distant relative, Brian Collins from Cronulla, was mentioned in C8,” notes Graham Russell of Clovelly. “We are both descended from James Russell who arrived in Sydney in 1840. A nice coincidence.”
Continuing on with the geographical oxymorons (C8) David Gordon’s local patch, Cranebrook features the wonderful Summit Glen. And Jean Menlove of Newcastle couldn’t help but think of Hilldale.
“Not quite geographical oxymorons, but perhaps upwardly mobile alterations,” offers Frank McGrath of Bulli. “For instance, Sydney’s Dumbleton became Beverly Hills in the 1930s, and Mosquito Bay, north of Moruya, is now Mossy Point. No influence from real estate agents, of course.” Take it from a McGrath.
This might have been a grand opening best avoided. “On the subject of politicians sticking their names on public projects (C8), please don’t overlook the plaque on the Hyde Park obelisk in Elizabeth Street, which bears the inscription, ‘Erected AD 1857, George Thornton, Mayor’,” writes Michael Strickland of Mosman. “This is of course a sewer vent, and led to poor George becoming known as ‘Stinky Thornton’.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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