Column 8 has long been a fan of nominative determinism - but is this another case, or is it an enemy infiltration? You be the judge. Bob Phillips of Cabarita reports that the Australian Croquet Association has appointed Simon Hockey as its new association croquet high performance manager.
Speaking of names, the recent Spartacus-like discussion about who, exactly, is George Manojlovic of Mangerton, brings a far-flung claimant, Sue Bradley from Eltham in Victoria, who says: “It occurs to me that Mangerton is an anagram of magnetron, and I have one of those in my microwave. Ergo, I am George Manojlovic, but only when I am in my kitchen, near the magnetron.”
In an unrelated sidenote, Sue plays the tuba, not something one sees, or hears, often these days.
Also currently far-flung is regular Col8er Jo Rainbow of Orange, who writes, “I am currently in the UK arranging probate for my dear old Dad. Once when driving past Marlow, my father commented that he wanted a crematorium to be built there, just so it would be the Cookham and Burnham Crematorium.”
Moving on with names, Jennifer Dewar’s rules for naming (Col8, September 15), has brought correspondence from nomenclature sufferers. Alynn (aka Alwyn, Alan, Allan, Alyn, Allyn, Ah-lyn) Pratt of Grenfell, wishes that Jennifer “had been around my place in the early 50s to advise my mother and save me endless cringing spelling and pronunciation explanations and shrink’s fees” .
Randi Svenson of Wyong has her own troubles with the rules. “Australia’s full of people from other cultures, whose names don’t fit the Anglo mould. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to explain that my name is pronounced ‘like Reg Grundy, but drop the G’ – and even that only works on older people now. As for the assumption that I’m a man – sorry, my female name can be traced back in Norway to the 15th century. At least I’ve been spared the Australian tradition of shortening names, although I was called ‘Rund’ once.”
Tangential to the naming discussion, a gauntlet is now thrown down by Angie Miller of Bondi Junction, who challenges Chris Keane (Col8, Monday), owner of wee doggie Zana, if Chris can name something that rhymes with Xoloitzcuintle? Col8 is tempted to suggest axolotl, but that’s probably the result of a mis-spent youth and too many limericks.
Column8@smh.com.au
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