Brad Neimann of St Ives can confirm that the Gulf of Carpentaria is grizzly-free: “Regarding Stein Boddington’s query about grizzly bears in the Northern Territory (C8), I managed to track down the article in question which clarifies that the words actually come from the Yahi language of northern California. In fact, there is a clue to this in the words themselves, which use the apostrophe in a way which is uncommon in Australian languages. So the grizzlies remain an ocean away from us, right where they belong.” Bruce Satchwell of Carrara (Qld) thought it may have been referring to a colony of drop bears until he came to the same conclusion.
“Speaking of words at odds with their meanings (C8), ‘phonetic’ isn’t phonetic,” muses Martin Everett of Katoomba.
“I have a 1926 Chevrolet with floor gearshift without synchromesh, no turn signals (C8), hand operated wiper and spark controls,” says Barry Garment of Parkes. “To make a right turn in the rain across a pedestrian crossing could require: giving a hand signal; double declutching back to second gear; retarding the spark slightly; giving the windscreen a couple of wipes; blowing the horn at a slow pedestrian; at the same time turning a non power assisted steering wheel.”
Not unlike John McCartney’s Beetle (C8), Meri Will of Baulkham Hills recalls other fancy foot controls: “As kids riding in the back of the family Holden, Dad told us he could operate the high beams by blinking, and proceeded to demonstrate. We almost believed him until we discovered the foot-operated dip switch on the floor.”
If you want to be the life of the party “‘Lampshades’ (C8) like mine are available at the local Cancer Council shop,” advises the sun-smart Josephine Piper of Miranda.
“What a great Aussie yarn,” reflects Donna Wiemann of Balmain. “Resident cockatoo finds respite after her local is sold from underneath her feet (SMH, Dec 26). From the Friend in Hand in Glebe to the White Cockatoo in Petersham, Georgie makes a seamless inner west transition. It warms the cockles of my heart.” Still sad news, Granny remembers attending the crab racing at the Friend in Hand before retiring to No Names out the back.
“Bob Doepel (C8) asked why abbreviation is such a long word,” notes Dennis Murphy of Matsuyama, Japan. “I agree with the sentiment and ask, ‘Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?’”
Column8@smh.com.au
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