“As reindeer (C8) can have Salmonella, Brucellosis, Campylobacter, prions that cause muscle wasting and parasites that inflame your nose, it is small wonder that Rudolph has a shiny nose and a minor miracle that Peter Miniutti remains so well,” says Jo Rainbow of Orange. Shout-out to Clinical Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and fellow C8 contributor, David Isaacs, who taught Jo the right stuff.
“Many years ago on a visit to a University in Sweden, I as told by my host that I would be delighted by what the cafeteria was putting on the menu,” writes Bob Phillips of Cabarita. “I thought I might get a taste of reindeer but surprise, surprise, it was kangaroo. When he asked how often I ate it in Australia I said, ‘never’. I didn’t mention that at that stage kangaroo was only available as pet food and that it was illegal to sell it for human consumption.”
Closer to home, Janetta Gilbert of Kirrawee agrees that B.T.C. food (C8) “definitely wasn’t ‘haute cuisine’ and the dreaded ‘green boxes’ were even worse. But we’re still writing about it, so we’ve survived into glorious old age in spite of it.”
Some foodies are fakers, reckons Chris Roylance of Paddington: “If Col Burns (C8) was a true epicurean, he would not consume anything ‘infused with truffle oil’. According to the late chef, writer and broadcaster, Anthony Bourdain, anyone who drizzles truffle oil ‘should basically be punched in the kidneys’ – but I wouldn’t suggest anything that offal.”
“I went in to pay for petrol at my local service station yesterday and was stunned to be told that the young woman ahead of me had already paid for me,” writes Kath Maher of Lidcombe. “I went hastily to thank her, and she said ‘I just felt like doing something nice for someone’. I was touched. The young are full of surprises. Quite made my day.”
“After reading that Lionel Messi’s five World Cup jerseys are likely to sell for $15 million, I’m wondering whether I should have kept my jersey when I captained St Mary’s rugby league 4/7s in Grafton in the early 1960s,” ponders Peter Singer of Hamilton South.
Apparently, George Reid door stoppers (C8) were a thing back in the day: “We had one,” claims Josephine Piper of Miranda. “I’m not sure what happened to it. Apparently, they could be purchased from Farmers’ stores in 1910.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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