“In 2017, I happened to be in Laurieton for a funeral, and as I entered the township, I sighted the US flag at full mast in the local park,” recalls Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook. “My inquiring vexillologist mind discovered that the three days earlier had marked the 73rd anniversary of the unscheduled visit by wartime entertainer Bob Hope. Hope was at the controls of a Catalina flying boat when the aircraft encountered difficulties. The pilot quickly took command, and the aircraft made an emergency landing on the Camden Haven. So today (August 15) marks the 80th anniversary of the day that fate brought Hope to the locals.”
“I know Ann Robinson’s dilemma (C8) with the koel,” says Barry Brown of Manly. “They never seem to shut up. Through the same frustration, I downloaded the call of a brown falcon, an Australian bird of prey, ran it through a portable speaker and voila.”
Les Shearman of Darlington knows why Stephen Crichton remained “tight-lipped” (C8) after his biting complaint: “He didn’t want to suffer any more loss of face.”
“In February 2023, C8 published my concern that a box of cakes of soap that I had just opened, with a manufacture date of July 2022, had an expiry date of July 2024,” writes Steve Hulbert of West Kempsey. “As promised, I put one cake aside until after the expiry date. I can now report that, contrary to my concern, nothing dramatic has occurred, and the soap appears to still be fit for purpose. How long can an unused cake of soap last?”
Dayne Mearns, reading the Herald in Kenya, has a slight correction on the Games of the XXXV Olympiad (C8): “As a Blues refugee often forced to be in BrisVegas, I can confirm that it will be the XXXX Olympiad and that Queensland will be counted in the medal tally separate to the rest of Oz.”
Because of this, another expat, Peri Nicol of Brisbane, is surprised they didn’t bid for the 2052 Games, “but some bright spark probably pointed out it would read Games of the XL Olympiad rather than the XXXX Olympiad”. That said, sponsors in the underwear caper would drop everything to be a part of the XL Olympiad.
“I’m totally on board with the backyard waterslide (C8) as an Olympic event,” enthuses Colin Campbell of Coogee. “Just call it the summer luge and we’re in!”
Column8@smh.com.au
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