“I heard Rod Stewart took a trip out to Bunnings at Balgowlah while in Sydney this week,” notes Jack Dikian of Mosman. “If he consulted me first, I would have told him to be mindful of the sharp tools and things. As we all know, the first cut is the deepest.” That’s enough, Jack. I don’t want to talk about it.
Clearly, Patricia Reed of Mosman is prepared to go the extra mile (actually, it’s 991.7 kilometres – Granny) for a superior vanilla slice (C8): “I make a pilgrimage from Sydney to family in Geelong, then ferry from Queenscliff and walk up Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento for vanilla slices. The Vanilla Slice Cafe has consistently won awards for best vanilla slice in Victoria. We eat there and come away with more to be polished off the following day. If one of your readers could find me the best in Sydney, I’d love to compare.”
“I secrete a vanilla slice into my house from Corrimal Court Bakery,” confesses Heather Lindsay of Woonona. “I slice it into quarters and savour its wonder over four days. I keep it well hidden in the back of the fridge just for me.” Here’s hoping you’re the only Column 8-er in the family.
Denis Minehan of Cooma writes: “On a tangent from the best vanilla slices, I offer an alternative universe. Travelling in South Africa I spotted the following sign at a cafe in Franschhoek, just outside of Cape Town: ‘Come and try the worst coffee one woman on Tripadvisor had in her life.’ Talk about turning a negative into a positive.”
More on the inferior: “The worst vanilla slices were in the tuck shop at Sydney Boys’ High in the early 1950s,” claims Bob Phillips of Cabarita. “The fillings were such a bright yellow that they were surely a threat to the retinas and the name, ‘Yellowcake’, would probably have been more appropriate.”
Marilynne Watson of Tumut’s efforts in adapting felines to daylight saving (C8) is doubly hard: “Try two, adopted from the RSPCA, ginger pussycats. At least the dog is easily distracted by the orange rubber ball.” Jennifer Briggs of Kilaben Bay says, “Grey cats have the same design flaw.”
“I wonder if there’s a word for the disappointment you feel when treats from your childhood are underwhelming when tried again in your senior years,” muses Viv Mackenzie of Port Hacking.
Column8@smh.com.au
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