“The mention of the rugby game at Cowra (C8) reminded me of a hurling match we watched in Athlacca, a tiny village in Ireland,” writes Mary Billing of Allambie Heights. “Hurling is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the world and this was proven by the number of onlookers with arms, legs and heads wrapped in plaster. The ref was permanently puffing on a cigarette and chatting to anyone who would listen while boys limped on with water at irregular times. An ambulance was on hand for the next round of injuries. Athlacca won.”
Marjie Williamson of Blaxland reckons “Column 8 contributors (C8) should be known as TLTC – standing for The Lateral Thinkers Club, as most contributors take a ‘concrete’ happening, and divert it into an amusing, way-out episode.”
The following noticeboard item from Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills, indicates he, too may be of use to the Brethren (C8): “Dog, free to good home, yaps a lot. Give me a ring before you arrive, and I’ll nip next door to get it.”
“Regardless of Stephen Smith’s ‘is there really a Dog’ quandary, this is indeed an existential concern of my dog Toby,” thinks Julian Neylan of Dulwich Hill. “I tell those happy to indulge me, about the philosophy classes he runs for discerning pooches, with the theme ‘To-by or not To-by, that is the question’.”
“President Poincare Parade (C8) is a magnificent specimen of street naming, and its mention set me wondering how common this fancy of alliterative addresses is,” ponders Paula Gard of Marrickville. “There’s a botanic set of thoroughfares at Burleigh Heads, Queensland – Acanthus Avenue, Banksia Broadway, Cedar Court, Deodar Drive, Elder Entrance (this one I always thought a mite jarring in a place once imagined as one of God’s waiting rooms), Ferny Fairway, Gardenia Grove, Hibiscus Haven and Lantana Lane. Possibly, Australia’s coastline is awash with this phenomenon.”
Although it doesn’t make her list, Nola Tucker of Kiama remembers Sirens (C8) fondly: “Norman Lindsay’s romp with models was a great tourist draw to the Blue Mountains, but I have no memory of wandering marsupials. We visited the house and invested in some prints and a meal in the excellent café. I also remember that my granddaughter, Claire, was fascinated by the statues outside.” Nola is kinder than Hal Hinson of The Washington Post who described it as “warmed-over D. H. Lawrence”.
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