“I confess to having an unhealthy fondness for the humble baked bean, in all its manifestations,” writes Peter Hayes of Port Macquarie. “Curry, chilli, ham or barbecue sauce are all to be savoured. However, I was recently tempted to try the latest offering: baked beans in tomato and Vegemite sauce. I ask Column 8 connoisseurs: is this marriage of two Australian icons a stroke of genius or an abomination?”
Michael McFadyen of Kareela notes that the NSW government has huge hoarding signs around construction sites at La Perouse and Kurnell, saying that they are replacing the wharves: “The wharves actually fell into the water in May 1974, almost 50 years ago, and have not existed since. Hardly a replacement.”
“Alas, I missed the deadline to redeem my Jetstar voucher from 2020,” laments Lilian Andrew of Mosman. “Now I wonder where I could have flown to on $2.12?”
Russell Hill’s mention of the USS Missouri in 1945 (C8) got the attention of John Hepworth of Haberfield. “Ahoy fourth cousin Russell. There’s another family maritime link between Australia and Japan. You and I share a great-great-great-grandfather, Captain Bourn Russell, who ‘invaded’ Japan at the helm of his own ship, the Lady Rowena, in the 1830s. Bourn explored, whaled and traded in the south and west Pacific for several years. Allegedly he had a serious stoush with a Japanese village who wouldn’t trade with him when he needed materials to repair his ship. He ultimately became an MLC in the NSW parliament.”
“Too right, Don Bain (C8) the ‘water stitch’ was to be avoided at all costs,” attests Janice Creenaune of Austinmer. “Quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter time at netball games in the ’60s, ’70s and beyond saw the orange divisions doled out for refreshment. The organisation was generally rotational from players and all important. Apart from juice stains on positional bibs, most of each quarter following breaks showed each player picking teeth and flicking their tongue to dislodge the orange debris, with game tactics and planned play moves sidelined.”
Andrew Mowat of Beecroft “had to laugh today at an advert for an ‘anti-anxiety dog bed’ which said, ‘Try it out yourself for 30 days. Risk-free.’ Might be worth a shot. I don’t know about you, Granny, but we’ve all got plenty to worry about these days. I’ll let you know how it goes. All the best for a stress-free week.” Woof!
Column8@smh.com.au
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