“Is it true that Australia Post employees work at Strathfield Post Office correcting the postcodes to hopeful nearby suburbs (C8), Homebush, or Flemington?” queries John Dawson of North Parramatta. “Mind you, certain parts of Greenacre pay, or used to pay, lower council rates because somehow they were, or are, in the Strathfield Council area, and rates are based on ‘Unimproved Capital Value’.”
“Reading of the difference between Erko Heights and Erko Valley reminded me of a friend’s shirt that proudly claimed ‘I Conquered Mount Pritchard’,” says Colleen Burke of Drummoyne.
Col Burns of Lugarno asks: “Regarding Mary Poppins (C8), can any C8-er confirm the rumour that its star, Julie Andrews, once terminated her brand ambassadorship with a cosmetic company because their lipstick was too vivid, broke easily and gave her bad breath by reportedly announcing ‘this super-coloured fragile lipstick gives me halitosis’.”
“I use the tune of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious regularly in church,” writes Meri Will of Baulkham Hills. “It fits perfectly with the words of a hymn of gratitude for all things good. So long, Richard Sherman, and thanks for all the fun.”
“Recently at Bunnings I asked at the information desk where the toilets were,” recounts Warwick Dean of Frenchs Forest. “The answer from the young lady was ‘to use or buy?’ which brought a smile to my face. I suppose the answer would have been the same had I asked for the bathrooms – just a different aisle.”
Kerry Kyriacou of Strathfield writes from the merch table: “Rather than a secret handshake (C8), may I recommend a piece of unique jewellery to identify C8-ers in a group? I propose a signet ring in the shape of an octagon or a pair of octagonal earrings for the ladies, symbolic of the original column position in the Herald. To make the club more exclusive, I propose bronze for readers, silver for low-volume contributors and gold for those of us with eight or more published items. Am I encroaching on Masonic territory with this idea?” Not at all. Granny was just thinking how nice a mystic tie-pin would look.
“Our eight children have not been shy about their inheritance (C8),” laments Donald Hawes of Peel. “One wants ‘the cabinet you made (with Mummy’s lovely chinaware)’, another a player piano, another the clocks and so on. Recently, one son said he was moving a small flock of sheep into the paddocks. Hmm.”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments, please. Include
name, suburb and daytime phone