The discussion on undies (C8), “sent by male mail, is wearing so thin it is difficult to read,” reckons Joy Cooksey of Harrington, so, with that, and with thanks to Ted Richards, we’re switching to socks, darn it!
“In my 88 years, I have never seen or owned socks (or booties) marked R and L (C8),” declares John Flint of St Leonards. “So, unlike Ted, I have never had a weight on my mind about this.”
“Wait, don’t tell us Ted Richards; you have Ted from Play School tattooed onto your chest so you don’t forget your own name?” inquires Jenny Stephenson of Wollongong. Granny can’t help thinking that this is a particularly specific suggestion.
“Nineteen eighty-three, and I’m fresh in among 12 training squads at Victoria Police Academy,” recalls Roger Harvey of Balgowlah. “Everyone’s kit issue included eight pairs of socks. I asked Mum to sew a tiny red spot onto my 16. Sunday night, she gave them back, with RH stitched across the ankles of each and every one. Mummy’s little boy. Oh, how I copped it.”
“RBT, RDT and now Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) launched on Wednesday by acting assistant commissioner and traffic and highway patrol commander one David Driver!” notes Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook.
Spiders (C8) are still on the move: “I well remember pointing my motorbike back towards Darwin after a camping weekend in the ’70s,” writes Bob Edgar of Westmead. “I had just settled into a steady 130 km/h when a rather large huntsman emerged from behind the speedo and got a firm grip on the throttle cable. He enjoyed it immensely. I swear winked at me. No, I don’t drink rum any more.”
Mike Timbrell of Elizabeth Bay was in his glider over Bathurst a few years ago “when I noticed a redback emerge from under the air brake lever used for approach and landing. Whenever I hit a bit of turbulence, it crawled out and then retreated into hiding. What to do? I extracted my handkerchief through the maze of parachute and seat harness and wrapped it around my right hand. Then I increased the speed to 100 knots, hoping for more bumpy air and waited. Eventually, I squished it. Sorry mate, it was either you or me.”
We’re going to wrap up the mobile spider tales now so that our friend Susan Bradley of Eltham (Vic) can get “a decent night’s slumber.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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