Column 8
Whilst a flight from SIN to HEL (C8) "might sound like one of eternal despair", David Howard of Willow Vale saw that Qatar Airways is offering a return trip between the two places for about $800, which may well be the bargain of a lifetime.
While others debate the feasibility of a device-free dinner (C8) Colyn Pavey of New Lambton has successfully managed to do just that, a feat made all the more impressive given that his family contains six tech-loving Gen Y children. How is this possible? "Any person at the table who must check Facebook/emails/SMSs at dinner are to hand their phone to the person two places to their left who will then open and read the message. Suddenly checking incoming messages has become less important and phones are left in another room on silent."
When her grandchildren arrived at her home earlier than expected Kaye Price of Bathurst told them that while she was in the shower she would leave them to their own devices. "But Grandma," wailed one, "we didn’t bring them today."
The recent talk in the news about breaking the seal of the confessional would not have been an issue during the youth of Margaret Wilkinson of Rydalmere, as her parish priest was old, Irish and very deaf. We're imagining Father Jack Hackett of Craggy Island here, but suit yourselves. Margaret relates the tale of a woman kneeling in the curtained confessional in her church on a Sunday, whispering to the priest: "I've been swearing, Father." "Spake up!" he called. Again she says, slightly louder: "I've been swearing." "Spake up!" he yelled. "I've bloody well told you twice and I'm not bloody well telling you again," she shouted back as she rushed out.
In a previous life – different profession, different country – the London-based boss of Craig Lilienthal of Wollstonecraft "received a letter from a happy customer asking him to thank Craig, Lilly and Thal for the excellent assistance they had provided him".
Talk of church ministers' car number plates (C8) reminded Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach of one minister at a church camp who "drove a V8 car with the number plate THE REV, which clearly worked for both the man and his hot shot vehicle". Russell Hill of Hobart adds that "the master of MONA in Hobart, David Walsh, has his own reserved car parking spot. He also has one for his mistress. They are marked as GOD and GOD'S MISTRESS".
Column8@smh.com.au