Communities utilise their utensils
Chris Commens’ comments on the idea of some sort of neighborhood carpool (C8) have their defenders. Among them is Sue Scott, from Hornsby, who is reminded of her childhood in Wales: “When we moved into our house, one of our neighbors rang us and said we wanted to use the ladder if we needed one, and said the ladder was in the garage at number two. I now live in a flat and share my ladder with the neighbors on the block. No need for rules, just co-operation.”
“Here in Cobargo on the Far South Coast we have had a tool library for local people since the 2019/20 bushfires,” says Mary Williams. “For an annual fee, local people have access to a wide range of donated and purchased items, from power drills to trailers. Staffing and maintenance is done by local volunteers. It’s a great resource valued by all.”
Regarding the grandparent variations (C8), Andy Parkinson from Kiama agrees with this message: “My uncle was Birdie to his grandchildren. Better than Pa.” Similarly, Kareela’s Michael McFadyen says: “When I was little, I called my fraternal grandfather, MorPa. I’m still not sure if it was because there was another (more) Dad or because he lived in Morpeth.”
Some grandparents, like Bruce Horsburgh of Robertson, follow the long route: “With our first grandchild on the way, my wife was looking for a suitable name. For inexplicable reasons, our son suggested ‘Brian.’ That moved on to ‘Bad Brian,’ then BB, and so our six grandchildren now know him as ‘Bebe.'”
Is POTUS (C8) really the Good Shepherd? Woonona’s Russ Couch looks at the facts: “Christ-like Donald’s mother was indeed named Mary, but I don’t think Fred was a carpenter.” Gordon’s Hugh Moran takes a deeper dive: “Trump’s paternal grandmother had an interesting name, given her current narcissistic artwork; her name was Elisabeth Christ before she married a Trump from her neighborhood.”
“Besides Welkin (C8), there is another word Betsy Richens is not familiar with: dictionary,” says cheerful Alynn Pratt from Grenfell. Camperdown’s Julia Smart claims: “I actually know what Welkin is and reporter‘s Target Time puzzle hasn’t hit home for me lately.” This is smart.
“Waiting train passengers (C8) are train sprayers,” explains Mangerton’s George Manojlovic. “And their favorite place is Port Hacking.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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