“So, my local-to-work service station has a sign advertising ice for $5 a five-kilogram bag, or $3.25 for two kilograms of Premium Ice,” reports Bruce Moxon of Toongabbie. “What, pray, is ‘Premium’ ice? Is it made from fresh, not frozen, stuff? Is it similarly not made from dehydrated ice?”
When it comes to reprehension, Barry Brown of Manly (C8) appears unflappable: “Oh dear, I’ve ruffled Prudence Mitchell’s feathers. However, she is wrong on several counts. Scaring birds commenced with scarecrows, so you farmers should be ashamed of yourselves for protecting your crops. Scaring birds is not illegal and, lastly, I’m actually fond of birds – just not koels.”
The fly-by continues with Odille Esmonde-Morgan of Bridgewater (Tas) pointing out that koels “smash the eggs and kill the young of native birds to lay their own eggs for the native birds to raise. Their behaviour is far more repugnant and dangerous to our native birds than their call. Anything that drives them off is a good thing.”
Speaking of birds, it might already be time to don the ice-cream-container hat: “I’ve just been dive-bombed by a maggie on my morning walk,” says Alison Brooks of Hope Island (Qld). “Is this the first of the season? It’s not even spring yet!”
We’re hoping it’s safe to include an item from George Manojlovic of Mangerton again. If not, we apologise unreservedly in advance. Here goes: “Recently, I discovered something quite remarkable that I must share. In some countries, baby eels (elvers) are considered a delicacy, so locals cultivate a tasty green herb, which is used to lure the eels. The herb is called elvers parsley and, while nibbling on it, they’re caught in a trap.”
In the interest of Byron Shire bonhomie, Jim Rogers (C8) wondered “what a normal person is”. The replies are many, and while Wolf Kempa of Lithgow simply states that “a normal person doesn’t know any influencers”, and Peter Conner of Pennant Hills “always thought that ‘normal’ applied to other people”, some went into more detail, like our friend Anthony Dennis of Holland Park West, who reckons: “A normal person is someone who reads Column 8 every day, occasionally attempts to get their thoughts considered, and rarely gets those ideas published.”
Hugh McGinley of Drummoyne thinks: “Obviously, the desire for more NORMAL people to visit Byron Shire refers to their acronym: No Obvious Reconstruction of My Appearance Lately.”
Column8@smh.com.au
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