labor of love indeed

To David Sayers of Gwandalan: “The mention of Armstrong Siddeley (C8) brings back memories in the Sayers household. Penelope, mother and wife of the aforementioned clutch disc duo (Japanese brand btw) whose uncle was John Silkin, a minister in the Wilson and Callaghan Labor governments in Britain in the 1970s and who owned an Armstrong Siddeley. Keeping the beast in petrol made up a large part of his Parliamentary salary, while the cost of a service represented a whole other level of pain. The AS was mercifully retired when Mrs Thatcher sent it to the opposition benches.”

“The herald CBD article on leaking a do-not-leak memo reminded me of a report that in the 1950s President Eisenhower sent a memo asking his cabinet members to stop leaking to the press,” writes Pasquale Vartuli of Wahroonga. “Of course, the memo itself was released to the press within 24 hours.”

“I planned my arrival as a migrant in Australia after February 1966 so as not to have to deal with pounds, shillings and pence (C8), but still I was confused by all the talk about unhappy cows until I realized how ‘gloomy Guernsey” was Aussies garbled the pronunciation of their new money,” says Enfield’s Richard Keyes.

Next up is a dodgy recipe (C8) of the liquid kind. Randi Svensen of Wyong recalls his late mother’s fondness for gin, lime and water in the evenings: “One day, when I was feeling particularly grown up, I offered to make it for her. Gin: check. Lime spatter: check. Water chilled in a jug in the refrigerator: check. Except that the “water” was actually fish stock, which she made for Norwegian fishballs. That was definitely a time when fish and water didn’t mix.”

Looking for an effective binder? Collaroy’s Richard Black says his wife Kim Wilson was working on an archaeological dig at Macquarie University in Egypt a few years ago when it was her turn to cook and she accidentally used plaster of paris to make the meatballs. “They apparently looked good enough to eat it, but no one was willing to try it after the first one was tasted.”

“Don Bain, it seems Costa Livin (C8) is doing pretty badly. Maybe he should talk to Surgeon Prices,” suggests Mangerton’s George Manojlovic. “Only entertain Costa if he’s bringing plants,” adds Bowral’s Caz Willis.

Column8@smh.com.au

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