In a recent column, Peter Miniutti of Ashbury reminisces about the cycling snobbery he observed in the 1960s, where the type of card pegged to your bike wheels was seen as a classifying feature. Donald Hawes of Peel recalls the different handlebars used by girls and boys in his rural city, noting that it took him years to realize that the upturned racing handlebars were meant to be down. Peter Pocock of Hornsby reflects on the lost art of needlework, sharing memories of his mother teaching him to darn socks and sew on buttons before he emigrated. Llieda Wild of Eastwood also recalls her skill in needlework, sharing that her mother failed to teach her how to knit.
Coral Button of North Epping humorously compares a comment on a school report to the critiques she received from her Latin teacher, reflecting on how the feedback would sound in Latin. The segment ends with a quote from John Lees of Castlecrag, offering words of wisdom to Anthony Clark by referencing Spike Milligan’s mother’s advice about licorice. Chris Hornsby of Bayview seeks clarification on the phrase “a right-angle tangent” in a recent radio discussion. The column also revisits airline acronyms, with Alastair Wilson of Balmain and Fee MacGregor of Randwick providing amusing alternative interpretations for QANTAS and TAP, respectively.
Lyn Langtry of East Ryde shares a modern twist on the classic childhood game of playing shop, mentioning that her grandchildren now have a shopping set with a credit card swiper and till, predicting that these items will soon be replaced by a phone and a van for home delivery. The segment includes a call for reader submissions to the column, encouraging individuals to share their quirky anecdotes, questions, and observations. The diverse range of topics covered in the column showcases the wit and humor of the contributors, as well as their ability to find nostalgia and amusement in everyday experiences and reflections on the past.
