Easing of restrictions could lead to a dry argument

John Walter of Atlanta, Georgia (US), has a question for the beachside brains trust: “The mayor of a coastal town in California has opened the beach, but people can only walk on the ‘wet’ sand. Perhaps my Australian friends can help in telling us how to get over the dry sand.” Better get a bucket.

Roma McDonald of South Maroubra has actually seen the self-isolation situation bring people together: "With the loosening of travel, I reflect how my family have kept in touch during the COVID-19 crisis. Each week a member organises a Zoom meeting, where we connect with those in Canberra and Sydney. It’s a great opportunity to catch up on family news and we have a 10 question quiz. It’s my turn this week to arrange the quiz. It keeps my 92-year-old brain functioning!"

"Given that myopia is the term for short-sightedness, I imagine when the Alan Jones story is made into a movie, it will be a myopic," reckons Scott Illingworth of Kiama. Get the picture?

And now, a song with a place-name (C8) and a story: "Linga Longa in Yarrawonga was written by an American soldier who had never been to Australia. His Aussie mate who was killed next to him often talked about his beloved home town, Yarrawonga. His mate wrote the song for him," says Robyn Hansen of Pennant Hills. "And then there's Rita Schneider's classic North Coast anthem, Stuttering Flo from Bangalow from her best-selling album Rita Raves On," adds Malcolm Mann of Tomakin. Janet Morrissey of West Wollongong recalls When Jack and Jill went up the Yackandandah Hill. “Google fails but it was definitely part of my growing-up in Albury's 1940s and 50s.”

From song to film (C8). Lynne Egan of Glenbrook writes: "If we are going to start on suburbs in movies, I can remember how proud and excited I was as a child to see Punchbowl train station feature in They’re a Weird Mob. It was forever known as Punch-bloody-bowl from there on by the locals."

"James Moore says Lincoln’s Gettysburg address (C8) was 272 words — a nightmare for the local postie," thinks Jim Dewar of North Gosford.

To be perfectly frank, Don Bain of Port Macquarie reports that "On opening a can of ‘six skinless hotdogs’, I found just three delectable doggies occupying the space of a half-dozen. Social-distancing sausages – what next?"

Column8@smh.com.au

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