Two Day International (thanks John Lees of Castlecrag) patron Christopher Pears of Armidale has been in Melbourne for a few days to see the cricket. “No, I don’t want to talk about it. But on a lighter note, I couldn’t help but notice a tattoo shop on Nicholson Street that offered to do tattoos ‘while you wait’. The mind boggles as to what the alternative might be.”

Margaret Grove of Concord admits that “Natasha Lee has pointed out that I’m lying when I tick the ‘I am not a robot’ box [C8], since I’ve had two knee replacements”. Sounds like this thread has done a bit of a circuit.

One who can relate is Paul Anlezark of Kahibah: “There’s a line in one of the Star Wars films where Vader is described as ‘more machine than man’. Having had a decent number of operations myself, I don’t think I’m there yet, but can see a day when I’m more spare parts than originals.”

“If David Gordon is wrong about Rob Woof and Peter Woof [C8], he might be accused of barking up the wrong tree!” posits a concerned Brian Kidd of Mount Waverley (Vic).

“I recently attended King Lear at the Belvoir with tickets acquired online,” writes Edward Loong of Milsons Point. “Lo and behold, the person sitting adjacent was a friend, her tickets also obtained online. What are the odds? As she lives at Lavender Bay, she gave me a welcome lift home – the play ended at 10.45pm. You wouldn’t read about it except in C8.”

“The escort service for tourists was not just a Norwegian scheme,” says Garrett Naumann of Cammeray. “On my many visits to Sweden, we were greeted at Trelleborg by a predictably beautiful [that explains the ‘many visits’ – Granny] young guide who gave us directions to a great camping ground at Beddingestrand.”

“I must get out more,” muses Greg Flynn of Turramurra. “If ‘an attractive young lady’ told me she worked as an escort when I arrived in a Scandinavian town, my first thought wouldn’t be: ‘Oh, she’s a tour guide’.”

“My niece, Rachel Rose, is visiting from Johannesburg,” informs Rhoda Silber of Manly. “I asked my brother, Gus, for his shopping list: Anzac biscuits and a print edition of C8. So, as we speak, Granny, you are jetting back on QF 63, where Gus is waiting eagerly for Rachel Rose and you!”

Column8@smh.com.au

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