Column 8

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday January 6, 2009

Lynda Geppert of Narooma asks: "Why have all those teddy bears been nailed to the trees from Canberra to Bungendore on the Kings Highway?" She reports that some have been there for years, but others have been freshly impaled. Perhaps they are meant to serve as a warning to little children - naughty teddies who wouldn't eat their vegetables.

Irene Gilmore of Strathfield was distressed to see Easter eggs on sale in Target, Burwood. Margaret Camilleri of Lilli Pilli saw hot cross buns in Woolworths, Caringbah. The world has gone unseasonably mad.

Bed coverings continue to excite readers. Tony Howell of Cooloongup, WA, writes: "The half-metre-wide material strip across the end of hotel beds is to protect the bedspread from dirt from people lying on the bed with their shoes on." He adds: "I know I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, but I wanted to be the first for 2009."

Hilary of Pymble and Lynn Vigo of Wahroonga think the strip protects the bed from suitcases. Sheila Pitts of Epping thinks they should be used on CityRail trains to protect seats from dirty shoes. But Hans Lepold, general manager of Chifley Penrith Panthers, says they are called bed throws, and their function is purely decorative. Other sources call them bed runners and say they add "a stylish feel to bed presentation". So let us put that one to bed.

The black bunny found by Jason Smith on his doorstep in Cremorne is on the move, reports Lucette Downey of Northbridge. "I am a grandmother with six grandchildren, and while driving at the usual snail's pace in the Balmoral Beach car park in search of the elusive car space, we spotted a black bunny rabbit sitting quietly in the bushes." She thinks the rabbit is having his annual beach holiday, and resisted pleas to take it home.

Mike Forman of Nevada has copped a bucketful by suggesting the quart measure was used only in the US. Tom Barker of Shell Cove was one of many who pointed out that the quart (two pints) was in constant use in Australia and Britain based on the imperial, not the US, gallon. James White of Eden Park, Victoria, writes of Americans: "Their silly gallon is based on the wine gallon (eight pounds), whereas the real one is based on the ale gallon (yes, real ale) and was updated to exactly 10 pounds of water in 1824." We cannot concur with his following slur. "They never have got anything right, and never will, and still cannot make beer either."

More independent electrics. Elaine Jones of Lake Cathie reports: "When we turn our ceiling fan on or off our security lights at the front and back of the house turn on." Her touch lamps are not affected. She asks: "Are we alone?" No, Elaine, not if you believe Special Agent Fox Mulder.

Another fantastic light-tripping comes from Moire Berman of Balgowlah Heights. Her flashing Christmas tree lights lit up but refused to flash for 10 days, then flashed for six days, then reverted to a constant state. She says: "I am tempted to leave the tree up for another week or so, just to see if they will start to flash again." Any flashing experts out there?

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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