RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31061, 17 May 1966, Page 28

RANDOM REMINDER

SHOT IN THE DARK

A faint echo of the Rev. Bob Lowe’s “lousy lovers” comment may be found in this strange account of a Kiwi Honeymoon. There were two people taking part in it. One was the husband, a great strapping outdoor type of the huntin’ shootin’ fishin’ variety. The other was the wife, a demure, dainty little thing, with a suitcase full of frillies and an eyeful of stars. The destination of their honeymen was kept from her—a surprise, he said. And so it was. They were married in Wellington and they came down on the steamer express. She with her suit-

case, he with his car secretly packed with all the basic aids to pig sticking and deer shooting. And off they went to the bush. Her trousseau was not really suitable there: but he was a thoughtful husband. He provided her with a pair of stout tramping boots, as an unsolicited, extra wedding gift They spent their honeymoon, or part of it. in a bush-girt tent. She woke up in the middle of the night once, terrified at the strange coldness she could feel on her shoulder. “Don’t move, don’t breathe her husband said. He was using her shoulder at the time, to steady his aim in an attempt to bag an

opossum. As it was about the end of April, the night air was decidedly cool. But he was awfully good to her really. He had to go away for his shooting for a day or two, but he thoughfully provided her with a rifle, In case she had to defend herself against the wild pigs which were, he cheerfully told her, fairly common in those parts. And when, after a fortnight there, they left for home, he kindly carried her, across his shoulders like a sack of spuds. He had to: her feet were too blistered for use. The wonder of it is, they are still married. And they are happy. But they don't go shooting any more.