RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33419, 28 December 1973, Page 13

RANDOM REMINDER

Tickling the Ivories Not all the stories coming out of Ireland are sorry ones of shooting and explosions. The Irish flair for the improbable and impossible can still be found here and there A Christchurch businessman, bom in Dublin, was listening to some friends discussing the apparent decline in moral standards. They referred, euphemistically, to how v ome people often seemed to mix others’ property with their own. The Irishman was able

to recall being employed years ago in an upper Clyde shipyard, where ships were being converted for some reason or another. At all events, all the fittings and fastenings had to be taken out. A ship came in and our hero was required to take stock of furnishings and fittings. A keen-eyed colleague spied a piano, and said wistfully that he would like it in his own home. “There’s no chance of that" was the reply. ’’Everything is documented, in and cut.” "It will be no trouble ’

was the soft-spoken answer. So the job went on, and its last day was reached. Our informant was highly surprised to notice his friend signalling to a crane man. And sure enough, there was the piano being swung away to an empty truck. The Christchurch trio of listeners were all interest. Did the rascal get the piano home? they asked “No. he didn’t” he replied. “The truck driver sold it on him on the way.’’-