Reporters Diary

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 2

Reporters Diary

Medical jog ARTHUR Lydiard, New Zealand's father of the jogging cult, has a surprisingly’ big following in London. Hundreds of people — young and old, men and women — are out every day, jogging through the parks. Last week the cult had an enthusiastic boost from the medical profession. About 150 doctors took part in a mass jog, organised by’ the “General Practitioner” journal, to show they w’ere prepared to practice what they preach. They’ turned out in all manner of gear — a turbanned Sikh, middle-aged men in rugby jerseys, and one gentleman in plus fours. According to one correspondent, “there were nasty scenes at the bar as

a sweaty’ mass of dyhydrated doctors fought for tankards of lager-and-lime.” Defence tactics JOGGERS and others who have to deal with angry dogs got free and forthright advice in “The Times” this week from Dr Gavin Simpson, of Lancashire. “Roar at the offending animal at the top of your voice and fix it with a malevolent gaze, bearing the unmistakeable message that if its hostility’ continues you will seize it by the throat and throttle the life out of it. This usually leads to subservient retreat.” Dr Simpson says he has irrefutable proof that this aggression works: “I ■ was last bitten in anger by a dog 40

years ago, and I have never been assaulted by an owner.” Invisible fish THE Americans, it seems, will buy anything that has a price on it. Last year brought the “pet rock” craze, and a Washington man is now selling slightly tinted tap water in a small cellophane bag for $1 — complete with an invisible fish. He has sold about 200 in gift shops in the last six months. On bike trail ROOM 9 at Windsor Primary School has written to “The Press” complaining about the picnic area on Lake Terrace Road, at the end of Lakewood Drive. The area has been recently landscaped by the Christchurch City Council but it is already being “spoilt by trail bikes,” says the letter. “It seems such a waste of money and effort to make such a lovely spot, if people are never going to be able to enjoy it.” The deputy-director of parks and recreation (Mr N. W. Drain) says that the council will certainly look into the complaint, although it has not heard about trail motor-cycles being used there. “Trail bikes are a real problem for public reserves,” he says. “If motor-cyclists have been riding across that picnic area we will probably have to put up barricades, and have the area controlled by one of our wardens. Signs warning people not to ride motor-cycles are pretty useless.”

t dog’s life A YOUNG man driving home through the Lyttelton tunnel on his motorcycle on Thursday evening had to stop half-way through the tunnel when he found he dropped something off the back of his machine. Needless to say, the Tunnel Authority men were prompt to investigate the hold-up and the upshot of their inquiry was that his keys were taken from him and he was taken to the police station for a breath test. Fortunately for the young man, the breath test proved negative. The next morning, however, he had to collect his motor-cycle from the Tunnel Authority headquarters in Heathcote.

Rather than catch a bus, he took advantage of the fine day and walked oyer the Bridle Path with his dog. It was not until he reached the tunnel plaza that he realised, it might be a little difficult getting his dog home again on the back of the motor-cycle. But the tunnel staff were most kind. The young man rode his motor-cycle home, and the dog followed in a Tunnel Authority vehicle. Yesterday morning, when the same young man was paying his tunnel toll on the way into town, the friendly toll collector asked after the dog’s health. Laic abiding MINDFUL of the continuing watch over the sobriety of drivers by the Ministry of Transport, a young St Albans woman decided against driving home one night last week. She had been at a hotel, and then to dinner at a restaurant, and was feeling decidedly the worse for wear after countless glasses of wine. She left her car locked and parked in town and took a taxi home. But when she returned to collect her vehicle the next day it had been stolen. It was recovered but minus the battery. Saint’s days

THE VATICAN’S 3000 civil servants are most anxious to learn the next Pope’s Christian name, because traditionally they are awarded a holiday on the day of the year devoted to a saint of that name. Cardinal Pericie Felici is not a popular choice, because there is no St Pericles. There are equal reservations about Cardinal Paolo Bertoli, whose name day (St Paul) is a holiday in Rome anyway, and Cardinals Giovani Benelli and Giovanni Silvestre are put in a similar category — the day devoted to St John falls during the Christmas holidays. Key man AN announcement outside a country church advertising speakers for the following Sunday, a reader reports, proclaimed that at 7 p.m. the speaker would be a Mr Chubb. The subject of his talk, “The Man with the Kevs.” .

-—Felicity Price