Reporter’s diary

Press, 4 December 1981, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Even worse CAR STICKER spotting is a mini hobby for cyclists and drivers alike but it is increasingly difficult to find an original message plastered on the rear window. Vehicles a little worse for wear are always trying to “con” us that their garage-mate is a Rolls Royce. But the latest variation was by a reader on an old bomb about town: “My other car is worse than this.” As a piece of oneupmanship, reports the reader, it was very.'hard to believe. ■ Digit donation WAIHI School, Winchester, is very proud of its museum

which has all sorts of odd things given by pupils, old boys and their families. Visitors at a recent open day at the school were intrigued by one exhibit in the biology section. Among the fourlegged chicken foetuses, unborn lambs and snakes was an exhibit marked “Michael Chaffey’s toe, donated by M. Chaffey.” Apparently the poor lad had lost an argument with a lawn-mower, but had the presence of mind to save the toe for the museum where it now rests in a small, glass bottle. Rampant roller ONE SOUTH Island family joining the drift north re-

cently decided that containerised transport was the best way to get the contents of their house shifted north. They duly assigned the job to an organisation which shall remain nameless. The container eventually arrived at their new home in the North Island. However, the movers had forgotten to secure properly one very large heavy garden roller which had gone on the rampage inside the container with every twist and turn in the route. Apparently there was not one stick of furniture left over 10cm high. Arch auction HOW MUCH would you dare

bid for an arch-look or a look of disdain? Live dangerously and find out tomorrow at a special auction during the Rudolph Steiner School’s annual Christmas fair. Along to help with the fun auction will be cast members from the Court Theatre, in costume. Items of real value, such as antiques, will be auctioned along with items that don’t look like much but are really worth quite a bit, such as a copper cartwheel tuppence from 1797, worth about $25. The cast members will put on their best arch, disdainful or haughty look for bidders. The old saying, “I wouldn’t give a fig for it,” will be put to the test as the

auctioneers try to find out exactly how much a fig is worth in these inflationary times. The auction starts at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow while the fair itself kicks off about 11 a.m. at the school grounds in Springfield Road. Invaders FRENCH pinball machine makers and users are not as concerned by the Space Invaders video invasion as they are by their own Government. Pinball supporters marched through the streets of Paris recently behind h horse-drawn hearse' carrying

a pinball machine. They were protesting about a new $360 annual tax on each of the machines, which are called “flippers” in France and are familiar sights in about 179,000 cafes. Even worse is the ban on Space Invaders instituted in the Philippines by President Marcos. Anyone caught playing the machines is liable for a $650 fine and 12 years in jail. President Marcos says the video machines are corrupting and weakening the resolve of the Filipino youth. But the Filipino youths aren’t all that impressed. One lad had quit school to play all day in the machine arcades and “be happy’.”