Random Reminder

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 39

Random Reminder

COME FLY WITH ME

Not only God moves in mysterious ways. New Zealanders do some queer things when they are on the hoof. A New Zealander has only to announce an intention to take a trip overseas and he is deluged with requests to take this or that with him, or. more often, this or that back. Relatives flock in, friends call him up. and he often winds up with a shopping-delivery list of appalling length. He might be asked to convey a pair of used running shoes to a distant cousin in London, nail polish to a niece. Anything, apparently, is expected to go. ' A Christchurch man recently set off for a trip to the United States, but his wife preferred to stay at home. But they had a daughter there, so the poor fellow was required to take with ’him some juicy New Zealand chops for the girl. Cooked of course, and carefully packed in a plastic covering. He caused a sensation with the customs officials at Hawaii. The discovery of the chops did not stay a secret very

long. The word got round, and within minutes the chops were in public view, as the customs officers crowding around, peering over each other's shoulders gibbering unintelligible but unmistakeable expressions of astonishment. The chops were pushed and poked by an intriguing finger, and the crowd grew. Major air terminals provide splendid facilities in their VIP lounges, and try to make the hoi-polloi feel reasonably comfortable too. But they do not have small dark cupboards in which highly embarrassed passengers can hide. Our hero looked desperately for a hole into which he could crawl. But in a flash, he was saved. The customs officers and spectators left him en masse, for a trail of liquid was spreading rapidly across the room. A carton of bottled beer had been brought in safely to Hawaii but something had gone’ wrong after that. A couple of the bottles were smashed and were leaving a spectacular trail behind • them. The owner? Another Kiwi, of course.