Reporter’s diary

Press, 29 June 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

No inflation NEARLY all the parking meters in Christchurch have been altered to take 10c coins. But this does not mean that 5c for 10 minutes is a thing of the past, and that parking fees are about to rise. A spokesman for the Christchurch City Council said that the 5c coin would still be useable. The wishwas to give a wider choice to motorists. He hoped that one day the meters would also be adapted to take 20c coins. The council agreed in April that there should be an increase in parking fees, but the price freeze may halt that. A ruling had yet to be given, the spokesman said. Lasting fame THE LINWOOD High School production of. “Bearskin,” a musical based on a Grimm Brothers , story, will end at the school hall tonight. But the melody will linger on. A former .teacher at the school, Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, comes from the Grimms' birthplace in Germany, and there is a small museum ’ there dedicated to the fairystory - writers. Photographs and a script of the Linivood High School production,, are

to be sent to the museum for permanent housing. Numbers game ... “THE ENGLISH rose to the occasion. Revealing tactical flexibility not hitherto typical of them, the English were superb in organising and completing their attacks.” This passage in a Russian newspaper, "The Times’’ noted, was not a Russian analysis of British victory in the Falklands, but about England’s win over France in the World Soccer Cup. "The Times" columnist went on: “it could be that the Russians will think of applying some lessons from the Falklands to football — including the odd spot of deception. The Soviet national coach, Konstantin Beskov, has a wily reputation. In 1945 when.. Moscow Dynamo toured Britain, Beskov was a half back. Dynamo were losing against Glasgow Rangers and brought on a substitute in the second half. They did not, though, send anyone off. The 12 Russians managed to force a draw.” John Adshead tried, or seemed ■ to try, something similar, against Scotland.

... victory pot THE OTHER major, event in British history in the last few weeks, the victory in the Falklands, has not been- overlooked by the souvenir trade. The Falklands Islands Office is advertising, world-wide, a silver-polished pewter onepint tankard. It costs about SNZI33. On it is the Falklands Islands coat of arms, and an inscribed history of the islands since 1592.

Royal dole THE BIRTH of the next-but-one King of England did not produce the flood of souvenirs that . his parents wedding did last year. Nappies and potties bearing a royal crest have been reported in certain patriotic shops, biit how else can a sharp businessman cash in one the big occasion? A “royal doll” at a regal price, that’s how. A Hampshire firm has produced. one in what it calls “beautiful original English porcelain.” Alresford Crafts, Ltd, says it has produced a limited edition of just 2500 dolls, for world-wide distribution. As a collector’s item, each doll wi>l carry a number with' "Rnval Baby 1982” on the

nape of the neck* on the porcelain head. The (sexless) doll is-dressed in a flowing lace christening gowh with puffed sleeves, petticoat and hooded .cape: the body measures 40cm while the gown reaches 66cm. Firm orders, Alresfords say, are coming in from all over the world, including Australia. The price for what the firm calls this “enchanting, covetable collectable item” is a cool $NZ233... On the wing

A FIRM of Hampshire brewers has won a double. After the Normandy landings in 1945 the firm gave the British troops there the first draught beer by lashing two nine-gallon casks under the wings of a Spitfire. Now the firm has put two 22-gallon casks of special bitter aboard the first available Hercules bound for Ascension Island and from there to the troops now on garrison duty in the’ Falklands. Close to home? FROM the property for sale column of an English Sunday newspaper.- “The Ultimate Retreat. Luxury cottage on tanks River Avon. Sleeps 4. Bath 7 miles.