Reporter’s diary

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Aversion therapy A BACK-TO-NATURE man living on the outskirts of Christchurch thought he had his small holding pretty well sorted out, except for one thing — his dog was- an inveterate hen-chaser. Nothing could cure the dog of the habit, he no doubt believing ’ that the thrill of terrorising the hapless hens outweighed even the sternest reprisals. Lounging in front of television late one evening, the small-holder had a brainwave. He grabbed the • sleeping dog, hauled him outside, and, before he' knew what, was happening, pushed . him into> the pitch-dark henhouse and shut the door. The results were spectacular, with the yelps, of the dog mingling with the cacophony ,pf the rudely-awakened Jhens milling round him. The man 'swearsGihis ./dog' .has< not chased a hen since.

Bridle Path walk .SOME 400/..people. .are expeeted to take- part : in this 'year’s; Bridle Path walk k on December \ 12.. The walks were beguii by a former

Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr John Collett, in 1968, and mark the arrival of the First Four Ships on December 16, 1850. The pioneers carried their goods over the Port Hills to establish Christchurch and the plains settlement. The walks are held on the Sunday closest to the anniversary date each year but are in the opposite direction — from Ferrymead to Lyttelton. . When they were begun 1300 or so made the hike, but . numbers have dwindled since then. Everyone who leaves Ferrymead will be given a leaflet pointing but historic sights. Those who complete the walk to Lyttelton will, as usual, receive a certificate prepared by the Lyttelton Borough Council to record their performance. The walk is between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Buses will leave for Ferry- : mead from Cathedral Square at 12.30 p.m/and from Lyttelton at 1 p.m. Buses will leave Lyttelton after the walk from 3.15 pm. or ' thereabouts. confessions THIS may . help to get .those Royal “exclusives” that the

Fleet Street tabloids like to run into their- proper perspective. In the recent frenzy over Prince Andrew’s girlfriend, the sex-movie actress, Koo Stark, a journalist on the “Suh” newspaper telephoned a Mr Giles O’Bryen. The journalist explained that the “Sun” was about to run pictures of Koo Stark, stark-' ers, and wanted a quote from her. Mr O’Bryen had never met, seen, or heard of .Miss Stark in his life,’ but t game for a laugh, he-decided to play the journalist along. He gave her the' name of his sister. Within the hour the journalist arrived on the sister’s -tioorstep.' Get lost, the sister told her. In spite of this, the next, day another “Sun” journalist' telephoned Mr O’Bryen. They met at the Ritz,and £5O changed hands. Mr O’Bryen then told the journalist a story made tip on the spot about Koo’s Sex life, her future plans, and so on. The next day the “Sun” had •ah “exclusive”: “Koo

ready to quit Britain.” Mr O’Bfyen gave the £5O to charity, and then spilled the beans to the weekly “New Statesman” - for . another . £5O. . 7

Lunch with view GUESTS lunching at the. celebrated Portage Hotel in Kenepuru Soiitid near Picton can how look up through a glass roof at native wood pigeons in the trees outside. And vice versa . A glassfoofed, glass-walled extension has been /added to the old farmhouse dining room as part of a $400,000 facelift of the hotel.- When the new owners, Thelma and Graham •Cains; were planning the extensions Mrs Cains suggested that people inside the building should be able to see the : native birds;, The result is the

glass extension 'into the grove of trees and under its branches. -At- night the trees are floodlight; giving an im- : - Esioh of dining in the . The hotel, which began ' life last century as a farmhouse and until a;few years ago was accesible only by sea, will have a gala reopening on December 1. Much of the old building has been

retained in the refurbishing. At the. reopening guests will enjoyiVan alfresco lunch on fhe lawn at the'edge of the water where all visitors used to arrive by boat. . . ,

Aussie chic PROOF that the sun has finally set on the once-great United States: it is now chic to be Australian in New York. This shattering news is reported, it is true, by an Australian journalist working there, but he has convincing evidence. The Australian television series, “A Town Like Alice,” won a gold medal for best television drama at the New York Film and Television Festival recently. Australian rock performers such as AC-DC, Air Supply, Rick Springfield, and Men At Work' are enjoying unprecedented success on the American market. Australian movies are a big hit. The journalist also reports a conversation he overheard at a ritzy Manhattan restaurant between two polished , and well heeled New. York ladies. One said to the other: “I want an Australian.” “Why?’’ her companion asked. The first reeled off a list of the imagined virtues of Australian men. Then she revealed what may b : e the clue to the whole: mystery; she had never met an Australian.