Random reminder

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 24

Random reminder

THE SHELL GAME

The work of the Christchurch Drainage Board can seldom be regarded as a romantic occupation. There are all those sewers to be laid, ditches to be dug. inspections to be made and even the Lake Districts of Bromley are not among New Zealand’s principal tourist attractions. One would not think that members of the board's staff went about their work making light-hearted quips about this and that; merry-making does not seem, somehow, to go with the job. The only diversion, one might suspect, is the Woolston cut. Not so. They are merry fellows in the board office overlooking the Avon at Cambridge Terrace. One of them, however. had something of a problem. He was advised to go on a diet. He is one of those remaining men who have wives

willing to prepare husbands' lunches, and every day she included a hard-boiled egg. part of the prescribed menu. This did not escape the attention of his fellows, and one day they substituted a fresh egg for the hard-boiled one. Came lunch time, and they sat about the table, waiting. Right on beat, the victim seized his egg and banged in on the table to fracture the shell. This he did most spectacularly. He immediately berated his absent spouse for forgetting to boil his egg. He tried to pick up the remains, and the yellow stuff oozed readily through his fingers. It was at that perfect moment that the camera, primed with coloured film, and at the ready, appeared. They have a notice board in the office, and no doubt this study in red and yellow is there, for posterity to savour.