Reporter’s diary

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

The scenery PORTABLE loos have become a common sight, if not always a welcome one. They add to the environment at the same time as they detract from it. Some, however, seem to grace the places where they stand. A regular bicycle commuter into Christchurch city centre thinks these four North Hagley Park port-a-loos might rank among the most scenic in New Zealand, perhaps even the world. The Summer Times loos, reflected in the calm waters of Lake Albert, just across the cycleway from Victoria Lake, provide a scene to gladden the heart. Missing cycle WHEN a young Japanese man came to New Zealand in September, he brought a specially-made touring bicycle, an Amanda, that has his family name punched into the front fork. The metallic orange pushbike was stolen from the back of a Richmond house where Hiroshi Hosada is staying. Mr Hosoda has been walking and riding the bus since the cycle went missing on December 17. He wants it to complete his travels around the South Island, Jand to visit the North Grand before he re-

turns home in July. If you have seen Mr Hosoda’s distinctive bike, or know how he can get it back, he can be reached through us. Gender bender A WOMAN who was treated at Christchurch Women’s Hospital was far from amused by the medical certificate she was given by the hospital. It has Christchurch Hospital printed at the bottom, and it might be assumed that its image of itself as a unisex institution has spread through the Canterbury Hospital Board system, but the woman thinks more consideration should be given by a hospital that treats only one sex. The standard “To Whom It May Concern” certificate says: “I hereby certify that in my opinion (fill in the blank) is suffering from (fill in the blank). He was first attended on (fill in the blank) and he should be able to return to work on (fill in the blank). The woman plans to protest to the head of Christchurch Women’s Hospital and the hospital board. Percy AN ADDINGTON magpie has gone missing from her wooden house and wire netting run, and the welMtoved bird is missed

family. Even the family’s other pets miss Percy, who was let out of her run once in a while for an amble around the garden. Unfortunately, the grey-backed bird that loves cat biscuits had learned to climb a tree in the yard and may have used that route to get above a fence and drop over to the other side. She was bothered by the heat at the week-end, and while her family was inside on Saturday night watching the Edinburgh Tattoo on television, she got away. Percy could whistle “Pop Goes the Weasel” and bark like a dog. She used to ride on the family dog’s back. She lived near the Southern Motorway, and could whistle the screeching of brakes on the road. She could also make the sound of the garage door opening and closing. The family has had Percy for seven years, and would like her back. If you have spotted her, they can be reached through us. Rev, rev

OH, the embarrassment. You do your best to make a good impression, and your machine lets you down. The other day, a dune buggie roared through the centre of Christchurch, racing from traffic light to traffic light as it jockeyed for position. It swerved in front of a taxi

and came to a stop at the Colombo/Kilmore Street lights. Its occupants gestured and remarked to the taxi, which had committed some imagined offence against them. They reversed and gave the taxi a bump. A Range Rover pulled alongside, and the dune buggy occupants turned their attentions to a lovely young woman in the passenger seat. She studiously ignored them. The lights changed, and they revved even harder to turn the corner. They stalled, and suddenly their gestures wilted. The woman, however, came to life. She broke into delighted laughter. Hello, granny? PUSH-BUTTON telephones are fun, and that is just the problem for some mothers whose toddlers are old enough to be saying “Hello” and not much else. The other day, the parents of a wandering boy heard him calling from the kitchen, where a telephone is mounted above a table. They found him standing on the table and holding the receiver, saying that Granny was on the line. It was the emergency service operator asking what the emergency was. The boy had punched 111. —Stan Darling