Reporter’s diary

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Rash dash SOME time before his retirement, Mr Graham White made a rash bet with his fellow North Canterbury Catchment Hoard workers that he could outstrip them in a 200 m sprint. Mr White retires as a water rights officer this week, and his colleagues lined up at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday to put him to the test. Mr White, aged 60, zoomed past the finishing line in the middle of the bunch of 12 runners, most of whom were young bloods

at least half his age. The winner’s time was a respectable 27.15. There may be a rematch of the same event before Mr White leaves to compete in the Veterans’ World Track and Field competitions in Melbourne in December. Age-old problem STAFF at liquor outlets seem to be especially sensitive about under-age drinkers while the blitz on drinking drivers is on. Rigorous demands for proof of age may niggle

some impatient customers but others have been impressed. One colleague was still glowing days after having battled her way into a bottle store with her husband; she is 25 and he, at 27, is a veritable antique; both had to produce identity cards — and loved every minute of it. Loosely speaking A candidate in a recent business studies examination was asked to write about the terms he would expect to find in a contract of employment. Ac-

cording to his answer, they would include provision for “time off in loo.” War of words A new book for those who like to be multi-lingual to the sixth degree has just been published: a dictionary of 8000 “key military words and phrases — sufficient for all normal communication on military matters” for French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic and English speakers who have difficulty with American. Traditionalists reared on “Boys’ Own Annual" stuff will be pleased to know that words such as “Roger” and “Wilco” are still used. But phrases such as “Halt, who goes there?” and “Hands up” are now redundant. It comes as something of a surprise to discover that the military still talk to each other; the impression is that they send over a bomb whenever they have something to say. Swinging bit? THINGS must be rough in North Canterbury. The Women’s Institute group there has made an urgent request for a 78 recording of “Learning to Play Golf,” originally performed by Dick Murdoch and either Arthur Askey or Sid James. Failing the record, the group is desperate enough to settle for the words only. Why anyone should want to learn to play golf urgently is a mystery. If anyone can help, please contact Mrs M. E. Earl, Box 77, Hawarden, phone 44-183. Useless — to a degree THE visiting American conductor, William Hall, naturally enough has a music doctorate. He told delegates attending the Choral Federation Conference during the week-end how he overheard his young son playing doctors and nurses with a little girl. “Is your father a real doctor?” she asked the lad. “Yes, but he’s the sort who can’t help anybody,” came the reply. —Jenny Feltham