Reporter’s diary

Press, 7 December 1987, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Oh, boy! HIDDEN problems lie in imported toys. A Christchurch woman was dismayed to discover that the pretty doll bought for her daughter transpired upon investigation to be male. The cute face.

which might resemble that of a German boy, was hardly similar to a New Zealand urchin. The doll went back to the shop and the assistant agreed to a replacement only after considerable wrangling. “After all,” he patiently said many times, “it IS a German doll, madam." Explains it all, presumably. Singular songs THERE is news of two more appropriate songs played over the telephone while callers have been put on hold. One reader was treated to the sympathetic refrain of “Alone again, naturally!” while another, wanting to contact the loans department

of a Christchurch bank, heard “If I were a Rich Man.” Mini-fighter AN 84-year-old woman barely 150 cm (sft) tall appeared in court in Cornwall recently, charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest Magistrates were told she had kicked and hit two women police officers and grabbed one by the hair, pulling out a handful. She had been subdued after a third, male officer, joined the melee. Punch lines

PUNCH and Judy shows have been the delight of crowds for three centuries

ana are likely to remain so. The tradition is essentially English but it is thought to have originated from a story by an Italian seventeenth century comedian, Silvio Fiorillo. Ensuring that it continues in the face of vigorous competition from video games and such, Kerry the Jester, of Natural Magic, is developing his own Punch and Judy shows for Christchurch.

Although he has researched the plays and techniques thoroughly, he would welcome any experienced help from people who have worked closely, with Punch and Judy. Anyone who can help pass on the tradition should contact Kerry at

Natural Magic, or see the Wizard. Unbelievable, but IN a general knowledge test given to first-year college undergraduates in Indiana recently, 25 per cent of the students did not know that people who live in England speak > English. Ham-burghers? THE population of Christchurch is 295,000. The Merivale MacDonald’s Restaurant has, within a month of opening, had about as many customers as that Someone must be eating a lot of hamburgers. —Jenny Feltham