Reporter’s diary

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Un... YESTERDAY’S tale, “Shoe blue,” prompted a reader to tell of a friend who had to catch an early flight to Wellington. So as not to wake the rest of the household, he got dressed in the dark and left quietly for Christchurch Airport. It was somewhere between catching his plane and making his report to a select Parliamentaiy committee that he noticed he was wearing two suits at the same time — at least, the top half of one, which did not match the bottom half of another. Not one person pointed out his bizarre bicolouring, although they may have simply thought he was the indecisive sort.

.. .suitable PACKING suitcases holds the same dangers — especially if someone else does it for you. A man living in Zimbabwe, about to visit his stockbroker cousin in London, asked his houseboy to pack lug-

gage suitable for a month. He packed two shirts, two pairs of shorts and a tent. Mindful convention

ROLL up, egotists all, and enrol now for the Second World Genius Conference, which is being held in Tokyo from October 14 to 23. The brainchild of a Japanese entrepreneur, Yoshio Nakamatsu, who so far claims some 2400 inventions, the aim of this mind-boggling event is to “Discover Geniuses for the Twenty-First Century.” Geniuses at last year’s conference hardly brainstormed the waiting world. Between them, they invented only an automatic orange peeler, a tricycle that runs backwards, and a five-key-board piano that can be played without moving one’s hands.

Milking sufferers SUFFERING from a suspected allergy? Beware. The Food and Drug Ad-

ministration in the United States recently investigated a firm that offers to test samples of blood for rare allergies. Enclosing the $5lO fee, the F.D.A. sent a sample from a healthy Jersey cow, only to receive a startling result. A serious allergy to yoghurt, cheese and milk had been detected. Plug for rug “SELF-torture and Strenuous Exercise” has earned the Elmwood Players a place as one of the two Canterbury representatives to the South Island final of the New Zealand Theatre Federation oneact play festival, in Dunedin on August 6 and 7. Trying to polish the play, the director and cast are looking for an animalskin rug, complete with head. Tiger or bear would be ideal, but the director, Barry Grant, would settle for almost any animal. If anyone would be willing to lend it to the cast, who promise to take great

care of the beast, please get in touch with Barry Grant, telephone 495-180, during the day. Pull up! THE latest issue of “New Zealand Wings” magazine has the story of a British crop-spraying pilot, fatigued after three long days of operations, who crashed his car through a farm 'gate on the way home. He explained: “I pulled back on the wheel as soon as I saw the gate getting closer, but nothing happened.” Trying to please A receptionist at a massage parlour, giving evidence at the High Court this week, said that some clients did not like to give their ' proper names. “They could be Tom or Fred. It could be a doctor or a judge. No offence, your Honour. We cater for all sorts of people,” she said. And a titter ran round the courtroom.

—Jenny Setchell