Reporter’s diary

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

You mean the

actor? THE deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, accompanied by his press secretary, Ms Karren Beanland, stepped into a Christchurch office building for an appointment last Friday, to be met inside the front door by the security guard. Ms Beanland announced, “Geoffrey Palmer to see Mr such-and-such.” The security guard peered back suspiciously. "Geoffrey who?” Postal... ANOTHER bouquet for New Zealand Post, this time for Mrs Kim Carrie, of Christchurch, who has just received a postcard from one of her family in London, “remarking in awe that our latest letter was received in three

days.” Well done, N.Z. Post!

... notes THE chaps and chapettes of the sorting room probaby missed it, but Mrs Carrie sent them a message on the outside of the envelope she sent to "The Press.” Under a stamp carrying the word “Congratulations,” she added, “to N.Z. Post on a great job.” N.Z. Post replied, somewhat ungraciously, we feel, by franking the stamp with, “Show a return address on all mail.” Mrs Carrie had not. Goodness me! A CASHMERE reader tells us of her two-year-old talking pet magpie,

which has a fine repertoire, including the lyrics of “Pop Goes the Weasel,” and, incidentally, the gall to tell the Dobermann to shut up, when the need arises. But the full extent of her vocabulary was revealed about 2.30 a.m. last Thursday when the household was rattled awake by an earthquake, and the startled bird was heard to squawk, “Ooooh 5... t!” "She’s never said that word before,” insisted the owner.

Flight Lieutenant

Christensen

MR Patrick Grutzner, 215 Richardson Street, Middle Park, Victoria 3206, Australia, is seeking relatives of Flight Lieutenant Ar-

nold George Christensen, R.N.Z.A.F., who was part of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft 111, near Zagan, Western Poland, in 1944. He and his travelling companion, Squadron Leader James Catanach, R.A.A.F. (a relative of Mr Grutzner), were recaptured and executed. Of the 75 escapers, 50 shared the same fate, and their names are now inscribed on a memorial near the site of the camp. Mr Grutzner has recently visited the area, and offers photographs and other information to members of Flight Lieutenant Christensen’s family.

Plant auction IT goes without saying

that there will be lots of plants at the Roy Stokes Hall, Seaview Road, New Brighton, on Wednesday evening, October 19. The event is the New Brighton Horticultural Society’s plant auction, starting at 8 p.m. Visitors will be welcome, and supper provided. Thrillseeker!

AN editorial in the latest edition of The New Zealand Society of Soil Science magazine, on the risks of genetic engineering, puts the problem nicely in perspective: “We all balance risks and benefits every time we board a plane, drive a car, take medication, and live in Wellington!” —Nigel Malthus