Random reminder

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 47

Random reminder

SPILLING THE BEANS

Anyone driving past a certain wellkept garden in a suburb of the city after “The Big Blow” in October could be excused for thinking one particular household was trying to bring a new meaning to the word “houseproud,” or aiming for new heights in fussiness. It seems that their small dog liked to recline on a very comfortable, but exceedingly ancient bean bag, watching the world go by far from the shelter of the front porch. Came the week-end of “The Big Blow” and the small dog very sensibly sought shelter inside — leaving his beanbag now without an anchor — to make a bid

for freedom and flight across the lawn in a sudden fierce gust of wind. Being rather ancient — the bean bag, not the dog — was also in a bad state of repair, and shed most of its contents in its travels, leaving a snow-like covering of white polystyrene beads over the entire surface of the front lawn. These are not the easiest of things to pick up, especially when there is something like several thousand of them. That is why in the cool light of early morning, one very embarrassed householder was seen to be vacuuming the front lawn, with a furtive glance at passing cars!