Reporter’s diary

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Dressed up INTERNATIONAL airline staff enjoy a perk that many lesser mortals would envy — ultra cheap international air travel. But, conforming with the saying that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, even staff air travel has its conditions. The latest issue of “Qantas News” advises staff of minimum dress and grooming standards expected of them when they fly. Suits or sports jackets and slacks for the men; dresses, trouser suits or snappy coordinates for the women, in first or business class. Those flying in economy class must wear “casual, neat co-ordinated clothes." Ranked as unacceptable attire in any class are track suits, tank tops, T-shirts, jeans, shorts and thongs. Bare feet and bare midriffs are also a no-no.

Brought to you by NOW THAT we’re all friends again this morsel of maritime trivia could be worth dropping into your next heated debate on the Anzac frigates. Australia has chosen, and wants New Zealand also to choose, the Germandesigned Meko 200 ship. This vessel is designed by Blohm and Voss of Hamburg, a yard with more than 90 years of naval construction history. It is not widely known that Blohm and Voss built the battleship Bismark, scourge of the Royal Navy during World War 11. Another famous German wartime ship to slip down the Blohm and Voss slipways was the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, another vessel that gave the Admiralty many sleepless nights.

The empire strikes

back? FURTHER to Saturday’s “Reporter’s Diary” item about Mikhail Gorbachev possibly being the last tsar, as predicted by Nostradamus, and presiding over the end of the Russian empire, it is worth noting that it was 21 years ago yesterday that Russian troops invaded Czechoslovakia, and 21 years ago today that they arrested Alexander Dubcek, whose increasingly liberal Government was what so upset them in the first place. Russia now stands by almost benignly as a non-communist Government is installed in Poland. Times have changed. Humble pie THE JOURNALISTIC ego of a colleague was deflated recently by a

gentleman wno informed her that he always bought “The Press” — because every issue was big enough to light his fire — not necessary true of some thinner offerings — and he knew he could always find, in the classified advertisements, hay for his sheep and straw for his chooks. And we always thought it was the quality of the prose. Enjoying good health SOMEONE is probably pulling someone’s leg, but we might as well repeat the notice seen on the wall of the New Brighton Working Men’s Club, which reads: “Lost dog. Has three legs, blind in one eye, right ear missing, tail broken in three places, has just been castrated. Answers to the name of ‘Lucky’.” —Nigel Malthus