Family counts two 100-year-olds; what’s a doppelganger, silly questions asked by call centres
“What are the chances of two members of one family turning 100 in one month?” asks Bill Hardy of Glenmore Park. “Jack Kershaw of Caddens turned 100 on October 2, and Jack’s brother-in-law, Rex Hardy of Emu Plains, turned 100 on October 29.”
Speaking of high numbers, Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook notes that “Saturday’s edition of the Herald will be the palindromic number 58,685.”
Bruce Spencer of Hope Island (Qld) remembers when “Mum rang me in a panic: ‘Richmond’s digging up the finish line – your father’s under it! Go get his urn!’ Dad, Jack, former vice president and lifelong greyhound man, chose quite the resting place (C8). By the time I got there, the diggers had started. RIP Dad.”
Royal succession cognoscenti, Ted Richards of Batemans Bay says, “Thanks, Eric Scott (C8), but I know all about the queue-jumping Buccleuchs. One of the Buccleuch boys was always trying to push in to the tuck-shop queue in primary school.”
Our latest doppelgänger (C8) offering comes courtesy of Anne Cloak of Bargo: “My late father was often thought to be broadcaster, war journalist and actor, Alwyn Kurts, best remembered for his role in Homicide. He could never convince anyone he wasn’t. He also had to give in and sign autographs. No doubt if mobile phones had existed, photos would have been requested, though he disliked having his taken.”
“All this talk about dead ringers conjures up visions of Quasimodo,” claims Kin Wong of Chatswood. “Possibly ringing in the Seine.”
Luke Pavel of Armidale writes: “Question 14 of Wednesday’s Super Quiz asked about a Disney movie featuring a talking pumpkin with the answer being The Princess and the Frog. I can’t find any talking pumpkin, and now I’m going to have to watch it again to make sure. There are talking frogs, a talking alligator [he plays the trumpet, too – Granny] and talking fireflies, but I don’t recall a talking pumpkin.” We reached out to the compiler and he “can’t work out” how he got it so wrong but has suggested we give Luke his 15 minutes, “lest he dine out on it”.
“The ATO has no bounds time-wise to collecting data,” opines Judy Maclean of Bowral. “During a phone call, I provided my date of birth as ’55. I was asked if that was ‘1955 or 1855?’ On my replying ‘Really?’ I was told they had to be sure.”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments, please.
