Aiden needs abetting
'When I moved to Sydney in the '70s, I used to see a bearded man wheeling a mysterious wooden box on wheels around the Hyde Park area,' writes Donald Hawes of Peel. 'There was even a wooden ramp built over the park steps near Museum Station, just wide enough for his vehicle. It was only when his death was announced that I discovered that he was a knife sharpener (C8) and local identity.'
John Boddington of Dalton remembers a similar local identity: 'His name was Harold Wright ('The Sharpening King') and his extraordinary sharpening wagon is now in the National Museum. I have a strong suspicion that Heath Robinson had a hand in the design. I can recall seeing Harold's wagon as a small boy a long time ago and longing to have a bash at turning all the stuff on.'
'While I try to keep my Ukrainian stories light-hearted, Doug McLaughlin's memories of subs bombing Sydney in WWII (C8) have certainly triggered some recent trauma,' admits Chris Keane. 'A few days ago I was at home in Seattle when my phone started blowing up with messages from 'my' kids in Ukraine. Their previously unscathed city was being actively targeted with Russian missiles and drones. Over the course of a fraught hour I was inundated with messages like 'I'm really scared', 'it's very close, the ground is shaking and everyone is crying' and 'in case I don't see you again, thanks for everything'. Of course, right now as I write, I've started crying again. Perhaps Doug can provide more details about when the nightmares will dissipate?'
The lobster discussion (C8) goes offshore with former New York knife fancier Ellen Kassel of Collaroy again on point: 'Honeymoon – sailing down Maine. Lobster, lobster, lobster. Day three of honeymoon – big bad rash all over! Didn't know which new thing in my life was causing it. Thankfully, it was the lobsters.'
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