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Jen of Ryde also has fond memories of her kids playing backyard cricket (Column 8, Monday) . Five-year-old Peter: "I'll be batsman." Three-year-old Clio: "I'll be Robin."

Shar Krochmalik of Rose Bay would like to share her favourite fortune cookie caption: "Help me! I'm a prisoner stuck in a Chinese bakery!"

As part of his daily routine, Peter Robson of Dee Why usually attempts the SMH quick crossword online. After failing to complete Friday's puzzle, Peter decided to check his stars through the website, and soon discovered the reason for his failure. His Gemini reading warned: "Cross words should be avoided if you can."
- posted by Husky

 
Column 8

Patrick Sutcliffe, of Wahroonga, noted the following film synopsis in the March issue of the Foxtel magazine. "The Gathering Storm. Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave. An intimate look at former US president Winston Churchill at a particularly troubling time in his career." A trans-Atlantic production, obviously.
- posted by Husky

 
Spike: A new J-low

Things look promising for the Australian release of last year's super turkey Gigli. The flick, which stars former couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, swept the annual Razzies - the awards that celebrate the worst of Hollywood - at the weekend, making it an almost certain rental favourite when it goes straight to video on March 17. Affleck and Lopez won awards for worst actor and worst actress for their performances, as well as worst screen couple, while the film's creator, Martin Brest, scooped worst director and screenwriter. The film missed out on gongs in the worst supporting actor and actress categories with a Razzie going to Sylvester Stallone (Spy Kids 3D: Game Over) and Demi Moore (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle). Gigli failed to break the record for most Razzies, a dubious honour that still belongs to Showgirls and Battlefield Earth, which took seven each. The Razzies, now in their 24th year, are chosen by the 617 Golden Raspberry Award Foundation members throughout 39 US states and 15 foreign countries. The awards themselves, a golden raspberry atop a mangled reel of film, are handed out on the eve of the Academy Awards in a less-than-glittering ceremony in a conference room.
- posted by Husky

 
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Roger Cameron of Marrickville wants to congratulate CityRail staff on their "proactive, safety-aware, customer-focused approach to carriage maintenance", demonstrated yesterday near Wynyard. Travelling north at about 9.45am he heard the guard laconically announce: "Would the passengers travelling in the car with the open door please kick it . . . it will then close".
- posted by Husky

 
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Congratulations to all those spritely 84-year-olds who will finally be turning 21 tomorrow, Sunday, February 29. Two of those to receive the keys to the door will be Aub Bennett of Eastwood and Peter Gibson of Balgowlah. Interesting to note that Aub and Peter both served in World War II at the tender age of five. They started young in those days.
- posted by Husky

 
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During the recent heat wave, Kerry Thomas of Goulburn came home from work to find, on two consecutive nights, a bewildered looking frog on the floor in her bedroom and a blue-tongue lizard relaxing in the loungeroom. Both were set free in the backyard but she is still wondering how they got inside in the first place, given that she made a special effort to shut the place to keep out the heat. There's no chimney and, yes, the toilet seat was down. Any theories?
- posted by Husky

 
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Lisa Williams from the Glen Innes Examiner reports that a chook has set up what appears to be a one-hen protest outside the local KFC outlet on the busy New England highway. The chicken, identified as an elderly and scruffy white leghorn, has made its home in the median strip gardens directly opposite the fast-food outlet. Most days she can be seen scratching away happily in full view of the diners. "No word on what effect her presence has had on sales of snack packs," says Lisa.
- posted by Husky

 
Spike: Quote unquote

'I used to watch the Oscars, sitting in my dressing gown in front of the heater with my sister. It was just like some far-off land.'

- Nicole Kidman shares fond childhood memories with The Sunday Telegraph's Melissa Hoyer. Far-off land all right. Spike can't help but wonder what fantasy land Kidman is talking about or if the many years she has spent in the United States have confused her a little. The Oscars have always been screened in the height of summer here in Sydney, so we can't imagine how much need the Kidmans would have had for the family heater in early March.

As for wearing a dressing gown - surely they don't do things that differently on the North Shore?
- posted by Husky

 
Column 8

Thanks to Ein Anderer, of Forestville, for pointing out that, since Frank Sartor's ministry has changed its name to Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, department emails now go to [person's name]@deus.nsw.gov.au Latin scholars will know that deus is the word for God. "Any comment from Lucy Turnbull?" wonders Ein.

Chris Hales, of Kensington, was at Central Station on Saturday waiting for the 4.06pm to Penrith when the 3.58pm to Olympic Park pulled in. An automated voice announced that "this train is delayed by approximately 0 minutes. CityRail apologises for the inconvenience." Now it appears they are even apologising for trains that are running on time. The train to Penrith also ran on time, but without an apology.
- posted by Husky