Flush with excess
Having been reminded by our friend Carmel Kenniff of Randwick that she reads Column 8 over breakfast and having been informed by Graham Lum of North Rocks that 'the ongoing anecdotes about dunnies (C8) are becoming a pain in the butt,' we think now might be a good time to can the toilet talk, but not before we get an archival perspective from Wendy Bull of North Turramurra: 'I remember my history teacher in the '60s, telling us to count our blessings. The ancient Romans used a communal 'sponge on a stick' (called a 'tersorium') which they dunked in troughs of salt water and if there was no sponge available, they'd use shards of old pottery. If they were out in the country then soft growing moss was used. Think I know what I'd prefer!'
'If you were a brewer, Jim Dewar,
You'd gather that steaming manure,
Set up a still,
On top of the hill,
And brew Dewar's Pure Cow-lua.'
For this offering, we thank the epical George Manojlovic of Mangerton.
Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach has been a C8 contributor on and off for a few decades or so and wants to convey in strongest of terms 'I despise fitted sheets and fitted sheets despise me.'
'Years ago the circus, was parked next to our farm,' writes Kate Fraser of Scone. 'It was a very noisy night as something seemed to have disturbed the lions. Next morning, 300 upset dairy cows (C8) were pressed as close as possible to the shed gate. Milk yield was down for a few days.'
Kelvin Atkinson's (C8) premium offering has reminded David Prest of Thrumster that 'nobody's mentioned the man from Waltons who helped housewives plan their budgets.'
On hearing that New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis said that people leaving the country for Australia was 'an ongoing challenge', which could be addressed by growing the economy, Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills recalled a statement made in the 1980s by then NZ prime minister Robert 'Piggy' Muldoon when commenting about the increasing exodus: 'New Zealanders who leave for Australia raise the IQ of both countries.'
'Not so sure about the wet newspaper test of sharpness (C8),' says Geoff Carey of Pagewood. 'I remember getting into a lot of trouble for using my mother's dressmaking scissors to cut paper. Apparently, paper blunts the blade.' Not with the good scissors, Geoff!
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The Advertiser
25-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Pope Leo XIV declares 'I am Roman!' to his new flock
Pope Leo XIV has declared himself a Roman as he completed the final ceremonial steps, cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope was formally taking possession of two papal basilicas in the Eternal City, a formality that serves to ceremonially introduce Leo to his Roman flock. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Rome to a vicar. Sunday's ceremonies at the St John Lateran and St Mary Major basilicas follow Leo's visit last week to the St Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important in the West. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to city hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a holy year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upwards of 30 million people in 2025. Leo said he felt the "serious but passionate responsibility" to serve all Romans during the holy year and beyond. Wearing his formal papal garb, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St Augustine in saying: "With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop." "By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!" he said. Leo, 69, the former Robert Prevost, replaced Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, who died April 21 and is buried at St Mary Major, near a beloved icon of the Madonna. Pope Leo XIV has declared himself a Roman as he completed the final ceremonial steps, cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope was formally taking possession of two papal basilicas in the Eternal City, a formality that serves to ceremonially introduce Leo to his Roman flock. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Rome to a vicar. Sunday's ceremonies at the St John Lateran and St Mary Major basilicas follow Leo's visit last week to the St Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important in the West. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to city hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a holy year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upwards of 30 million people in 2025. Leo said he felt the "serious but passionate responsibility" to serve all Romans during the holy year and beyond. Wearing his formal papal garb, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St Augustine in saying: "With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop." "By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!" he said. Leo, 69, the former Robert Prevost, replaced Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, who died April 21 and is buried at St Mary Major, near a beloved icon of the Madonna. Pope Leo XIV has declared himself a Roman as he completed the final ceremonial steps, cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope was formally taking possession of two papal basilicas in the Eternal City, a formality that serves to ceremonially introduce Leo to his Roman flock. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Rome to a vicar. Sunday's ceremonies at the St John Lateran and St Mary Major basilicas follow Leo's visit last week to the St Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important in the West. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to city hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a holy year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upwards of 30 million people in 2025. Leo said he felt the "serious but passionate responsibility" to serve all Romans during the holy year and beyond. Wearing his formal papal garb, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St Augustine in saying: "With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop." "By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!" he said. Leo, 69, the former Robert Prevost, replaced Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, who died April 21 and is buried at St Mary Major, near a beloved icon of the Madonna. Pope Leo XIV has declared himself a Roman as he completed the final ceremonial steps, cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope was formally taking possession of two papal basilicas in the Eternal City, a formality that serves to ceremonially introduce Leo to his Roman flock. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Rome to a vicar. Sunday's ceremonies at the St John Lateran and St Mary Major basilicas follow Leo's visit last week to the St Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important in the West. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to city hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a holy year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upwards of 30 million people in 2025. Leo said he felt the "serious but passionate responsibility" to serve all Romans during the holy year and beyond. Wearing his formal papal garb, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St Augustine in saying: "With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop." "By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!" he said. Leo, 69, the former Robert Prevost, replaced Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, who died April 21 and is buried at St Mary Major, near a beloved icon of the Madonna.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Flush with excess
Having been reminded by our friend Carmel Kenniff of Randwick that she reads Column 8 over breakfast and having been informed by Graham Lum of North Rocks that 'the ongoing anecdotes about dunnies (C8) are becoming a pain in the butt,' we think now might be a good time to can the toilet talk, but not before we get an archival perspective from Wendy Bull of North Turramurra: 'I remember my history teacher in the '60s, telling us to count our blessings. The ancient Romans used a communal 'sponge on a stick' (called a 'tersorium') which they dunked in troughs of salt water and if there was no sponge available, they'd use shards of old pottery. If they were out in the country then soft growing moss was used. Think I know what I'd prefer!' 'If you were a brewer, Jim Dewar, You'd gather that steaming manure, Set up a still, On top of the hill, And brew Dewar's Pure Cow-lua.' For this offering, we thank the epical George Manojlovic of Mangerton. Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach has been a C8 contributor on and off for a few decades or so and wants to convey in strongest of terms 'I despise fitted sheets and fitted sheets despise me.' 'Years ago the circus, was parked next to our farm,' writes Kate Fraser of Scone. 'It was a very noisy night as something seemed to have disturbed the lions. Next morning, 300 upset dairy cows (C8) were pressed as close as possible to the shed gate. Milk yield was down for a few days.' Kelvin Atkinson's (C8) premium offering has reminded David Prest of Thrumster that 'nobody's mentioned the man from Waltons who helped housewives plan their budgets.' On hearing that New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis said that people leaving the country for Australia was 'an ongoing challenge', which could be addressed by growing the economy, Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills recalled a statement made in the 1980s by then NZ prime minister Robert 'Piggy' Muldoon when commenting about the increasing exodus: 'New Zealanders who leave for Australia raise the IQ of both countries.' 'Not so sure about the wet newspaper test of sharpness (C8),' says Geoff Carey of Pagewood. 'I remember getting into a lot of trouble for using my mother's dressmaking scissors to cut paper. Apparently, paper blunts the blade.' Not with the good scissors, Geoff!
The Age
13-05-2025
- The Age
Flush with excess
Having been reminded by our friend Carmel Kenniff of Randwick that she reads Column 8 over breakfast and having been informed by Graham Lum of North Rocks that 'the ongoing anecdotes about dunnies (C8) are becoming a pain in the butt,' we think now might be a good time to can the toilet talk, but not before we get an archival perspective from Wendy Bull of North Turramurra: 'I remember my history teacher in the '60s, telling us to count our blessings. The ancient Romans used a communal 'sponge on a stick' (called a 'tersorium') which they dunked in troughs of salt water and if there was no sponge available, they'd use shards of old pottery. If they were out in the country then soft growing moss was used. Think I know what I'd prefer!' 'If you were a brewer, Jim Dewar, You'd gather that steaming manure, Set up a still, On top of the hill, And brew Dewar's Pure Cow-lua.' For this offering, we thank the epical George Manojlovic of Mangerton. Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach has been a C8 contributor on and off for a few decades or so and wants to convey in strongest of terms 'I despise fitted sheets and fitted sheets despise me.' 'Years ago the circus, was parked next to our farm,' writes Kate Fraser of Scone. 'It was a very noisy night as something seemed to have disturbed the lions. Next morning, 300 upset dairy cows (C8) were pressed as close as possible to the shed gate. Milk yield was down for a few days.' Kelvin Atkinson's (C8) premium offering has reminded David Prest of Thrumster that 'nobody's mentioned the man from Waltons who helped housewives plan their budgets.' On hearing that New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis said that people leaving the country for Australia was 'an ongoing challenge', which could be addressed by growing the economy, Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills recalled a statement made in the 1980s by then NZ prime minister Robert 'Piggy' Muldoon when commenting about the increasing exodus: 'New Zealanders who leave for Australia raise the IQ of both countries.' 'Not so sure about the wet newspaper test of sharpness (C8),' says Geoff Carey of Pagewood. 'I remember getting into a lot of trouble for using my mother's dressmaking scissors to cut paper. Apparently, paper blunts the blade.' Not with the good scissors, Geoff!
