Latest news with #BillYonge
Sydney Morning Herald
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Waxing lyrical about a bottler of a time
'Such memories of the '60s with dinner party wines (C8),' says the progressive Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach. 'Thank you, Bill Yonge: Sparkling Rhinegolde, Mateus, Ben Ean Moselle proudly on the dinner table. And then, next dinner party, the same bottles, now empty, proudly stuck with a lit candle providing a sophisticated ambience.' Adrian Bell of Davistown remembers an even classier move: 'Sophisticated C8-ers will recall when the way to a girl's heart was to present her with the empty bottle in the basket woven cane covered Chianti bottle, used as a candleholder in the cool Beatnik era.' For George Baias of Summer Hill, that other oft-mentioned fizzer, Porphyry Pearl, was a 'drink of high sophistication' from the 1960s [John Frith of Paddington calls it an 'awful wine'] and recalls that it 'was advertised by Graham Kennedy on In Melbourne Tonight - made by the 'méthode champenoise' and only eight shillings and sixpence for a 'large' bottle.' Peter Snowden of Orange fancies a switch from lavish wine to swanky beer: 'I recall all the fancy wines and romantic tipples shared by C8 devotees of late, but gee I long for a crisp, chilled, twenty-six ounce bottle of Reschs DA. 'Dinner Ale, the perfect accompaniment to any setting'.' Shut the gate! Jack Munro of Concord West thinks that 'Surely the world's first big scandal (C8) took place in the Garden of Eden and should be known as Applegate.' 'A switch to get reserve fuel (C8)? Luxury!' says Peter Cole of Narrabeen. 'In VW Beetles, one had to use a foot-operated lever (remember them?) to access the last gallon or so of fuel. This was a great relief until you discovered that your partner had done that days before. Time to find the nearest public phone (remember them?)' It was the same deal for John McIntyre of Port Macquarie who says the lever 'turned the petrol intake pipe onto its side' to get to that final drop. Jane Howland of Cammeray has a sartorial update for Greg Baker (C8): 'I haven't noticed the disappearing breast pockets in men's suits, but I have noticed that young men wear blue suits at least a size too small.' It's the absence of pockets in the shirt that has Brian Kidd of Mount Waverley (Vic) shirty: 'It was a handy place to put the mobile phone when not in use. Shirtmakers – bring back the pockets!'
The Age
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Waxing lyrical about a bottler of a time
'Such memories of the '60s with dinner party wines (C8),' says the progressive Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach. 'Thank you, Bill Yonge: Sparkling Rhinegolde, Mateus, Ben Ean Moselle proudly on the dinner table. And then, next dinner party, the same bottles, now empty, proudly stuck with a lit candle providing a sophisticated ambience.' Adrian Bell of Davistown remembers an even classier move: 'Sophisticated C8-ers will recall when the way to a girl's heart was to present her with the empty bottle in the basket woven cane covered Chianti bottle, used as a candleholder in the cool Beatnik era.' For George Baias of Summer Hill, that other oft-mentioned fizzer, Porphyry Pearl, was a 'drink of high sophistication' from the 1960s [John Frith of Paddington calls it an 'awful wine'] and recalls that it 'was advertised by Graham Kennedy on In Melbourne Tonight - made by the 'méthode champenoise' and only eight shillings and sixpence for a 'large' bottle.' Peter Snowden of Orange fancies a switch from lavish wine to swanky beer: 'I recall all the fancy wines and romantic tipples shared by C8 devotees of late, but gee I long for a crisp, chilled, twenty-six ounce bottle of Reschs DA. 'Dinner Ale, the perfect accompaniment to any setting'.' Shut the gate! Jack Munro of Concord West thinks that 'Surely the world's first big scandal (C8) took place in the Garden of Eden and should be known as Applegate.' 'A switch to get reserve fuel (C8)? Luxury!' says Peter Cole of Narrabeen. 'In VW Beetles, one had to use a foot-operated lever (remember them?) to access the last gallon or so of fuel. This was a great relief until you discovered that your partner had done that days before. Time to find the nearest public phone (remember them?)' It was the same deal for John McIntyre of Port Macquarie who says the lever 'turned the petrol intake pipe onto its side' to get to that final drop. Jane Howland of Cammeray has a sartorial update for Greg Baker (C8): 'I haven't noticed the disappearing breast pockets in men's suits, but I have noticed that young men wear blue suits at least a size too small.' It's the absence of pockets in the shirt that has Brian Kidd of Mount Waverley (Vic) shirty: 'It was a handy place to put the mobile phone when not in use. Shirtmakers – bring back the pockets!'
Sydney Morning Herald
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The worst of the summer wine
'Mention of Ben Ean Moselle [C8] and Sparkling Rhinegolde brought back memories of the '60s when we weren't exactly spoilt for choice,' writes Bill Yonge of Frenchs Forest. 'We thought we were really cool hosts when we put twin bottles of Mateus Rose and Casal Garcia on the table at dinner parties.' 'The BBC Sounds app has just restricted overseas residents from listening to UK-archived content,' laments David Storie of Windsor Downs. 'I did a search on the site for The Goons that used to get me episodes of the great radio comedy, but all I got was a number of news items on Donald Trump. I know which one is funnier.' Recent discussion on political toilet paper (C8) has led Susan Geason of Bondi Junction to recall that 'many years ago, when I was at university, someone had written, above the toilet paper dispenser, 'BAs, take one.' I think we were in one of our regular recessions.' 'My XJ6 was a beautiful car back in the 1970s,' declares Max Petrie of Palm Beach. 'When the fuel gauge showed empty, a flick of a switch brought the other side tank [C8] into service. They were separate fuel tanks with no connecting pipework.' Tim Crawshaw of Kenthurst had the same setup on his S Type 3.8 and says it was handy on a long drive. Brian Blunt of Kensington says, 'Mention of cars with low mounted filler caps under the boot reminded me that, while it was fairly easy to fill up from a bowser, they did tend to back-spray when nearing the full level. Also, it was almost impossible if you had to do it with a drum and funnel after running out of petrol.' 'Perhaps a Column 8-er or self-confessed Tour de France widower Charles Purcell knows,' ponders Irene Thom of Vaucluse. 'What does Tadej Pogacar do with all those stuffed lions he receives on the podium?' Julia Belford of Uralla reports on another random act of kindness (C8): 'Recently, I attended my cousin's funeral and returned to my accommodation at Mantra The Observatory in Port Macquarie. I went downstairs for dinner at the Italian restaurant. When I went to pay for my meal, I discovered that the lovely young couple who left just before had paid for me. A difficult day became a beautiful day. Thank you so much, whoever you are. May you be truly blessed.'
The Age
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The worst of the summer wine
'Mention of Ben Ean Moselle [C8] and Sparkling Rhinegolde brought back memories of the '60s when we weren't exactly spoilt for choice,' writes Bill Yonge of Frenchs Forest. 'We thought we were really cool hosts when we put twin bottles of Mateus Rose and Casal Garcia on the table at dinner parties.' 'The BBC Sounds app has just restricted overseas residents from listening to UK-archived content,' laments David Storie of Windsor Downs. 'I did a search on the site for The Goons that used to get me episodes of the great radio comedy, but all I got was a number of news items on Donald Trump. I know which one is funnier.' Recent discussion on political toilet paper (C8) has led Susan Geason of Bondi Junction to recall that 'many years ago, when I was at university, someone had written, above the toilet paper dispenser, 'BAs, take one.' I think we were in one of our regular recessions.' 'My XJ6 was a beautiful car back in the 1970s,' declares Max Petrie of Palm Beach. 'When the fuel gauge showed empty, a flick of a switch brought the other side tank [C8] into service. They were separate fuel tanks with no connecting pipework.' Tim Crawshaw of Kenthurst had the same setup on his S Type 3.8 and says it was handy on a long drive. Brian Blunt of Kensington says, 'Mention of cars with low mounted filler caps under the boot reminded me that, while it was fairly easy to fill up from a bowser, they did tend to back-spray when nearing the full level. Also, it was almost impossible if you had to do it with a drum and funnel after running out of petrol.' 'Perhaps a Column 8-er or self-confessed Tour de France widower Charles Purcell knows,' ponders Irene Thom of Vaucluse. 'What does Tadej Pogacar do with all those stuffed lions he receives on the podium?' Julia Belford of Uralla reports on another random act of kindness (C8): 'Recently, I attended my cousin's funeral and returned to my accommodation at Mantra The Observatory in Port Macquarie. I went downstairs for dinner at the Italian restaurant. When I went to pay for my meal, I discovered that the lovely young couple who left just before had paid for me. A difficult day became a beautiful day. Thank you so much, whoever you are. May you be truly blessed.'
