This is a bit belated and I can’t believe I’m gonna de-lurk over something as inauspicious as Smiths and their strange taste-experiments, but yes, the pie-flavoured chips do exist (or they do in my obscure Canberra-esque corner at least).

a. Excellent, excellent. (Rubs hands together in unseemly fashion.)
b. You're in Canberra? Whereabouts? I'm an old Eddies boy, grew up in Griffith and then Narrabundah.

Hee - and in Canberra I don't think they even have them, so I find the entire concept confusing. Though I saw one on the coast once, which I easily identified via its large and helpful "Milkbar" sign.

There at least used to be one at the Manuka shops, facing Franklin Street. I suspect they've turned themselves into a common or garden variety lolly shop now.

There at least used to be one at the Manuka shops, facing Franklin Street. I suspect they've turned themselves into a common or garden variety lolly shop now.

It could still be there actually. I live out in Macgregor and I don't think I've been to Manuka shops. Tho' I had a friend who went to Narrabundah College, and I went down to see him a bit, so maybe I have been there at some point. Seriously, my geographical skills couldn't help me identify my own ass - I'm left trying to describe places to people, like "C'mon, you know where I'm talking about! It's sorta round and squishy, it's really nearby, but you've seen a lot more of it that I have...how can you not know where I'm thinking of?" It's quite amazingly pathetic :).

I'm left trying to describe places to people, like "C'mon, you know where I'm talking about! It's sorta round and squishy, it's really nearby, but you've seen a lot more of it that I have...how can you not know where I'm thinking of?" It's quite amazingly pathetic :).

Actual directions once given by my mother: "Turn where the tree used to be."

Seriously, my geographical skills couldn't help me identify my own ass...

I'd be worried if they could. "Well, a little like Norway, since you ask."

I live out in Macgregor, in Belconnen, and I don't think I've been to Manuka shops.

Parking's become a bit troublesome there, though options have been constructed. They'e not bad - some decent eateries (not sure if the Ottoman is still there), and my grandmother used to give piano recitals at the theatre before it became a cinema. But it's probably a touch overpriced to be a truly great shopping centre.

OTOH, I was appalled to discover that Kingston basically shuts down on a Sunday. At least you can still eat in Manuka on a weekend.

It's quite amazingly pathetic

Most used direction in my repertoire?

“Left, Left! The other left!!”

If you’re driving, and I’m the direction finding duck, and my hand isn’t waving in your face? Turn left :)

Ha! That's nice and convenient - did you have to listen to the music you played, though? That's what I'd be worried about. (Uh, unless you have a soft-spot for Barnsey despite the whole leg-gnawing incident.)

We could hear the music but that was okay b/c way back then, I didn't actually hate any of it. When we did the show, Triple M was the first and only, FM station in operation in South Australia. 5SSA-FM (later to become SA-FM) didn't start broadcasting until a few months later. For the first 3 or 4 years of its life, 5SSA was a great station. They didn't play as much alternative music as Triple M but they mainly played album tracks and less popular music. However, by the mid-80s that had all changed. I'd been working for a few years and invariably SA-FM was blaring out of a radio and slowly driving me insane with repeated playing of the same Barnsey, or Cold Chisel, or Led Zeppelin, or similar, songs.

Things have changed now. When the interstate, commercial Triple M, eventually won the court case and forced the original, local, public-broadcaster Triple M, to change its name so they could muscle into the South Australian market, they took over the mantle of wankers-playing-the-same-old-crap-every-fucking-day.

Ironically, when I'm working at the shop, I now change the station to SA-FM, from Triple M. I would prefer to put it to JJJ but the boss reckons the customers don't like that "shit". :)

It's quite amazingly pathetic

See, that sums me up perfectly b/c ...

"Left, Left! The other left!!"

...is also my usual method of direction giving.

If you’re driving, and I’m the direction finding duck, and my hand isn’t waving in your face? Turn left :)

Which side of the car does the driver sit? And I am so stealing "direction finding duck".

OTOH, I was appalled to discover that Kingston basically shuts down on a Sunday. At least you can still eat in Manuka on a weekend

See, the whole design of Canberra with all its little 'town centers' spread out everywhere is good for preventing traffic jams, and for the scenery, but yeah, less population density means less places open at obscure hours and then there's usually more driving and more hunger-induced swearing...so I can't decide whether I like the spread-outed-ness or not. Also, the lack of people squished together can freak out the non-locals. One girl I met at Uni (who had just recently arrived from Sydney) said she walked into the middle of Civic at midday and actually rang her mother back home to ask whether there was a public holiday here because the place was 'deserted'.

Most used direction in my repertoire? "Left, Left! The other left!!"

My mum used to make me paranoid about this, because she had all these behavioural development books that said if your kid can't tell their left from their right then they weren't going to be able to learn properly or something, and she still gives me this look when I get confused, blah blah "I did fine at college despite not being able to give directions, thank-you Mum!" cakes.

...is also my usual method of direction giving.

Note to self: No driving with jimi!

And I am so stealing "direction finding duck".

Go right ahead, Beverly. lalala Not mentioning that I stole it from Leunig lalala

In other, me me me news?

Tonight, me me me gets new Fray. Not a bloody moment too soon, I say. Sometimes, Joss Whedon (of the Frickin' frackin' I had a good idea and couldn't makeup my mind whether to use it on my telly show or in my comic book Whedons) has a lot to answer for!

(ouch, that did not work!)