HARD AT PLAY

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30953, 8 January 1966, Page 12

HARD AT PLAY

IB U

WHIM WHAM]

Sir, have YOU ever studied the Ways Kiwis spend what They call their Holidays, Americans their Vacations and the French (in France) Their Vacances (Expressing, of course, some Nuance Of the Gallic Sensibility, maybe a Vivacity For which WE possess neither the Word nor the Capacity)? Recent Researches conducted by the Present Writer Suggest that the Distinction is getting slighter Between Work and Play, it’s All in the Name. You can make a Game of your Job or a Job of your Game. No Offence, Sir, to those innocent Souls For whom Golf is just Golf or Bowls merely Bowls, Who swim or fish or sprawl torpidly in the As if Holidays were meant for Fun. But Sir! Even such Idlers must be aware That Light Holiday Reading must be selected with Care, It’s a serious Decision, and it’s vital Not to be misled by the Jacket-puff or TitleLike a Friend of Mine who unhappily mistook ‘Lady Chatterley’ for a light relaxing Book, He imagined It a Shocker, a Spine-chiller About slain Blondes and a dope-crazed Killer, — Bad luck, Sir! I have also been struck, Sir, By the sheer Variety of Kiwi recreational Arts, e.g., the National Hard-track Go-Karts (A Kind of Power-Pram for Adults) — How breathlessly we await THOSE race Results! ... Does all This make You feel as queer As It does Me? Sir, LET ME OUT OF HERE! .. . I will arise and go now, and go to a Motor Camp Site Where the Power’s laid on, and the Latrines are clean, not smelly, I’ll plug in my portable Deep Freeze, I’ll pull the Tent Flaps tight, I’ll spray the Air for the Sandflies, and I’ll sit and watch the Telly.