GOSSIP

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 376, 5 March 1991, Page 16

GOSSIP

What? Me generous? An unnamed motellier very kindly offered a stranded guest the use of his car a wee while ago. Later in the evening in question the motellier was awoken by the sound of the car being driven away. In a sleepy state Gossip's subject assumed it was being stolen and dialed 111 which was an- i swered very promptly, with a constable arriving in time to see the motellier turn red faced as he had by then remembered his earlier generosity. Moosh muck DONT READ THIS IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH: a Ruapehu District Council staffer was working on a Raetihi sewer main recently when he cut open the main, which was unfortunately under pressure and the pipe's contents burst forth. Even more unfortunately the poor bloke was fly-catching at the time and he copped a mouth full. Who said council workers don't earn their dough and who said Gossip stories had to be funny - it would take anyone a bloody long time to wipe a smile back on the face after that lot! Coro St midnight party? Graham Foster was half-a-hundred recently and was treated to a midnight visit by nine beautiful women, who burst into his bedroom bearing goodies suitable for an all night party. Gossip's been told by a reliable source (who else?) that the ladies were all decked out in their sleeping attire (which was described as "a really queer assortment including curlers, hairnets, face packs etc"). Our source said 'Fossie' would have been rather chilly if he had stayed in his sleeping clobber for the party. 65 years of Raetihi love A bit of news that wouldn't normally make the pages of the Bulletin but for the Gossip column is this item about long-time couple Gordon and Dorothy Stringer who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary recently. The couple met in Raetihi where Gordon, now 90, operated a stationary engine in a Raetihi sawmill. He and Dorothy, now 87, retired to the Waikato and now live in Tararu Home in Thames. Newspaper problems Bulletin staff headed for a Community Newspapers Association conference recently, where they looked at how lots of other people do it. One feature of the regular CNA get-togethers is a "counselling session" (more like assault and battery) run by a Mr Charlie Cooper, a wellknown figure in the newspaper world." He had lots to say about the Bulletin, lots good, some bad, and some suggestions. He wasn't interested in excuses, which is where the "assault and battery" feelings come in. We defended faults with "but the story came in late...the camera broke...I couldn't find the dictionary...the Ohakune water was full of muck that day (spots in pictures)...the courier was early/late... there was a power cut right on deadline time. ..the proofreader ran away with an Iraqi photographer.. " He said "don't tell me your bloody problems, you asked me to read this paper and I 'm not interested in what went wrong, I just want to know what's happening and that's what most readers will think," (or words to that effect). As you might imagine that didn't help the already damaged ego much, but his point was made. It was heartening to hear that everybody at the conference was in the same boat. All 120 participants at the conference got together in workshop sessions to produce a one-off newspaper and Charlie was asked to pass judgement. And he did. "But you must remember this was a one-off and we didn't know that the computer would have problems and the photos were late and Ron wasn't aware of our deadlines and...," said the paper production organiser. "Don't tell me your bloody problems," said Charlie and you could then tell the people that had been through one of his counselling sessions. They'd all heard that line before. They all cheered!