Write on the button

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 585, 9 May 1995, Page 4

Write on the button

• With regard to "Button roundabouts explained" and the car in the garden: Israeli connection ( Ruapehu Bulletin 2 May ) and my previous correspondence (Ruapehu Bulletin 28 March) I quote one Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925 ) who said "And the softness of my body will be guarded by embrace, by each button, hook and lace." The 'button' wasn't doing a particularly good guarding job when our Israeli visitors attempted a crossing; it could have been curtains for them. I feel thoroughly chastised for questioning the workings of the 'button' by the technical services director, Mr B Dobson (does that B stand for Button?) It' s almost like that refrain in the schoolyard, how does it go? Na, na, na, na .... na. I may be relatively dense but hands up who knows a 'button' when they see one? So are there different types - fly ones, zip types, hook and eye; the Velcro model? Had the car's occupants mistaken this roundabout for the latter? Unless you're local, how do you know whether you're going to be able to negotiate it when you' re in action round it and then have to rear up on one of those jugular things when you can't make it. Our local garage will do a roaring trade in the ski season re-aligning wheels. It would also follow then that, armed with a degree in Button Rules and the inherent possibilities for zipping over the top, all vehicles should be allowed over the wretched Button. Therefore why have a roundabout? There has been an obvious lack of vigilance in keeping local road markings in clear tip-top condition. Simple solutions are often the best. Thankfully this time our town's Israeli guests and the occupants of the house were physically unhurt in the recent drive-in incident. I have it on water-tight authority that the car' s occupants had had far too much orange juice in the hotel and zipped off because they were busting to go, for want of a better expression. Justine Adams