Nick Walker from Suffolk Park recalls a time when he visited Czechoslovakia in 1991 and was pleasantly surprised by the cheap beer prices at a brewery in Plzen. He and his fellow backpackers enjoyed twelve half-litre beers and two meals each for a total bill of $1.16 per person. This memory highlights the affordability of beer and food at certain establishments.
Don Firth of Wooli reminisces about a conversation with his grandchild about the past, where he had to explain that people used to travel in vehicles pulled by horses before engine-powered vehicles were invented. The humorous exchange with his grandchild shows the generational gap in understanding technological advancements.
Readers have responded to a grammatical query posed by Tom Wilmot about the use of “will” versus “shall” in certain contexts. Allan Gibson references a line from a poem by Laurence Binyon where “we will remember them” is used for emphasis, deviating from traditional grammatical rules. Marion Barrett also notes that the use of “will” with first-person pronouns like “I” and “we” is usually considered technically incorrect but can be used for emphasis, as seen in Binyon’s poem.
Merilyn McClung from Forestville seeks clarification on the terminology for rock cakes with a hollow filled with jam, wondering if they are called drop cakes. She reaches out to readers to confirm or correct her understanding of the difference between rock cakes and drop cakes, seeking clarity on the culinary terminology.
Peter Pocock of Hornsby reflects on his experience as a 17-year-old bus conductor dealing with old currency and the inconvenience of handling pennies. He recalls the weight of the bag around his waist growing heavier throughout the day as passengers paid in small denominations, but acknowledges the physical exercise kept him fit.
Andrew Taubman of Queens Park shares a personal anecdote about Decimal Currency Day, where he was given a one-cent coin as a souvenir in sixth class. He humorously mentions swallowing the coin and jokes that it never emerged, playfully dismissing any negative perceptions about his self-worth. These reader submissions provide a diverse range of reflections on personal experiences, language usage, culinary terminology, and historical events.
