“Graham Russell’s friend was turned back at the Cuesta border in 1971 as his hair was too long (C8),” notes Mia David of Wollongong. “My friend was married in 1968, and, while on her honeymoon, she (dressed in a very fetching pants suit) and her husband went to a club for lunch. She was denied entry, as ladies in pants were not allowed. Not a worry. She removed the trousers, and they accepted her attire of a very short miniskirt. Apparently, she had to be extra careful as she sat down for lunch.”

“My own experience in early 1970 in Singapore was similar, but different,” says Rhod Jeffrey of Surry Hills. “I was marooned there for six weeks awaiting a money transfer. I had to renew my visa weekly where there was a sign stating: ‘Persons with long hair will be served last so as to cause them the maximum of inconvenience’. I had fairly long hair but encountered no animosity or inconvenience because of it.”

“Working as a commercial artist in Jakarta 1973, (pre-Photoshop), my job was retouching poster artwork for rock stars touring Singapore,” says Peter Barker of One Mile. “I think I’m the only person with the honour of giving Mick Jagger a short-back-and-sides for The Rolling Stones’ Pacific Tour in 1973. So horrific was my retouching, the band never made it to Singapore because the doctored publicity material made them unrecognisable!”

It’s a long way from Rhoda and Gus’ surprise Joburg snowfall of ’81 (C8), but Pauline McGinley of Drummoyne is well versed when it comes to the white stuff: “Growing up in Scotland, I spent my childhood in the snow. Fingers and toes stuffed into woollen gloves and socks. Snow days off school. When you would wake up in the morning after a nightfall of snow, you knew immediately, before even looking out the window. Quiet, hushed and an intense stillness. The joy!”

“I had a similar opera experience to Nola Tucker (C8),” recalls Elizabeth Savage of Hughes (ACT). “Berlin Opera House, L’italiana in Algeri, sung in Italian with German surtitles. No idea what the story was, but the music was pleasant, and the ballet interludes were impressive.”

When it comes to the ABS (C8), “opiates are the religion of the masses,” thinks Les Shearman of Darlington. “Come to your census indeed. Last time I was a Pastifarian, this time perhaps C of 8?”

Column8@smh.com.au

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