A rear-view mirror observation about a Chinese electric vehicle badge, a string of cherished childhood cinema memories, and a spirited call to support Australia's underwater hockey youth team have captured the imagination of readers across the country this week.
A BYD badge that reads differently in the rear-view mirror
Paul Taylor of Winston Hills was the first to spot something curious about the branding on newer BYD electric vehicles. When one approaches from behind, the badge — as seen reflected in a rear-view mirror — appears to read CYE rather than BYD.
"I did wonder about any subliminal messaging," Taylor notes, before concluding with tongue firmly in cheek that it may be "a traditionally formatted attempt to cash in on the burgeoning fast food delivery car market." His suggestion for a new reading: Express Yum Cha.
Childhood reflections — and windows — that never quite delivered
The theme of reflection, literal and figurative, carried through to a wave of nostalgic contributions about beloved children's television programs.
Viv Munter of Tumbi Umbi drew a parallel with the childhood experience of watching Romper Room during the 1970s, recalling the ritual of waiting for the host, Miss Helena, to peer through her magic mirror and name the children she could "see." The wait, Munter admits, was ultimately in vain — her name was never called.
"I can sympathise with those who remember choosing the wrong window on Play School," Munter says, evoking a sense of collective childhood disappointment shared across generations of Australian television viewers.
Saturday nights at the pictures — in pyjamas
Memories of early cinema experiences proved equally rich. Dennis Fardy of Warriewood recalled a weekly family ritual from the early 1950s, when his parents would take the children to the pictures every Saturday night in Marrickville — complete with reserved seats and dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns, ready to go straight to bed on arriving home.
Ironically, the only film Fardy can still recall from that era is The Robe.
Jennifer Killen of St Peters contributed her own first cinema memory: a childhood visit to the Roxy Theatre in Leeton, a grand regional venue that left a strong impression — though not for the film itself. While her mother and great-aunt were absorbed by the movie, the preschool-aged Killen spent the session climbing over the seats all the way to the back of the theatre, where she discovered she could open the blinds and look out over the main street below. "Much more fun than watching the movie," she recalls.
Australia's underwater hockey youth team making waves in Istanbul
On a more contemporary note, Matt Petersen of Randwick urged fellow sports fans to turn their attention to the Underwater Hockey World Championships, currently under way in Istanbul. The Australian under-19 team has made a strong start in the round-robin stage, defeating South Africa 3–0 and the United States 2–1.
"Bring on the finals and go you good submerged things!" Petersen declared, rallying support for a sport that rarely commands mainstream headlines but is clearly generating genuine grassroots enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Robert Hosking of Paddington offered a wry aside, tongue firmly in cheek, announcing he was "seeking bids from cashed-up billionaires" for the calcium components of his remains — with a suggested opening bid of one million dollars.
