NO doubt "Jonnie" and "Spud" will keep an eye on the rest of the crew, making sure they don't play up too much or at least limit the shenanigans. Then again, that task would probably be better suited to bus driver Michael Aspinall who doesn't get on the syrup.

WHEN I received an invitation to tag along a while back and found out which thrillseekers were making the trip, it didn't take long to politely decline the offer. Apparently, respective fathers of the bucks Simeon and Neil had the same idea. Hope you have a great time boys, but just remember moderation is the key. Yeah right.

GOOD new story of the week - "Brackendale" grazier Evan Dunn has finally landed a takeaway meal after experiencing problems doing so during recent times. Regular readers might remember Evan failed to take home some Chinese food the night of the indoor hockey presentations and then, while in Merriwa, phone ordered pizza but in Western Australia, not NSW. Anyway, with the assistance of his much-better half Kylie and daughter Hannah, the task was completed not long back when Evan got to tuck into his lemon chicken.

PAKINGTON Street South next-door neighbours Kevin "Scrooge" Mathews and Wayne Brennan were having a chat while enjoying a couple of cool frothy ones at the Newie last Friday when Brenno told Scrooge there was an esky full of Gatorade at the gate of his workplace the Walcha Council North Street depot. He said it was compulsory for all outdoor employees to take a bottle before entering the yard. When "Scrooge" asked him why, "Brenno" replied "to replace all the sweat".

ANYONE who has anything to do with urban works supervisor and Moons Nursery operator Steph Sweeney would be aware he likes to frighten the living daylights out of any unsuspecting person at every opportunity, and it doesn't matter who they are. By all accounts, he was up to his old tricks on Monday when he banged on the window of the vehicle his council workmate Wayne Brennan was sitting in and scared the tripe out of him.

THE boot was on the other foot late last week though when "Gomez the go-go man" got out of his ute at the works depot and before he entered his office, a rabbit raced around the corner of the store and startled "Clean Sween". Surprising really, because the "Golden-Haired Wonder Child" loves bunnies - well at least the "Rabbitohs" variety. Wonder if the rabbit wanted to "fight at the drop of a nail", which is a story for another day.

HAD the pleasure of playing 18 holes of golf with Group 19 five-eighth of the century Ron Starr, Manly Presidents Cup 1970 premiership-winning player Gary Dowdell and sandgreen specialist John Mann when round four of the New England Veterans Pennants were played here last Thursday.

WHAT wasn't quite as pleasurable was they way I played, and if you are unaware, there are three dams on the Walcha course which were found by myself on all three occasions. The pon on the 17^th hole was the most memorable. I hit a shot into a tree in front of me and then watched it ricochet back over my head into the dam. A round of 22 stableford is certainly nothing to write home about.

ON the same day, Newie 2IC Bob Denniss managed to hit a fish according to one of his playing partners, Patrick Grills from Guyra. Not that it had anything to do with water or what swims around in it, but more so after Bob had an airswing and missed the ball. Patrick explained what he meant - Frost (or something similar), It's Still Here (FISH!).

HEARD along the grapevine local sheriff Anthony Smith and his playing partner at the Barraba Golf Open, Don Brooks, had a memorable trip home last Sunday. They were fortunate enough to be in the company of Simeon Cross and Steph Sweeney who carded the best Walcha score on the day and didn't mention that fact once during the return trip.

BUMPED into Croudace Street resident, Rotary member and my old school teacher John Williams earlier in the week. I asked him how his old car was going before John informed me it wasn't an old car at all, then explained why.

THE vehicle in question is a Chevrolet Stylemaster sedan which was manufactured in 1936. The reason John reckons it isn't an old car is because he was born in 1934 and if it was, he would have to be too. Fairly simple reasoning really.

HEARD a bit of a whisper the Abraham brothers - Max and Jock - may be going to register with the Roos to help out after playing numbers have decreased due to injury. If that is the case, their experience and skills will certainly be a boost to the team. The dynamic duo had decided not to play this season after starting up their own fencing business.

BIG Wigs of the Week: BC - Deon Lawrence; Apsley - Ben Cross; Newie - Emma Hillier, Jayne Dunn, Lee "Pom" Robertson, Pat Clare (all 14 points); WVS - Dion Bird (12 points).