‘‘Daisy,’’ read the notice, in the classifieds. It was placed two years ago.

‘‘It has been the saddest, loneliest year of my life. I am thinking of you all the time. Love, Jock.’’

As we’ve reported (Topics, October 1), Maitland singer-songwriter Kathy Coleman read those 21 words and wrote a song about them.

She came to us hoping to find Jock, the author of the words, and ask him who Daisy was.

And she has found him. Jock, it turns out, is a shy Newcastle man, aged 90. Jock and Daisy’s son contacted Kathy after reading Topics.

‘‘He was totally shocked and blown away that a song had been written about his mum,’’ says Kathy, who gave the family a copy of her song.

‘‘After he had a listen, he said the lyrics were so accurate it was scary.’’

Jock confirmed that he and his late wife were soul mates. He gave Kathy a photo (pictured) of the two of them to use in her album sleeve, and wished her the best.

‘‘He loved it,’’ reports Kathy.

‘‘He said he hopes she makes a million bucks.’’

Kathy Coleman’s forthcoming album, Because of You, will soon be available through iTunes and some shops. You can listen to Daisy at theherald.com.au.

But back to that lesson. Is it something about enduring love? Yep. It’s a small world? Sure. But more than that, we’re struck by the way people inspire each other every day, and they hardly ever know.

LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE:

Red-card chit chat

 TOPICS (October 9) produced a hit-list of conversation-killers that would, if we were in charge, result in red and yellow cards.

Crusty offerings, like ‘‘bring back the cane’’. ‘‘I’m not racist, but ...’’. You get the gist.

A reader points out that we missed one: prolonged discussion of ailments. 

That earns a straight red.

‘‘It starts off as concern for someone else – ‘oh, did you hear about poor so and so’,’’ says our reader.

‘‘Then it becomes all about them. It’s so boring that you have to pick yourself up off the floor.’’

Reader Michael noted our yellow for endless talk of one’s kids and had a thought.

‘‘Does that include endless posts about your kids on Facebook?’’ he asks.

Reader Toast Master wants yellow cards for ‘‘anything political, religious or sexist – eg. ‘What is that woman doing on The Footy Show?’’’

A combination of all three would earn a red card. Homophobia would earn a straight red.

‘‘I see that poofters’ bar closed down,’’ cites Toast Master, as a recently overheard example.

Kids need more dirt

 FORTY years ago Stella Edwards, of Charlestown, planted an acorn.

 It was in the grounds of the nearby school, and it grew into an oak.

The tree now gives shade to parents collecting their kids, and sheds acorns for the ants below. The ants break up them up and haul them into their nests.

Stella once saw a boy beneath the tree poking at a nest with a stick. He was occupied for a while. Something occurred to her, and she shared it with Topics.

‘‘Kids need dirt to dig in,’’ says Stella.

‘‘Too many backyards are covered in lawn, or a pool. There’s no magic any more. Kids need dirt.’’