Tradie invents brick-trick for rose bush

Take this example at Wallsend. Deb Richards asked her dad Jim to “train” one of her “big, nasty (but very pretty) fence roses”.

This was his solution.

“Once a tradie always a tradie. Works though,” Deb said on Facebook.

Deb told Topics that the rose bush was “a massive grower”.

It was previously cut back to a stump but keeps coming back.

“It has fierce thorns, but the blooms are beautiful,” she said.

Spring, my friends, is in the air.

Quiet hour. What a great idea. Can we have quiet days, too. Even quiet weeks. How about a quiet month? That’s probably going too far.

Coles at Newcastle Junction and Wallsend will now be offering “quiet hour” every Tuesday from 10.30am to 11.30am.

The supermarket giant described this as “a low-sensory shopping experience that’s easy on the eyes and ears”.

Quiet hour isn’t only happening in Newcastle. Coles will introduce it in 76 stores across NSW.

The purpose is reduced noise, lighting and distractions in store, making it easier for customers who find it challenging to shop in a “heightened sensory environment”.

During quiet hour, there will be no music played. And no announcements (unless there’s an emergency). 

Those annoying scanner beeps will be reduced to the lowest volume [How about silent?]. And free fruit will be offered at the customer-service counter. Free fruit! Nice touch that. See, Coles aren’t evil plastic-bag profiteers, after all.

But we do have a suggestion for Coles and other supermarkets. How about introducing a rule that customers must be quiet at the checkout?

We know this sounds a bit extreme. But, we’re pretty sure supermarket checkout operators would love this idea. Topics has been told they tend to cop a lot of insults from nitwit customers. 

No doubt, for these types, quiet hour would be quite the challenge.

While we’re on the subject of supermarkets, reader Meaghan dropped us a line to say a store called Local Crop, on Hunter Street in Newcastle, has “a push on local cabbages”.

“There’s been too much rain in short succession for the local farmers, creating a surplus,” she said.

“Not sure if it’s a talking point, but they’re going to be put back into the ground if farmers can’t shift them.” 

Cassidy, from Local Crop, said “we’ve taken 100 off their hands to try and push them to as many people as we can”.

“They’re fresh, they’re cheap and it’s helping out farmers in the Hunter.”

Cabbage casserole, anyone?

While you’re with us, did you know The Herald is now offering breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here.