Camping in the backyard has become a bit of a thing during the coronavirus crisis.
Soul Cafe in Newcastle is right behind the idea. It runs the annual Sleepout event to raise some dough to put hot meals in the bellies of the disadvantaged.
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the need for Soul Cafe's much-needed services.
But the traditional Sleepout has been canned this year because of the pandemic. Fear not, the Soul team says the Sleepout will be held in backyards and lounge rooms.
The event will be held on Friday night. Visit soulcafe.org.au for details.
Premier League
We wrote on Monday that the funniest moment of the pandemic could end up being the Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan's laughing fit in early April over a question about eating a kebab during the lockdown.
The kebab related to a 21-year-old Newcastle man who was fined $1000 for sitting on a public bench in Market Street, Newcastle, eating a kebab.
New Lambton's Ross Greig told Topics that Mr McGowan was born in Newcastle. It's true. The Western Australia Parliament's website says Mr McGowan was born in Newcastle in July 1967 and arrived out west in 1991.
Perhaps that's why he was laughing so much about the kebab. Was he having a flashback to his youth, chowing down on a kebab after a night out at Fanny's?
In Monday's story, we said the premiers of NSW, Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria had found new levels of fame.
Ross: "I don't mind the Premier of Victoria [Daniel Andrews]. I think he's got his head on right and seems to be well adjusted. He seems to know what he's doing."
Topics: "We don't mind all of them. They've all done a heroic job."
Non-Viral Humour
Did you catch the recent story of the Melbourne resident who chased off a pair of knife-wielding intruders with a guitar.
"I couldn't help but wonder if he 'Fendered' them off with his guitar," Ross deadpanned.
Boom tish! Ross used to play drums.
"If a guy broke into my house, would I be able to snare him?" Ross jested.
Meanwhile, Ross says a mate is looking forward to going back to the gym.
"He can't wait for them to re-open. I said, 'Yeah, I can't wait to get back to Jim's either - Jim's Dairy Delite Bar at Hamilton'.
"They have milkshakes and ice creams - they sell lollies too. All the good things that send your blood glucose through the roof."
Just don't call Ross big-boned. He prefers the term "calorie-enhanced".
His late wife Rhonda used to give him "a bit of cheek sometimes because she'd kept her figure and I hadn't". "She'd say, 'He's twice the man I married'. It wasn't a compliment. I'd love to hear it again, though," he said, wistfully.
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