Intrepid Belgian reporter Tintin has been enjoying his travels in the Hunter.
We're not sure how he managed to get here, given the trouble with air travel during the pandemic.
Perhaps he was given a special permit, given he's a cartoon character.
Besides, Tintin is very adventurous. He was never going to let a deadly virus stop him in his tracks. But don't be surprised if The Adventures of Tintin on a Respirator comes out soon. Or perhaps it'll be The Adventures of Tintin and the Vaccine.
Anyhow, we have the Facebook page Memewhile in Newcastle to thank for Tintin parodies based in our region.
Aided by his faithful dog Snowy, Tintin has been sampling cafe latte culture in Darby Street.
He also found himself climbing Mount Hutton.
This prompted Glen Fredericks, of Adamstown Heights, to ask: Why did Mount Hutton get called Mount Hutton?
"Did any Australian become famous for scaling Hutton Mountain? Who are they? And where is it?" Glen said.
"A quick google tells us that Mount Hutton is at an altitude of 41.8 metres above sea level.
"In comparison Cardiff is at an altitude of about 19 metres, with Cardiff Heights reaching an altitude of approximately 93 metres - more than twice that of Mount Hutton. Yet we're not calling it Mount Cardiff."
National Geographic tells us that most geologists classify a mountain as a landform that rises at least 1000 feet (300 metres) or more above its surrounding area.
"So Mount Sugarloaf gets a guernsey at 412 metres, but Mount Hutton falls short by more than 250 metres."
Check out the other Tintin parody covers on the Memewhile in Newcastle page. Mayfield, Waratah and Stockton Beach get shout outs, as well as notable venues such as the Star Hotel, Cloud Nine and Fanny's.
In Vane
Newcastle East's John Fear says many months passed waiting in vain for the weather vane to be replaced on the Custom House clock tower.
Then last Friday, a large crane and workmen were spotted on the job.
"By 8am, the unit was back on top. To us locals who have looked at the direction of the weather vane, sometimes to decide which way or what direction we will walk today, this is great news.
"To yachtsmen and the like, the weather vane could be some help."
Meanwhile, John reports that the Custom House clock stopped a week or so ago, stuck on midnight.
Hopefully workers have been burning the midnight oil to get the old girl fixed.
Non-Viral Joke
This from Fred Saunders, of Waratah West: What is the difference between a game of Snap and the US election? Trumps.
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
