The Fifth and final Test, which was played at The Oval, ended in a predictable draw with England being 2-57 at the close of play. Australia had been dismissed in its first innings for 385 of which Max “Tangles” Walker, who is much more renowned for his ability with the ball in hand, having contributed an unbeaten 78, in this his last appearance in an official Test. This tally had given Australia a lead of 171 runs.
In the America’s Cup, Alan Bond’s yacht, “Australia”, wrapped up the foreign challengers’ final, 4-0, when she defeated the Swedish contender, “Sverige”, by the huge margin of thirteen minutes and nineteen seconds.
From noon, on this miserable overcast day, I alternated my viewing between “Keep Pace With Harriet”, on Channel Ten, and “The Mike Walsh Show”, which was hosted this afternoon by Sue Smith. The latter show featured a ‘Puppy-Pooper-Picker-Upper’: a cylindrical device for picking up dogs’ droppings from footpaths and the like. Philip Brady, who was playing for a home viewer, then defeated the actress, Joanna Lockwood, in a quiz which was based on the subject of show business.
It had begun to rain again by half past one and so I watched “Jeanne’s Little Show”, which featured the zany Jeanne Little riding on public buses as she impersonated a conductress. She gave out apples to passengers who were deemed to be sitting in ‘lucky’ seats, and attempted to sell a ticket to a policeman when, by law, they are permitted to travel free of charge.
The British series, “Billy Liar”, followed one hour later, on Channel Seven, before “The Saint”, which stars Roger Moore as Simon Templar, screened from three o’clock. “Right On” was viewed from four.
I walked to Miranda to buy the newspaper and, in so doing, covered my four hundred and seventh mile. “Flashez” was followed at six by “Country Road”, a new programme which actually aired for the first time yesterday.
A programme by Jacques Cousteau, “The Coral Divers Of Corsica”, followed “Willesee” at half past seven. I washed the dishes and, at half past eight, began watching “The Forbin Project”, that bears the copyright of 1969. Starring Susan Clark, it is about a computer named ‘Colossus’ that becomes uncontrollable. I began to doze off, hence at half past nine it was decided that I should put out the garbage bin and retire to bed, thereby leaving Tiki to view the remainder of the movie.