As they say in the classics: ‘never work with animals’

Social posts of SA pollies are a treasure trove of fascinating insights and rather surprising pictorial revelations.

This week’s offering on the “I’m from Gawler” Facebook page is a case in point with a photograph appearing with an awkwardly placed greyhound in front of the Member for Light Tony Piccolo.

The photograph of the MP shaking hands with the winner of a racing cup is accompanied by a variety of quips from locals regarding future career opportunities. Another cropped version of the picture appears on the Bunyip newspaper Facebook site.

Its appearance reminds Insider of a few other images that had social media followers quick to comment on their selection.

Shadow Minister for Transport Vincent Tarzia delivered this beauty earlier in the year surrounding calls for red tape to be cut for the chauffeur industry – prompting a re-share by Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis who remarked “That’s quite the pose.”

While Adelaide City Councillor Henry Davis found himself being interviewed on radio after recording a video message while randomly holding one of his chickens.

On ABC Radio Adelaide Breakfast, David Bevan asked the tough question, “Are you going to be known as the ‘Chicken Man’?”

Teaching social followers a lesson

Another MP happy to share a more unusual selection of pictures on his social media profile is Education Minister Blair Boyer.

The Minister – who has appeared dressed up in super hero and Harry Potter outfits spruiking various book week festivities – is currently involved in tense discussions with the teachers’ union over pay and conditions.

Boyer is vocal in his support for the profession and has several pictures of himself on Facebook with his father Ivan, a retired secondary school teacher who spent several decades educating students in English and Australian history at Portland Secondary College in Victoria.

Blair Boyer and his father and retired school teacher Ivan. Photo: supplied

A snippet of his own history shared with Insider is that Ivan was the youngest of 11 children and the only one in his immediate family to attend university.

No doubt Boyer senior is well-equipped to offer his son a few words of advice regarding negotiations.

Adelaide has no chill

Adelaide has once more behaved like Sally Field at the 1985 Oscars.

Our deep psychological desire for external validation was on show again this week after the Wall Street Journal published a, frankly, odd piece about Adelaide’s secret greatness.

The article, by freelance travel writer Emily Pennington, did not – as many headlines suggested – declare Adelaide to be the coolest city in Australia.

What it did was talk to Adelaide people who suggested we might be a nice place to visit, with a heading saying we “might be” Australia’s coolest city.

Which is great, but the article was framed in strange terms.

Apparently, we offer “an almost utopian alternative to the typical urban sprawl”. And we have a “compact footprint”.

Despite the fact that neither of these statements are true, the reporter probably hasn’t caught up with our Premier, who has declared on a number of occasions that urban sprawl is not a dirty word and is, in fact, welcome, in our already sprawling capital.

After a random but pretty good list of favourite places from locals, the article tells us not to miss Dangerfield in Rundle Street – a chain clothing store with outlets all over Australia.

Leaving aside that strange call-out, it perhaps doesn’t hurt that one of the WSJ’s senior editorial leaders is an Adelaidean – Standards and Ethics Editor Emma Moody.

Stuff you should know…

As stated in the past, InSider is always grateful and intrigued by Reddit posts on r/Adelaide… many of which can’t be mentioned here. But the answers to a post this week from legnendary724 shows that if you ask you’ll get an answer.

“What’s the history behind this clock at Sefton Park, Main North Rd?” legnendary724 asked, after taking a pic from the Fasta pasta across the road (no more South Aussie thing than that).

The answer came quick from nt-nw-nt-evr.

“The clock was part of a sign for the Blacks Shoes business. I assume they dealt in either making, mending and/or selling shoes,” the poster wrote.

“I can’t say definitively, but it is likely the clock was placed there in part because that location was the Enfield tram line terminus. There would have been a lot of foot traffic and public clocks were relied upon a lot more during that time. By displaying a clock near your shop sign, you also draw attention to your shop. Practical marketing!”

And helpfully provided a pic from the Trammy Museum.

Another response explained why the clock is in its current position and pointed out the original hole is still in the brick wall.

A day worth its bread

InSider just knows you are waiting to discover what worldly delight is being celebrated on this slightly overcast day of November 3.

Well, prepare your bread knives, as it is kind-of officially World Sandwich Day.

Lovers of the lunchtime classic the world over like to attribute this fine culinary meal’s invention to the fourth Earl of Sandwich John Montagu.

Legend tells us of a 1762 incident when the aforementioned Earl asked his cook for a meal that would not interfere with his 24-hour gambling streak, and wa-la, a sandwich he could hold in one hand was born.

An official-looking “special days” website refutes the suggestion however, claiming the good Earl actually thought it a grand idea after seeing the convenient lunchtime option being served in Greece and Turkey.

Its insightful celebratory suggestions include making a loved one a sandwich, coming up with a new filling or heading to the deli for a professionally crafted option.

And with those incredibly festive ideas in mind, InSider is signing off and going in search of our own Adelaide-designed ham sanga.