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What *is* that thing?
Jul. 6th, 2007 01:15 pmYesterday was consumed by more visits to the bank and a trip to London to deliver a stang, which the PO refused to take (a stang is a 5 1/2 foot staff, in this case with a shed red deer's antler on the end of it). Since we wrapped it, the stang looked more like a large paddle, but certainly proved to be a conversation opener. On the train in, I sat opposite one of those terribly patrician Englishwomen, a bit like Kristen Scott-Thomas, in a pink cashmere sweater and pearls. She was on her way to Morocco to visit friends (this gleaned from shameless eavesdropping/inability to avoid other people's phone conversations). But as I got up to get off, she leaned over and said, 'Do you mind aw'fly if I ask what that is?'
Fearing accusations of lunacy, I explained, and she proved very interested. 'You see,' she said, 'I'm a shepherd.' Managed to keep surprise off my face (most of the shepherds I know keep their trousers up with string and have no teeth) and we had a nice chat about sheep while the train glided in.
My customer lives in Turnham Green, not an area of London I know, but it turns out to be rather pleasant, with lots of restaurants and second hand clothes shops. Some shopping was done, to restore myself, and then I came back via the Paddington Station sushi bar. The train was late in, due to a punch-up between two women on the Reading express. I love the restraint with which train managers announce these things ('Two ladies have been escorted from the train' - as though they were on their way to the Ritz. Suspect they were no ladies, and that the escort involved an armlock).
Today, the rain has blown out but it is extremely windy. I have mowed the orchard and am going to the swimming pool in a bit - trying to make up for my enforced sedentary period yesterday.
Fearing accusations of lunacy, I explained, and she proved very interested. 'You see,' she said, 'I'm a shepherd.' Managed to keep surprise off my face (most of the shepherds I know keep their trousers up with string and have no teeth) and we had a nice chat about sheep while the train glided in.
My customer lives in Turnham Green, not an area of London I know, but it turns out to be rather pleasant, with lots of restaurants and second hand clothes shops. Some shopping was done, to restore myself, and then I came back via the Paddington Station sushi bar. The train was late in, due to a punch-up between two women on the Reading express. I love the restraint with which train managers announce these things ('Two ladies have been escorted from the train' - as though they were on their way to the Ritz. Suspect they were no ladies, and that the escort involved an armlock).
Today, the rain has blown out but it is extremely windy. I have mowed the orchard and am going to the swimming pool in a bit - trying to make up for my enforced sedentary period yesterday.
