Two places to my left, P was conducting an animated conversation about immigration with M, two places to my right. P is M's father, so they compete - in this case, in volume. Meanwhile, C was explaining, to A seated opposite her, how a random Scotsman, forty years ago, had transformed somebody or other's life with some unasked-for advice. C is married to P, so has learnt about volume over the years. Meanwhile, behind me on the iPod docker, Prince was tearing through 'Let's Go Crazy' from Purple Rain. Music always drives everything else out of my ears at the best of times. Meanwhile, I was having a quiet conversation with R and D, to my immediate right and left (P and C's daughter and granddaughter), about my trip to Jersey last weekend. D said something I didn't catch (it turned out to be 'Guernsey'), so I said "What?" C looked across at me. "Are you sure you're not going a bit deaf?" she said.
A bit later, someone said "Stuff an old pillow up the chimney." I definitely heard that.
The person who said "stuff an old pillow up the chimney" must have had cats ... or on second thoughts perhaps she/he was worried about an old fat man with a white beard invading her/his house. I wish you knew!
ReplyDeleteHalf past three.
ReplyDeleteR and D (Research and Development) have obviously responded to your quiet conversation, with a recommendation for improving the acoustics. Simple really, "stuff and old pillow up the chimney."
ReplyDeleteWhat? Sorry darling, I was completely distracted and am now listening to Prince instead of you.
ReplyDeletei did catch the bit about the pillow up the chimney though. We tried that. It was a mistake, as I found a few years later, when I had mummified remains of several birds to dispose of.
CQ - half past nine?
ReplyDeleteEveryone else - I think it was something banal to do with draught-proofing. But I much prefer your interpretations. Claus-repellent; sound-proofing; avian taxidermy ... ?
Z - you listen to Prince at 09:34? I'm impressed.
The Sage had a startled look as he passed by the study door.
ReplyDelete... rhabarberrhabarber ...
ReplyDeletebaabaabaa - babaabaraba - barbarannaan....
ReplyDeleteOld pillow? I thought you were supposed to do something with holly bushes and shotguns to chimneys.
ReplyDeleteWell I'll try anything once.
Word ver, sycho. Perhaps I won't do the holly bush thing with the shotgun..
Mago, AQ, talk amongst yourselves...
ReplyDeleteMig, you have the drop on me there. Please explicate.
Oh, and Z, I'm being encouraged to try writing short fiction, and your comment sounds like a brilliant opening line. May I steal it?
ReplyDeleteOf course, dear heart. Feel free.
ReplyDeleteMig is sweeping your chimney for you, in the absence of a small boy to do the job.
There you are. Z has explicated for me. I missed the bit about draught proofing though, I suppose blasting and scratching the chimney clean might have an opposite effect.
ReplyDelete