Monday, June 2, 2008

- "and the living is easy"

My neighbour is a bit fed up because the raspberry bushes on our side of the fence stop her vegetables getting enough light. As we are friendly, this isn’t much of an issue. Her problem is really on the other side where the simply enormous ash tree is threatening to take over the universe, like something out of Doctor Who (and who but Signs to pick up on its occult intentions). Things very easily just grow apace here and everything wants to become forest. Drop a conker on the ground and next morning you’ll find a cluster of chestnut trees invading your little bit of garden, not exaggerating. Life, eh? Gets out of control very quickly.

One of my kids has got through to the finals of a reality TV talent contest thingy and – er – this is going to be on the telly soon and could all get quite big, and I’ll just shut up about that for now. Another one has got a new Amour and is preparing to put on a great big thing of a show at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. Mr. Signs has decided to have a party for his birthday this month. He is undertaking a part-time training to become a shrink and seems to have got in touch with his inner party animal. I must have said this before, but a good image is worth re-using: I feel a bit like Mickey Mouse walking off the edge of a cliff – everything is ok so long as you don’t look down. And Mr. Signs, being a Gemini as my father was, has this unshakeable belief that the sun always shines on his birthday. Which it had better do in the light of the number of people invited, or how they will all fit into Signs cottage doesn’t bear thinking about. In fact, thinking in too much detail about stuff at the moment is something I am not doing, sometimes it just works best that way.

My throat still aches and the glands around my neck feel swollen. It is June, dammit – what gives? Not going to think about that either.

10 comments:

Kahless said...

My cousin is on the telly (our fathers are twins) and when she was on celeb BB I was quite upset about some of the lies said in the newspaper. Luckily she sticks to BBC2 these days. I hope offspring Signs WINS! I will watch out and see if I can guess whom.

north said...

my dear signs - thank you for your writing. hope the sun shines not flooding you all in shade because of enormous tree. Went to pool again - did not see our sign - long may the natural world come speaking to us - xx

The Moon Topples said...

'Conker'? 'Doctor Who'? 'Edinburgh'? You Britlanders are hilarious.

Hiya, Signs...

Reading the Signs said...

Kahless, to be honest with you, I don't know what I hope! Great fun and all that but the sleb thing - well, you know - (more anon, no doubt).

Reading the Signs said...

Janis darlin, is it really you? Emigrated to Blogger - about time. I'll be over to have a look at your new house.

Reading the Signs said...

Mr. Moon! Where have you been? I'd almost thought you vanished from Blogoslavia altogether.

We Britlanders are wonderful, yes. (But don't tell me you haven't got conkers over there?)

Cusp said...

Oh I know what you mean about these optimistic, ever thrill- seeking and changing Gemini partners. My partner's birthday is in a few weeks and, guess what, a party has been arranged. As you say, the weather had better cheer up. PersonallY I hate parties -- mine or anyone elses' --- but I shall put on my best jolly party face and look pleased. God what a miserable old bu**er I sound !

Hope the offspring does well in the contest. You must tell us more. What is the talent ? Singing, dancing ? Juggling live eels whilst standing on one leg and singing 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' ?

If they win are we to expect pics in 'Hello' of the winner 'at home en famille'; Mother Signs smiling coyly on the couch with arm round winning child and a tome of Signs poetry casually left on the coffee table at the front of the shot ? Father Signs trying to shrink an unhappy journo on said couch ?

;0)[Naughty Cusp.....shouldn't tease]

Reading the Signs said...

Bought 30 wine glasses at IKEA today, Cusp. Haven't done this kind of thing for years and am totally out of practice.

Definitely no pics of Mother Signs on the pages of Hello. Gawd, the Nancy thing is exploding all over the tabloids, can't imagine anything more ghastly. But offspring finding it all great fun right now. No doubt details will emerge as and when, later this month. Look out for lots of people singing and stuff.

Pants said...

Signs! Is it X-Factor? Damn, I won't be able to watch it.

xxx

Pants

Reading the Signs said...

'tisn't that, Pants. I'll keep you - er - informed.