Thursday, December 2, 2010

Essentials

There is nothing like a call from one's mater to say that she had run out of smoked salmon and double cream to focus the mind on what is really important. Mr. Signs and I trudged to the end of our road where his car was parked to make the perilous journey into the village for provisions. If no smoked salmon, she said, then Parma ham would do. There was basically nothing fresh to be had - no veg apart from spinach and certainly nothing like bread or milk. But lo! There was one solitary tub of double cream and there was, inexplicably, Parma ham. There is a Sign here somewhere - a clue to the kind of things one should look for in perilous times: luxuries, clearly. If I need to go to the chemist while this weather lasts it will be for Chanel No. 5. For ourselves we stocked up on biscuits, Supernoodles, peanuts, Monster Munch - plus a few sensible things, and I mean to say, who ever starved while there were lentils and rice in the cupboard.

The snow carries on falling and when I look out at the front I can only see a tiny bit of the middle of the Signsmobile as most of it is buried in white. Tomorrow, by hook or by crook, we have to get ourselves to London to meet up with Daughter and others to see Son performing the romantic lead in West Side Story at the Greenwood Theatre in London Bridge. Today all the trains are cancelled, so it has simply got to stop snowing in time to allow us clear passage. We will leave the cat alone, the central heating on. All will be well.

9 comments:

Cusp said...

Blimey...Mater knows how to live dont she !...smoked salmon and double cream...and parma ham. Most elderly Maters would be glad enough to get a box of longlife and small Hovis...maybe a bag of winegums for added excitement :O)

Still I've come accustomed to the elevated tone of Life of Signs

I DO hope the weather improves sufficiently for you to get up the Smoke. If not just order 'Champagne for Everyone Darlink' and enjoy

Break a Leg/
Hatzlakha u-brakha

Reading the Signs said...

Cusp, she sure do! And she wouldn't think much of Hovis and longlife, even if there'd been any to be had.

I am keeping a weather eye on the weather. It just keeps on snowing here and the WVLs are saying bloclogi.

Fire Bird said...

good luck out there. I've abandoned my trip south I confess, but yours is more crucial I know...

Reading the Signs said...

Thanks FB - the Signs are not particularly auspicious just now - all trains cancelled today, and the snow keeps on falling. I would so like to be there, but -

Mim said...

Good luck waiting out the storm. Shocking white and cold for UK, right.

Marvelous that your mother can still eat rich food!

Reading the Signs said...

It is pretty shocking, Mim - and cold is set to continue

Montag said...

I was reading about all the snow there, about the people stranded in pubs who had to drink and eat as if there were no tomorrow. Ghastly business.

Reading the Signs said...

Hello Mongag - the thing is that we're just not used to having this kind of extreme weather come at us. Our village stores are still depleted of essentials. There has been a thaw but it's all freezing up again.

Montag said...

Find a well laden pub in which to sequester yourselves and the winter will just fly by.