Listeners ...
My mother has always said "listeners never hear good of themselves." In fact, if you ever managed to catch her talking about you she would spring into action with her special phrase, and you would inevitably be labelled as being in the wrong for spying!
I try to stay in touch with all of the trivia of importance to young people. As a mature parent, I purposefully endeavour to keep up with the trendy bands, books, mobile phones and the like so that the munchkins feel that I can relate to them as they get older.
This evening I was talking to my super PA Lydia on the telephone from home. I slipped back to the house early from work as I had a meeting at 3pm in London Bridge. It made perfect sense to me as it would have taken an age to get back to the office...
Having just returned from holiday together, Lydia and I are getting on particularly well. She was telling me about this "amazing group" and their "current vibe" or whatever. I told her; "Nothing is new, I have heard that sound before."
"Oh Lydia" I laughed "The Killers are The Cure."
At this point I heard banging and crashing outside my bedroom window - which is rather alarming as I sleep on the second floor... An ashen faced Ana (au pair) appeared in the window looking terrified.
"You are intending to do away with me," she screeched.
"Only if you don't get on and finish cleaning the gutters," I replied. Honestly, listeners never hear good of themselves. She needs to get those gutters spic and span, as soon she will be too big to get up the ladder!
12 comments:
The Cure! There was a band -- although I can hardly believe that you go back that far -- you must have been a small girl when "A Forest" came out, if you were born at all.
I too heard that phrase and many many similar from my mother during my childhood. I now deliberately quote them back to her, it great and very therapeutic. E.g "Mother, don't shout from one room to another" ..."Don't stand in front of the television, you haven't got a pane in your back." (Still not funny after 30 years)... "Practice makes perfect mother!" (Her ability to parallel park.) and so it goes on.
More importantly though, what on earth is pregnant Ana doing up a ladder?
Lovely Mr East, I loved The Cure. You are too kind.
Perfect Ingenious Rose, Ana was up the ladder cleaning the gutters at my insistance. Soon she will be too big to carry out these little chores for me.
where did you find someone like Ana? - I want one.
Oh Elsie Darling,
Do be careful what you wish for, and you have such a perfect happy family. That minx will be looking for a new "position" no doubt soon.
I'm alarmed by this second floor business. You realise that if she was crawling from the top downwards, death could be accomplished only with a silver bullet?
Lovely Omega Mum,
She was on a ladder. Granted no-one was holding the bottom of it. Actually, now that I come to think of it, I shall have her clean the windows tomorrow!
When Ana gets too fat for you let me klnow, I'd be happy to have someone fatter than me in my house for a while...seeing as none of my friends will oblige by gaining weight in sympathy.
I've seen enough Laurel & Hardy to know you are never too large to use a ladder ... hmm.
I'm sure some Justin Timberland would get her in the mood for cleaning the windows
I think you should set Ana away on ever higher windows ...
crikey dulwichmum, she could be there all night by the sounds of it. I suppose then she may be cleaning the gutter but at least she'd be looking at the stars. How very poetic...
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