Wednesday October 17, 2007
Yesterday ended with a haircut, Graham wielding the clippers for me because I still have problems with my shoulder and can’t lift my arm up without little yelps of protest that drive us all mad.
“Why don’t you leave it until your shoulder’s better?” he asked. “That’s what you usually do.”
“It’s what I would do now but I have to get a new passport photo so’s I can renew my disabled driver’s permit and I’m not going to look at me doing my Walt Whitman impression for three solid years.”
“Ah. Fair enough. Come here, then.”
And five minutes later I had been shorn.
“You should have been a swag-man,” I said, looking with great appreciation in the mirror.
“What’s a swag-man?”
“Itinerant Australian agricultural labourer. Shears sheep among other jobs, on piece-work rates so he doesn’t hang around.”
“Ok. How did you learn that?”
I piped up and sang:
There was a bit of silence in the kitchen just then.
“You,” said Graham, “are a silly old fart. Go and shower off the clippings why don’t you.”
I noticed a little moistening of the eyes, though. Gratifying, that.
So, anyway, this morning I got the envelope ready together with the renewal letter and my two pound fee and then took myself off to Sainsbury’s where I made use of their photo booth. You have to follow all sorts of rules for passport photos these days and none of them are aimed at making you look better than a piss-hole in the snow.
I grabbed a mug of coffee and sat in the coffee shop with my scissors and postage stamps so’s I could post the application off before coming home.
It only needed one photo, and they come in fours, so I had three left over to stick in the drawer and forget until the sun goes nova. Before I did so, though, Graham came along and filled the house with his jollity at my expense.
“You look like a retired swag-man,” he said. “Or a thug, long past his sell-by date.”
“Watch it buster. I shall do “Funeral Blues” at you if you don’t watch out.”
Collapse of stout parties. I might not be able to lift my arm above my shoulder. I might need a disabled driver’s permit. But I still have the power, and I have no intention of letting it go just yet. You should hear me doing “Warning”. Perhaps one day you shall. If ever I stop running.
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
22 responses so far ↓
Kate & Jim // October 17, 2007 at 2:05 pm |
Mornin’ John!
gary // October 17, 2007 at 2:45 pm |
Slick, Kate and Jim, slick.
And good morning there too!
mageb // October 17, 2007 at 2:45 pm |
I’ll be home this evening to read it.
Mary Lee // October 17, 2007 at 3:42 pm |
Ever wonder when some people sleep?
~ Sil in Corea // October 17, 2007 at 5:13 pm |
Yes, Mary, I do….but I’m about 9 hours ahead of John. That’s 14 hours ahead of the East Coast of the “New World.” I’m waving Hello from tomorrow. (1:13 a. m. Thursday)
Niki // October 17, 2007 at 6:50 pm |
You look like a movie star. I think it’s great that you can buy a house, fix it up and then move on and make a profit. Just don’t forget to take us with you!
Billy Shears // October 17, 2007 at 7:24 pm |
Love the police E-fit picture. Never thought they’d catch you.
PS Some kid’s crayoned a Shredded Wheat all over your top lip on my copy.
oldgreypoet // October 17, 2007 at 7:42 pm |
So. There you go. A swift re-title, a bit of thought and a fair bit of writing and I’ve kept my promise! One ‘proper’ journal entry for your delectation!
oldgreypoet // October 17, 2007 at 8:03 pm |
‘Billy Shears’? Know the reference. Can’t put a face to it. I thought it looked like a white crayon job but that’s photo booth lighting for you.
Jim in Vegas // October 17, 2007 at 8:30 pm |
Well, I like the shirt. It adds some life to the photo.
marty // October 17, 2007 at 9:28 pm |
I sang happily with the first video, and wept again with the second.
bonnie // October 17, 2007 at 9:39 pm |
Sang the swag man song many a time in Girl Scouts.
Yes I was one when the uniforms were green. Wonder if they still are? LOL
wayne // October 17, 2007 at 9:52 pm |
Aussies, Kiwis, Brits, and Yanks–separated by a common language. Waltzong Matilda is about the only song whose words I know. The last clip had me weeping even though I did not know the person. Laughter and tears in the same post.
The envelopes arrived. Thank you one million times.
oldgreypoet // October 17, 2007 at 10:44 pm |
Glad you got the envelopes, Wayne. As to the (English) common language… we ought to have charged Royalties…
louphoria // October 17, 2007 at 10:47 pm |
Piss hole in the snow! My mirth has been noted in the kitchen to shouts of ‘are you alright in there?’ Excellent.
I quite like your passport photo. There’s something arresting about the stare that we all get when faced with the dark glass of the inside of the booth. We should be thinking about the fact that whatever face we’re pulling is intended for officials and people we’d probably not like to piss off, but really, we’re looking at the reflection of ourselves in that dark glass, right in the eye – and I find the expression on peoples face when they do that quite interesting to note.
Billy Shears is something to do with the beatles and sgt. pepper etc. (I think) I don’t know why, but I got the feeling that was Graham messing. Well, he was shearing earlier. Sounds a little like his sense of humour too. (?)
Kate // October 17, 2007 at 11:31 pm |
“You have to follow all sorts of rules for passport photos these days and none of them are aimed at making you look better than a piss-hole in the snow.”
What Lou said!
Tim Reed // October 17, 2007 at 11:51 pm |
I guess I am just a romantic young sap. Both videos brought tears to my eyes.
oldgreypoet // October 18, 2007 at 12:05 am |
Me too, Tim. Nothing to do with ‘young’
Edward McCain // October 18, 2007 at 1:28 am |
oh, John. I danced Waltzing Matilda with my first love. You just took me to a place I never thought I’d go again…
sheila // October 18, 2007 at 2:49 am |
Lookin’ good there, John. I loved Waltzing Mathilda too and sang along with him. The second one was all so sad.
Friday Five - Reasons I’ve Been Posting Regularly at Going Like Sixty // October 19, 2007 at 11:50 am |
[...] I’m sorry I’m posting regularly. [...]
Wolfie // October 19, 2007 at 3:46 pm |
Huh. I’ve always known the chorus to WM, but never really heard the story. Love it! I still cry at that funeral scene, even though I’ve seen in about a hundred times, that being one of my all-time favorite movies! Thanks.