Random reminder

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 32

Random reminder

SEND HER DOWN . . .

It was a quiet valley not far from Christchurch. All kinds of gardens flourished. It was a two-way traffic — Nature’s bounty from the sheltered slopes to the city, and people, such of the Beautiful People who had not yet emigrated from the city to the rural peace. Some to visit, setae to settle. Pigeons, it was said, could tell what they were flying over. “Boiling!” was Jaguars. “Aaagh!” was sunbathers. And no sound at all was deep green grass. Early one morning a lisp of leaves and a rattle of rain gave warning that the long hot summer (since Tuesday) was about to end Leaping from bed, one lady and her gentleman rushed round securing doors, recovering books from verandahs, putting the brakes on rotary lines and so forth. Coming back from'the garage, the man Stared at the

woman. Well lit by moonlight, she was moving across the lawn. She was half a metre above the ground, clinging to a beach umbrella, spinning gently, and cursing ungently. He hurried to pick the pieces out of the rhododendrons.

Another gust blew them back up the hill. They jumped off at the verandah. The umbrella folded up and died. The moon shined mockingly. They put on the kettle, put on some’ sticking plasters, put on some clothes. The phone rang. It was the neighbours across the way. Darlings! Just LOVED the show! Were you doing “Mary Poppins,” or the “Flying Nun?”

“Hmph,” said the woman. “Oh,” the voice on the phone went on, “Philip missed the first bit. Could you do it again please?