flowerboxes and fire
Dear T + Z readers, sorry bout the lack of presence here.
I have just under 3 weeks to go before the thesis is due, and honours is over! yeah, can’t wait. But before that, I must finish writing the thing still. what a hassle, can’t they just say “hey, that IS a cool idea for a thesis!” and just give it to me? humph.
Tom is busy working (field and office), bike-riding, bike building, selling bikes and bike bits on ebay and ordering new bikes and bike bits. and watching last year’s Tour dvd, and wishing this year’s had come out already.
anyway, despite my ridonk busy schedule and slightly panicked/stressed disposition - or perhaps because of it? - I had a funny little conversation in my head just now, that went something along these lines.
me: there’s a plant sale at BEES tomorrow, they have marigolds and tomatoes. I love marigolds. and tomatoes.
me: where would we put them?
me: we could re-plant that window box off the bedroom, the geraniums in there are looking a little sad.
me: oh, hey, but there are screens on the windows! how would we do that?
me: oh yeah, there are screens on the windows. OMG, screens. blocking. the. windows. how would we get out if there was a fire, a fire that was like blocking the door!! we’d be trapped! and die!!!
me: um, dude, we could tear the screen. you know, if there were flames roaring around the door. flyscreen is kinda delicate material.
me: yes, you’re right, we could do that. We won’t perish in a fire, it’s ok, me, don’t panic about fires, we have other things to worry about for now. concentrate.
me: ok. but just one more thing… if there is a fire, and we have to rip the screen and jump out the window, what shall we save from the fire?? you know, we should sort this out on this now, so that we won’t be panicked, like when we’re at the supermarket and can’t decide what to have for dinner and end up walking around and around the store for half an hour picking up and putting down ingredients before leaving with a cos lettuce, two tins of butter beans and block of Whittaker’s Almond Gold.
me: ummm, yeah, right…. I think it’ll just be the laptop. that has all the photos on it, plus, hello, thesis. and I LOVE my computer.
me: ok. but let’s grab the wallet too hey. money and ID and so on.
NOTES:
- I checked, and the screens actually slide up. who knew? that means the other day when I was trying to see what was making all that noise on the street just out of eyesight around the corner, I could have slid the screen up and put my head out, rather than hopelessly pressing my face against the screen.
- we have a smoke alarm. the frigging most sensitive smoke alarm in the universe. it goes off if it thinks you might be COOKING something, because, you know, that COULD turn into a fire!!!! OMG! FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! hey, hey smoke alarm, shut up!
- I really do love me computer. look how cute it is!
SO. dear friends and readers, what would YOU save from the fire?
October 1st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
The screens will probably melt in the intense heat and then you can jump straight through
Don’t you think Tom should be fairly high on the list of things you would save from the fire?
October 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Not sure if you’d be home when a fire starts, otherwise you’d put out the fire. Carry your laptop and tom with you at all times.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I would save my photos from Australia (with the best time in my life) and of course I would save my lab book and computer (most important things in my PhD-life), how sad is that!!
Maybe I would also save the Elisabeth Chong Wok!!
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 am
You’ll have competition for the window space I think -
Tom will want to toss out all those precious bike bits first.
In your planning policy for this event, maybe you should consider
allocating a window each.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
That is why I am culling my photo collection to one album!
Careful not to tread on the tomatoes and marigolds as you get out the window. Hey - would you take them as you go?
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@ YLD: I am assuming Tom is going to be looking after himself here, and yes, YLM, probably his bike parts too.. yes, maybe he can jump out the living room or kitchen window onto concrete, and I’ll take the bedroom window with the soft grassy landing underneath. hmm, on second thoughts it will probably be computer and bikes getting the soft landing, t & I on the concrete.
@ Braden: that does seem logical, especially since Mr Overachiever Smoke Alarm would be screaming blue murder the moment something looked like catching on fire, but you know, we might be napping deeply or something….
@ Kiki: yes, save the data!! lol. mostly so you don’t have to do it again though, right?? and yes, I did entertain thoughts of saving my food processor, and was thinking about books too, but said firmly to myself ‘no, that is all replaceable’ (as are passports etc), and anyway, books are too close to the burning door.
@ Liz: I’m glad I’m not contending with (m)any film photos at all.. the bulk are digital, so can just fling (lower?) the laptop and have all, um, 10,817 of them with me. yeah, maybe I need to cull my iphoto library! oh, I think the marigolds and tomatoes will be replaceable enough, I would be tempted to save the christmas tree jasmine which we have finally nursed back to health after the trauma of being left in Duncan’s flat for a couple of weeks in Dec-January…
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Dude, i just read your post… did you get plants or what?
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
oh, yeah. Purchased: 2 x towering basil stalks, 1 x chilli plant (unknown variety), 1 x cherry tomato plant, 3 x french marigold plants (chance of yellow to red).
Marigolds are in the flowerbox out the bedroom window (no, I didn’t plant them out already, they’re just… sitting there)
herbs and fruits are on the kitchen windowsill, joining the parsley and thyme, and christmas tree jasmine, who just love it there.
I will update with photos after the 20th!
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
If you jumped out first Tom could follow (with his bike bits) and land on you. In that way neither he nor his bike bits would get scratched…seems fair to me
October 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DQVRsDbP-1I
Hope you’re not in an appartment
October 18th, 2008 at 7:08 am
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