Friday, January 22, 2016

No one told the dogs.


Two stern looking police women at Paddington station. The sniffer dogs with them are having a whale of a time. The contrast between dogs and handlers makes me smile. No one told the dogs they have to be serious while on duty.

On the plane a well known classical actor. As we deplane he stands next to me in the aisle. A chance to tell him that thirty years ago we saw him in London in Breaking the Code. A few weeks later he was sitting alone in a cafe in LA but British reserve prevented me from going over to say what a powerful performance it had been. A lost courtesy I've regretted. Now is my chance, three decades later, to put the matter right.

He looks at me as if waiting for the punchline to this story. Perhaps something along the lines of the performance was so moving I gave up my day job and became a stage designer . '' That's all " I say to break the slightly embarassed silence. 'Oh ! How Kind. Thank you ' he replies clearly delighted that this conversation is over. These are exactly the same words I used when Madame Bay gave me a jar of pigs trotters in brine.


At the airport chairs that double up as instruments of torture. A narrow base and no back means you have to crouch in a fetal position if you don't want to fall off. Someone somewhere has decided that the travelling public shouldn't be allowed the luxury of comfort.


Dogs are supposed to get less emotional as they get older. This rule does not apply to PONs. In fact the reverse seems to hold true. Bob looks up from waving a large paw in front of the motion sensor on the arrival hall door to see me coming towards him. He throws his head back in a howl of delight. Not to be outdone his sister joins him. They both then turn on their backs and wait for a tickle. They squirm - a primary symptom of joy overload. 'The Fonts' greeting is less uninhibited. 


Safely back at home Bob suggests a game of throw the Furry Fox. Sophie wonders if there are sausages in my bag.


All is once again well with the world.


21 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

I hope you did not forget the sausages Angus.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.

WFT Nobby said...

PS Derek Jacobi?

Coppa's girl said...

You don't know what a welcome is until you have dogs !

Angus said...

Yes.

Angus said...

How right you are !

Julie said...

A wonderful 'welcome home'

Anonymous said...

No better greeting. I can imagine the full body wags and helicopter tails.
Just the antidote after such sombre occasions.
x

Kari said...

The reunion sounds as delightful for you as it was for the PON's.
When I was young, I happened to be on a short flight with a famous cellist and her conductor husband. After greeting, I spoke a few short sentences of admiration to her and when I finishrd she continued to look at me. I felt growing anxiety, each second seeming like an hour . Finally I said thank you. She still looked at me. Most uncomfortable. Never approached another well known person again.

VirginiaC said...

I'm glad you're back, even if you didn't bring back any sausages for the PON duo.
You have to admit that "Oh how kind!" is far better than a look of disdain and the words "Get away from me!" thrown your way.
Please please please have the Font make a video of Bob operating the airport doors motion sensor next time...he is a smart boy and deserves to have this incredible act saved for prosperity.
The howl of welcome....who could ask for more?

Unknown said...

How could one possibly rise gracefully from these airport chairs?

The PONS wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Emm said...

Seconding VirginiaC's request for a Bob-operating-the-airport-doors video. It would surely be Oscar-worthy.

When I lived in Manhattan, and especially on the West Side, it was just easier to smile and say "Hello" to famous people as you passed them on the street or the theatre or wherever. Thick on the ground, they were.

Angus said...

British reserve is probably best although the performance was very powerful !

Angus said...

PONs are an 'emotional ' breed.

Angus said...

Even the machine pistol totting soldiers looked up and laughed !

Angus said...

Good advice. Although to remember a performance three decades on is surely some excuse ?

Angus said...

A volume turned full on welcome.

Angus said...

And that rolling PON gait !

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Anyone, even Derek Jacobi, who is lucky enough to have a welcome home like the one you get from Bob and Sophie are lucky enough!

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

I'd love of those airport chairs, just for the look of it. My Sophie (part-Bichon part-dog) would love it and fit perfectly. Sorry the Famous Actor was a bit of a dud in person.

tammy j said...

LOLOL!
superb.
in every way.

Emm said...

A powerful actor. Perhaps he was just surprised at being reminded of something so long ago, and groping for a response.