Signs of joy continue to delight readers of Column 8
There are still signs as far as the eye can see in Col8 this week, the world seems to be full of sign writers who don’t read or think about what they’re painting. Alan Eipper, from Castle Hill, said: “As a man in the second half of my seventh decade, whose self-defense skills are not as good as they once were, I will never abide by the sign in our local shopping center that says: BEWARE PEDESTRIANS. “
Internationally, Mary Billing from Allambie Heights advises: “In County Limerick the road signs on the road say SLOW, then SLOWER a few meters further on.” She wonders if this is learning from experience, and Col8 asks whether it is a manifestation of the old Irish expression “to be safe, to be safe”.
Ann McGill, from Epping, writes: “When I visited Edinburgh recently I saw a van with CASTLE REMOVALS written on the side. I wondered for a moment why they removed castles as I thought they were great tourist attractions.”
Less internationally, Ann Babington from Lambton reports on a sign seen in Newcastle NSW that reads “For Sale. Backyard Grandmas”. This makes this grandma a little uncomfortable. If grandmas can be raised in backyards and sold in bulk, what will become of the world?
David Atherfold of Avalon Beach is bothered by the “Shaved leg ham” sign. He feels that the hair removal fad must have been cross-species, Col8 represents the right of all animals to enjoy grooming.
Combining etiquette and signs, Randwick resident Lisa Holloway says her good upbringing is “so ingrained that when I see a HAZCHEM sign I can’t help but say ‘God bless’.”
Back to bird topics (Col8 for a few days now) Judy Burge, from Kelso, a suburb of Bathurst that is obviously brimming with bird excitement, says: “We have a pair of magpies who nest about 70 meters from our house every year. Last summer, the parents sent Junior to our backyard to practice his warbling. It reminded me of sending my son to the back paddock when I was learning the bagpipes and trumpet. We also have way too many Currawongs and English Blackbirds. I can always tell if a currawong is nearby because the mama blackbird quietly looks at the chicks to warn them to stay still and quiet.”
Finally, a philosophical signage question: Lane Cove’s Colin Taylor-Evans asks: “If a door is permanently alarmed, does it need to be unhinged at some point?”
Column8@smh.com.au
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