Conversations

The best one I had this week:

On Friday, I heard footsteps across the grass, and up the driveway to our front door. Even though Dad was closer to the front door, I hopped up from the computer to investigate.

It was NDN (Next-Door-Neighbour – Remember the 75-year-old-bloke who caught me tiptoeing barefoot and unshowered across his lawn to return his mail?) Actually, Dad didn’t even hear the footsteps across the grass and up the path and was extremely surprised at my anticipation of the door knock.

After we’ve exchanged greetings, NDN said, “Sorry to bother you! How much do you know about computers?”

I’ve replied with, “A fair bit. Why?” (Always curious)

NDN mumbled a whole bunch of stuff, that to be quite honest I didn’t quite get but there was something about an hourglass that has been sitting on his screen, and won’t go away OR let him do anything else.

I agreed to take a look – but only AFTER I’ve put my shoes on.

After explaining to Dad where I was going, why, and to rescue me if it took more than an hour, I walked next door. I left my shoes at the front door and NDN's shown me his computer. I noticed that almost half his computer icons are in Chinese! No wonder he has a problem! But how the bloody hell am I supposed to work with that?

I had a look and it appeared that his web browser had frozen. That’s when it occurred to me that he might actually have been downloading something I didn’t really want to know about.

I ended up shutting down his browser – very entertaining when the messages pop up in Chinese and NDN insisted on talking about other stuff. I felt like I was being rude by moving through the whole process but I did manage to reopen his browser to almost the page he was on last… He was actually researching ‘Properties’, not anything naughty. Thank goodness!

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The whole experience was not as funny as the time that other bloke turned up at our front door with his girlfriend close behind. We were actually on our way out, so I was already at the door. Not that I’m paranoid, actually I can be so don’t tell anyone, but I also keep the fly screen door locked at all times. He walked purposefully up to our doorway and tried to open it! When it didn’t oblige, he looked up and saw me standing there, watching him.

He said, accusingly, “Your door’s locked.”

All I could say was, “Yes, I know.”

Then he’s responded with, “You’re not Lisa!”

I replied with, “Yes, I know!”

Turned out he was at the wrong house – he needed to be at the next one over! As his girlfriend said, “How embarrassment!”

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Back to NDN: I forgot to mention his partner and her daughter are Chinese BUT he still caught me unshowered. At least, this time I had my shoes on - from my home to his and then back again…

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ANZAC Day – We have candles burning to honour the people who have fought, and continue to fight, for and on our behalf. We’ve also played the song, “We are Australian” twice . (Foal’s request) I've also had to show my citizenship certificate. We all agree that one still looks better than my degree…

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