blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2008-05-20 02:28 am
Entry tags:

A moment with J

The house next door to ours has become available to rent, and by pure chance I discovered that a very nice colleague at a magazine I freelance for was interested in it. On the open day on Saturday I popped over to say goodbye to the lovely girls who have been living there, and there were a number of would-be renters including the chap I knew.

He waved hello and I wandered over. "Look at you! What a coincidence! We're so desperate to get this place, but look how many people there are!"

"Yes," I said, loudly. "It's a good house, but the security is pretty dreadful. I wouldn't want to be a young woman living here without a man about*, I think they should be telling people that there have been any number of occasions where people have jumped that front fence. It's just no deterrent."

The chap and his boyfriend grinned at me. "And the train noise isn't too bad," I continued. "We just live in the back part of the house, although you have all those windows, which will make it harder, but earplugs will help at night."

"Two groups just left," he told me. "Bless you."

After everyone had gone I chatted with the realtor. "Just give us nice neighbours, not horrible students!"

"Well," she said, "I liked that gay couple."

"Oh yes!" I enthused. "Did you know one of them is a landscape gardener? They live locally and have such a good reputation in the area!"

She seemed very pleased to hear this, and I left, my work done

I walked back into my own home, and J asked me what I had been up to.

"You are so tricky!" he laughed.

"Sneaky like a Slytherin!" I replied.

He looked at me, aghast. "You did not just say that!" he exclaimed.

I shook my head at him. "If I had used any of the allusions from Austen or Dickens that sprang to mind, would you have got them?"

"Yes!" he declared.

"Really?"

"No."


*NB, this bit is in fact a fib, since I was the person who scared off two of the three intruders into next-door's garden that I know of over the last eight years, with no help from anyone except my trusty gardening axe. You do not need a man, but I do recommend an axe.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Who needs a man when you've got an AXE?

Slytherin indeed, you!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I have my moments ;-)

I have to say that J is all very strong and noble, but in a fight I would worry about him terribly, whereas show a burglar a five-foot-and-a-bit girlish woman grinning and comfortably hefting a good solid axe and they invariably flee.

Which is just as well as I have yet to work out how to stop someone, using an axe, without killing them.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I think burglars might be scared off by my hysteria, and by my husband's bulk. We'd make a good tag team. Thank goodness we've never had the opportunity to defend ourselves.

[identity profile] cinnatart.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
you know... Somehow I think I wouldn't mind having you as a neighbour. I wouldn't mind it at all =P

[identity profile] dysonrules.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
That made me giggle! *hands you a cloth to polish your Slytherin badge*

Excellent work.

[identity profile] libby-drew.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL I love you. Such a good friend.

I don't have an axe. But I do have a crossbow. I haven't had to wield it. Yet. (Though I've thought about it with you-know-who.)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I am very good at supplying sugar and scaring away burglars. Though we are rather loud when we watch late-night F1 Grand Prix, but not so as you would notice if you had the windows shut ....

(It would be fun to live next door to you, but if I had the money to make that kind of shift I would also be buying you a house that allowed only selected relatives in through the gate ;-)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
J has had ample opportunity to scare off burglars, but has failed to notice them every time! So I am left to deal with them by myself. But my theory is that they look at me and think "She is little and squidgy, and yet she is grinning, she must be a martial arts FREAK!"

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I like to think I could have made a go of it in most houses ...

Thank you!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, it's in my own interests to have nice neighbours!

Crossbows are so sensible! We have long bows, which are less wieldy indoors. I do think that you would get away with a crossbow cleaning accident, especially if the bolt merely pierced someone's buttocks ...

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree... it must be the fiendish grin that scares them off!

Once my sister was housesitting for us, and she reported seeing an unknown man on our inner patio. But she didn't do a thing, as she assumed it was the landlord. Not the greatest judgment in the world. We never found out who it was, but he didn't do any harm. :)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I once discovered two young men in my kitchen. I was so happy that I had put on my bathrobe. They looked at me, saw the expression on my face, and started to apologise profusely.

"Run," I said. "Now."

They fled.

I sat there thinking happy thoughts about how mighty and terrifying I am, then I remembered that I was sharing that house with an actual martial arts freak and that the hallway behind me was filled with weaponry.

I like to think the terry-towelling bathrobe was somewhat scary.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
We have a sword cane around somewhere. Perhaps it should be more prominently displayed.

[identity profile] leochi.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahahaha... I just love this *g*

[identity profile] empress-jae.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
my baseball bat is my weapon of choice. it's been with me at my bedside for 12 years. :D

*hugs you with slytherin pride*

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
You are evil, which isn't a criticism at all

[identity profile] rocket62204.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Hahahahahahaha. :D You are amazing. I hope the guys you know get the house!

[identity profile] romaine24.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
♥ you!
fourth_rose: (Slytherin)

[personal profile] fourth_rose 2008-05-19 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Your House is very proud of you, dear ;)

[identity profile] catsintheattic.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Great RL story!

Yay for Slytherin cunning!

[identity profile] pingrid.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm impressed! Devious, self-serving AND altruistic all in one - that's no mean feat! :D I hope they get it; please let us know.

[identity profile] raitala.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that the fact that there is really no way to stop someone, using an axe, without killing them is the reason behind the alacrity with which your intruders departed.

My father sleeps with an old dress sword under the bed. The one time he had to use it - insert image of small, wiry, naked man charging down a darkened staircase brandishing a sword - it proved a very effective deterrent. My mother favours simply eyeballing them in her nightie and saying in a teacherish fashion 'And what do you think you're doing!?' - that time they actually apologised on their way out. I am not sure my eyeballing is quite up to snuff, so I keep my old épée behind the living-room door.

I hope you get the neighbours you wanted. :)

[identity profile] cinnatart.livejournal.com 2008-05-20 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
see now that would be ducky. and considering I stay up till like 3am and then sleep through the rest of the AM? I'm not worried about noise =P

and good luck keeping all those relatives out. I'm only on speaking terms with two of my familial relations: my sister and my cousin (well, and his wife and 2 kids). at least today, anyway.
ext_46236: (Default)

[identity profile] lisbet.livejournal.com 2008-05-20 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
LOL! You sound like a great neighbor! I love the axe imagery.

My husband keeps medieval swords around and knows how to use them. Me, I have a sword by my side of the bed, too, but I am not so good with it. I tend to favor the eyeball and nightgown technique as well. Oh, and red eyes and bed-head. I even scare myself some early mornings...

[identity profile] grey-hunter.livejournal.com 2008-05-20 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
LOL

Here's a badge:

***DRACO is PROUD of YOU***

Page 1 of 3