Tales from the Man who would be King

Rex Jaeschke's Personal Blog

Signs of Life: Part 2

© 2015 Rex Jaeschke. All rights reserved.

From time to time during my travels, I come across signs that I find interesting for one reason or another. Sometimes, they contain clever writing, are humorous, or remind me of some place or event. Here are some more from a recent trip to London and Yorkshire in England.

 

The name of a laundromat.

Give it a whirl is a common English idiom that usually means "to try something," but is used here as a pun since an automatic washing machine whirls around while washing clothing." [Whirlpool Corporation is a long-time US maker of home appliances, including those for doing laundry.]

 

A bar and bistro.

So why is it called that name? Probably because Shirtless Pig was already taken!

 

A water dish for dogs.

If you look very carefully at the top of the puppies' heads, you can see a coin slot. The money donated goes to training guide dogs for the blind.

 

A clothing shop.

As soon as I saw it, I immediate thought, "Hall and Oates, before they got rid of the middle C and became rock stars".

 

A strorefront in Harrogate.

We all expect a lot of Heaven, but this list is a pretty good start.

 

A hotel from the movie Chocolat? Nice try, but no. A hotel made of chocolate? No. A hotel for lovers of chocolate? Wrong again. A store that sells chocolate? Yes.

 

A type of pedestrian crossing.

To be specific, it's a Pelican crossing having speed humps on either side of it.

Apparently, it is not related to a zebra crossing, which is a pedestrian crossing for members of The Beatles only (and, of course, zebras).

 

From a T-shirt.

Based on a quote attributed to Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the only daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States.

 

From a T-shirt, probably not authorized by Apple.

Very clever!

 

A shop for knitted garments.

My guess is the name is meant to rhyme with the popular idiom sitting pretty, meaning being more than okay.

Note the child's bicycle out front that has been completely knitted over.

 

A laundry and dry cleaners.

 

A tea and cake shop .

What is widely known is Marie Antionette's saying, "Let them [the peasants] eat cake!" However, what is not so well known is that after a pause, she added, "With ice cream, perhaps?"

 

This pub seemed a bit out of place in Yorkshire.

 

The famous saying when using the London Underground (Tube).

 

Nothing more to add really!

 

It is sooo hard to get good help these days! Why, I've had three different butlers myself since the start of the year!