Just Don't Get Your Wires Crossed
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Walking down Elizabeth Street in the city some weeks ago, I spotted these cable coils on the back of a tradie's ute during a smoko. Okay, I'll stop and explain the Australian slang. A "tradie" is a tradesman. A "ute" is a utility vehicle, or a pickup to most of you. And a "smoko" is (you guessed it) a smoker's break.
The sight caught my eye because of the contrasting colours of the coils, the rusty metal visible and the fact that the neat coils are completely different sizes. Maybe he just wasn't sure whether to go wi-fi or install broadband or cable.
(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)
14 comments:
I love your fresh look on things I would just walk by without even thinking about it. Very inspiring! Thanks for that.
I first heard the term smoko in the John Willamson song "True Blue"
An Arkie's Musings
Maybe he was just a cable fiend?
Hi! Just popped over the read your daily musing after you visited my "tea" blog. Must say it is so odd in the middle of a cold windy Sunday afternoon, to read your Monday's blog. Liked the shot and was interested in the jargon!
It is an interesting shot...thanks for the interpretation, I wouldn't have gotten it!
I liked the shot and greatly appreciated the translation.
Thanks for popping by my blog. Yes, family is source of all of my joys and most of my frustrations!
I also like the sense of coiled potential in this photo....
I am LOL since I took a similar shot recently ... alas MacBook is in hospital so it will have to wait til NEXT week's Odd Shot to be shown
:-D
Of course the coils are different sizes - they're mother and baby!
I'd never heard any of those phrases before. Thanks for the Aussie education.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that the tradie doesn't get cross and cross the cables.
Thanks for introducing the new terminology - at least for me :)
David, excellent image. You are so right about the contrast, and actually nice background to make it all perfect. Anna :)
I'm glad you explained the lingo. Interesting shot!
Actually I followed that right up until the "smoko". Although a "ute" around here usually refers to a "sport ute" or SUV, rather than a pickup.
I couldn't help but be reminded of a shot I got in Boston (or the Boston metro ta least) a couple of years ago of the back of a van labeled "Waltham Wires Dept." I never figured out if that was a municipal agency or just the name of a company.
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