MONTHLY CHALLENGE: JANUARY
Signing Up For the Globetrotters Challenge on Signs
It’s a sign!
What better way to ring in the new writing year than with a jolly good challenge? But, as soon as I read Anne Bonfert’s news release, I was kicking myself. Why? Because I’ve already written a story about the signs I’d seen while travelling.
Given it was almost over a year ago, I took a quick peek through my voluminous online photo album and was delighted to find I’d taken even more pictures of signs since my first story was published — and there were also a few that I didn’t include initially.
My lead photo, for instance: it was taken in 2019 when a girlfriend asked me to join her on a hike. Given she’d almost killed me two years earlier on Mount Giant, I should’ve said no. Thankfully it was when I was fitter as a 2000' elevation is plenty to get the ticker racing.
It’s a sign that I could do a challenging hike and I can do it again if I get my lazy butt to the gym and start getting fit again.
So here goes for a few more pics of signs that I’ve taken in the last year — for the most part. I’ve decided to stick with Anne’s themes she used in her introductory story.
Signs of hope
A photographer always has a keen eye. My Dad and I were walking back to the Devonport (a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand) ferry terminal after a nice outing together when I noticed this sign.
Reading the associated literature with the link provided¹, it’s damned scary what is going on right now with global warming. I live in the hope every individual takes the time to educate themselves on the impact of our behaviour on planet Earth.
We each have a responsibility to reduce our footprint on ecosystems that seem insignificant but play a key role in our survival.
Signs of the past or the future
This was one of many signs advising Parisian tourists that the building they were visiting was a historical one. The city is littered with them — and no wonder. According to a 2011 Wikipedia statement, there are over 1800 monuments listed as historical in Paris.²
While doing a spot of touring in my neck of the woods, I was delighted to find numerous signs around the small town of Morin-Heights that aimed to educate visitors about the history of the village and its buildings.
A great local initiative.
Signs to guide you
There’s been a borough initiative in my neighbourhood to preserve the leftover green space after a building surge of condos and apartments. This outdoor gym is just one example of what they did.
It was cool to see a bunch of folks of all ages making use of the equipment during summer.
I didn’t look, but I’m hoping the instructions are in English on the reverse side…
I’m sure if you use the public transit system every day in Sydney, you know what to look for and where to look. For me, a tourist — and if I didn’t have my 86-year-old dad in tow — I had to study each notification in detail to see where the heck I was meant to be going!
Signs to make you laugh
Why did this KFC sign in Paris make me laugh? Because the Québec government made the fast food chain change its name to PFK here in Canada; Poulet Frites Kentucky.³
Yet, Paris was cool with their original name… WTF?
As for this sign that I saw in a gift store; it aligned with my relationship with math.
Give me fractions, decimals and the four basics — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division — but the rest? It taxes my brain!
Signs to make you think
Did you notice the picture on the pole? It’s a goose with the warning that he’s aggressive.
Now, the tape didn’t exactly prevent one from stepping over it; it was merely a warning: Do you want to be attacked by a territorial and protective bird guarding its babies or not?
It didn’t take me long to make a decision. I’ve walked this route many times and didn’t need to meet an angry bird.
One of my most memorable days in Paris was visiting this remarkable cemetery. Simply reading this sign made me think about the historical significance it has for Paris, for history and the arts.
Signs of creativity
Over the summer months, I frequently walked the ruelles in my neighbourhood; those lanes in between houses that generally service driveways.
They’re a treasure trove for a photographer. I’ve snapped all manner of things simply from walking a road less travelled. I’m sure the homeowners think I’m stalking their premises.
This was one of the cute signs I noticed in the ruelle. For those of you not familiar with French, le lutin is an elf.
Beautiful signs like this entice me to eat at the establishment. A salute to their past and an invitation to their now.
Signs to keep you alive
I’d never seen this type of sign before. I was impressed that the Perth coastal town and government had taken steps to improve their emergency response by providing beachgoers a code.
My bro was quick to point out this sign at the beach a few hundred metres from his house near Mandurah, Perth. It was to warn of snakes to protect the environment and people.
It sure turned me off stepping foot on the sand…
Signs of failure
This is a sign typically representing the inability of my building’s administration to translate French to English. Is it that difficult?
I find it all so disrespectful and a blatant disregard for professionalism and the Anglophone community.
Ah. A reminder of the day my daughter didn’t listen to parental advice that the hill was steep and she needed to slow down on her bike…
Years later, Hannah remembered that day as much as I did. At least she lived to tell the tale!
Anne Bonfert, this was a fun challenge! Thank you! Although we’re still early into the month, there’s been a couple of stories for the challenge that have enamoured me. It always intrigues me how a prompt can invite varied thoughts.
This one is from Kenny Minker who takes a potshot or two about signs that potentially lie.
And another from Scott-Ryan Abt as he explores Africa and Sri Lanka
If you’d like to read my first ‘sign’ story, here it is.
References
¹Predicted ocean and biodiversity changes ²2011 Wikipedia List of Monuments ³KFC versus PFK
