Red and Rover by Brian Basset for March 21, 2024

From Not Always Right: And That’s The Telecom Tea

Back in the early 1980s, I was a telecommunications tech in Pinetown, South Africa. My job? To swoop in and rescue people with malfunctioning phones.

One fateful day, a call came in complaining that the lines at a local firm were throwing a daily tantrum at 10:00 am. I rushed there, arriving at 11:00-ish to meet a receptionist with tales of woe. Little did I know, a storm was brewing in the form of an irate director.

As we discussed the issue, the boss stormed in, unleashing a torrent of anger and colourful language. Amid the chaos, I promised that I would be back by 9:45 the next day.

The following morning at 9:45 sharp, I confidently strode in, prepared to unveil my telecom wizardry. The director, true to form, resumed his tirade from the back room. Ignoring the commotion, I awaited the magic hour.

At precisely 10:00 am, half of the telephone lines waved a white flag of surrender. I swiftly investigated, finding myself in the “dedicated” PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange) room — a room that, as I soon discovered, moonlighted as a storage space amongst other jobs.

Lo and behold, the culprit of this daily telephonic rebellion was none other than the office tea lady. She had unplugged the phantom equipment to power up the kettle for her morning tea ritual. The tea, I might add, was for the director. The irony was too delicious to resist.

Summoning the director with a triumphant bang on his door, I led him to the scene of the crime. Pointing at the kettle, I declared, “That’s why your phones don’t work.” Without another word, I left him to digest the bitter truth. The look on his face was indescribable.

Lesson learned: sometimes, the most sophisticated problems have the simplest solutions, and in this case, it boiled down to a tea-related power struggle.

Rover has a splashdown whenever he marks his territory.

Oh my, avocado green Kitchen-Aid washer & dyer. Yes, we had them. My mom call them Rob & Laura Petrie! Ha

I though the time difference was only 3 hours from east to west coast. Oh well, artistic license and such! And child and dog imagination!

I think the boys are in their own time zone!

If it means free pizza then count me in!

I remember those avocado green appliances, even bathroom fixtures. But my mom did one better—she once had a pink gas range and refrigerator! I don’t recall anyone else in our neighborhood having pink kitchen appliances back then!

The good ole days of playing in a box…..creative and cheap!!!!!

Oh, How I love Red and Rover’s space travel !!!

Love the fishbowl helmets with the glued-on antenna….

Have a safe lift-off …… orbit and landing …… Red and Rover ……. And “DON’T” be late for supper …… ;)

And when you land if there are only apes, better jump back in go backwards.

Where do they live, in England? (Not according to Brian’s bio!)

I love Red’s imagination.