Are you familiar with phrase "grand poobah?" I remember it from the cartoon series "The Flintstones," but apparently it originated with a haughty character called the "Poo-Bah" in Gilbert & Sullivan's opera "The Mikado."
John has taken on supervising my peas in the veggie gardens, apparently he doesn't have enough to do. He doesn't think I support things properly, at least the dwarf peas, and has interfered. "Interfering" is a bit of a joke between us, since we both do it in various ways and protest when the other does it in our designated realms of responsibility. We can't help ourselves.
While the taller peas are happily growing up into a wire fence, the dwarf peas weren't particularly cooperating with a string support I'd set up between two wooden stakes, growing in the opposite direction and into the garlic. Otherwise they were flowering and happy so I'd left them to it, intervening every few days to try to coax them up the string.
The "Grand Poobah" assessed the situation, determining that four strings at various heights were required to remedy the situation, also that one of the stakes needed further support. Rather than quibble I let him do his thing. In fact I helped execute his directive. But I don't think dwarf peas really require all that much support and hadn't thought it was the end of the world either way.
A day later I was out in the garden and noticed that the peas had toppled over in the opposite direction, in clear challenge to the Grand Poobah. He rushed to remedy the situation. Now they're starting to grow back towards the garlic, but I bite my tongue.
Pooh-pooh to the Grand Poobah! The peas weren't having it. They may try to have the last laugh but the Grand Poobah is watching them.
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