Do you know about "the rule of three"? It was somewhere in the back of my mind but I had not heard the expression or thought about it for a long time. "The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader or audience of this form of text is also more likely to consume information if it is written in groups of threes. From slogans ("Go, fight, win!") to films, many things are structured in threes. Examples include The Three Stooges, Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. A series of three often creates a progression in which the tension is created, built up, and finally released. Similarly, adjectives are often grouped in threes to emphasize an idea" from Wikipedia The latin phrase "omne trium perfectum" (everything that comes in threes is perfect / every set of three is complete) sums it up perfectly.
Obviously getting a bit soft and missing Matthew too much. His rugby season in California is nearly over, he continues his travels in the USA later this week and will be home in about 39 sleeps!!
We are having the most awesome weather in Cape Town at the moment. My niece Janet, in the UK, has just commented that she wonders why a summer wardrobe is needed in the UK. Come live here for a bit Janet. I have not yet taken out my winter clothes (not that there is much to take out), needed to use my slippers, had a fire or used a rug while watching television. Hard to believe that it is nearing mid-winter. This morning I was collected at 8 by Annie and we ventured up into a very special public garden. Annie knows Kirstenbosch so well and it is a treat to go walking with her and have her point out spider webs, porcupine droppings and get taken on routes that I did not know existed. She has a keen eye for detail and while I am looking at all the big and wonderful things (and trying to get my breath back), she is taking pictures of tiny leaves, dried flowers and little insects on the ground.
Can you see Hangklip? We could. Camera's fault
Time to rest, breathe and take in the view
Still quite a way to the top
Thanks Annie.
Second greatness of the day was to get back home to find emails in my inbox with orders for wine from the wine tasting I did at an art exhibition last night. I only took our 3 new wines - The Old School from Alkmaar Estate in Wellington and I felt really proud that they were so well received by the guests.
Did you spot the mistakes in the picture? Cap on wine and (worse still) empty glass. Taking my job a tad too seriously!! Also made the mistake of throwing a tennis ball to one of the three huge dogs in the background. He did not leave my side the entire evening and I nearly fell over the damn ball and into the flower beds a few times (no fault of wine).
Not too shabby!!
Can the weekend get any better? Will keep you posted. Keep warm Janet!!
Did I mention these three great new wines I am selling?
Over the last couple of days I have been making a list (in my head - not always a good idea) of the little things that make me irritated with myself. 1. Packaging for medication. Why is it that whenever you open the box, no matter if for the first time or the 10th time, you will open it on the side where the printed package insert blocks you getting the tablets out? Remedy: Remove the insert on your first opening (I never do) 2. Soap, no rope. The beauty of glycerine soap. My absolute best treat but drop it in the shower and, without my glasses, I have to go down on all fours and feel around for the transparent, slippery bar. Remedy: Soap on a rope or prescription shower goggles 3. Shampoo fiasco. Buy "matching" shampoos and conditioners and then always pick up the conditioner first, sometimes using the conditioner first and wondering why the hell there are no bubbles. Remedy: 2 in 1 shampoo or prescription shower goggles 4. Washing your face with hot water before bed. Getting ready for bed and then back to the bathroom to swallow a tablet. Fill glass with water. Swallow tablet with mouthful of hot water. Happens every night. Remedy: Take tablets before washing face. 5. I have got good about plugging in my phone and using handsfree and earphones when driving. Get to destination and forget about earplugs. Earrings pulled out of ears, seat belt tangled with cords and phone swinging on a thread. Remedy: Switch off phone while driving 6. Arriving home through garage. Take first load out and open up garage door, disarm burglar alarm, put bag on counter and hang key on hook. Head back to car for next load, try to open passenger side door, locked. Clever (but stupid) car somehow knows when there is only one passenger and the boot and other doors remain locked. Either have to run around car to driver's side, jump inside again and press button or make my way back inside and remove key from hook and press the key another time. Everyday. Remedy: Keep spare key in the garage
Little things and now written down are easily remedied but I really wonder why they have to happen so many times in the first place.
I have been in the car a lot this week. Listening to a CD Gareth made for me. This one was on repeat yesterday. Great song and I was kind of making up the words, so I thought it time to know them and now I do so I can really sing now and not lip synch.
They're playing our song
They're playing our song
Can you see the lights?
Can you hear the hum,
of our song?
I hope they get it right
I hope we dance tonight
Before we, get it wrong
And the seasons
Will change us new
But you're the best I've known
and you know me
I could not be stuck on you
If it weren't true
I was swimming
My eyes were dark
'til you woke me
And told me that opening
Is just the start
It was
Now I see you, 'til kingdom come
You're the one I want
To see me for all
the stupid shit I've done
Soil and six feet under,
Kept just like we were
Before you'd knew you'd know me
Now you know me
Blooming up from the ground
3 rounds and a sound
Like whispering "you know me.
You know me."
So this was our song
This was our song.
I still see the lights
I can see them
And the crisscross
Of what is true, won't get to us
'Cause you know me-
I could not give up on you...(wouldn't feel true)
And the fog of
what is right
Won't cover us
'cause you know me-
I could not give up a fight...(wouldn't feel right)
