This morning I was having an argument with someone in my head. Do you ever do that? It's kind of a useless exercise but my brain was doing its floating thing and sometimes that brings good ideas to the surface. So today I was imagining myself telling this particular person, 'You can't think like that'.
Uh oh. In today's world, you can't say those sorts of things. At least, I'd be very hesitant. But what to do? I thought how much better it would be if I could say 'one' instead, as in 'One can't think like that'. Less personal, so maybe more acceptable.
It strikes me that generally, everything has to be more personal these days. Maybe that has something to do with individuality (?) In any case, we are losing the use of 'one', even though this usage can sometimes be found in articles or essays that originate in England.
I find this a bit of a pity. But I need to keep up with the times, especially as a writer of fiction. And here the increase in the personal is marked. Writing advice encourages us to use what's known as 'third person deep point of view'. This means that everything is filtered through the eyes and experience of the main character. The reader very quickly engages, which is the big advantage.
I suppose we all have our natural perspective, for some of us closer than others. Mine, I have to confess, has always been somewhat distanced and that makes it difficult for me to write in this most modern way. I find it easier to use first person, but I'm trying to learn the technique. Luckily, although I might have thought about saying 'one', it never enters my head to actually do so!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friendly mirrors
"I love this mirror." My dear aunt Katty said, regarding her reflection and tweaking her hairstyle.
She was visiting us in our South African 'cottage' i.e. holiday home by the sea.
I didn't see anything special about that particular mirror, although it was pretty enough, with its curlicued frame of white-painted wrought iron.
"Why?" I asked.
"'Cos it makes me look thinner."
I'd never thought of such a phenomenon, but ever since then I've occasionally come across mirrors that enhance or detract. Most recently, buying clothes on sale in an upmarket store I wondered if the owners had ever considered theirs. It's one of those establishments where you have to leave the cubicle in order to see how you look (hate that!). The three-way mirror is flawed and makes you (me) look like a dumpling. Not a good idea from the retail side.
Anyhow, I'm happy to tell you that the bathroom mirror in our new abode is a friendly one. This is nice because I can start off the day feeling good about myself. And, even though I don't subscribe to the idea that we should all be slim, but rather that we all have our optimum weight, whether it be on the thinner or fatter side, I like that.
She was visiting us in our South African 'cottage' i.e. holiday home by the sea.
I didn't see anything special about that particular mirror, although it was pretty enough, with its curlicued frame of white-painted wrought iron.
"Why?" I asked.
"'Cos it makes me look thinner."
I'd never thought of such a phenomenon, but ever since then I've occasionally come across mirrors that enhance or detract. Most recently, buying clothes on sale in an upmarket store I wondered if the owners had ever considered theirs. It's one of those establishments where you have to leave the cubicle in order to see how you look (hate that!). The three-way mirror is flawed and makes you (me) look like a dumpling. Not a good idea from the retail side.
Anyhow, I'm happy to tell you that the bathroom mirror in our new abode is a friendly one. This is nice because I can start off the day feeling good about myself. And, even though I don't subscribe to the idea that we should all be slim, but rather that we all have our optimum weight, whether it be on the thinner or fatter side, I like that.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Into the clothes closet
Are you a clothes hoarder? I don't mean, 'do you have too many in your closet', rather I mean this...
A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went to buy some clothes on the sales. So I got a couple of new pairs of jeans, a linen dress and a tee shirt type top. When we got home, I carefully put them away and doubt I'll wear any of them before next summer.
Meanwhile, my husband bought a light jacket, socks and two pairs of shorts. He's worn one of the latter, as well as the socks and the jacket... that was, after I'd cut off the labels and thrown them in the paper recycling.
So I was wondering... What's that all about? Why do I keep the new things rather than wearing them? I suspect this has to do with living in South Africa. During the days when my mother was still alive and we used to meet for morning coffee and shopping every Tuesday (so very glad we did that! They were special times.) we used to buy some imported clothes. Now, if you think about it, we were in the Southern Hemisphere so the seasons didn't tally. This meant buying garments and not being able to wear them for quite a few months.
What I discovered then was this: there's something rather delicious about knowing you have something new and nice to wear, just waiting patiently in the closet. So I guess that's when I acquired the habit of being a closet hoarder.
How about you?
A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went to buy some clothes on the sales. So I got a couple of new pairs of jeans, a linen dress and a tee shirt type top. When we got home, I carefully put them away and doubt I'll wear any of them before next summer.
Meanwhile, my husband bought a light jacket, socks and two pairs of shorts. He's worn one of the latter, as well as the socks and the jacket... that was, after I'd cut off the labels and thrown them in the paper recycling.
So I was wondering... What's that all about? Why do I keep the new things rather than wearing them? I suspect this has to do with living in South Africa. During the days when my mother was still alive and we used to meet for morning coffee and shopping every Tuesday (so very glad we did that! They were special times.) we used to buy some imported clothes. Now, if you think about it, we were in the Southern Hemisphere so the seasons didn't tally. This meant buying garments and not being able to wear them for quite a few months.
What I discovered then was this: there's something rather delicious about knowing you have something new and nice to wear, just waiting patiently in the closet. So I guess that's when I acquired the habit of being a closet hoarder.
How about you?
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