Managing expectations is an important skill in any business.
Always aim to under promise and over deliver. Get that the wrong way around (and I’m constantly fighting with companies that do), and no-one is going to be very impressed.
Me. I’m one of those people.
So this was ostensibly just a comeback run after some niggly injuries.
“Don’t expect too much. It will be good to just have him back out on the track. Let’s see how things go and take it from there.”
I’m paraphrasing, but things went well.
A strong 3rd place finish when really, we just wanted to see him run again. More than we ever expected.
And, given that number 6 was never ever going to lose this one, it probably actually counts as a second place. I’m not sure if that’s quite how things work. But look at the height, the effort, the enthusiasm (he’s flying far right with the white blaze).
Back where he belongs after a lengthy layoff, and building towards bigger and better things.
We’re pricing like it’s 1969. ? For today only, the first 50 customers who purchase our Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2024 can take home a case for ONLY R90 (that’s R15 a bottle).
We chose Sunbird for a reason – that 1969 invoice listed three white wines, a reminder that our story began with white. And in summer, nothing beats a crisp Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc.
One day. One deal. It’s our way of tipping the hat to where it all started.
Bullsh…. Nonsense, I thought. No-one sells R750 worth of wine for R90.
But obviously, I clicked through anyway, and there it was. So I tried to buy some. And then I did buy some.
Because it was a genuine deal. (T&Cs meant one case per customer.)
And the money went off my account, and then the wine arrived this morning:
I’m not a white wine expert, but:
A perfect aperitif on a warm summer day, this wine also works very well with rich and fatty foods. Try it with salads, goat’s milk cheese, lemon-garnished fish dishes and Thai foods.
sounds pretty good, but it sounds even better when it comes in a R15 a bottle.
That case also looks good when stacked on top of the other… “several”… cases that also arrived today from other places, stocking up ahead of Ke Dezemba.
But despite those positives, it does seem like the universe was trying to send me a message with the stuff that was appearing on my phone this morning.
Stuff like:
Sunglasses, phone, wallet, car key…. will to live?
I decided to be sensible and not to. But then circumstances took over anyway. Because sadly, our son’s car was broken into while he was dodgeballing, and stuff – a lot of stuff – was stolen. Parked outside, in a private car park, under a very bright floodlight and behind security-manned barriers and with only one way onto (and off) the site, 50 whole metres of direct sight from the security booth. His was one of about ten cars that got done.
So those two security guys are at best, utterly useless, and at worst, actually just complicit. As a TikkiTokker would say: “Let me know what you think in the comments”.
As is the way with these things, we’re not sure exactly when it happened. But for police and insurance purposes, we’re saying about 8pm.
Reporting it all to the police took quite a while, and then there was the drive home, and so actually, I was still wandering about at half past midnight, and yes, I was absolutely right, my body did not appreciate the 6am wake up call in the morning.
Not one bit.
Yesterday was all about paperwork and glass vacuuming. But can I just shout out our insurance?
Because the working day begins at 8:30am.
The claim form arrived at 8:50am and we had Glassfit in touch with us before 9am*.
I submitted the claim form yesterday afternoon, the claim was settled by close of business yesterday and the money was paid into our account at 10:30am today. That’s only 38½ hours from the incident. And only 26 hours since we told them about the incident.
Bloody hell.
Here in SA, we – quite rightly – complain about the poor service we get (and there’s plenty of it to choose from), but it’s only right that we praise the good service as well. And this is more than good. It’s unbelievable. (But it is also true.)
So. Despite all the ads you see for that green and purple company, can I recommend that if you are looking for a decent insurer, then maybe you should give RBS a go? If you want, you can tell them that I sent you, but I doubt that it’ll make any difference either way.
Absolutely mindblowing stuff.
.
*There’s no window glass in stock in Cape Town, so we have to wait until Friday or Monday before it can be fitted, depending on transport, but I don’t think that I can blame anyone in particular for that.
See, the issue is that aside from the December holiday/festive season marking the end of the year like up North, here in SA, it’s also the summer holiday. So all of those fun times that you would normally have in summer in the UK (both days if you’re lucky), and all of those fun times that you would have over the festive period, are distilled down into one big party month.
Chaos will ensue.
And it’s begun already. I had things on on Saturday – great party, by the way – a couple of days off, and then straight into events and commitments on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
It sounds like a Craig David song.
Actually, maybe Sunday too – my mind won’t allow me to think that far ahead just yet.
Oh wait, yes. Just remembered that we are doing stuff on Sunday, but hopefully it’ll be fairly chilled.
Now… the question… given the plans for the rest of the week, and given that there is school and extra murals and all sorts to manage as well, do I commit to watching Man Utd v Everton tonight? Because that would be a midnight finish, and I’m fairly sure that my body will not appreciate the 6am wake up call tomorrow if I stay up for the final whistle.
