These Are a Few of my Favourite Things...

Julie Andrews sang about it first in that oh-so-amazing scene in The Sound of Music almost half a century ago, but Hollywood was using it decades before and has been using it since in every crucial moment of emotional intensity. It's not the dog biting, it's not the bee stinging...it's the lovely rain outside.


It's 11.30pm and it's raining. Not just raining, it's POURING. (And you got it, the old man is indeed snoring...) It's the kind of pouring that suddenly seems to get louder until the windows are straining and the room is practically vibrating. That kind of pouring that makes you all excited and exhilarated, even though there's that tiny part of you that kinda fears for your safety...


This is one of my favourite things in the world. Throw in a bit of the ol' thunder and lightening and you've got yourself a happy Rachy sitting by an open window.


Why? I'm not sure. My late grandad used to love it too, and we'd listen together. Maybe it's nostalgia then? Or maybe it's just Hollywood...again... (surprise surprise!) Don't all the best romances have an intense scene of dramatic confession and fiery (rather than watery!) passion whilst soaked through in the pouring rain? Don't all the best dramas have a crazy rain scene full of anger, betrayal, and DRAMA? It just makes EVERYTHING more dramatic, and I reckon life needs a bit of Hollywood sprucing on occasions.

I mean, how much more amazing would it be to have that first kiss in that dramatic drenching? Or how much more cathartic would that shouting match be if the rain was pelting down on you? Okok, the reality it probably very cold and shivery, unattractive, smudgy make up, and results in a runny nose for days - not good. But for that moment, you can pretend you're Liesel and soon enough you'll get home and Julie Andrews will sing to you. Sounds like a done deal to me!