A Gap in the Market

I went to buy a newspaper while in Edinburgh in June. It was not good timing. England had just lost to Germany in the World Cup. So I reverted to type and tried a joke.

"Do you have any where Enaglnd won?" The newsagent looked at me with a mixture of pity and then understanding. Being a Scotland supporter he too had long suffered for his team. But I think the sympathy was mixed with thinly disguised satisfaction.

Then it struck me. Maybe there should be a newspaper where the opposite happens. "Rooney scores wonder goal as England progress to Quarter Final." "Police arrest intended rapist". "Bankers turn down bonuses". Boy oh boy! I would enjoy reading that. Even though I knew it was all poppycock. It would still give me a few minutes of joyous relief.

Local Customs

Lothian buses in Edinburgh don't give change. It was a shock, or at least a surprise and a pratical challenge. I wasn't about to insert another £2 coin in the box just to buy a £3 Day Rider ticket. So we reached an impass, the Driver and me. I briefly resorted to my grumpy hang-dog expression.But he was more positve.

"Has anyone got change for a £2 coin?" he called towards the back of the bus.

Then a wonderful thing happened. Ten, maybe more, people - all women - began fishing in their handbags and purses. They just took the time to help. And someone succeeded. She pieced together exactly the required amount and we made the exchange.

As I paid the rest of my fare the Driver apologised for the 'no-change' system. I felt bad for being such a grumps shown up by all the others pulling together to get through the day. I liked Edinburgh even more from that point on.

Five Minutes of Fame

Heh, heh! I got an articled published about the bike trip last Spring. It was in the second edition of Boneshaker magazine (http://www.boneshakermag.com/) and looks really nice.

Of course, you don't get paid for such things but then authors have to suffer for their art. Just like cyclists.

Cordial Greetings

It's elderflower cordial time. I've never made it before but I have heard that the flowers are now in bloom so I must act fast. And besides, my lemon cordial from last year has just run out so this seems like a suitable means of replenishment.

I even filched a recipe from Jackie. Something like the following:

1 litre water
2 kg sugar
Citric acid (from Chemist), say 50 grams
2 lemons
18 good heads of elderflower

Add sugar to water and heat to dissolve. Toss in all the other ingredients and leave to steep for a while - I'll try overnight. Then squeeze/strain out ingredients and bottle remaining syrup. Drink during hot summer months by diluting say 1:10 parts water to taste. I will give it a go and report back.

Awaycation

Sally, my wife, always wants to take me away somewhere. Another holiday or a weekend treat. Preferably abroad. It's as though such trips are an essential reward for surviving everyday life. The fantasy of the exotic provides a filip to get her through. Like a new dress or pair of shoes. But more expensive.

Now me, I like everyday life and I don't particularly like shopping. At least not for clothes. So I prefer to stay here. I pretend that my objections are to help save the planet. That we should be content with what we have and where we are. But we both know (and now you too) that it's just an excuse to bolster my case and stay put.

But I still say yes, most times, when she asks. Else she might stop asking.

Do It Once, Do it.... (Right?)

I know I should have got into property development years ago. By now I would have had a row of houses like on the Monopoly board. It's not for the capital wealth. (OK, not just for that). It's to make efficient use of my time. For whenever something goes wrong in the house, it leads to a journey of discovery trying to work out what part is broken and how to fix it. The internet helps but I still have to do the work.

Plus there is always the risk that I haven't found the real fault and buy parts needlessly or make the matter worse. But that's the burden that we DIY'ers bear. And which my wife does not appreciate. The tasks I take on are always so much greater than hers. With more challenging problems. Correct?

But back to the real issue. Once I have done the research, found the problem and implemented the solution then a sense of satisfaction ensues. But I will likely never meet this problem ever again. What an inefficient use of time. Now if I owned a row of identical houses then I could go and fix the same item in every one of them. With the time and money I'd saved, I'd soon be a millionaire.

Staying Afloat

I can't keep up. Everytime I turn around another thing goes wrong in the house. Anything from a corrupted computer, through peeling paintwork to dead dishwasher. There is always something that needs fixing or replacing. And not enough time in the day to stay on top, plus have a life.

Now I've done the sums and it's scary. I count the number of gadgets and appliances in the house and assume each one will last oh, say about 10 years.That means something will go wrong each month. The cost of replacement or calling in an expert doesn't bear thinking about.

So I try fixing it first myself. And take on all the preventative maintenance to stop other things reaching that stage. It's all too much. So best not to think about it.

That's why my wife's suggestion that we decorate another room leads to a frosty response. Better we focus on the essentials. So I have to push back. Of course I don't want to but otherwise something must give: Either the bank account or my sanity.