Ric "Little Richard" Francis (a friend from way back in the Tring Syndicate days - 1980/90's) passed comment, recently, about jealousy, borne of ignorance, because of money. He offered some very well reasoned thoughts about, how others, perceive relative wealth and resent the increased ability to make choices because of it. Bev and I have always enjoyed a reasonable standard of life, since becoming a couple in June 2000. We already own our bungalow, are able to take at least one foreign holiday a year and drive around in modest, yet tidy, motors without the need for finance. We are enjoying the fruits of our labour. Neither of us smoke or gamble - I like a beer, Bev spoils the grand-kids; it's a simple life. We're doing OK, living the dream that Maggie Thatcher sold to us, ex-council tenants, way back in the late 80's. Basically, we have attempted to live within our budget, worked hard and spent accordingly. We had enough, but never surplus! The settlement of Dad's accounts has changed this beyond anything we've previously experienced. Although "money to burn" doesn't quite fit the scenario, we now find ourselves in a very comfortable place. I continue to work because I enjoy it, should the day dawn and I've had enough? Then I walk away knowing that we'll survive. It's a fantastic feeling and all because of the endeavours of my parents, their God bless them.
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| Not Bev's motor, but you get the drift? Nice car! (If you like that sort of thing?) |
We'd toyed with ideas of moving to Spain, yet the uncertainty of Brexit and Bev's desire to remain close to our grandchildren, has led us to the very obvious conclusion that we are happy where we are. Moving involves expense and "dead money" so the simple option is to modify the dwelling we already own? Plans have now been submitted to Thanet Council and we await their decision/consent. With luck, and a following wind, our builder will be in action within three months, finished in five?
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| A proper fishing motor? I pick it up on 3rd March minus the roof rack and internal storage units. |
All of a sudden we find ourselves able to look beyond our normal scope and explore other options. A new Mazda CX-5 for Bev, ensures we have a vehicle suited to transporting her aging parents and grandchildren alike, so I can now indulge myself and get a van to replace the Mazda 5 MPV which I have ruined by transporting/storing wet fishing tackle - nets, unhooking mats and weigh slings. There are many downsides to getting old - this isn't one of them!
Dyl, I doubt if there's an area of life that hits as hard as money issues. Whether people like it or not, money is the cornerstone of our entire existence.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the subject is contentious. The English middle classes have been brought up to not talk about it. Not surprisingly, the levels of ignorance about matters of finance are rife.
Not sure how this situation can be resolved. Many people only discover they are in financial difficulties when the machine in the wall swallows their card.
Thanks for this Ric - I'm guilty as charged - money is a tool, to be used, not a goal to aim at. My parents taught me, and my two brothers, that the work ethic was the route to any ambitions we held. I am happy to report that this ethos has paid dividends and all three of us are doing fine. I have a real problem with the super rich and that skewed vision of success. Enough is enough - any more means someone else goes without - not the lesson my parents taught me. If ever there was a study focused on the inequalities of modern civilization, then money would be the number one problem, drugs, guns and alcoholism paling into insignificance by comparison.
DeleteSimon is well up for a Tring reunion - Ben will tag along should we ever get it on? - Dyl
Yes Dyl, the super rich. Now that motors have been mentioned; and very nice and practical are your choices, I once indulged with a used so called super car, an Mercedes S500 - 5.5ltr V8. I suppose I wondered what the wealthy felt like swanning about in such things.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it created problems and I gladly got rid of it. Such cars aren't me at all.
I've a couple of Honda Jazz's right now. Much better.
Good about the reunion (possible):)
Btw. The picture is my paternal grandfather. He died before I was born.
In the first world war he was riding a horse when a bomb went off right under them. He ended up with rivets from the saddle in his rear end. I guess the explosion missed his knackers otherwise I wouldn't be typing about it.
Ric, as I recall, you used to come to Wilstone is some fancy little (RS ?) Fiesta whilst the rest of us were driving ex-GPO HA Viva vans. I like nice cars, but could never justify spending disproportionate sums when there were so many other things to be attended to. Bev and I have owned quite a few motors, over the past seventeen years, but only now are we able to be more particular with our choices. However, status symbols they ain't, we require a vehicle suited to transporting Bev's elderly parents and/or the grand-children, thus the Mazda SUV. My van is just a better option than an MPV - practical but not particularly eye catching.
DeleteMK1 Fiesta XR2 Dyl. At that moment in time, I was living with my parents and having a car like that must have meant something. I bought it for cash having saved for it along with a profit made on a 1300E Escort, and a redundancy payoff.
ReplyDeleteObviously the sensible thing to do was put it down as a deposit on a house, but I was only 21 at the time and had other priorities.
I kept that car for over 20 years but it had to go. The spares were impossible to get and I needed something more practical.
The car which pushed the XR2 out was a Micra 1ltr. I had that one for 14 years. Apart from the V8 monster, I've saved a fortune not buying cars.