They say that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

From my last post you will notice that I am engaged in gainful employment once more, and I am indeed grateful for the opportunity to earn some cash to replenish the dwindling equity for our next house purchase. What I don’t seem to have right is the balance between resuming work and the many activities I enjoyed whilst having time to myself.

I haven’t written about, but I was really enjoying spin class at the local halls. Anyone who knows me reading this will think ‘Andy, spin class???’; but I forced myself to start an exercise regime and got on quite well with this form of exercise. Problem is most of the available classes are within my now working day so I’ve abandoned the experience.

Undoubtedly, my initial calculations to the finances we need to start our next venture are somewhat under cooked and work is a necessary conclusion to bolstering the shortfall. It wasn’t in the planning to rent as an interim and that has an associated cost, teaching me a valuable lesson. I still hope we can escape the treadmill of modern life and attempt a different lifestyle, but it is proving difficult to achieve.

So I’ve strayed back to the bad habits of spending too much time in front of the TV and I realise I’m making excuses for not resuming the exercise that I started. Resolution is required to re-start, so instead of more time typing I’m going to look for last minute space in an evening class. Better that than further sofa occupying!

Time to be less dull and have a bit more will power to what was started.

From a house buying context the last few months have had largely disappointing results. The process for choosing / considering / buying the next house depends on a number of criteria, but more particularly for conversation here, how my wife and I look at those criteria……..

Karen is very good at seeing the possibilities that a property can offer. I’ve said previously that I’m not much of a dreamer and my wife excels here. Years of being a scholar of Grand Designs and largely being responsible for the design and management to the changes to our previous home give her the vision of the art of the possible. In short, Karen is about the aesthetic and the possibility.

Andy is much more cautious generally and pessimistic about the cost to implement or change what is in front of him. My tools are more calculator and spreadsheet (you’ve got to love a spreadsheet though, haven’t you?) before I can enjoy the view in front of me. In short, as a new colleague put it this week, a fun sponge.

I have to admit that I’ve not come across this term before but I quite like it. When I explained the term to Karen mid-week, and what I had been accused of, it took her a few minutes to stop laughing. And when she did, she proclaimed it to be the perfect description of me (I hope only in this process).

Strangely, in the last couple of weeks, the process or views have been reversed. We have looked at a property where I think there is potential and Karen is more concerned about the financial aspect.

Ultimately, I agree that this one is a bit pie-in-the-sky and needs much more due diligence before any offer can be considered (sound much more like myself again there). The likelihood is that our valuation will fall below what the vendor will accept and our search will continue – back to being a fun sponge after all!

Today is a happy day. Let me explain why.

When I first started work at RR&A back in the 1990’s I met a crossword enthusiast by the name of Eddie. Eddie and I bonded over the Daily Telegraph crossword, although he was always much better at it then me. For an added bonus we used to work through the more difficult Sunday Times crossword if he hadn’t already finished it over the weekend.

Fast forward to my move to Scotland. During my MBA year I found fellow crossword puzzlers in, another good friend to this day, Graham and one of our lecturers Ronnie. The flavour this time was The Herald and whilst it wasn’t as tough as The Telegraph it proved quite a challenge.

When I worked for BAE System the Herald had begun to offer it’s crossword online, which proved easier (and cheaper) access to the morning addiction. At this time I shared competition with my manager, Tony. It took me a little while to notice that the Herald’s HTTP address for it crossword and previous day’s answer followed a pattern that could be easily worked out. It took less time to realise that they gave access to the day’s answers on the same day as the crossword was published once you knew where to look. So a game ensued of me completing the Herald crossword in under five minutes before asking Tony if he had completed it yet?

There was a few lay years (in a crossword sense) before I joined HP. I again enjoyed a kinship of crossword solvers, finding a group who accessed and printed the Metro crossword for the consumption of several interested parties during breaks in the day. The Metro tends to be easier again than the Herald but enough to get the grey matter pumping. And once again I met a good friend (Steve) who, when the Metro ceased publishing online, engineered a way for someone to pick the free paper (still containing the crossword) up on his way from the train station.

Today is a good day because for the first time in ages I have had need to go to a train station and, after a ten month absence in my life, have found a Metro. Small victory, but I’ve picked up and completed without stuttering too much. It’s good to know the brain cells haven’t failed me yet, at least in the crossword department.

I had the misfortune of listening to George Ezra on the radio today as I was nipping out in the car. It mystifies me that he is so popular because half the time I cannot tell what he is singing, not since ‘Into the Valley’ (one for the oldies) has a song been so misheard as ‘Budapest’. Anyway I can hear the lyrics to shotgun which I think needs some further discussion

“Homegrown alligator, see you later”. Right, you just nicked ‘see you later alligator’ and bastardised it – that’s a lazy start and one most 6 year olds could write.

“Gotta hit the road, gotta hit the road”. If you are in a hurry to leave, is ther any need to repeat yourself?

“The sun it changed in the atmosphere”. Do you know what George, it generally does. That’s why we have night and day. What’s your point?

“Architecture unfamiliar”. First decent bit of lyric writing, pity it doesn’t rhyme with atmosphere, which is the only reason I can think of the word atmosphere being used in the first place.

“Time flies by in the yellow and green”. WTF? Just WTF?

“Stick around and you’ll see what I mean” I don’t see what you mean, I don’t have a scooby what this ‘yellow and green’ is.

“There’s a mountaintop that I’m dreaming of – If you need me you know were I’ll be”. I don’t need you (other than to tell you to stop singing), and I haven’t clue where you are. You are dreaming of a mountain top, even if you said you were on a mountain top your location would be a bit sketchy.

“I’ll be riding shotgun underneath the hot sun – Feeling like a someone”. Who? Now I don’t know where you are or who you want to be.

“The south of the equator, navigate it”. First clue to where you are and it’s not specific is it? Anneka Rice would have struggled if Treasure Hunt was like this. Let me guess, you’ve ‘Gotta hit the road, gotta hit the road’?

“Deep-sea diving ’round the clock, bikini bottoms, lager tops”. Another rhyming tragedy clock / top, you haven’t got the hang of this have you George? And it’s not like you’ve forced the rhyme for some clever piece of descriptive prose.

It goes on…… “We got two in the front, Two in the back” typical car then? “Sailing along”, or a boat?

“And we don’t look back”, you’re not even trying now, you’ve rhymed back with…… back.

Rant over.

Sang Fifty Cent on his way to ‘Da Club’. At 51 it is very unlikely I’m going to da club this evening, it is a school night after all. And now I look at the lyric again why do you have to party ‘like’ it’s your birthday when it is your actual birthday? Now, however, is not the time for a rant on the use of the word ‘like’ in sentences when it’s completely unnecessary.

I’ve started the day with a celebratory bowl of choco pops, that’s ASDA own brand Coco Pops because I’m still being frugal. In truth I celebrated early with Karen when we holidayed in Corfu last week. We took full advantage of our all-inclusive tag (something we have rarely done before) and I’ve discovered some new cocktails in the process.

Most of all it was good for us both to have a week off rightmove. I’m thankful that I have had time off working to concentrate and focus on the process of moving out and finding our next home but to now the process has been fruitless. Fruitless and to large degree disappointing. I digress, back to the birthday post.

So after a lazy start, I think I’ll put a bottle of fizz in the fridge for later. Go find my boots and go for a nice walk (not to da club). Very different from the excesses of my youth but as they say, simple pleasures.

Update

A lovely day was had! Lots of well wishes from my friends on facebook, went for the walk as promised. Great present from my lovely wife – which took lots of research after our holiday of last week. Cooked carbonara, drank gin & fizz. Not a club in sight – perfect.

I had my first overseas holiday at age 21 and it was the first time I had the opportunity to step on board a plane. Although there was a degree of trepidation there was also excitement, exhilaration, but no fear as I remember.

Flights became more commonplace during my 20’s and included flights to Hong Kong and Canada. When I first met my wife and we lived 300 miles apart, they became more frequent using the short hop between East Midlands airport and Glasgow as the best way to maximise time together at weekends.

In between the aforementioned flights came a couple of flights I didn’t much enjoy. One when skiing in Chamonix, on the flight to Geneva, I distinctly recall the pilots words. “For those on the right side of the plane, if you look out now you will see Lake Geneva below us………. For those still looking out of the side of the plane you will notice that I am circling Lake Geneva again……… For the most perceptive among you, you will notice that I haven’t been able to change the angle of the flaps on descent so the landing may be a little fast today!” He paused for a while at this point, presumably not for effect. “Please also ignore the fire engines alongside the runway, they are only there as a precaution….” As it turned out the landing was no worse than many others I have experienced but the memory lives long.

Then came a flight on return from a family holiday in Menorca. Turbulence hit and the phrase ‘roller-coaster ride’ best sums it up for me. I wont give details of this particular memory but in weeks, months and years to come the fear in that moment seems to have been amplified each time I took a flight thereafter.

So after a couple more attempts, both family holiday and work related, I simply decided I didn’t want to fly any more. My fear had become so bad that simply stepping into a departure lounge gave way to nausea and ultimately vomiting embarrassingly. That was almost twenty years ago now.

When daughter moved to New Zealand it became apparent that I needed to get over this fear if I was going to travel to her adopted country.

There is another bit of context to this story – I am largely skeptical of anything other than traditional, scientifically validated (i.e. available on prescription) medicine. Up until this point my only crutch to getting on a plane was Valium and Jack Daniels. However, I was persuaded by both my wife and friends to seek help from a hypnotherapist.

Long story already but I wont bore any potential future readers further other than to simply say I went to said hypnotherapy and it seems to have done me a lot of good. Since then I have traveled to and fro New Zealand and, perhaps more noteworthy, have enjoyed a flight in my friend’s light aircraft:

So once more again this week I am (re)learning to fly. A flight to the holiday Island of Corfu – not because I have to but because I want to. I guess I’ll let you know how that turns out.

Addendum

Have to say the holiday was great and both the flight to and back passed without any incident. Still taking the anti-anxiety drugs but didn’t mix with alcohol this time round so I hope that’s a step forward.

I would like to think I’m not a difficult or demanding person, but my wife will tell me I’m not afraid to complain either. In a restaurant if I don’t like, or find fault with my food I am quite happy to mention this to the waiter if I’m prompted with ‘is everything OK?’. It is though a British trait to nod politely and complain in silence later, so perhaps I am more easily agitated or more vocal than the norm.

What’s upset my middle aged persona (aka grumpy old man) this week? Well, you will see from prior posts that we are currently renting a property for which we are paying a fair but not small a price. I’ve had cause in recent weeks to point out some issues with the property that I think are in need of repair. Whilst not critical the landlord’s agent either hasn’t seen the urgency or is having trouble finding a contractor to do the necessary work.

This week though something I do see as critical to harmonious living for the family has failed. First noticing some squidgy things in the freezer last Saturday it soon became apparent that the fridge-freezer was not long for this world. Over last Sunday it became even more apparent that the fridge was now luke warm rather then the few degrees it should be.

So I complained. The agent, a pleasant enough young man, heard my request for replacement and said he’d get a repair man out. I phoned back the next day to be told that the repair man had advised that the agent would be better replacing the item as cost and chance of repair were large and small respectively.

I’ve phoned the letting agent on three of the last four days each time being told they would progress and phone me back to let me know what was happening. One week later I have received no return phone calls, learnt that the pleasant young man has gone on annual leave, met the new girl in the office ‘who has only been there a week’ and not been convinced that a replacement fridge freezer is on it’s way. Am I unreasonable in asking for the courtesy of a return call?

It leaves me thinking (again) that in a customer service industry I am not seeing much customer service. Another phone call on Monday methinks.

I normally scroll past those motivational or inspirational type of quotes and pictures on Facebook. In my opinion, they are there for clickbait and far too many of my friends share them. At best they are well meant but often hollow knowing that whilst we nod at them we wont abide by the words on the page.

Now to break my own rule. I’ve seen two recently that struck a chord.

One of the first blog entries I made was a post called the money value of time. I think what I was trying to say is summed up well by the graphic above. In my middle age I am far more concerned with time and physical wealth but all too aware that financial wealth (in some/large part) facilitates both, certainly the call on my time.

The second sums up what Karen and I are currently searching for. The aspiration to find a smaller rural home and build a lifestyle around it, spending the former holiday budget on the everyday because it is simply no longer required. The viability is still in question but I’ll keep the commentary on progress.

One of my great passions in life is rugby union. I should say my passion is now limited to watching / discussing / shouting at rugby union rather than playing and I am somewhat thankful that my playing days are behind me given the bruising that players of the modern game have to endure.

I have long been a season ticket holder for Glasgow Warriors and am currently looking forward to that item dropping through my letterbox in the next few days. The early part of the season competes with the World Cup and I fear that with so many Warriors involved in Scotland duty (Fiji / Canada / Tonga also represented to name but a few) it may leave us playing catch up later on.

Several of my friends are travelling to Japan for the group stages of the World Cup to see Scotland in the flesh and I am very jealous. I am also reminded of the great tour we took of New Zealand, primarily to visit daughter, but also to see the British Lions play. There was an enormous sense of rugby family in New Zealand and as much as seeing the games we always felt welcome by the New Zealand people who were more than willing to talk rugby in cafes, pubs and on the street.

So the game for the last few weeks has been to try and guess the make up of the Scotland squad. I, personally, would like to see youth championed and players such as Matt Fagerson given a seat on the plane. The squad is named tomorrow and I suspect before the day is out I will be on Facebook messenger touting option with my rugby friends. My friend Gareth has been texting back and forth while Wales and Scotland have been playing and it’s a great excuse to stay in touch with a good friend I’ve had since University years.

No real point to this blog other than to acknowledge all things rugby that bring me much enjoyment, particularly watching my boy play that I have yet to mention. Also a thank you to the big rugby family that I’m part of, cant wait for the World Cup and domestic season to start so the debate over the better team / player / pie can start again!

Another two weeks have passed since I last typed and I cant help feeling that at the moment we are treading water. Whilst it was great that our home sold quickly, and we are very happy with the interim solution to our needs, I am growing frustrated with the buying side of the housing market.

Our ‘plan A’ of a move to the Scottish Island of Gigha didn’t happen. The property we had first seen in February finally went to a closing date where we were unsuccessful with our bid. Fair enough to the successful bidder but a prolonged conversation with the seller’s solicitor and, much research wasted, frustrated both Karen and I enormously. I can’t help feeling that someone else reaped the benefits of all our prodding.

Our search for our future home continues and again yesterday we found a house that fit much of our criteria. Communications with the Estate Agent today revealed that our journey of three hours to view was all in vane as the property had already received a successful bid.

This isn’t the first time that we have expressed interest in a property and it has been bought without going to a closing date. Something I had understood the process in Scotland to demand. The one time I would have been grateful for a fast outcome, Gigha, I was made to wait for other bidders to play catch up.

So I’m left feeling deflated. Wondering if there are secrets to property buying that I’m simply unaware of or, as I fear, money talks and I simply don’t have enough of it!