Soulless

Is there anywhere more soulless than a Weatherspoons?

Bleak experience sitting amongst the alcohol dependant, the lonely, the unwashed, the drunk the old ... often all five. But it served a purpose, whiling away a few hours before returning home. I had to leave the house before nine to avoid awkward conversation with Pat, knowing that I need to be out of the house for around three and a half hours. Earlier appointment at bank was at the ten o'clock, realistically you can't be sure how long it'll take, but it was brief as previously mentioned. 

Walked into Stone to avoid having to leave the car, all the free car parks are limited to two hours and it seemed daft the park on the pay and display when the town is only a mile from home. 

Costa pre-bank AND Costa post-bank, avail myself of their free wi-fi, but there's only a certain amount of coffee I can ingest, so I move onto the anonymity of Weatherspoons and nursed a diet Pepsi until I can safely return home.

I wouldn't usually frequent a 'Spoons, that's not out of any overt snobbery*, I just think there are better. But it's cheap, open, again has free wi-fi and you can sit undisturbed, which you can't do in independents where space is money 

* Perhaps it is?

Meeting at the bank

Athough I maintain a fairly good account ... okay except for a slightly too liberal use of it's overdraft perhaps ... I am always anxious at the prospect of meeting with anyone from the financial sector. Having my business and finances scrutinised unnerves me, it probably dates back to the days of Todd Terraces when I certainly flew by the seat of my financial pants for a few years.

I admit that I remain reckless on occasion and am not as frugal as I perhaps should be, but a regular sum comes into my account each month, bills are paid, I save a bit

These necessary yearly account reviews which you are positively encouraged to attend (relentlessly pursued until you commit) only seem provide the opportunity for the borrower to justify their spending (even though it's never actually asked) and for the bank to try and sell further products.

I appreciate I'm not a very good customer for them 'cause I don't want a credit card, don't wish to take a loan, am happy with my current pension provisions, don't need another ISA and am happy with my current current account. So it feels like a formality, a hoop that needs to be jumped through to avoid being pursued further.

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As predicted a very dry and uneventful meeting, less than twenty minutes in and out. It would have been swifter still but my bankers previous appointment over ran and I was seen by someone else. Reviewed accounts and direct debits; no problems apparent. Happy with all current financial providers, insurers and services. Don't want a loan or a credit card. Thank you, goodbye. 

A month or so ago I received a letter to say that after over twenty-three years of loyalty my account was to be moved from Lloyds to TSB, I assumed this was because my account and service demands weren't very exciting; they're certainly not making much money from me. But following discussion with my personal banker I am to remain under the Lloyds umbrella (or Black Horse even ... Legal & General was an umbrella ... let's hope I don't get shat on?!?) To streamline the service all accounts are to be managed by the branch located closest to your postal address, consequently as there isn't a TSB in Stone I am to remain with Lloyds. What a colossal waste of money, letter bombing every LloydsTSB customer. 

Being Wednesday I then had to hang around for a few more hours until Pat had departed HH. With last weeks sickness and being off over the week-end I was fairly on top with jobs. I need to retain a few for tomorrow; purchase a strimmer cord, return ugly shoes to  Debenhams, try and locate a copy of 'Shallow Hal' for Liz (substandard Jack Black / Gwyneth Paltrow flick, a teaching aid about body image apparently) I've even searched the charity shops of Stone hoping for a miraculous discovery, but sadly not. The dvds found are largely fitness (home workout) based or those given away free with the Daily Mail, I wonder what this says about the residents of Stone. Largely that many are on a quest to get fit & lose weight and read the Mail, no surprises there.

All that remains in the outstanding jobs list is the purchase of a few holiday items (toiletries, etc) and that has been allotted the week-end prior to sailing when we go to Birmingham to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary (Fruit & flowers) and Liz's birthday. 

Our trip to Brum corresponds with the Chilli Festival, which should be interesting. Despite being under fifty miles away we have happy memories of overnight stays in Birmingham, be it from gigs, shopping expeditions or other events.

We would have gone to a city further afield to pick up the few holiday items and to celebrate, but we have Harriet's christening on the Sunday in Knowle and have to be in striking distance to undertake our godparent duties which limited how far north or south we could venture. You don't want to have a longer drive on Sunday morning. or have to curtail plans on the Saturday night unless unavoidable, which ruled out Leeds, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Cambridge or Oxford (all of which were in the running) So back to old faithful Brum.

We've got a good deal on two nights in a decent hotel, there are a few restaurants we are keen to try and we know the city well to shop. Them there's the added bonus of the Chilli Festival, which no doubt will join the successes of previous Birmingham events (Christmas market, Food festival and such)

Liz dropped the (small) bombshell that the cruise has three theme nights- Great Britain, nautical and Rock 'n' Roll. I don't think these will provide an opportunity to dress down sadly or indulge in fancy-dress, so the hunt begins to find smart accessories that fit the three themes.  Union Jack tie, hanky & socks for Great Britain, a tie with life rings perhaps, but I remain befuddled by Rock'n'Roll though???