Tomorrow the new washing machine arrives. So today I cleaned the utility room. All those sticky little jobs the cleaner avoids. Will the deliverymen notice? And would I have made the same effort if Argos was delivering and not John Lewis? Shame on me: I'm not sure:-o As I wiped and swept I was on the phone to my plumber. Who issued instructions on the dismantling of hoses. A man known for his parsimony, he threw in extra advice. "You've got to get those girls into cardies and woolly socks," he said. "Bills are going through the roof." As it happens, I've already had a stand-off with British Gas. Who recently demanded £260 a month on account. I rang them mid-seizure. "So sorry Madam," said the call-centre girl. "The correct monthly rate is only £104." Only! "They've got us over a barrel," my plumber ranted. As he's newly recovered from heart surgery, I didn't risk mentioning the leccy bill... Earlier, over a mocha in West Hampstead, I'd discussed poverty in Africa. With a man who's marketing a new charity. "Africa isn't a country, it's a continent," I said. "Where will you start? And if you aren't willing to challenge the core problems, what use is another set of sticking plasters for people who'll die anyway?" Years ago I read a book called Poverty and Famines by Amartya Sen. Who later won the Nobel Prize for economics. It changed my views on where and how to give, forever:-o
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Tomorrow the new washing machine arrives. So today I cleaned the utility room. All those sticky little jobs the cleaner avoids. Will the deliverymen notice? And would I have made the same effort if Argos was delivering and not John Lewis? Shame on me: I'm not sure:-o As I wiped and swept I was on the phone to my plumber. Who issued instructions on the dismantling of hoses. A man known for his parsimony, he threw in extra advice. "You've got to get those girls into cardies and woolly socks," he said. "Bills are going through the roof." As it happens, I've already had a stand-off with British Gas. Who recently demanded £260 a month on account. I rang them mid-seizure. "So sorry Madam," said the call-centre girl. "The correct monthly rate is only £104." Only! "They've got us over a barrel," my plumber ranted. As he's newly recovered from heart surgery, I didn't risk mentioning the leccy bill... Earlier, over a mocha in West Hampstead, I'd discussed poverty in Africa. With a man who's marketing a new charity. "Africa isn't a country, it's a continent," I said. "Where will you start? And if you aren't willing to challenge the core problems, what use is another set of sticking plasters for people who'll die anyway?" Years ago I read a book called Poverty and Famines by Amartya Sen. Who later won the Nobel Prize for economics. It changed my views on where and how to give, forever:-o
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As it happens I am freshly returned from the launderette as the washing machine they delivered - chosen because of its quick wash facility - turned out not to have one:-( So... I had to order an alternative model, which means we remain machineless till next Wednesday. Not literally of course: I couldn't disconnect the old one, so it and the new unwanted one, are using up precious space! How is it I can do four washloads and full drys in a launderette (concurrently, obviously) in 1.5 hours, but the wash alone takes 2.5 at home??
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