I like spending money. There’s no other way of putting it. I enjoy splashing on the cash on everything from food and drink to DVDs and furniture.
My motto is ‘you can’t spend it when you’re gone,’ so what not spend it now? Paid on a Friday broke on a Monday is an all too familiar feeling for me.
And the recession hasn’t made any difference - I’m still spending 95 per cent of what I have – it just doesn’t get me as far or as much!
And it was after another depressing glance at my wallet that I started shopping to save.
And what an unexpected joy it was. I brought a piano!
A piano for those of you not familiar is a bloody great musical instrument which even if you can’t play, looks great in the living room.
And I got one. For fifty quid!
I found it glancing through the classifieds and after one phone call, a hunt for the tape measure and a quick viewing, it was all mine!
Now a piano isn’t the easiest thing to shift from one place to another. Especially when you’re chosen mode of transport is a three door Rover.
But with a bit of manpower, the lending of a van, and a lot of swearing, it was sitting proudly in my lounge.
I used to tinkle the ivories as a youngster and the purchase is the perfect way to tune up my skills. A piano, when played properly can bring music to the ears of all those in the vicinity.
Unless it’s in my rusty hands. At the moment the ‘music’ sounds more like the strangling of several cats, occasionally interrupted by loud knocks from the neighbours.
But I’ll keep going until my rendition of American Pie is at least recognisable.
What is it they say, practice makes perfect!
Alex James writes a weekly blog published every Monday on www.newportadvertiser.com.