TO state the blinking obvious, it’s not so much a mid-life crisis as a spot of ‘old-life’ bother.
This week saw something of a landmark birthday. I’ve had my lovely letter from the taxman at HMRC and my state pension is kicking in.
As I clutched a small dry (cooking) sherry to celebrate the occasion, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’m turning into something of a penny-pincher.
The warning signs are there already – a habit (bordering on OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder) of switching off lights and electrical appliances when they are not needed, and an evening routine of cwtshing up under a rug (in preference to putting the central heating on!).
Call it thrift, call it being a Scrooge. Or call it being a miser, tightwad, cheapskate or a penny-pincher.
Truth is, I’m now worried that I’m turning into the sort of person I used to laugh at during my younger days.
Bit by bit, I’m becoming obsessed with seeking out bargains.
The Head of the Household, aka Mrs Lloyd, is convinced it started when I received my free bus pass (next to free prescriptions, the single greatest achievement by our Senedd/Welsh Government).
In the Kitchen Cabinet charged with running the Lloyd household, Mrs L has always been in charge of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), but her position may be under threat if the current bargain hunt trend continues.
For example, this week I discovered the wonders of the Asda meal deal.
At Asda cafes (our nearest is Parc Trostre in Llanelli) the winter warmer deal runs until the end of February.
It offers hot soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffee for just £1. It’s available to anyone aged 60 or over.
Ker-ching! As we pensioners now say.
Meanwhile, this week’s other treat was finding out that Brewers Fayre restaurants have a £6 meal deal.
We rocked up at The Sandpiper at Sandy Water Park in Llanelli to enjoy fish and chips (and mushy peas!) and Gammon (double egg!), peas and chips.
Ker-ching! Again! Another score for penny-pinching pensioners.
My delight at the Brewers Fayre offer was tempered by the (later) discovery that some BF restaurants in England have their meal deal offer priced at £5.
So far, I have resisted the temptation to point out this discrimination to the Managing Director of Brewers Fayre, but I wouldn’t rule out a stern letter (just as long as I can afford the price of a stamp!).
This week’s other bargains have included a ‘pensioner loyalty card’ from my local pub and a 10 per cent discount on a haircut at my barber.
This last one is interesting because ‘Mike The Barber’ reckons that, with declining hair growth, I now have 10 per cent less hair to cut.
And talking of cuts, another (developing and worrying) habit has been identified in cutting out money-off coupons from every leaflet that comes through the letterbox.
This is also a trend in online activity, where hours can be spent trawling internet sites and Facebook pages for discount deals.
When does a habit become an obsession? I’ll let you know . . . if I have time between bargain hunting!
PS: Other supermarket cafes and restaurants are, of course, available. Just let me know if they are running similar bargain deals!
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BLIMEY! Was there a time when Wind Street in Swansea only had four pubs?
Hard to believe when you look at the street today, but that was the case back in 1851.
There are always surprises to find on the People’s Collection Wales website, probably one of the most satisfying rabbit holes you’ll find on the internet.
This week, I was sidetracked by an Excel spreadsheet showing the results of the 1851 census for Wind Street.
Only four pubs are listed – the Duke Tavern (No3 Wind Street), Mackworth Arms (No10), Plume of Feathers (No31) and the George Inn (No44).
Of these, the Mackworth was plainly the busiest at the time of the census.
A total of 13 people were registered to the address – including an innkeeper, charwoman, chambermaid, waitress, kitchen maid and people whose occupations were noted down as ‘Boots’ and ‘Hostler’.
There were five ‘commercial travellers’ under the roof on the day the census was taken. They specialised in the drapery trade, soap trade, woollen trade and ‘chemist and druggist’.
The census return listed a diverse range of occupations –
Dealer in furniture, army lieutenant, confectioner, fruiterer, draper, errand boy, scholar, milliner, pianoforte maker, bookseller, stationer and printer, silversmith, fund holder, chronometer maker, wheel wright, the (part) proprietor of The Cambrian Newspaper, professor of dancing, ship and commission agent, block maker, basket maker, mariner, doctor, corn factor, cordwainer and saddler.
The weirdest job title was ‘dealer in Gutta-percha’. Apparently, gutta-percha is a material used to fill a tooth after a root canal procedure.
I’m going to file that one away for the next pub quiz!
You can find the People’s Collection Wales website at – https://www.peoplescollection.wales
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