Musings of a Mad Badman: Money and Middle-Class Days Off
I give my mum a hard time for going to three different markets just to buy ground provisions (the yams, green bananas, and sweet potatoes of our Caribbean heritage) because they’re 2p cheaper at one than another. I keep trying to explain to her that the time, travel and effort mean she’s spent a lot more than she’s saved. But she’s not having it.
Yesterday, The Bosslady forced me to take the day off for the Big Boy’s 16th birthday. I think he appreciated having both of us to himself because this morning, he mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like “thank you.” For him that’s practically a sonnet.
As someone who’s been self-employed all my life, I’ve got into the habit of working whenever work is available because I’ve known the times when it wasn’t. It’s very hard to get out of that mentality, even when you’re doing ok.
I’ve noticed that Mrs Nestor and all the young female producers at my workplace religiously take their birthdays off. I tried it for the first time last year. It felt weird. I’ve now resolved never to work on my born day again, though I did work on Christmas Day.
Are there days you always take off? Or is that just a middle-class extravagance?
Interestingly, apart from endlessly looking at trainers that cost more than a small car, I followed Mrs Nestor into a shop where she picked up something without knowing the price. I swear, my anxiety went into overdrive. I had to step outside for air. How can you go to the counter without knowing how much something costs? Needless to say, in my house they think I’m mean and tight.
Somebody clearly has to be.
Have a wonderful day.
