The Million Pound Question

I read an article about money when I was on the train to London. It asked what would you do if you were given: £100k, £500k and £1 million?  The aim was for you to prioritise personal value. If you chose to spend the money on objects that was classed as giving away your income.

As an exercise it's excellent. I don't want a bigger house. My car could do with a modest upgrade but I see the auto-mobile as a workhorse not a status item. Designer clothes, no. I toss my threads onto a chair. Travel, yes. But I consider that an investment. And I don't want to trail around the world via a chain of boutique hotels. Working or having a food tour, now that would interest me.

Writing comes up of course. But I could still do that on a £100k budget. This exercise makes you realise when you don't and don't need to spend. But the £1 million makes you think bigger. I realised I would love to run a theatre company. Write scripts myself, encourage others to do so, give actors both old and young an apprenticeship. The demise of the rep company is often rued. It's so hard for anyone gain professional experience without backing.

In London I watched the play Stephanie Kempson directed. Despite a dark subject matter Score has lots of humour and female leads with fantastic singing voices. I really enjoyed it. But even more, here is a twenty eight year old director starting a theatre company, touring with a play from the West Country to London and back. Just goes to show, a million pounds isn't always needed.

Growing My Tribe

Being with people who are inspired lifts you. This weekend I'm going down to London to meet up with friends from an Arvon writing course. One of them, Steff, has a play she directed which is on in Camden. She is an actor who has started to direct and has a very clear vision. She is brave, Money is not always regular. A home of your own is a dream. But she ignores that and carries on.

I did a sensible degree and have had safe jobs all my life. This makes life comfy but not always challenging. The idea of not having a regular income has scared me until this year. Rather than focussing on Life-After-Pension I want to focus on life now. And learn to budget. Be creative with cash and generous with time.

Everyone knows how regimented the school day is. The holidays are fixed years in advance. Lessons all last an hour. Dinner time is controlled by the bell. Meetings last an hour, an eternity. Much is said but little is accomplished. Greedy use of time and energy. But next year a life without bells...