(no subject)

A mundane conversation with my mother about buying stamps for Christmas cards ended up with her asking probing questions about my credit card bill, something I always resent, and then giving me a lecture over money that I've already spent and so can't be recovered. Amid my steaming rage, I went off alone to do an overview of my finances, and it became clear that if I'm going to do anything better than spend the next year or two making modest monthly dents in the bill, I'm going to have to knock off the away matches. So, once again, my days out with the HawkSupport gang have juddered to a halt for the rest of the season. As for trips to the Madejski, they're right out.

Went down to the town in pouring rain feeling fed up, to drop off some old books at the charity shop and buy reinforcements of Christmas cards there, and get stamps to post all my cards. I'd intended going to the Mind shop, my favoured charity, but my old mate the Big Issue seller gave me a shout as I emerged from the alley so I went over to him, explained that I needed to get some change, and switched direction. One look at the queue in the post office was enough for me; I crossed the road to the newsagent's, where the lady was a bit shocked to be asked for 48 stamps ("I wish I had that many friends," was her reply) then returned to the Big Issue man outside Boots. From there, the British Heart Foundation shop was a much shorter walk than Mind - it was pissing down, remember - so I took my stuff there and bought 30 of their cards with a nice black and white photo of London shop windows festooned with Christmas trees.

Hawks match this afternoon is rained off.