Even when I am Rich I’ll still be pleased to occasionally get something for nothing.
A few weeks ago, when I tidied my garden containers ready for what I hope will be a glorious display of summer flowers, I found a plant in one pot that I didn’t recognise. I assumed it was a ‘weed’ but decided to leave it there a little longer until I could identify it. And it turned out to be a forget-me-not!
(The photo doesn't do justice to the sky blue flowers)
I haven’t had any in the garden before, and there are none in my neighbour’s garden, so I’ve no idea where the seed came from. Perhaps it was a gift from a visiting bird. Anyway, it seems happy enough in its chosen home so it’s welcome to stay.
And I had another surprise when I won a book in a Goodreads giveaway. I’ve looked at the giveaways before but so many people enter them – especially for new books by popular authors – that I hadn’t bothered to put my name down for any. But something about this debut novel by Beth Thomas caught my eye, I applied for it, and now it’s sitting on my bookshelf.
So as it’s officially spring now – and from my window I can
see blue sky, sunshine and pink blossom – I suppose I ought to take a break
from writing and get down to some serious spring cleaning.
Time to banish the
gloom of winter (not to mention the dust and cobwebs).
Oh, how virtuous I’ll
feel when I’ve cleaned my home from top to bottom! All that scrubbing, dusting,
washing, polishing ….
Hmmm.
Well, I’ve made a start. Do you like my bright, new computer
desktop?
How much would you be prepared to pay for a little piece of spring?
I feel very Rich because my house hasn’t been flooded,
damaged by strong winds or swallowed by a sink hole during the seemingly
endless storms we’ve been having all winter.
But I was thoroughly fed up with
the gloomy weather, so when I was out shopping I treated myself to a bunch of
flowers to brighten up my home. When I arrived back I saw that my little garden
had come up with the same idea. Ahhh!
When I am Rich, I’ll make sure there are plenty of safe and cosy nesting sites for all the birds I’m hoping to attract into my lovely, big garden. Although this pair seem to have already decided where they’re going to set up home.
Folklore tells us that birds choose their mates and begin nest building on St Valentine’s Day, but these wood pigeons took up residence in a neighbour’s apple tree several weeks ago. They might just be sheltering from all the wind and rain but the way they keep snuggling up together makes me think they’re making plans!
When I am Rich, charity won’t be a problem. I won’t have to
think twice about giving to every good cause that tugs on my heartstrings. ‘You
need some money? Of course!’ I’ll say. ‘How much? Would you prefer cash or a
cheque?’
But until then charity is a big problem, especially at this
time of year when there are so many fundraising campaigns all asking for my
money. I really wish I could give something to every Syrian refugee, every
person affected by typhoon Haiyan, all the sick and hungry children of the
world, the homeless and deprived in my own relatively rich country … and, no, I
haven’t forgotten the endangered animals, mistreated pets, and our threatened
natural environments.
Unfortunately my limited resources won’t s - t - r - e - t -
c - h that far.
When I do make a donation I want it to be put to good use,
and that’s the other big problem with charity. Call me an old cynic, but I
can’t help wondering how much – indeed, if any – of my small contribution will
actually trickle down to those who need it most. How much will be used for
admin and publicity? How much will be ‘diverted’ by corrupt officials? Or
simply get lost in a long supply chain?
And that’s why I found myself nodding and smiling when I
discovered Lend With Care. It’s a simple way of helping people who are working
hard to help themselves and their communities. Instead of giving handouts to
anonymous charities you lend a named individual the small amounts (minimum
£15.00) that they need to fund business enterprises.
The transaction is managed
by a microfinance institution that assesses the borrower’s business idea and,
if a loan is approved, agrees a monthly repayment schedule with them. As the
borrower repays their loan it is passed back to you, the lender. You can then withdraw
your money from the scheme, or reinvest it by loaning it to someone else.
If you’re not rich enough to give your money away this is a
brilliant way to make sure it goes round – and round – and round!
