Sunday 6 December 2009

Avoiding "an Orgy of Value Destruction"

Just in case there is any incipient value destruction with Angels as its epicentre, here is what I would like for Christmas.

Long-sleeved jumper by Jil Sander in charcoal wool, the one with the straight neckline and the extra long sleeves that rouche at the wrist or can be pulled over the hands in moments of angst.

Knee-high softest leather boots that rouche at the ankle (rouching is in for ankles as well as wrists) in green so dark it looks like black at first glance.

Half a dozen pairs of very dark brown tights in various deniers (not the climate deniers, the silk-weight deniers) from the shop in via della Spada.

A Kandinsky, preferably lateish and smallish (paintings do speak up so in a domestic environment) but any will do.

An enormous cashmere wrap. I cannot be drinking tea and reading in the early winter's morning risking a chill.

Fluffy slippers in a silly colour - see above.

A Drizabone. This is not fair - Elby has one and I have mentioned it before. And a Ute (with or without Dog).

Pair of linen, hand-hemmed sheets and appropriate pillow cases from Anghiari, in white.

Story books.

1 pair each of silk-lined, short but over-the-wrist gloves in: dark blue, black, green virtually black, in suede and/or leather.

A new bag for the coming twelvemonths (adjustable strap, reasonably capacious, plain, dark darker darkest brown, lots of compartments inside - don't you just hate it when everything sits in the bottom of your bag smirking inaccessibly?).

Lots of pairs of very soft, warm socks in pretty colours.

Iris-scented bath lotion from Santa Maria Novella.

I have been let down over the parrot. I recognise that it is now too late for a parrot to come and live with me, given their life expectancy and my own; the opportunity to foster a parrot in its own environment is, in any case, a better choice.
Parrot-at-large fostering opportunity.

Marrons glaces.

Marzipan animals and fruits,

A large wall map of the whole world set out flat so that I can understand what is going on.

A flat in Savignyplatz.

There may well be updates to this post during December.

UPDATE i
Christopher Andrew - In defence of the realm: the authorised biography of MI5

13 comments:

Mr H.G. said...

Mixed feelings: Gulp! Wonderful! How Helpful! Will you settle for miniatures? You deserve all of these and much more, but we have a hard budget constraint.

Actually, would you please rank these presents in descending order of their ratio between the satisfaction each is expected to provide, and its estimated cost? Then I would be able to go down the list as far as I can, and give you all I reckon I can afford, maximising your feasible happiness...

You must have come across Joel Waldfogel’s Scroogenomics. See also his "The deadweight Loss of Christmas", http://homepages.nyu.edu/~ks120/DWL.pdf. He argues that we are worse at buying for other people than we are at buying for ourselves. As a result, each dollar spent on someone else generates less value than a dollar we spend on ourselves - about 18 per cent, estimates Waldfogel. On that basis you are expected to abolish presents altogether, not generate unlimited demands...

Botogol said...

@Mr HG - I find marrons glaces to be seldom disappointing; but a Kandinsky might be better value for money.

Anonymous said...

You wouldn't settle for world peace?

Wistful said...

HG What a fabulously sensual post. You are a woman after my own heart. Linen sheets, silk underwear and cashmere blankets are the very stuff of life. When I was a young student, I knew I would feel myself successful and content if only I could have those three staples, afford to cook with extra virgin olive oil and have fresh flowers in every room. The reality now is that I could perfectly easily buy all those things but don't...... WHY NOT?

Oh, not sure I could afford the Kandinsky even now, notwithstanding value for money arguments, but luckily that was not on my list as a student.

circus monkey said...

Greedy girl. Didn't you know that "less is more"?

Elby The Beserk said...

HG,

The Drizabone a must have. If you wait a while, we might even be able to provide the necessary dog to go with it, as Pig the Pig Dog is still intact with a view to passing on his magnificent genes. Also, one can pretend to be Omar of The Wire, strutting the mean streets of Great Elm, sawn off shotgun hidden under the cloak-draped Drizabone.

Our UTE is the van, which is now splendidly bespattered with best Somerset mud, as it has been raining here for weeks without end. Pig very pleased with it, as it now has a 6'6" x 6' bed in it, which he believes to be his as we are yet to use it. Also it means he can make funny faces at any car behind us.

A UTE, a Drizabone, and a fierce bloodthirsty hound, and you will be well set. And instantly recognisable down our way.

(Bloodthirsty. One squirrel, and deer's left hind leg).

Mr. HG. Grin and bear it is all I can say. You have a partner of no little taste, so play up, play up, and play the game man :-)

hatfield girl said...

Peace on Earth, Anon? Certainly.

World peace - bit of a crypto-communist slogan.

hatfield girl said...

Circus, you're a killjoy.

hatfield girl said...

Wistful, we are entering economic theory minefields, both of us. Why neither of us can afford a Kandinsky, and why we fail to consume what we desire and could afford are cutting edge.

Small said...

we fail to consume what we desire and could afford

But if we had the things we'd have to stop desiring them, and that would be such a shame!

I have so many things I desire and could afford, but not the time to go and choose. I think that's the real problem...

hatfield girl said...

Get out there and spend money, Small, it's your economic duty, particularly now those who have been out there spending money when they hadn't got any have been laid low.

No whimpering about 'but what if something bad happens and I need to have some resources'. What do you think Brown confiscates half the wages of working people for?

lilith said...

What a lovely list! Sarah wants a stylist for Christmas..why else would she attend fashion awards?

hatfield girl said...

One hand comforting the other there, L.

There's no kind explanation for any of this. It speaks volumes on a false notion of self. Tone it all down, drop the skirt length, get rid of the fussy finishes, lose the baubles, no full black - she's neither musician not Sicilian widow - stick with greys, charcoals, darkest blues, white used only in silk or elaborately finished undershirt that only just peeps out from darker outer clothes. Prettier shoes, sort out the weight of stockings, and get a bag.