OK, a question or two

[muninnhuginn]

Background: the ravens put a lump sum into a ten-year savings plan ten years back. It's not a huge sum--a little over £2k--but we're not simply going to continue saving it all. So, what are we tempted to do? Well, two things spring to mind:

• a theremin
• chickens.

Or both.

So:

[Poll #300181]

Comments

Evaporating apostrophes, Batman!

[muninnhuginn]

Bah! The poll creator really didn't like " or '. So we fixed our use of " to the italics you see. But the title really was: End the ravens' dithering. Does it all make more sense now?

[timill]

But do ravens like chickens? Is this a long-held dream, or a sudden impulse caused by the new 'eglu'? How much do theremins cost, anyway?

I'd be inclined to spend £400-500 on a luxury and save the balance. But I've just fried a motherboard, which makes me think that rainy day money is something every household should have.

[muninnhuginn]

Well, to be contrarian about question order, I've wanted a theremin as long as I've known what one was, which is roughly as long as I've wanted an Ondes Martenot (dates from when I did Music 'O' level). A new one, whether bought in the UK or shipped from the States is going to set me back about £250-£300 (slightly less than the eglu).

I do like chickens. I'm happy handling large birds (but not small ones) and am used to caring for animals. I've always rather harboured "The Good Life" dream. I'd always rather dreaded the notion of building pens and suchlike and regarded our garden as a little on the small side. I still think that the garden may be a tad small. And, yes, the eglu is really cool and it's what's pulled the theoretical wish to the forefront. So, guessing the the Beeb's coverage will have inundated the eglu folk (I couldn't get onto their site on Tuesday) with enquiries and bearing in mind the imminence of summer holidays and therefore increased use of the climbing frame in the back garden, if I opt for the chickens, I'll wait a couple of months. Looby Loo's climbing frame is only meant to be for under sixes, so it ought to go by the end of the year. This would free up space. In the meantime, I'll do what I always do in such situations and buy a book on the subject (to read when I've finished the Theremin bio!).

And yes I'm a firm believer in rainy day money. The nest egg's in addition to that (she says smug, and, she realises, hugely fortunate).

[timill]

Urban Dreams Rural Realities: In Pursuit of the Good Life by Daniel Butler & Bel Crewe is a good book for putting you off dreams of smallholdings, but I enjoyed it anyway. It was an Amazon recommendation after I'd been looking at Hugh F-W's stuff.

But clearly the theremin is the instant gratification required today.