Substack diary no.158: Wednesday, 20th. May 2026

This morning feels like one of those ‘I think I’ve turned a corner’ days. After a couple of weeks in the doldrums with low spirits and a lack of purpose I actually feel like doing something other than housework and moving furniture for no particular reason. These things tend to go in cycles, so I need to make the most of it when there is an upturn.

I have many writing and photography projects to be getting on with and, since I was able to build up a good collection of books, records, films and CD’s before I retired, I have plenty of quality entertainment. I also this morning found myself proud of my achievements at living reasonably well on a low income. Rent is 55% of my income but I have become adept at making savings elsewhere. As an energy expert I have been able to keep my energy bill down to roughly £2 a day (during the summer), which I am proud of. And that is despite the constraints of being a tenant with no ability to invest to save in heating and insulation.

I have lived without a car for over three years, which is by far my biggest saving. The holiday I enjoyed in 2022 – a motoring tour of the far north of Scotland – was the last I will ever have; another substantial saving. But, as I sit writing this in my Devon sitting room, I am glad of a comfortable home with pretty much everything I need contained within. And, in a moment or two, I think I might amble over to the old cranky Sage coffee machine for another cappuccino; shout at it for not working properly but, with a combination of patience and brute force, obtain a perfectly good and enjoyable coffee in a very nice bone china cup and feel like a million dollars…