Should we buy toys?

Before you read this just a word of introduction. You could easily be offended by it as it is a bit ‘look at me’! It has been difficult year and sometimes looking back on just how you have lived your life and the decisions you have taken can be reaffirming in a purely personal way. I am writing this just because some time in the future it might make me feel good about myself and the crazy existence I have enjoyed.

I once worked with a man called Richard Watkins. He was effortlessly stylish with everything in an order. From clothing to stationary, from cars to ski brand he had seemingly worked everything out so as tho create the maximum amount of impact for his effort. He was not especially clever but what he lacked in grey matter he more than made up for in his personal style and the impact it had on others. I have known no-one else who would put himself on a ‘champagne diet’ for January and resister dramatically positive results. (he ate little but sipped a lot of champagne!). He was the master of how to tip and how to get benefit from the action. (tip a doorman well and many doors will open-try it). Now aside form all of this Richard beloved passionately in one thing ,’toys’. His oft repeated phrase was ‘never mind grand ambitions of power and influence at the end of the day the man with the most toys wins!!

The thing was all of the ‘toys’ he had were bought after extensive research and as a result were amazing. The Porsche he drove was a particular Targa model that looked splendid either with or without its roof. The suits he wore were hand tailored by the best and every detail revealed a man of considerable taste and style. The fact he was descended from the Duke of Wellington may have had something to do with it but he was and probably still is a an amazing human being to observe.

Now I have had lots of toys. Some of them well thought out some not so but I will certainly not die wondering want would it be like to own a …

I have owned three Porsches myself and to be honest two of them were rubbish and cost me a fortune for the privelage. The best car I have ever had was a Mercedes 420 SEC although my USA BMW 7 series was one hell of a car. A Volvo 4 wheeled drive performance beast was awesome. I have owned a jeep, several land rovers, a family van that was equipped with TV and a bed and amazing seats. I now have a transit van that has covered 160,000 in my ownership. I have had some horrible cars. A Rover, A desperate Fiat called a Qubo and a Triumph Mayflower. I have recently ‘gone electric’ and am the proud owner of a ridiculously priced Tesla model X- it is fantastic to drive though. I have had several motorbikes too from Sports to vintage to enduro.

I have owned several sailing boats. From a simple dinghy to two Ocean going beasts and I have chartered something that would blow most peoples minds. I currently own a 1949 wooden sailing dinghy that cost me a fortune to restore.

I have owned many houses with Liz. From the humble to the amazing. Big ones small ones. Thatched ones, ones with gyms. Ones in old villages and super modern ones overlooking the sea. A magnificent apartment in France and a farm in Spain. Together liz and I have played with these particular toys (houses) and had so much fun.

I have never owned a plane but I have rented many for ‘special occasions. Planes I have flown to Paris In more than once. Sea planes that have taken me on exciting trips. Planes that have flown me over the Grand Canyon and planes that have given me pilot lessons -although I never saw the thing through.

I have owned every ski known to man and every piece of equipment to with them. Down hill, Slalom, Randonne, cross country too-both styles in fact. I have boots and clothing and gloves for all occasions. ( Mitts I love them).

Cycling is something I came to love in later life but guess what I have the lot. A tandem of course although it could be upgraded. A mountain bike, a magnificent Fat Bike, a gravel bike (cyclo cross). I have a magnificent Time Trail bike whose wheels are carbon and probably worth more than most people have ever spent on a bike on their own. Finally I have two road bikes and one of those claims to be the best bike in the world. It certainly looks cool.

I have had clothes too. Loads of tailored suits and shirts. I have tried most brands and whilst I am not the greatest of body shapes I have certainly improved my appearance. I have had my hair cut in the best salons in the world and whilst this is strictly not a toy it is a fun thing to do, and closely aligned I think.

I have collected amazing perfumes and after shaves. This is a game that I so recommend.

I have had some of the best lawn mowers you could ever dream of if like me you love grass. Everything from scarifiers to machines that caress and fine cut the best of lawns.

I have several musical instruments from trumpet to guitar and for a while I managed to have drum kit in the house!

I have tried every culinary device going and I can never resist a gadget. I have had several Pizza ovens. Yes I like pizza ovens but having you own wood burning device is just great.

I have, with the help of my good friend Matt, bought more tools than I will ver need. Another friend is aware of my equipment and regularly calls in to avail himself of some of the more obscure items. (example is I have bike tools that fit both Italian and Us models).

I could I am afraid go on for a while and if I was able to include such things as olive oil and wine then we would be here for a while but I will stop here. You may reasonable of course snub your nose and say ‘show off’, ‘silly fool’ but I would invite you to take a step back. So many people live their lives acting as if they are practicing for another. In the various pieces I have written I have hinted that on a number of occasions life has really got me down and I have been depressed. One of the lessons I have learned from those moments and indeed from this years experience is that collecting digits in the bank is beyond stupid. Set your self up so you can afford your daily experience I would say then if you have anything left over satisfy those dreams you have. Looking back it was dreams that catalysed my effort and caused what ever success I have enjoyed. Planning a wonderful holiday as reward for the daily drudge is a great thing to do. I would say that if you dream big then you are way more likely to achieve things in your working life as if you really want that house or boat or pair of skis or holiday in The Maldives you will go the extra yard and what is more your industry and effort will make sense to you.

I often wonder what i will think on my death bed. Will I worry whether I got that promotion or whether I was recognised for the charity work I may have done. Will I worry about whether I am maximising my income return in the bank or whether I have got the appropriate insurance rate on my car. I severely doubt it. I hope a grin comes on my face and just maybe I will think of Richard Watkins and whilst compared to him and many others I am but a small part player I will be able to reflect on the experience the ‘toys’ gave me and crucially the people I shared them with.

So the answer is clear for goodness sake do buy toys. They won’t make you eternally happy-nothing does. What ever you do though don’t let digits in a bank somehow reassure you or comfort you when out there are experiences and memories to be created.