NIGHTMARES OFF WAX
THE COVID CRISIS
& BUDGETING WITH JUNIOR MURVIN
“Son don't put your hat, where you can't reach it” falsetto’d Junior Murvin back in ’79s “Cool Out Son”, and man has he’s got a point. Feeling this track right now more than ever, likely cos its been a properly testing year. That goes for just about everyone, and not least on the income vs. consumption level. “Adjust yourself, to the life you can afford to live” continues arch folk-wisdom merchant. Yes. Right on Junior, this is what we gotta do. Turn inward to face real selves and drop some modest moves. Light up an optimistic flame and check his essential track here.
The pandemic has caused much change for my work and for my industry. Many others having it far worse, starting with less, end up with even lesser. Am grateful to be getting by, letting go of plans and ideas I thought were values, and just being okay with less. Murvin’s song is about self-contained humility in a world of distraction. Feeling like luxury & fashion world is fuelled by riveting/disturbing side shows, but now auto-swerving many of those cul de sacs of gratification. Yet still I hang out in some frivolous zones. Adjusting myself to the life I can afford to live probably includes addressing my candle habit, for example. Embarrassingly am on two-scented candles a fortnight- one in living room one in the bathroom. Using prime Cire Trudon (click) and Diptyque (click) ammo is far from cheap. But the smells transform the rooms. The rituals seem critical to contentedness and perception of self. Particularly since we been stuck indoors so much they do feel like some sort of essentials, even though they are double spennie.
COOL OUT SON, IN SUN
JUNIOR MURVIN, REGGAE LEGEND
Whats worse, am also perpetually burning a couple of Cire Trudon ‘Madeleine’ table candles n the kitchen in ‘Nanas’ antique candle stick holders -French Grandma Charlotte Ravinet, that is. They’re such simple, elegant and pleasing objects, compelling even though they don’t have a fragrance. Even their textures & hues are special when and lit and molten.
FAV CHURCH INSPIRES
MADELIENES CANDLE
Their radiance is particularly special at first light of the morning- The atmosphere is pure spiritual, man, what with blood line connections too. But blud fire am getting through those guys quick time, which come in at £22 for 6, ffs. This incessant consumption needs looking at. Bloody grateful to not the magical bit, the flame, glow and flicker works just the same no matter that the price of the stick is telling me. Lighting these living flames in the gloom of the longest days is uplifting and a bit magic in the quiet lockdowns/tiers of Christmas 2020.
HIER GLOOM
CHARLOTTES & MADELIENES
So I meditated hard on this burning lifestyle matter heartily…
The very next day, in a moment of self-induced disconnection, I dropped ‘bout £200 on this batch of wax off of MatchesFashion.com. Both Cire and Dip’ with a select of straights too. Shameful move. Couldn’t believe did it. The haul below is enough for a spell of lock down Christmas for one. Seems am powerless over the glam-dle fix. Pitifully reasoneed buying bulk was reducing the delivery tariff, right? Piss poor foray into Covid crisis budgeting, regardless.
WICKED HABIT
WAX CLERICAL
To counter this wax-splurge budgeting elsewhere. Food and drink spend reigned in. A bit. Feeling flowers previously been pretty much non-negotiable. That said, now taken to working with astroemerias and carnations from M&S, a snip at £3 and £4 a bunch. They’re proper robust floral soldiers, keeping going for ages. Works out top value, especially when you steal them.
ALSTRO-ZENECA
FLORAL/CANDLE SCENE FIRST LIGHT
I got this traditional dial up telephone on my work desk that looks really cool in pink. Never rings mind. Cant move round house with it see, so even my closest bredrins, (the only ones who got number of ‘Lavinia love line’) learnt not to call it. The monthly charge could well be deemed superfluous. Cutting this pink point right off to have pointless pound leakage.
RINGING THE PINK
One big positive is I’ve reasoned is actually got enough nice garms to keep my wardrobe/stance scene looking pretty fresh and fancy till the actual end. A rest of life’s supply that is. Barely enough diary days left in this world to wear it all, so not stressing bout new fashion at all. Fashion been getting right on my wick anyway.
Still got some loose leak end on the interior habits mind- on that level seems both ends burning, still. So been most recently checking the budget Star shop on Chatsworth Road, E5, for straight table candles- a poultry 50p a shot. Am in that gaff buying nuts for the birds once a week, at £1.50 bag x 3, so a candle reload my comparison is chicken feed.
PATIENT MAN, RIDE DONKEY
BUDGET MAN, GO POUND SHOP
“A foolish dog barks at the flyn’ bird” wise man Murvin also points out. So shall keep me mouth shut and suck it up on the quiet. Take my time, burn wisely and buy no more garms ever again, while keeping the gaff smelling pretty and glowing sweetly instead, largely via the pound shop.
Both ends burning just ain’t gonna work for long in this new frugal #NuFru, but this re-think could light the path. Leads neatly in to Bryan with Roxy Music, too.
Tek if fellas..
Stubbs out.