Oh damn, still in this dream.

On mine are unobtainable things. And of the many, what I would like more than anything (apart from world peace and no brexit, obvs) would be this; which is useless in a world of satellites and digital timekeeping, but is still the most beautiful single example I have ever seen of the Horologist's art.





Alas, no-one anyone knows has enough money to buy me that. Nor would I really want them to. This is the pinnacle of the Pre-Daniels co-axial escapement, and was made by the man for his personal use. If I ever had the money, and had already put my entire extended family's children through Public School, and had given suitable equivalent scholarships to disadvantaged folk, and I could spend money on myself and fripperies, I would go to George Daniels' apprentice, Roger W. Smith, and beg him to build for me something similar, but with his improvement on Daniels' co-axial escapement. Halfway to seven figures sterling and two or three years later I might receive a visit from Master Smith (for he is a Master) and be presented with his work of art. If money were no object I might commission a second, exactly the same too, for Master Smith's personal collection. A piece like this is without price: funding a second for a museum piece therefore is negligible. I wish. I also wish the insanely wealthy thought differently about how to use their wealth; but folk like George Daniels and Roger W. Smith need to exist and be paid for. Excellence in craft and skill is never bad in and of itself; and folk who turn out masterpiece after masterpiece are good for our society, even if expensive.

As an aside, until he moved to the Isle of Man, Daniels lived a few miles away from where I live now; in the extended environs of Croydon. On summer days he would sometimes drive one of his classic Bentleys through Croydon's streets, often on the way to Glyndebourne. The Daniels clan had originally been East Enders. One of Daniels' brothers (there were a dozen or so siblings) lived next door to my parents. John Daniels had been a docker and a communist party member. John and George didn't speak to each other much by the time my folk knew John, so I never met George. My loss. John Daniels ("Danny" to his chums) was a pretty good bloke though, for all that we came from different worlds. I sometimes wonder if George Daniels ever met my Godparents when at Glyndebourne? (I'd have told Geoffrey and John to get Dr. Daniels to make them watches by hook or by crook charm, persuasion, and outright bribery.) Maybe that would be just one connection too many for me not to mortgage the cottage for a watch. I jest, obvs. But I do wonder at just how small a world it is. Or mine is.

I shall never have that sort of money. And those impossibly expensive and insanely beautiful things are beyond me. What is not beyond me is the gratuitous and vulgar adornment of mind, the bling of brain, and the other things that money cannot buy: good senses, educated and refined tastes, and a deep appreciation of quality, be it of thought, craftsmanship, or creativity. You can't buy those things; you have to achieve them; and without any external validation excepting bragging rights and sometimes winning slightly more of your arguments than losing. Until senescence, obvs. But I'm still maniacally checking for signs of early-onset dementia. The things that we obsess over...

Happy Christmas to one and all. Wrap up warm and go well and do good things. Oh also have a really good time. Deck the Halls, etc & etc...

Extraordinarily attractive woman at supper yesterday called Ruth (oh woe). Psychologist working with educationally disadvantaged children. Alas too young for me. She is 27 and therefore I am old enough to be her father. I am suspicious of attractive fit young women who prefer broken down old men, or even slightly soiled middle aged ones like me.
A good time was had by all until I mangled my conjugations and declensions, but weed was involved before conversation, ergo I was a bit worse for wear.
Set up my digital freeview box for the TV.
Still some last minute shopping to do.