Trigger happy

We did it. We broke our mould of four years.

We used to walk into Currys and hype each other up about the latest "desirable" electronic gadget. We'd have done some research online before hand but not enough to really know what we were talking about. Still, on an adrenalin rush, we'd zoom down to Lakeside and waltz through the isles to find the section of amps, speaker systems, iPod docking stations or whatever it was we were feeling that weekend. We'd look around and compare brands with one another. Then size, sound, picture and the rest of the stats on the tags next to each item. Then we'd make a decision as to which one we wanted. Then? Well then we'd make for a quick exit. No amp/speaker/docking station in tow. We'd come home deflated like two flat tyres on a 13-year old Golf. A silent drive home followed by silent activities which we would find to do in the house to get ourselves over the fact that we did it again. We went to buy something and came home empty handed.

Over the four years of our marriage, we have been very good at avoiding spending our money on gadgets. It's not been through a lack of trying. One year we made a list of 10 items which we would try to invest in over the coming 12 months. So ok, the credit crunch hit us and we had no money to spend. Still, we did try to buy something from the list but the hyper hyper flat tyre episode ensued.

We decided to change this as of this year. All week we have been ha-ha-ing about getting a new tv. It was a joke with an edge of do-we-dare-? to it. We continued to mock each other about it until it was suddenly Friday and we were standing in Elkjøp staring at what seemed like a thousand new television screens. We hovered and spouted stats to each other to try and make head and tail of it all. We tried to get assistance from the helper but concluded that we would need to do more research online before we could make a decision. And then we left: deflated.

We started walking towards ICA but were overwrought and had to sit down on the bench to take in the fact that we had failed in our attempts to change. We tried to console each other but were as miserable as each other. The only option we had was to go back in and win the battle for change.

So we trudged back through to the tele section. Found a helper. Asked him about LED and LCD, about 50 hertz and 100 hertz. We called Dad for help. We asked about speaker systems. We chose our items. We negotiated down the price. And we shook on it. We swiped the visa at the till. And there it was. Gadgets purchased!

WOWSER.

We came home by taxi (went all out) in silence, in shock. Not only had we broken the mould, we had spent a shed-load of money on things we didn't really need. We stood in the kitchen and let it sink in. Knocked back and celebrated the change.