The Mute Herald

No it’s not Economics-101. It’s about personal finances. And photography.

I have spent enough on my new hobby to declare a temporary halt on further accessory purchases. It’s time to assess the current situation, see whether it’s a passing thing or something that will eventually pass. The output itself seems to be on the right track, judging from the praise I receive from my wife (may sound obligatory, but in fact isn’t), as well as the lack of negative criticism from peers (even when pushed).

That doesn’t stop me from wishing I could spend. All major (and not-so-) expenses are evaluated against the opportunity cost in terms of photography accessories. For example:

• If I hadn’t run up a bill of 3 speeding tickets, I could have bought a brand new decent focal length macro lens
• If I hadn’t been caught by another mobile camera just today, I could have gone for that 2nd hand one being advertised online
• Brand new sofa, or brand new Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM?
• Pay my utility bills, or get a new camera bag?
• Settle my credit card dues, or get a fish-eye lens to try something new?

You get the point.

Can't have a post about photography without a photo

It’s official, I have taken up the hobby of photography.  Which seems to go rather nicely with the title of this blog, if I may say so myself.  I say official because the money spoke, this is my new baby:

Canon EOS 550D

I had already bought a couple of books on the subject, which (as a side note) appear fantastic on the kindle app for ipad. This is not to say that my shots will dramatically improve overnight, I’m realistic enough to know that.

It just means that, among other things, there will be yet more cat & kitten pictures, just of a better quality.

By popular request here is the rear view of the car, clearly showing the much fussed about spoiler

Thank you all for suggesting the alternate uses: cake display, picnic use tray, bar counter, etc.  Still no word from Al Tayer.  I may have to send them a politely worded email.

In the end we compromised.  We settled for taking the Titanium model avec spoiler, with the option of having it either replaced at a later date (thus ending up with a spare spoiler), or swapped with a future prospective buyer (guy goes to Al Tayer looking at Ford Fiesta, sales tell him “oh and we have an option to upgrade to a brand new unwanted sports spoiler, interested?”).  We were hooked on the options, so we didn’t want to downgrade anymore.

The new car. Apologies for the crop, was risking falling backwards on the landscaped slope.

The sales experience was laughable though.  After taking an accusatory tone for the hassle I was creating, once we told them to go ahead they were all smiles and greetings and how’s everything.  What really got me was:

“There.  Now in about two weeks’ time you will be contacted by our customer service desk, asking about the sales experience.  Please leave favourable comments as it affects us.”  Fat chance.

This was also my first time taking out a loan in Dubai, through which I discovered the banking system’s reliance on cheques as method of payment.  Why are they clinging on to them? What is the issue for not creating standing orders.  I had to sign sixty cheques, and had to counter-sign two of my own signatures becuase “they were not like the rest”.  Which led me to consider going back to my branch to make sure the signature they have on file matches the one I used, don’t want another sixty headaches.

My dear wife is getting her driving license soon so we started doing the rounds of the showrooms in SZR to find the best Ramadan deal.  We quickly fell for the new Ford Fiesta – small, stylish, very well priced and service / first year insurance included in offer.  Other cars in the same category do not come close, and we decided to close the deal.  Before finalising we wanted to check out the colour as metallic type finishes are notoriously misreproduced on brochures.  After the usual end of Ramadan delays we finally got our preview, and were treated to a small surprise.

Ford Fiesta, courtesy Ford ME

The spoiler.

Basic models, and the one we were shown in the showroom, sported a very discrete spoiler, which is almost not a spoiler at all.  The titanium model we chose and was before us had this extended, awful spoiler.  It had gaps in the middle, and was wide enough to have picnics on.  Now this is the thing about spoilers, they say something about the person driving the car.  Whether it’s the sporty personality, or loud music lover,  outgoing type, etc.  Whatever it is that people have when identifying with spoilers, we did not have it.  It has to go, we have to downgrade, or it’s a different car.  Meeting the Al Tayer sales lady next week, we’ll see how it goes.