Trollied Tuesday: carpe diem vs financial tedium

Given the current financial turmoil, many of you may be tempted to turn to drink. As an investment, I mean. I was going to invest in cardboard boxes, braziers and real estate near railway bridges and trash heaps, but apparently booze can give you a much better return than the stock market or property. Or maybe not.

My view on wine as an investment is: well, if you're asking me for investment advice you deserve all you get. But the mindset of someone who would pay thousands for the finest wines known to humanity, solely with the intention of selling them on at a profit without ever tasting them is something I do feel able to comment on.

As anyone with even the most basic grasp of economics (that'd be me now) could tell you: the value you derive from a fine wine is not to be solely measure in terms of its future resale value – the pleasure you would derive from drinking it in suitable company must be factored in to the cost when you buy it. The fact that large chunks of the financial world are, apparently, given over to people who are, apparently, only able to see wine as another way of adding to a wealth they will never truly be able to enjoy is a perfect representation of the sort of sterile, self-defeating greed that has gotten us into this fine mess.

If you find yourself in possession of a good wine which is now ready to drink, the only sane advice is to enjoy it.

"How sweet is mortal Sovranty!"--think some:
Others--"How blest the Paradise to come!"
Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest;
Oh, the brave Music of a distant Drum!

One Moment in Annihilation's Waste,
One moment, of the Well of Life to taste--
The Stars are setting, and the Caravan
Starts for the dawn of Nothing--Oh, make haste!

 How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit
Of This and That endeavour and dispute?
Better be merry with the fruitful Grape
Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.

As for the economy now, I shouldn't worry too much - the whole thing will probably end with us drinking the finest clarets and champagnes. Admittedly we'll be drinking them while standing around a brazier, having looted the bottles from the mansion of the last banker who has just been strangled with the entrails of the last trader. Still, I'll see you there.