Life in the credit crunch is starting to depress me. Every morning on my drive to work I listen to economists' predictions of doom and gloom.
Talk about redundancies, rising energy bills and problems with mortgage repayments do not make for the chirpiest start to the day.
So, in order to cheer myself up, I have come up with some new goals – probably best described as a less extravagan
t and not so morbid version of things to do before you die.
My bravest move so far has been going to a football match. In more than 28 years, I have never been to a live game, so it was an exciting prospect.
Approaching Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground on Saturday with a polka dot umbrella, no remotely waterproof clothing and a lightweight jacket, I was laughed at by my colleague Nick (our sports editor and season ticket holder).
"You're not at the cricket now you know," he said.
After having the top taken off my plastic lemonade bottle in the Legends bar (so I couldn't throw it at anyone), I headed to my seat and the pouring rain.
Ipswich Town were playing QPR, which is technically my home team, and the stadium was awash with blue and white.
The view was a lot better than I expected and the language a lot worse.
Two goals for the home side, and some very vocal QPR supporters made for an enjoyable afternoon out.
True - it was nothing like cricket but it wasn't the painful experience I feared.
In view of the credit crunch, I don't think I'll be buying a season ticket but I'm not ruling out another trip to see the Tractor Boys in action – or the Canaries for that matter.
The full article contains 295 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.
