Exacting revenge

@wwaycorrigan

[For an audio version of this blog story, click here.]

In a memorable episode — few were forgettable, in fairness — of the hit 1990s TV sitcom, Father Ted, the no-nonsense, hot-tempered Bishop Brennan gets a kick up the posterior from the comedy classic's title character.

Revenge: It's often best put on the long finger.

Dazed and enraged

Ted was forced into this almost-suicidal shoe of strength after being exposed as a cheat while managing a football team against his arch-rival priest, Dick Byrne. Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse was the forfeit.

When a near-perfect scenario arises where the deed can be carried out, Ted duly delivers the hit.

Considering the fear he instils in his inferiors, Bishop Brennan can't believe what's happened.

The next few scenes show His Grace in a stupor as he makes his way to Rome for an audience with the Pope. It's only at the Vatican, facing Pope John Paul II, that Bishop Brennan snaps out of this stupor and realises that he did indeed get kicked up the arse.

Cue a rush back to Ireland to confront Father Ted.

A slapstick comedy this show may have been, yet I often find myself referring to it for solace, of sorts. That and the fact that many of its silly scenes accurately reflect real life.

While I haven't been in a stupor to the extent Bishop Brennan was, I have been regularly distracted by thoughts of an episode that has, or at least had, left me disillusioned. (See both The fiendish frenemy and Bogged down in Bogotá for more on that.)

'What had made the rage so acute was the belief that outside of, unwisely, taking matters more firmly into my own hands, I felt rather powerless.'

That the borrower in my previously documented money-lending saga has started to re-engage in the repayment process is helping to lessen the disillusionment.

I did also, à la Bishop Brennan, have my snap-out-of-it moment, the result of which was a verbal attack — or two — on my loanee friend/frenemy. It appears to have cleared the heavy air that had, understandably enough, existed between us, although at the time it seemed like it had finally put an end to any pretence of friendship.

Power struggle

Nonetheless, this whole loan affair has left a sour taste. It's likely to linger for quite a while. What's more, as alluded to, there is still money to be repaid.

Yet, those feelings of rage with an accompanying desire to exact revenge of some sort have dissipated.

What had made such feelings so acute was the belief that outside of, unwisely, taking matters more firmly into my own hands, I felt rather powerless. An omnipotent Bishop Brennan dealing with an unruly understudy I was not.

Sure, the borrower and I had signed a legally binding document but going the legal route to get this money repaid would most likely result in more pain rather than any pay, particularly in Colombia.

The only viable approach I've had throughout, without potentially creating more problems, has been to play the waiting game.

A couple of verbal shots fired in frustration aside, this is largely how I've played it. I have been fairly patient and understanding, if I do say so myself.

However it finally plays out, enough has happened thus far to ensure this money-lending episode will live long in the memory. It's been a kick in the posterior one has to learn from.
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Rewarding the reckless

@wwaycorrigan

[For an audio version of this blog story click here.]

Wouldn't it be great if we could all (mis)manage our financial affairs in a similar way to many countries?

Spending is the new saving. 

That is, not only be in debt but continuously add to it, giving back only a fraction of the total by way of interest repayments, if even that. And do so in a rather carefree manner.

How the wasteful are winning

Perhaps this actually is the way the world's rich (just don't probe too much into their accounts) and powerful operate. It would explain a lot. If it works for governments, then why not for individuals?

You see, it seems that trying to be financially prudent these days is a penance suffered by a small few in the hard-pressed working and middle classes. If you're not in debt or at least a serial spender, you're not playing the game right. Or you're not playing the game at all, stupid.

With speculate-to-accumulate in mind, I do realise that people deliberately overstretch themselves with the goal of seeing their investments come good, and then some, at a future date. Thus, being in debt for a time might be both unavoidable and smart. (It's something I could be more open to; playing it safe doesn't mean invariable stability.)

In the past, lent monies were usually for the purchase of assets, investment in a business, educational enhancement or suchlike. Loan requests generally had to come with rigorous cost plans, with a borrower expected to repay the lender the full amount plus interest at a defined later stage.

Of late, however, it seems the reckless state-borrowing model has taken hold at large. Rather than reduce expenditure, people look for monetary support to maintain a certain quality of life.

Alongside this, the definition of loan appears to have morphed into gift for many. Or at least the idea of being frugal, or 'good with money' to put a more positive spin on it, is frowned upon.

'The analogy to Ireland: A frugal foreigner with some savings provides access to money on the cheap for the locals, most of whom are involved in the construction industry.'

OK, this 'spend what you have today, let tomorrow take care of itself' attitude can be viewed as positive. One should be relaxed enough to enjoy his/her (usually) hard-earned income in the here and now.

However, spending what you don't really have is another matter. Ireland Inc., to give but one example, saw how that can turn nasty back in 2008. Yet, the biggest borrowers, the most spendthrift, got away rather lightly compared to the small fry. Some, indeed, are just too important to fail.

Frugal fool

Now, what could be viewed as a microcosm of profligate Ireland is my financial dealings with a friend in my beloved Bogotá barrio, Santandercito. The analogy in a sentence: A frugal foreigner with some savings provides access to money on the cheap for the locals, most of whom are involved in the construction industry.

It can be hard to say no when somebody appears in desperate need.

More specifically, in The barrio banker, I wrote about how I'd given out interest-free loans to some friends in need over the last few years. These loan requests, from one acquaintance in particular, haven't stopped — give the dog a bone and all that. And I find it hard to say no.

The latest rather substantial loan does have a small interest rate attached to it. I'm toughening up — a little (although, compared to the current interest rates for Colombia's CDT savings accounts, I'm losing out. Be that as it may, the repayment date has now passed and my friend, so he says, doesn't have the funds.

Based on previous form, I trust the man. I have no other choice. If the friendship is ruptured, I have no real legal recourse to get what's owed me. What especially bugs me, particularly as somebody who by both nature and nurture is careful with money, is seeing this man be anything but that.

It's not like I've got endless revenue supplies. This is the hard-pressed asking the slightly less hard-pressed.

Nonetheless, as alluded to, I do like to help where possible, especially for somebody truly in a bad way. In this case, however, the behaviour of the borrower immediately after he got the loan suggested it wasn't a life-or-death situation. Unless "beering" the barrio is critical to his survival.

For the moment, I just have to sit tight and try not to let the negative emotions overcome me — completely avoidable negativity at that, too, if I'd just said no. Time shall tell if this was a foolish loan on my part.

Yet, perhaps my biggest act of foolery has been my attempts to put money aside for the future. 'Just spend, spend, spend, Brendan. Somebody else will pick up the tab.' Quite.
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