"Why did you change your title to Lord?" Demanded my claims advisor. That came as no suprise to me. In fact, the only suprise is that it took a year to reach the point of confrontation over it. But then, I suppose it was only a matter of time.

One of the frustrating aspects of human behaviour is the need to establish status. Some people are motivated by it unconciously to an incredible degree. For instance, on a recent job application I signed the letter as 'Lord Caldrail' as I'm entitled to do. The man responded by calling himself 'Capt. Smith, Msc'.

Now I'm assuming he's being honest rather than mischievous, but if that's the case, it's clearly a boss whose own sense of superiority is threatened by someone elses title. I can imagine a serious dressing down at the first excuse for no other reason than to enforce his own pecking order. It's just so unnecessary.

So I asked my claims advisor if we could get on with the signing. He refused, and clearly wanted to get to the bottom of this anomaly in his perfect ordered world. I suspect that a certain Captain has been pulling strings.

How To Avoid Hangovers

The latest guide to spiritual and physical wellbeing on the internet is a handy guide to avoiding hangovers. The article lists all manner of advice from checking labels to preparing yourself psychologically for the coming festivities. I fall off my chair laughing. If you want to avoid hangovers, don't drink. How simple does advice have to be?

How To Avoid Busibodies

There's a lady of mature age who's become a regular at the library. On the one hand, she's sociable, starting conversations with all and sundry. If only she wasn't so annoying. It's all about her, isn't it?

Having discovered everything about her opinions, lifestyle, likes and dislikes, I can honestly say I want to avoid her if possible, if only to prevent a prosecution for violence. According to my logic of avoiding hangiovers, the easiest path is to simply not go to the library. But that's like being a teetotaller. You can feel smug about yourself but no-one invites you to parties.

So for now I shall avoid eye contact, keep myself discrete, and give her discouraging one word answers to her enquiries about whether her opinion on whatever subject is worth listening to. Actually I'm probably being a bit hypocritical here, because this blog is nothing if not about my opinions. But then... You can choose whether to read it, can't you?