Head Above Water

A bathtub is a common, almost clichéd, analogy, used to illustrate anything from migration/population to business cash-flow/bank balance. A water butt would serve equally well: independent flow in (from the green roof) and out (into a watering can) with a fixed-size reservoir between the two, making the system tolerant of transient mild imbalance, but not long-term or over-large variance leading to overspill or exhaustion. We have seen a great deal of overspill lately! 

The model would also work for personal finances. We need to keep an eye on the barrel, turn down the tap if there are signs of a drought and make sure there is always at least a trickle available at any time. The first of the month is set aside to do the sums, review what we have spent, cast at least half an eye ahead. I try to classify our spending into basic headings like Food, Clothes, and Toys Beekeeping. There are usually a few amusing, headscratching moments: What did we buy from 'The Sky Shop'?! Why do we have a payment to someone in Chippenham when we have been nowhere near? Don't forget that some payments to the Co-Op are for the internet, not food. 'MFG' stands for petrol! 

Even purchases in street markets are by card now - on our last outing, traders opted for card over cash when offered the choice. My 'cash withdrawals' column gets smaller and smaller and the 'payee' column increasingly entertaining and baffling. The data geek in me likes this evolution; the concerned, and slightly paranoid, citizen has a few reservations around security and surveillance and resilience 

The remaining puzzle is in the picture: after hours of drenching rain, gusty wind, overflowing butts and leaden skies, how is it possible that there are still patches on this barrel that are not wet, and on its most exposed side? A mystery even more perplexing than where the money goes