Status-Q

As the UK contemplates an approaching budget, we only have to go outside and look at the potholes in the road, or the queues at our local hospital, to realise that there are many areas where the national finances are struggling.

It's well known that, though it's politically easy to impose an extra tax burden only on the wealthy, this doesn't actually raise much money. But what would? The wonderful Hannah Ritchie, of course, has run the numbers.

I used to have a 'Swiss Army Knife' when I was young, lost it long ago, and have just ordered another.

In the intervening time, the web has happened, and it turns out there are a vast multitude of pocket-knife enthusiasts out there discussing their preferred EDC ('Every Day Carry') penknives, arguing over which manufacturers use the best steel, and, even within the Victorinox fold, debating the relative merits of the Mountaineer, the Rambler or the Super Tinker. Victorinox have dozens of models to choose from, and, though there are many other options — I'm a big fan of my Leatherman Wave, for example — the company does seem to inspire particular loyalty.

But if you have one of their larger offerings and have been wondering just why you might need the little hook, the awl (or even, these days, the corkscrew) then you might enjoy this example of the kind of helpful material now available for those wanting to make the most of their EDC.

My favourite new verb is "coddiwomple", which apparently means "to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague or unknown destination."

Nobody quite knows its origin -- it's relatively recent -- but it's a good way of describing quite a few of my holidays since we purchased a campervan.

Mmm... I can't quite get away from the feeling that it's quite a good way of describing my 'career', too!

This post is really a bit of a test -- sorry, normal service will resume shortly -- but since a number of people liked my picture of the 'lunch tree' from the Detectorists TV series, here are a few more shots from our last-but-one campervan trip, which you may recognise if you know the series.

And if you don't, can I heartily recommend it? It's very British, intelligent, quirky and charming, and freely available on iPlayer for at least a couple of months, for those who have BBC access. Make sure you don't miss the Christmas specials at the end of series 2 & 3!

Rose and Betsy looking for the yellow TR7 which really should be outside Lance's flat.

Not many crystals for sale here today.

Andy hid behind this bush to spy on Lance entertaining a mysterious young woman in the café.

And here's the pub which served as "The Two Brewers", where the main characters usually met up after their activities.

Despite being set in Essex, almost all of the filming of Detectorists actually happened in and around Framlingham in Suffolk.

However, this may all mean nothing to you, so let me instead show you a picture from last week's campervan trip to the Hambleden Valley, where we had a long, circular walk through some ridiculously quaint villages in the Chilterns, often used as the setting for dramas such as Midsomer Murders.

But for me the real highlight is up on one of the hills. Who remembers the windmill which was home to Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?