I love the sheer decadent thrill of buying something I don't actually need, but that I just want.

It's like drinking a really expensive bottle of red wine or eating an entire pack of shortbread without the falling down or weight gain – the downside of these two otherwise excellent activities.

I've taken another foray into the mysterious world of art dealing. I'd spotted a painting I was particularly taken with in a local gallery just before Christmas. I'd been debating with myself whether to drop a big hint to My Special Friend that it might make a good Christmas present when she let slip that she couldn't believe how much a decent pair of dog-face novelty slippers cost these days. From which, I deduced, her gift list was already closed.

Passing by the gallery last week, I noticed the painting had still not been snapped up. And, joy, it was now on offer at half the price.

Still I hesitated. It was money that could be more wisely spent – MSF's shoe account is looking distinctly down at heel at the moment.

I don't want to give you the wrong impression – and I certainly don't want any begging letters – my art-buying antics don't put me in the super-rich league. The painting cost less than it does to fill my VW with diesel and is dwarfed by the cost of our weekly supermarket shop.

So it was I returned to Thornton Towers with my new painting proudly under my arm. MSF was still at work so I found a place and hung it in the lounge. On her return, I inquired if she'd noticed anything different. She had not. By this you can deduce it's not a life-size pop art painting of a naked Kylie.

When I pointed it out the new addition to our collection she gave me one of her "more money than sense'' looks.

Which I just might have been able to take, had I not at that exact moment glanced down at my feet and seen two moon-faced acrylic beagles staring back at me.

Is anybody Tapping into public opinion?
Whenever I'm paid a visit by a friend or colleague from out of town, I invariably take them for a drink to the Brewery Tap.

Without fail, they are always impressed. The reason is simple – it's different, it's a one-off. We live in a world (and a city) where the architects and planners seem obsessed with pulling things down.

More than 14,000 people have signed a petition opposing the destruction of the Brewery Tap.

That's an extraordinary number of supporters. The message is loud, the message is clear. If the developers and councillors don't heed it, we can only assume they were never interested in listening in the first place.

Chapter one: I was born
They say there is a book in all of us.