A Tale Of Love, Lust, And A Beautiful Oak Desk

I was in a charity shop recently when I saw a glorious 1950’s oak desk exactly like this – and I fell in love with it. Oh wonderful wood!

It took my breath away – honestly, I just stood there, fascinated.

It was in really good condition – apart from being utterly filthy and having sticky labels on the drawer fronts. It was £45. I so wanted it! Some elbow grease, soap and polish and it would look fantastic. My dress patterns could be filed in the drawers, there was room on top for standing a sewing machine- or for cutting out – or spreading out a whole collage of crafty bits. The nifty pull out shelves to the left and right would hold still more stuff. Such potential!

I could have a craft area looking just like the ones pictured in Mollie Makes, all covered with photogenic items.

I walked round it, stroking it, dreaming of what I would do if it were mine. Then I made a list

1. if I purchased it, would it fit into my little car?
2. if I did get it home, do I have any idea where would it go?
3. when we retire to Cornerstones, could we possibly take such a large item of furniture with us?
4. do I have £45 to spare?
5. has the dining table proved inadequate for cutting-out activities?
6. am I dissatisfied with the table in Steph’s room where I often use my sewing machine?
7. do I actually need this beautifully made piece of furniture?
8. will it significantly enhance my life
9. will it help me do more for the Kingdom of God
10. what would Bob say if I went home with it?

I tried out all these questions in my head, and also shared them with the kind assistant. Then I reluctantly climbed into my little blue car and drove home. When I got home, I asked Bob the 10 questions. His answers were just the same.

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. No
6. No
7. No
8. No
9. No
10. Where are you planning to put it, Ang?

So I concluded it wasn’t love at first sight, just lust. If I had bought it, I would have ended up being cross with myself for spending money I could ill afford, on a piece of furniture too large for the space available, which I did not really need in the first place. And I would come to hate the desk, and be miserable whenever I saw it.

Shakespeare was right about lust [Sonnet 129]…

Enjoyed no sooner but despised straight;
Past reason hunted; and no sooner had,
Past reason hated, as a swallowed bait,
On purpose laid to make the taker mad.
Mad in pursuit and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have extreme;
A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind a dream.

…I’ll get over it. And someone in Oadby will go into the AgeUK shop and get a real bargain. But not this woman!

I just had to tell you about it -  and now I can forget about it and get on with the Important Things In Life. Thank you for listening!