Many a friend and I have sat and discussed the recession with a roll of the eyes and a "They saw it coming but did nothing" attitude to the whole crisis. We ummm at the latest economist's helpful statement that we are in a "U" shaped economic slump and the upturn is coming, they promise; and ahhh at Brown and Obama's rehearsed promises to join forces with powerful figures and "get us out of this mess".
But a guilty pleasure which we also indulge in every so often is the discussion of how we're all privately pleased that there has been a Great Depression in our lifetimes, and how society has changed as a result of these "bad times".
For a start, instead of mumbling something incoherant about the weather when we see our neighbours shopping in the supermarket, we can now engage in conversations smugly pretending the recession has exclusively affected only our two families.
"Cutting back on the shopping this week Barbara?"
"Yes, well you know how it is, money's tighter these days. Our John's had his hours cut down, just like your Ben."
Or in my case, "Oh you shopping with your mum today Sarah?"
"Yeah, sometimes I can convince her I need a new skirt for work but work haven't paid me yet, and she'll buy me it," laughs "Sarah", and off I go to try my hand at that very same trick. Yes, we certainly know how to clutch at those small pleasures during this recession.
On another note, universities declared this year that they have been inundated with the largest number of applicants to date. Economists and journalists have statistically backed up their argument that this is due to students no longer having the option of going straight into employment after A-Levels because the job market is shrinking rapidly. Parents and students (after all we don't really believe all 17/18 year olds make their own choices do we?) are also hoping that by the time they graduate, the recession will be over. Universities have also seen a sudden influx of mature students and UCAS say particularly an increase in the 21-24 age group by 12.9 percent, and a rise of 12.6 percent from applicants over the age of 24.
On the whole then, the Great British population is getting more educated, and clinging to their "education, education, education". What's the harm in that? Blair would be proud.
Furthermore, gosh, is the credit-card-charging-disposable-fashion-shopper on the decline? The Economist reported this week that it may take impulse shoppers "a quarter [of a financial year] or two" to fully change their shopping habits and cut down on crazy spending, but "surveys reveal a collapse in consumer confidence last winter". Huzzah, as my lovely friend Sarah would say. Less, is definitely, finally, absolutely more. As an avid supporter of quality not quantity when it comes to fashion and buying, I feel like the economic crisis is helping drum into friends (you know who you are) that organic and ethical clothing goes that little bit further if you're going to shop. Most items on the high street don't last because they're poorly made in sweatshop conditions, and oh, almost 100 percent acrylic - not exactly known to keep sheep warm during winter is it? I'll save that argument for another day, but I do feel like I can tone down my fair trade preaching for a while.
What's more, am I seeing more and more multi-national corporations championing, of all things they are known for, "green" ventures? What's that, Shell are using C02 waste to grow flowers? Absurd I hear you say, but you've got to hand it to them for trying.
As Dickens would say, these are hard times we live in, but put all these tiny pleasures into one basket, and you have hope for a better future. The end does not appear nigh, so why not basque in the glory of such simple pleasures while they last? This is the happiest I have seen people in a long time; pessimists have something to complain about and optimists are singing the praises of improved society relations - economic slump? Not a problem.
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