The Simple Things

Featuring Paolo Nutini and Stalingrad...

Last year I read a book about the Battle of Stalingrad, which was one of the most decisive - and most brutal - battles of WWII.

Spoiler alert: the Germans lost, sustaining huge casualties during close-quarter fighting in the ruins of the city, with up to 3,000,000 total casualties between the two sides. Stalingrad is seen as the beginning of the end for Hitler’s imperialist ambitions.

Trapped between the warring armies were thousands of Russian civilians, mainly women and children, who somehow managed to survive - no one quite knows how - by living a subterranean existence in cellars and sewers. The children were used to run errands for soldiers on both sides (such as collecting river water) - which often resulted in them being gunned down by snipers.

If you were a soldier of the Soviet Union, there was every chance that if the Germans didn’t kill you, your own side would (the Soviets recorded 13,500 executions of their own soldiers during the battle, for a range of ‘anti-Soviet behaviours’).

Reflecting on these horrific stories makes me very grateful for the modern comforts I enjoy, and often take for granted, everyday…

• What would those women in the sewers have given to have access to my kitchen tap?

• What would the lice-riddled soldiers have given for a few minutes in my shower?

• What would any of them have given to be living peacefully, surrounded by their loved ones?

There are so many ‘simple’ things in our lives, which are actually rather exceptional when put into perspective - especially once you note how little influence you had in their creation (we just expect clean water, plumbing, heating and fresh food on demand as givens… it wasn’t always so!).

These thoughts are encapsulated by the Scottish-Italian bard, Paolo Nutini (yes, I’m pivoting from the Battle of Stalingrad to Paolo Nutini lyrics):

My father is a wealthy, self made man
But his wealth does not consist of riches or acres of land
And instead he has a family who are his biggest fans
That's something that I one day hope to have

And so I'll cherish the simple things
The easy took for granted things
Like going round my mum's house for my tea
And argue with my sister, only God knows how I missed her
It's the simple things that mean the most to me

Paolo Nutini - Simple Things

In a few words, Paolo captures the definition of true wealth.

It’s right in front of us, in the ‘simple things’.

You just have to look for them.

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Now, this isn’t to say money isn’t important. Like it or not, it is.

A certain level of financial security is required to live a free and dignified existence; however, you probably don’t need ‘riches or acres of land’ to be wealthy.

Like Paolo’s father in the song, I consider myself a wealthy man.

I have neither riches or acres of land, but I do have…

• My health.

• My family.

• My garden and new allotment.

• Sufficient (protected) income to live a free and dignified existence.

My water is clean, my garden will soon be beautiful again (bring on Spring!) and my family are safe and healthy.

Love me a sunflower…

How about you?

You may be wealthier than you think!

“Cherish the simple things, the easy took for granted things”.

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Thanks for reading,

Tom Redmayne

Chartered Financial Planner

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This is not personal advice based on your circumstances.

All views are my own.

Not advice.

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