Sometimes you learn lessons in life about “how not to do things”. I recently did a shoot where we were interviewing a couple who were in serious financial trouble. They wanted to be shot anonymously so we positioned them in silhouette against a window. This couple was in their mid sixties!!

My reporter began to question them as to their situation and how they had arrived there. They were six months behind on their mortgage payments, unemployed, had few future prospects, and

£80 000.00 of credit card debt. These were not young and inexperienced people!! They were under a lot of pressure from the credit card companies and very close to losing their home. They explained that they didn’t have two pennies to rub together and pleaded on camera that if someone influential was listening, they might be offered work. They had seriously considered suicide but there was confusion as to who should take the plunge and leave the other one wealthy. PS: Insurance companies don’t pay out anything to people who commit suicide. They need to read the life insurance policy. I felt sorry for them until they began to talk about the four overseas holidays they take every year and how they loved to dine out in fine restaurants. The wine rack next to my camera must have had thirty excellent bottles of wine in it. They were dressed beautifully and the home was plush and well furnished.

How is it that some people can be so foolish? Especially a couple with so much life experience. Surely they know that there must come a day when the money you have spent has to be paid back? With interest...a LOT of interest. As we were leaving my reporter explained that there would be a payment of £150.00 for the interview to which the gentleman immediately replied...”oh wonderful, I think we’ll go out and have a decent meal and a bottle of champagne...our spirits need lifting.” (Wednesday, 5 May 2010)