Clothes inventory

Sometimes I look down at what I'm wearing and I realise that everything I have on was either given to me or found. Then, a few days later, I look down again at a completely different outfit and find the same result. Made me realise that: a) I get given a lot of clothes; and b) I don't buy many. Also made me want to look at all the clothes I have and see where I'm at. So...

1. Jeans and trousers: the most important section

- 2 pairs of blue jeans, 1 gifted in Mexico City, the other gifted by Lee Cooper when I complained about some of their shoes (both have patches on the crotches)

- 1 pair of black jeans, bought because I needed something smart for a posh gig three years back. Never wear unless I'm doing something smart (which is maybe 3 times a year)

2. T-shirts: the second most important section

- 2 Jimi Hendrix t-shirts, both given to me by Diego

- 1 from Matt, 2 I found, 1 from Rik in Baja, 1 from Dave Fergie, and 2 from an ex-girlfriend

- 1 yellow t-shirt that I bought for two quid from a charity shop when caught short

3. Coats and hoodies: because it's cold now and they're getting a lot of use

- 2 hoodies, one from Dave Ferguson and one from Ali

- 1 green coat, given to me in Baja California

- 1 thin blue fleece, a gift from Leticia in Oaxaca

4. Shirts and stuff like that

- 4 semi-nice shirts, 2 I bought in a charity shop in London (£4 each) for waiting tables, 1 from Baja Rik, and 1 from ex-girlfriend's mum in 2004

- 1 fancy top that cost a lot of money, bought by an ex-girlfriend (rarely worn)

- 1 black jacket - bought by same ex-girlfriend - that I roll out for christenings, etc (two in last eighteen months)

5. Sports clothes

- 4 Everton shirts which cost about three quid each from eBay

- 1 white Nike football shirt, £3 from a charity shop

- 1 Ipswich goalie's top, off eBay

- 6 pairs of shorts, all of which I bought - one pair in Canada in 2005, now heavily-repaired - except for two pairs I found earlier this year. Total cost not more than ten pounds.

6. Socks

- Lots of black socks, only a few of which were found.

7. Shoes

- Asic runners

- Umbro 5v5 (fourth pair of those I've had)

- Nike astroturf boots

- Adidas football boots

- Karrimor walking-type trainers (should never have bought)

- Sterling teel-toecaps (bought for me by gardening boss)

That's a lot of shoes!

8. Misc.

- 2 jumpers, recent donations from Dave Fergie

- long johns, gifted in Israel

- 3 ties I found in a bin

- a pink dressing gown, found

- 15 gloves, all found, including two matching pairs

There. Now because that's such a fascinating stock-take I'm gonna unleash some maths on it and statisticise the whole thing. Which'll tell me:

- Not including socks and shoes I have 42 articles of clothing

- Of those 42, 20 were gifted, 14 were bought, and 8 were found

- Of the 14 bought, 10 were bought for sports and 3 for work

- Total spend on clothes over the last 2-3 years is approximately £45

- I reckon I have at least 9 items I don't wear and ought to get rid of

Brilliant. And if that's not the best blog entry you've read since the turn of the century I will eat my yellow t-shirt.