speaking of purchases, now is a really good time to buy a house

i wish i had the money, because the fallout from this subprime mortgage thing is absolutely demolishing home prices right now

is it that way in the la area as well?

Yeah, LA is pretty rough for house pricing right now. My Dad and STepmom were going to buy a place, but they've changed their plans - they're going to rent for a year.

are they just waiting it out until prices stabilize?

That seems to be the current plan, yeah. It's all a bit mad - companies dropping out of the mortgage market, dropping like flies. I imagine I'll start renting my own place by the end of next year, though.

Also, I need to start looking at local charities and the like. I've had the urge to get back into doing some volunteer work over the past few months, but immigrating has kind of taken precedence.

what sort of work are you wanting to do? real physical work, administration, or what? what causes are you interested in?

I used to do all sorts. There was a playgroup in Luton called LOAF. They were there every Saturday, offering parents a place to take their Autistic children in the morning. It was great fun helping out, getting the toys ready and setting up the play area, looking after the kids. I was commended by the Mayor of Luton for that work.

I also did some work for another charity, whose name I can't recall. Fund-collecting, mostly - standing on the street with a pot, trying to attract small-change donations. I loved every minute of it - talking to people and so on. I made it fun, and people liked talking to me. They enjoyed my company. It was great, and I collected a lot of money for that charity. I think they were helping children too, now I come to think about it.

that's really cool, i'm glad to hear that you have that philanthropic spirit or whatever

I do what I can.

it goes quite nicely against the standard lazy, apathetic gamer stereotype

So I've been told! :)