I HAD a bright idea the other day. Why not buy shares in a failing bank?

"Er why?" questioned my rather more intelligent, careful girlfriend, Caroline.

Sitting and pondering for a while I thought and thought.

I had little idea about how to actually go about purchasing shares which had been the main reason for never doing it.

But I fancied a flutter - it's something I don't normally do.

The internet should have been the most user-friendly way of sharedealing but having spent hours opening an account it was then going to take a week to pay money in. What on earth is the point in that? I thought the web was quick.

As I watched the shares increase in value I grew more fed up and decided to visit my bank expecting huge charges and aggravation. As I sat in a financial adviser's office a trading account was opened painlessly over the phone. Shares were purchased within 10 minutes. A price for the stock was quoted and I was given 10 seconds to make a decision. Nothing like a little pressure. And the charges were reasonable.

It was surprising that the financial adviser - who couldn't help listening in - didn't know how to purchase shares either.

Now paying close attention to the Stock Market, I cringe every time I open a copy of the Financial Times.

These shares have certainly given me some excitement though.

Making £120 in one day I then lost £200 but the stock is now slowly rising as more private equity firms invest.

And if one takes over completely... could there be an early retirement in the offing?