The house has been tidied, I'm all packed, I've had a nice relaxing morning and I'm ready to go - Barcelona here I come!
Back on Monday, have a lovely weekend! XXX
Back on Monday, have a lovely weekend! XXX
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What's wrong with this picture:
1. There aren't many clothes in the wardrobe.
2. There isn't much wardrobe.
3. The wardrobe has no door.
4. I'm not curled up weeping beside it.
The wardrobe thing turned into a bit of a fiasco!
I was told the delivery would be made this morning but that no one could phone me and tell me when, so I took the day off work. I'm sitting drinking a cup of tea and pottering about online when the phone rings - it's the delivery driver, "I'll be with you in 30 minutes."
I was told the delivery would be made in a huge lorry, and was I sure that a double decker bus could get down my street? How on earth am I supposed to know that, we only have single decker tranport round here! It arrived in a Transit van.
It says on the order that the goods will be delivered to a room of your choosing. The delivery man took one look at the stairs and said, "they'll need unpacking, I can't help you there!" As soon as he left I dragged them upstairs still in the packing.
They sent four doors for a three door wardrobe and seemed surprised when I wanted to send one back.
The double wardrobe base and top where missing, so I could only assemble the smaller of the two, and the doors can only go on once they're all joined together, hence the one wardrobe you see. And there was some trim missing as well. They're all coming on Wednesday. In separate deliveries, one to work, one to home - nothing is simple is it!
There were also some screws missing, but I couldn't face a third phonecall and third delivery option - by carrier pigeon probably - so I went to the store for a moan and they produced a spares pack which they have on hand to give to people when bits are missing. It's nice that they're prepared, but wouldn't it have been better to supply all the bits in the first place?
Mum came over to help me put it together, although in the end the poor woman mostly watched as I got cross with it. She took one look at the problem, grabbed a flowery tape measure and worked out the solution, whereas I just wanted to cry. These kind of moments are not good for ones self esteem, although she did point out that I've sorted out tons of forms for her and people just have different skills. Which is true and very perceptive of her, I just wish my skills were more useful!
She spent the whole time she was here looking at the dust and looking disappointed. Everyone has different levels of cleanliness. Mum has a zero tolerance policy to dust. Dusting is a low priority in this house.
It wasn't a complete disaster though, as the house is a lot tidier than it had been. And in preparation for whenever it is I build the other wardrobe I put together the shoe cube:
How practical! It will actually go in the bottom of the other wardrobe, it's not a bedside cabinet. See how few shoes there are - I conquered my addiction!
And of course after all that I needed a treat. I wanted chips but settled for an hour in bed with someone else's boyfriend. Because I'm worth it.
1. There aren't many clothes in the wardrobe.
2. There isn't much wardrobe.
3. The wardrobe has no door.
4. I'm not curled up weeping beside it.
The wardrobe thing turned into a bit of a fiasco!
I was told the delivery would be made this morning but that no one could phone me and tell me when, so I took the day off work. I'm sitting drinking a cup of tea and pottering about online when the phone rings - it's the delivery driver, "I'll be with you in 30 minutes."
I was told the delivery would be made in a huge lorry, and was I sure that a double decker bus could get down my street? How on earth am I supposed to know that, we only have single decker tranport round here! It arrived in a Transit van.
It says on the order that the goods will be delivered to a room of your choosing. The delivery man took one look at the stairs and said, "they'll need unpacking, I can't help you there!" As soon as he left I dragged them upstairs still in the packing.
They sent four doors for a three door wardrobe and seemed surprised when I wanted to send one back.
The double wardrobe base and top where missing, so I could only assemble the smaller of the two, and the doors can only go on once they're all joined together, hence the one wardrobe you see. And there was some trim missing as well. They're all coming on Wednesday. In separate deliveries, one to work, one to home - nothing is simple is it!
There were also some screws missing, but I couldn't face a third phonecall and third delivery option - by carrier pigeon probably - so I went to the store for a moan and they produced a spares pack which they have on hand to give to people when bits are missing. It's nice that they're prepared, but wouldn't it have been better to supply all the bits in the first place?
Mum came over to help me put it together, although in the end the poor woman mostly watched as I got cross with it. She took one look at the problem, grabbed a flowery tape measure and worked out the solution, whereas I just wanted to cry. These kind of moments are not good for ones self esteem, although she did point out that I've sorted out tons of forms for her and people just have different skills. Which is true and very perceptive of her, I just wish my skills were more useful!
She spent the whole time she was here looking at the dust and looking disappointed. Everyone has different levels of cleanliness. Mum has a zero tolerance policy to dust. Dusting is a low priority in this house.
It wasn't a complete disaster though, as the house is a lot tidier than it had been. And in preparation for whenever it is I build the other wardrobe I put together the shoe cube:
How practical! It will actually go in the bottom of the other wardrobe, it's not a bedside cabinet. See how few shoes there are - I conquered my addiction!
And of course after all that I needed a treat. I wanted chips but settled for an hour in bed with someone else's boyfriend. Because I'm worth it.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
It's official - our tap class is finishing forever at the end of this term.
I've got mixed feelings about it - obviously I'm sad that it's ending, we've been doing it for twelve years and it's been a big part of my life, but I'm also grown-up enough to know that things come to an end and when they do there's no point fighting it. I'd even wondered if I could get the tap shoes on eBay before Christmas, which seems ridiculously unsentimental, but what else can you do with tap shoes?!
Other people clearly don't feel the same, and are desperately trying to find other people to come back and do it so the class can be saved. There's talk of a reunion next Christmas for a show, but honestly when something's over it's over. I like to draw a line under things. Which I guess is why I'm not really in touch with any of my exes (the few that there are). So if anyone wants a pair of size 11 tap shoes, hardly worn, I'm your man!
I'm off work now until next Tuesday, which is something of a relief! Tomorrow I'll be putting wardrobes together, then I'll be in Barcelona until Sunday followed by a little Christmas shopping on Monday - all of which is better than being at work!
I've got mixed feelings about it - obviously I'm sad that it's ending, we've been doing it for twelve years and it's been a big part of my life, but I'm also grown-up enough to know that things come to an end and when they do there's no point fighting it. I'd even wondered if I could get the tap shoes on eBay before Christmas, which seems ridiculously unsentimental, but what else can you do with tap shoes?!
Other people clearly don't feel the same, and are desperately trying to find other people to come back and do it so the class can be saved. There's talk of a reunion next Christmas for a show, but honestly when something's over it's over. I like to draw a line under things. Which I guess is why I'm not really in touch with any of my exes (the few that there are). So if anyone wants a pair of size 11 tap shoes, hardly worn, I'm your man!
I'm off work now until next Tuesday, which is something of a relief! Tomorrow I'll be putting wardrobes together, then I'll be in Barcelona until Sunday followed by a little Christmas shopping on Monday - all of which is better than being at work!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Today the new mattress was delivered so some semblance of normality has returned. And perhaps I'll get a decent night's sleep, although as it's a different kind of mattress to the one I had before - a memory foam one instead of the traditional sprung one - it may take some getting used to!
Yesterday I spent most of the day out of the house, because I just found it too difficult to be in the house whilst someone else was here. So I went to Mum's and ended up spending hours putting together some self-assembly furniture for her. I thought it might be good practice for the new wardrobes that are coming on Wednesday but now I'm terrified - a small cupboard took nearly three hours, lots of swearing and a noticeable rise in my blood pressure! Still, Mum was pleased which gets me extra bonus points.
In the evening I went to Jan & Barry's for a few fireworks and piles of food to belatedly celebrate Ema's birthday. I think I drank too much and was a bit loud, but it was nice to see everyone and inevitably the food was fantastic! Lovely to see you all! XXX
Yesterday I spent most of the day out of the house, because I just found it too difficult to be in the house whilst someone else was here. So I went to Mum's and ended up spending hours putting together some self-assembly furniture for her. I thought it might be good practice for the new wardrobes that are coming on Wednesday but now I'm terrified - a small cupboard took nearly three hours, lots of swearing and a noticeable rise in my blood pressure! Still, Mum was pleased which gets me extra bonus points.
In the evening I went to Jan & Barry's for a few fireworks and piles of food to belatedly celebrate Ema's birthday. I think I drank too much and was a bit loud, but it was nice to see everyone and inevitably the food was fantastic! Lovely to see you all! XXX
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I have wallpaper! Lovely, glorious wallpaper! And of course the beige is exactly the right colour for it. Now all I need to do is put all the stuff back....
Inevitably yesterday turned out to be quite a strange day. I'd made no plans as I was expecting to be at home sorting out the house, and then when I realised the decorator was coming a made some plans at inconvenient times! So it was all about waiting yesterday, mostly waiting to get back into my own home!
By the time I got back the decorator had gone and there was a lingering smell of paint. The bedroom is now mostly white, with two walls in my preferred beige colour. The first thing that struck me was that despite spending literally hours pondering the merits of various shades at the end of the day it's still beige! I'm used to stronger, darker colours - the bedroom was red before - and I think it's going to take some getting used to! I'm guessing today he'll be doing second coats of beige and putting on paper. I hope that'll be the end of it because I've arranged delivery of the mattress tomorrow - I can't possibly sleep on the sofa and go to work! The old mattress went to the tip, squeezed into the back of my sister's people carrier, and the wardrobe was freecycled to a woman round the corner - please God lets hope the new ones turn up on Wednesday!
So to fill my day I went to Mum's. I took my ironing with me and got all that done, then after lunch we were both a bit bored waiting for my sister to turn up so she made cakes and I iced them:
When I finally got home I realised I couldn't' do much as I was still trapped in the one room, so I watched some TV, ate some chocolate and spent far too long on the IKEA website trying to sort out a kitchen for my sister. But as my kitchen is only 6 feet square I don't really understand the whole kitchen thing so it was very confusing! I'm looking for an excuse for a day out at IKEA with her basically.
And today? Another day of hiding from the decorator!
By the time I got back the decorator had gone and there was a lingering smell of paint. The bedroom is now mostly white, with two walls in my preferred beige colour. The first thing that struck me was that despite spending literally hours pondering the merits of various shades at the end of the day it's still beige! I'm used to stronger, darker colours - the bedroom was red before - and I think it's going to take some getting used to! I'm guessing today he'll be doing second coats of beige and putting on paper. I hope that'll be the end of it because I've arranged delivery of the mattress tomorrow - I can't possibly sleep on the sofa and go to work! The old mattress went to the tip, squeezed into the back of my sister's people carrier, and the wardrobe was freecycled to a woman round the corner - please God lets hope the new ones turn up on Wednesday!
So to fill my day I went to Mum's. I took my ironing with me and got all that done, then after lunch we were both a bit bored waiting for my sister to turn up so she made cakes and I iced them:
When I finally got home I realised I couldn't' do much as I was still trapped in the one room, so I watched some TV, ate some chocolate and spent far too long on the IKEA website trying to sort out a kitchen for my sister. But as my kitchen is only 6 feet square I don't really understand the whole kitchen thing so it was very confusing! I'm looking for an excuse for a day out at IKEA with her basically.
And today? Another day of hiding from the decorator!
