Guilty Pleasures 14:365

I wasn't sure what to add as my guilty pleasure! I have many!!!! We still have a box of Thorntons left over from Christmas- but only because they are unopened. I have loads of books around the house and have at last managed to train myself to walk PAST a bookshop! I collect cook books and am trying to do 52 new recipes this year- so that they see a bit of use.

But think IKEA is one of my biggest guilty pleasures- I find it virtually impossible to browse!!! I always come home with stuff I didn't know I needed. Today we bought 2 boxes of white plates. I am trying to declutter and buying MORE stuff really doesn't equate. But the idea is to get rid of the assortment of plates we have collected over the years that no longer have matching 'friends'. So the counter tops have plates and bowls to go down to the tip tomorrow and the new ones are in the dishwasher ready to go in their freshly springcleaned cupboard- and EVERYTHING now matches.

My other guilty pleasure is 'mugs'. I love collecting them- almost as much as dh HATES them.

Walk 2/52 Birmingham City Centre Leanardo Exhibition

My dh was in Birmingham- so he met me from work at 4. We knew that the Leanardo exhibition opened yesterday- so thought we'd try to take a look before they closed. Unfortunately by the time we got there - we discovered that they closed the queue at 3.45- so all we could see was the end of the queue and the first exhibit through the door. You are allowed to take photos in parts of the museum- but I always feel like I shouldn't. It was getting too dark to capture the lovely stained glass window there- and it was getting too dark to take much around the art gallery. I did notice on the way past that a new Lush shop has opened on New Street- so that has been filed away mentally!!!!! As part of the 52 walk challenge a couple of years ago- one of the ladies had taken a photo of the walk up to the Mailbox- and although I've lived here all my life- I couldn't picture where it had been taken from- but we walked past it tonight. I don't think my photo really captured it. We also saw parts of the University buildings in the city centre- unfortunately not one that dd is considering!

So we need to go back and try to get into the exhibition. I'm at a crop tomorrow- which is why I need to include this as a walk today. I won't get the chance to go somewhere picturesque tomorrow. Unfortunately it was getting dark when I finished work and the photos look a bit grey!

Costco boxes

I bought some 12x12 boxes in Costco to try and get organised. I think I might try to persuade dh I need another set. Not sure how successful I'll be- he wasn't happy about this set!

Inside your fridge 13:365

I think my fridge is a year old this week. Our old one gave up the ghost last year after a defrosting session. It didn't like being moved. I'd had my heart set on one of these American style fridge/freezers- but whilst the old monster was plodding on it wasn't on our radar.Anyway we went looking at new fridges and I just couldn't tear myself away from these. I eventually settled on a fridge that I liked. I had a look online for the American fridge/freezers and found it 200 pound cheaper than the shops. Also it was from Boots- so we would get points (the fact that I forgot to get them added is by the by!!!!). We measured the door ways and although tight it looked ok.

So we ordered it and it arrived. But wouldn't fit through the gate! Hadn't even thought about the gate. THey had to trundle it round to the front and luckily (although not for them) next doors wall had been demolished and they managed to wheel it through. Then it got through our porch and front door no problem- but was mm too wide for the doorways!!!!!!! So they had to take the doors off (no idea why they didn't try that first!!!) and it got through the door.

Trying to get it through the door they did scrape it along the frame and there was a scratch on it. They took photos and phoned the head office who asked to speak to me. They said they could either take it away or offer me 100 pound discount. The scratch wasn't bad- and I have covered it with a metallic photo frame. So we agreed to the discount. So I got my beautiful fridge for 400 pound- and I still walk past it every day and I'm really glad that I decided to go for what I wanted rather than one I'd settled for. In the end- we got this one for less than 50 pound more than the ordinary style fridge I thought we'd have. It's the only appliance we've ever insured- the policy will fix it or replace it for it's lifetime. So I treat it as a savings policy for a new fridge- rather than insurance.

One of my friends did a front page newspaper thing for it online- so that i can scrap it one day as it really is my pride and joy!!!!

Transluscent- 12:365

I'm stretching the point a little today- but wanted to record this for posterity. We have REVISION going on - during official study leave!!!!!!!!! We had a new table and chairs for christmas and everyone is enjoying being able to use the table again. The light has a transluscent shade!!!!

Chicklit challenge 2012 Book 1

I've just finished my first book of the year and the first for this challenge. It's one of my favourite authors and the third trip to the characters in Longhampton. This one is largely set in the bookshop that Annie runs for her friend and the adventures happening at home.

I would absolutely love to work in the bookshop!!!!!!!

Item of clothing 11:365

One of the things I have always treated myself to, is a new scarf and glove set for the winter. I have various combinations now- but still have a nice new snuggly one every year. This year I've been greedy and had a similar set in the gold/mustard colour aswell. But this dusky pink set is lovely to snuggle into every morning on the school run. My dd went out without her gloves yesterday and I had to make the ultimate sacrifice and let her borrow my leather gloves for the day. Being as though I have to buy her gloves in sets of about 6 matching ones to last the season losses it was very good of me!!!!!!!!!!!! She's managed to stretch them a little bit- as she has larger hands than me (the rest of her is skinny as a rake- but my hands are still thin!!!!).

We are still waiting a resolution from the water board and intend to put the 'written' complaint into their system tonight. It has been escalated to the customer service manager level at Severn Trent (3 stages up apparently) and the Operations Manager at Enterprise. We have had a huge catalogue of misinformation, missed appointments, crews attending without necessary information- and following us calling them again on Sunday the crew that was supposed to turn up with a camera didn't turn up and the crew that did turn up just repeated the same investigation looking at the manhole as they did last Friday. It was originally reported on the 4th January- and we are no further forward in finding out where the problem is- let alone a resolution/repair. It's the lies and lack of communication that really gets to me. I have waited in EVERY day just incase someone turned up. My dh actually told the crew that turned up yesterday what had been done before and which way the drains run. When he's looking for a career change- he must be half way qualified by now!!!!!!